Seven Peaks

We did the oh so amazing Pass of all Passes again this year.  Seven Peaks was so much fun with Ashton.  The kid loves to swim, especially after swimming lessons he lost all fear and just went nuts!  I'm always sad when the season is over and we can't go anymore.  

 One of his and mine favorite things is the people watching.  We are quiet good at it too.  

Jason was able to join us a few times, we also met up with my family and the Larsons.  

And we had a few play dates too.  Check out this handsome trio...

Ashton (21 months) Gage (2 years) Bennet (22 months)

Swimming Lessons

I'd been dying to do swimming lessons with Ash since he was born.  After working at Goldfish I just loved the idea of these little babes being able to swim so early.

I thought I'd be able to teach him on my own, and he did pretty good last summer.  This summer though he was just too distracted, and trying to get him to do anything at the busy public pools wasn't happening.  So I decided to sign him up for swim lessons in Pleasant Grove.

I tried going in with ultra low expectations, but I was still disappointed.  Goldfish really just raised the bar as far as what I expected out of a swim class.  

Ashton still had fun though, and even though he wasn't the swimming master I had hoped, by the end of classes he was incredibly brave and was going down the big tunnel slides and jumping in all by him self.  

Plus we got to spend some quality pool time together.  Even Jason took him to one of the classes.  He sure doesn't like listening to directions, but cried every time class was over.

Love you little fish.

4th of July in the Sun

Ashton and I have been spending a lot of time this summer at this man made lake we discovered in Pleasant Grove.  It may be more of a pond, but we like to say lake.  I was really excited to be able to show Jason our new favorite place so we spent the morning of the 4th playing on the beach and in the water.  That night we met up with Auntie Stephanie and had third row tickets to the Bee's game (thanks for the tickets Dad!).  We're trying to squeeze in as much time with Ashton's favorite person before she leaves on her mission.  The Bee's really put on an awesome firework show too.  I was quite impressed and so was Ashton as long as we were holding him tight and plugging his ears.

Love the 4th of July!

Fathers and Sons

Ashton went to his first fathers and sons campout with Jason and Grandpa Beckstrand this summer.  I was pretty skeptical on how well it was going to go, but apparently the kid had a blast, till it was time to go to bed and Jason ended up bringing him home at 1 in the morning.  Good try buddy, better luck next year.

Birthday Love

I love having our Bdays in the summer. I don't love that mine is after Jason's so that no matter what I do for him he can always top it.  Well, actually I do love how he always tops it, every year, is the best.

I had to work one of my longest days of my Blue Lemon career on my bday, over 16 hours and 4 events.  However I sure felt loved.  All my girls surprised me with treats and cards in the middle of work, Aislinn brought me lunch, Jason brought Ashton in to visit me with a rose, friends sent cupcakes, and when I got home Alex and Annalise had decorated the house and left more candy than I even knew what to do with.  Jason had huge presents wrapped that said I couldn't open until August 10th (this drove me crazy having them just SIT there for so long)

Well August 10th finally came and amongst some great "little" presents there was some awesome "big" presents.  Namely a boat and wave runners.  Jase set up a day on the lake, my Dad rented a boat and Jason got two wave runners.  

We headed out to Utah Lake at like 8:00 in the morning and stayed out till almost 8 that night.  It was a blast.  Jason's brother Ty came, and everyone in my family, except Eric who was off exploring Peru at the time, was able to come.  

Jason even let me invite Aislinn, Alex, and Annalise, we kind of took over the wave runners for a bit, I think we are all obsessed with them now.  We did some tubing, and I even got up on the wakeboard, twice, mainly to impress Jason.

I'm wishing I had more pictures now, but unless Ashton's in it, theres a good chance there is no photo evidence of anything else going on. 

The Happy Fourth

I've always loved The Fourth of July, mainly because of the memories I have of spending it fishing and watching fireworks with my Grandparents in Idaho.  Also I really love fireworks, there is just something magical about them that I can't get over.  

This year was perfect.  We went to a pool party at our friend Aislinn's house in Provo, had the yummiest food and swam and played.  

Aislinn spoils Ashton and I think he loves her for that.

That night we went to another BBQ and watched Fireworks at Brent and Krista's.  They have a little boy, Mack,  just one month older then Ash.   Brent and Jason were best friends growing up, so they are destined to be buddies too. 

(I just love this picture of these two best friends with their little babes.)

Yes I made everyone dress in matching clothes and pose for a picture, you can just tell how thrilled both boys were for this idea.  But, hey your first Fourth of July is a special day.

Blue Vegas

Apparently Vegas is becoming our place to vacation during the summers.  Jase and I went last year together while I was pregnant with little boy Ash.  This year we got spoiled by Blue Lemon and took our first solo vacation with out the little guy.

We went down with all of the Managers from the three different Blue Lemon locations and stayed in a huge house they rented for us.  Hung out by the pool for most of the day, hopped a party bus for a night out, fancy dinner at Sinatra, walked the strip, SLEPT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT (I think this is what I had been looking forward to the most), more pool time, BBQ, spa day with massages and manicures, shopping, more yummy food, another amazing night sleep, morning at the pool and then we were headed home.  Quick trip, but much needed and appreciated.  BL is the best! I love working with so many fun and crazy people.  

Ashton stayed with my family and even though I felt super guilty leaving him I don't think he missed us all that much.

50 years of LOVE

My Grandparents celebrated their 50th anniversary this June.  They are such an amazing example to me of strength, pure love, endurance, humility, kindness, patience, and happiness.  I have always had a very special place in my heart for both of my grandparents.  Being the oldest grandchild I think I got to be a little extra spoiled.  Having my Uncle only four years older than me, and my Aunt only 6, made me feel more part of the "kids" and not so much the "grandkid".  I loved visiting Grandma and Grandpa growing up.  Which we only got to do maybe twice a year since we were in Washington most of my childhood and they were in Idaho.  I remember my little brother and I use to swing on our swing set as high as we could thinking and hoping it would lift us off the ground and we could fly all the way to their house and land on the neighbors trampoline.  

My Grandpa has Alzheimers and has been dealing with it for about 3 years now.  It is progressively getting worse and worse, but for the most part he still knows we are his family, he just can't quite figure out how.  My grandma still takes care of him, the house, and all the rest of us, while faithfully serving in all of her church callings.  She truly amazes me.  We wanted to throw them a big party with all of their friends and family.  But things are a bit more tricky now with Grandpa so we opted for a more intimate party with just us close family members.  Every other year we get together for a family reunion.  This year it was at Island Park, Id.  

(just missing 3 people this year I think)

This was the first time most of the family was going to be meeting Ashton and I was so excited for him to meet his little cousins.  Especially Jase who is just a few weeks younger than him.  They will be best buds I'm sure of it!

We went for a hike to Mesa Falls, ate yummy food and spent lots of time together.  

I will admit camping with a baby is much harder than I ever imagined it would be.  I think I forgot about naps, and the fact that it is very loud with 40+ grandchildren running around all the time.  Jason was such a good sport and spent the majority of the time trying to find quite places to let Ashton rest.

On June 15th, we distracted Grandma and Grandpa and setup the "mess hall" with all the decorations I could come up with.  

I got put in charge of decorating, and I think it didn't turn out half bad for camping. 

We managed to surprise them (or at least that's what they say). We had their wedding cake recreated and displayed pictures and a slide show of them and did some gifts and of course ate cake.  

It wasn't much but, Grandma if you are reading this, I hope you know we wanted to make things so special and that we all love you and Grandpa so very much.  I am in tears just writing this with how much I care about you both.  

Congrats on 50 years.  You have set the bar so high for all of us!

(pictures like this make my heart happy)

Summer???

Not quite sure where Summer went this year...  I don't feel like we got to enjoy it like we wanted to and I'm sad to say that our Bikes didn't even make it out once all season.  We will blame this on the crazy amount of Credits Jason took this summer and on the 40+ Weddings/Dinners/Luncheon I put together.  Not to mention, I was feeling quite "under the weather" up until the end of July.  So what did we do besides work and school?

Tin foil dinners in the mountains with friends. A little bit of St. George. Celebrated Jason's Birthday.

Miniature Golf with the Fam.  

Go Karts. Lots of Ice Cream this summer. Played like little kids in the arcade.  

We did make it to the pool once or twice.  4 Wheeling for the 4th.  Fireworks, Fireworks, and more Fireworks.  

Massive bon fires (thanks Dad).  Some kayaking and cliff jumping at Causey.  Hiking at Sundance.

 Jason spoiled me, as usual, for my birthday, which led to a quick trip to Vegas. 

Where we explored every free form of entertainment possible, walked the strip till I couldn't walk anymore and lounged at the pool as much as Jason would let me.  (This has definitely been my whitest summer yet!) 

 Bowling, movies, BBQs, cabin trips with friends.  We got to walk for a cure and visit the amazing Make A Wish. 

Oh and did I mention I gained 9 pounds this summer? 

Ya, seriously.

So I guess we weren't exactly bored this summer.  But heres to a hopeful boating trip next year! :)

Bear Lake

This years Morehead Family Reunion was at Bear Lake (Thanks Uncle Bob! Great choice!)

Although freezing, the lake is beautiful.

The Caribbean of the West.

Fun boating, tubbing, jet skiing.

Fireworks.

Family.

Really can't complain.

Dog Lake, Attempt 2

Dog Lake, via Big Cottonwood Canyon

I can do it this time.

Maybe

Yes!!!!!!!

Oh and did I mention it was Jason's Birthday? How else could he ever get me to attempt this again?

Topped it off with Pizza Hut and Blue Lemon Carrot Cake (soooo good!!!)

Diamond Rio.

Oh and Fireworks. Yeah, I know how to throw a good Birthday.