Palm Lake Vacation

So, I was looking for a family reunion vacation rental for Jason’s family when I happened to find this little gem – Palm Lake Retreat.  Our dream home!  Jason and I would both absolutely love to live on a waterski lake – especially a private one.  So, when we found this place only 30 minutes from our house, we were so excited.  Our dream home - available for rent!  We immediately rallied the Davis family and booked a trip only two months following, in August, with high hopes.  It definitely met our expectations and more!

This 5 bedroom home is on a private lake with our own water ski course (we won’t be doing that again – see why here).   The retreat has a pool with waterslide and diving board, hot tub, fire pit, volleyball court, one mile paved course around the lake for running, a two story lake cabana, a race track for bikes and two play houses for the kids. 

We spent our days swimming, exploring, running, soaking up the sun, shooting our sling shot, riding scooters, playing games, napping, playing on the boat and eating some tasty food.  We had an absolute blast and I think this will be an annual Davis family vacation – next year’s vacation is already booked.

 

 

 

 

Dawson improved so much at wakeboarding.  He learned how to wakeboard a couple weeks before our trip.  By the end of the vacation, he was so comfortable, you would never know he just learned.  He could stay up for 20 minutes at a time, make the tight turns with ease, cross the wake on both sides and even started jumping and getting a couple feet of air!

 

Taya is so fun on the easy ski.  She loves to dance.  Dawson wanted to try slalom skiing, so we got him some new skis.  He was able to just barely get up, but he couldn’t stay up.  Maybe next year…

 

Everyone loved the kayaks, paddleboats and go cart track.  We raced around on our bikes and scooters.

 

 

We compared this vacation to house boating – but it is SO much safer for the kids.  They had a blast and we never worried about their safety.  Some stray cats set up camp while we were there and they were instant entertainment for the kids.  Taya cried when we had to leave them.

 

 

Making smores – yum!

 

Look at that – Perfect glass to ski on 100% of the time.  Love it!

 

 

September Milestones

CAPRI

Our little Capri is growing WAY too fast.  She is now five months old and has started rolling over, eating solids and playing in her exersaucer.  She also loves eating her toes and hanging out in the bumbo while chewing on Sophie the giraffe.  She is perfect in every way and a true joy in our lives.  We call her “sunshine” because she brightens our day.  I wish I could freeze her in time and keep her this age.  I love it!

 

HOLDEN 

Holden is finally potty trained.  Hallelujah!!!!!  I seriously thought it would never happen.  We have been potty training off and on for 9 months and I have been SO frustrated.  But, we decided to give it another try so he could be potty trained for preschool.  I used the 3daypottytraining.com  method and it worked!  It was a huge commitment and we went potty about 60 times in 3 days, but it worked and gave him more control so we weren’t having a power struggle.  Yay! 

Holden also has been venturing out and trying new foods.  He is VERY picky and has a very limited menu.  So, we have been thrilled that he has added cutie oranges and turkey pesto sandwiches on wheat bread as a regular on his menu.  And tonight he even ate pumpkin pie – shocker!

 

TAYA

Taya learned how to ride a bike without training wheels.  She finally tried when we bribed her with a prize and she learned within 20 minutes!  She also started Girl Scouts, which has been so exciting for her.  She loves it and gets giddy for every meeting.

  

DAWSON

Dawson bought himself a pogo stick and learned how to jump pretty quick.  He is amazing – stairs, no hands and 1,300 jumps in a row without falling.  This kid has balance!

Dawson conquering stairs on the pogo stick.

The Last Year…In ONE Blog Post

Here we go – a summary of the last year in one gigantic blog post!

September 2010:

• No one knows I am pregnant, but I am and we secretly are hoping for a girl! The minute the morning sickness started at 6 weeks was the last day I blogged.  I was sick until about 20 weeks – no fun. I had this metallic taste in my mouth that made me so nauseous and it would not go away no matter what I did.  The worst part about the “morning” sickness (not sure why they call it that because I was sick all day) was that I hated chocolate and most sweets.  Well, that was actually the best AND the worst part.  I love all things sweet, especially chocolate, and I would occasionally still try to eat chocolate to see if my aversion had gone away.  It would make me so sick and Jason would scold me every time I looked at chocolate and tell me “don’t do it – it’s not worth it”.  But, my chocolate aversion was the best because I didn’t gain much weight in the beginning of my pregnancy, which was fabulous.  If you are now concerned abut my pregnancy weight gain – don’t be – I made up for it plus some in the end :)
• Jason applies to PA school at UCDavis and Stanford for the second year.  We are crossing our fingers for UCDavis since it is closer to home.
• Soccer season starts
• Jonas Brothers Concert
• Cody and Allison Conley’s Wedding in Boise, Idaho – My brother, dad and I did the photography and sang a song.  It was quite the project, but so fun to see family and be able to help.
• Travel for work to NY and MN.  No fun to travel when you are nauseous :(

 

 

October 2010:

• Family Pictures
• Official Announcement – We’re Pregnant!  Kids are thrilled.
• Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm (The Galleria Mall caught fire by a bomb.  We saw it on the way home.)
• Vivian’s visit:  Jason’s sisters went on a road trip with their mom for her 70th birthday to visit all her kids.  We loved taking them on the boat.  His sisters were hilarious on the tube.
• More traveling for work to ND, MN and Santa Barbara – trying to get it all done before 20 weeks since doctor says no more travel after that. 
• Ward trunk or treat party and Halloween – I am a 70s roller skating chick with my purple suede roller skates (yes, I was roller skating while pregnant) and Jason dressed to match.  Dawson was a death eater from Harry Potter, Taya was Cinderella and Holden was so excited to be Buzz Lightyear.

 

 

 

November 2010:

• Cerclage:  It was time to sew that cervix shut to make sure Capri stayed put.  The surgery was pretty easy. After four of these now, I am a pro.    However, recovery was a nightmare.  I have decided my body hates anesthesia and I was sick for two days trying to keep food down.  This was the third cerclage on my left cervix and my doctor said it was like pulling a needle through cement – so much scar tissue.
• Jason gets an interview at UCDavis.  We are thrilled!
• HAWAII!!!!  We spent 11 days in Hawaii at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island and the Grand Wailea on Mauai with my best friend, Christie Blake, and her husband, Ben. Kayaking, Hiking, Beaches, Pools, Mountain Biking, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Great Food, Tanning, Catamaran, and some AMAZING resorts…what more can you ask for? 
• The kids have their own vacation at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and we miss the last game of soccer while we are in Hawaii.
• At my 16 week appointment, we find out we are having a GIRL!  That’s the bonus of having high risk pregnancies - having an ultrasound at every appointment.  We are so excited – boy, girl, boy, girl.  Perfect!  I come home and look at my name spreadsheet (yes, I really have a spreadsheet of baby names I like) and decide within an hour that we are naming her Capri.  I then call my mom and ask for family names that I could use as a middle name to pay homage to her.  She recommends her grandmother’s name – Emerald – which I instantly love.  So, it is decided – Capri Emerald Packer.  Thank goodness Jason loved the name as much as I did.
• Even though they have only started interviews and we are not supposed to find out if Jason got in until February – UCDavis gives him an unexpected Thanksgiving present and informs him he is accepted!  He is one of 30 students selected out of 1,200+ applicants.  We are thrilled - it feels like winning the lottery. 
• Happy Thanksgiving!  Our hearts are full – we are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for!  The day starts with Jason and my Dad running the 10K Roseville Turkey Trot.  Then, it’s a small celebration with just the local family.  Tasty food at mom and dad’s house.

 

 

 

  

 

 

December 2010:

• Ward Christmas Party (my last activity as Ward Activity Chair)
• Twlight Eclipse Release Party – Love my girls nights
• Oakland Temple Christmas Lights and gift exchange with Grandma Davis, Aunt Diane and Ray, and Debbie and Kevin.
• 20 week ultrasound:  Everything looks great!  I am feeling better now – just in time to enjoy all the yummy holiday goodness!
• Holden moves into Dawson’s room and gets a big boy bed to make room for baby Capri
• Prepping Capri’s room is in full force.  The goal is to get it done early before I can go bed rest.
• Joe came to visit for Christmas since Lisa had to work.  Christmas Eve was spent snow skiing at Northstar for everyone else while I slaved over dinner at home :)  Dinner was held at our home followed by singing Christmas songs accompanied by dad on the guitar.
• Merry Christmas!  Santa really delivered this year with a Power Scooter, Go-Go Walking Puppy and a Balance Bike.  Jason really delivered with the 12 days of Christmas – including a LOT of jewelry.
• Sledding

 

  

 

January 2011:

• Happy New Years!  We rang in the New Year with a family party at the Torgersens – yummy food, good friends and Wii Dance Party.
• Sneaking in the final work trips to NY and Santa Barbara
• Joe and Lisa in town for their birthdays
• Daddy Daughter Dance
• Snow Skiing for Jason and Dawson at Northstar

 

February 2011:

• We list Jason’s chiropractic business for sale and cross our fingers we can find a buyer in such a short timeframe before he starts school in July.
• I should have been on bed rest and have had to go on bed rest  with every other pregnancy – but this was my easiest pregnancy and I never did have official bed rest!
• Mother & Son 80s Party – Dawson was an 80’s rocker with a huge black curly wig.
• Jason and Dawson snow skiing at Sugarbowl
• Capri’s room is done!

 

 

 

March 2011:

• Capri’s Baby Shower – Thanks Friends!
• Jason and Dawson snow skiing at Northstar
• Taya and Dawson’s Starstruck Dance performances at school
• At my 34 week appointment, my doctor informs me the baby is low and I am dilated and he does not think I will make it past 36 weeks.  In an effort to last as long as possible, I put myself on bed rest for a week and modified bed rest for another week following.

  

 

 

April 2011:

• My doctor takes out my cerclage at 35 weeks and is not even sure I will make it to the car afterwards without going into labor.  Against all odds, little Miss Capri stays put another three and a half weeks.  At each week’s appointment my doctor predicts I will not make it to the next.  It’ nerve-wracking thinking if you sneeze a baby will come flying out!
• Dawson turns 8 years old and starts cub scouts!  Then, he breaks his arm jumping off the back of the couch (he insisted that he tripped over the couch – LOL) and gets it casted the day of his ROLLER SKATING birthday party.  And yes, we let him go straight from the doctor to his party. 
• We sell Jason’s business!  It’s a miracle and we feel so blessed that the path is opening for Jason to pursue a new career as a PA.  Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly and we feel extremely blessed and grateful. 
• Spring Break, Easter and Ward Easter Egg hunt
• Maternity Photos – making sure to get one last belly shot before Capri is born.
• Capri was born on April 25th at 11:41 pm.  She was 7 lbs. 15 oz. and 20.25” long and super cute!  The short story is my doctor decided to break my water.  So, I knew he would likely make that decision and was prepared.  They broke my water around 5pm and the rest happened naturally.  My goal was to have her before midnight so she would be born on the 25th since that is Jason and Holden’s day of birth and all of our birthdays are on odd days.  I barely made it!
• We bring Capri home!  The kids love her and Holden is especially cute.  He is so tender with her and loves to kiss and hug her.  He is never rough with her.  He likes to tell her “Aw, you so cuuuuuuute”
• Capri has jaundice and has to spend a week getting poked for blood tests and using a billi blanket 24x7 to help improve it without going to the hospital.

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

May 2011:

• Capri’s Newborn Pictures
• Mothers Day – Lunch with Jesi and Mom, Taya’s Mothers Day Performance
• Father & Son campout
• End of School Luau
• Memorial Weekend:  Dawson’s Baptism, Capri’s Blessing, Dad’s 60th Birthday Party and Boating – Capri’s first time on the boat at 5 weeks old.  Vivian, Brent, Rachelle, Adam and Katy all came to visit for the weekend’s festivities.  We had so much fun with family in town.

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2011:

• Last Day of school – Taya graduates Kindergarten and summer begins!
• Ward Temple Trip
• Tennis Camp
• Fathers Day
• Lake Tahoe
• Twilight Camp (And I am the new Wolf Cub Scout Leader)
• Packer Chiropractic Going Away Party
• Capri starts smiling and sleeping through the night!
• Jason starts UCDavis PA School
• Lots of boating and swimming – Capri loves both

  

 

  

  

 

July 2011:

• Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe
• 4th of July – Boating and Fireworks
• More Boating and Swimming with Swim Lessons
• Six Flags
• Return to Work :(
• Holden and Jason’s Birthdays
• Taya Birthday and Swim Party
• Group family Birthday Party at Chuck E Cheese

 

  

 

   

 

  

  

 

August 2011:

• Boating
• Rollins Lake Camping Trip with Mom and Dad – Dawson learns to Wakeboard!
• Jen’s Birthday
• Our 14 year Anniversary!
• First Day of School
• Ward BBQ with a very  muddy slip n slide
• Davis family vacation to Palm Lake Retreat – a private waterski lake resort.  It was amazing, except when I broke my ankle waterskiing.  At least it happened on the last waterski run of the trip.  Dawson tried slalom skiing, but couldn’t stay up.  He got SO good at wakeboarding though.  He was getting a couple feet of air when he jumped across the wake.   I’ll post some pictures from our trip in a separate post.

  

  

  

 

  

   

 

So, there you have it…our last year in summary.  If you read to the end of this – you will certainly get bonus points in my book!