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)

Park City take 2

I had so much fun in Park City earlier this summer that all I wanted for my birthday was to go back.  It wasn't quite the same relaxing trip, but it was an adventure for sure.  Stephanie and Dallin came up on my b-day to watch Ashton and Jason and I headed to PC.  Since my birthday was on a Sunday things were pretty quite.  Jase got us a ton of snacks and treats and we spent the evening being lazy and relaxing at the hotel. 

This picture about sums up the rest of the trip.  

We woke up the next morning and headed for Park City Mountain Resort where we rode our bikes up (no lifts for us) before heading down, which is always the best part.  I about died, as usual.  But loved the scenery and the ride back down (as usual).  Next we headed for Jordanelle where we picked up some paddle boards and spent a few hours out on the lake.  My parents had gotten Jason and I gift certificates for our birthdays and we were excited to try our hand at it.

Looking back we should have done it opposite, adventure day then relaxing night... Rookie mistake. 

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.

Morgan

My family moved to Morgan the summer I was nannying in New York.  They've been in the same house now for 8 years.  This is a huge record for our family!  They have been wanting to build a home in Morgan ever since they moved there.  Now it is finally happening! My parents are incredibly hard workers and have done a lot of the work on their own.  I know my brothers have spent countless hours up there too.  We've been able to go a handful of times, but I feel bad we haven't been around to help more.  

Ashton is a great electrician now if anyone needs help with anything.  He is also great at playing in the dirt and throwing rocks.

They built their new home on the land they owned behind their old house and are now renting the old home out.  The first time we visited them in their new home Ashton kept wanting to go to the other house.  Stephanie took him back and said he brought her into every room of the house and would just shake his head and was really sad cause it was all empty.  She said he looked heartbroken and confused.  When they came back to the new house though he discovered the secret toy room that my Mom set up just for him and he hasn't asked to go back to the old house since. 

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.

June 19th

I had a special surprise party planned for Jason's birthday this year.  However, with some medical stuff going on with his parents I decided to cancel it and go to Plan B... Family Pictures.  Jason's favorite thing in the world!

 Actually Kayli was coming into town from nannying in Luxembourg and it would be the last time we were all together before Stephanie left on her mission.  We went for the quick and cheap Target option. That way if they didn't turn out, no worries.  The day before family pictures Ashton was running out side and fell. hard.  His poor nose.  I couldn't believe the timing of it.  Again, grateful it was just Target.  

We worked really hard on practicing saying "cheese" and smiling for weeks.  He still refuses though.

After pictures I had my Dad suggest that we go to Dairy Queen for ice cream.  When we got there all of Jason's family was there as well and I had arranged for Jason's favorite DQ ice cream cake to be ready for us. 

 It was a small surprise, but still a surprise non the less (something I can't pull off well with Jason).  Love you Jase!  Happy Birthday and thanks for being such a good sport!