The Zoo

Before heading up to Island Park Idaho for the Cook family reunion, we went to Hogle zoo! we stayed for the morning and seem to be able to see and do all that we wanted. The weather was perfect and the animals were amazing. 

 Kyle did great

 Nathaniel has a picture of him drinking from this same fountain when he was a kid

 the fox came right up to Adam

 Kyle and a crocodile! (bottom right in the corner)

 this polar bear was such a ham for the crowds and was so fun to watch

 Tigers! Adam got really good at answering the question "what does a tiger say?" "Rawrr!"

 so fun to watch things under water!

 Dad compared to an adult gorilla

Adam the orangutan, our monkey! 

A wedding

Nathaniel's sister Brianne spent four months in Israel this summer and we were so happy to have her back, to hear all about her experiences and see her again. As much as we were happy to see her someone else was probably ten times more excited... her fiancee Dustin.  they got engaged way back in January and got married just a couple weeks after Brianne got home! We enjoyed going up to Idaho and Logan Utah for the sealing.  The Reception was the most unique one I have been to ever and it fit Brianne's personality exactly. The whole day was just beautiful and seeing Brianne and Dustin so much in love made me fall even more in love with my hubby.  We were stilling kisses all day long and just love everything about it.

 Waiting for the bride and groom.

 The cake

 The car

 Aunt Milla and Kyle (I love this picture of her)

 The newlyweds... in the river!

 Kyle... this is how he was most of the trip.

The happy couple :)

Gleason Family Reunion

Other than some sleep issues with Adam, we had a ton of fun. Hiking, zip line, box hockey, climbing poles, balance beam pillow fights, marshmallow wars, camp fire, good food and wonderful family.  It was a blast and can't wait til next year!

Adam loved the cars

box hockey

Adam was fearless

I, on the other hand, was not

messy face

Gardening

When we moved to Springville I was so excited at the prospects of having a garden.  My mom often had a garden at home and though I helped some with weeding and de-rocking the garden plot, I never felt that it was my garden.  Amazing enough, my own garden grew and I am now reaping the benefits.  I love the time I have been able to spend in the dirt planting and weeding.

 Squash, zucchini, carrots, cucumber, and beets.... yummy! 

 Adam eating a fresh picked carrot

Flower garden out front

Adam has been having some additional fun as he realized that as a two year old he can do a lot more (or maybe it is just his bids for attention) either way, he has been busy and keeping mom and dad busy too.

 as Adam explained...water!

 living up to the nick name monkey 

looking for friends through the back fence

Brothers

 Adam Nathaniel and Kyle Chase

Brothers

 (I just loved Adams face here)

 Friends

Blessing day

Dearest Kyle Chase Cook,

On this day you were given a name and a blessing. So many of your friends and family came to show their love. you are so special to us and we are so happy you are part of this family.

 four generations of Cook men :)

 dads side

Grandma Gleason (Grandpa and all your Utah Gleason cousins came too)

things I love about my two year old

Dear Monkey
you just had your second birthday. On this day your baby brother came home from the hospital to be able to make it to the party. (he came two weeks early just to be with you on your special day).  We were so happy that Grandma Gleason and Great Grandma and Grandpa Bassett along with Aunt Emma, Aunt Milla and Uncle Jared could make it.  you got a whole ton of cool books, toys, and clothes.  I hope you know how special you are to mommy and daddy, and to your little brother.  In case you were wondering, here are some of the things I love about you.

~how you love to sit on my lap while I am on the computer.
~how you turned on "Danny Boy" on the keyboard and danced nicely on the air mattress this morning
~I love your sermons on your learning tower, many times with a book open in front of you
~when you took the Jesus statue down and gave him "five" and put him back

~when you put on a play necklace, picked up the broom and started sweeping
~how you are so sweet to your little brother, and put his pacifier back in.
~how you give great hugs and kisses

~when you say "mom!" when I come down the stairs

~I love when ever you see a picture of your baby brother or hear him squeak from another room you say "Ky-oh! with all the love that can be mustered from a two-year-old

~how you say "daykoo" thank you when you give us anything and "peese" when you want something
~how you talk on a calculator or a belt like it is a phone and have very long conversations with whoever is on the other end
~how you hide in the cupboard under the microwave... your own little play house

~how often you will grab a blanket and your baby doll and curl up on the floor, just to rest for a while

there are so many more things I love about you and the list grows longer every day, thank you for being a part of our family.  I love you Adam. Happy Birthday!

KYLE CHASE

After more than a week of non-progressing labor contractions, you determined that you would come meet us two weeks before your due date. We couldn't be more thrilled!  Labor was wonderful (yes I was numbed) and it went so quickly (after the pitocin) only 8 hours :) You are so loved by your mama, daddy, and big brother who calls you Ky-oh.  you are pretty tiny and I can't get over how small your feet are! You weighed in at 6pounds and 9 ounces 18.5 inches long.  Mommy loved how the doctor put you right on her chest as soon as you came out, that was so special. I kept saying "my baby, oh! my tiny baby boy" and I was crying tears of joy.  We are so happy you are here, that there were no complications, and that you are perfectly healthy.  Welcome to our home and our hearts. We love you!

Happy day

Itlooks like Kyle has decided to come a little early! We are super excited to meet him. I am grateful that I don't have to go through any more Braxton hicks. We got to the hospital at around 9:30 this morning and my water broke at 11:15. The hospital seems either really busy or really slow today but it is going well.we are just waiting for everything to happen, listening to music and trying to be patient.

I(Nathaniel) have a new phone.

My new phone it is the Galaxy S2. It's a hand me down from a coworker who just got the Galaxy Nexus. Here are some photos I have taken with my new phone.

fourth

 As in years past we had a wonderful fourth of July at Grandma and Grandpa Gleasons house.  Hot sun, cool water, big slide, fun games, great food, and wonderful family

 before we could do anything adam jumped in this little pool

 Dad and Adam going down the big slide

 that was fun, lets not do it again 

last prego pic

Monkey's Daddy.

I can not even say how much this man means to me.  He is such a wonderful father, provider, protector, and example to his little monkey.  I love the love they share and my greatest joy in life is watching them play together. Adam loves to follow his daddy's example and that is what makes me happiest.  Happy Fathers day Schatzie!

Camping

This weekend we went up Hobble Creek Canyon and went camping over night.  Adam was very sleep deprived and had a hard time with being moody, but he soon discovered that there was plenty of dirt all around. good thing mom was prepared.

 a mini hike with dad

 getting ready for bed

 bathing in a bucket was fun, it was hard getting him to stand up though!

Dad hooked him up to a tree, that was fun... for a little while :)

Even though we had to deal with a moody little boy it was altogether a good experience, hopefully it will get easier as the summer goes on and he will not try to wake everyone up at 5AM again.

32 week photo

just cause...

Today Adam was pointing to the baby and said Kyle :) and later when he was sitting on my lap (or what is left of it) Kyle was kicking him in the back and Adam just thought that was the coolest thing.  It's going to be fun to see him when he meets his little brother for the first time! about 8 more weeks!

Mr. wiggly # 2

when I was pregnant with Adam I thought he was a wiggly little kid, he probably was too, but Cook boy #2 has him beat... by a long shot. if things moving inside of a belly makes you a little queasy, then this video is not for you.  this happens multiple times a day and he has only gotten bigger and stronger since I filmed it last week.

I am 32 weeks along now and as you can see, he is doing great. (I'm feeling pretty good myself)  I should have a prego picture up here soon. We are calling him Kyle and we can't wait to meet him :)