Lake Powell Trip

We were nervous about going on the Family Lake Powell Trip this summer. 1) It's in the middle of July, 2) We have a 5 mo. old baby 3) She wasn't known for sleeping anywhere but her crib, 4) etc. We decided we should go, for Troy's B-day and to get a "break." One thing we realized is that it's harder to relax when you go on vacation with a baby, then before you had a baby. Another thing we realized is that she is very adaptable and is just fine with new things. She slept well. Not as well as we/she'd have liked, but well enough, and she smiled and laughed the WHOLE trip. We kept ourselves busy in the 2.5 days we were there. Our activities included, but were not limited to: Swimming, Tubing, Water Skiing, Boating, Hiking to Anchient Aztec ruins, eating good food, celebrating Troy & Tyler's b-days (twins), spending time with 16 other family members, and my favorite--jumping off of the top of the house boat. I hadn't been water skiing besides a few times before I was pregnant, so I was nervous, but did very well. We had such a fun time and can't wait to go back!

The houseboat jumping was interesting. I'm very much afraid of heights, but I've been trying to get over it for a while. Many other individuals on the trip had jumped off of the top of the houseboat into the deep water, and I decided that was my next "adventure" (as if child bearing, riding "Wicked," and all the other "death defying"/"fear inducing" activities I've done haven't been enough). I had the best coaches in the world, the most inspiration, and the most determination. One person was watching, time passed, 3 people, 6, 12, came out to see the "spectacle" and give their advice. Eventually after I realized that Sophy does harder things everyday, and our family motto after all is: "We do hard things!", I jumped. It took me 40 mins and over coming the hardest fear for me: falling. Afterwards I was relieved and went home happy. I know that it doesn't sound like a big deal, but I know that Heavenly Father helped me to feel comfortable in challenging myself to overcome this obstacle. I will be able to teach Sophy more when I understand more. I know that when I trust in Him all things will work together for His good. His good may not have been for me to jump off of a houseboat, but what if what is required is harder than that for me someday? I need to practice doing hard things now so that when the time comes for the hardest things, they will seem easier to me.

Troy's Birthday!

We have been celebrating Troy's 25th birthday for 2 weeks now! We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (Sophy dressed up), took a test-drive in a Toyota Tacoma (Troy's favorite vehicle-Sophy fit in the back of the 4-door better than in our Passat!), he got a new SmartPhone (so he can check off his "Honey-do" List, I'm sure!), a Magic Bullet Blender-his idea (which we ended up being dissappointed with and will return it. Those infomercials really get you sometimes!), Orange Sliced candies (his favorite), a cake at Lake Powell, and a Waterfall landscape piece for our front yard (to be put in with Troy's dad's help later this summer). Man! We sure love Troy! It's hard to believe how fast time flies, and how much fun one little (itty-bitty) family can have. Thanks for working hard, playing hard, and loving us all Troy! Happy Birthday!!

Sophy Turned 5 Months!

Here's an update on Sophronia's development:

• Sophy has been drooling over our food and pretending to chew while we eat, so we decided it was time to see if she was ready for rice cereal and a high chair. From the beginning, she was a pro! It seemed like we had a 1 yr old on our hands! She loved feeling the texture of the food with her tounge and the chair with her hands.


• This week she turned 5 months old and the next day it seemed like she'd had enough sleep and wanted to learn new tricks. So, she began rolling. She would wake up and practice in her crib. I would find her at the end and trying to roll even further. She's sitting up on her own (for the most part), playing on her tummy with toys, and saying "Lalalala" over and over again.

Happy 4th of July & G-ma Anderson's Visit

We had a grand ole' time for the 4th. We went to the Layton parade and Sophy giggled when we covered her ears as the firetrucks and police cars came by with their sirens blaring. Too much fun with G-ma! Then we went to Morgan for a picnic buffet lunch and 4-wheeling extravaganza. Sophy even enjoyed the 4-wheeling! We didn't take her very far, but she loved the bumps and the wind and being able to see everything. We think she'll love driving, but we won't think about that now!













Grandma Anderson came to visit from Washington. She and I played with Sophy a great deal, made a skirt, and went to Lagoon. She watched Sophy while Troy's birthday wish was for me to go on the "Wicked" awesome ride with him. I couldn't believe I agreed to it, but what can you do when a birthday wish is on the line? When it was over, I was so excited I wanted to go again, but Sophy wanted to go home. Here's a picture that Sophy took of Grandma Anderson and then some pics from Lagoon.