So LoNg AuGuSt

Our family had a good end of the summer with August. We got to officially say goodbye to swim lessons and swimming...

and we got to play at Kangaroo Zoo...


we went bowling with Grammy...

and then there was the short trip Cole and I made to Oklahoma. I went to see Corbin bless his new baby Landen. It was so good to see my family and makes me miss them so much! Amy's dad, Noel was there too. I wish Mayra could have been there...but she made sure we would think about her sending some gifts for us with Brandon. (she is getting so good at sewing it is nuts!)



While there, other than doing the most important thing of seeing Landen, we also went out to eat, saw the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, and went to the horse racing track (both races my horse came in first!) And we took lots of pictures relating to baseball. Can you tell we are all fans? There was the coolest "stadiums of America" displays that we took pics. Mickey Mantle was born in Oklahoma so they had a statue of him that we saw too.



It really was so good to be with the Harline family, and to see and hear the sweet blessing Corb gave Landen. He is one special little boy.

TiFiE RaNcH cAmPiNg TrIp

Our family and Josh's family went on the funnest (is that a word?) camping trip this past weekend. It was the coolest place to camp. It was called Tifie Ranch and is located really close to East Canyon Lake. It had really nice A-frame cabins to stay in, or you could stay in a tent, or tee-pee. We stayed in the cabins. They didn't have bathrooms or a kitchen so we used a shared pavillion with the kitchen and bathrooms with other cabins but they were so nice.

It was such a beautiful area with a archery area, paintball range, playground, and had a river running along the property. The boys tried fishing the river with no luck, so they went up to East Canyon and guess who caught the biggest fish? Annelise! (Josh reports that she prayed really hard right before they caught it!) It did rain on Saturday, but we kept warm by the campfire and did all the fun camping things you normally do. I just cannot get over how beautiful it was and I want to go back already!

The kids had so much fun with their cousins and also chasing around three wild kittens that belonged to the groundskeeper. There was always something to do and the kids just loved every minute. I am so glad we had the chance to camp at least once this summer and it made it even better to go with the Yeates family. Thanks Charissa for planning it and making us all go!

oUr LaTeSt...

Aaron has developed a great love and almost an obsession with Cole lately. He always wants to play with him, feed him, he sings to him, and two nights ago, we realized he wants to sleep with him in his room...(I love Cole's expression on his face about the whole thing) It is really sweet- but now we do have to figure out something to keep him out of his room for his safety!
On Saturday, before we saw a movie we had some extra time to spend, so we thought we would take the kids to the ogden temple and walk around. It was so nice, the weather was perfect, and we love the opportunities to talk about the temple with Annelise.
Then that night, Josh and I celebrated our anniversary. (our 7th! But we kept joking all night that it seems like it has been 50!) We went to Cirque Du Soleil at the E Center. It was amazing to see in person and I just can't get over what amazing things people are capable of doing and what they can do with their talents. Josh loved this crazy bike rider and the juggler...and I loved the guys who hold their bodies side ways on poles and the acrobatics on the swings.
Then for Family Night this week we tried to keep up with our New Year's Resolution to hike and camp more...so we took a hike up the Albion Basin hike. It was a half a mile hike up the mountain to Crecent Lake. It was so beautiful with so many wild flowers. Annelise hiked up (I was so proud of her for not giving up- it got pretty hard with the switchbacks) and had such bad blisters that she rode in the backpack on the way down and Aaron walked. It was so nice. I am making that an official family tradition to do each August when the flowers are blooming. Annelise of course picked some of her favorites and I think I might dry them for her. The hike made me want to hike more with our family.

24tH oF JuLy

I do love a parade...well, not really. I am not a huge parade fan- but Josh is, so we started our holiday off with the Pioneer Day Parade in Salt Lake. His favorite float is the Mama's Faith Church float. My personaly fav. is the motorcycle cops in the beginning. And I just cannot believe what work goes into putting together so many of the floats! And then we had a picnic at the park where Josh's family all celebrated Aaron's b-day with a yummy ice cream cake. The next day we went to the Hill Air Force Base Museum. I love that museum. Josh had never been, so it was so fun for him to go. He has always had a fascination with planes and flying, and the kids loved all the planes. Surprising the kids were good even though it was hot and way past nap time! It is amazing to think what progress air flight has taken over the past 100 years+. It is also amazing to contemplate the physics of aero dynamics. I cannot believe some planes ever made it off the ground! Josh says that if he were to have joined the armed forces he would have joined the air force (and almost did when he was home from his mission but his dad persuaded him otherwise). And me, I would love the marines. They have swords and I think it would be so cool to know how to use one well! I wish that we could say we have given such a sacrifice for our country like those who have served, or even to contemplate the sacrifice the pioneers made for our religion and freedom; it is awe inspiring. I would consider myself really patriotic, but to serve in such a truly selfless way is amazing to me. I am so thankful for those who have. The theme of the Pioneer day parade really summed it up well, "For God, Freedom, & Country."


We also have been keeping ourselves busy by swimming at the pool after the kids' lessons. The kids are getting so tan- and I wonder why it is so hard for me to get my legs tan! Oh well.

We also had a backyard camp out. Annelise's idea really, and also much to her persistence and persuasion is why we braved the mosquitoes! It ended up being super fun.

PiCnIc TiMe

Our cute neighbors have had a summer thing going where they have a neighborhood bbq each weekend. I love it cuz I don't have to cook, our kids all play, and it gives us something fun to do on Saturday nights with our friends! I am so glad she is a party planner!

bRiNg It

I am currently on week 4 of doing the P90x program. It is really kicking my behind but I am so glad. I have needed to loose some good 'ol "baby weight". I love the workouts- and I gotta say that it is everything I can do to get up and push "play" on the dvd player each day. It is hard though- since naturally I expect results faster than I am getting them, but exercise sure does make a person feel better afterwards. I am not sure if I will get "ripped" but we'll see! Here's to making it to week 13!

kEtChUp DaY

I have alot to "ketchup" on to stay moderately updated on our blog! So here goes!

{Fourth of July}
We got to go to the Stadium of Fire. It was my first time and I was so excited. You know what, I almost think I was as excited or more than Annelise that the Jonas Bros. were performing. She says she likes them because they sing good, and she likes the way they dress and their hair. My little girl likes boys already! However, I agree! I might have even sang along and was sad when it was over! And the fireworks were awesome, and came just in time before the wind picked up too much! It looked like it wasn't going to happen with all the lightning in the distance! I must admit that I did cry (luckily not for the Jonas Bros) but when Glenn Beck spoke about the serviemen/women who sacrifice for our country. We really are so blessed and I just can't imagine how much of a sacrifice it would be to fight for your country, far away, away from your family, in a foreign place; it brings so many emotions. I am so thankful for the service our troops give. I love patriotic holidays. I just love this country so it is such a fun thing to celebrate.



{Aaron's bday}
Aaron turned three two days after the fourth and we loved to celebrate our little Aaron. He is such an energetic, fun-loving, smart little boy. He loves trains so my mom (who came into town for a couple days) and I made a train cake for him and since it is an odd year for his bday- that meant we just had a family only party. We did bust out the fireworks in the end after presents (two trucks and a leapster game) and cake. I think that he felt special and knew it was his day the whole day and I don't think he missed out on anything by not having a party. (I tend to over-do parties so I can only do them every other year.) We love Aaron and are so glad he is in our family. He has a magical ability to capture peoples' hearts. (including mine)


{Roy Aquatic Pool}
I just love my cute neighbor Mindy, she plans fun stuff and gets all of us to go. She is such a great party planner and I love to benefit from it. This time it was swimming for anyone who could go at the pool. I did however get sunburnt on my nose since it was the first time of the summer to really get out in the sun. It has been one overcast summer so far! The kids had such a good time. And it is fun to have something fun to do with the kids!


{Park City}We also got the chance to go to Park City and stay overnight in the prettiest hotel I have ever stayed at! We got invited by our cute friends the Menloves and it was so fun. It was the first time we had ridden the Alpine Coaster- wow that was fun. I got to take Annelise with me and Josh took Aaron and it was so awesome. The Menloves have the cutest kids and it was fun to have our kids and their kids play. It was too short of a "stay-cation" though. I need more time away from home I think. That is what makes the summer fun- is the times you get to get away.


{Baby Landen}
OH! I almost forgot! One super important thing happened too...I am an aunt on the Harline side of the family! Finally! But hey, when you look at that little Harline face...it was worth the wait. I wish I could hold him right now! Congrats Corb & Amy.

rAnDoMnEsS

Here is some good ol randomness for ya!
Josh had fathers & sons with Aaron for the first time...I heard it was cold but that they both had alot of fun. It is a good way to start out the camping for the year (he says)



Annelise is out of school now. Two of her teachers cried when we took these pictures. She has been so lucky to have good teachers and a good school to go to. She loved being the peacock in the school program, and will miss school- and so will I!




& Annelise is almost done with her dance lessons- her recital is on Saturday but I took a couple of pics after dress rehearsal. I will probably post the official pic when I get it. It is funny how it hurts my feelings- but she doesn't want to dance anymore. She tells me that her teacher is mean, and I think it is probably true because her teacher is the owner and is strict, but good teacher. (maybe not the best for little girls though)

And Cole is just so sweet- he is just the love of my life right now. Do you love how he sucks his thumb? I am still deciding if I am going to break him of the habit now, or wait until he is a year old. What do you think?

mAy DaYs

Here is the latest and greatest from the Yeates family...
1. Cole is now eating solids! He sure hated rice cereal but likes most of everything else. (esp. fruits) I am afraid I have another sweet tooth on my hands.




2. I got to clean Aaron's teeth for the first time last Thursday, and of course did Josh's and Annelise's the same day. There are some perks of working in a dental office. Aaron was so much better than I thought he would be...he loved the bubble gum prophy paste and Annelise hated the cookie dough prophy paste. Can't say I would blame her. And just to report, no cavities for the whole family!


3. We made our first venture to the zoo for the year. It was actually kinda cold outside, but it was such a good day to go because it wasn't too hot for all the animals to be out! Aaron loved the monkeys (they have alot in common with each other) and Annelise love the peacock and elephant. When we passed the rhinos it stunk so bad that Aaron kept asking me, "where poops?" Hmmm, I just left that one alone. It was nice cuz we got to go with Kim, my sister-in-law and her kids (we love our cousins!) and Jen Strong and her cute kids. And of course I caved and payed extra to have the kids ride the carousel and the train. It was a good trip and gave me confidence to try more with the three kids.



4. Last thing is we found a snake in our backyard. Annelise was terrified but curious, and Aaron had absolutely no fear and picked it up! But here-in lies the debate, Josh called it a GARDNER snake and I think it is called a GARTER snake. So who is right? What do you think? (ps...I am always right by the way)