Summer Fun!

Here are a few more updates from June.  The weather has sure heated up and it definitely feels like Summer now, yeah!

Steve mowing the lawn and Nyles coloring

Nyles filling up his truck w/ "gas"

Lynsie and Nyles playing w/ the water

Nyles got tested again for his peanut allergy since it's been a year.  Thankfully there has been some improvement.  Last year his blood work came back saying he wasn't allergic, but once they did the skin test he flared right up.  This year we did the skin test and it didn't react as much, so the Dr is hopeful.  Usually once a kid is 2 and still has the allergy they most likely will have it for life, but since Nyles has had such strange/abnormal reactions, there may be a chance he will "out grow" his allergy.  We'll see next year.

2014 reaction vs 2015 reaction (much better this year)

Nyles is really into Airplanes right now.  He thinks they are SO fun!  He loves the Disney movie "Planes:  Fire and Rescue." He's also been working on potty training and doing really good.

 

While at Savers the other day, I almost lost my wallet.  I put it down in the bathroom while trying to keep Nyles from escaping, and forgot to pick it back up.  I realized I didn't have it probably 20 minutes later.  I retraced my steps but couldn't find it.  I was worried someone just picked it up and walked out w/ it.  I had the thought to go up and ask one of the women at the register.  When I got up there she looked at me, smiled, then while handing me my wallet said, "Looking for this?"  I was SOO thankful someone turned it in instead of taking off w/ it.  Count your many blessings :)

Steve and Nyles catching fish.  Great find at Savers, came w/ a travel size too :)  

Nyles loading up all his fish in his trailer and hauling them off.

Popsicle time!

Thursday, June 11th, Steve came up to Gateway for a free kids adventure day.  I had a break in my schedule so I went outside and played w/ them for a while.  It was a lot of fun spending time w/ them during the day.  It rained for a little while, but cleared up.  We played for a little while longer then Steve and Nyles headed back home for lunch and a nap.

Playing a game.

Now getting a balloon creation.  Nyles wanted an airplane.

Tada!

Nyles trying the limo now.

 Watching the fountains.

Friday, June 12th, Steve was planning to go up to "This is the place monument" since it was free entrance, but it was SOOO busy, that they decided to go up to Silver Lake instead.  Joann was watching Cameron and Alexa that day as well, so she decided to join.

  Cameron, Nyles and Alexa looking at a duck.

Fun times up at Silver Lake, then back home for a fast lunch.

After work I met up w/ Steve and Nyles.  We went and got a bite to eat then went to a fun park to play.  We even got to see Zach at the Fire Station.  Nyles thought it was a LOT of fun!

Then Saturday, June 13th, we went to the Outdoor Adventure Days that the DWR (Division of Wildlife Resources) put on.  It was a lot of fun!  It was sure hot though that's for sure.  We all got a little sunburned, even though we put sunscreen on.  Regardless though, we had a great time!

Steve and Nyles hitching a ride out to the fishing ponds.

Doing some fishing now.

Trying to catch a catfish.

Now watching the dogs show us their hunting skills.

The dog waiting to get the bird.

Now trying some archery, which was a LOT of fun!

Nyles had to go look at the big truck.

Nyles trying to Whac-a Mussel

Now showing his cute face :)

They had LOTS of gun shooting opportunities, but we decided to pass this time.

Steve had his sleep study at the end of May and then his follow visit the week after.  The results basically said that he does NOT have sleep apnea, but his sleep problems are most likely due to his breathing.   The Dr felt he either had a blocked nasal passageway or his allergies were what was giving him brief and not allowing him to breathe properly at night.  So he went to a Ear, Nose and Throat Dr this week and he said his passageway is pretty good, but he definitely has an allergy problem that is blocking his airway in his nose.  The first Dr suggested we try those Breathe Right Strips to see if that would help, and they have been helping significantly!  The 2nd Dr also suggested we test his allergies again, since he last did it when he was 12, and see what we find.  We can then decide if we need a better allergy medication or what.  Steve will go back at the end of the month.  Steve has been getting MUCH better sleep w/ the strips, so hopefully after we figure out the allergy thing he will be breathing and sleeping even better.  We're relieved it's not sleep apnea though.

Work has been really busy for me.  It'll remain that way through the whole Summer.  We're supposed to be getting our books aligned next month but not officially transitioned until October.  It'll be a good move, but I'm sure there will be some growing pains along the way.  I'm still studying for the CFP exam as well.

Nyles enjoying his fireman hat.

We got together w/ Pauline and Chris on Sunday for dinner and hung out for a bit.  And then again tonight.  They came over for pizza, then we went out and swam at our pool.  It was a lot of fun.  Nyles thought it was so fun to swim w/ his cousins.  Ezra didn't want to get out of the pool even though his mouth was turning blue.  Silly kid.  Thanks for coming!

Nyles trying Charlotte's goggles.

We're getting really excited for our family reunion next week.  Nyles is looking forward to swimming w/ his cousins and we're looking forward to seeing everyone!

Cabin Trip

Friday, June 5th we decided to go up to the cabin.  Dave, Joann and Aunt Diane we already planning to go to take the Lakes kids, so we decided to join.  Steve picked me up at work just after 3pm then we headed up.  We stopped in Park City and caravaned w/ Dave the rest of the way up.  We got up there first, so we got the fire going.  Joann and Diane and the kids showed up shortly after.

Diane had a graduation celebration theme while we were at the cabin.  We had pizza for dinner, then played several games before bedtime.  The kids loved every minute of it.  Nyles thought it was so much fun and couldn't wait to see what was next.  Thanks Diane for planning such a fun night!

Nyles singing "Happy Graduation to us"

Unfortunately though, Nyles was having so much fun he didn't want to go to bed.  He kept getting out of the port-a-crib and getting out of the room.  Finally he went to sleep around 9 or 9:30pm.  While he was down we played a game of "Picturesque" and the kids watched "Despicable Me 2."  As we were getting ready for bed though, Nyles unfortunately got woken up again.  We tried everything to get him to be back to me but he wouldn't.  I even tried putting him in bed w/ me, but that didn't work either.  He was simply TOOOO excited to be at the cabin to go to bed!  Finally around 3am, Steve took him back to his room, put him back in the port-a-crib, and laid on the bed in the same room w/ him and would tell him to quiet down and not get out.  He had to spank him once, but after that he didn't get out.  We got a couple hours of sleep at least.

Though we didn't get much sleep that night, Steve was still up at 5:45am to go fishing w/ Dave.  Nyles and I got up a little after 7am and went downstairs.  After breakfast we got ready to go out and do some fishing.  It had rained a little in the morning on Dave and Steve, but they still caught some fish.  It stopped raining after a little bit, so we decided to get ready and go while we could.  While we were getting ready, the other boys decided to come as well.  We then all unloaded at the dock and got onto the boat.  The rain held out for us and we had a great time fishing.

Nyles excited to go fishing on the boat

Nyles, Ethan and Noah ready to catch some fish.

 Steve helping Noah reel in a fish.

Grandpa Dave supervising the fishing in the front w/ Noah, Ethan and Nyles.

Chandler, Noah, Dave, Ethan and Nyles.

Caught one!  Noah and Nyles watching.

It started to cloud up, but luckily we didn't get rained on.

Ethan would sing different songs to the fish and certain songs would catch more than others he said.

Nyles playing w/ a dump truck and boat, on the boat.

Chandler and Steve in the back.

Steve and I waiting for the fish to bite.  I actually fished this time since it was free fishing day. 

Me helping Nyles reel in a fish.  We actually got some nice Kokanee Salmon.

After fishing we went back to the cabin and got lunch.  Steve helped clean the fish and put the boat away while I packed up our stuff.  Since Nyles didn't get a good night's sleep, we wanted him to get a nap at least.  We figured he wouldn't take a nap at the cabin but would likely fall asleep in the car.  Sure enough, as soon as we hit the pavement he was out.  He slept the whole way down too.

Nyles passed out in the car on the way home.

    

Going down the canyon, Nyles totally passed out in the back.

Once we got home, we got unpacked, did laundry, and got ready for Sunday.  We were in charge of our Family Dinner the next day so we decided to cook up a ham and Steve's wild turkey.  We cooked them both while we were at church, in the crockpots for the ham and the oven for the turkey.  We put stuffing inside of the turkey in order to help w/ the flavor.  Since wild turkey's run around more and can actually fly, in comparison to domestic turkeys, they are a little more tough and gamey flavored.  They are also a little more dry, so we put bacon around it to try and keep it moist.  The legs were a little long, so we had to cut them down a little too.

Turkey all done

We got together Sunday around 5pm and had dinner.  Thankfully the ham and the turkey turned out pretty good.  The turkey was a little dry, but not bad for our first time.  After we were done w/ dinner we played a game, mostly for the kids.  Steve wanted to "shoot ducks," so we took his decoys and put them on a ladder.  We then used bean bags and knocked them off.  All the kids, and some of the adults, tried it.  It was a lot of fun actually and kept many of the kids entertained the whole night.

 London giving it a try.  Now Nyles trying.

 

Conor's turn.  Nyles in the back saying "Tada!"

 June birthdays......Ryan, Olivia, Jeff and Rob.

It was a fun weekend!  Thanks everyone! :)

End of May

I can't believe tomorrow will be June.  Summer is practically here and will be gone before we know it.  We'd all better enjoy it before it does though, that's for sure.  Here are a few more updates from May before I forget.  I love pictures which remind me of things we did and great memories we've had.

 Nyles blowing some bubbles as I'm headed out to work one morning.

Nyles has been practicing going potty in the toilet and wearing his big boy underwear.  Ironically it is bubble gum that has been motivating him to try.  Who would have thought?  A work in progress for sure, but definitely headed in the right direction.  I can't wait to be done w/ diapers w/ him. ;)

Steve took Nyles to the dentist for the first time.  He did great!

Nyles and Lynsie at the Aquarium.

The pool opened Memorial Day Weekend.  Nyles is so excited to swim again!

 Nyles and Lynsie up at Silver Lake. 

Just exploring the rocks.

Lynsie was pretty tired by the end of the walk and Nyles was comfortable just chilling on Steve's shoulders.

For Christmas last year I gave Steve a date book, and every month we open that month up and go that date. This month, May, is the month we met, so for our date night I wanted to reenact our first "undate" as we call it.  This was shortly after we officially met Steve had promised another girl on a date, but he really wanted to take me.  So he coerced Rob into taking me on a double, that way Steve could still be around me.  We went and got Cafe Rio for dinner, then went to Antczac Park, ate dinner and played 2 truths and a lie to get to know one another.  After dinner we went to Hollywood Connections and played mini-golf.  The whole time though Steve was flirting w/ me and actually hitting my putter, in front of his date mind you.  I seriously felt bad for the girl he took on the date.  I was trying to respectful to Rob as well and talk to him, but Steve was making it hard.  Then to top it off, after dropping off Steve's date, they went to drop me off, but instead of allowing Rob to take me to the door, Steve did!  It was a little awkward to say the least, but Steve walked me the rest of the way to my door, then gave me a hug and said we should hang out again.  Thankfully we did, and thankfully we went on a "real date" not too long afterwards, this time to Lagoon. It was after our first "real date" that I knew I was a goner....I really did like Steve!

So on Friday, we had Rob join us again for a double date.  We had only a few changes to our redo.  We brought Nyles along of course, and went to Cafe Rio to get our dinner, then went to the same park again.  We played 2 truths and a lie again, then played on the slides for a while (Nyles insisted).  We then went back to our place to drop Rob and Nyles off, then went mini-golfing.  Unfortunately Hollywood Connections is closed now, so we went to Mulligans instead.  The weather was beautiful so it was perfect to be outside. It was fun to walk down memory lane and reenact our first "undate."  

I reminded Steve also of a couple other "undates" we had.  After meeting at Ultimate Frisbee we had an "undate" bowling w/ Eve and Nate, and for some reason I chose Steve to be on my team.  We lost horribly!  Steve also showed up w/ Eve, Kaitlyn and I to a movie we went to see.  Steve sat by me and refused to eat popcorn for quite a while.  It was later that he told me he didn't want to eat some because he LOVES popcorn so much he didn't want to eat too much of it in front of me.  Thankfully we have that love in common!

At Mulligans enjoying a "real" date this time.  Love ya honey forever!

Saturday, May 30th, I met Rose and Pauline at the Jordan River Temple.  We got there at 9am in plenty of time for the 9:30am session, but unfortunately it was a little busy, so we had to wait for the next session at 10am.  It was a wonderful session!  I love the Spirit and Peace you feel there.

Me, Pauline and Rose at Jordan River Temple

  

 After going to the temple we went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, they went to a couple stores in the mall next to us.  We then went back to my place and Rose showed us how to research some things on Familyhistory.org.  The technology we have today is incredible to speed up this work.  Pauline and Rose both have found names and took them to the temple.  I have some names from Uncle Stephen Naylor that he's found.  There really is a lot of work for us all to do, we just need to find time to do it.  Thanks for the fun day Rose and Pauline!  Love ya both!

That night Steve went w/ his dad Dave, brother Jeff and Rob to a movie.  While we were gone to the temple Steve took Nyles up to Dave/Joann's and helped them trim some bushes and whatnot.  He also had time put his turkey display together.

Nyles helping water the flowers

Steve's turkey feather display.  Don't worry it's not in our house. ;)

In light of Elder L. Tom Perry passing away yesterday, I wanted to include his testimony from this past April General Conference.  He said, "Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness."  I completely agree with this.  Family is everything!