Hunting Season

It is that time of year again, the time when I am husbandless and the little time he is around the talk is about big racks and large size.  I am not talking about football season at Hooters I am talking about Hunting Season, although it is football season as well so we really have a hard time finding time for anything else around this house.  The first hunt of the season for us started Sept. 15, however we had to go to the South Sevier Homecoming Football game because it was against Beaver. Beaver really brought their A game and cleaned the field with the Rams.  Travis was excited about that because people at work were heckling him about being from Beaver.We headed down to my grandparents for the big elk hunt on the Dutton with my Grandpa after we decided there was no way South Sevier was going to win.  Travis went down to help out with the spotting and carrying out of the elk, which meant me and the kids got some quality time with my grandma. Although Sawyer was pretty distraught on Saturday morning when daddy and Poppa were gone without him.  He went running through the house in hysterics.  We just got to relax at the Grandparents most of the day.  We looked at animals, we fed animals, we played on the swing set. I realized while playing on the swing set how out of shape I am after having Jaylee.  I thought I wasn't so bad this time because I have worked out so much more this time but lo and behold I am so weak.  I tried to do a flip on the rings and I could barely kick my legs up over my head.  I decided I better work on my arm strength then and there so I did some modified pull ups. I whipped out 20 or so.  I thought I may not be as weak as I though. WRONG. I don't think I could use my arms for three days afterwards.  

On Sunday we decided to go for a picnic up in the mountains. Birch Creek was our destination.  Mariah and her family were going to meet us up there.  We had a great little thrown together lunch and got to explore a bit and see our old forest service projects.  The boys shot arrows, had stick races down the creek, played in the dirt while we enjoyed the lovely weather.  

Sawyer loves his cousins. A LOT if you can't tell

Hanna loves Jaylee, she rolled right over to her

Maybe she loves her a little too much

Save me Mom

Utah State Aggies All The Way

Travis has been talking about the Utah State v. Utah game since last Spring when they posted the schedule so he insisted we get ticket to the game.  I didn't object because it was a great excuse to get out of Sevier Valley and go back to my beloved Cache Valley.  Man, I miss that place (sigh).  

We decided to make it into a little vacation and excursion.  We left Thursday morning to head up North.    Our first stop was at Cabela's, of course, hunting season is just around the corner.  Also, they have a great display of animals.  Sawyer was in hog heaven.  It was funny walking through the store because he would just yell out the name of the animal.  It kind of caught a few other shoppers by surprise. He loved the aquariums and the shooting game.  He didn't really get the point of the shooting game though, he just liked pulling the trigger.  After Cabela's we headed up to Draper to eat.  We were all starving.  It was nice to have a variety of options for eating again. After eating the baby had to eat so Travis and Sawyer went to See's Candies to get us a treat while I fed the little one.  Yum is all I can say.  We headed to the Aquarium in Sandy after.  Sawyer thought it was awesome.  He was all over the place.  I have become that parent that is yelling and chasing their kid all over the place.  He had a ball though.  We thought it was pretty cool as well.  I even got to tough a shark and a ray.  They felt different than I thought they would.  Sawyer didn't even make it out to the freeway before he fell asleep.  

We headed up to Perry to stay with our good friends the Hollands.  It was fun to visit with them.  It has been ages since we had been up there.  The kids had a fun time playing together.  We ordered out from Maddox's that evening.  If you are ever traveling up I-5 it is worth the stop at this restaurant. 

Friday morning Travis headed over to Newton to go muskie fishing at an unearthly hour.  We stayed at the Hollands because there is no way I get up before the sun to go fishing.  When Travis got back we ate lunch and headed over to Logan.  I had such a long list of things I wanted to do but I only got to accomplish a few of them.  The people and traffic was nuts in the valley, but not only was it the big game but the LOTOJA was that weekend too.  Who planned that? We were able to go to campus and fulfill Travis' order from work of game day shirts.  We seriously had like 20 shirts to purchase for people at his office.  Krista met us at the store and we all headed to Aggie Ice Cream.  It was just as good as I hoped it would be.  The line to get in was ridiculous though.  Krista and Travis headed down to the game to save seats afterwards.  The lines to get in were insane.  Apparently, they were only letting in 6,500 students.  I went to get Sawyer something to eat and I needed to feed the baby before the big game.  It took me forever to get from the school down to the McDonald's on Main St. there was so much traffic.  

The game was so crowded.  We got to sit next to our old crew of people, The Rowley's - our old and very missed neighbors, and Kyle and Charele. We were all piled in like sardines though.  It was nuts.  I thought I would be able to feed the baby somewhere during the game but there were people everywhere.  I thought I could ask the First Aid station if I could come in there.  They obliged but it also doubled as the Security Station as well.  The officers game me some privacy and stood in front of the glass door for me but they had to bring some unruly drunks into the office.  It made for an entertaining nursing experience.  I would be a liar though if I didn't say it was a little awkward.  However, it is not like those drunks will remember it in the morning.  Sawyer really enjoyed the game and did pretty good.  Jaylee on the other hand did not enjoy the game as much.  She would sleep or yell, mostly yell   There wasn't a happy medium.  

Look at all those people. We need a new stadium

A good moment

We won, in over time. Go AGGIES

I am so done with this Mom. 

Love my Aunt Krista

Peach Days in Brigham City were on Saturday.  We headed over there with the Hollands to watch the parade and partake of the festivities.  It was packed.  There were so many people.  We had a ball though.  We ended up running in to a few people we knew in Logan.  I love catching up with people.  Bear River Health Department had a Breastfeeding Trailer for Mom's.  I thought score but the AC wasn't working.  I about sweated to death but it was a nice idea.  Sawyer and Travis went on a few of the rides while I fed Jaylee.  Sawyer had a great time on the Carousel.  He kept telling his horse to "Get Up, Yah Yah.  Faster Faster."  He is hilarious.  

Bless This Child

This Labor Day weekend we decided would be a good time to bless our little one.  At first it was a good idea but who plans a stressful event on a holiday weekend?  Honestly, what was I thinking?  Okay   I will quit my belly aching because it actually wasn't that bad.  On Saturday we met Krista over at Cove Fort.  We really wanted to go to Cove Fort Days, which a great festival where they show you what pioneer life was like, earlier in August but Travis' had a family reunion so we missed it.  It was fun to walk around the Fort.  They don't have all the activities that they would have on Cove Fort Days but we enjoyed it.  Sawyer got a little distracted but he enjoyed running around on the grass inside. When we got back we started the food preparation for the dinner on Sunday.  I have never feed a lot of people by myself so I was a little nervous.  It was a good thing my mom came over to help.  She is amazing at planning dinner for people, must have been all the practice with the Yardley family Fast Sunday dinner.  We wanted to do a Polynesian themed dinner with Kalua Pork, Mac Salad, green salad, rolls and watermelon.  We got everything prepared that we could and still had time to go play tennis, or "ten-son" in the words of Sawyer.  Oh which I am happy to say I beat Travis in a couple of sets or matches I never know for sure what they are called.  Not bad though for a woman 8 weeks postpartum. 

Eye Mom- yes Sawyer that is her eye DON"T TOUCH IT, I swear I have to tell him that all the time. 

Travis gave a wonderful blessing.  We were excited to see all those that were able to come, and we missed all those who couldn't make it.  It was a difficult weekend for many people to come because of traveling, vacationing, and sickness but it turned out okay.  After the dinner we got everything cleaned up and Sawyer and Travis headed up the mountain to camp with Tammy and her family.  I went with my mom down to my Grandparents to be with my sisters and family, because there was no way I was camping with a 8 week old in Monsoon season.    It was fun to be with everyone.  Jaylee loved all the extra attention she was getting without her big brother around to have to share the attention.  

Monroe Mountain

Well we decided to test our new purchase in the mountains.  We went up on a Friday night to explore the mountains and cook tin foil dinners.  I am not going to lie the road up the mountain had my palms and feet sweating the whole time.  I don't know why I was so nervous because Travis is a good driver, maybe it was the steep drop off on the side of the road, or the narrow road that had blind curves.  We made it to a great little meadow to have our little fire.  It was fun.  Sawyer was in heaven, so many sticks he could hardly contain himself oh and DIRT.  He loves dirt.  

Baby J wasn't as excited to be in the mountains.  It just tired her out. 

NOT A MORNING PERSON, unless there are doughnuts

I love how he is tangled in the line. 

Saturday we headed back up the mountain a bit further to go fishing.  It was still nerve racking driving up the canyon but once on top I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was.  I can't wait until the fall colors are on.  We caught three fish while we were at the Reservoir.  I caught 2.  Yep, I could totally survive in the wilderness, well as long as Travis comes to take my fish off the hook for me.  We ate lunch and headed back down the mountain to do the saturday chores we neglected to go fishing.  I am such a slave driver.  

We went to some friends later to have a hot dog roast at their house.   I miss having a fire pit in our back yard.  We used to cook over it all the time.  We had fun and Sawyer loved playing with friends.  

Excuse the bow right in her eyes.  

I'm too young for this...

It has been Travis' goal to own a truck for some time now.  We did have a truck but we had to sale it to help some family out, so since then he has wanted another truck.  While in Logan it wasn't very feasible to have a truck so once we moved back to Central Utah he has been itching to find another truck to take into the mountains. (Also- we needed another vehicle since Travis works full time and we only have one car, scheduling for the car was getting ridiculous.)  We looked at all kinds of trucks.  Every night Travis would scour the classifieds to try to find a truck in our price range that was in good condition.  After a couple of months of looking we found...........A SUBURBAN!  Yep, we went looking for a truck and ended up with the ultimate Mormon Family Vehicle.  Travis and I have laughed about it a couple of times that we only have two kids and have a suburban but it was the best vehicle for the best price.  We got a steal of a deal.  

While up North, by the way it was like a vacation getting out of Sevier Valley and heading to the "BIG" City, we hit up the splash pads at The Riverwoods.  Sawyer was a little skeptical at first but once he got the hang of it he was in heaven.  He was running around and stepping on the water squirters and kicking the water.  He had a lot of fun.  I was happy because I got to not only entertain Sawyer but we were at a Mall. Gees it has been awhile.  

Travis drove the suburban home and I drove the car.  We decided to take a detour over to my Mom's house to show them our new purchase.  Big purchases give me such anxiety- seriously I almost needed something to help calm my nerves. We are happy with our purchase though.  I guess our family can grow with it .....hahaha.  Not for a while though. 

Such a great dad, changing diapers while Mom takes pictures. 

Brief Smile/Gas

Jaylee is 5 weeks old in these pictures.  She is so adorable but again I am really biased.  She is growing like a weed.  I don't think Sawyer was her size until he was at least 8 weeks old.  She is getting better with her sleeping but I will probably jinx myself by posting that.  She eats a lot which is great and she is a good nurser- if that is a phrase.  We are trying to get her to take a bottle so I have a little more freedom but she is a work in progress. Patience is a virtue right? She also doesn't take a binkie very well either.  We still love her even if she cries a lot.  We wouldn't trade this little cutie for anything. 

County Fair Season

It seems like since Jaylee was born we haven't slowed down at all.  I thought I would get a little rest and relaxation after giving birth.  Boy, was I wrong.  I hate to waste the summer just cooped up inside but at the same time Momma needs a little rest, giving birth is hard. 

July was a busy time for us.  We went to Beaver for the 24th of July.  As I have said before, I just love that holiday.  I love the festivities, the food, the family.  This year was very different for though.  I didn't do too much because, 1. it was HOT and 2. the new baby.  It was still fun to be around family and friends.  

We went over to Piute County for the fair and to be with family.  It is nice living so close so we can head down in the morning and come back and sleep in my own bed.  The fair was also HOT and it rained A LOT that day, which I am not complaining about.  I got to spend the day at my grandparents which is great and eat some good food.  While at the fair though Sawyer entertained himself with a balloon forever.  It really is the little things in life that make us happy right? 

We celebrated Travis' birthday on the 31st.  I didn't get any pictures though.  I need to be better about that.  My mom graciously came and watched my kids- so crazy that I have kids plural.  We got to get out for a date and that was amazing.  We went out to eat at a pretty good steak house.  We then hit up the remodeled bowling alley.  I was awful but Travis was amazing.  I guess we can't win them all.  It makes up for when completely creamed Travis on his birthday when we were dating.