Utah Vacation 2009

It seemed like a quick trip, but was one of our best vacations so far. Kids loved seeing grandparents and playing with cousins. We hiked. We swam. We bowled. We shopped. We Harry Pottered. We had our first getaway since Natalie was born. It was a great trip. Thanks to Mom and Dad for helping babysit kids and being the perfect hosts. Thank you kids for being healthy and cooperative with bedtimes. Thanks to all who made time for us and drove around to be with us. Thank you everyone for good memories to last us another year away from you all. We're sorry we didn't have more time with you, and sorry we weren't able to see all our friends and extended relatives there. We love you!



Amelia and Natalie with cousin Liberty.



Swimming with cousins at the Legacy Center.



Part of Timpanogoes mountain that we hiked over. It was the most beautiful hike from Aspen Grove. Notice there is still some snow. Lots of streams to walk through to keep us cool. Several waterfalls. I felt completely in my element. I am a mountain girl. It's official. (At least for day hikes). I absolutely loved it. At the top, after Emerald lake there was a lot more snow. We were amongst the many people that day that decided not to hike to the summit. Tear sniff. Part of the trail got pretty scary and now that I'm a mom I've lost some of my fearlessness. So we turned back. Good thing because we barely made it back with enough water. Perhaps next time we'll try to go up the other side (a trail starting from American Fork Canyon)...I will get to that Summit someday. For now, I have a new respect for those who've made it to the top. Physically it can be draining, but for me it was overcoming the fear of falling on the open face of the back of Timp. I was fine and energized the whole day until the scary part of the trail after the lake. Those who've hiked it may know what I'm talking about. Perhaps it's not as bad later in the year when there is less snow? I'm a little disappointed in myself. However, it was still one of the coolest things I've ever done. I've been dying for views like that and being in nature, namely the mountains all year. I had my little fix until next time.



Very cool waterfall to walk under. Refreshing and beautiful on a long hike. It's moments like this that keep you going.



I loved all the wildflowers, greenery, views. We hike with Jenny, Matt's sister, Ashton her son our nephew, and Jenny's nephew Jacob. Ashton was one tough kid- never complained and was so mad when we told him we didn't have enough water for us all to go to the top after the lake. I will forever feel bonded with our fellow hikers that day.



Lunch at Emerald Lake. There was lots of ice on the lake, snow and glaciers around us. This was just before Matt and I tried to continue on to the summit, only to turn around and catch up with our family down the trail. Round trip, the hike took us 8:10am until 4:30pm about. We lunched for about an hour or so. I loved it, and highly recommend you to try it.



Me and my sister Tanya.



My brother Rob and his daughter Jessica.



Natty, Nicole and Ryan.



My dad and Amelia.



Rebecca and her mother.



Amelia loved bowling for the first time. Check out her excitement.



Tony and Matt. Look-a-like cousins. We went on our first date with Tony and his wife Jenn.



Rebecca and Jenn. I met Jenn after college through a mutual guy friend. We share the same birthday and she is one of the sweetest and strongest people I know. We went on our first date with men who are now our husbands together. She was one of my bridesmaids. She's pregnant with her first baby. She's one of my dearest friends. The kind that even if you haven't seen them for awhile, you pick up right where you left off. I love you Jenn! I'm so glad our husbands are cousins so we have reunions to get us together if nothing else. :)



Natalie and Janika. The cousin resemblance is pretty amazing, I think.



Matt and his brother Thomas.



The girlies with Grandma and Grandpa Walsman. (Matt's mom is wearing a missionary tag, because she is still a missionary at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City).



Matt's maternal grandfather, F.M. Henderson. We're happy our girls can know him. He's an amazing man.

US Open Golf

A father's day present and dream of Matt's... to go to a US Open with his dad. His brother Wesley was able to come up from D.C. too.



My handsome father-in-law Tom.



Dad Walsman and Wesley. This course is about 20 minutes from where we live.



Matt and his daddy-o.



You'll have to click on this picture to be able to read the sign. Is this really necessary?

Birthdays, 4th of July, and Other Fun

I had a great birthday. I felt like we celebrated for a week. Matt and Natalie decorated the house for me, one of my good friends gave me canning supplies (now I just have to learn and I'm so excited), we went to a Long Island Duck's baseball game with friends and saw surprisingly good fireworks that night. Matt surprised me by putting up a bday message for me on the game board. My cousin Holly came out to us from Manhattan and we went to the Children's Museum. We also took the girls to Old Bethpage Village Restoration on the 4th of July and then to a pool party pig roast. Lots of fun. We also read the Declaration of Independence as a family. Matt's idea for a new family tradition every 4th of July. I'm grateful for our country, our ancestors, our soldiers, and our freedom.



Amelia's yogart face.



I still feel like a princess. I forgot my dress ups though.




We love this place.



I love cousin Holly. She cracks me up and gets me thinking deeply as well. Nice how the 18 month old is the only one looking at the camera. At least we're still smiling.



Long Island Duck's baseball game. For those who can't or do not wish to pay for a Yankee or Met's game. Here we are with some of our friends- Sarah, Tom and Clint. The girls did well considering it was a 4 hour game. Very well. The fireworks were awesome. Nice and long, bright and loud. Amelia was jumping out of my lap to the lights in the sky. Natalie was hiding in Matt's chest crying. I love that they're their own little selves.



Matt with candy stick in Old Bethpage Village. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade. Or in this case I guess the wrong century.



For example, I think I might like wearing dresses, hats, and umbrellas like this. Carrying a basket or little purse. It definately looks more ladylike then my jean capri's and red tshirt. At one of the restored loom stores, they demonstrated how the women kept cool in these dresses; little secrets of the clothing to keep them from sweating too much. Fashionably clever.



Cautious Natalie held on to Matt's pocket for safety around some of the animals, namely wandering chickens. A stranger smiled at Natalie and said, "Oh- I love your costume!" I didn't realize I had dressed her in one.



Old Bethpage has lots of grounds to walk around on and many restored homes and shops and farm. We also briefly saw a baseball game played with old timer's rules and no gloves. I was very tempted to join in another family's rousing game of Red Rover as we walked around past their reunion picnic party.



Amelia swimming on 4th of July. Is there anything cuter? Well maybe my husband with out his shirt on of coarse.



Birthday party fun with Jake Miller. Notice where Amelia's hand is. Warning- child will tap your head and say "duck" if your head is with in arm's distance of her. She is obsessed with Duck Duck Goose. It's the funniest thing.



Brian, Lisa and Jake Miller. Some of our best friends here. We're hoping if we play our cards right we can negotiate an arranged marriage between Jake and Amelia. He's 6 months younger, but age makes no difference to us Walsman girls. He has the most distinct laugh and is just an adorable boy.



Amelia just hanging out being her cute self. I love pajamas. Snuggly pajama baby. Makes me want to have more.



Natalie's first day of dance class. Look at those jazz hands, and this is before the class. I think we could probably find a picture of me doing this exact pose as a kid. How does a girl with this much pizazz have such a shy/cautious side to her as well? I'm fascinated by the dichotomy of my daughter. She loved her class. Matt thought it ridiculous that we had to buy her ballet and tap shoes. They don't mess around here. Luckily, a friend referred us to a kid's consignment store for the shoes. I couldn't believe how many hand-me-down dance shoes the place had. So fellow Long Islanders, call me if you ever need cheap dance shoes. Natalie looked so professional with hair up and backpack on (that held her dance shoes.) Have I mentioned I love having daughters?

Natalie's latest funny

With mother's day in May, and Father's day following closely in June Natalie naturally asked me while we were shopping for a present for Matt:
"Mommy, when is kid's day?"

Memorial Day

We had a great Memorial Day. We went to the Northport Village Parade in the morning, then to Hoyt Farm. We had a nice family walk there, saw some farm animals, played in the sprinkler park. Then we finished the day off at a BBQ with some friends. The only thing that could have made it better was having more family around. (It's that time of year when I start getting a little homesick for family.)





Matt, Natalie and Amelia at parade. Rebecca and smiley- pie Amelia.





Here comes the parade. This was Natalie's position during the rest of it.





Our friends- Daniel, Elva and Nidia. And friends and hosts of BBQ, the Millers. Yes, that's my very mature husband in the background.

Girls and Bikes

New fun thing to do with our girls...ride bikes. It's more work for us then them, since they are still learning to push the peddles, but they love it.



Amelia. She is becoming quite coy and playful. Watch out boys.

A Tribute to the Whipples

These are some friends of ours that are moving to Utah. Traitors. Rachel is one of the best women I know. I've loved getting to know her and miss her already. Thank goodness for blogs that make it easier to keep up on each other's lives. We had a goodbye party for them and sang karaoke. Good times.



This is just a funny picture. Claire is another Whipple family member. Natalie adores her and Claire was always nice enough to play with her.



Amelia is becoming more photogenic.



Rachel- "old" friend. Sarah in pink, new friend. I love friends.