Girls Weekend

A couple of friends and I decided it would be fun to take a break and get away to Park City for a night. I found a great deal on a room at one of Park City's resorts, and we booked a one bedroom suite for the four of us, and one baby. Elisha, Christina, Jamie and I got packed up and drove up to Park City for a girls night out. We stopped for dinner at a place in Park City called Redstone Grill. The food was really yummy, and us girls had a nice time chatting away without having to be interrupted by whining kids or spilled drinks, food, etc. So nice.

Then we headed to our hotel and settled down for some more talking and relaxing. Christina brought a fun game to play. I don't remember the name, but you read questions and you have to write what your answers to the question read, then the reader guesses who said what. It was a good way to get to know each other a little better and find out some funny stuff.

After talking for quite awhile, we turned in about 1:30 a.m.

Then next morning we leisurely got ready, not too leisurely however because we found out check out was 10 a.m. Now that's an early check out on a Saturday morning! I guess those maids need extra time cleaning up those awesome rooms. In one picture you'll notice my friend Elisha modeling the jacuzzi tub with Jamie's baby Morgan. And by the way Morgan was a dream on the trip. She's only a few months old, so Jamie didn't want to leave her home with dad quite yet. But she hardly cried, and we all got to take turns holding her and spending time with a baby who was not our own. One other thing about the trip was that originally there were 6 of us girls who planned to go, but Elisha's sister Jessica couldn't come because they were getting their basement finished and ran into some last minute problems. Then our other friend Heather was planning to come, and the day of our trip her son and daughter got sick with strep throat and she couldn't leave them with their grandma as planned. Although we would've loved to have Jessica and Heather there, we made due with us four girls.

So we made it out of the hotel by 10:30ish and headed to the Park City outlets for some much needed kidless shopping. I spent way too much money on clothes for the whole family, but it's all good. I haven't had uninterrupted shopping time for quite awhile. So we shopped all day and stopped for a quick lunch at Ruby Tuesdays, then back to the outlets for more shopping. We left just in time to make it back for our husbands to attend the Priesthood session of general conference.

We had a really great time relaxing, talking and shopping together. We had so much fun we decided to make it an annual event. Thanks girls for a great weekend!

Michael in Action

Here are some videos of Michael I promised to post. I didn't get any of him being really loud. He was more fascinated with my camera and trying to take it from me to play with. But you get to see him show off his stair climbing skills.

I Jinxed It!

So I was bragging about what a content and easygoing baby Michael is that I think I may have jinxed myself. Since he turned 1 Michael has become much more impatient and he'll make that high pitched squealing sound when he gets upset. Whenever I put him in his booster chair he shakes his body back and forth like he can't believe I'm trapping him in. I think it's all a part of his growing independence. He's learned to go up and down the stairs, finally, and he loves to follow all of us around the house. It's hard for him because he wants to do everything his older siblings do, and he can't. So he makes this noise like, "uh, uh, uh," all the time! Even though he is much more vocal and he gets very frustrated, he's still a little cutie and I just can't get too annoyed with him. But sometimes man the noise level is through the roof with him learning how to be vocal but not yet being able to talk.
I'll have to get him on video sometime soon so you can all see, and hear, what I mean.

The Big Birthday Boy

My little angel of a baby is already a year old! I have absolutely loved every minute of my sweet Michael's first year. He is the most content, happy, good-natured little boy. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone who has ever spent five minutes with this kid. I don't know how I got so lucky to have such an easy going baby, but I won't complain! Michael has been a great baby from day one. From eating well, to sleeping through the night, to not spitting up (really, I can count the times on one hand), to playing happily and not fussing, and on and on. I really am not saying this all to brag, but it's the truth! I thank Heavenly Father every day of my life for blessing me with such a sweet little boy. I am a little sad that his first year has gone by so quickly, but I enjoy this stage of his life where he can interact and laugh at me, and say "ma" "ma" over and over when he wants me, play with his brother and sister and wrestle or laugh together with them. It's so great to watch him grow and develop. I love you Michael James Goar. Happy 1st birthday!!

not really into the opening presents thing yet obviously

It's a Llittle People farm from Carrie and Travis-he was much more excited about it later when we got it out of the box and played with it

Part of the train cake that I made-I'm waiting for my sister to send me a copy of it before it started to get eaten!

Michael entertaining himself with the spoon after he polished off his cake and ice cream-he licked the bowl clean. Did I mention this guy can eat??

Mom helping Michael blow out his candle

Letting Kera blow it out instead

Mmmm, cake and ice cream



All Done

Waterskiiing anyone??

What better way to end the summer than with a little boating trip up to the lake? Our Bear Lake companions,Jeremy and Heidi, called to see if we wanted to go boating on Saturday. Of course! Can't turn down an offer like that. They recently got some new waterskiis and wanted to give them a try. So we took a trip up to East Canyon reservoir, which is up past Morgan, off of I-84 on the east side of the canyon on the way to Snowbird and other ski resorts. The drive there was really pretty. I think Morgan is a quant little town. Very nice open spaces out that way. The water was a bit frigid, but other than that it was a great day for skiing. Heidi went out first to show us how it was done, and then I tried second. I was able to get up the first time, but it took the third or fourth try until I really stayed up for awhile. I have only skied two other times in my life, and the last time was when I was about 16. So it was basically a new experience. I liked it a lot and want to do it again! After I got up, it was Dave's turn to go out. He was able to get up quickly too and his first time up he really ate it because right after he got up our driver Jeremy had to turn and Dave went directly over the wake. Yikes, that was unexpected I'm sure. But he tried once more and stayed up awhile. Then Jeremy was last, and being the driver, Heidi drove the boat for him for the first time. But he was able to stay up as long as the boat speed kept up. Dave drove it once for Jeremy too, and that wasn't much better! Poor boat driver, he had to suffer through the rookies at the wheel. We docked the boat after we all skied some, and the kids were able to swim a little. That didn't last too long since the water temp was not ideal. But we all had a great time and we're glad we got the invite for a day of fun on the boat. Thanks guys!

(The first two ski pics are of Dave and the last three are me)

Kera's First Day of Preschool

Here is my sweet little Kera-bera on her first day of preschool. The preschool didn't start until after the Labor day holiday, and because labor day was later this year, it seemed like Kera had to wait FOREVER to start school, especially when Jacob started school on August 24th, almost 3 weeks earlier than her. Kera is going to the same preschool as Jacob went to when he was 4. Miss Julie and Miss Diane are her teachers. She really really loves going to school. I think it's because she's seen Jacob going to school since he was three (joy school), and she has been waiting ever since then to start school herself. She has been so excited to get ready for school that over the summer we bought a Brain Quest workbook that is geared to preschoolers, and she has probably done half the book already, and it's a pretty thick book!!
It's nice have a few hours three days a week with just Michael and I, but at the same time it's weird to have my little companion away from me. Kera has been by my side all the time that Jacob's been off at school, and now she's starting the process of leaving the nest. I know it's a good thing, and she's more than ready for it, but it's been a little different around here without her sparkling wit and personality. Ever since Kera started school last week, each morning she has school she is up really early and is dressed and ready for school. A few of the days she's even made her own breakfast (poured the cereal and the milk-without spilling I might add). So by the time I get Michael and come downstairs, she's already ready to go and still has about an hour before school starts. Kera even helps me out in the mornings. Because I have a tendency to run late and be in a constant hurry (in case you didn't already know, time management is not one of my strengths), Kera will get the stuff that I need, like the diaper bag if I'm going somewhere after I drop her off, or my keys, or whatever I tell her to get for me, without complaint, because she does not want to be late. What would I do without her?
And before I forget, I have to tell about something she said the other day that I thought was so funny. It was over the weekend and she was wanting to watch a certain movie. I can't remember now which one, but it was an older movie. She asked if we could get it at Redbox, since that's where we get most of our movie rentals, and I told her that I didn't think Redbox had it. So she says "Can we get it at Blackbox then? Too funny.

Jacob's 1st Day of 2nd Grade

Here is Jacob on his first day of 2nd grade. He has two teachers this year, Mrs. A and Mrs. G. (no last names for safety reasons). Mrs. A teaches the language arts, reading and spelling, etc. , while Mrs. G teaches math and science. Jacob said he likes when Mrs. G teaches because she teaches in the afternoon and he knows that means school is half done and he will be going home soon. But he really does like school, I promise. I guess he's at that age now where he wants to be playing and not sitting at a desk all day. Okay, that's any age, right?
So my first born is now 7 and will be 8 before I know it. Wow, where does the time go??