McCall 2012...

Going to McCall is one of our favorite trips together as a family.  The kids love spending time with all of their cousins.  And Justin and I love the break of not having to entertain them for a week, in a good way of course.  In fact it's almost as if we don't see them for a week because they are so busy having fun.

Zach and Kate were pretty brave this year.  Zach was no longer afraid that a shark was going to eat him in the lake, so getting ejected from the tube and surfing with Uncle Brian were the highlights of his week.  He was on the tube so much that his nipples got chafed and he had to put band aids on them to keep from rubbing against his life jacket. And Kate loved the tube and was up for lots of swimming! Uncle Andy brought along his new toy, the GO Pro camera, with all the fittings to film what was happening behind the boat.  And Justin and uncle Brian grew out their Fu Manchu.  I sat around a lot being pregnant and all but got on the tube a couple of times with Kate.  And the rest was just like years past minus a couple of my siblings not being able to make it due to other commitments.  They were missed and hopefully will be able to come the next time we come.

We love McCall...

 

 

A Little Over Halfway...

SO if you didn't know already I am expecting.  This is #3 for us and its a boy!  Apparently at my ultrasound  appointment today he wanted to kindly let us know that he is #1.  Aren't babies the most amazing miracle?  As we looked at every body part to make sure its all in tact I couldn't help but feel grateful for the miracle of a healthy growing baby.  I am on the down side now which makes me excited and nervous all at the same time.   I feel like I have so much to do before he gets here.  

Here is a pic Kate took of me last week at 20 weeks.  I am beginning to not fit in my normal clothes and am getting very creative with all my shorts' zippers and buttons...nothing a little hair tie trick can't handle for now.  

Ski Bowl Adventure Park...

My brother Andy and his family take full advantage of the summer and take a four day weekend every other week to get in some good family vacation time.  They plan this trip up to Mt. Hood and stay at Collin's Lake in the Government Camp Area every year to play at the Ski Bowl Adventure Park.  This is one of those things that growing up in Portland I knew always existed but never went to.  So I was excited to take the kids when they gave us the invite to come up for the night.  We had so much fun!  The Go Karts were the pretty entertaining for both the kids and the adults, as you can tell from the gas debris flecks on Andy's face.  According to Justin, Andy was eating his dust.  Between the two of them they took in at least 10 rounds around the track trying to beat one another, and strapping on Andy's new toy, to Go Pro Video camera.   But I think the Alpine Slides won for most entertaining for everyone.  Zach picked up how to make the sleds work right away scaring me a few times watching him speed down the mountain, and Kate kept asking to go faster.   The park was a total hit and it was a gorgeous day as you can tell with Mt. Hood in the background!   

 

Kate's First Dance Recital...

Kate had her first Dance Recital in June.  Isn't her costume cute?  Of course I am biased because I picked them out!(a little perk in being her teacher)  Honestly I was nervous at first to be her teacher.  I was worried she wouldn't respond to me and would hang on my leg.  She did just the opposite!  She looked forward to class every Wednesday and loved helping me pick out what music we should dance to.  I think I have a future dance teacher on my hands.  Having her cousin Brooke in her class helped too!  She new the dance backwards and forwards and was so brave to get up on that stage.  I was so proud of her!  We all were.

Seaside, OR...

We took a last minute weekend trip to Seaside over Memorial Day weekend with my brother's family.  For me and Justin the beach was still a  little chilly, but the cold never seems to stop the kids from having a good time.  We usually go to Cannon Beach which has a cute little town feel with yummy eats and shops up and down the main street.  Seaside has a little bit more of an entertainment factor so the kids love the Bumper Cars, Tilt a Whirl and the Arcade!  All firsts for Kate and a couple firsts for Zach made it a fun weekend for all.  

The Pirates 2012...

 Zach played baseball this past spring.  We played him up a year skipping Rookie and onto to Coach Pitch so that he wouldn't be such a "goofball".   We played him up so that he would be intimidated by the other players, hoping that it would force him to focus in order to keep up with the older boys.  As you can see he was the smallest on his team, but our little plan worked and rose to the occasion.  He was sent to the outfield until his fielding skills improved, but by the end of the season he played pitcher and even played first base one game where he got three consecutive outs.  He loved it and is excited to play again next year.

Of course the pizza party and the trophy were all a part of it too!  Way to go Zach on a great season.  They only lost one game!

The Cat is Out of the Bag...

Baby Boy due December 24th, 2012!

And Happy Father's Day to a wonderful husband and father!  We are so blessed to have someone who loves us more than anything.  The boxes are proof that we try to retire the gray BYU and Teves t-shirts.  Old habits die hard!  We love you!