Marchant fun

With Doug still enjoying another week before his temporary license arrives from the State, we have taken advantage of every moment.  We opened their goggles and they "swam" in the bath.  They beg to take baths most nights now.

The goggles were a little big...

We stopped at my sister, Sarah's new home so Doug and I could help her unpack.  Lyla took a nap on Ellie's bed and looked so peaceful.

The next day, we went to Ethan and Sydney's friend, Quentin's birthday party.  It was a swim party and Lyla got in her suit for the first time since her newborn photos.  She's getting so big!

She wasn't too fond of the cool pool water.  It was a very short swim.

I sat poolside with Lyla.  This was a view I got used to a lot this summer.  Holder her and watching everyone swim.   She's worth it!

rollin' rollin' rollin'

We have some great travelers!  Although Lyla had a tough time sleeping on this trip, she traveled great. One of us sat in the back by her and that seemed to help a lot.

Lyla cried out for food when we were just 45 minutes from home.  We found a great park at the base of Spanish Fork canyon.  Ethan and Sydney went with Doug on a little walk while I fed Lyla in a camp chair and found a heart-shaped rock.  They ran back to show me their discovery.

Love these kids.  So glad I'm their mom.

Grand Junction

So glad that Grand Junction is halfway to Denver and also happy that Doug's sister, Natalie, lives there!  We stopped on our way home to Utah for a few days to play.  

I snapped a photo of Lyla in the bath Sunday night and felt so amazed that our little baby was 3 months old already.  Time is flying.  This trip has been rough for her--and as a result, rough for me.  

I attempted to take a quick '3 month' photo of her and she wasn't happy about it...at all.

Ethan, Sydney, and Jake played so well.  They will miss him for sure.

I snapped this photo of Sydney when she made her first successful attempt on the rope swing in their backyard.  She held on, jumped, and got her legs over the stick.  I wish I captured her face beaming that she had done it.

Ethan then took his turn and figured it out as well.  So cute to watch them grow up.

Natalie just got a new puppy and Ethan and Sydney both loved him and were terrified of him.  Sydney gave him a snack and stuck out her tongue as well--perhaps hoping that he would follow her lead and eat.

Doug had a few extra readers for scripture time.

Doug and Natalie got out for a fun mountain bike ride in the morning.  Doug was in heaven.

We attempted to find a park where Doug and Natalie could play a game of tennis, but there was a tournament going on and the courts were occupied.  We thought we could wait it out and let the kids play.  They were determined players and we ended up leaving after playing for an hour or so.  It was so fun to play with this family and glad they're close.

Flatirons

What is a trip to Denver without a hike?  We got in the car Saturday morning (after a rough night's sleep!) and headed to north to meet Kayla and her family.  It was a beautiful day.  As we prepared to leave, Kayla was holding Lyla and Ethan, Sydney, and Bryn were running back in forth behind Kayla on the sidewalk.  We were all stunned when Lyla started giggling loudly every time they passed.  It was the sweetest sound.  Love this baby.

We stopped for a snack so I could feed Lyla.  Sydney announced that she had to go potty and quickly pulled down her pants (over cement) and started going!  We were shocked and quickly tried to stop her.  She didn't seem to think this was a problem (with urine running down her legs).  Ew.  She had ridden on our shoulders on the hike uphill, but Doug and I refused to carry her or put her on our shoulders on the way down.  Nasty.  We stopped for a photo, but neither one of us wanted to hold her.  Haha.

We love the Thompsons!

I stopped and turned around to find Doug trying to carry Ethan and push the stroller.  He is such an amazing dad.

We went to the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder after this hike and Doug and I agreed that we could live in this city.  So amazing.

Denver!

Since my friend, Kayla, moved to Denver, we have visited 3 times.  I love this city!  Doug even looked into licensing laws in Colorado as a place for us to settle once he graduated.  It's a beautiful place.  We left our hotel early Friday morning--really pretty forced to leave by 9 am.  There was a bike race that would be closing the road for 4 hours and we wouldn't be able to leave after 10 am.  We drove to Denver and met Kayla, Brynlee, and Shane at Washington Park.  Doug's cousin, Adam, and his wife Meggin joined us with one of their boys, McKay.  The kids played hard for several hours on the playground and we had a picnic.  We fought of several aggressive squirrels who desperately wanted some of our food.

We splurged and rented a little 'bike' to ride around the large park.  When Doug "pulled up" to pick us up, I burst into laughter.  All I could think of was the musical Oklahoma and the song about the "Surrey with the fringe on the top."

Kayla and I took a spin with all 3 littles (minus Sydney) and were stunned that it was a pretty tough workout.  A small incline had us standing up to get more leverage.  We were laughing pretty hard.

Shane and Doug took Syd and Ethan for a little ride when we got back.  The rental was for an hour and it took nearly 30 minutes to get around the park one time.  It was a one-way path, so we had to be quick!

Rocky Mountain High

After graduation, we knew Doug had about 2 more weeks before he could start work because he had to wait for his temporary license from the State of Utah.  After considering exotic vacations like Hawaii, Australia, or touring his mission in British Columbia--we recognized that we had three children under the age of 4 (including an infant) and decided to be more realistic and go somewhere closeby.

I love John Denver's music.  In fact, when we started the long trek toward Vail, Colorado, I told Doug how disappointed I was to have forgotten my CD for the drive.  It is so soothing to listen to his "Rocky Mountain High" while on this scenic drive.  Doug and I have an understanding.  He is much more patient (he says he has a higher "frustration tolerance" probably to make me feel better about being impatient) and so he tends to the kids and I do the driving.  I got pretty sore sitting in the same position so long--my body isn't used to that these days.  However, the trip is a lot more pleasant with Doug in the back.  :-)

We had Lyla in a captain's chair, Doug in the other and Ethan and Sydney in the back with a portable DVD player strapped to the chair.  We thought we were pretty smart to bring along their potty chair to make for less stops.  Indeed, the trip went fairly well with one stop in Grand Junction for lunch and playing with Doug's sister, Natalie and her family.

Vail was amazing.  We'd found a great deal on a resort that checked out bikes for rent and had a fantastic workout facility--with free classes included!  I was just as excited to workout there as I was to be in Vail!

We discovered an awesome pirate ship at the base of one of the resorts that was amazing.  Ethan and Sydney played there in the rain with Doug while I parked at the parking garage and fed Lyla.  I caught up with them and was stunned.  It was massive.

We hit the shops afterward to look for t-shirts for the kids as a souvenir.  Ethan and Sydney enjoyed touching everything and trying on everything.  I tried to enjoy shopping with them.  Afterall, we were on a family vacation!

We enjoyed the resort with swimming, biking, working out, and watching movies in the cabin-like room.  I did a bit of work on the patio facing a creek and beautiful trees while Lyla slept.  Breathtaking.   We were sad to leave after two days, but excited to head to Denver and see family and friends.

Graduation party

We had a little graduation party for Doug this afternoon.  We had games outside and yummy dinner inside.  Nearly every member of our families came (including Natalie who drove from Colorado).  Thanks to Natalie and Michelle for planning.

Graduation

Doug opened his graduation gift tonight.  He got a University of Utah tie, socks, shirt, and shirts for all 3 of the kids.  He was stunned and excited to wear them under his cap and gown.  It's pretty symbolic--BYU on the outside, a Ute on the inside.  :-)

Lyla was all smiles that night too.  Maybe she knows that this is a big deal?

Michelle sat with Dr Brent Slife, the chair of Doug's dissertation committee in preparation for the hooding.

We dressed the kids in cap and gown outfits when Doug walked up to get his diploma.  We were disappointed that they asked no one to clap to save time and he was one of the first 10 or so graduates to walk, so I was too chicken to cheer.  :-(

Lyla was way too asleep to wear her cap and gown.

 I was teary-eyed many times during the graduation.  This has been a moment I doubted would ever happen.

Doug happened to walk out of the stadium right next to us.  It was fun to see him.

The photos started...and went forever.

All those who attended paused for a photo together.  We have had so much support the last 6 years--but especially since having Ethan and Sydney.  Grandma Marchant has come nearly every week sine we had Ethan and Sydney to help me.  My parents have helped with the kids several times and running errands for me. Tonya and her family took on cleaning our house once each week and helping watch the kids during Doug's busiest times of school.  Michelle edited Doug's dissertation, offered a listening ear of understanding during intense times with Doug's dissertation.  There are so many others who've helped us.  We have had so much love and support.

Doug showed off his new U of U tie.