Winter Fun

-- The first week in December my parents came down to stay in the Kimball. We met up with them and headed out for dinner at the Lion House Pantry; complete with a private performance of a few Christmas carols for Highland High's Madrigals, and to check out the lights on Temple Square. We learned from a bad experience last year to never see the lights on opening night. This night was a little chilly, but not nearly as many people.

-- The week we headed out to the Grand America Hotel to see the gingerbread houses. These weren't your ordinary graham cracker houses. They were built local pastry chef's from hotels or the ski resorts. They were having a silent auction for the houses, they proceeds would benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.



-- The week after that we hit up the Zoolights at Hogle Zoo. It was a great night to go out. Ethan loved the lights. They have a lot more light displays then they did the last time we went, two or three years ago. The best part was seeing the tiger cubs active and playing around with each other.

August 1, 2009: 5k

So I decided to run another 5k this summer. Actually, Matt decided for me. While we were on our rafting trip in Jackson, Kiera, a Manager at Mimi's and Matt's former co-worker called to see if I would run in a fundraiser 5k for the Taylorsville football team which her son is on. Of course Matt told her I would be glad to do it. And I really was. I needed a goal to look forward to.

I talked my sister Krista into running it with me and she came down the night before to stay with us. Bright and early Saturday morning we went to Taylorville High School track. It was a pretty good course. No large hills or anything. Krista ended up kicking my butt by 30 seconds. Oh well, it was fun. I'll just have to get into better shape for next year.

After the 5k we cleaned up and headed downtown to temple square. We went to the top of the church office buildings, hung out around the reflecting pond and of course had lunch at the Lion House Pantry.

Thanks Krista for coming down.

Ethan hanging out on the track.

Me and Krista after the race.

Reflecting pond on temple square.

Enjoying some dessert at Lion House Pantry.

Stay-cation

Matt recently had a vacation from work. Yay, seven whole days without work. I'm sure it was even nicer for Matt. Anyway, we were going to go to southern Utah, but decided just to stay put and do some fun things around home.

His first day off we just bummed around and didn't do much. The next day we decided to take advantage of the warming weather and went to the zoo. It was so much fun. Usually I dislike the zoo since I've usually been in the summer when it is hot, crowded, and the animals are all inside. The past couple of times we've gone, we've been in the morning and its been great since there aren't as many people, its cooler, and the animals are usually out and about. The last time I took Ethan to the zoo he was still pretty young. This time he loved to watch the animals. The giraffes were his favorite. It was fun to watch him get so excited. Later that day we had his 12 mos. Dr. appointment and shots. He did really well. He was even better when he got his sucker after the shots.

Our third day of vacation was the St. Patrick's Day parade downtown. We had never been to it before and thought it might be fun to check it out. It's not really a parade that would keep the attention of little kids for long, so we left after about an hour. Later that day we had our little party for Ethan.

Ethan blowing out the candle on his Birthday cake.

Our fifth day of vacation we went to Park City and walked around, saw some galleries and had some lunch. Later that day we took Ethan swimming for his second time. The first time I took him swimming a few weeks ago the poor kid was motionless. He didn't know what to do. This time, he loved the water. He was splashing around and crawling everywhere it the pool. The best part about swimming, it makes him tired.

Matt and Ethan hanging out next to the bear in Park City.

Ethan splashing around at the pool.

Our sixth day we did one of our favorite activities. We went to temple square and walked around (Ethan loves the fountains) then had lunch at the Lion House Pantry. It was still a little cool and the spring flowers hadn't fully bloomed yet, so it will just give us and excuse to go back soon.

Ethan hanging out at temple square.

Ethan shows his true identity in the tub (note the little devil horns).

Our last day of we just hung out and then took Ethan swimming again a little later in the afternoon. Later that night I gave Ethan his first haircut. His curls were just getting so unruly. I'm sure people think that I never groom my child since his hair was always looking crazy. Its taken me a few days to get used to his new do. Luckily he still has a few curls in the back.

Before, the crazy kid.

Before, crazy kid back view.

After. My, what a sweet little boy we have.

What!?!?! An Update!

I know, I know it's been awhile since we've updated, but I've finally gotten Ethan to bed early so I have a few minutes to type without the little one trying to help. Its amazing how mobile Bitsy is without being able to crawl. Well I should revise that statement, he can kind of crawl. He is finally moving his knees more then two times, so I'm counting it. He has also learned how to pull himself up to a standing position, which is all he wants to do now.

Ethan trying to crawl in his cute new pajama pants.

Since my last post was way back in November, I'll have to back track a little.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13th

Matt, Ethan and I went to the Gingerbread House Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Most of the gingerbread houses were from school groups, but there were some that were very well done. It's amazing the details that some people are able to put into those gingerbread houses.

Ethan splashing in the tub.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15th

James Christensen, one of Matt's and my favorite artists, held signings at some galleries in Salt Lake. We were able to go to the Twigg's and Moore gallery at Gardner Village to see him and have him sign his new book Men and Angels which shows all of his most recent works. We waited in line for over two hours, but is was great to get to meet an artist whose work Matt and I love. I have to say though, he was shorter then I had imagined.

THANKSGIVING

Matt had to work on Thanksgiving of course, so Ethan and I went up to my Mom and Dad's in Newton and had a great Thanksgiving dinner with the fam. I unfortunately did not get to participate in the traditional Thanksgiving day skeet shoot this year, but I did hear Krista got whooped. Don't worry Krista, you're still better then me, though that's not saying much.

While up in Newton for Thanksgiving my Mom helped me sew hand towels, a Christmas table cloth and a cute pair of Christmas pajama pants for Ethan. Who knew sewing could be so fun.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Matt and I put up the tree and decorated for Christmas. Ethan loves the tree and our advent stocking. He laughs every time we come downstairs in the morning and he sees it. Later that night we met up with my Mom, Dad, Krista, Taylor and Grandma Bird to see the lights on Temple Square. I should amend that we attempted to see the lights on Temple Square. I have never seen that many people there to see the lights, ever! Matt ended up dropping Ethan and I off while he tried to find a parking spot. I have to apologize to everyone since Ethan cried the whole time, it made a short trip of seeing the lights. Matt never did find a parking spot, he ended up just picking us up a few blocks away. Matt, Ethan and I we up to the Captial and played peekaboo behind the pillars on the front steps. Ethan got a kick out of that. I'm sure it helped that we were the only ones there, in sharp contrast to Temple Square that night.

LAURA'S VISIT

The Saturday after that (December 6th), Matt's sister Laura and her two girls Bailee and Eli visited from Roswell, NM. Laura her girls and Matt's Mom, Pat, stayed with us for a few nights during their visit.

Sunday, Matt's Dad, Alan, also came down and we all went to go see the lights on Temple Square again. It was pretty busy on Temple Square again since it was the night of the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, but Ethan did much better this time.

Monday, we all went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. I was pretty impressed by the museum. The girls seemed to have a fun time and Ethan loved the sand pit where you uncover dinosaur bones. It was so funny to watch him pick up a hand full of sand and let it run through his fingers. We took off his socks and he loved to squish his toes in the sand. He loved it so much, he was pretty upset when we had to leave. Monday night Matt's Grandparents, Arlen, Marie and Iva Lou, came for dinner and then we all listened to Arlen tell ghost stories around our indoor campfire that my Dad had made for me for scouts.

Laura and the girls and Pat also stayed with us the last night of their trip before flying out on Saturday, December 13th. It was so great to see them and have them stay with us. Ethan had a great time playing with his cousins.

Fun Autumn Days

Two weekends ago, Ethan and I decided to give Matt a break and go up to Logan as he was finishing a nine day work week. We had so much fun and it was perfect fall weather while we were there. On Friday, we went to the pumpkin walk in North Logan. I have actually never been to the pumpkin walk before even though I have lived in my whole life in Cache Valley. They had some really cute displays. I'd have to say my favorite was the Noah's Ark. (Thanks Krista for letting me snag some of your pictures, I forgot my camera)

On Saturday, we went to the USU homecoming parade to see my little sister Krista and husband Taylor's float for the Animal Science Club. Afterward we went back up to Krista and Taylor's to get a better look at the animals that they had on the float. Ethan liked the friendly little Brahman calf. Amazingly enough I have actually never seen the USU homecoming parade either, so it was a weekend of firsts for Ethan and myself as well.

Ethan on Sunday after we came home just chillin' in his sweats.

Matt finally had a day off on Monday, Yeah, and we decided that it was another perfect fall day and to go downtown to the observation deck of the church office buildings. It was such a beautiful view. Afterwards we had lunch at the Lion House Cafe (yum, we love to get their soup, rolls and pie, at such a reasonable price) and then walked around temple square. Ethan loved the fountains and was upset when we had to leave.

Later that night was the annual Nelson Gross Out Dinner at Matt's Uncle Russ' house. Matt and I dressed as tacky tourists and Ethan was our roamin' gnome (the Travelocity travel gnome). He was so cute in his hat and beard. Our gross out treat were monster eyeballs on a pool of coagulated blood. Very tasty. After dinner we walked down the road to Russ' neighbors who own a nursay and had created a small kid friendly spook alley in their back yard. It was so cute I wish I'd taken our camera. Ethan wasn't scared at all. So far the only things that scares Ethan is his Tickle Me Elmo.