Summer Vacation 2015 pt. 2

MOAB!

August 10th we headed to Moab. We stayed in the same vacation home as last year. My sister and her family and Tracy's cousin and his family came as well. My sister's crew arrived shortly after us and Tracy took them on the Fins and Things Jeep Trail. I think they had a blast. I know James did. He had been talking about doing Jeep things for weeks. That day was just a short day since we couldn't check into the house till 3.

Tuesday, Charles and my sister stayed at the house and the rest of us went and did the Hell's Revenge Jeep Trail. I was pretty nervous about going on this trail, but it turned out ok. Even though I had several frights, Tracy was always in control.

James had a ton of funny sayings on the jeep trail.

• We're higher than the birds.
• To his cousins: When I was your age I wasn't afraid of jeep things.
• My back, my head. (after going over a rough patch.)
• That's the biggest rock. It's Ginormous.
• Are we going to make it? Ahhh... We're doing it.
• We're going to crash in that canyon over there. Ahhhh.... Crash (makes crash sounds).
• To his cousin; I love you.
• Awe, they're cute cactus. I love cactus.
• There are ants. Hello ants.
• Careful ants bite. Good-bye ants. You can't get us.
• Careful daddy this rock is slippery.
• Oh, me. Oh, my. (Going up a hill.)
• I want to do more jeep things.

That hill looks less steep in this picture.

We're just a bunch of crazies.

I found these two like this and other times they'd hold hands.
(Caught James blinking.)

Trying to be artistic while capturing my nephew sticking his head out the window.

I was inspecting the damage that has been done to our bumper.

The next day I stayed behind with Charles and the rest of the crew went river rafting. James told me he didn't like it when they got back but later he was begging to go back. At the end of the run he had an unfortunate event of someone in a kayak running him over when he was playing along the shore. :( Which was still in his mind when they returned. 

They are all excited to be going river rafting.

Turkeys!

Away they go!

A frog.

James loved paddling.

A great view while they eat lunch.

And cute Charles while we were hanging out.

These two had a ton of fun on the back patio area of the vacation home.
Water and dirt every where. 

We left Moab the next day. On our way out of town we stopped at a rock shop and to see dinosaur tracks in Mill Canyon.

I love trains and had to snap this picture
while everyone else headed right to the rocks at the rock shop.

Looking at dinosaur tracks.

Lots and lots of tracks.

We went back to Nephi for dinner and to say a good bye to grandma and grandpa. Then went down to St. George for some more fun with Tracy's cousin before heading home. There was swimming and lots of silliness between James and his 2nd cousin. Charles however ended up sick so I didn't have much fun. 

3 monkeys being silly on the floor.

 Tracy was awesome and agreed to drive us all the way home and then head all the way back to Utah right after so that I didn't have to travel with the two kids alone. He's just the best. On the way home we found a really nice Denny's and had dinner there.

That was the end of our Summer vacation. James can't wait to go back to Moab and do Jeep things and river rafting. Maybe (hopefully) next summer.

Summer Vacation 2015 pt. 1

Tracy finished off the class he was teaching for the first half of summer at the end of July. The following day we took off for our Summer Vacation to Utah.

We took a bit of a longer route and spent the fist night in Las Vegas at what James calls the Fun Hotel (aka. Sam's Town).

Stopped to feed Charles on the road to Vegas and James gets a geology lesson.

He has eyes on the top of his head!

Happy to be out of the car while we have lunch.

I wanted a picture of James and Charles at the fun hotel, but James refused.
So I got one of just Charles.

We spent the first weekend in Utah in St. George. There we celebrated our anniversary. Left the kids with grandma and had dinner at The Cliff restaurant and saw Mission Impossible III. It was nice to be kid free for an evening. It had far too long since that had happened. Also while in St. George Tracy and his cousin took the Jeeps off road. I stayed behind because Charles just isn't old enough for that kind of adventure.

Deep in thought!

These two play very well together.

Duck pond near Tracy's cousin's condo.

Looking for fossils in the rocks.

Playing at the splash pad in downtown St. George.

A cutie!

James fell asleep like this on our way to grandma and grandpa house.

After St. George we spent some time at grandma's and grandpa's house. James had fun playing (sometimes pestering) with grandpa. Tracy had a meeting at Thanksgiving Point, so we tagged along and met some friends there too. Too bad the two 5 years didn't remember each other after 3 years of not really seeing each other, but it was fun to see them and spending time with them again. 

Tracy at his meeting in the fish bowl.

I didn't get a picture of the boys at the museum,
so I got some at Culver's during lunch.

Wednesday, August 5th was a very anticipated day! My sister Kandace returned from her mission.

Awaiting her return.

I think we took over JCW's, well at least this back section.

The next couple of days we spent in Provo. We visited the Bean Museum, explored the Provo River Trail which brought back memories of all the times I use to walk the trail to and from work.

At the Bean Museum

Charles checking out the tiger.

I was happy to see Shasta was still here.

James loved the giant elevator. He's blurry because he was running around in it.

Figuring out their creature power. (Thanks Wild Kratts)

He really loved the Zebras

He loved the Provo River Trail

Charles slept almost the whole time.

I think the bridges were his favorite.

"This goes all the way to the mountains. That's a long way."
He was very astonished by this discovery.

Throwing rocks.

The 7th we had a day of spending time with family. We had lunch with my 2 best friends which are pretty much family and a dinner celebrating the return of my sister. It was a fun day spent with loved ones.

At lunch with my friends

Holding Charles

On the 8th we went to the Nephi Demolition Derby. James had a blast watching the cars crash.

On the 9th my sister had her homecoming so we spent more time with my family. It was lots of fun. James really enjoyed playing with all his cousins, especially the 2 that are his age.

My siblings their families.
Missing one sister and her family and one brother..

After that we headed to Moab, check out part 2.

5 Months!

This past month has been a crazy one. Little Charles has been a champ through it all.

Photo shoot brought to you by my inferior camera phone:

Charles is still in 3-6 month clothes and has graduated to size 2 diapers, but I'm still trying to finish off all our size 1 diapers before actually moving up. He eats 4 oz. of formula every 2-3 hours and can't wait to try all our good food. He sleeps about 9 hours straight at night and takes about 3 naps during the day. However he hates actually falling asleep.

This past month he got to meet almost all his cousins, aunts and uncles on my side of the family. He still needs to meet one of my sisters and her family. I'd say he was quite a popular little guy and stole the harts of many. :) He also had his first babysitter, Grandma Thomson, while Tracy and I enjoyed an evening out for our anniversary.

James will often say he doesn't like Charles but I know it really isn't all that true. He just doesn't like not being the center of attention any more. He has nick named Charles, Buck-E-Boo. Only he is allowed to use it.

He was very interested in his crib.

Charles will grab onto anything and everything, so watch out.