Vacation

We were supposed to go to Chicago last week to visit my sister and family, but she called and was sick so we didn't go. That was a bummer, but Jason still had time off so we drove down to St. George where it was nice and warm.

We left on Thursday and saw the Johnson Farm in the afternoon. It is a small dinosaur museum where bones were found just 10 years ago. There are some specimins there that are the only ones in the world.

Friday we went into Zions and hiked the river trail. It is the last stop on the tram ride through Zions and we picked it because you could take a stroller. It was beautiful. The leaves were turning and at the end of the trail Jacob played in the river.
This is where my camera battery died. :)

After this hike we rested in front of the lodge and then went to the lower pool of the Emeral Pools hike before leaving for the day. It was perfect weather!

The next day, on our way home, we stopped at Kolob and did a short hike. Jacob was a trooper through it all and we had a great time. Just so sad to come home after just 3 days! Oh well. Off to plan the next trip. :)

Costco Gets It

Sometime between lunch and dinner, Jacob needs to eat a little something...he just can't go that long between the two meals.

Sometimes I need to run errands in the afternoon, but if I wait to feed Jacob the errand never gets done. Enter Costco.

I need items from Costco and they get it...that kids need a mid afternoon snack so moms can shop. I LOVE that they have taster tables. I can shop and feed Jacob at the same time. It is a good thing.

Jacob, You are Brilliant

I know every mother thinks this of her child, but today he said something that really surprised me.
We were on our way to the gym this morning (around 9 a.m.) and as we pulled onto the street Jacob said, "Moo." Or at least this is what I thought I heard since I know he can say "Moo" when he sees a cow. But I also know that there are NO cows on my street.
I glanced back at him in the rear view mirror to try and see what he was looking at. He was looking up. I looked up and this is what he was looking at.

It is hard to see in the picture, but it is the moon.
About a week and a half ago, Jason and I took Jacob on a walk around the block before he went to bed. We looked up at the sky and saw the moon. We pointed to it and told him what it was. That was about it. We really haven't mentioned the moon since or been outside to see it. So for him to look up and say "moon" really surprised me. A budding genius on our hands--I'm sure of it!!

Amazing How a Year Changes Things

September 2008.
September 2009.

June 2008.







Sept. 2009.



The Zoo, September 2008.







The Zoo, September 2009.



Jacob and I went to see the debut of the new baby elephant. So cute! (Jacob actually found more fascination with the ceiling fans over our heads in the elephant observation deck.)



Mobility in September 2008.




Mobility in September 2009.


I actually enjoy having him more mobile.

Amazing how much they grow up!

Grandma Bastian

Grandma with Jacob, April 2008.

A week ago my Grandma Bastian passed away at the age of 94. It was sad, but also happy for her. She was in good physical health, had all of her faculties, and took no medication for anything.

I think it was actually easier to see her pass since she lived so close to us. For the past 3 1/2 years she has lived with my mom down in Springville and I saw her quite often. The past month is when her health started to fail and each time we visited she was weaker. You could see it was not a fun existence...so when I receieved the call I was more relieved for her than I was sad for me.

I consider Grandma B. my "adult life grandparent." When I was growing up we always went to my dad's parent's to visit in the summer--so I think of them as my "childhood grandparents". They both were gone by the time I was 26 and since I've lived in Utah for 20+ years I got to know Gr. & Gr. B. much better.

Grandma in July at her 94th b-day party.

Grandma had 7 children, 43 grandchildren, 98 great grandchildren (with 3 more coming), 1 great, great grandchild (with one on the way). That is a lot of posterity! 27 of the 43 grandkids were at the funeral in Springville so it was fun to visit with everyone. Some were able to go over to Vernal for her burial (she had lived there for 25 years.) 27 of the grandkids from oldes to youngest.

Grandma was a great person and always had a good sense of humor. I'm glad she is finally with my grandpa!

Cleaning

I used to come home from work on a Friday and dig right into cleaning my house. It took me about 2 hours, but when it was done...ahhhh...it felt so good. That hasn't happened in at least 18 months.

Now I long for clean Mine are so dusty.
Clean Mine are beginning to look "marked and nicked."
Clean
So much changes when you have a child. You give to them all day and by night I am tired. I know that cleaness will once again be restored and children will be grown up, but for today, I need one of these to come by and do it for me. ;)
Did anyone ever look this good cleaning? I'd fall and break my neck if I wore heels like that while washing my kitchen floor!

Gone 8 Months and I Still Miss It

You know how you get in habits of where you buy food, gas etc? For me it was always Albertsons on the corner. I always bought gas there--when I was working I filled up 2x a week and it was simple to just pull in on the way home.

Well, Albertson's was not doing well and it closed on Feb. 23rd, 2009. When I am planning my errands, I still have that gas station come to my mind...going other places seem to be out of the way. Funny how you form patterns that are hard to break!