A Trip to the Zoo

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Visiting friends

While we were in Utah we got to visit some of our friends from our neighborhood in Lehi. We met the Brown's shortly after we moved in. Their son Jared is Kaden's age and they've been friends since they were 2 1/2. Everytime we are in Utah they have us over to play and eat dinner. The boys had a great time playing and I enjoyed visiting with Kari.
Nicolas and cute little Scott trying to figure out how this toy works.(it was actually out of batteries)
Kaden, Jared, Gavin, and Nicolas getting ready to go down the slip n slide.
Nicolas was a little unsure at first, but got over it pretty quick and had lots of fun.
A yummy picnic dinner
Even though it was cooling off Jared and Kaden were still having fun getting wet!

Family birthday party for Nicolas

On Monday we had an early birthday party for Nicolas. Since my family is so far away we decided to have a little party while we were there. We also invited some of our close friends that we hadn't got to spend much time with. Nicolas had a great time his favorite thing was the icing on the cake. We had a little dinner, did water balloons and bubbles, cake and icecream, then he got some fun presents. We love our little Nicibug!






Jorge tried to organize a water balloon toss but it turned into an all out war!

Camping at Mirror Lake

Last weekend we got to go camping at Mirror Lake with my family. My parents went up on Thursday and took Kaden and my brother Kelly. My brother Michael and his family and my Grandma and Grandpa also went up and took their trailers. On friday after my brother Kevin and his wife Jessica got off work Jorge, Nicolas, and me rode up to join them. Right after we got up there I noticed Jorge talking to the people in the camp next to ours. I am used to Jorge talking to random people but I thought that was weird. I walked over to see who he was talking to and it was the Lemon's who lived across the street from us in Lehi! Its a small world! We enjoyed a yummy bbq dinner and smores then headed off to bed. Everyone was in trailers but our family and Kevin and Jessica. Instead of sleeping in a tent I decided to sleep in the back of my dads truck with Nicolas. It got really cold at night and we didn't get much sleep. On Saturday we started the day off with an artery clogging breakfast. It was the first time Nicolas has had bacon and sausage and he loved it! We then went for walks, went fishing, canoeing, and sat around enjoying the sun. For dinner we had a chicken and potatoes dutch oven dinner and celebrated Jorge's birthday a week late with some brownies and icecream. That night we bundled up and slept much better. After cleaning up Sunday morning we went for a nice walk and headed home. Thanks Mom and Dad for a fun camping trip!



Kelly and Kaden went fishing and Kaden caught this fish. He surprised me by carrying it around to show everyone. He was pretty proud of the first fish he's ever caught!

A Guitar Hero compitition in the trailer.

Nicolas and Jacob worked hard trying to figure out how to turn the water on. They finally got it to turn on and got all wet!

Jorge's belated birthday party

Kevin and Jorge in the canoe

I took Nicolas for a walk around the lake in the evening. It wasn't the best idea. He was tired and whined the whole 45 minutes. Half way around it got really rocky and I had to carry him in the stroller. Here we are taking a little break and enjoying the sunset.

Daddy's here!

Last night Nicolas and I drove to the airport and picked up Jorge.  Nicolas was so excited to see his daddy!  He threw his ares in the air and yelled "Daddy", then he ran to him and gave him the biggest hug.  Two weeks is way to long to be without a daddy.  After driving us out here and spending a few days Jorge flew back to Cali to work for a couple of weeks.  He came back to spend a week, we are headed out to go camping for the weekend!  We are so happy he gets to spend some time relaxing, he works too hard. (Sorry the pictures are kind of blurry) 

Last Week

We had a busy week last week.  To start off the week we got to lay sod at my parents new house.  It was really hot and it took us a little over 4 hours to do. Kaden got to water all the dry spots while we worked.    
Kaden got to do swimming lessons at one of my parents neighbors house.  They have a fun pool in their backyard and do swimming lessons all summer.  It was nice because they do semi private lessons so Kaden got alot of one on one attention and learned so much.  He had so much fun he was begging to do another week of lessons.
After lessons they got to go down the slide and jump off the diving board to practice their swimming skills. That was Kaden's favorite part.

My sister in law, Megan, brought her kids up and we spent a fun day with them.  We had a picnic at the park and then went to the pool in the afternoon.  Kaden and Nicolas had so much fun with their cousins.  We wish we could spend more time with them.
Taking a break! Kaden, Katie, Kristine, and Nicolas.  (My nephew Jacob was probably running away!)
This is my good friend Amy. She had her baby the day we got here.  We were able to spend the afternoon with them.  As you can see Nicolas made himself right at home.  He loved baby Lauren and even got to hold her for a second.
They have a great backyard in their new home and the kids enjoyed it.  Amy was the first person I met when we moved to Lehi a few years ago and has been a great friend to me.  Her sons Tyler and Alex are Kaden's good friends, so we all have a great time when we are here.  The adorable little princess is her daughter Abby, she is so cute! 
We couldn't stay away from the pool for long.  We spent the afternoon at the pool with my mom, sister Trisha, and sis in law Jessica.  Nicolas loves Trisha and was trying to get comfy for a little nap. 
Saturday evening we went down to Mona for my nephew Jacob's 2nd birthday.  We had a yummy bbq and enjoyed being together.  He got lots of fun toys and loved all the attention.  He really liked his snake birthday cake.  

4th of July

After the big run we enjoyed watching the parade in Provo.  It was Jorge's first time ever getting to come with us because he has had to work every year.  He had fun and enjoyed being with his boys.  Nicolas kept covering his ears when there were sirens and other really loud noises.  
This was Kaden's favorite float, it was a Pirate's float.
The 4th of July is my sister, Trisha's, birthday. It was cute when she was little she thought all of the parades and fireworks were for her! It was fun to spend the day with her and help her celebrate this year.  My boys adore Trisha they wish she was here night and day. She is the first one Nicolas asks for when he wakes up in the morning.  We love your Sis! 
Everyone loved the frosting on the cake, Nicolas was covered in it.
In the evening my family all went to my Grandma and Grandpa's house to do fireworks and have rootbeer floats.  We couldn't do fireworks at my parents new house because its too close to the mountains.  It was fun to spend time with my Grandparents they are the best!
Nicolas loved the fireworks.  He sat on my Grandpa Thatchers lap the whole time.  Every time a firework stopped he would clap and say, "All done", then another one would start.  

Race Day

Before the big race started
Jorge and his running buddy (a 67 year old!)
We finished!
For the past 4 years I have ran in the 10k before the parade in Provo on the 4th of July. This year for some crazy idea Jorge decided he wanted to do it too. Keep in mind Jorge hasn't run in a couple of years and he's never ran over 3 miles in his life, let alone 6.2! Jorge was so excited for this he could hardly sleep. He was asking me for running tips and went out and got all of the gear he would need, and the whole time I was thinking to myself that there was no chance he would finish.
The morning of the 4th we got up at 6:15 and my dad drove us to Provo for the race, that started at 7. This is one of the hardest races I have done because you start and end on pretty steep hills. I started out too fast and paid for it pretty quickly. I had a really bad cold and couldn't breath very well then add a totally different altitude then what I'm used to running in and I was hurting. I didn't think I was going to make it but I managed to finish in 49 min, had it been a minute longer i would have died right there. I was pretty disapointed with my time but was just happy I finished.
Jorge decided to start out at a slower pace and paced himself really well through the race. He found someone with his pace and struck up a conversation (its funny that it happened to be a 67 year old man!) they talked and enjoyed their time together and when they finished they gave each other a big hug. Jorge finished in 1 hour and 18 minutes! He felt great and didn't stop for water or to walk. I am so proud of him for doing this, anything he puts his mind to he accomplishes, even the impossible! We were both pretty sore the next day but he's already training for a 10k on the 24th of July!

We made it to Utah!

                 9 hours into the drive and we're all still happy!
     An hour and a half before we arrived they both finally fell asleep.
Greeting Papa and getting fun stuff from their cruise they just got home from.
                                            Loving Papa and Trisha 
We got here just in time to enjoy a barbeque and birthday party for my dad.  It was fun to see my whole family right when we got here. 
After the party my sister took all of the kids for a ride on the 4 wheeler, notice the high heels, she's never without them whether she's on a 4 wheeler or shopping in Park City for the day.  All of the kids love Sis!
Our drive was pretty uneventful.  Its crazy to say but it was actually kind of fun.  We left at five expecting the kids to go right to sleep.  It took Nicolas about 45 minutes to go to sleep and I'm not quite sure Kaden ever did.  Once they are awake they are wide awake and it takes alot to get them back to sleep, they are way too much like their mom!  We made really good time with brief gas stops, a 30 minute lunch break, and rush hour traffic in SLC we made it in 11 hours.  The kids stayed happy and entertained, our only mistake was letting Nicolas have a couple swigs of Jorge's Mt. Dew at lunch.  We were expecting to get in the car after lunch and having them zonk out but Nicolas got really wound up and took forever to go to sleep.  We got here and Nicolas jumped into my Mom's arms and was so happy to see everyone.  Then we enjoyed an evening celebrating my Dad's birthday. 

Bon Voyage!

The boys stole my suitcases while I was packing and made beds in them!

Tomorrow at 4 am we are headed out for our 10 hour drive to Utah. We have had a very busy week getting ready to be gone for three weeks. We have been back to Utah alot since we moved out here but we have flown every time, this time we're being crazy and driving. Kaden is so excited to see everyone and Nicolas doesn't really know whats going on. Jorge is driving us out there then flying back on Saturday. We will be getting there just in time to celebrate my Dad's birthday tomorrow. Wish us luck!