Blog updates and obligatory baby pictures

So, we've started making some changes to our blog. You may have noticed the sidebar on the right side of the page. We've rearranged it to make it more useful. If you don't follow us on Blogger or your feed reader of choice, you can get emailed updates when we have new posts.  You may also have noticed that all the posts are looking much shorter.  Actually, you now just see a snippet of the full post.  This is to make it easier to find and read instead of scrolling endlessly. Just click "Read full post" to read the full post.

Wings and Things: Our Afternoon at Conservation Garden Park

Usually, the things that come in the "Value Pak" mailer are complete crap. I generally chuck it straight in the trash, but this week I found myself rifling though it (probably since I had decided to use it as a no-money-fun baby toy). I glanced over the pages as I handed them to her individually for her page ripping, fist waving delight. Nothing special: dentist, dentist, rug doctor, dentist, pet groomer, seriously? another dentist?, Orthodontist (my complements to you Dr. smiley-pants on your originality), pest control, fertilizer, Ooooohh! What's THIS?! Free event at Conservation Garden Park. Food? Animal show? Outdoor Concert? Releasing of the  BUTTERFLIES?! Whaaat!!? Oh, Conservation Garden Park, you had me at hello.

Of Barnacles and Babies

This year, Colin's office decided to throw their annual Summer Party at the new Draper Aquarium. It was a pretty cool experience for us to have free reign over the building after hours. They had penguins, sharks, and my personal favorite--the lovable scamps of the sea--otters. We would have let Phoebe pet a sting ray in the touch tank, but she was a little amped up and we were afraid it might turn into a "Hulk Splash!" episode. She was pretty excited about this octopus and just about had a giggle fit when the larger fish would swim up next to the glass. The ducks were a big hit too (go figure it'd be the one thing we see on almost a daily basis). In the end, Phoeb's interest in fish waned and she decided to occupy herself instead with tried and true toddler games. Her repertoire includes such classics as "Smack the Bench", "Let's Fake Narcolepsy!", "Name that goo!", and "SCREAM AT THE FIIIIISSSSHHH!!!" On the whole though, I'd say we had a pretty good time. 

Fishin' the fishes

I went on the annual Ricks fishing trip in Canada for the first time in 6 years with my dad and brother Nathan, who recently returned from his mission in Portugal.

Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny!

While Colin was on the fishing trip with his family this year, I decided to spend my time with the baby at my folks house in Virginia. This was a really nice, laid back trip, since this time we didn't come over a holiday or a wedding. We spent a lot of time visiting (All nine kids were at home, and I got to visit with my brother and sister-in-law, my nephews, and both grandmas). Other than that, I spent a lot of time in lazy-lazy-loafing mode, and therefore didn't take very many pictures. Here are a few of the ones I did take:

Fourth of July

This was the first Fourth of July that Colin and I can remember where we have been able to celebrate with out extended family. This year we ended up going up Provo Canyon to have a picnic. Brian did an excellent job as grill master, and everyone else brought sides. Everything was delicious, but I don't think any of us could math the enthusiasm Phoebe had for this watermelon. Is there anyone on this earth happier than a naked one-year-old with a slice of watermelon and free reign over the grass? 

Phoebe at One Year

I feel a bit sad to be posting my last Phoebe month-to-month posts, but at the same time, she's getting a lot harder to keep in that basket!

Fort Herriman Days

One of the things I love about Utah in the summertime is that just about every city seems to have their own "day." Spanish fork: Steel Days, Springville: Art City Days, Pleasant Grove: Strawberry days (we've actually been to all of the above), the list goes on and on. This year Riverton and Herriman both decided to have their "day" together, and we just couldn't pass up the double whammy. The Screen on the Green was by far my favorite part. If you live in the area, I highly recommend  this list of similar events. I recognize that bringing a little one out to something that doesn't even start until after nine is risky business (move over Mr. Cruise), but it I think it worked out for us.

Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Yesterday, while Colin and Phoebe napped, I got the rare chance to spend my afternoon among the plants. No, I didn't run off to cultivate my budding inner naturalist with some kind of rugged solo hike, lumberjacking, or catching a fish with my bare hands (because suddenly I'm the most interesting woman in the world), I just browsed around garden centers and spent some time planting in the back yard. It might sound mundane, but what can I say? I dig dirt. Garden centers are my happy place. I've sometimes convinced Colin to take me to particularly nice ones in the dead of winter just to help me beat the February blues. They are like an oasis in a desert of snow. On the first step inside, when the balmy air touches my skin and the smell of chlorophyll hits my nose, I'm instantly home.

On Pint Sized Fishermen and Invisible Bears: Our Day at Silver Lake

This is Silver Lake at about seven in the morning. 'Aint she a beaut? (That's fisherman speak)

Every year in June, there is a state wide free fishing day in Utah where anyone can fish without a license. This year it was June 7th, and we were bound to take advantage of it. In years past, we have gone to the Utah Lake festival which I highly recommend provided you pile on the sunscreen (last time we went I missed putting sunscreen on my legs and got burned so badly from the reflection off the water that I was regularly asked if I had dumped boiling oil on myself). This year however, we were in for a change. We had heard there was good fishing in Silver Lake and decided to give it a go. It turns out to be a lovely little spot tucked away in Cottonwood Canyon. The cool morning air and the surrounding mountains gave me a feeling like sitting halfway inside of a drinking glass, which I very much enjoyed.