Camping!

We went camping this year over Labor Day weekend! This was our 1st time camping together as a family, and we were so happy to share it with the Bos clan. I'll be the 1st to admit that camping with a baby--a 2 month old baby--has its challenges! Phew...I get tired just thinking about it :) Thankfully Aaron and Kristy let me, Annabelle, and Stockton invade their space in the trailer--what would I have done without them?! They--and their wonderful trailer--were lifesavers! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Our days were filled with conversations by the camp fire, searches for wood, meal preparations, feeding Stockton, trying to get Annabelle and Stockton to nap, a little reading, eating, and playing. As busy as it was, it was great to be able to spend time with family and to let the kids be free to roam and play. Annabelle loves her cousin Liv, and had a great time with her. And us? We love hanging out with Kristy, Aaron, Nikki, Eric, Piete, Mimi and Papa. There's always an abundance of conversation and laughter! I'm sure we'll be doing this again next year!

Annabelle's cute camping 'Do'
Staying warm and cozy with "Prince Eric"
Annabelle and Liv playing with their glow-in-the-dark sticks!

Lots of attitude wrapped up in one adorable little girl!

Nikki keeping Liv warm with some hot oatmeal--Mmmmmm

Me attempting to keep Annabelle warm. It was somewhat successful :)

Baby Stock enjoying nap time with Mimi

Rocky sitting in his favorite place--Papa's lap!

My trailer buddy Kristy

Good Morning Piete!

Nikki and Eric showing Prissy some love

I love this picture! Annabelle looks like a deer in headlights: "Uh-Oh! Am I in trouble?"

My little camper :) Can she possibly get any cuter?

Thanks for a wonderful time and for all the help everyone! We love you!

Back to the Canyons...FINALLY!

It's true. We finally made it back to the canyons this year! And thankfully it was everything I'd hoped for and more. We were able to spend the majority of the day there, relaxing, talking and of course...snacking. As an added bonus, Annabelle actually allowed herself to get a little dirty! Granted, she would brush off her hands everytime they got dirt on them, BUT she did willingly get dirt on them! Baby steps :)

Speaking of babies, Stockton was SO content! He snoozed away for most of the afternoon in a little tent by the stream. How soothing is that?! In reality, he probably thought he was at home in his swing with the setting turned on nature sounds :) Still soothing nonetheless!

We also celebrated my birthday up there--complete with a Red Velvet Cake! Here is my short history with Red Velvet Cake: I started watching Cupcake Wars on Food Network; Everyone makes a Red Velvet cupcake on Cupcake Wars; It ALWAYS looks delicious; I had to have Red Velevet Cake! And now...I'm currently in the trial phase of finding the best Red Velvet Cake in the valley. I know, I know...it's not my healthiest endeavor. BUT, everything in moderation right? So far I've tried: Granite Bakery (pretty good), Schmidt's Bakery (they add raspberry so I just can't call it true Red Velvet, although it was tasty), Nothing Bundt Cakes (so-so), and The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe--definitely the winner for now! How did I come to find this HEAVENLY cafe? Well...it was recommended to Josh, who then went and bought me 8--YES 8--cupcakes! All different flavors! I had to put the dieting on hold for a few days, while I sampled each and every one. My method for sampling? 2 bites of each then finish my favorite one. It proved unsuccessful. I had 4 favorites, or was it 5? Probably 5. It took me about 4 or 5 days, but I did finish all 5. Hence then need to purchase an exercise program called "Kettlenetics." But hey...they were a birthday gift (that came alongside a new HOT PINK IPOD), and I couldn't let them go to waste. So Happy Birthday to me! Canyons, Cupcakes, and LOTS of LOVE.

Annabelle enjoying her new Princess camping chair

Always so feminine :)
Annabelle and Paige came up with this idea for transporting their rocks to the stream. Their conversations were so hilarious! "Paige sit still." "Annabelle I think it's full. It feels pretty heavy." "It's not full Paige. Sit still." :)


Go ahead Annabelle--take it and throw it!

There you go!

Yes it downpoured on us. But it was AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL

So nice!

I'm so grateful we made it up there before it got too cold, even if it is the only time we make it this season. Totally worth it.

Zoo Day

We took an extra special trip to the Zoo recently. Of course any day at the zoo is special, but this particular day was even more exciting! Why? It was our kickoff to a year's worth of smiles, animal sippers, smelly animals, dancing elephants, lounging penguins, roaring tigers, creepy reptiles, fun merry-go-round rides, and bumpy train rides. That's right--WE ARE ZOO MEMBERS! So excited for our year of free zoo outings! Thanks Grandma!

"I love the 'bejraffes'"

Zoo day is not complete without a friend to share it with!

'Baby Stock' came along, looking extremely handsome...and knowing it :)

Stockton is rehearsing for his future in modeling

"Hmmmm...sure looks like Annabelle loves that merry-go-round"

Playing in the water ball at the zoo is a MUST! Annabelle likes to get her hands nice and wet. "Move over boys!"

"I'm making handprints on the cement! I do it over and over and over and over again, but they keep disappearing!"

What a great day! Can't wait for more!

A Fair-ly Good Time

You can always count on the fair to provide some good times right? Well...kind-of. This little trip to the county fair taught me a little more about Annabelle and the little girl she is becoming. Her little personality is developing more and more each day, and events like this really demonstrate her likes and dislikes. It's so fun getting to know who she is and who she wants to become. This trip to the fair taught us a few things: She doesn't like being alone and would much rather have a few friends in tow; she loves to color; she hates flies; she hates the smell of farm animals and barns; she loves the color blue; she loves snow cones, and hates to get dirty. A girlie-girl through and through! Hopefully the state fair with cousins proves to be a bigger success--fingers crossed!

Off to a good start! Coloring and having fun

She loves having fun with and teasing Papa

A bit sad and lonely riding the rides all by herself :(

Loves her blue snow cone!

Loves pony rides because she can pretend she's "Snow White on her horse."

Her little companion is snoozing away and not too interested...

But wakes up just in time to give us a smile before we leave :)

We had a Fair-ly good time at the county fair this year :)