4th of July

4th of July weekend means the Gunlock Rodeo! Thursday nite, Nate just went out and roped in the team roping. Friday nite, Charlize and I went with him. She was SOOO excited to ride the horse around at the arena with all the comotion (horses, people,kids) that was going on. I couldn't find them for the kids chicken race, so I suppose next year she'll get in it.

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Saturday, we spent the day relaxing in Pine Valley. At the rodeo that nite, Charlize had so much fun running around with the kids, eating cupcakes and of course being on the horse. Nate would walk her around and she would constantly be saying 'hi' to everyone!

These pictures are from durring the day at the cabin. We were relaxing on the back porch and I just couldn't help but snap pictures of our little beauty. She was so cute making different faces at me. She loved snuggling with dad - the movie show's how she kept putting his arm up around her after he would let it fall off.

Wisconsin Trip!

We got to the Las Vegas Airport nice an early at 5. Only to find an extremely long line at our airline counter. Turns out the flights were being rescheduled - and our jump&skip to Wisconsin now included a stop in Nashville, TN. Charlize was such a trooper waiting in line and being so patient.

We flew to Denver, then to Nashville, Milwaukee and then Green Bay. She would fall asleep or try to durring the flights (here she's snuggling with Grandpa) and we'd all take turns walking her up the stairs, esclator or just around.

Unfortunately I didn't realize my camera battery was dying and I packed the charger in my suitcase I checked in. By the time we made it to Green Bay, WI it was midnight and only 1 suitcase out of 7 made it to us. Not the end of the world, so we went to Wal*mart to buy some necessities to make it till the morning. We went to Wisconsin to go to a family reunion (Nate's Mom's side of the family) celebrating Dale&Joann's 50th wedding anniversary. Since my camera died, I wasn't able to take any pictures. Charlize trooped around the party and Nate and Craig went to meet the taxi with the luggage (see, I knew it wouldn't take too long!) it was a little humid, but I was in love with all the green - everywhere!! They lived close to a lake and we literally walked down the road to and were able to play off the beach. It would have been nice to jump in, but we just let the munchkin wade, till we got back to the house.

Back at the houseCharlize was in heaven playing out in the water, it was so fun to be right on the lake! I got to meet Nate's Uncle Larry, Aunt Karen and their girls.

We went to get dinner at Milty Wilty's drive in. There was a ton of playground equiptment off to the side and a few of the kids had fun playing on them. (Bottom right picture if of Devan going through the mini slide on that toy - so fnny!)
Then, back home and back to the beach. Nate had thrown Diana in earlier so he was due to get dunked by Devan, thankfully he didn't while I was in that canoe with him. The paddle boats were fun too!

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Wisconsin Dells has a bunch of theme parks and rides, but we were going to be more tourist-y and stuck to the (gasp - adult stuff) but after Nate ate a 3lb burrito, I don't think he'd want to do many rides.

We went on a 'Duck' ride. These vehicles were huge and built for WW2. They easily went from land to water and down windy trails throughout the Dells.

We hit the main street to look through the shops (found a candy store) and headed home to roast marshellows on the campfire.
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We went back to Dale&Joann's to visit. Charlize realized how fun the swings were and loved them! I made her a clover chain while I was sitting there with her. :)

Back at the house to play on the beach. She'd much rather sit in the sand than go out in the water. She's not all the way comforitable with being in the water yet. Even on the paddle boat she'd fuss (I think her indepence was coming out even more because she just wanted to do her thing!)

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Going Home

Charlize playing with the stroller at the restraunt and waiting with her hands in her pockets as we unloaded the plane.

We were able to have an easy flight plan home: Green Bay, Milwalkee, Vegas. I was soooo tired, I think I started to catch up on my sleep like Boo did. We did get warm cookies on our flight to Vegas and really - she did great with all the travelling.

It was a fun trip!!

Working with Lucky Boots

One evening we stopped to check on the horse (her feet we a little cut up when we first got her). Charlize thinks that she should just be able to work with any horse since she can lead hers around. I was a little nervous because I didn't know how the young filly would do, but they both did wonderfully. :)

I am going to try to get in more pictures so that there is an account that I was somewhere too. Charlize was fine for a Mommy picture but was done by the time Nate came to get a family pic. Well, she just wanted to be by the horse - no time for pictures mom!

Date Nite!

We took my mom up on the offer for her to watch Charlize so we could go out to dinner at Iggy's. Charlize had fallen asleep on the floor before Una got there, so tuckered out! ;)

Camping in Bryce Canyon with the Graff's

We headed to Bryce Canyon for a little camping trip with the Graff family. We knew it would be cooler on the mountain, but didn't really expect it to be *COLD* so we were in for a little surprise. We first got there and set up camp.

I was in love with that big open sky and an old fence just of the campground. I walked over and soon behind me Charlize was dragging Nate along to follow. :) Prefect - a pretty location with my 2 favorite people. Charlize has finally started to smile for me when I get the camera out. I just love her smiles!!

When we walked back we found Jessica laying down on the gravel, and Charlize was a little worried so she got down to check it out. Jacee and Jaxon were zooming all around on their scooters :)
It rained hard the rest of the evening, so in the morning we decided to go for a ride. We were all layered with lots of clothes to stay warm (I'm a wimp so I had like 8 layers on!) Charlize rode with me in the Rhino. She fell asleep not long after we started so we took a strap and tied her helmet back so it wouldn't bounce too far.

(I know there aren't very many pictures!! I need to get some from McCall!)

We went into Panguitch to check out down town. They had fun cutouts and the kiddos were cute trying them out.

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Nate's horse Zima broke a bone in her leg and is out to pasture for the summer hoping it heals up. He has been looking for a new horse to break so that in a few years Charlize has a horse she can ride. After alot of searching, we finally were able to find 'Lucky Boots'.

Random June Events

Charlize and I have made regular trips to the splash pad and have had so much fun outside with friends. Her little personality is so fun to watch, change and grow. Like the day she wanted her hat, but wanted to wear it this way.

We went to the park with April and her cute kiddos. Charlize is definitly still working on sharing, here her and Brecken we working with the umbrella.

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My friend Joni, started an etsy store called Loozy Lou, and I actually won a pair of earrings she made! I don't ever win anything, so I was so excited to get these!!

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Eleanore has come over to make different crafts with me and even started crocheting a blanket for her little bun in the oven. So many of us were convinced that she was having boy, but since the ultrasound hadn't confirmed the blanket needed to be a little gender neutral (but still western of course). She did a great job!

Since then, we've found out she's having a girl!! Ben and Tiffani are having a little boy (Jadon) in July and now Eleanore and Austing are having a girl in October. Sonrisa is due in December and we've since learned that its boy!! Yea for neices and nephews (cousins!!!)!

Father's Day

I don't know how its possible that on Father's Day, I forgot to take any pictures of the Dad's! oops! Sorry! I did happen to get some of Addison and Charlize playing while we had lunch for my Dad (Granddad) at Eleanore and Austin's.

Charlize loves to culour, especially her horse coloring book. Both Charlize and Addi love watching the movie "Spirit" at Aunt Eleanore's so we have investing in our own and its a regular feature for us!

Memorial Day Weekend!!

Memorial Day weekend was quite eventful with so much to do! I had just gotten done with the school year and packing up my classroom to be stored away in boxes was quite and overwhelming task! Geez, it was like a whole house worth of stuff! Needless to say, I was ready for a vacation!

I took these first pictures as we were getting ready one morning. I just wanted to sit on the couch and play with Charlize. Her messy hair and sassy faces were making me laugh - We love this little girl SO MUCH! I am blessed to be her mommy and Nate her Daddy.

These were taken up at Graff's arena watching Nate rope. Charlize loves to play with the playhouse and all that dirt!

We headed up to Salina for a roping. We blew a tire just outside of Cedar City. Nate laughed at me when I said, "I always wondered what it would sound like to blow a tire on the trailer." I hadn't ever hear a tire blow and worried that I wouldn't be able to hear it back there - O, we definitely did!

We had fun with the Graff's as we camped up there in the trailers. A friend Joel and his wife Lynette came with us and it was fun to sit around and eat dutch oven dinner together. Nate won 2nd place in the roping.
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Sunday we went to Pine Valley to eat dinner with Nate's parents. Charlize ran to the fence to watch all the deer as they came into the pasture behind the cabin. She enjoyed a special Rhino ride with Dad and Phoebe.

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Monday (Memorial Day) we headed back to Cedar City for another roping, and we blew another tire just out of St. George. We changed to the spare and flipped around to get another spare and stil had time to make it tot he roping. Charlize just begs to be on a horse with Nate all the time. She was getting really grouchy and since Nate had a break in runs, she got to sit with him. Umm, supposing that grouchiness was from being tired. The content munchkin was sawing logs in no time!
From Cedar, we headed over to Enterprise to have dinner at Soni & Kelby's house.

We had fun playing outside with the girls. Aunt Eleanore was showing us a funny video and the girls were enthralled with the animals she was showing them. :)

Nate got Skeeter out for some water, and took Addison and Charlize on some rides up and down the road. Addi wasn't too sure about being that high up, but she loved it. And Charlize, well she would be on a horse all the time if she could!

May 8th Weekend

Over Mother's Day weekend (and my birthday - wow #27!!!!!!!) we went to visit Nate's cousins in Tucson, Arizona. It was plenty warm there (funny since St. George is typically well in the 100* but we had such a nice cool spring) and we were pretty toasty! I had fun snapping additional pictures of the bride and groom, and Nate helped keep Charlize cool in the visitor's center.
We stayed at a hotel that had a natural salt water pool, and it was SO nice to dip in cool water! We didn't have much time to swim before the reception, but Charlize had fun! Aren't those cute style'n glasses Grandma B and Aunt Diana got Charlize. :) She loves to wear them since she see's Dad wear his all the time, plus I think she has sensitive eyes like him so they are stylish and functional. ;)