Audriana Belle at 10 months

Again, my talented friend Natalie snapped some great pictures. What would I do without her?

Hold me mommy!

my favorite. I love what she does with her lips.

so angelic!

before she took her shoes off. Love those teeth!

wanting to move

Love this sweet little girl.

July 4, 2013

We left Sunnyside to head up to my parents' place, after work on the third. We caravanned up there with the Watkins family. On our way we stopped at the Jaramillo's to watch a huge firework show in the valley below their home. We had a great time and stayed up wayyy too late. We finished the drive at around midnight and knew the next day we would be DRAINED.

I remember waking up and rushing around getting our bags packed and the kids fed. We had to be at a breakfast at nine. To get our family anywhere by 9 am means that there will be chaos and a large mess left in our wake.

We went to my parents' ward breakfast and had a great time visiting and eating the traditional pancake, egg, fruit, and juice meal.

We decided to risk the crowds and head up to Friday Harbor to *hopefully* see whales. As we were approaching the ferry terminal we realized that we had a large blowout in the backseat to cleanup. Poor Charlie and his car seat were completely covered. We had to do a strip-down in the parking lot. I remember being sad that he wouldn't be able to wear his red shorts. Then I realized that Sean threw the whole 'patriotic attire' rule out the window, and we would survive our mismatched day. I was happy that Charlie's stomach felt better. That was quite the lesson to learn-- have him pace himself when eating pistachios. He loves them. They are a good snack. They fill his little energetic body up. They tear his digestive track up.

We enjoyed beautiful northwest weather, which was surprising because lots of fourths have been spent under umbrellas up there. The Watkins and us really enjoyed the ferry ride, and spent the entire trip to Friday Harbor out on the ferry's deck.

Time was cutting close, but we ran to the bus that would take us to the side of the island for whale watching. We wandered around the rocky beach and visited the lighthouse. Finally, after not seeing a whale, we decided to head back so that we could wander around the town a bit before we had to catch our returning ferry. I felt I had to be pulled from the beach. I wanted to see an orca sooooo badly.

As we began the drive back the bus driver told us where the whales had been hanging out and that they would probably be swimming along that beach, that we had JUST left, in the next half an hour or so. I was so disappointed. Then the bus driver pulled the bus to the side and pointed at a few boats out in the water. He said that the cluster of boats usually signified a whale pod being nearby. Sure enough, up popped a whale. I was SO happy!! I probably thanked that driver a hundred times on the way out. One day I hope to be out on a boat to see them closely, but that was a perfect start.

We wandered thru some stores. Britni found her traditional ornament for their Christmas tree. I like her tradition of buying an ornament at each place they visit. After the store wandering, it was off to the ice cream store.

We took our cones and walked down different piers. There were so many sailboats, and the weather was absolutely perfect, I decided I could live there. Then I remembered that I get cabin fever and closed that option. I would feel too trapped out there year round.

We boarded our ferry and headed back. At that point we were all pretty hungry. The pancakes and ice cream didn't last long enough, apparently. We overspent at the ferry cafe and then filled our stomachs. Charlie had a soft pretzel and cheese and I snuck some pieces. It took me right back to the middle school cafeteria-- soft pretzels and cheese was considered the cool lunch. I felt cool.

Grayson laid down on the ferry bench and Britni's lap and was out. We all felt like sleeping, and we may have had several of our heads bobbing up and down.

We spent the evening watching the fireworks at a beach near my parents' place. They brought down a small grill and made hot dogs for us all. It was a fun little beach bbq. We stayed until maybe 10, but then we were so drained we left early and went home. Man did we sleep that night.

The next day we set out for the state park. We spent the day watching the boys throw rocks in the water while the men were out checking the crab pots. They came in and let the boys take turns out on the boat, which they loved. After a few hours they had caught their limit, and we had reached our fill of sun, rock-throwing, beach-sitting, and cliff-climbing with little ones. Home again home again we went (and by home, I mean my parent's home). We ate plenty of crab, except for Britni, she was pregnant and not feeling too up for crab. I don't blame her-- if I want to hate a food, I just need to eat a little more than a serving while pregnant.

It was a great trip with great friends. Since I am writing this a year after the fact and after a move, I am missing those friends, but grateful for the memory.

The position of my camera made Grayson look like Goliath. Charlie is on the smaller end, but they normally don't look that different in size.

buds

Poor Audri, always trying to see what's going on.

Friday Harbor

Love these little friends

Enjoying having Sean around

meeting their dinner

Out of order

This blog is totally out of order. I am having a hard time getting these posts moved into chronological order, so hopefully when I put the book together, it will be in proper order. BLAH!!!

Utah (written Feb. 2013 but couldn't post because of computer problems)

February 9th we woke up a bit too late and raced down to the airport. We made it to our gate right as they started boarding. With two little ones, it was a bit of a relief not to have to spend extra time in the airport, but that might have been cutting it too close; it took awhile for my heart to slow back down and my blood pressure to drop back to normal.

Utah is one of my favorite places to visit because (1) we have lots of family to see, (2) there are also lots of friends to see (even though I hardly see any because we are busy with family), (3) Utah has all of my favorite stores clumped together, (4) It's beautiful, and (5) there are so many great restaurants to eat at.

Lately it seems Utah has been growing at a rapid pace. We are there about three times a year and it gets more and more congested. There are so many people moving there! I can't say I blame them. I do get excited to come back to our slow-paced country life but am sad to say so many goodbyes.

This trip was PACKED! We hung out with my sisters and Lincoln and Koby on Saturday. Saturday night we spent time with Sean's parents and brother's family-- always a good time. Sunday we tried to catch up on sleep from our EARLY flight, and then met up with friends from dental school, which was so much fun! Monday Sean took Charlie up to watch Josh's band performance, and I shopped until I dropped (my feet killed!). For family night that night we went to Megan and James' house and had gyoza and Japanese curry with Emily and Shane. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are a bit of a blur, but I can remember some of the stuff we did. Charlie and grandpa played trains trains and more trains, Sean spent time helping with computer stuff, we visited my grandma, spent time with the Mitchells, had a yummy valentine dinner that Bruce and Joanie hosted, spent lots of time just hanging out with Megan and the boys, went snowshoeing, and sent Sean snowshoeing with Jason and Josh. We came home exhausted, but happy.

This picture looks like I am squeezing her. She was an angel on the plane.

Meeting Aunt Emily, who I think Audri looks a lot like.

Meeting Aunt Megan and cousin Koby

I remember this perfect Sunday nap so well. Heaven. Pure Heaven

Nature is so relaxing for these two. 

Audri slept comfortably while I huffed and puffed up the mountain in those snowshoes. 

Post snowshoeing hot chocolate run.

Loved visiting with our friends from dental school. Amber made us dinner, and Natalie drove to Draper from Evanston. Such great friends.

Meeting Great Grandma DeFreese

Charlie decided Grandma Joanie needed help organizing her pantry

Three months apart and finally playing nicely with one another. I love that Lincoln and Charlie are so close in age.

Meeting cousin Simon

Cousin Josh looking like a natural

meeting cousin Emily

Even though this is a blurry picture, I love seeing Koby and Lincoln crowd around Audri.

Suncadia, June 2013

We went with the Quigley side of the family to Suncadia. It's tucked away in the mountains near Cle Elum, WA. It was gorgeous! One of my regrets is that I didn't get many pictures. Jason, Wendy, and the kids, as well as Bruce and Joanie, made it up to our house before we took off to the resort.

Wendy, Brittany, and I decided we'd each take two nights to make dinner, and then we all pitched in for the breakfast, lunch, dessert, and snack foods. We ate well. Joanie loved that she didn't have to prepare a meal all week.

Before we took off from our house, I kept thinking we needed to grab medicine and teething aids, just in case. I kept pushing that thought out because Sean and I were convinced those teeth wouldn't be coming anytime soon. Charlie didn't get his first tooth until he was 11 months, so it was easy to push the thought aside.

The first night we were there we stayed in a beautiful condo. There were two bedrooms, a living room that had a pull-out bed, bunk beds that were built right into the wall, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. It really was gorgeous.

The next morning Jason, Rachel, and I took off for a run. I believe Wendy was on roller blades and Simon, Josh, and Emily were on bikes. We had a great run. It had been so long since I'd run consistently, so I remember being so exhausted. After we returned we packed up our stuff and headed to the house we were staying in for the rest of our trip.

The house was big! There were three bedrooms on one side. Our little family took one and shared a bathroom with Phillip and Brittany's family. They made the trip to join us once we made it to the house. Jason and Wendy's family took the room with two sets of bunks and and adjoining bathroom. The living room was large and had a fireplace and huge couch. The kitchen was also huge and had a big table for most of us to eat at and bar stools for the ones that didn't fit around the table. There was a laundry room, a loft, and a bedroom and bathroom upstairs for Bruce and Joanie. We overlooked a golf course. My favorite part of the house was the hot tub out back.

I can't remember if the teething hit hard the first or second night we were there, but our nights were a mess the whole trip. Audri started teething and would wake up screaming. We could not get her to calm down. A night of interrupted sleep is rough, but pair that with keeping a houseful of family who came to vacation up all night, and we felt awful! Sean even loaded himself and Audri into the truck to drive her to sleep. I just remember nights that we got to sleep for 45 minute increments. Oh, it made for a LONG week. I was grouchy. Sean was grouchy. Audri was in pain and grouchy. I was so looking forward to the trip all year, but that week I just wanted it to end. I was seriously counting the days until we could be home and not have Audri's screams affect such a large group of people.

While we were there we did a lot of fun activities. We spent each day at the pool swimming and sliding down the waterside, the boys went golfing, we played lots of Settlers of Catan, we played volleyball, took the kids to various play structures to play on, went hiking, enjoyed a night out to dinner, played family jeopardy and family feud, and went on several walks, runs and bike rides.

My friend, Brittany Weaver, came up to take our family pictures and then stayed to enjoy the pool and water slide.

Audri's teeth broke thru after three nights of miserable screams, but she was so off of her sleeping schedule that she still woke up screaming for the rest of the week.

Despite the sleeping, it was a great time. Here's to hoping the next family trip is full of less-grouchy family members.

Before the family trip, she took a pacifier.

Our sweet Audri, right before the sleepless nights hit

The brothers 

Brittany in a Rachel sandwich

Audri's introduction to the swings was a success

I love Charlie watching Lacey, in this one

Wendy gave us lessons on how to dig bark properly

Amazing play structures were everywhere

Loved the bathtub at the condo, our first night

Charlie loves swimming and being around the big boys. He was in Heaven all week.

giving Lacey rock-throwing instructions 

Looking for little fish with Simon. He loves Simon!

Aunt Wendy, the multi-tasker

The quiet moments were when the little ones were down for naps and technology was powered on.

Family Jeopardy

Sean's all-time favorite family picture

Mid-hike rock throwing

I spy Audri

I love how Charlie looks up to Sean so much. 

Introducing Grandma Joanie to Bill's Berry Farm

Charlie was a good sport. It was 103 degrees and he was so hot. We made him hang out with grandma while we picked cherries.

The night we got home Audri couldn't stay awake once she was in her jammies. Poor girl had such a painful week.

Love them