Stuart Falls

Matt and I have been trying to be more active, well mainly me and I drag him along for good measure. So I had a great idea let's go hike to Stuart Falls.  I heard it was an easy hike and it would be a nice just to have some time only with out the kids.  Matt's parents were camping at Deer Creek, so we dropped the kids off and headed on our way.  We began hiking and along the way we met various hikers all young and in better shape then I was.  Who kept telling us, we were only twenty minutes away.  I began to wonder if there really was a Stuart Falls or was this all some experiment done by the BYU psych department.  By the time we finally got to the falls it had been two hours of hiking on a rocky small path.  The internet claimed this was an easy hike.  And we weren't even at the falls we were at the over look.  To get to the falls was another small steep path.  I would have love to have gotten closer however my knees and blood sugar said no.  So we turn back and tried to make it back as it began to rain.  Several time I told Matt I was just going to lay down and let the squirrels eat me.  Thank Goodness we finally got back to our car and headed back to deer creek.  And was very thankful that the in laws had made dinner for us.  We decided that we are more of nature walk kinda of people. I wish had know at the time that there is two trails for Stuart Falls.  An easy one that starts at Sundance and a harder one that starts at Alpine Grove. (Which costs six dollars to get to)  We ended up on the harder one.  Plus we found out that we choose to hike on the hottest day of the summer.  Matt is never going to let me forget this.  (it was my idea)

In the parking lot ready to go

Not even half way there

This is looking down off the trail

The view was beautiful

The falls

He did so much better on this hike then I did

Ready to be done

My poor feet

Emme at her grandparents' trailor. She loved going in and out

She fell asleep on the way home.  She seemed to be comfortable

Olivia turns three months

Olivia is now three months old.  She is starting to smile, coo and even giggle at times.  She thinks four am is play time and is happy when Emme leaves her alone.  She is starting to like her activity center.  She holds her head really well though she hates tummy time.  She prefers to be held so she can look around the room.  She has already out grown all her zero to three month outfits.  We have decided she is going to be tall like her Daddy who is 6'5. We got her ears pieced like we did with Emme at three months.  She looks so cute with them.   Here are some pictures, we took at Murray Park of her and Emme. 

Olivia Ellen Three Months Old

Emme is Twenty-One months old and Olivia who is Three months

 

 

Daddy and Olivia

Happy Birthday Matt!!!!!!!

Matt and Olivia after Church.  Isn't she cool in her AC DC Shirt

Sunday was Matt's 35th birthday!!!  He says he is officially an old man now.  I was happy because it fell on his weekend off.  His schedule is a bit crazy and days off are savored.  We try to do something fun for each birthday and since it was his four day weekend, we had a lot of fun and some work too.  Friday, we went to Jordanelle with his parents and the kids.  Saturday and Monday was the work.  We have been having issues with our bathroom and due to a leak, we have been forced to redo it a head of our original plan.  So Matt spent Saturday ripping up the tile and Monday with his dad laying the new floor. Sunday was his birthday.  We went to church though we were both exhaust and I was burnt. (Matt loved teasing me about it)   Since it was early morning church, we came home and had nap time.  When you have a crazy work schedule and two kids nap time is loads of fun.  We then went to dinner with Matt's parents to the spaghetti factory.  Emme had more fun people watching and saying hi to everyone. I think she even blew kisses at our waitress.  When she was done eating she got bored being at the table and decided to play her version of tag. Which involves going between her grandma Karen and Dad and flopping on their laps.  This she did over and over till it was time to go back to Grandma's for cake.  Matt's favorite cake is Red Velvet.  I got a yummy cream cheese frosting for my sister in law, Anna.  It was not over powering sweet.  Matt enjoyed it and declared I was to make it again.  Which is usually a good sign!

Emme on our way to church.  She is wearing my first attempt at making a dress

Poor Emme had a black eye from falling at her Grandparents.  She tripped in the garage

He kept himself busy while we waited for our food

Matt with his cake.  Yes that is a number three candle we didn't have a five too.  So we decided he was three.

Jordanelle Part Two and better than ever!!!

We had so much fun boating last month, that we decided to do it again. This time though we decided to take a picnic with us and eat on the water. I made the Olsen's famous Chocolate Chip Cookies, Matt's favorite Crab salad and a tortellini Salad I have never made before. They all turned out yummy. My Mother in law brought chips, drinks and sandwiches to round out the meal. Emme had fun trying to walk as the boat was going. Olivia did much better this time. The boat rocking back and forth put her to sleep. Emme even got to try the inner tube. (We went really slow with her in it) She loved swimming in the lake until she got cold then wanted out and back in the boat. She was perfectly happy to stand at the back and wave at Mommy and Daddy as they rode in the inner tube. She is so easily entertained. We had so much fun riding in the inner tube. I thought a couple of time that I was going to flip off and land in the lake. Thankfully I didn't since we were going really fast and that would have hurt. What hurt later was that I forgot to put sunscreen on and I have pale skin. I am so sun burnt. I look like a cherry tomato. However it was so much fun. We hope to go again before the summer is done.

Emme trying to drive Grandpa's truck, while we load the Boat!

Daddy and Emme on the Boat

Olivia's Tent to keep the sun out of her face while she slept

Emme driving the boat with Grandpa. She kept trying to put the throttle down to make it go faster.

Trying to help get the inner tube ready to ride on the lake

Watching Daddy take his turn

Matt riding on the inner tube

Emme sitting in my lap on the inner tube. I think she was done by this point

She had more fun in the lake

She loves shoes!!! Give her a pair or two and she is never bored.

Matt after getting off the inner tube

Olivia isn't she cute!!!

Emme, and Olivia with their Grandma Karen

Matt and Emme

Damaged

My body is damaged. There are so many unseen things wrong with it. For about ten years I devoted my life to working with kids with emotional problems. Kids damaged by those who should love and protect them. In return for trying to show them the love they missed they showed me everything their parents taught them. I have had my ribs cracked, my throat kicked in, both ankles and wrists sprained so many times I have lost count. I have been head butted so many times that I have gotten a infection where my jaw locked in place. I have had black eyes, bruises and even been stabbed. I have been called fat, had my life threatened, called more horrible names then I can recall. Though my favorite is being called a fat purple hippo and I wasn't even where purple. I feel the years of trying to help these children almost every day. And I feel heart break as I see those who return to their ways. ( This is part of the reason I will not be friends with them on Facebook)
The biggest damage was something that was hidden. Something I never saw and never heard of. Doctors always missed it just telling if I lost weight I would feel better. Or that I was faking it for attention. Finally I saw a doctor who told me he might know the answer. PCOS Poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. Something I had since I was twelve. Damage unseen. Unable to loose weight, weird hair growth, acne, severe stomach pain, depression lots and lots of depression, miscarriages, my hair going gray, craving sugar (yes this makes you craves sweets kinda cruel isn't it) and so many other random symptoms, that every other doctor missed.
It has been two months since miracle baby two. Olivia who we came very close to loosing several times. Now I am challenged with needing to loose the weight so I feel better. But finding the drive and the time with two demanding little ones has been a bit of a challenge. I have lost weight before. When I lived in Alaska I worked out all the time. Two hours at the gym after work. This helped with the damage. However I also didn't have a house, hubby and two kids to care for. Just me. Now I need to work on the fixing my body again before I get new damage. Damage that results in not taking care of the PCOS. Somehow I need to find the drive again. To work out even when feeling ill, tired and depressed.

Hiking Big Cottonwood

I have been amazingly homesick this past month. I miss Alaska! I miss my friends, family, the culture and the beautiful nature that is Alaska. What has triggered this? I think maybe it could be the new tv show I have watching Alaska State Troopers. Or maybe it is the fact my Brother Chris and his wife Mel just had a baby. So cute and so small. Or maybe it is seeing all the amazing pictures my friends have been taking and posting on facebook. I love see all their adventures and wish I was there too. Before I moved to Utah, I would hike and fish most summers. However with Matt's work schedule, we really haven't seen any of the beauties of Utah, Matt is always telling me Utah has. So yesterday we finally went hiking. We went to Big Cottonwood Canyon. And did a nice simple hike around Silver Lake. It was perfect to take our independent little Emme on. She loved seeing her first Moose, the ducks and chipmunks. She loved playing in every puddle she could find. She was so soaked and exhausted by the end she even wanted to be carried. It was such a wonderful time that we are even planning to go camping up there in a couple years when the girls are a little older.

The border walk on Silver Lake. Reminded me of Potter's Marsh

A moose!! The first one I have seen in almost three years!!!

She loved watching the Mother Duck with her babies. We were a little scared she was going to try to go swimming

Utah has real trees!!! You just have to drive to find them

She kept giving me hugs and kisses. I think she wanted me as dirty as she was.

She had to play in every mud puddle she found.

She kept a close eye on her daddy

She was exhausted by this point. Wanting me to carry her

One of the many chipmunks we saw

Isn't he cute!!!

The socks were white at one point

Had a wonderful time with my hubby and our little girl Emme. Where was Olivia? Hanging with her Grandma Karen. Getting some long needed Grandma time in.