August

Logan update: Started his new position as a portfolio management analyst. He still works at Zions Bank in the National Real Estate Group, he just made a lateral transfer from being an analyst in the origination side to being an analyst in the portfolio side. Just another way of diversifying his skills.

Hanna update: Signed up for photography classes.

Connor update:Had to go to the doctor for his 15 month check-up. He is progressing as normal and I thought it was cool that the doctor even commented that Connor is more alert and attentive than his own 15 month old at home. He weighs: 23 pounds (30th percentile); length: 31 1/4 inches (55th percentile); and head: 19 1/4 inches (90th percentile). Connor is a skinny, tall boy with a big head...and we LOVE him!

Connor continues to learn new things all the time. He is continuing to learn more signs: shoes, clothes, brush teeth, brush hair, bird, and airplane. He has also learned how to give high fives, clap, and blow kisses. He is such a smart little guy and a big flirt!

Planes
If you spend anytime around Connor you will know how in love with his toy cars he is. Sometimes we even hide his toy cars to force him to play with some of his other toys. We let him watch the movie: Cars, of coarse he loved it and even laughed at the funny parts (maybe he was just copying mom and dad). When the movie: Planes came to theaters, I wanted to take him to his first movie on the big screen. Since I did not know how he would respond to a movie on the big screen we went to the matinee showing; if he cried or made noises during the movie I figured it would be acceptable. Connor did great...the first half of the movie. The rest of the movie he just wanted to play. Luckily, I was smart enough to bring along a toy car. He sat there and played while 'I' finished the movie. Overall, it was a great movie but Cars is still his favorite movie...for now.

Clark's planetarium
We love to spend time as a family doing things together and when it is free its even better. We found out the Planetarium was free and it was in downtown Salt Lake. We spent the evening exploring: clouds, moon, mars, static electricity, our solar system, meteors, rocket ships, and more. Then we strolled around The Gateway Mall. Connor walked around the mall's outdoor splash pad, and lucky little guy never got sprayed. He would look down over the spot where the water would shot up and as soon as he turned to walk away it would squirt up, missing him. We were hoping he would catch a stream of water right to the face. (Is that bad of us?) Luckily, he was fortunate enough that, that never happened.

National Root Beer Day
We LOVE some Root Beer! Again, you can't beat free!

Zach and Ambree's wedding
We were invited to attend Logan's cousin's, Zach, wedding celebration. We had a lot of fun visiting with family and watching the two love birds start their eternal family.

Utah Country Fair
Oh surprise, another free event! We stopped by and explored the tiny Davis County Fair; which made us miss Georgia's National Fair. We enjoyed looking at all the animals and exhibits. Maybe next year I will enter into an art/photography contest.

Craft Lake City

When I heard on the television that Craft Lake City was in town I knew I had to go. Craft Lake City is a  Do-It-Yourself festival that comes to downtown Salt Lake once a year. I invited a few of my friends to hopefully join me because I knew I wouldn't be able to drag Logan and Connor to something like this; they would NOT have enjoyed it. My friend, Lacey, who loves crafting and DIY projects as much as I do was able to join me. This place was like Pinterest in real life. I am amazed with how many creative, talented people there are in the world. I gained so many great ideas of projects to do. Great girls night out, while our husbands stayed home with the kids. 

Duck Pond
There is a little lake close to our apartment. Occasionally we like to stop by and enjoy the peace and quite of nature. There are tons of ducks that swarm the place and expect to be fed. At first Connor was scared and would not let go of my hand. Soon he turned back into his discovering little self and started to chase ducks that were his size around.

Family Pictures
I have been wanting to take a family picture out at the Salt Flats in Bonneville, UT.  Finally we made a trip out there. The whole trip did not turn out as planned. First, the road to get closer to the salt flats was closed. So, we made do with our surroundings.  Second, I learned using only a timer to capture the pictures is a workout; running to the camera to push button then running back to sit down. I now have a remote control to the camera. This will hopefully make capturing our own pictures more manageable. The pictures did not come out as I would have liked, but I learned a lot. I now know how to accomplish the vision I have. We will be making another trip out there to capture the perfect picture.

"Summer time the living is easy"(Sublime lyrics). We have enjoyed the summer as a little family with a lot of time spent out doors, cooking out, water activities, golfing, and hanging out with great friends. Sad to know that summer is coming to a close and that the dreaded harshness of Utah's cold weather is just around the corner. 

July

Hanna's 26th Birthday
This birthday I was given the gift of sickness by Connor and Logan so I hung out in bed all-day.  For my birthday, Logan got me a gift certificate for a day at the spa. The next Saturday I spent a few hours there getting pampered with a massage, facial and pedicure. The spa was a cute little home which was converted into a spa. Throughout the spa had relaxing musical water foundations, whimsical decorations and aromatherapy scents. I had a great time at my first spa experience.

Ensign Peak Hike
We decided to do a little hike at Ensign Peak (one mile round trip). Loved overlooking the Salt Lake City Valley from up high. Even saw multiple rainbows in the distance.

Idaho Trip
It had been too long since we hung out with the Haslem family so we made a little trip to Goshen, Idaho. Jake finished his semester at BYU-I and moved in with Jenee and Scott. A week later Grandma/ Great Grandma was to officially begin living with them. I admire their willingness to open their house for family to visit and live.While we were visiting, Papa (Randie) and Uncle Mike arrived after driving Grandma/Great Grandma's moving van from Georgia to Idaho. Scott, Jake, Uncle Mike and Logan helped them unpack and rearrange furniture. During the unpacking, Logan was able to acquire his Grandpa's golf club set; boy was he ecstatic! We all loved the opportunity to spend some quality time with Papa. We had fun just being together, goofing off, swimming, enjoying the beautiful weather, golfing, games, cooking, smores, bonfire, fireball, shotgun shooting, and painting nails.  I think the pictures help illustrate how much fun we had. Connor has loves having cousins that smother him with love and affection. We had a blast and as always, we have a hard to saying good-bye!

Logan's 28th Birthday / Pioneer Day
Logan had this day off, since Zion's, a Utah headquartered company, celebrates the Latter-day Saint pioneers settled into the Utah valley. Logan got up early and went golfing with his "new" set of clubs and a really good buddy from work. I cooked Logan his favorite meal of Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo and made an ice-cream cake. Afterwards, we finished off the night by going playing miniature golf at Cherry Hill. Since Utah celebrates Logan's birthday also (not really, they celebrate the pioneers), we were able to watch the firework displays over the whole valley.

Connor update
Connor got his first hair cut. We are the first to admit we can be a little ghetto; growing up in Georgia can do that to you. While resting the chair on a cardboard box, Logan proceeded to buzz Connor's hair. He looks so grown up now and the nasty '80s mullet is long gone!

Connor also has been working on his communication skills by using sign language. I have been trying to teach him for quite some time. He has FINALLY started to signing back. He can sign: eat, drink, all-done, & hi/bye. I love teaching him and he amazes me how much he understands.

Surprise
Grandma (Sherri) and Papa (Randie) sent us Georgia peaches from Lanes Packing. Logan and I enjoyed eating them and we will never be satisfied by California peaches EVER again. Connor decided he did not like them and showed us this dislike by taking the bite out of his mouth throwing it on the ground and stomping on it. Oh well, more for me and Logan to enjoy!