Spending some time with daddy

Mckell only got to spend a few days with daddy before he had to fly out to Tennessee and she wanted to be with him every second of it.

Mckell clinging on for dear life, pleading for him not to leave her! ha

going down the slide at the Layton park

today she didn't love the swings so much

Graham and Mckell

Grandma and Sophie sporting matching outfits

photographer help

Does anyone know of a good, fun photographer that is decently priced (I'm thinking around $100)? Also one that will give you a cd of some of the edited pictures from the shoot? I do digital scrap booking so that's why I like to get a cd of the best pictures. I'm wanting to do one year pictures of Mckell and family pictures in the fall.

Let me know, thanks!

The stakes are HIGH!!!

Just some friendly competition....

So Courtland only was in Utah for a few days and then flew back to Tennessee to sell for the last 2 weeks of summer. Poor guy- I don't know how I'm going to make it up to him for all his hard work this summer! However, before he left we decided we needed a little friendly competition to spice up our time apart. So we have challenged ourselves to a weight loss competition! We weighed ourselves before he left and will again after he gets home. Now the fun part- what the winner gets if....

Courtland wins: he gets to buy the new halo game coming out in September that he is absolutely DYING to get and I can't go shopping for 3 months!

Nicole wins: Courtland will not EVER get to purchase the new halo game and I get to pick out a new bedspread!

Now for those who know us best, know Courtland plays more than his fair share of video/computer games and I shop way too much. Therefore this is beyond a HUGE competition for us.

May the most determined contestant win!!! haha

Also joining our competition is my mom- she wanted in on the action. So if she beats me then my dad has agreed to put shelves up in the play room they will be making. And between my mom and I whoever wins has to take the other one to get their toes done.

All I can say is I've got to hit the gym, and FAST!!!!

Anyone have tips on how to drop pounds quick??

Graham's First Birthday!

Ben and Kendra were in Utah for Graham's first birthday so we celebrated baseball style!

Don't you just adore that oh so happy face- he knows what's coming... CHOCOLATE CAKE all to himself!!

Me and Mckell- wish daddy could have come but he was still in Cali.

And yes, I recently went from a blond to a brunet thanks to Ali's fabulous hair styling skills!

Splash Pad Fun

My mom, Kendra, Sophie, Graham, Mckell and I went to the splash pad behind the OAC one afternoon. Mckell loved playing in the water. It was our first time there and I thought it was such a fun little park- I'm sure we'll be back many times! Thanks for introducing us Kendra!

The day I flew back to Utah my mom took Kendra and I to JOSH TURNER! It was one of my top concerts I've been to thus far. Probably had a lot to do with the fact that we had 3rd row seats and were literally feet away from the tall drink of water, but also because the concert was at the Layton amphitheater- so it was a more intimate setting. And oh my goodness that is one good looking man- and even more attractive is the fact that he has his wife in the band so she can go around everywhere with him. (don't worry Courtland- you could take Josh in a heartbeat!) Needless to say we all had a blast!

My mom was even more obsessed then we were, she had to buy his cd and not one but TWO of his t-shirts! It was hilarious!

Josh staring deeply into my eyes....

You can see his wife playing the keyboard and is a backup singer.

Thanks mom! Definitely a memory for the books!

Mckell update

Well Mckell turned eleven months on Sunday! Can't believe how old she is getting! She officially started to crawl on all fours about 2 weeks ago- I think she's finally decided she can go just as fast on all fours as she can army crawling- ha! She has continued pulling herself up to things and walking around holding onto furniture. She has let go and stood by herself a few times but still no steps. She has learned how to say 'hi' and 'ball' so she has five words in her little vocabulary- so fun! My favorite is when music comes on and I can see her just slightly feeling the beat and sometimes puts her hands out and sways them with the music- pretty cute. She has become absolutely obsessed with baby dolls. It is the cutest thing ever- she hugs the doll real tight and puts them so they surround her. She also likes to put her hands up over her head to throw balls- funny to watch, and is of course still constantly on the go. We're just loving this stage and think it's so fun.

Tried to snap a picture while she was napping- bad idea because it woke her up. I couldn't resist though- she's always sleeping with her head smashed against the side and in ready crawl position with her butt in the air- too funny!

Talk about missin' her daddy!!!

After 2 weeks of being in Utah, we flew back to San Jose where dad was still busy working. I seriously have the best husband- he works hard all summer long and let's me play and go on vacations- I owe him BIG BIG time!

When Mckell woke up the next morning she was nothing but huge smiles all day. She would not let Courtland put her down and insisted on being with him no matter what!

Out on a saturday afternoon jog- we jogged a couple miles to some fountains close by. Mckell loved splashing in the water- she's definitely a water baby.

Jake & Jill in Utah

After Lake Powell it was a little craziness! Blake & Taryn packed up and drove cross-country with my dad to move to Tennessee for Blake's school. Jake and Jill came to stay at my parent's for the rest of their time in Utah. And my mom was staying with my grandma Critchlow who just had knee replacement surgery! Through all the craziness we had lots of fun still!

Nolan and Luke playing with the cars.

Jake set up the slip n' slide one day- the boys loved it!

Mckell in action- and only at 10 months old!

so far, not sure what she thinks

and maybe didn't love it quite as much as the boys!

Mckell pulls her self up to anything she can now. She is getting busier and busier finding all sorts of new things she can do. My current favorite thing is clicking her tongue- she thinks it's the coolest thing. Oh and guess what her third word was 'PAPA!' My dad was beyond excited when her taught her to say papa- so dang cute! But for the record- her first word was 'moma' FOLLOWED by 'dada' that's right, to all you out there that say they say dada first because it's easier... well we all know the truth!

The place I call home, welcome to my paradise!

I LOVE LAKE POWELL!!!!! enough said...

Last year I wasn't able to go to Lake Powell, even though I begged- literally, because I was like 38 weeks prego. Well this year there was absolutely NO WAY I was missing out again! And who would? I flew in from San Jose to go. It is so gorgeous, peaceful (besides the fact that now everyone has cell service there now, don't like that! I say no phones allowed on the lake!!), and relaxing. I am dead serious when I say, I really would rather go to lake powell than any other destination on earth- name one! Sorry but I choose lake powell.

Anyway, this year we had a fun crowd. Thanks to my mom and dad who put it all together and make it happen, Jake/Jill/Eric, Blake/Taryn, Doug/Jerry/Erin all came.

The ducks we fed everyday

Blake & Taryn

Jill, Eric (Jill's brother), & Jake

Me & Erin

The whole crew on Malan's boat

I was the motor, ha! I had to pump the oil every 15 or so seconds to keep it working- always something every trip. Before we even got to the lake we had a trailer flat and battery die.

Thank you thank you mom and dad!

And a BIG thanks to Courtland's family for watching Mckell for me. You guys sure showed her a good time and she just loves spending time with you!