February Fun

February is here and I'm so glad! The sun has been shinning more and the weather has been nice and warm.   Here is some of the fun we've had so far.

Nyles playing w/ play dough and his loader

Nyles playing at the playground w/ his tractor swinging next to him

I made some pumpkin ginger bread w/ my mom's pumpkin and apple sauce, yumm :)

This past week Steve took me to work, then while getting gas at Costco in Murray next to IMC (Intermoutain Medical Center) a medical helicopter landed.  Steve walked over to take a closer look w/ Nyles, and the pilot actually told him they could come over and take an even closer look.  They let Nyles get inside too.  Nyles loved it!!! 

Nyles inside the helicopter

Nyles w/ the pilot

Steve and Nyles w/ the helicopter

On Thursday, Carrie watched Nyles while Steve went to class since Joann wasn't feeling well.  She decided to take him and Lynsie up to the Zoo.  Needless to say they had a GREAT time!  Thanks Carrie; we really appreciate it!

Nyles and Carrie

Lynsie and Nyles at the Zoo

Nyles helping Lynsie know where to go

Polar Bear

A tiger

Last Friday as I was getting out of the shower and I somehow hurt my neck.  It was still hurting pretty bad after work, so we went to see the chiropractor just before they closed that night.  It helped, but I was still sore the whole weekend.  I iced it and took Ibuprofen to help w/ the pain.  I went back Monday morning as well, and again this past Friday.  They took xrays to see if there was any damage.  They noticed that my vertebrae are twisted slightly, not lining up correctly.  The chiropractor said this would have happened before, meaning not just from ringing out my hair in the shower.  After thinking about it, we figured it very likely happened from the car accident, which was over 10 years ago.  He said as long as we stay up on it, it shouldn't be a big problem down the road.   It's been feeling a LOT better after getting it adjusted, thankfully.

After getting adjusted on Friday, we went out to eat at Red Robin's for my birthday (free birthday burger).  Zach and Erin were planning to go as well, so we met them there and had dinner together.  It was fun to be out and socialize a little.  Nyles enjoying himself too and helped eat half my burger.

The next morning we went to IHOP for breakfast (free birthday breakfast).  After we got done we went to the church so I could print out some stuff for Primary Sharing Time, and Steve cleaned up the clerk's office.  We then came home.  Since it was Saturday, we like to change the sheets.  Steve was planning to go up w/ Dave to look at the cabin, but I figured Steve could help for a few minutes before he needed to leave.  So Steve helped me change the sheets, then gathered his stuff up and headed up to his parent's house to get a few ice fishing things, in case they had time to fish.

A little while later I got a call from Joann asking me if I'd heard from Steve, I said no.  She said she had just talked to him and asked him to go help LuDean who had fallen.  I guess Joann was trying to get a hold of LuDean for a while but she wasn't answering.  Finally LuDean called Joann and told her that she had fallen.  Joann then called Steve, who just happened to be coming up on her exit.  Joann asked him to exit and go over and check on her.  When Steve got there he helped her get up then did a quick exam to make sure she was ok.  When she had fallen, her glasses cut her eye a little, but that appeared to be the only injury.  He then helped her get some thing to eat, use the bathroom and get situated.  Diane and Dave were up w/the Lakes in Midway getting certified for scuba diving.  As Steve left, Diane was on her way home.  Joann pointed out that it was good I asked Steve to help out for a few minutes in that he was able to be at the right place at the right time, otherwise he would have been half way up the canyon.  I'm thankful things worked out the way they did in that LuDean wasn't hurt much and Steve was able to be there to help her.

Steve then met Dave up in Heber, then went on up to the cabin to see what the snow amounts looked like.  They could have actually driven into the gate, but they walked it to make sure they wouldn't get stuck.  They then walked the rest of the way in to see what it looked like around the cabin.  While they were there they decided to shovel out the snow on the deck and on the sidewalk, so it would be ready for this next weekend when we all go up.;)

Dave shoveling out the snow

There is some snow at the cabin, but not as much as there usually is this time of year.

 Uncovering the sidewalk.  It's nice to have the sidewalk now so you can go down to the garage w/out getting as muddy from the snow.

Not much snow below the garage.

Rest of January

January sure did fly by.  I can't believe it's February already.  I need to catch up.

Over Martin Luther King holiday, we decided to go up to my parent's place.  We thought it would be a good opportunity, especially since we didn't get to go up for Christmas.  I had a few appointments in that morning, Friday, January 16th, so Steve picked me up from work around noon after I finished them.  Nyles fell asleep on the way up to get me, but woke up after I got in the car.

We then we headed over to the DMV to renew my driver's license.  I had to wait a little while, but it was pretty quick.  We then got a quick bite to eat at Arby's, then headed up.  Since Nyles got a quick nap on the way up, he didn't nap the rest of the way, but was good.  He played w/ his toys and read books.  We stopped at Jerome to get some gas.  Gas was $1.67 a gallon; love it!!!  It was surprisingly a little cheaper in Idaho than Utah.  The last few years it's been the opposite.  Either way it's been really nice having gas prices down again.  After getting a few things in Wal-mart, we headed on up to my parents.  We got there in time for dinner and for Nyles to play a little before bed.

 Nyles lining up his trucks while driving in the car.

The next day Steve and my dad went out to go goose hunting.  It was really fogging though so they had a hard time getting the geese to come in, though they could hear them close by.  Nyles, my mom and I hung out at home.  Nyles loves finding new trucks and toys to play with at Grandma's house.

 When Steve and my dad got back, they made up some more goose jerky from last time.

Steve getting the jerky ready to go dry.

Steve thought he should make me some jerky w/ my initials.  :)

On Sunday we went to church, had lunch and took a nap.   After a nap Nyles wanted to go out and look at Grandpa's tractors, so Steve took him to go sit and pretend driving them.  That evening we asked Margie to come over to play games w/ us.  We brought up our new game "Cover your assets" from Aunt Diane.  We had a great time!  Thanks for playing Margie!

Nyles checking out Grandpa's big tractor

Pretending to drive the 3 wheeler

Now a big red tractor

 Nyles just being a silly boy, walking w/ his hands in his pockets wearing one of Grandpa's hats.

 While they were out looking at the tractors, I did some puzzles.

We left Monday after lunch.  My mom and I went and visited Grandma Hegerhorst.  She hasn't been feeling too good lately, mainly her back has been bothering her.  Her back has been especially sore since last July when she was trying to clean her garage and feel from the ladder, which landed on her.   She actually had surgery on it this past Friday, February 6th.  We all prayed and fasted for her that things would go well.  She's home now recovering.  We're all hoping and praying still that it works and will help her feel better.

After visiting Grandma VaLere, we got a quick bite to eat, then headed home.  Our plan was to "lose" Nyles binky, and ironically we did for a while.  When we went over to visit Grandma VaLere we actually couldn't find it.  After we got back I found it in the toy room downstairs, but I put it in my pocket.  Nyles was pretty sad, but we said he lost it so now it's time to stop using it since he's a big boy now.  He cried several times on the way home, which was sad, but he survived.  He went right to bed that night and the next, though it took him a little longer to fall asleep for his naps the next couple days.  He's asked for it a couple times, but he's been doing great.

Nyles has been having fun every day.  He's learning new things and words.  Here are some of his adventures from January.  You'll notice he doesn't have his binky anymore.  Since our trip to Idaho last month he hasn't had it.  He was a little sad the first couple days, but hasn't really asked about it since.  When has has, he'll say "Lost, Grandma's house," then move on.  We thought he might get mad or sad when he saw his cousins w/ their binky's, but he actually didn't mind and said the same thing, "Lost, Grandma's house."  I'm glad we're done w/ the binky! ;)

Nyles playing in his Halloween tractor.  

We finally threw it out after he accidentally destroyed it.

Nyles at Wheeler Farm

Nyles enjoying Grandpa Hegerhorst's goose jerky and wearing one of his hats he gave him.

Nyles loving his Curious George shirt from Grandma and Grandpa McGrath from Christmas

Here are a few adventures while playing at Grandpa/Grandma McGrath's house.  Joann has been kind enough to watch Nyles a couple times during the week while Steve goes to class.

Nyles playing w/ shoes from Holland

Stacking some boxes

Playing w/ their food storage

He likes to take pictures

The weather has been a little warmer, so he went and played in the snow, then the sandbox, then back inside to warm up and watch Curious George.

Since duck season is over, Steve has found the opportunity to go ice fishing now.  He's gone up to Strawberry the past couple weeks.  The first time he went w/ our neighbor Dave Thomas and our high council member Richard Reese.  They caught LOTS of fish, though most of them were little ones.  They had a great time either way!

Dave Thomas waiting for a fish

Steve enjoying the day fishing

Dave w/ a big fish he caught

The next weekend Steve wanted to go again.  This time he took Nyles, our neighbor Bryson Miles and his friend Josh Featherstone.  Ironically they didn't catch any fish this time.   They still had a fun time being outside and playing in the snow a little.

Steve said Nyles fell over so he was a little sad, but he was happy otherwise.

Nyles loving being w/ daddy, especially to go fishing

I've been busy w/ work and studying for my CFP exam.  I've been enjoying the fact that the sun is staying longer during the day and ironically we've been having 60 degree weather.  It's definitely warmer than it normally is and we haven't got much snow down in the valley here.  We're hoping to go to the cabin this weekend.  If the weather is this warm again, it might be warm enough to drive in. I'm personally ready for Spring!