Lucy, the pioneer, and our weekend

A first Pioneer Day for Lucy, and it was a lot of fun.

It started with the Bountiful parade and dinner with the Butler fam! 

That parade gets bigger every year, but the candy seems to be less and less every year. The kids all had a great time, and Lucy loved the marching bands, to which she would dance.

 So stinkin cute!  

On the morning of the 24th, we went to a Chuck Wagon breakfast. If anyone out there 

knows why they are called chuck wagon, do enlighten us!! 

For the evening, we headed to the Becks extended family BBQ. What a generous family! 

They, ALL the Becks, are so welcoming, friendly and a great family. 

We had a few tug-a-wars, of which the girls won, most the time. It was a lot of fun. 

And Lucy was able to meet and play with the other Lucy, the cutest bug in the world. 

Lucy is about 5 months older then our Lucy, and the cutest thing! 

Our Lucy was in hog heaven! 

And finally, we finished off the weekend with a trip to the zoo!! 

Lucy does love the zoo! Above, she is admiring the penguins, but also really likes the 

peccaries and monkeys. 

We did miss my parents horribly, as holidays seem to always remind me of family. 

But alas, I could not have asked for a more memorable holiday. 

An AMAZING week!!!

               Have you ever heard some teens say that living with their parents is like 

 prison? Well, for our little Lucy Lu, it really is. She figured out that she 

can not only sit in her crib, but she can fit her legs in the bars. I guess its all well and good, until she gets stuck. 

This is Lucy celebrating. Celebrating what? 

Oh, just read on. 

"Jack sprat had no hair" 

"Jack and Jill went up the hill"

"Jack be nimble, jack be quick, Jack jump over the candle stick"

So what's the celebration? ITS A BOY!!!! 

Lucy is going to be a big sister to a brother, Jack!!!! 

We are so so so excited! It looks like he's due to arrive a bit earlier then we though, 

just about a week, so the very first of December, around

the 5th! 

We can't wait! Yes, Jack, do be nimble and quick in getting here!

Ok, and so why do I have a picture of the Honda CR-V? Well, this is part of the news! 

Not only did Jeff get a great new job, which he is thrilled about, and not only

did we find out that we were having a BOY.....BUT we got a new car, 

and this is it! 

 A 2008 Honda CR-V. 

It will nicely fit the 3 car seats we plan on having, as well as take us on oh so many 

family vacations! 

Thats about all the big news we have for now! 

~Chow~

" Do do do ...

...and da da da, is all I want to say to you!!!! "

Ah yes! The Police! I'm sure we've all had our fair run-ins with our local authority, but my friends, this was my favorite encounter with the Police! 

This was the beginning of what would turn out to our excessive calorie consumption, 

binge eating, singing above recorded sound volume night! If there was to be a good time had, 

by anyone, Jenna and I were your girls! 
It began with a chicken sampler plate, heaps of fries, a taco gone wrong, and way more caffeine then I have had in my life, TOTAL!!! However, that was just setting us up for...
the realization that we had more talent, ability and good looks than anyone there combined (yes, including my pregnant belly and all!)

So...those of you wondering what the heck Jenna is doing, you are obviously NOT a musician! 

Jenna my friends, is the drummer in my lead band, and I, well I am ...
I am of corse on the electric guitar! We pretty much were hunted out by talent scouts, after the show, but declined, as we are pursuing  our design careers for now!

And after all that crazy partying, but mostly due to the consumption of food, and family size popcorn, we wanted nothing but WATER!!! I practically broke the speed of light driving to the closest 7-11 for a drink! 

We made it out of there with a gallon, and home with nothing but full bellies, over full bladders and memories to last a LONG LONG time! 

Jenna, what can I say!!!!!

"JELLY" STONE!!!!"

We finally made it! Yellowstone! The Sanders family trip that was nothing but a great success.
Lucy was great, considering that she spent more than 22 hours in the car, total! And missed her
naps every day!













To Hollie's delight, we also saw many animals! The bison were the cause of a huge traffic jam! We also saw moose, elk AND 2 bears!
























The nights were cold, but sleeping in a tent for the first time, Lucy did great and loved it! When we ate dinners, it was like feeding men
on a ranch. The food was laid on the table, and sooner then I could take a bite, it was gone!
All that hard walking around the hot pots and to waterfalls I guess really did it for everyone!
This is a picture inside a lodge, just by Old Faithful! It was gorgeous, and I've never seen anything like it!

































This is the much anticipated hike down the 3oo some stairs, of Uncle Toms trail!
I guess it wasn't as hard as I remember from a few years back, but just as spectacular!!! Oh, and Lucy's first swing ride! She loved it!
All in all, despite ALL the mosquitoes, the 30 degree nights and the drive time, it was a PERFECT trip!
Thanks SANDERS fam!!!

The all inclusive 4th of July!!!!

So...it all started when we realized we had NOTHING to do on the 4th. 

Being that my parents are in another country didn't make planning something to do very easy. 

We racked our brains, and just in the nick of time, Jenny and the gang called to inform us that they were on their way up for dinner and the Centerville fireworks! 

Much to Lucy's disappointment, the fireworks started quite late, and I won't say that she screamed, but she certainly did cry during the event. 

It was a great night, and we were literally sitting right next to where they light them. 

Well, after a really really late night for Lucy, we were convinced that she'd sleep through the next day...BUT I'm sure she knew it was one of my favorite holidays, and she couldn't stand to spoil the event. 

She was up bright and early at 7:30, we rushed to the ward breakfast, and then hopped on our bikes to join "Aunt Jenna" at the parade!!!

Lucy is her grandmothers grandaughter...meaning that she 

did love the parade. 

She's just discovered that she can dance, so to my 

pleasure she enjoyed the marching bands, and bag-pippers. 

 In search of yet another adventure, we headed off to Salt Lake, where we found ourselfs at Rubios Baja Grill. 

Unless you were present 5 1/2 years ago, this would be of no particular significance to you....however, this my friends is where Jeff and I had our first date! 

It was so fun to go back, and see the place, and take a really 

long drive down memory lane! 

The food was yummie, the company was perfect, and it was so fun to think of how far we've come, 5 years, nearly 2 kids, and a whole heck of a lot of fun later!!!! 

Well, to end the weekend, or few days of hard partying, one may think that a great relaxing day was just what the doctor ordered....alas, Mel, Jeff's dad, invited us on a hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon. 

This was no bring-your-flip-flops-and-fanny-pack-hike. 

It was a grueling sprint up to Lillian and Blanch (?) lake. 

It was breath taking beautiful. 

Jeff carried Lucy the whole way, 

and bless her little heart, for sitting in the pack that long, she did FABULOUS!!! 

It was a GREAT hike! and we ended the weekend doing something we both love. 

So, next time you think, we have nothing to do...just you wait! 

It was the perfect ending to the perfect holiday!