Fun outside

I wanted to post a few pictures of some fall fun we are having. I love fall weather and we have been trying to get out on these clear crisp days to soak up some sun. My friend Kindra introduced me to this great little park called Discovery park. We took the younger kids while the big kids were in school. Josie had a blast, she played and played and would have been content staying much longer. Conor was jealous he missed out on the fun.

Enjoying a sunday stroll around Bear Lake

Josie, Michael and Benjamin at Discovery Park

Josie in the spinner

Fall Soccer 2010

With school starting and summer coming to a close, it is time to start another season of soccer. We switched leagues this year and Conor now plays U8 soccer with the Inland Empire Youth Soccer association. He has the same fabulous coach and most of the same team members. Because they are older this year, they are playing longer games, have 2 extra team members and they get to be goalie. Conor really likes to be goalie. We have had beautiful fall weather for the last few games and we have all enjoyed spending time outside, watching Conor play.

The Wild Cat's

Conor trying his hand at goalie

Josie and Kevin taking in the game

1st day of school 2010

Believe it or not, we just barely started school yesterday. We had a great summer. The air is turning cool and the nights are getting shorter so I guess it is time to lay aside the carefree days of summer and head back to the classroom. Conor has Mrs. Comstock this year and says he likes her just as much as his last teacher, which is saying a lot. I met with Mrs. Comstock early last week and she seems ultra organized and very capable of taking care of Conor and his diabetes. He has his two best friends in his class and he couldn't ask for anything more. Josie and I have managed fine with out him so far. A little quiet around here, along with less interruptions and popcicle requests has been a welcome change. I have actually had time to catch up on the blog.So excited to get going!

Keagan, Kincade and Conor (would you believe these guys are twins?) They were all losing sleep worrying about being int he same class.

School supplies loaded in the desk and crayons in hand-let the year begin.

Summer wrap up

Summer is officially over-so sad. Conor's 1st day of school was yesterday and the air certainly has a chill. I haven't done such a great job of posting pics of our summer fun, actually I haven't done a great job of taking pictures at all. I guess I was feeling lazy, with good reason. We went to the lake and the pool several times and we hit the summer movies almost every week, yet I never bothered to snap a picture. My kids can't complain that we didn't do anything fun, even if I can't document it. Well, here are a few I managed to get.

Josie loved the splash pads, she is rarely one to hold back when water is involved and she was usually the last to wander off when it was time to go.

More splash pad fun

Kyler, Taj, Josie and Conor

One of the billion frogs Conor and Josie caught this summer. One evening they captured 12 little guys and they even tried to keep them a few days.

We went to an Indian's game and had a great time. It happened to be a really great game, and fireworks night.

Lake Powell Trip

We made our annual trek to Lake Powell on August 23. I had my doubts about going since I was very pregnant, but Lake Powell never disappoints. How can you not have fun? I was sad to miss out on some beautifully smooth water, but I kept telling myself there is always next year. Josie and Conor were such fish. They swam and swam and swam and jumped in and jumped in and jumped in, Conor rode on the Sea Doos as much as he wanted-while Josie kept her distance. They played in the sand and Conor rode the tube and even tried his hand at skiing. There was never a complaint of boredom or sadness, fun was had by all.

Grandpa wasn't feeling well, so Kevin was given the opportunity to drive the Motor home-he did great!

Conor and Josie co-piloting and watching for the Lake to come into view...so exciting!

Sand play with Grandma

See those little swimmers down there? Both Conor and Josie swam between the rock and the back of the boat countless times daily. We found a perfect place to camp

Josie the brave jumper-no fear

Mom and Josie enjoying the scenery on the way to Moki. There is nothing better then relaxing on the boat at Lake Powell.

Josie cliff jumping

Swimming off the back of the boat-look at those happy faces

Typical view of Conor-he actually got pretty good at back diving as well

Grandma and Josie taking a swim-this year Kevin doused Grandma's hair, it was pretty exciting. She is still talking to him, fortunately.

Kevin tossing Josie way way out. She landed with a good splash, but was a very good sport. She even went down the slide once with Kevin...only once.

Going down the slide every way he could think of...he really liked on his knees. I think it looks scary on your knees.

Play time with Daddy-can't be beat.
Josie cleaned this window 95 times. It was a great sitter while we were trying to get on our way home. Good thing we had lots of paper towels and windex, what a great helper.

Back to Grandma's to see the cousins. Amber is due 3 weeks before me. We are both having boys. I wish we lived closer so they could play together.

Can't go to Utah with out a trip to Brick oven. Most of the grand kids who live there were able to make it-we were lucky to see Austin, Katy and Allison since BYU was starting.

AUSTIN! We got to see Austin fresh off his mission. We have had so much fun writing him, so it was good to see him and for the kids to realize he is back and on to the rest of his life. He looks great!

Alaska was fabulous!

We are back from our spectacular cruise to Alaska. It has taken me a week to recover and finally take the time to go through some pictures. It is so tough to pick out the right ones to put on the blog. This was one of those trips that you have a bajillion beautiful pictures of scenery, that maybe only you appreciate because you took the picture, but I will try to get a few out there and do the great state justice.

For Christmas this year my parents so generously gave each of their children and their spouses a cruise through the inner passage of Alaska. The date was set for July 31-August 7 and we have been looking forward to it ever since. Melissa (my fabulous niece) took on the challenge of babysitting my little ones and she did a marvelous, marvelous job. Not one single glitch with taking care of a diabetic child-you go girl. My kids hardly missed me. It was so much fun to get together with all my brothers and sisters and actually spend time chatting and hanging out without a child always "needing" something. The food on demand was a dream come true and is still something I wish for on a daily basis. Oh, and if any of you were wondering about my pregnancy dilemma...there was no dilemma! I was so worried about not making it on the ship, I almost made myself sick, but no one said a single word to me. What a waste of worry. I guess all the fanfare is just to scare everyone away. 24 weeks shmeeks. I look it right! Not even.

Our itinerary included a stop in Junea, and Skagway, a jaunt up Tracy Arms fjord to see Sawyer glacier, some great whale watching, and a stop in Ketchikan. We were suppose to stop in Victoria for a 4 hour stint, but due to high winds we were marooned in the harbor-bummer. Oh well the company and the rest of the trip made it no big deal.

Now for the pictures! Hopefully not to boring and pretty self explanatory. Enjoy.

In front of the back of our "Golden Princess"

The tram we rode in Junea with our Cruise ship below

View of Junea from the top of the tram

This is as close as we could get to Mendenhall glacier and the raging waterfallMendenhall glacier in the back
One of the nights we braved the cold to watch a movie under the stars...I actually bailed in the end because the chair was too hard for me and I was freezing! I blame my whimpiness on pregnancy.
View from the train ride we took in Skagway

Our train in Skagway
As we were leaving Skagway we were treated to a beautiful sunset a hanging glacier and a drag race down the fjord with another cruise ship...how cool is that?
Just taking it all in
Most of the gang checking out the unforgettable scenery
My sisters and me spending time together-whale watching
Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer glacier-because of fires in the Yukon, the air was a bit hazy, but the weather was great otherwise. I thought the little chunks of icebergs were so cool.

Another cruise ship we passed in the fjord
It was a little bit chilly and early this fine morning, but we wandered the decks for hours watching the fjord go by. We even did a little sunbathing, Alaskan style
Check out that great looking family
One of our formal dinners-hours of eating without needy children...Bliss

My lumberjack friend.
He made this cute chair in the lumberjack show and after wards I talked him into giving it to my future little one. The show was really fun

This is what we spent a lot of time doing in Ketchikan-looking over bridges and the waters edge at the trillions of Salmon spawning. You could almost walk across the river on their backs. It was rather intriguing
One last look at Ketchikan-BREATHTAKING
This is our picture of Victoria. We were standing here watching the little rescue boat head in for paperwork or something, and we were wishing we could sneak on. Oh well, incentive for us to take a road trip with the kids for sure

All the siblings saying our good byes. I can't believe it is over. It went by so so quickly and we had so much fun. Thanks so much to Mom and Dad for the awesome trip that we will never ever forget. We are so lucky to have such a great family

Home to my cute little ones! They proudly wore their Alaskan t-shirts and puppets for me and they were very excited to tell me about their adventures with Melissa! Hey Josie...Cow's Love?? Cookies!!!