Labor Day Camping

So I am finally getting around to posting our Labor Day pictures. I know- I have tried at least 4 or 5 times to do so, but Tyse is a little obsessed with the computer and comes along while I am changing laundry or something and deletes the whole post. So here I try again...
we had a great weekend at Rifle Falls State Park in Colorado with my brother and his family and my sister and her family. I love camping and we have finally gotten out a couple of times this summer and really had a great time! Even the dog loved it, so the hassle and stress of getting everything together was definitely worth it. HOw does it work that a manly activity such as camping always means the poor wife has the most stressful week of her life? I haven't quite figured it out yet... I guess it is because I actually care if our children have cold weather clothes and fruit to eat some time during the trip.
Our first full day there we went on a short little hike to the falls that the campground was named after. It was a lot of fun! We hiked up and around the top and there were a million different caves for the kids to explore and wildlife all over. There was one cave that was quite a bit larger than the others and poor tyse became PETRIFIED of it. I think because of that book "We're Going On A Bear Hunt". He thought every cave had a bear in it. Luckily his opinion changed about it when we went back later that night for the bat talk and observation. He thought it was the best part of the entire trip- the rest of us don't think we saw a single bat. I am sure that in his super hero geared mind Batman was up there somewhere flying around.
The next day we went to a place called Hanging Lake to hike. My family has been going to this trail for as long as I can remember and I think it is my favorite all time hike. Rather short, absolutely breathtaking, and a lot of fun. Well, I had forgotten that terribly steep and boulder ridden in that first description. Tyse went ahead with Uncle Craig, Aunt Krista, Ty, and Grandma Paula while Kent patiently endured me pulling my pregnant belly up the hill very slowly. Apparently Tyse was great help to grandma while they were hiking- every time there was a rock of any size in the trail, Tyse would climb up it and then turn to her and say "Oh grandma, this one is a HUGE step. I better help you". He would then hold his hand out and "pull" her up the rock. It was very gentlemanly of him! I am trying to upload kiot9ti9toyigkllfldlgkgjgjkglkgflf,lg,lfg;lgl;g;lgm,tkykotyktpktltkl;tpotlktlp;tl;tlp[otportpoltpotpottltkltkllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllc,lfcmklefoifkrtgkoitgokptypkoyok

Tyse's Look alike meter

Supporting a Good Cause

A few months ago, one of Beka's cousins was diagnosed with leukemia for the third time. His name is Casey Nish. He is married, has three kids and is 34 years old. It is obviously a very hard situation to go through for his family and one in which we wish we could do more to help. Prayers are on the forefront of all the help from everyone who knows but Casey had one more request. He asked all the male family members and friends to shave their heads in support of him losing his hair. So I did. If, you read this Casey, I am considering you to be the first person on the prayer roll at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (being built in background).


At the same time I have a cousin, Robert Carpenter, who was recently deployed to Iraq in August. So I guess shaving my was two-fold. I think I might keep it shaved until Casey recovers and Robert returns. I actually like it a lot. But it might be cold for this upcoming winter.

Emitt's First Birthday!

So, emitt's first birthday is come and gone. I can't believe it has already been a year! Those first 6 months about killed us, but he has more than made up for it in sweetness since. We had a Ball party, since he is about as obsessed with balls as his big brother. We thought it was appropriate because his only word ( I don't count Dad because it isn't fair) is "kick it". He walks around the house holding my fingers and kicks any ball, saying "kick it". I guess I should have known we were in for kids that like sports. I LOVE it!
Anyway, back to the party! We had a ball carnival kinda thing in our front yard with soccer goals, basketball hoops, and the highlight- the slip n slide! It was kinda overcast and smoky and only in the mid 80's to which we acknowledged, It is such a nice day! this reminds us of california! Bring on all that pollution!
We had a few friends over and the local Mortensen cousins, most of which are much older than Emitt, so it ended up being more a party for Tyse and his friends, but it was great and I wouldn't change it for anything!
Here is the cake eating. Emitt LOVED the first few bites- didn't even wait for the singing or anything- he just dove right in. Unfortunately, he decided nap time should be a little early on this particular day and got tired, and started rubbing his eyes. He then had brown frosting on his eyelashes, in his eyes, etc. It didn't go over very well, as shown by the upper right picture, so cake time was cut short. I don't think he ever even got a taste of the actual cake- just frosting. Oh- and his eyes were excreting brown tears and sleepies for a couple days after!

Some things about Emitt on his first birthday:

His favorite food: any fruit and pizza
His favorite toy: balls and his little stuffed animals (he doesn't see these much because Red likes to tear them apart)
How he goes to sleep: a sippy cup of milk, a short story and my best rendition of "I Am A Child Of God"
His favorite thing to do at the dinner table: feed the begging Red anything from his plate or throw it on the floor if Red is outside
He is starting to walk- has taken about a total of 3 consecutive steps a few times this week
His vocabulary includes Dad, Kick It, and I think he is trying for dog
He loves to help take things out of the dryer
He loves to play in "his" drawer in the kitchen- all the plastics. He is the organization king!
He really loves to pull all of Tyse's clothes out of his drawers, and if I am lucky he will put them back in!
He loves swimming- we are definitely wishing that the parasite hadn't closed all the pools in the state!
He is not at all interested in TV, but loves the computer- especially when he can grab the keys. He even pulled the space bar off of our laptop a couple days ago.
He has discovered the joy of unrolling the toilet paper from the roll. Joy.
He LOVES the bath- example...
He has learned to fold his arms for the prayer
He has learned a few signs to get what he wants- the only 2 he uses on a regular basis is "more" and "all done". Coupled with the finger point, he has all he needs!

We are so blessed to have such a sweet spirit in our home and pray that we can nurture and teach him the ways of the Lord and bring him up in the way which he should go. We love him so much and are so proud and happy to have him in our family!

Miller Farewell party

So the week before Jeremy and Ashley left, we all cleared our schedules and got together for one more Winger's feast. The kids ran wild, and the adults talked about all the good old topics... But the pictures were the most fun!
Emitt has missed Ginger to carry him around! That was so fun to watch her playing with him!
Here is the cutest picture of the millers- Cambri's hair is AMAZING! So cute!

Tyse and Jadi looking at the trees and the clouds... I guess that is pretty deep for 3 year olds. Who are their parents? they must be genius!
We miss you, Jeremy and Ashley!

Afton Wyoming

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A week after the cabin, we headed to afton wyoming to spend some time with my grandma, Ruth. Tyse loves going there because there is wide open spaces and farm equipment, horses, and all that good stuff. THe highlights were definitely having the boys ride horses...

Ranch life is definitely appealing to Tyse, and Emitt LOVED the old wagon my grandma had and let them play in.

Shipley Cabin

So we took a weekend off and headed up to the Shipley's cabin in Idaho for a weekend away. The boys had a GREAT time playing in the creek, chasing the dog, pretending to ride the 4-wheelers, building forts, and playing dress up. I think it was heaven for almost all involved.
Kent and Tyse went on a 6 mile hike and tyse made it most of the way on his own. He stepped foot back into the cabin with his eyes mostly closed and collapsed on the nearest chair into a nap that lasted for quite a while. He said that hiking is one of his favorite things to do and asks every day if this is a hiking day! He even picked me a beautiful flower...


The hikers went swimming in a swimming hole that is located on the way to a spring. No one told tyse how cold it was... just that he should jump in. So he took the plunge with dad...

The facial expression is priceless!