Sea Lions

I couldn't get this to include in the last post but Talen laughed forever watching these guys that I just had to share.

California Week 1

This summer we spent 6 weeks in San Ramon California with Travis while he works on a project in the area. We spent every week exploring. We went to Pier 39 in San Francisco the first week. Here is our first adventure… First Sight from the top of the Parking Garage At the Pier looking at the Awesome but smelly Sea Lions Talen could have spent all day looking at these big guys...they are very entertaining watch! In front of Alcatraz Island...vey cool!!! I could not believe how cold and windy it was. I always have this image of California being hot & fun on the beach... Fun in the Sun (as it where) We had a GREAT time that day. The kids were just excited to be with Daddy and to get out of that car! Watch for more to come!!!

BBQ

This spring we have had weird weather. As has everyone! With Travis gone I had to strap our grill down to the deck so it wouldn’t blow away. Then we had this... This bird worked hard! Don't hate me but I'm a weakling when it comes to birds and I made Travis get rid of it and clean the grill when he was home last weekend. Sorry Bird!

Surgery

Warning Pictures may gross you out! Travis had Surgery to repair and old ankle injury from High school earlier this year. Travis broke his ankle playing football. Since then he will constantly roll his ankle. We have had a few scares in the past when we thought he had broken it again. Early this year he rolled his ankle again walking out of the girls’ room. He could hardly walk for weeks. So we decided it was time to get this fixed for good. Travis went in for surgery early February had several screws drilled in to the bones to hold the graft in place. Very painful but well worth it. Travis was on crutches for over a month. Talen started to catch on and wanted to be just like Dad. Sorry I can't figure out how to turn the picture.

Fishing and Time with Dad

Last September Travis finally convinced me to get a fishing license so I could go with him and the girls. Taydem truly loves fishing. We have taken them down to the river a few time and they always catch a few little cat fish. Taydem has really gotten into it, to the point she loves ripping the worms in half and baiting her own hook. We found a pond not too far away that stocks weekly. Every weekend that Travis is home the girls always request a fishing trip. They put forth the effort to get up extra early and get to the pond at sunrise. Last weekend I caught my first, a rainbow trout! I didn’t know what to do and Travis was up at the truck with Talen. My first instinct was to not touch it so I just let it hang out in the water while the girls went running and screaming for dad. I'm sure everyone around us loved that. After fishing we go for a walk/bike ride... this is how everyone ended up that last little stretch. The girls dumped their bikes and hoped on for a ride.

Grandpa Summers

Just before Thanksgiving our Grandpa Summers passed away very suddenly. It was very hard on Travis. He grew up working cows with Grandpa. Taking summer vacations up to the cabin. He was always one he could talk to and keep Travis on the Straight. He was an amazing Grandpa and an even more amazing Great Grandpa. Grandpa was very active all his years and Grandpa and Grandma always made a great effort to make it to all the Great Grand kids’ special occasions. Any time they drove down south we would meet up at McDonalds and enjoy a lunch. Our kids know them as the MC-D Grandpa & ma. Grandpa was very much loved! He will be and is greatly missed.

Halloween 09

Gardener Village to see the Witches... Can we say DIVA! Pumpkins... G-pa & G-ma Mortensen came down from Idaho and his brother Jason and his family were over for a fun night out trick or treating. Cousins, trick or treating what could be more FUN!

Christmas 09

There were a lot of great things about Christmas. Lots of Gifts, screaming in excitement and the most important visiting family. G-Pa Yost opening his DS from all the kids... New Christmas PJ's We are still talking about Talens excitement and determination after he opened his first present to use that present to open all the others...

Taylyns Birthday

This happened about 7 months ago but I feel it's about time I get this updated. Taylyn turned 4 October 27. We had a wonderful day. Taylyn wanted to ride the ponies so we all headed out to Thanksgiving Point. Well with the blizzard and below freezing that day they shut down all outdoor activities. So up to South Town mall we went to ride the "ponies" there. After the fun ride and a dizzy mom and dad we had a trip down to Mrs. Fields and filled up our Tinkerbelle buckets with yummy cookies. Taydem had school that day so Taylyn had all afternoon to lay around with dad and relax. That night we made cupcakes and tried to do fall colors. Butterfly Masks... That Saturday we had a few friends over and enjoyed cake and Ice Cream. Let it be noted that she was the one that wanted the spider. She had a fun 4th birthday and says a belated thanks to all for the awesome gifts.

Finally...Yard!!!

I love it when DH gets hooked up at work. For the first time in 4 years we have a finished back yard. Befor... Travis and I spent a weekend gathering rock from around the city, saved us about $2000, almost lost a finger with Trav laughing at me. Our Rocks... With 4 truckloads of top soil about 3 loads of fill dirt, lots of equipment and a free sprinkler system it’s now finished. TAAADAAA... LOVE IT!!

School

This is coming a little late as is my style;). But still very important. My little girl started school! She is in the afternoon class an loven it. She gets her hair done everyday some days better than others. Her teacher, Ms.Earl is amazing. Taydem has learned so much already and just can't get enough.

Thanksgiving Point w/ G-ma Yost

We had a fun trip in June to Thanksgiving Point. What a fun day, it was just G-ma Yost the girls, Talen and I. We had so much fun walking thru all the beautiful flowers, gardens and waterfalls. The Secret Garden was the unanimous favorite. After the Gardens we took the kids over to the children discovery play area. They had so much fun playing around Noah’s Ark and the light house. We all agreed we will have to go back when the roses bloom.

Surgery

Talen had surgery in April to repair a hernia and a hydro cell. We were at the hospital before the sun came up. He handled everything very well and came out of the surgery great,we went home that same day. That night he started to swell and swell and swell black and purple. It was a lot worse than I could ever have imagined so I ran him back up to the Emergency room around 10:30 that same night. Were we waited around until 1 the next morning just to be told they couldn't do anything and to come back at 8 to see the Surgeon, Sooo frustrating. All in the past now. The days following he could not bend his legs up or down because he was swollen to about the size of a baseball. He was carried everywhere just because it hurt to much to watch him try and walk and we had to carry him with his back to our front and our hands under his butt, anything else put to much pressure on the “sensitive” zone. After a few days the swelling started to go down and by his two week check up all was well and everything is fine. I hope we never have to go thru another surgery of a little one again.