BEAR LAKE!!!!

We went to Bear Lake this past weekend for a Nelson (my mom's side of the family) Family Reunion. They have been having reunions for 29 years now! Well, originally it was just going to be Brett, myself, and Jace representing the Jensons...due to travel, time, and distance for the rest of them. But sure enough Grandma Jenson called Wednesday night and said "Surprise, I am coming tomorrow!" We were so excited to have her come. It can be so hard being far away from family. But she came and we enjoyed the sun, sand, water, playgrounds, bike trail (which we did with our new bikes that we love...I will post pictures later), games, food, family, crafts...the list goes on. I have now realized that vacations with little kids are not much of a vacation for the parents...I was thoroughly exhausted by the time we came home. I wouldn't have traded the memories for nothing...even with all the exhaustion. Here is some of the fun we had!
You wouldn't believe how sandy his overalls were...and not just his overalls! He got it in his diaper too! He really enjoyed playing in the sand and luckily didn't get sunburned!

Playing in the sand with a bucket, shovel, and OF COURSE a truck!

This is Jace in his early graffiti stage...it's those foam sticky animals. He enjoyed putting them on the staircase. Grandma Jenson showed him how...SO...I guess if he turns out to be a hoodlum we can thank Grandma...just teasing!

Happy 26th Birthday to Me!

I had a birthday today...and the older you get the more it just seems like another day. Especially being far away from family. But for the most part it has been a great birthday. Brett, Jace, and I went riding on our new bikes - yep - that is what I got for my birthday. Then while Brett went to class, Jace and I did some shopping...not always the funnest with an 18 month old...but I wanted to get a few things. Then we came back to the house and enjoyed the outside...since we are finally having great weather. For dinner we had my aunt and uncle over and we all enjoyed knock off Cafe Rio sweet pork salads....can someone say YUMMY! Of course we did the cake and ice cream thing. So...like I said...just another day with just a tad bit of excitement.

I also wanted to say thank you to my parents for bringing me into this world. When I talked to my Mom this morning she reminded me that she went through 3 shifts of nurses and 14 hours of hard labor...Thanks Mom for sticking with it for that long...you did great! Being a mother now...there is nothing that can compare to the miracle of birth and the joy of being a parent. I can never say enough about my cute son who is amazing...and no, I am not partial to saying that. Anyway...HaPpY BiRtHdAy to me!

Feeding the Ducks!

This is our current backyard with the canal that runs behind it. The three of us will go out and feed the ducks bread whenever we get a chance. Unfortunately, Jace doesn't understand why the ducks run when he gets closer to them. And now, most of the time, Old Macdonald only has ducks on his farm...or so it is sung by Jace!