Fourth of July

Patrick and his fellow medical students had the fourth of July weekend off. Megan Garner planned an amazing camping trip for all of us. We went to Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondacks. The only way to get to the camping spots was by boat. Megan and Chet and David and Lori paddled over in canoes. As I needed to hold Andrew Pat opted for an aluminum motorboat. Pat and I got there in the late afternoon of July 3rd everyone else had arrived that morning. They set up camp on an island with only one campsite on it, very nice. Although it rained most of the time we were there we had a great time and are planning our next trip. It was really beautiful and quiet, a nice change from the city.

Patrick feeding Andy Cherry Puffs.

Standing around the fire.

Chet set up the tripod to hang the pot on for our yummy sausage stew.

It also served as a place to let clothing dry out.

Chet and his master piece and our stew cooking. We also had a dutch oven, thanks to Lori, Megan made the most delicious biscuits in it and then Lori made a cherry cobbler in it for desert. I don't think I have ever eaten so well camping.

On the the fourth of July we went on a hike up to castle rock, which overlooked the lakes.

Here is David standing on some kind of water storing or blocking wall, we couldn't quite figure out its purpose.

Taking pictures of David.

Andy enjoying the hike, and watching David and Chet on the water wall thing.

So exciting!

Hiking up!

A great place to stop and rest and take pictures.

Here is one with Chet and Megan, with Patrick and Andrew in the back ground.

Can you spy what this is a picture of?
It is small and blends in pretty well with all the debris.

From the top. What a view!

Andrew enjoyed the view for a short moment, and then quickly realized that he didn't like the wind and that he was hungry.

Me at the top. I borrowed Andrew's bandanna.

Another picture of the view.

Andy needed to be feed before we headed back down, but it was a bit difficult with the wind.

On the way back down we realized that we needed a family picture and everyone else was still taking pictures at the top. We placed the camera on the rock and set the timer.

There where some amazing fungal samples, which made some cool pictures and I learned about the Macro setting on our camera.

Andrew fell asleep on the way down. So cute and safe with his Dad!

Me trying to master the Macro setting.

I actually didn't notice the slug until after I took the picture.

Back at camp, trying to stay dry in the tent. We cleaned up shortly after this picture and headed home, everyone else stayed and played a little longer.

It was about a five hour drive home. Andy was a great chauffeur...

actually we stopped to feed him and let him play out of the car seat.

He thought this was mighty fine and was hysterical.

I will try and get the video posted next.

When we got home we got Andy ready for bed. Patrick ran to the store and I started to do the dishing, I was feeling a bit sad that fireworks had not been a part of our celebration when all of the sudden right out our window several shows started. We are high enough up to see several shows but not so high the shows near us looked too small. Andrew even woke up for a little bit and got to enjoy the fireworks. He seemed to like the it. It was a perfect ending to our fourth of July weekend.

Catching up

Lately, I have realized that blogging is a way for me to record what is happening with my family, like a journal, and since I am not very good a journal writing I felt like I better get my blog up to date.
When we were in California my cousin Jennifer took some photos of Andrew at 6 months. She did an excellent job. Since Patrick is in the Navy she bought a flag as a prop. I though it was a nice touch. Patrick bought the sailor onesie when he was in his officer training.

Every time I see this picture I can hear Andrew's fake laugh,

"agha, agha, agha".

My adorable slobber monster.

Andrew drools and spits up everywhere!

I have a large exercise ball that Andrew loves to play with.

He uses both his hands and feet to lift it for a total body workout.

For Patrick's first Father's day we thought that he might be on call. So I got up extra early to make him breakfast (french toast, and bacon), I wasn't able to get up early enough to give him breakfast in bed, maybe next year. Luckily for us he ended up not having to go in to the hospital. He gave a wonderful Father's Day talk at Church. We came home and Andrew got to play with his Dad while I cooked dinner (Steak and mashed potatoes of course). As you can see Andrew loves his dad and laughs the hardest when he is around.

My mom bought Andrew his first bandanna, while we were in California.

I thought I would get a picture of him in it.

Andrew's aunt Crystal gave him one of her old Marine hats.

I have no idea how he knows that Marines don't smile in pictures.

He looks so tough.

There is no point in using a blanket anymore, as Andrew is now scooting himself backwards. He really wants to go forward but has not figured it out yet. In the pictures below he was on his blanket scooted himself off the blanket through the table legs, around the table legs and eventually back to the blanket, where he then turned himself around to face the blanket. It was fun to watch him move and finally get himself back to his toys. At the end I picked him up sat him back on the blanket and let him play with a tennis ball. He is getting really good at picking up the tennis ball even though it rolls.

Andrew is definitely teething now...poor boy, and poor me. He is more cranky then normal, which is to be expected since he is cutting teeth. No teeth have emerged yet, but his gums are swollen and are starting to look more white. He is not into teething toys, but he loves to gnaw on carrots and cucumbers. This is probably because they are cold when they come right out of the refrigerator.

Patrick's friend Dan came and stayed with us during the week for several weeks while he did a rotation in the city. His wife and daughter came for a night his last week of the rotation. Our plan was to go to the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday when she arrived, since it was free. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. And it started to rain fairly hard on our way there. We decided that we did not want to be soaking wet so we chose not to go. Then we got stuck in traffic. I Love the Bronx. Anyway, we tried again on Thursday, but meshing an infant and toddler's schedule is not easy. We did finally make it to the Zoo. I like the Bronx Zoo. It is so green and there is quite a bit of shade which is nice on hot days. We did run into a disgruntled teenager who chose to use some choice words at Marie as we tried to get by the crowd. We aren't even sure why he was upset. Welcome to the Bronx. We only stayed for a little while as both the kids were cranky. I feel bad that things didn't go as planned, but it was good getting to meet both Marie and Alyssa. I hope that we can see them again soon.

Andrew got a new toy from my friend, Carla Bonilla. He loves it and I do too, because I can set him in it and he will play for a little bit while I get things done. There is one button that if he pushes it music plays. I will dance for him when it does. He doesn't quite remember which button it is but when he hits it and realizes that the music is playing he always quickly looks up at me smiling. He is so funny.

Andrew's very first bath was very traumatic for him, but now he loves his baths. In fact, when he sees that I am filling up the bath tub he practically jumps out of my arms to get in. He splashes, chews on his rubber ducky, and tries to grab the wash cloth from me as I wash him. Bath time is one of my favorite times because it is one of Andrew's favorite things to do.

Andrew is growing so fast. I can't believe that he is seven months old now. What an honor it is to be his mother and watch him grow up. That is it for now. I will try and finish catching up later.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

It seems like it was just a moment ago that I was walking out of the Oakland Temple hand in hand with Patrick as man and wife. I was so happy and I couldn't imagine being happier but three years and an Andrew later I find that I am happier then I have ever been. I am so grateful that we made the decision to share our lives together.

I love you Patrick! Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Here are some recent family photos. Thanks Again Erin for taking them.

Relaxing in the NC!

On Monday, June 8th, I sat for Step 1 of the United States Medical Liscensing Exam. It was an experience that I am glad is behind me! On Tuesday, Julie, Andy, and I left the confines of the Bronx and headed south to the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Thanks to Phil and Erin we had an amazing beach house to stay in and spent the next three days enjoying the sun, surf, and luxury of having nothing to do. We had a blast and can't wait to do it again! Here are a few pictures of our trip. Andy, of course, is as cute as ever!

Andy enjoyed his Uncle Phil, Aunt Erin, and cousins Olivia and Sam. Sam thoroughly enjoyed Andy as well!

There's nothing quite as enjoyable as building sand castles!

Sand sure does taste good!

Aren't they just the cutest!

Andy sure does love his Mommy.

It's our home away from home.

Next stop, Olympic Kite Flying!

Kisses from Sam. He and Andy are sure to be great friends, as long as Andy survives Sam's tackle hugs ;)

Sam just loved to hold Baby Andy.