The Weekly Photo(s)

I have so many fairly valid excuses for not blogging (the play, Utah trip, two weddings-one being my brothers, the play again, guests staying at our house), but still I have been fairly pathetic. 

Here is over a months worth of Weekly Photos:

Should have been posted July 25th:

Swimming with Mema

Should have been posted August 1st:

Elanor lost her 1st tooth!

Harry Potter party!! Rowena Ravenclaw, Prof. Quirrell, Hedwig and Hermione.

Should have been posted August 8th:

We went hiking with friends and family the morning before the last show of As You Like It. Also, that play was super fun to do, and was just really good.

Should have been posted on August 15th:

We went on a trip to Utah to visit friends and family. It was soon much fun. I have missed so many of my friends!

Should have been posted August 22nd:

We finished the library summer reading program!

Should have been posted August 29th:

My brother, Ian, married the lovely Kendal!

Should have been posted this past Monday, the 5th:

Hiking in the Gorge.

Weekly Photos

I am waaaaaaay behind on these. I like to do them, mostly to keep track of photos for my photo book and to encourage myself to take more pictures. So, I am back to doing these. Here is 2 months worth of weekly photos:

Should have been posted July 20th:

I did not take very many pictures this week and I remember that Alice was being difficult this day and just wanted to sleep with me and I was a bit tired and frustrated, but also I love to snuggle her. Motherhood feels like that often, it is hard and tiring and also rewarding, fun and full of love all at the same time.

Should have been posted on July 27th:

Elanor flying a kite down the street.

{I did not take any pictures this week! This is from Tyler's phone. Whoops.}

Should have been posted on August 3rd:

We did a family vacation since Ian got back from his mission. We tried to get a picture of all three grandchildren, but it did not quite work out. I still think this picture is pretty funny!

Should have been posted on August 10th:

 Harry Potter party!

Should have been posted on August 17th:

Said goodbye to Utah, our home of four years and our dear friends.

Should have been posted on August 24th:

We made it to Oregon!

Should have been posted on August 31st:

 Jessica and Cedric came to Oregon to be in and help with the play, "MacBeth" that my mom was directing. We had so much fun with them!

Should have been posted on September 7th:

 Alice's blessing day.

We all had parts in the play "MacBeth".  I was Lady MacDuff , Tyler was King Duncan, Jessica was the Porter/Doctor/Murderer, Ian was Angus/Siward and Elanor was Young MacDuff child/Apparition 2. It was fun to be in a play again, even if it was just a small part. Elanor loved it and had quite a few lines for someone her age and did awesome!

Should have been posted on September 14th:

 Beach day on Labor Day!

I'm all caught up and I will try not to let that happen again!

Harry Potter Party

Becky and I hosted our annual Harry Potter party as usual. However, this year we were both in the process of moving and this was also to be our last time having the party together. We were both rather busy, but thanks to some other friends we were able to pull it together. We had a lovely time doing trivia, munching on Harry Potter themed food, and playing "pin the pig tail on Dudley" ( a great idea from my friend Lori).

Elanor was a merperson from the lake this year. I just used material I already had and I think it turned out pretty good, albeit she does not look fierce. We forgot a spear (at least she did have a rock necklace).

 This picture makes me laugh! Im not sure why she did this pose but at least you can see the green in her hair.

Alice was a mandrake and played the part well.

 I was Professor Sprout (my hat did stick up and have patches, but I don't have a picture with it like that!), and Tyler was Harry.

Tyler did a great job drawing Dudley and the kids really loved playing this game!

I sadly do not have a picture of Becky and I, but we did have a lot go fun and stayed up late with some other die-hard fans playing trivia (we write our own questions). We have had fun over these past three years hosting Harry Potter parties together and I will really miss doing them with her. It was a wonderful thing that the Pitchers moved in above us. Becky is a kindred spirit and I will miss her.

The Weekly Photo

Elanor and Alice at the Highland Games this past weekend.

The Weekly Photo

We had a very fun 4th of July filled with lots of friends, barbecued food, sparklers and these two cute girls.

The Weekly Photo (s)

I have fallen behind again! Plus, I have not written a regular blogpost in awhile. I guess that happens when one has a new baby.

Well, here are some Weekly Photos:

Should have been posted last Monday (the 22nd):

The week of the 14th-20th was a busy one! On the Tuesday (16th), it was Tyler's birthday. Also, Tyler's mom and Kenny and his Aunt, Uncle and cousins were all up in Idaho vacationing at the dunes. So, we drove up Monday night and stayed most of the day Tuesday.

Here is a picture of Elanor and I in one of their ATV/sand car things. I did not take many pictures as I forgot my camera!

Later in the week, Tyler's mom, Kim, and Kenny drove down to Utah in their motor home to spend a day with us:

 Then, on Friday we went camping in the Uintas with friends (the Pitchers) and stayed up in the Uintas until bedtime on Saturday with some other friends (the Boothes). Then, on Sunday it was Father's Day and our 7th anniversary, plus my sister had her first baby! Talk about a busy week!

 Tyler and Alice at the Provo Falls up in the Uinta Mountains.

The Weekly Photo, which is actually posted on the right day!:  

I made this nightgown for our beautiful girl.

The Weekly Photo

I love these two.

For the last weekend in August, and a sort of end of summer thing, we went up into Big Cottonwood Canyon and had a campfire and foil dinners with friends. We climbed rocks, played in the stream (Elanor fell in twice), and had a wonderful time in the canyon.

The Weekly Photo

Playing in the creek at Sugarhouse Park.

This Swimsuit

Elanor has worn this Janie and Jack swimsuit for the last two summers and is wearing it again this summer. Granted by design there is a lot of room in it and Janie and Jack stuff seem to run a little big (I would hardly know as I have not bought many things there, as they can be expensive). I bought this swimsuit, size 18 months, back in 2012 for about $18, cheap for Janie and Jack, but a little more than I would usually spend on a swim suit for a baby. However, as it is going on three years, still fits and has yet to have a tear or look raggedy, I would say it was money well spent. Plus, it is still my favorite swim suit of hers. 

Elanor wearing the swim suit the summer of 2012--18 months:

The swim cap does not fit anymore, unfortunately.

Elanor wearing the suit the summer of 2013--2 1/2:

Elanor wearing the same suit, summer of 2014 at 3 1/2:

 She has sure grown up though, even if the suit does still fit.

Summertime

It is starting to feel like fall and summer is coming to a close. Our summer was hot, quick, adventurous, fun, and was filled with family, hikes, swimming and friends.

My sister, Jessica, made these videos of her time visiting us in Utah, going back to Oregon and our family beach trip. She filmed all of these on her iPhone, but I love them and the feeling behind the videos. There is so much joy, laughter and summery-ness to these videos.

So enjoy and get a feel for what our summer was like (well, at least June and part of July that is--just while we were with Jess). I suppose I need to be better videographer... Oh and Becky, your boys are featured in the first video. 

Utah 2013

Oregon 2013

The beach video is for some reason not public, but you can watch it here if you so desire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnm-otWC1e0&feature=youtu.be

We had a wonderful summer, but I am excited for fall, leaves, pumpkins, hot chocolate, caramel apples and frost.

The Weekly Photo

 The 1st part of the week Elanor and I were still in Oregon. Thus, this is a picture from Oregon at Tyler's mom's house. Elanor loves swimming and is not scared of the water at all...

The second half of the week we were back here in Utah and so thrilled to be reunited with Tyler!

Goodness! I love this guy.

Mini Trip

Elanor and I went back to Oregon last week. It was a short trip, less than a week, but very fun. We went back so that I could do the choreography for a dance in my mom's play she is directing, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". If you happen to be in the Portland, OR area near the end of October you should plan on seeing this show. My mom is a wizard with kids/teenagers and puts on good quality entertaining shows. For more info go here.

It was a lovely few days of rehearsals, rain, sun, swimming and sailing.

Jumping with excitement because we are at Nan and Grandpa's house!

Multnomah Falls

Being silly.

Multnomah Falls from the bridge.

  

The weather changed on us so we went sailing!

Helping Grandpa steer.

At the Oregon Zoo:

Sea Lions

Looking at the giraffes

Swimming with Mema and Papa:

Cousins, Casen and Colbi also came by to visit and swim and the three of them love playing together!

 Columbia Gorge hike:

Elanor and my mom/Nan collecting sticks and leaves.

Elanor found some Queen Anne's Lace. 

Wild flowers. 

Blackberries grow everywhere in Oregon. Really. Everywhere. 

This is where I am from folks.

A sunset plane ride back to Utah:

We had a grand time and I am so glad Elanor remembers everyone now. She loves her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We will hopefully come back soon Oregon!