More February Fun

We made it home from the cabin just in time for Nyles' nap around noon.  We decided to take a nap as well, which was nice.  For dinner I made some spaghetti, then a peach cobbler for dessert.  Nyles was so funny.  We were sitting at the table and I gave him his bowl of cobbler w/ a little ice cream.  He ate all his ice cream and saw Steve had a bunch, so he asked for some of his.  Then after Steve gave him more ice cream, Nyles took Steve's bowl and said "Switch."  It was hilarious!  He says the funniest things!

I had the next day off as well.  Unfortunately we had to go to the dentist, but I'm glad it's over with.  Steve had to go back on Wednesday to get 2 fillings.  Ironically when we went back in July, the one dentist said I had 2 small cavities that she wanted to fill, but we were on our way to Bear Lake that morning, so I said not today.  I then scheduled w/ my regular dentist, and when he looked at them this time, he said oh they're nothing to worry about, so I left.  Steve didn't have as good of news though.  One cavity was pretty bad.  The dentist said he wasn't sure how they could have missed it before, since it was really big and deep.  His mouth was sore for quite a while afterwards, as you can imagine.  

We went and ran some errands after Steve got back.  We went and dropped off newspaper to recycle and played at a playground for a little while.  We also took the Edge to a carwash.  It was pretty dirty after the cabin, and Steve ran over a skunk on the way home too.  It was dirty and stinky.  Nyles thinks it's so fun to go through the car wash.  We also stopped at the new Trader Joe's grocery store that just opened up my us, to see what it was like.  We went pretty quickly through the store, so we didn't end up getting anything, but Steve got us a free reusable grocery bag.  They also apparently put our name in a drawing for free groceries, and we WON!  We were so excited!  We got a lot of fun, new stuff to try.

Free groceries we won from Trader Joe's

We then went to Olive Garden for lunch, for my birthday.  Steve got me a gift certificate for my birthday, so since I had the day off, we decided to use it.  We had a great lunch, then we went home so Nyles could take a nap.  That afternoon we went to the chiropractor as well.  My neck has been feeling a LOT better thankfully.  Steve did a quick adjustment on his back as well, since we were there.  

I also went to the eye Dr the week before.  My prescription went down a little, which is great.  I got my new contacts ordered and have them now.  I still need to update my glasses though.  I guess this is the month we are going to the Dr.  Sheesh!

We had Branch Conference today at church.  All the meetings went really well.  Steve had to go to a few more meetings this past week in preparation of it.  He's glad it's over now.  Nyles has been doing really well in Nursery.  He loves singing.  He asks us to sing a couple Primary songs before he takes a nap or goes to bed, and sometimes during the day.  This morning before church, I basically played the entire Primary Songbook for him on my phone, he kept wanting to hear "one more."  He cracks me up.  

Last week for my birthday, we asked Joann to watch Nyles so we could go to the temple (thanks Joann).  We went to the Jordan River Temple around 10am and it was completely packed!  We were totally surprised, especially for a Tuesday morning.  I guess the Draper and SLC temples were closed, so there most likely were others coming to this temple.  I waited probably 40 minutes before getting in to do initiatories.  I counted, there were 18 other women in front of me.  Of course Steve said he went right in, so he had to sit and wait after he got done.  It was nice to read the scriptures, pray and ponder though.  It was a great experience.  It's always an amazing feeling once you're inside.  So peaceful.

Beautiful flowers that Nyles picked out for me for my birthday.

January/February birthdays at Joann/Dave's house

Nyles wanted to help blow out the candles.  He thinks it so much fun!

Here are a few other adventures we've had recently:

Steve came home from class early one evening saying he was dizzy and that his heart was acting funny.  He ended up deciding to go to the hospital, to have it check out just to make sure.  They couldn't really find anything, but the Dr did say Steve should definitely do his Sleep Study soon.  He was supposed to do it last year but never got around to it.  They think he has Sleep Apnea.  This is when your breathing repeatedly stops and starts, thus you keep waking up during the night and don't getting much sleep.  This also makes him tired during the day.  Steve has an appointment this week to get it checked again, then do the Sleep Study.  Hopefully this will help.

Nyles checking Steve's heartbeat.  Nyles thinks it's fun to play Dr.

Nyles and Steve at the playground

Since duck season is over, and it's been too warm to ice fish, they went regular fishing a couple times down at some city ponds in Draper.  Zach went with them too, and his dog Jesse.  Nyles LOVED it of course!  He loves to be outside, and thinks fishing with Daddy is the best!

Nyles waiting for a fish to bite

Nyles playing w/ his truck, Zach and Jesse fishing

We've had some beautiful WARM days here in February!

 They caught one!  A really little fish!  Nyles thought it was the best!  Just his size :) 

It's been so warm, Nyles thinks we should go swimming!  He got so excited one day after I got home from work, he went and got his life-jacket and wanted to wear it all evening.

He wore it the next day too.  Silly kid ;)

Nyles loves to watch "Curious George" his most favorite show.  One night after picking him up from Joann's place, he got his pants wet, and even after we got home he didn't want to put a new pair of pants on.  So he sat watching "Curious George" in his diaper.

Nyles pretending to be an airplane down the hill

Nyles is such a joy to have in our family.  He says the funniest things and makes us smile everyday.  One of his new/favorite sayings lately is "Silly Daddy" or "Silly Mommy" or "Silly Nyles."  Like when Steve didn't put ALL his blankets on him when he went to bed, a few minutes later he kept saying "Silly Daddy."  So Steve finally went in there and Nyles told him he forgot to put a blanket on him.  "Silly Daddy."  Or yesterday Nyles helped me make chocolate chip cookies and that night Steve asked Nyles if he wanted another piece of pizza or a cookie.  Of course Nyles said cookie.  He then said, "Silly Daddy."  I said, ya dad was silly to ask that question to a two year old ;)

Nyles loves to blow kisses, give hugs, and still enjoys snuggling w/ mom and dad.  He loves being outdoors, playing w/ trucks and tractors, and going fishing or duck hunting w/ dad.  Nyles will take his play gun and pretend he's shooting a duck.  It's pretty funny to watch.  He loves stuffed animals, especially all my old ones.  I brought them here before he was born and we put them in a pet net in his room, and now he picks a couple out each day and plays with them and takes them to bed w/ him.  We have to constantly put them back in the net, because he'll take them all out at once if we'd let him and leave them scattered around the house.  We've also been trying to teach him to say "please" and "thank you" and "you're welcome."  Many times now though when we want him to do something, he politely says, "No thanks."  It's hard to get mad at him when he says it so cute and polite.  We love his SOOO much and are so thankful to have him in our family!  
 

Winter Cabin Trip

Over Valentine's/President's Day Weekend we went up to the cabin.  I took Friday off of work so we could get up there and get a spot for the ATV trailer (since it's usually packed over the 3 days weekends).  We left our house around 9:30am, then went and helped Joann finish packing, then headed up.  Steve drove the Tahoe w/ the ATV Trailer and I drove our Edge w/ Joann and Nyles.  We stopped in Heber to top off our gas tanks, then Joann ran into Smith's to get a few groceries while Steve went to Papa Murphy's to pick up a couple pizzas for dinner, then headed the rest of the way up.

Surprisingly when we got to the parking, lot there was hardly any cars or trailers parked there.  The road going into the cabin looked somewhat dry as well, so Steve took one of the ATVs and drove to the gate.  He then came back and told us it would be fine to drive the Edge to the gate, then we could take the ATVs in from there.  I put Nyles on the ATV w/ me (he was begging to go for a ride), and Steve drove the Edge in w/ Joann.

There were two older gentlemen who took their Tundra Truck in to the gate, then realized the snow was deeper up there, so they tried to turn around by doing a three point turn, and got stuck in the snow.  They asked Steve if he could help them out, Steve said of course.  Funny enough, they asked several times if he was going to charge them for helping, and Steve said "No, I would hope someone would return the favor for me someday."  Steve hooked up the ATV w/ a rope to the front of their Truck and thankfully they got out.

Steve hooking up the ATV to get the truck out of the snow

Joann and I were ready to go by the time Steve was done.  He then came over w/ the ATV and we packed up the Toboggan w/ some of our gear.  Steve took Joann and Nyles to the cabin first, then came back and got me.  We went and got the other ATV out as well, even though it didn't have snow tracks on, it still had the regular wheels on.  Since the snow was pretty packed down along the path to the cabin, we figured we'd be fine.  We packed up the rest of our stuff in the two Toboggans and we headed out.  Steve drove in front of me w/ the ATV w/ wheels, so I could see if he got stuck and help him out.  As we went down our last stretch, Steve said I could go in front of him.  We made it just fine thankfully.

Steve and I bringing in the last of our stuff.

After we got in, we unpacked, made a fire, and got the space heaters going in the bedrooms.  It wasn't as cold as it normally was, but it was still about 48 degrees inside.  A little while later Dave called and was at the gate ready to come in.  Then about 5pm we got Stacie, Phill, London and Conor.  We then cooked up the pizzas for dinner, and I made brownies for dessert.  After putting the kids to bed we watched "Hitch" since it was almost Valentines.

 Conor and Nyles playing checkers

Nyles "measuring"

The next morning we got up, had breakfast, then got ready to go out ice fishing and sledding.  

Beautiful sunrise

Me sledding

Nyles and Steve getting ready to drill a fishing hole

Stacie walking w/ Nyles who is pulling London on the ice in the sled

Nyles wanted to pull her all by himself.  Holding a boat of course.

We got set up to ice fish, but that didn't last long since the ice kept cracking all around us.  No matter who you were or where you walked, it kept cracking in all directions.  It was a little freaky to be honest.  With how warm its been the past few weeks, the ice has been melting, then refreezing at night.  We tried sledding down the hill for a little while as well, but the ice was cracking even on the shallow ends, so we left after a little while.  Steve and Dave stayed for a short while after we left, but after the ice cracked three times through one of Steve's fishing holes, he said that was it; he was done.  

Steve and Dave fishing.

As we got back to the cabin, Kim showed up w/ her kids.  Phill went to help them bring in their stuff.  While he was doing that, we walked back to the cabin, then played on the deck for a while.  With the sun shinning you hardly needed a jacket.  It was beautiful weather, especially for February!

Nyles pushing the bulldozer around on the deck 

Now playing w/ the trucks

Steve walking back from ice fishing, as you can see he got pretty warm he took off his jacket.

Also there wasn't that much snow, so even if you fell threw the snow, you could get yourself out fairly easy.

I brought some bubbles, so Stacie and I took turns blowing them for the kids.

Stacie, Conor, Alexa, Cameron, and London getting the bubbles.

 Nyles joining in the fun now

After Kim got in and settled, we had lunch, then put Nyles and Conor down for a nap.  Jeff showed up about this time as well.  The older kids then went out sledding a little ways from the cabin.  Once Nyles and Conor woke up we got them dressed and joined in on the fun.  Steve made a pathway so we could walk on the hill better and also packed down a spot for everyone to sled on.

Steve and Nyles, ready to go sledding

 Kim and I went down several times w/ Alexa and Nyles.  Nyles definitely enjoyed sledding!

Alexa not sure if she wants to sled or not. 

Steve and Nyles going now

Wheeeeeee

They made it!

Tada!  Not much snow on the lawn at the cabin.

Nyles had serious hat hair after sledding

 After dinner we had fondue.  Needless to say the kids loved the chocolate.

Joann enjoying the fondue

After fondue, Stacie, Phil and Conor left.  They were going Idaho Falls the next morning for one of Phill's cousins' farewell.  They left London w/ us since she was having so much fun and didn't want to leave.  After getting the kids to sleep, we played a game.  It's like Apples to Apples, but you use pictures instead of words to match.  It was a lot of fun.

Beautiful sunset on Valentine's Day

The next morning after breakfast, we packed up and headed out.

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.