Memorial Day Weekend

Over Memorial Day Weekend we went up to visit my parents.  On Friday, the 23rd I was able to get off at about 1pm.  Steve picked me up from work downtown, we stopped and got a bite to eat, then headed on the road.  We made another stop for the bathroom and gas and made it in good time. Nyles did really well and slept some of the way.  We made it in time for dinner, then put Nyles down to bed after he got some wiggles out.  He was so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa.  Anna and Barbara were going to come visit, but they both were sick or had sick kids and didn't make it.  Daron/Kristi had to go to SunValley.  We had a pretty low key weekend, which was great though ;)

Early the next morning Steve and my dad took the boat out to go fishing.  Dad got up at 2am to go bail the hay that he had cut earlier in the week.  The wind started blowing that night so he was worried about it ruining his rows.  At about 6pm he and Steve left to go fishing.  Though the wind was still blowing some, they said the fishing was really "hot."  Steve said he caught 8 fish in 10 minutes when he was timing it and they probably caught over 150 fish total.

My dad catching a fish.  Steve catching a Blue Gill.

 My dad enjoying his boat and the little fish he's catching ;)

The bales my dad did.  They are selling all bales to a dairy farmer.

They have to come and load the bales and get them off the field asap.

While they were out fishing, we were working ;)  Nyles wanted to go play outside on the lawn and bring some trucks out, but since it was a little long I decided I'd better cut it.  I was able to get the lawn mower going so I started to cut.  My mom came out to be w/ Nyles.  She put him in a wagon and went to different parts of the lawn and picked up pine cones and twigs.  He was just content being w/ her and watching the cat play around them on the lawn.  Uncle Mark even came over just at the right moment when I ran out of gas and couldn't find any.  He found some in a small container on my dad's pickup.  He then started the lawn mower for me and brought the loader over for me to dump the cut grass into.

 Nice cut grass, much better to push the motorcycle around on

The silly cat Addy

After they got back we has lunch, then my dad took a nap (can't blame him silly guy).  Nyles wanted to go back outside of course.  For some reason he LOVED this old rusty dump truck we had as kids (it's been left outside if you couldn't tell).

Nyles enjoying a snack 

The old dump truck 

Old loader

Nyles getting a rock out of his shoe

It got hot so we decided to get the pool out....

and apparently we kicked a snake out of his hiding spot, gross!

Nyles was so excited to play in the water.

He brought this duck decoy all the way up from our place (silly kid)

Having fun in the water

Sitting w/ daddy

Going fishing!

It got a little cold, so we got dressed then played w/ bubbles

Nyles loves bubbles

 That afternoon we went back out on the boat.  We put an anchor down and just fished in a couple spots.  Nyles had a great time pretending to drive the boat and watching the fish come in that we caught.  It was a lot of fun.  The wind didn't blow too bad and the sun was shinning; it was great!

A small mouth bass my dad caught

Reeling one in

Nyles helping

Dad and Nyles on the boat....bye bye fish, until next time

Sunday after church we played a game of croquet.  My dad took Nyles on a ride on his motorcycle and when he got off Nyles said, "Wow, wow, wow!"  It was so cute.  Ironically my dad asked later if he wanted to go on a ride and he said no.  I guess he got scared.  Silly boy.

Nyles, Addy the cat and my mom....so cute ;)

That afternoon we picked up Grandma VaLere and visited Grandpa Hegerhorst's grave.  

Ironically Mark, Marla and Margie were there too.  

Talk about good timing!

Dad, Grandma and Mark

Yes those are dad's tan lines ;)

We left Monday morning so we could beat some of the traffic and the heat.  I stepped in to say goodbye to Grandma for just few minutes and Nyles had fallen asleep by the time I got back in the car.  He slept an hour or so and did great on the way back home as well.  We all took a quick nap after getting home, then went to hike Donut Falls.  They had the gate closed so you couldn't drive in, so we hiked the roadway to the trailhead.  Nyles was pretty much done after that.  He was really interested in the snow patches on the side of the road though.

Nyles had fun throwing rocks in the water

And walking across the log

We gave him a granola bar in order to get him back in the carrier

Such a pretty view

After we got back we had a BBQ and enjoyed the rest of our evening together.  I had ordered another life jacket for Nyles.  It's for a Child, which is 30-50 pounds and the Infant one we have is up to 30 pounds.  He just about 30 pounds so he can use either, but we wanted to get the next one anyway.  As soon as he saw it he had to try it on then kept saying, "Boat, boat, grandpa, grandpa."  He pretty much associates a boat now w/ Grandpa and says it all the time.  I think he had a really good time on the boat w/ Grandpa.  Too cute ;)

Nyles thought it was funny to play in the box as well....

Quick Update

It's been a couple weeks since I posted last so I wanted to give a quick update on what we've been up to.

Penny:  So I started a new job/position last week.  I'm still at Fidelity and still in our Portfolio Advisory Services, but now I have my own "book of business" and can work at my leisure per say.  I went from hourly to salary and can technically come and go as I please.  Basically as long as I get the work I need to get done I am free to set my own schedule.  I also have potential for higher bonuses as well.  I've worked hard over the past couple years to get this position so I'm really stoked and feel very grateful to have finally gotten it.  My book is being built basically from California clients (which is a lot) so its going to be intense for the first couple months, but I know it'll be worth it in the end.  I'm really looking forward to being able to set my own schedule for a change and essentially be able to spend more time w/ my family.

I also just finished up my second course of my CFP class which was on insurance.  I have a couple weeks of a break, then we'll be starting our third course which is on investing.  Even though it's pretty intense, I'm learning a lot and am enjoying it.  

Nyles trying on Steve's slippers

 Steve:  Finished up his Spring classes last week, and will be starting his Summer classes next week.  It's been nice having him home at night.  Steve has been busy w/ his calling as well in the clerks office.  We just got 2 new counselors in our Branch Presidency so he's been doing some training w/ them.  Steve also went turkey hunting the weekend before w/ some friends near the cabin in Duschene. They saw some the first day, but nothing the second.  Luckily the fishing was hot at Strawberry so they were able to catch a lot of fish and still had a good time.

He's been a big help to Joann still recovering from her shoulder surgery.

It's pouring rain but the rain gutter was clogged so Steve came to the rescue.

Steve and Nyles got me some flowers and even potted them for me, so sweet :)

 I love Spring flowers

He's also been being a great dad for Nyles and taking great care of him.  He's really trying to help him learn and grow every day.  We went together to the Aquarium last Saturday.  Nyles always has a good time there.  He loves animals, especially fish.  

Watching the penguins swim

Watching them from up top

Exploring the Amazon

Cute boys

Big Arapaima 

Shark Bite

Nyles exploring Utah arches

Arapaima again w/ Steve

Saying hi to Mom at work (I love seeing pictures during the day, makes me smile)

Nyles:  He is 21 months old now and is growing every day both mentally and physically.  Every day he amazes us w/ something that he can do or a new word he says.  He is such a joy to have in our family.  We love his cute little personality.  He is growing more and more into a little boy than a baby.  

Recently Nyles has been taking off his PJ's and diaper during nap times and sometimes first thing in the morning.  We don't think he's quite ready to potty train, so Steve came up w/ a solution.  He decided to put a zip-tie on his PJ's through the zipper and around the snap going over the zipper.  This way the zipper can't go down very much.  

This afternoon Nyles climbed out of his crib during nap time.  Steve heard the "thump" then went to see what it was.  As he opened the door Nyles was at the door.  Luckily he didn't get hurt, but it definitely scared us.  Again we don't think he's quite ready to transition to a bed yet, so we turned his crib around since the back is taller than the front.  I also took off the breathable bumper pads since we think he stepped on them to get out (we should taken those off a while ago technically). Hopefully this fixed the problem for a few more months.  Silly kid.  

Steve also took Nyles into his pediatrician this week.  He has had diarrhea for a couple weeks and it wasn't going away.  From the diarrhea it was also giving him a bad diaper rash.  We tried several different ointments, but the one that finally started helping was Baby Magic because it has 40% Zinc Oxide.  It's been working like a charm so we stocked up on it.  Luckily it was on clearance at Macey's and we got a great deal on it.  The Dr said it's what is called Toddler Diarrhea and could last up to 6 weeks but isn't harmful.  It's been starting to slow down so hopefully we're past that soon.  

He also went to his allergy Dr this week.  They drew blood again and are going to test to see if his peanut allergy has changed.  We should know the results on Monday.  It's not too likely that his allergy will go away, but it does happen to a small percentage of children.  Steve said when he got his blood drawn he didn't even cry, same as last time.  He definitely didn't take after me; that's for sure ;)

Nyles waiting to get his blood drawn.

Just playing w/ his truck (thank you Aunt Diane), he takes it everywhere w/ him, even in the bath ;)

Here are some more pictures taken recently.

Pictures at the park I took of Nyles for Mother's Day

Looking for fish in the stream (don't think there were any)

 

Found a stick

Ready to go down the slide, all by himself.  Such a big boy ;)

The ducks enjoying the swimming pool at the park before it opens in a few weeks

I think these overalls are so cute ;) 

Nyles likes sitting at the table.  He's working on a buckle.  

He loves to put things together and see how they work.

Just hanging out w/ his blankey, binky, sippy cup and stuffed pig

Nyles loves playing in the sandbox at Grandma/Grandpa McGrath's house

Enjoying a Popsicle 

A new haircut (candy necklace keeping him busy while I cut)

Nyles playing on cousin Conor's car at a family get together

 Ummm Nutella on toast :)

Nyles playing at the park

 

Nyles thinks its fun to push the stroller around