Pictures in Memory Grove

For FHE, we took our kids to Memory Grove for a little photoshoot.

Laynie is exactly 20 months old in this picture - almost to the very hour!!

20 Month Stats:

Height: 32 inches (32 %tile)

Weight: 25.2 pounds (71%tile)

Head Circumference: 18.25 inches (44%tile)

Gavin is almost 4 1/2 here.  I just can't believe he'll be 5 soon.

He's 43 inches tall and weighs 42.8 pounds.

Best of Friends

La Alayna Bonita

They're only this little for a short while.

Oh..... Laynie Bug!

El Gavin Guapo

Cheese!  (This boy is a real ham in front of the camera.)

"Hey Mom!  I have an idea.  Why don't you take a picture with me sitting here?"

(Gavin was really getting into this whole photoshoot thing!)

This is our Ginger Cat.  We met him on the trail going down and he pretty much fell in love with us... or was it the other way around?

Save

Save
SaveSave
SaveSave

Camera Pics from August/September

In August, I decided to tackle one of the home improvement projects that I've been wanting to do ever since we moved in - paint the pantry.  Check!

We also went to Zootopia!  (Matt's work had a fun evening of face painting, balloon animals and a showing of the movie, Zootopia.  Laynie dressed up like a leopard and Gavin was an alligator.  Mom came up that night and we spent the next day together shopping.  Just the 2 of us.  Kids were with a babysitter.  Wahoo!

Then I got sick.  Sinus infection fun.  I took food downstairs and told the kids to wake me if someone  (including myself) was dying.

Luckily Gavin made me a "Get Better Stick," and it made all the difference.

In September, I practiced sillouette photography in preparation to take some pictures of my pregnant sister in law.  Gavin graciously agreed to be my model.

And... now I'm sick again.  Once I get a sinus infection, it doesn't fully go away unless I'm provided with antibiotics.  And my doctor is really stingy with that drug!  Debating whether I should have the surgery done to end these blasted sicknesses once and for all!

Antelope Island

My friend, Chelsea, and I have tried to take our kids on a monthly adventure.  This time we explored Antelope Island.  I had never been here before and it was beautiful - a hiker's paradise.  I would love to go back and hike all of the different hikes (preferably w/o young kids, but that won't happen for a few more years.)  Gavin loves to hike and explore.  I hope he continues to like it b/c I'd love to keep going on adventures with him as he gets older.

Outside the visitors center

Outside the visitors center

Taking a rest on our hike.

Hiking up the hill.

Buffalo Point - Baffalo were grazing everywhere.  (I only had my phone camera on me and they would have been tiny black dots if I tried to take pictures of them.)

Guess which hand the rock is in game.  We hiked back down, had lunch, then said good bye to our friends.

We stayed on the island and explored Bridger Bay.

The sand was so soft!

And the water, so salty!

Laynie was afraid to go in, but once she did, she started splashing and having lots of fun!

Chasing after a seagull.

Before we ended our trip, we stopped in at the Buffalo Grill and got snow cones.  It was a lovely little day trip.

On our way home we passed Angry Birds so we had to stop for a picture.

Labor Day Weekend 2016

For Labor Day weekend, we went to 7 Peaks in SLC (had to get the last bit of fun in before they closed down for the season) and on Saturday to the Dinosaur Museum/Park on Monday.  Justin and Joni invited us to meet up with their family.  It was fun doing something together again 'cause it's been a long time since we have.

Our Staycation!

Vacationing - Anderson Style!

Matt took 3 days off work in mid-August and we VACATIONED!! (All within a 60 mile radius of our home!)  It truly was the best kind of vacation for our family:  low stress, Laynie still got to take her nap each day, and we still enjoyed spending time together as a family.

Day 1:  (Mom's day)  I planned and executed the events of this day.  We first went for a 2 mile hike in North Salt Lake along the Wild Rose Trail.  It was beautiful.

Laynie and Gavin - all ready to start the hike.

We hiked through the foothills of a part of NSL we had never been to before.

Gavin was Mr. Speedy Pants and kept getting way ahead of us.  This is him coming back after we called for him to do so.

At a look out point.

We were a little "loopy" as we traveled the 2 mile loop.

We think this is why it's called the "Wild Rose Loop."  This plant was everywhere.  

At the trailhead, was a nice park for the kids to play on.

We ate our picnic lunch here as well.

After nap time, we ventured to West Valley to "Scales and Tails."

Laynie loved petting the tortoises the most.

Here she is petting an iguana.  (She, like her mother, wouldn't get near the snakes.)

We came home and made a camp fire then roasted hotdogs.

Day 2 (Dad's day) - Matt had the kids make balloon rockets in the morning.

It's amazing how much a simple balloon can entertain.

Then we went to a park in West Bountiful.

And ate lunch at McDonalds.  After Laynie's nap, we traveled to Provo to go to 7 Peaks Water Park.  The kids loved it.  I didn't brink my camera into the park, so no pictures there.  I ran into a couple old acquaintances, including one of my past kindergarten students who was now 15 years old!

Day 3 (Gavin's day)

We rode Front Runner to downtown SLC and saw one of the Meet the Mormon video segments at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  We then went to City Creek Mall and let the kids play on the dinosaur playground.

We took the train back...

...and ate at Pizza Pie Cafe!

Laynie liked the lemons!

Look at that face!

Nap time then up to Ogden for some Treehouse Museum fun.  That place never disappoints!

We used the next day, Saturday, to recuperate and get stuff done.  I love my family and all the fun times we have together!