The McGraths

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Family Adventures

Here are a few family adventures we've had recently.

We went up to Silver Lake for another Sunday drive, and to get out of the heat. We actually saw a Moose at the edge of the water just eating away. It then walked across the boardwalk and kept on its way.

Nyles and Steve

We had family dinner up in Centerville. Stacie and Phil then had us video them getting water poured on them for cancer research in the UK. The kids thought it was pretty funny.

We also sang Happy Birthday to Nyles

He, along w/ all the other kids, really liked the frosting :)

Last week Steve wanted to get out of the heat again and took Joann and Nyles back up to Silver Lake. They had a little picnic and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Nyles watching the bird and eating a SunButter sandwhich.

At Ali's baptism on August 2nd. We had lunch afterwards at the church, then went back to Rose's. We put Nyles and Ezra down for a nap and visited while they slept. It was great!

Me, Steve, Chris, Nyles, Charlotte, Pauline, Ezra, Mom, Ali, Rose, Sophia, Summer, Ava and Dad.

Since I worked on Nyles birthday, I got off early the day after and we went to the Living Aquarium together. Nyles loves fish and always enjoying going to see them. It was a good time. We stopped at Costco on our way home them went swimming. We went swimming Saturday also after running errands. It was a lot of fun. Steve went fly fishing w/ 2 guys in the branch Friday so Melissa Thomas and I hung out (Dave's wife). I got to hold their baby Calvin the whole time, he's almost 2 months old now, so cute!

Nyles also loves trucks and wants to wear truck shirts everyday. We stopped by at Savers and I found two for a buck each. He's been wanting to wear them ever since. Rose also found a couple truck shirts online and mailed them to us. We got them yesterday so he had to wear one today. Silly kid.

Steve and Nyles by the shark tank w/ his truck shirt

The Utah fish

Riding a Whale

This Saturday the 16th we had our Fidelity BBQ. We did the 5k in the morning w/ Nyles in the stroller, walking fast. We did half of it then Nyles was done. Nyles really liked the bouncy house though. They also had a "Scales and Tails" show which was fun to see the reptiles. Then we had lunch and took Nyles home for a nap. He was exhausted by the time we got back.

Nyles enjoying the bouncy house

I also finished up my tax class the night before Steve took his final on the 5th. It wasn't an easy class but the time I put into it studying and readying while on vacation definitely paid off. I'm glad to have that one over with for sure! I'll start the retirement planning section next Monday. I'm not sure if I mentioned this but I got released as the 2nd counselor and sustained as the 1st counselor a month ago after our 2nd counselor moved. Things have been going well for the most part in Primary and Nursery which I'm over. I'm really enjoying being able to teach the children. It's definitely a learning experience but a good one. We also made it to the temple Wednesday night. After putting Nyles to bed Rob came and sat at the house so we could go. We had a great session.

Steve Update

Besides keeping up w/ Nyles, Steve has also been busy helping out with other things. He has been busy w/ his calling in the clerk's office at church. He got another assistant a few weeks ago, so he's been busy training him. He also finished his Biology class last week and did AWESOME, so this semester he's going to take Anatomy and Biology. We actually starts this Wednesday the 20th. Thankfully w/ my schedule, I'll be able to work around his schedule so he can take the classes he needs.

Steve has also been busy cutting wood for the cabin. He's organized several trips now and they finally got all 4 cords of wood cut. We should have enough wood for a couple years. Now we just need to split the wood next week.

Steve and Zach cutting a tree

The last cord

Taking a little time for fishing of course

Before Zach Hannay got married Steve also went up to the cabin to cut wood but of course got time in for fishing. They even stayed overnight on the boat and fished after dark. They used glow sticks and put them in their bobbers so they could see them. They didn't catch too many after it got dark it sounded like, but they still had a great time they said.

Steve, Zach and Rob

They bought new lures and were really catching Kokanee Salmon.

Dave driving the boat

Rob and Steve also did work on Diane's salon. They replaced the floor and sinks. They were really incentivized to do the job so they could both earn money to buy new shotguns. Though it was over the 4th of July weekend, they were both REALLY happy to get their guns afterward. Steve is just a little excited for duck season to open now. ;)

Getting closer to being done

Steve and I at Zach's wedding July 16th

Nyles' Adventures

Nyles is growing everyday, both physically and mentally. He says the funniest and cutest things. He's definitely learning new words every day. It's crazy the amount of things he remembers. I love hearing him say "Please (pees). Thank you (tank oo). Excuse me (cooz me). Baby (beebee). Help (hup) Yep. More. Truck. Done. Up. Boat. " He loves taking a toy to bed w/ him also. He takes a truck, a book, a train, or something w/ him. Sometimes he takes a few things, so after he goes to bed I take them out of his crib so he doesn't bump into them while he's sleeping. He sure does move around a lot at night. We plan to keep him in his crib for a while, but we did turn his car seat around this past week and he is LOVING it. He's really enjoying being able to see more of what we can see.

He had his 2 year Dr appointment on the 13th. Here were his stats:

Weight: 25.5 pounds, 18th percentile
Height: 32.25 inches, 47th percentile
Head Circumference: 19.4 inches, 65th percentile

Here are some pics from his latest adventures:

Walking around in Steve's shoes

He likes to help me cook.

Waiting for the chicken to cook

He helped me during our Stake Pioneer Breakfast Celebration. We had activities for all the Primary kids. Our station was milking a cow and roping a horse. Nyles thought it was so much fun. He especially liked playing w/ Steve Drage (the husband to our Primary President). I think he thought it looked like Grandpa Hegerhorst because he called him Grandpa several times.