Lake Powell 2013

 Well we have enjoyed yet another year at Lake Powell. It was definitely different with a baby this year but still very enjoyable.  Raymond and I have become much more relaxed and don't feel the need to be out on the boat every moment so we were able to enjoy lots of swimming/floating/playing with the little ones/napping/eating!  Katelyn did WONDERFULLY!  Everyone kept saying "she is such a great baby" "I can't believe how happy she is!".  She never woke anyone up in the middle of the night, actually slept later than a chunk of people each morning, cried very little and LOVED all the attention.  In fact she loved all the attention so much that we had a horrible ride home (she did not want to be alone in the backseat in a carseat!) and she is having problems with entertaining herself at home since she was mauled all day everyday by tons of people!!

The weather was incredibly HOT and the nights started HOT and stayed HOT until there was a bit of relief just before sunrise when it would again get HOT! Notice the trend, it was a bit warm.  One night I checked and it was 112* at 6:30 pm in the shade.  Crazy heat!

Katelyn loved being in the water, in fact she would fall asleep nearly every time after playing for a few minutes. We would just hold her and float in the water, it was a great way to keep her and us cool and she slept great!  She loved digging her hands in the sand as well and only ate a tiny bit! She didn't really mind the life jacket or the boat, it was nice for her hair (all 1/2 inch of it) to blow in the wind! I was the only one to get sunburned (surprise surprise) which I was grateful for.

Katelyn spent most of the week naked, entertained, and sleeping with us so getting home and back to normal should prove interesting!  We had a great time and I was grateful to not have provided all the food yet again! I was able to sit back and relax a bit more which was great!

Baby Girl...

Some random pictures that I love...

1. Bath time with Kate & Briele is always fun and busy busy!

2. Kate was grateful to go to Jess' house and finally feel some relief from our 89* house--she konked out shortly after getting there!

3. She loves faucets and mirrors and the cute baby in the mirror.  It's fun to watch her learn and explore each day!

Fun...

We have this little puppy that talks/sings/claps/laughs and we have recently discovered (thanks to Briele, she pulls out all the toys and we learn there are lots more that Kate loves and wants to play with) that Katelyn loves it!  I love to watch her laugh, clap, squeal and maul this thing!  It is so sweet! We tried Katelyn's life jacket on her and it was humorous because she didn't know what to do with herself, she tried to lay out and it didn't work so she decided it would be fun to play with daddy!  She is all ready for Lake Powell---woowoo!!

"Buddies"

Briele is so sweet.  She calls everyone her "buddy" or "friends" and Katelyn of course is her best buddy!  Katelyn loves Briele, she always smiles when she sees her and laughs!  It is so fun to see them together!! I was glad Briele & Grandma were able to come visit us for a minute!

Saturday night we went out to dinner with Stacie & Tyson and then played a game at their house.  It was so fun to see them and get out of the house for a bit!

Country Girl...

This gal is pretty fun to dress up, one day she ended up a little country girl...and I loved it! She loves to be outside, play with anything (her new favorite is a binky clip although she doesn't like if her binky is clipped to it and her) she can get her hands on and loves to watch everything around her!! Love this gal!

6 Months...

I can't believe how big she is getting!

Her recent stats:

14.95lbs- 26%

27"- 88%

Head Circumference 44 cm- 91%

Per the doctor she is "tall, skinny & big headed"..I said just like her dad! She did awesome with the shots--she got mad and made sure I knew it but was happy soon after.  I told the doctor she is a very content baby and by the end of the appointment he agreed as she just sat and let him do whatever with no hesitation.  He enjoyed her clapping as he entered the room and said she was a very smart girl for knowing how!

I love how this picture at the doctor shows her BRIGHT red hair and BRIGHT blue eyes!! Such a pretty girl!  Briele came over to play with us one night and she fell asleep during dinner, it was so cute!

Some pictures Ray & I took...I think they are adorable other than the "sun is blinding my poor little eyes" look on her face in each one!!

Father's Day...

I was so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Raymond's first Father's Day! It took us a very long time to get here and we will forever be grateful!  Raymond unfortunately still had to attend his early morning meetings and didn't want breakfast before church so we had just a normal relaxed morning, when we got home from church I cooked him a yummy breakfast and had presents for him. He joked that since I got a bouquet of flowers for Mother's day he wanted a bouquet of socks for Father's day so that is exactly what I gave him! I was very literal in his request! It turned out great and I think he really liked it! I also gave him a treat bag with all sorts of "pop" treats with the saying "my pop rocks!"!  We took a Sunday nap, hung out with the babe, we went and got family pictures done in Mantua (pictures to come soon) and then went to Whipple's for dinner!  It was a great day! I love this picture of Kate all snuggled up and asleep with her dad...they both were asleep at one point!

To celebrate little turning 6 months she got a sippy cup! She LOVES to chew on it although she doesn't grasp the concept just yet but when we helped tip it back she was so excited to get some water!  It is adorable to see her little hands hold onto the handles and she just swings it around and plays with it. Oh she is so fun! Can't believe she is 6 months!!

Moab...

Raymond had a great time at High Adventure's camp with the young men.  Before going to camp Ray and Dani cut their beards "fu manchu" style, they got asked a few times at camp if they were brothers! They both looked pretty redneck but Ray said they fit in down in Moab! They were able to go hiking to the arches, mountain biking, jeeping (which was his favorite!) and river rafting!  I am very jealous of all that he was able to do but I am glad he had a great time! Love this man, even if he is redneck!

Father's Day BBQ...

We had a BBQ at Jess & Kip's in honor of Father's Day.  It was delicious and I was SO HAPPY to have Ray home, finally!  He had a great time at High Adventures camp and I had a great time at my moms but we were both ready to be home and together!  Katelyn was also very excited to see her dad! We had delicious steak/chicken/shrimp/veggie ca-bobs with corn on the cob, potato salad and cheesecake! Lexi was excited to give her dad his gift, we did a little card with her answering why her dad is a superhero. My favorite was "My dad is a superhero because he saves me!". Oh, how I loved it! I love watching my dad with his grandkids, they are his whole world. He is such an awesome support and help to us. These kids love their grandparents so much and there is no question as to why!    It was so nice to have Ray home, I slept through the night for the first time since he left!

Stapel Family Dinner...

We headed to Salt Lake and had dinner with the Stapel clan.  My great aunt Jeanne and uncle Don were in town so we made sure we were able to see them. I however was terrible and did not take a single picture of them. I did however snap a picture of Katelyn with Emma-who LOVES her and a picture of my grandmother with Katelyn. I love that Kate is patting her cheek and watching her lips as she talked.  It was adorable.  We had a great time hanging out with family, I was glad to get a chiropractic adjustment from my uncle (my back has been more of a mess since my stupid epidural!) and it was perfect weather for sitting outside and visiting with family I don't see nearly often enough.

Tonight I went to my home, instead of my moms.  It was so fun to be able to spend several nights with her.  She was such a help with Katelyn and cooked lots of yummy foods I have missed from childhood, especially stuffed peppers!  Thanks again mom for taking me and Kate in!

Play Date...

Jess & Briele headed up North to hang out with us for the day.  We had another fun lunch date at the Pie Dump with Lexi, it was so fun to watch Lexi & Briele dancing all around.  Katelyn got her first taste of canteloupe and besides the intial sour face she loved it.  She has also now tried a peach, cucumber (she wasn't the biggest fan of it), pears-she devoured and entire pear!, and watermelon. She loves her little mesh bag and that she can always have something to eat when we are eating yet she would rather eat what we have!

We went to the park and played for a bit, went back to my moms and relaxed and then headed to another of our favorites...El Parrel! Oh I love this place and I love Mexican food!

Katelyn sat in a highchair for the first time, she is still a bit to little and wobbly for it so it was short lived but she still thought she was a cool chick. She has a new fascination with faucets and loves to be bathed in the sink just so she can hold onto the faucet, pat it, play in the water and occasionally try to eat it!

Hometown...

It was fun to stay at my moms house for a few days.  Katelyn loved being there as well, its always fun to wake up and have grandma there to play with!  She is into everything these days...anything she can reach is free game!  We got to go to lunch with Lexi at the Pie Dump, we played some hide and seek and put together a Father's Day gift for her dad.  My mom watched a chick flick and had fun hanging out!

Busy Day...

Today was a busy day.  It started off with me getting home from work around 12 and Ray and I just staying up talking until 2.  I felt really bad because he had to be awake at 6 to leave for High Adventures Camp.  Ray text me the night before that Katelyn had been such an angel all night and it was hard for him to lay her down in her crib knowing he wouldn't hold her again for 5 days. It was quite sweet.

Ray got up and got ready to go and just before he was leaving Kate woke up earlier than usual.  It was so cute to see Ray go running to get her.  I like to think she woke up just to say goodbye and give him loves.

Kate and I took a nice nap in the morning then headed up to Morgan to help Jodi for the afternoon.  We watched Madi, Halli, Tanner and Briele play on the slip and slide, they were having a blast.  We then hightailed it home and loaded up our things and headed to Tremonton just in time for Cody's game.  I always have loved going out to the ball field and it was fun to hang out with my mom, dad and Lexi.

 We then went to my moms house and got situated to spend the week with her.  It was a very busy day but a great day.

Avocados!

We had another great Saturday that turned into being much more relaxed than originally planned (we love when it turns out that way!).  We hit up Costco, Macey's, gathered some camping supplies for Ray.  We went to Brigham to visit for a minute and pick up a bike.  This little gal tried avocado for the first time and LOVED it! She ate nearly half an avocado by herself!  We took a nap, watched a movie, mowed the lawn.  Then we went to Salt Lake and picked up my dad from the airport.  We all went to a Chinese buffet that was delicious and then hung out at my grandparents house and watched video and looked at pictures of my dads vacation as well as my grandparents! Another great day as a family!

In the castle...

We got an awesome castle from our neighbors..for free! Woowoo! I love it and so does Briele!  She thought she was pretty hot stuff when perched upon the castle!  And Kate just loved to be outside as usual!  She is such a happy baby!

Madison Marie...

Madi turned 7.  Crazy huh.  I just had to count in my head again to make sure but yup...she is 7!  I am in awe!  She is such a spunky, bossy, energetic, sweet and beautiful little lady.  We had the best time at her hot dog and smore roasting party! She is such a fashionista, she loves to have craft projects (hence 95% of her presents were projects), she loves to be in charge, she is always curious about what everything is, and she loves her family. It has been such a pleasure to watch her grow and learn! Happy Birthday Mads!

Love...

This gal melts my heart daily.  She is so happy and full of life.  She has started chewing on her toes any chance she gets.  She gets a little surprised when they don't stay in her mouth when she lets go.  She still loves bath time and she even likes to shower too!

Me & My Girl...

Have I said lately how much I love Miss Kate?  Because I do. A LOT.  This gal is the sun, the stars and the air I breathe.  She is (along with Ray) the only reason I keep myself together these days. We had a great time with the Whipple family at Caralyn's baby blessing and then continued to have a great and relaxing time at home! I love having time with my family, Ray & Kate are the best!

Salmon Fry 2013

As usual we had a great and delicious feast at the Salmon Fry.  It was great yet sad to see that each year we go there are fewer and fewer faces that I recognize.  Briele was hilarious and more than happy to help us flag down the fish guy to bring us seconds (or thirds or fourths) and honestly with her help we were pretty quick to get their attention!  We hung out at my mom's for a bit, visited Whipple's on our way home to wish Camille a very happy birthday and then we called it a night.  It was a great Saturday together...especially since Raymond ended up working only a couple hours!