father/son time

matt and jake are getting more quality time together lately, especially with my new calling (stake young women secretary). i love that this is one of the perks. the part that i don't love is that matt always says, "we had so much fun! he is so different when you are not around. no whining, no crying, etc." he even took pictures to prove it...

come to find out...they watch t.v. a lot.

johnson mill

some dear, sweet people gave us a gift certificate to johnson mill bed and breakfast in midway. they also kept jake for us overnight. what a fun labor day weekend we had!



there was a pond behind back with a canoe for romantic boat rides. we decided to take advantage of this. let me tell you, the water looks pretty, but it is actually really creepy. you can't see down, the water is dark and stinky with occasional plants coming up toward the surface. i was expecting to see a human hand or face like on lord of the rings. i prayed and prayed that we wouldn't tip over and have to touch that water. i sat as still as i could while matt rowed us through the water at sunset. all of the sudden, matt got freaked out too and paddled as fast as he could back for the gazebo. it is one of those moments that i will never forget. i started laughing and couldn't quit. my nervousness contributed i am sure, but i was hysterical, tears coming down my face. i was rather relieved to get back on solid ground.


with our big camera, this is what we get when matt tries to take a portrait of both of us. we really need to figure out the timer.


the waterfall was really cool. we stayed in the waterfall terrace that has a balcony that looks 40 feet straight down on this waterfall. the sound was awesome.

the building really was cool.

after leaving the johnson mill, we went to swiss days where there was a lot of things to buy and a lot of women there to buy it.

we also went to the soldier hollow sheepdog trials. so cool. you have to go sometime. we started with the splash dogs. the contest was to see how far the dog could jump off the dock. really was fun to watch.

some of them would get out there 23 feet.

the border collies herding the sheep were amazing. they would follow whistle commands from the shepherd and bring a herd of sheep down from way up the hill (by where the field starts). i am zoomed in on this picture, but believe me, it is a ways away.

on the way down, the dog has to bring the sheep through some gates then directly to the shepherd. they then have to take the sheep around the shepherd and separate two out of the five and keep them controlled. they then have to take the sheep back to some gates on the left and through and then to some gates on the right and through. back to the shepherd and then they have to pen them. this all has to happen within a time limit. amazing to watch.

california girls

before moving back here to meet my one true love, i lived in the bay area and of course i loved it there. it is beautiful. there are so many things to do and the weather is awesome. i miss the farmer's markets, the hiking, trader joe's, the shopping, the city, etc. etc. but the thing that i missed the most is my amazing friends. they were (are) like family! in july, jake and i went back to visit. jake has friends his age that he has never met and boy did they have fun! i am so slow and behind on my blogging, but i had to get this in.


melissa, kianna, shannon and weston (our wonderful hosts), natalie and lucas and me and jake. the only people missing were lisa and baby K. it would have been fun to have them there also, but lisa lives in southern california and was near the birthing of her next baby, which has now arrived. welcome baby kate!


the first night we had a barbeque at natalie's home. the food was delicious and the company was great. it was so fun to catch up with everyone! the three boys played together, but were a little reluctant to be photographed.

natalie and lucas

we did so many fun things. we kept shannon and weston hopping. they took jake and i to the children't museum. so fun!

the water area was a hit until weston fell and hit his head. poor guy!

jake loved the balls.

we also went into the city. i forgot that summer + the city = freezing cold. go in october.

weston, shannon, me and jake.

melissa took the day off of work. so glad that she did. we had lots of time in traffic, so that means lots of time to chat while the boys snoozed away. it was so fun to hear about melissa and her new husband. they got married in june and i am so happy for her!

at this point in the city, jake hadn't had a nap yet. no nap + free space = lots of running. not so relaxing for his mom. maybe i should buy one of those leash things that i used to be against.

i finally found this dock thing where i could corral him a little bit.

he sat here for .2 seconds. a day in the city with friends...the best.

back in livermore at shannon's, we did lots of playing. we went to the farmer's market and for a walk down to the stream. we even went to a mommy and me music class. jake loved that. the boys had fun just hanging out together. they really did. no biting, no hitting, no pushing and lots of sharing. it was pretty crazy how well they got along for a 12 month old and a 17 month old. jake loves weston. when he sees a picture, he still says "wa-wa" and tilts his head to the side with a smile on his face.

could they be any cuter??

thank you so much you california girls! we miss you all! shannon and weston...are lives are incomplete without you! thank you for hosting us and being the best besties ever! loves to you all.

campin' at the farm

what could be more fun for a kid than having a grandma with a farm? how about a grandma with a farm and two ponds, one for fishin' and one filled with irrigation water that is perfect for swimming. there also happens to be lots of peace and quiet, which makes it a perfect place to go camping. add to that...cousins nearby and you have kid heaven.

grandma and grandpa's ranger is pretty cool too!

jake loves tyler and kim's dog, buzz.

koy is for sure one of jake's favorites. he is so good to jake, playing, chasing or whatever jake wants to do.

we swam for awhile and then everyone got out for a lunch of barbequed bleu cheese burgers. ty and sai look ready for a nap.

annie-girl

koy

jake just wants to throw rocks.

food was gone so it was time to get back in the water.

matt started a mud fight. the messy things are always his idea.

then he wonders why he gets it the worst.

could anna be any cuter?

another matt idea...a mud slide.

matt

anna

spencer, matt's nephew visiting from phoenix. he had no idea what he was getting himself into by visiting us!

matt again

sai

koy

kim and avery chose to sit out and watch like i did. smart girls.

jake not only had to ride in the raft, but he had to wear a life jacket. am i a little over-protective?

sai is ready to get out.

can anyone else hear the theme music to bay watch?

duh-duh, duh-duh, (think jaws) watch out hear comes ty.

beautiful anna

once again throwing rocks. a favorite activity.

can you see the splash?

life is good.

maybe someone is ready to go home.