Cedar Breaks

The Cooks have our annual family reunion during Labor day weekend and this year we went somewhere stunning.  We were staying at Brian Head and Saturday morning the weather cleared up enough to go see Cedar Breaks national monument... if you haven't been it is well worth the trip.  The view is breathtaking and you can see so much from the short trails that are there.  We were so happy that Mom and Dad and Aunt Emma could make up down from California, moms doctor really wanted her to be able to make it to this one because she couldn't make it to the last one and so he let her out of the hospital Thursday, even though her fever wasn't completely gone.  We were so happy to have her there.

 we took a nice walk along the ridge, but the pictures just don't do it justice

 everything else around the place is green, the red just pops

 Grandma and Adam enjoying a snack together along the trail

 Grandpa and Dad talking business

 Emma and Milla pulling funny faces, not sure why :)

I could not get this little funny face to look at me, he loved the dirt.

The boys had so much energy and Adam caught on quick that he wasn't supposed to go anywhere close to the edge.

The rest of the reunion went pretty well. we played a lot of games including a new favorite, resistance, and did a lot of catching up with family.  Sunday we attended Sacrament meeting at the town hall and had a lovely relaxing day.  Unfortunately the altitude was a little much for mom and after they got home she had to go to the Hospital again for another fever caused by blood clots in her lungs.  She seems to be doing better now and she was able to be out of the hospital for her birthday on Sunday.  The next time we see her, we will have to be the ones doing the traveling, so we are planing on Christmas in California!

Schooling

The elementary school across the street started classes today, and I recently discovered that there is such thing as pre-k... which I assume is pre-kindergarten, which is apparently different than pre-school.  Neither Nathaniel or I ever went to preschool or prek and we discussed it about our children too.  It just doesn't seem necessary.    Judge me if you will, I don't believe my kids will have any disadvantage from not going to school for two years before schooling is required.  Adam is a curious, ready and willing learner and I fully intend to support and supplement all of my kids education.  If they want to learn something I'll help them, or at least teach them how to find out on their own. I truly value education.  Adam asked where all the kids were going this morning and I told him they were going to school.  Then when I put Kyle down for a nap and started on my school work, Adam wanted school work too :) He was super excited to be working on school stuff and was still and content as he worked on this letter sheet.  The first couple I helped him with and the rest he did on his own!

 " the A says "a" for airplane and dAdam" (how he says his own name, and no I can't spell airplane correctly apparently :P)

 Adam on his "first day of school" at three years

demonstrating what he knows

Our House

even though we moved in a month ago, I really didn't have the internet for about three weeks, and by then the house was a mess.  this weekend my wonderful angel sister Jocelyn and her three daughters came and helped me clean, so now I actually have some pictures of my house.

 Our back yard

 the chicken run... the one that is out we affectionately call Houdini

 the front view minus the garage

 The Family Room, we will be getting couches tomorrow, yay!

 the other half of the family room or the play area

 the living room, or the room we call the "home teacher" room :)

 Dining area... the carpet will be the first thing to go when we save up the money for a hard floor.

 The kitchen

 boys bathroom

 Nursery for our next little one (due in March 2014)

master bed room.

the boys each have their own room and there is a gust room and my craft room, all of which are very sparsely furnished, but they are typical rooms. This place is huge and it is taking me a little while not to be overwhelmed by it all. We already love our neighbors and our ward and feel very welcomed here. 

outing

sometimes I forget how close we are to some very beautiful nature.  I really wanted to get out of the house and talk with someone so I called up my sister and she humored me.  She brought her two girls and we visited Bridalveil falls, less then a 10 minute drive away and we had a picnic lunch. Thanks Ashley! it was great to get out! 

S

Grandparents day at the Zoo

While Grandma and Grandpa Cook where in town for a quick visit we went to the zoo! (sorry we didn't get a lot of pics, there were multiple photographers in the family and we just had the phone)

 petting the 'possum 

 Flash back from last year

One of the coolest things was watching the polar bear eat. Adam was hiding out in this little cubby and couldn't see much, then the polar bear came right up to the window, shook off the water, and continued to devour everything in sight, and Adam, Mom and Dad had the perfect seat.

We really loved spending time with grandma and grandpa and all the fun Animals at the zoo!

Birthday boys

we celebrated Kyles first birthday (14th) and Adams 3rd (16th) on the 15, less than a week after we moved into our new house.

 Adam helped make the cakes

 He is obsessed with trains right now

 Kyles lego cake... the only thing he seems to be obsessed with is food

Aunt Emma and Aunt Milla were there as well as Grandma and Grandpa Bassett, Catt and Maddie, Aunt Ashley& Uncle Klark and your two Brinkerhoff Cousins

Awesome hat from Aunt Milla

First year tradition, box of tissues :)

 Mega mind :)

 Kyle enjoyed making a mess, and eating his cake

Adam really likes his flashlight.
Happy birthday my two wonderful boys!

Trafalga (pass of all passes)

While Aunt Emma was in town, we took advantage of having the pass of all passes (and Adam still being 2) and went to trafalga Lehi

Adam liked the mini bowling

 And the bumper boats with mom getting Emma and Milla soaked

And the ship ride with daddy

It was so much fun!

July 6th

The next day before we drove back home, we threw some rocks into the lake, it sure was a beautiful area

 We really enjoyed getting to know Susan and Michael Riggi, and Aunt Ellen and Uncle Brian.  They live clear over in New Hampshire so I have never met them before, so glad they were able to make it.
We missed Grandma Cook the most and thought of her constantly, she couldn't come because she was in the hospital.  Our prayers are with her as she is fighting cancer.  We love you Grandma!

July 5th

The day after the fourth of July, we headed up to Idaho for the Hepworth family reunion.  this was a big one.  Nathaniel's grandma Bassett's maiden name is Hepworth, so not only did I get to meet a whole ton of people I had never met, but I got reacquainted with a lot of cousins and such.  It was a beautiful area, just east of Henry's lake, right by yellow stone.  Adam and Kyle absolutely loved it. 

 Our first day there were activities like tight rope walking

 and a lot of tall grass to make trails through

 Kyle found a perfect seat and he was doted on by his Aunts, great Aunts and cousin friends.

 Aunt Milla taught a group dance

 and Adam learned how to dosy doe with Aunt Emma

 Mom made a couple crafts like duct tape flowers

 there was a huge hail storm in the afternoon

 Adam enjoyed playing with the hula hoops

 And the cool slide

I can't believe this little monkey will be three in a week!