Visit home Aug 2012

 

 

In August, we went home for a visit and had so much fun!  We wore Johnny out each day, allowing Nana more cuddle time :)

 

Brooklyn and Mady, our nieces, rode up with us, their parents came, then they came back with us so they got a few days longer on each end to enjoy Nana and Papa.  They were amazing at entertaining Johnny in the car and made the ride especially, but the whole trip so much more fun!

 

Bob and Brooklyn starting the campfire

 

 

Bob gets pretty crazy so Mady knew to leave her helmet on ;)

 

Johnny was pretty sleepy already

 

Mady and B enjoying the teeter totter

 

 

Johnny LOVED the rocks

 

We went on quite a few nice rides while we were home and Johnny loved them all!

 

He also loved this little chair!

 

just like Daddy

 

So cute!

 Nana had lots of fun toys to explore--this one had music if you pushed the front, hence he's so excited!

 

 

 

You didn't know he's a budding pianist? :)

Swinging with Nana and the girls :)

 

 

Driving the boat with Dad!

 

The boat is a tiring place!

 

B really wanted me to tube with her even though it was COLD!

 

 

Fun with Daddy!

 

Wading!

 

 

Nana made this lion costume for Johnny's cousin, Jet, so Johnny thought he'd try it on! :)

 

We enjoyed some cupcakes and ice cream to celebrate Jay's birthday 

 

Corn on the cob!

 

Johnny and Jay in the Jeep

 

 

We rode the Hiawatha Trail, one of our favorites!

 

As you can see, it's beautiful!

Another beautiful view

 

Johnny knows the importance of sunscreen!

 

Getting measured!

 

Packed up to head home! Daddy, Lilo, and Mady are getting ready to join us :)

 

I know I have more pictures somewhere, and failed to take nearly enough on this trip home, as usual, but at least I've posted some, right?

 

The other big highlights of the trip:

•  The Poteets joined us for the Hiawatha, which was extra fun!
• My Mom's side of the family has an annual camping trip and we were able to go for a change, which was a really special treat!  We spent a weekend up at Priest Lake camping and had so much fun visiting with cousins/aunts/uncles/family that we see so rarely!  Johnny loved getting dirty the most I think :)

I'll add the rest of my pics when I find them!

August 2012

Surprisingly, Johnny continued to be adorable and photogenic in August. :)  He's now 16 months old at this point and still loves bathtime!

 

And sunglasses... :)

 

 

And of course, splash pads!  He especially loves chasing the water to the source and poking the holes it squirts out of :)

 

More July 2012

Well, here's some more July!  Here in Utah we are blessed to enjoy many days of fireworks in July, so for Pioneer Day we enjoyed the parade in Bountiful and fireworks that night at Richelle's parents' house, as has been our tradition here!  Johnny loved all of it, but especially the view of the parade from Dad's shoulders!

 

He really loves his boots, and there aren't always a lot of reasons to wear rainboots in July in Utah, but Johnny thought he'd just enjoy them around the house and was quite adorable :)

July happenings including a Poteet visit!!!!!!

Ok, there was a lot of fun in July and we are a teensy bit behind as it's now October, um, December, FEBRUARY! so I'll try to be succinct, but you all know that's not my greatest strength, so here goes! :)

The Army promotion board meets a year ahead of when you'll actually be promoted, and it requires a fair amount of preparation to make sure that everything that needs to be in that file to ensure you get promoted is there, so after much effort, a new DA-photo in my blues, and many phone calls, I got all my stuff in.  The promotion from captain to major is fairly standard in the Army, with most people getting promoted on time, so I wasn't too worried that it would all work out as I've met all my requirements, but it was still nice to get this in the mail. :)  

Our dear friends the Poteets came for a visit the weekend of Mandy's birthday, and we were so excited to see them on a whirlwind surprise trip!  We had a lot of fun seeing them here and hope they can come back soon since we won't be home for a while!

We did a lot of fun things including the Children's Museum, where Johnny was emulating Papa Sampert as a fireman and enjoying this sweet wall toy

Tessa and Johnny out on a drive

Some good times with a wagon at the Barlows!

More wagoning fun!

2 adorable boys in a wagon... makes me miss both summer and enjoying little boys as both Gibs and Johnny are so much bigger now!

Although I have tons more to add, we've been backing up our millions of photos and the rest of this trip is on the other computer, so I'll add more later.  :)

We have so much else to catch up on eventually, but thanks to all of you for your blogging efforts and thanks for catching up with a little more of our summer!

One of the best of many attempts to secure a group shot of all the kids!  Georgey seems so grown up!  And Kate is so much bigger now!

 

We also went to Bruge's, an amazing place with super-sweet waffles that are like dessert and I got the Torpedo, which has dark chocolate melted inside it, with strawberries on top--YUM!  We met the Poteets, Barlows, Lloyds, and Rach there after the Children's Museum and had a great time!  There is a random pig there so of course we needed an obligatory statue shot, right?  Johnny really is happier than he appears....

 

 

This is just a cute shot of Georgey and Grayam flexing their muscles!