Happy Birthday!

For months Gavin's been talking about turning four, and about his birthday party, and all the things he'll be able to do as a big four year old!  He decided he wanted a bug birthday party this year, so we started thinking of bug themed activities for the party!  For getting invitations out only day's before his party, I was surprised that almost everyone was able to make it.  We got to North Park Saturday morning to discover both pavilions were already reserved for the day, so Jared ran home for a card table, we strung some streamers between two trees, and set up in the shade.

Throwing balls and pine cones through the ladybug's dots.

We also had a bug hunt, searching for plastic insects in the grass.  Instead of having loot bags the kids got to keep the bugs they found, and we also had a balloon with a bigger bug finger puppet tied on the end for each of them to take home when they left.

Gavin's caterpillar cake

Ready for some yummy cake

Opening Presents

Gavin got three water guns, and the kids had fun trying them out on each other 

Saturday evening we decided to drive up to Y Mountain, and Gavin insisted he wanted to hike all the way up to the top.  We were't planning on any hiking, and Jared and I were just in flip-flops, but Gavin was pretty persistent!  So Jared started off with Gavin while I waited on a rock at the bottom.  I was surprised how far Gavin did make it before he got tired out.  We'll have to head back and try hiking it with Gavin again when we're actually prepared for a hike!

Monday, June 2nd, on Gavin's actual Birthday, we went to the splash pad for most of the morning.  Gavin loves running through the water, and could spend  the ENTIRE day here if we had the time.  We enjoyed a picnic together and more splashing in the water.

When Jared got home from work we went out to Gavin's favourite restaurant, Chilies, for his Birthday Dinner.  Gavin ordered his usual corn-dog, cinnamon apples, and chocolate milk.  And our waiter brought out a special ice cream Birthday treat just for Gavin - but of course he agreed to share it with his parents!

We got home, opened presents, and had time to play with a few before it was time for bed

Happy Birthday to our Big Four Year Old!

Gavin's Vegas Vacation

After our California trip, when Jared and I came back to Provo and work, Gavin enjoyed his extended vacation with Grandma and Grandpa for an extra week in Vegas.

Holding a chicken at the San Miguel Ward Community Garden

Riding his bike at Parson Elementary School

Fishing with Grandpa and cousins

Gavin had a fun time, and Jared thought it would be fun for us to send him some letters while he was there.  So we picked a few small toys from the dollar store, and mailed a few packages down.  When we picked Gavin up, he was so excited to show us what he found in the mailbox, and the letters we wrote him!

Celebrating Six Years!

Although our anniversary was on May 9th, Jared and I were both working, then leaving that evening for the California Beach Trip.  So we decided to postpone celebrating our anniversary for a few weeks.  Although, Jared did surprise me with my favourite chocolates when he picked me up from work on our way out of town!

On our way back home from California we stopped in Vegas for a night, then left Gavin at Grandma and Grandpa's for a week while Jared and I headed back to Provo and work.  Jared and I didn't see much of each other that week, as he was working each day until five, and I was working each day in the afternoon until 10 or 11:30.  Jared would often be in bed by the time I got home, and I'd often still be in bed when Jared left in the mornings.

So when Friday evening finally came we headed out of town again to celebrate our anniversary over Memorial Day weekend.  Friday night we spend at Tyler and Breanne's place in Cedar City, then Saturday we spent the day at Zion National Park.  Every time we've gone in the past we've wanted to hike Angel's Landing, but with Gavin, it's always been out of the question.  We weren't sure we'd be able to do it this time either with me being pregnant, but we made it almost all the way!

Although the trail is paved most of the way, the last 1.1 miles is along a narrow path of uneven rock, with shear drop-offs, and chains anchored into the rock for support.  We went part of the way along the chains, but because of it being Memorial Day weekend, the trail was over crowded with people going up and down, and climbing past each other on the narrow path.  We decided with my growing belly and shifting center of gravity, and with how crowded it was, we'd pass on the last bit of the hike this time around.

View of Angel's Landing behind us

You can see how crowded the trail is with dots of people all along it

Drop off along the trail

Love the views at Zion National Park!

Looking down to the Virgin River

Heading back down Walter's Wiggles

This is at least our fourth time to Zion National Park, and it's become one of our family's favourite places to visit.  The shuttle system makes it easy to get around and enjoy the views, it's got perfect hikes for little ones, and not too far away!

After leaving the park we drove south to Mesquite to spend two nights relaxing at Casa Blanca Resort!  They have a pretty great deal, and Jared and I enjoyed a massage, relaxing in the mineral pools, and spending time together.  Monday morning we picked Gavin up, and enjoyed time at the resort pool together before driving back home to Provo.

2014 California Beach Trip

The year before Gavin was born, Jared's family started a tradition of spending a week at the beach in California together!  As I started looking through pictures of this years trip, I became nostalgic and began looking back at all the previous trips and reminiscing about how our own little family has evolved over the years, and thinking of our new little guy that will be joining us soon!

August 2009

Besides the beach we also spent a day at Disneyland.

Everything seemed smaller since I last went when I was six.

August 2010

Gavin's first road trip and first trip to California

August 2011

Still loving Mission Beach

June 2012

I couldn't find a picture from this year

with the three of us together, so you get two!

May 2013

This year we didn't do the beach house,

but instead Gavin got to take his first trip to Disneyland

And now for pictures of this year's trip.  This year we went near Long Beach instead of staying at Mission Beach as we have in the past.  The beach house was huge, and as usual we had a great time relaxing at the beach and hanging out together.

May 2014

We returned home with quite the collection of seashells!

Touching the ocean our first day in California

This beach had some pretty powerful waves.

Gavin running away before he gets pulled in again

Jared brought some of his planes down to fly at the beach

As well as his paraglider - Kiting at the beach

Although the beach waves were a bit intimidating for Gavin,

there was a wave-free bay nearby that the kids loved playing at

Playing with cousins at the bay

Digging in the sand with Grandpa

And hanging out with Grandma!

Enjoying some yummy ice cream!

And gooey s'mores! 

Beautiful sunset from the roof of the beach house we stayed at.

Jared & Gavin camped out on the roof a couple of the nights we were there

I had fun boogie boarding...

although I'm not sure how much the baby in my belly liked it!

Our friends Alex and Lani were also on a trip to California the same time as us, and were able to spend a

few nights with us at the beach house!  Gavin sure had fun playing with Eve at the Beach!

It was great just having a full week to hang out and relax with everyone!  Originally Jared wasn't planning on taking the full week off, since he had recently started working at Summit Engineering.  But when he mentioned the trip to his boss Mike, and asked for a few days off, Mike's reply was that of course Jared had to take the full week off, and to have a fun trip!  We definitely did have a fun and relaxing trip with family!