August and September

Wow, I can't believe how much has happened since my last post, there have been SO many things that I had planned to post on and I just haven't had the time. We were really trying to enjoy the last of summer and get out and do things as much as possible, but it just feels like we've been busy. So here is an update of the last two months!

August:

The month began with my Zumba certification class. It was from 9am to 5pm and lets just say that I was more than exhausted when I got home. My muscles hurt for days afterwards but it was so much fun and felt great to work that hard.

On the 17th we made our trip over to Ely for Alex's homecoming, and I was so excited to see him and all of my family. I think that last time we were all together with everyone was Christmas 2008, so it was great. I had taken the car in to get serviced the day before we left, and the guy made a comment that if my car starts having trouble starting that we need a new battery, I didn't really think too much of it, and I forgot to tell Zac. So of course, we stop for lunch and when we get back in the car to leave, it won't start. Ooops! So I told Zac we needed a new battery, luckily we were just across the parking lot from an auto parts store. But it was like 95 degrees outside and it took a while for Zac to get the battery out and changed, but that was our only problem of the trip, we just lost an hour of time. I taught my first Zumba class for a few people while we were in Ely, and it was a lot of fun, not perfect but I hope everyone enjoyed it. We also had a picnic and took the kids to McGill Pool one day. And then Saturday everyone was finally there including grandparents. We were able to take some family pictures down at the train station and I think the boys enjoyed seeing the trains. Alex gave a great talk on Sunday and I am so proud of him. He served a great mission, and I can tell that he had grown up so much. It sounds like he is adjusting to real life now that he is back at BYU and engaged to his girlfriend that waited the 2 years.

After we made it home, Zac and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary and went out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was Zac's first time but I think he really enjoyed the experience and great food.

September:

In September we were able to go to our Stake Fair and enjoy lots of food and games. It is always so fun to go and I love that our stake puts it on each year. Gavin's favorite part was definitely the watermelon.

The next weekend I helped out with a Baby Shower for a friend. I think that it turned out great, but there was definitely a lot of hardwork that went in to it. But Mary Lynn and Dane truly deserve it.

Then we left for our cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. We took a Carnival with my sister Melanie and her husband, and we even brought the kids. So we had 4 adults and 4 kids, but we had a lot fun, and Gavin really enjoyed the time with his cousins. He remembers their names and loves to say who they are each time he sees their picture.

On Catalina Island we spent some time on the beach playing in the sand and the cold water. Then we took a glass bottom boat and saw some different fish and a lot of kelp forest, but it was really fun.

Waiting to get tickets for the glass bottom boat on the Island.

Nick and Bryton with Aaryn in the back.

Figuring out the beach.

I think he enjoyed the sand, not so much the water.

Gavin loves cousin Jayden!

Melanie and Jayden at the formal dinner.

Gavin is learning to actually smile for the camera!

Our family.

Totally Zac.

The elephant. :)

The next day we went over to Ensenada to spend the day. We went out in the morning and found a shuttle to take us over to La Bufadora (the Blow Hole). There are a ton of vendors trying to sell things to you as you walk down to the blow hole, and after a while I just tried to avoid them, but they get you from both sides. I kind of hated it and we didn't even buy anything but vanilla to bring home. I just never know what to get that I would actually want to display or use but it was fun. The tide wasn't very high so the water didn't spray up too much, but the kids loved it and Jayden loved how it made a rainbow each time.

He hates strollers but for some reason he loved this one and wanted to sit in it all the time.

The view at the Blow Hole.

This one is a monkey they hang from the TV.

The last one was a frog, it is harder to tell, but Zac kept trying to get Gavin to hug it.

Our last day was at sea and it was nice to just relax and enjoy our time on the boat. We had lots of food, and loved just being on vacation. We saw a few shows, and Zac and I even participated in Family Feud, which our team won. It was so nice to be able to enjoy it with some family. Thank You Pay Family for making the trip with us, it was great!

Gavin making his build-a-bear on the boat.

Waiting to debark, we didn't plau anything, the kids just seemed happy to pretend. :)

Getting off the boat waiting to go through customs.

Gavin loves his doggie that he made.

I am definitely ready for fall here in Denver, but the weather isn't quite there yet. I can't believe it is already Conference time. I am excited for a weekend at home, and for all of the upcoming holidays. It is sure to be a busy next few months, but we hope to make the best of it!

Harry Potter 7 Part 2

Well, we made it to see the movie the Saturday after it came out. We left Gavin with a babysitter, for only the 2nd time. (well, family has watched him a few times but that's it.) And at first Zac said he was going to stay home and watch Gavin and I could go with our friends. He really doesn't like the idea of the added cost to date nights when you add a sitter. Which is the reason why we NEVER go on dates. Anyway, I got him to come and it was SO fun! I made simple ties for everyone that were yellow and red for Gryffindor colors. And then we played trivia while we waited for the movie and then enjoyed the last of the Harry Potter series. I finished the book a few days before and it probably wasn't a great idea, because I was a little frustrated everytime they changed something. But I really was very happy with movie, and happy that I was able to enjoy it with Zac. It ended up being a busy day so by the time we got home at 10pm we were definitely exhausted. I am grateful to our friends who made it possible for us all to see the movie together. There were 8 of us altogether and we wished Alana could have been there, but movies with friends are great!

Here we are waiting to go in the theater. Alexandria went really early to make sure we were able to get seats together. We were one of the first inside the theater so we were dead center it was GREAT!

Zac and I waiting for the movie. The seats were nice, but definitely not for short people. If I was any shorter I wouldn't have been able to see over the seat in front of me.

For a quick update on Gavin. He is really enjoying the summer, mostly because of swimming. We recently bought him a life jacket so that he could be a little more independent in the pool. The first time he hated it, and now he LOVES it. He swims/bobs all over the pool and loves the freedom. He does go face down everyone once in a while but overall he's happy. I have been giving him a little more freedom to see what he can do, but I am never more than 10 feet away. He is also saying so many words and a few phrases now which is really fun. He loves to say Awesome!, Oh No!, Uh-Oh, Grandma, a mess, and a lot of others. He also tells us most of the time when he needs a diaper change now. Hopefully that means that potty-training isn't too far off, although I am dreading it.

AND, my brother comes home from his mission on August 17th and I can't wait to see him!

Finished....

Harry Potter, what can I say? I decided a few months back that I wanted to read the entire series over again before the last movie comes out this weekend. We are going with a group of friends on Saturday evening, and I JUST finished. I cried off and on from the end of the sixth book to the end of the seventh. And everytime I see a trailer or pictures from the last movie I get teary. It seems so silly, that a fictional book-series can consume so much of my life. My family has been quite neglected over the past two months, as I have spent any time that I could reading. Zac kept saying how much happier he was going to be once I finished the series.

But as I read the last book in about 3 days, it made me sad. I didn't want to stop reading, but I didn't want it to end either! Do you get that way? When you see the end of something really good coming up, and wish it would just stop? Like the end of a book, or the end of a bowl of REALLY good ice cream :)? I physically get a little depressed, not in a bad way. But I LOVE that this is a series that I can read over and over and over again and NEVER get bored.

We have all of the movies and I have watched each one as I finished it's book to compare the differences. I am excited to have children that I can read the series too as a family, you know in like 6 or 7 years when Gavin will actually be interested.

But I just want to say Thank You to J.K. Rowling for giving the world such a WONDERFUL book series. Seriously, I think that it has changed my life. Reading is such a healthy pass-time (When our families are not neglected because of it), and it is SO great to be able to read something that gives you so much joy. I LOVE the Harry Potter Series! I don't think I will ever come across another series that I enjoy this much. They way she writes is perfect, always! I enjoy other series like the Hunger Games and Twilight, but to me it is NOTHING compared to Harry Potter!

It is like reading the scriptures, and allowing yourself to be engrossed in the story and understand why these scriptures are written for us! I have recently become SO much better in my personal scripture study as I have tried to always make sure that is accomplished as well. I think that reading is something that you have to learn in a way, and the more you do it the easier it is. Just like reading the scriptures, the more that I do it, the easier they are to understand and the stronger desire I have to read them.

I am SO ready to watch the movie. I am compiling a set of trivia questions that we are going to play while we wait for the movie, if anyone would like it, leave me a comment and I will attach it, so you can use it as well.

I hope everyone gets a chance to see the movie, I KNOW it will be great! Come on, have you not read the 7th book? :)

June & The 4th

On my birthday we headed over to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch after some shopping.

Then we went back home to get ready for my party. We had Sweet Pork Tacos with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw from Make and Love It. Seriously THE best tacos, I LOVE them! We played a few games and had brownie sundaes.

This is just to show one of my birthday presents. It is a belly dance scarf, but I wear it at Zumba. Most everyone in the class wears one, and at first I thought they were silly, but they really make you work a lot harder, plus they are not that expensive and I LOVE it. You wouldn't believe how much I sweat when I work out, it is actually really embarrassing, but hey I guess I am burning more calories. :)

Gavin went to his first movie. We went and saw Cars 2 last week. He did a really great job until about the last 20 minutes of the show. But he loves Cars especially MaeMae (Mater) and Queen (McQueen). I love that I get to spend all day hanging out with him.

I also made my first attempt at homemade strawberry jam. Zac thought it was a silly idea, but it really is satisfying to know that I did it myself.

On Saturday we headed to the Zoo early in the morning. We usually go during the week, so Zac never gets to come. Gavin loved having Zac there and I think they both enjoyed it. We arrived just after they opened, which was nice because so many of the animals were active, which we don't usually see.

These two really are the best buds, and I just love it!

I ended up getting a call last Friday night to teach Relief Society on Sunday. I really only had Saturday to prepare, but I think everything went well. It really made me miss teaching, but I am glad that I can help. I have also subbed in Nursery a few times which may or may not help Gavin. He seems to do fine during nursery, but it is the leaving and picking up part we are still struggling with. :)

On the 4th I started out the day with Zumba and then in the afternoon we had a BBQ with our friends and then we went to the fireworks together. It was SO hot during the BBQ, but after a while the clouds came out and it was fine. I made Asian BBQ Chicken from Out Best Bites and it was SO good! I also made some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and blue sprinkles. And then we made our own ice cream as we sat waiting for the fireworks. I must admit, they were NOTHING compared to Idaho Falls, but the show was about 30min so we can't complain.

Here are the girls: Me, Rachel, Alexandria and Alana. I am so grateful that we have such wonderful friends. It makes holidays without family so much easier!

Travels

Here is my cute boy! Can you believe how much he is growing?

Gavin and I have been making frequent trips to the zoo lately. He really enjoys it, and loves to make the animal sounds whenever we see one that he knows.

For Memorial weekend we flew out to Salt Lake, for Zac's uncles wedding. We are so happy for him and his new wife, and it was great to see the family again. Thanks Nancy for letting us all camp out at your house!

The luncheon was at Tucano's at The Gateway. Great food! After lunch we walked around, and Gavin enjoyed making his first Build-a-Bear. He fell asleep with it on the way home. :)

I think that he found the process interesting, but really just cared about holding the bear. Zac named him Roar on the birth certificate. :) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

And last Saturday we made our way up to Breckenridge, CO with some of our friends. One of our friends tutors a girl at DU whose parents own this beautiful house. So everyone went up for the weekend. We only drove up and back on Saturday, but it was tons of fun to spend the day with everyone, and we are glad that they let us come up.

This is the house that we stayed at. It had a hot tub, theater room, pool table, as well as a library, a wine room and a TV in like every room. We all agreed that it was nice, but not really a practical house for our taste.

All of our friends that were able to come.

The Olson's

The Hreinson's

The Mitchell's

The Palmer's

Mary Lynn (her husband came up later)

and US!

Next up, my 23rd birthday on Saturday. I LOVE birthday's, it is probably silly, but I really do. I can't believe I am turning 23 though, that is how old Zac was when we met and were married. I remember thinking how old 23 sounded at the time. Sometime's I forget that I really am old enough to be an adult. Maybe it is because I just love and enjoy life so much! :)