Summer Vacation: Utah, Colorado, Virginia, and OBX!

The past six weeks have been incredibly fun for our family. June brought an exciting bit of news that we are expecting precious little girl to arrive around the end of October. Don’t ask us about names...because we aren't quite sure yet. Allie has been trying, but I've been a bit difficult. However, we have had an outpouring of love, prayers, and baby girl clothes. It seems nearly everyone is just as excited as we are. Even James knows he is going to be a "brother" and "baby sister" lives in "mama’s” "tummy". James is getting much taller (and thus skinner) and can repeat nearly every word he hears. Allie is rounding out (hehe) beautifully just like her first time, and we love it. Our little girl moves a ton, and loves it when Daddy takes time to talk to her.

Mike is continuing to work hard, working with his unit in preparation for the deployment. He turned twenty-seven on June 17th and we got to celebrate it in Colorado with his mother, Cathy. He almost had a mid-life crisis just thinking about turning thirty in three more years... it was quite funny! After a couple of days with Grandma, we were off to UT to hang out with family and visit friends. On a more serious note, while in Provo we had the solemn opportunity to attend memorial and grave-side services for CPT Scott Pace who was killed in Afghanistan earlier in June. Mike was one of four service members at the service, and it was a beautiful, yet hard experience to witness, considering our own circumstances. Bishop, Sister Pace, Rick, and Brook, we love you and continue to pray for you.

While in Utah for two weeks we visited BYU, hiked to Timpanogos Cave, watched Disney's Brave, went trap-shotgun shooting, played with cousins, tried to go to the temple (another story), took family pictures (many thanks Becky), chilled in Minersville, camped on the Colorado River, hiked Arches National Park, stopped again at Grandma's house, and viewed/hiked Grand Mesa, CO before returning home for two days. Plenty of pics of it all to share. A special thanks to Jen, Scott, and their adorable kids for sharing their basement and time with us. Without you guys it wouldn't have been possible!

But wait...there's two more weeks to this vacation. After a short repose at home, we were off again, this time to Fredericksburg, VA to spend some time with Grandpa Craig (Mike's father) and Nana (step-mom). Mikes mornings were spent doing PT, moving and organizing basement boxes with Allie, and spending time with Craig and Jerrilynn. James enjoyed lazy mornings, playing with all of Grandpa’s toys, and watching How to Train your Dragon at least twice a day for 10 days straight. James loved the "big" tv and watching "movie, movie, movie, mooovieeees”.When not helping Mike, Allie spent long overdue free time scrapbooking, and chatting with Grandpa and Nana.

Call it divine intervention, but Mike's leave coincided with his sister's family move to the Fredericksburg basement (explaining the rush to clear it out for them). The day after Mike’s sister arrived we headed to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, to spend our 4th anniversary at the beach with James. We spent two and a half cloudy/rainy days at the beach, eating out, eating in, eating ice cream, getting locked out of our car at the Wright Brothers Memorial, visiting Bodie Island Lighthouse under renovation, visiting Spencer Yachts, and letting James climb in and out of every single Nags Head hammock in the store. Time was short there, but we got our fill of sand and seawater, which was the goal. Allie even tried boogie boarding before calling it quits due to swimsuit-issues. LOL! She blamed it on the rough water and her big tummy. James loved the beach, or as he called it, the "pool". It was wonderful to spend time together as a family and if we ever get the chance we will definitely return to the OBX. It is a beautiful place.We returned to Fredericksburg for a few days. We visited and helped move in family before coming home.

In four weeks, James spent nearly 80 hours in a car seat and still calls us "mama" and "daddy", so miracles do happen:) It was a wonderful vacation and we are glad to have made such great memories. Plenty of pictures to enjoy, and of course videos will be posted on Mike's facebook. Just a warning though... there are a whole lot of pictures!

We send you our love and prayers.

---MAJ+

Driving to Utah.

We found that food, particularly "yummies" (as James calls them) kept James happy while driving:)

More driving.

A break from driving. We stopped in a little town in Colorado to eat lunch and got to watch a tree get cut down. James loved it!

Not so happy in the car... he wants the phone.

Another break from driving.

Mama and the babies.

James kept himself happy by putting stickers all over his books... oh, well.

After celebrating Mike's birthday at Tucano's in Provo. James loved this "motor".

Getting ready to hike to Timp Cave.

At the top, after we went through the cave.

Hiking down. Mike carried him most of the way.

We did it!

Shooting.

Another stop. This time going to Arches.

Setting up the tent in to camp at Arches.

At first, James was a little hesitant to get too dirty.

Running on the bike trail.

James hiked almost the entire way there and back. What a trooper! As soon as Mike started carrying him on the way back he fell sound asleep.

Delicate Arch! The pictures don't do it justice. If you ever get the chance you need to see it in person.

He was pretty tired.

Attempting to capture the sunset... it was a little too bright for our camera.

Although there were only vaulted toilets and no running water... the campground was beautiful. What you can't see is the Colorado River at the base of the cliff.

I love these two!

Playing in the dirt.

James got dirt in his eyes.

Balance Rock.

Eating an icee with Grandma Cathy.

Watering Grandma's garden.

Although it doesn't look like it, we are trying to clear out the basement apartment for Mike's sister and family.

Playing at the beach. James loved it and it didn't even phase him when he fell down and the waves washed over him!

It was cloudy and looks cold, but was quite warm. Especially in comparision to San Diego beaches this time of year.

James loved playing in the giant sandbox.

Our hotel was less than two blocks from the beach!

Have you ever eaten at Five Guys?! This is the soda machine. Pretty cool!

Cool Dude! And then... shortly after this it started to down pour and we realized we locked the keys in the car. Thank goodness for USAA car insurance.

Exact replica of the Wright Brothers airplane.

Making paper airplanes.

Enjoying 7-11's anniversary gift to us... free slurpees!

Ahoy red beard! Bottoms up!

Cousin Cora, Grandpa Craig, and James.

Testing out the hammocks and swings.

Vacation is sweet:)