Friday, October 7, 2011

Last Summer Update - I hope!

HERITAGE PARK:
This was such a fun learning place for kids. There is a reconstructed pioneer village, , complete with people dressed in the style of the times. You can go from building to building, learning pioneer games; how to wash pioneer clothes; how to punch leather; make Indian crafts and visit teepees; visit the post office, barber shop, general store, etc. There was also a little petting zoo, pony rides, train ride, and panning for gold. Kasey had the best time! Here's a few pics:

Kasey at the end of the day. For some reason, he decided to lay down on this bridge and take a little breather. :)
There was also a playground with miniature houses for kids to play in. Fun!
Kasey with the sheep and goats.
Kasey on his first pony ride!
HURRICANE:
Heather came to visit us for a week, and we had the best time! I don't have too many pictures of that week, so if you're curious, check out her blog. She's much better at picture taking. In the picture below, Kasey and I decided to take a little hike up my backyard. We used to always hike to these lava rocks and play as kids. (I know, right? Imagine having a mountain in your backyard growing up! Lucky!) Here's Kasey at the top of the little hill overlooking Hurricane.
The view. I love the semi-rural life that I grew up with! We've enjoyed our time living in downtown Salt Lake, but there's nothing like space and clean air!
This is kind-of a random, funny picture. Kasey was supposed to be going to sleep. Apparently, he had a little fun with stickers before tuckering out. Check out his arm. :)
LAGOON:
While my sister Heather was in town, we headed up to SLC for a family reunion. For part of that reunion, we went to Lagoon. Here's Kasey with Grandpa on the train.
Kris and Kasey on the carousal.
Kasey didn't have too much fun on this ride, but at least he didn't lose his granola bar.
Kris decided to take Kasey on Kris' favorite roller coaster ride when he was ten. I believe Kasey's thoughts are something like this: "I don't know about this mom. There's a guy with a crazy mullet buckling us in."
This may be hard to see, but Kasey is crying in this picture. Kris is trying to console him or he's laughing, or both. I think Kris and I both realized that although Kasey seems older, he's not even 2, and he's probably not ready for roller coasters... yet. :)
Afterwards: Stunned and completely shaken. He could not believe that his own father would expose him to such horror.
That's more like it - a calm boat ride.
Kasey's favorite ride - the cars.
Kasey told me he was trying on Uncle Jake's wakeboard (really it's a snowboard). If you ask him, Kasey will tell you that he wants to wakeboard someday. (Someday far in the future, right Kris?)
Check out Kasey's face while watching Bambi. It is pure delight. :) For some reason, I thought this was especially funny. Although, usually at Grandma's house, he's watching the tractor movie. He'll be spellbound for a full 20 minutes watching that show.
With the siblings in good ole Hurricane.
Another random couple of pictures. This picture is a warning to all mothers: Do not leave your child alone with the peanut butter jar.
Hurray! I love peanut butter!
Dog pile! So glad I'm the one taking the picture. :)
Bees game. Kasey is wearing one of his favorite shirts, his baseball shirt. (He'd probably wear it everyday if I let him. That and his swimsuit and spandex swim shirt.)
Chillin and watching the Days of 47 parade. Aunt Leisa bought him some killer shoes!
With dad watching the parade.
Kasey's first sparkler. "Uh, mom, now what do I do with it?"
Thus ends our summer fun....unless I find more summer pictures on the camera. :) It's likely.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Summer Fun: Red Butte Garden

The Red Butte Gardens (not to be confused with the Red Butt Gardens). These beautiful gardens are located up by the U of U, and we enjoyed an evening up there together. Here are a few pictures:

Kasey touching the fountain.
Nothing says summer fun like a good roll down a grassy hill.
Kasey inside a tree-enclosed hideout.
Kris decided to join him.
Huge lizards -fun!
Kris and Kasey coming out of the snake's mouth!
Kris and Kasey bravely crawling under the rattlesnakes, barely missing their shooting water venom.
Walking through the gardens.
Kasey and mom.
Gorgeous Flowers!

Picturesque Settings!
Quaint Bubbly Streams!
Creative Flower Arrangements! (I'm starting to sound like a brochure now.) But really, it was so fun to see the creativity in the children's garden.
A flower bed - get it? :)
Can you see the paint brush and painter's palate? (Is that what they call it?)
A fun place to visit if you are ever in the area. Kasey loved it. :)

Summer Fun: Lake Powell


It's so ironic that I am still blogging about summer when everything about today hints of the impending winter:
  • It is overcast and rainy.
  • We turned our heater on for the first time this season, but I am still wearing 2 jackets and slippers.
  • My knuckles are starting to crack and bleed.
  • Our butter is solid.
  • Kasey went outside in just his socks and came back crying because his feet were cold and wet.
  • I'm currently enjoying my second cup of hot cocoa.
There is one part of me that loves the anticipation and excitement of changing seasons. The other part of me still longs for the warmth of the sun. These pictures should bring us out of the winter gloom. There are few places as delightfully warm and sunny as Lake Powell in July:
(Yes, I know. I just wrote July. Am I really that far beh
ind? Yup! Get used to it!)

Kasey enjoying being on Grandpa's boat! (Lucky for him, he has TWO grandpas with boats!)

Kasey's first tube ride. He was enjoying it so much that he started singing "Old McDonald"...but then tragically as we were turning the tube submarined and swept us off into the lake. Luckily enough, mom was able to keep Kasey's head out of water, but that doesn't mean he wasn't wet, scared, and crying. No long term damage done, however. After a few m
ore minutes of riding, he was back to singing "Old McDonald." :)

Climbing with dad. Kasey couldn't be happier.



Kris and Kasey, and my cute lil' sis Jenny climbing up the beautiful red rock.

Kasey with Uncle Brian.

Kasey and dad, making their way down to the lake.

Playing in the sand. Kasey's in heaven.

We are so blessed to be able to go to Lake Powell so often! Sun, swimming, hiking, wakeboarding, relaxing, eating, eating some more, and being with Kris' family and friends. There's no better vacation! We did have a few boat troubles, however, but that just meant that my younger brother and sis could join us with my family's boat! Overall we h
ad a great week!

Although this looks similar to Lake Powell, this is a hike we took in Colorado Springs with my family while down in Hurricane. Heather and Javan came to visit, and we had the best time! We hadn't seen them since Christmas, and we miss them clear out there in Virginia! Sadly, our camera broke, so you'll have to check out their blog for more pics.

My cousins Sierra and Annie also came to visit while Heather was here, with their cute little boys Ryder and Caige. All three taking a bath together!
The four cousins: Heather, Annie, Sierra, and Me!

We had the best time together. It's been so long since all the cousins were together. Heather and Javan - thanks so much for making the trip to see us! We love you!

Considering the large amount of pics I have for this second summer update, I'm going to create several posts. Next Post: Red Butte Garden.