August in Ogden

After our visit to Idaho we spent a week at my Dad's house. Jared had clinicals at Mckay-Dee Hospital, so it was nice to be able to stay in Plain City for that time.

Isaac checking out the iguanas at the Dinosaur Park.

Isaac and Grandma Terree under a real Brontosaurus! (Not really.)

More fun at the dino park.

We were even lucky enough to convince Dad to dust off the windsurfers and give us some lessons at the end of the day one evening.

It was great to have a week there so we could hang out with my Grandma one last time before moving to the east coast.

August in Idaho

We had a lot of fun in Idaho before our long long trip across the country. We stayed with my Aunt, Phyllis and her husband, Burke. The wiggle carts in the airplane hangar were fun for everyone, young and old.

We got to hang out with my cousin, Danielle and her cute family.

Chase and Faith are fun kiddos.

We also got to hang out with Doug & Shawnie Bird with their FOUR (!!) beautiful candidates for daughters-in-law... I mean their four girls...but obviously we were having too much fun to remember to take a picture with them. :)

Milestones

Okay, okay. We really will get caught up on the last month and a half of our lives...eventually. But I feel bad that no one who knew Noah as a newborn realizes (except Jared's parents, who just visited) what he's doing these days. Note the background conversation that takes place in and around the bathroom.

We're in Baltimore!!!

Yes, we have finally arrived. The trip here was a lot of fun. I'll put up a few pics here and leave the rest of the documentation to the professional.

Here we all are at Carthage Jail, in the room where Joseph Smith was shot.
Laurel and the boys in front of the John Johnson home

Me and Isaac pulling a handcart at Martin's Cove

Homework

Upon seeing this title, some of you may perk up and some of you may shudder. However, if you're willing to do it, we have an assignment for each of you.
Warning: this is gonna get political. Lately we have been frustrated by people saying "vote for so-and-so" (insert candidate's name) and giving really silly reasons...like fabulous cheek bones. People. We want facts. Show us you aren't ignorant. Demonstrate your ability to think critically. Talk about the ISSUES.
Your assignment is to comment on this post, telling us who you would like to have the office of President of the United States as well as why, using 3 real and applicable-to-the-office reasons. We don't care if it's your grandpa or somebody famous...just give us their stance on the issues and how this country would benefit.
Another thing: don't panic if it doesn't show up right away. It has to be "approved" first, but, as long as it isn't vile, it will be published. We arrive in Baltimore in 2 and a half weeks, so this blog depends on your comments until then. I expect great things....

Mullet Town

With all of the enlightening talk of mullets up in Kamas on Sunday, I was inspired by Laurel's own contribution to mullet-dom and felt an overwhelming need to share. There is also the fact that she posted a really awful shot of me on the blog and I told her that this would be the consequence if she didn't delete it...well, she chose the consequence, so here you go, world: Laurel sporting two of her stunning mullet stylings...ENJOY!!!

She likes to call this one "The Q-Tip"

I'm not sure what this one is called, but it's pretty good too

Now how about a return to mullet land? What do you think people? Didn't she look great?! I think she could pull off a come back...

Our Quest to do it ALL

Kangaroo Zoo with Rachel, Tanner and Benjamin

Hiking with Mom, Bobbie & Ashton

Huge columbine!


Barbeque with the Staffords (such a cute family!)

Lunch with Carina and Amy (and Jenna the next day!) with their babies
Looks like Noah is distracting his peers.
Madeleine, Joshua and Noah were all born within a month of each other.
The Moab Day Trip Experience. Complete with: silly Isaac,

the hottest time of day,
Balanced Rock,
and a hike to Delicate Arch.
In my 13 years of living in Utah, I had never been here!

We learned a lot, including this equation:

1.5 mile hike up + 1 baby backpack + 1 little dude + oven-like heat + sand in your shoes + 1.5 mile hike back= what feels like a 10 mile hike

We might have been the only Americans there; we're not sure.

Petroglyphs were on our "must see" list

Isaac is saying "boo!" from behind the sign. After the hike, we bagged our plans to run and skipped to swimming in the Colorado River.
An excellent place for an echo What a beautiful place this whole area is!
We even got to watch Peter Breinholt after dinner! He was right there putting on a concert for Raft for the Cure. This made my night.


Up to Kamas, Utah the very next day. Sitting under those trees with everyone, I had to wonder: when will we be up this way again?
The Jackson Sibling Hug
The sandbox and Tanner were, of course, Isaac's favorite parts.Gorgeous Kamas sunset