Seattle/Vancouver Trip -- Finally

I really thought I would do this sooner but obviously I haven't. Neldon has been bugging me to get this entry done but he should know by now that I only procrastinate more when I am getting nagged.

So, the first week of September we ditched the kids and went on vacation for a week. It did include the in-laws and a football game but it was still great. (Disclaimer in case they are reading...I have great in-laws and I don't mind having them on vacation with us.) Bekah stayed with our neighbor so she wouldn't miss any school. We took the boys to UT and they were passed between my sister and my parents.

We left Friday morning and flew to Seattle. It was Neldon, me, my sister Lyndsey and her husband Darin, and my mother-in-law, Norma. We got our car and headed to downtown. We joined a tour of the Seattle Underground (http://www.undergroundtour.com/). Then we walked down the waterfront and ended up at Pike's Market Place. (http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/). We met up with more of Neldon's family (Spencer, Brooksany, Steve, Lynelle, Nathan, Amanda, Logan, and Emily). Total count is now 13 people. We then hopped on the Duck Boats and got a land/water tour of Seattle. (http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/) I now know the difference between a house boat and a house barge. After a long day and a late dinner we parted ways for our hotel/lodging. Neldon, me, Lyndsey and Darin stayed with Juliana and her family-she was an exchange student that lived with my family 20 years ago in Idaho. She is like my 3rd sister. Here are some pics from the first day.

Day #2 - The main reason we were even in this part of the country. BYU vs. UW football game. (See Neldon's entry below) By this time, Neldon's dad had joined us. Along with some other friends making group total about 22 people.

Day#3 - Everyone kindof did their own things in the morning and then we met up in the afternoon at Snoqualmie Falls. http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/ We then went back to Juliana's house for pizza and little more visiting before parting ways. Lynelle & Steve's family went back home to Portland and Lyndsey and Darin stayed with Juliana and the rest of us headed north to Vancouver, B.C, Canada.

Day #4 - Vancouver, B.C. Our group was now down to a managable number of 6 (Me, Neldon, his mom, dad, brother and sister). Spencer was our tour guide because he used to live there. We rented bikes and rode along the Pacific Ocean and through the rainforest of Stansbury Park. It was awesome! We ate a Dim Sum lunch at a restaraunt of Spencer's choice-let's say it was interesting, especially because I am not a real fan of fish. I refused the squid (see entry below about Neldon's birthday) but tried just about everything else. That night we tried frisby and dinner on the beach but it was a little windy and chilly so that didn't last long.

Day #5 Whistler, B.C. Sea to Sky Highway - We saw amazing scenery along the way, rode a gondola and ski lift to the top of a 7,000 ft. mountain, saw 2 bears and walked around the village. This is where the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held. We ended the day back at sea level at a lighthouse watching the sunset on the city of Vancouver.

Day #6 - Vancouver, B.C. and Olympic National Park, Washington

We went to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Treetop Adventure. (http://www.capbridge.com/) This was definately an overpriced tourist trap but it was fun anyway. It felt a little like the Eewok adventure from Star Wars or maybe like Robin Hood. We then ditched Spencer at the airport and the rest of us drove back to the USA. We caught a ferry and drove around Olympic National Park.

I took way to many pictures but now I will just add them to my endless "Things to Scrapbook" list. It was an awesome trip!

Happy Birthday Neldon!

Today is Neldon's birthday-#38. Neither one of us are real mushy people but I decided to do a shout out to my great husband anyway.

This time of year gets a little busy at our house-since we are totally consumed by BYU football. Being such a die hard fan does have at least one draw back. He doesn't really get to watch many other games because we are usually traveling back home after the game so he misses watching other games. This weekend was their BYE weekend so that meant no game. He was so excited to sit on the couch and watch game after game after game. What a way to spend his day, right?! Well, that isn't how it happened. His best friend Matt called and bought a house and they were moving this weekend and he really needed Neldon's help in the moving process. So, Neldon gave up his football filled birthday. What a guy!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie! We sure love you and all of the dorky things you do. Most of all, we appreciate all that you do for our family!

BYU vs Washington, from Seattle

We had a great trip to the Northwest last week. Jenny will post a slideshow and report of everything we did, but I'll give a quick rundown of the football game. First, Husky Stadium is beautiful. The lake in the background makes this the most beautiful setting in college football. Lavell Edwards Stadium is gorgeous too, with Mount Timp in the background, but Husky is the best I've seen. Other nice stadiums include Alltel in Jacksonville on the bay, and the Rose Bowl was also very nice. I'm looking forward to checking out the Air Force and Colorado State stadiums later this season. Back to the football game.... It went back and forth, but in the end, the good guys won 28-27. We had a group of 22 people who all enjoyed the game and left happy. On Friday night, before the game, Darin and I snuck into Husky Stadium and snapped a few pictures of the helmet car they drive down the sideline after scores, and the turf, then fled from security. Good times.

Austin Turns 1 - how did that happen so fast?

Today is Austin's 1st birthday. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. It seems like yesterday that I was complaining about being so uncomfortable and wanting to not be pregnant anymore. He is such a fun little boy. He loves to laugh and he loves to make others laugh. Do you think he might be the jokester of the family? Here are some of his latest pictures (about 2 weeks ago). We love you Austin!

Has it already been 7 years?!

Bekah's 1st Birthday

So, this Friday is Bekah's 7th birthday. I can't believe how fast the last 7 years have gone by. Her due date was Aug. 30 but she had to be a little stubborn-I finally convinced the doctor to induce me a week later. So, Sept. 5 she made her entrance. Life is sure interesting when you have a daughter with a similar personality-let's just say there have bee a few battles along the way. BUT...we love our Bekah and all of the cute things she says and does. She is a great sister and loves her little brothers so much. Rhett gets so excited when it is time to go pick her up from school each day.

Since football season is now upon us, we are busy with traveling around following BYU football. This year, her birthday didn't "fit" into the football schedule so we decided to have her party a few weeks early on Aug. 16 (which happens to be my Grandma Sessions birthday-she would have been 92 if she was still with us). Since Bekah is part fish, she wanted to do a swimming party and luckily Aunt Joyce and Uncle Scott have a pool for us to use. So, she invited a few friends to go swimming and then we came back to our house for pizza, cupcakes, and icecream. She received a lot of great stuff from her friends and at the top of her wishlist was her own Ipod. So, Daddy delivered. Now she won't have to borrow ours all of the time. Now she walks around "plugged in" and ignoring us more than ever-is she already turning into a teenage?

Here are some pictures from the party. I had the camera at the pool but forgot to take pictures. We also decided to let Austin get some cake eating practice in since his 1st birthday is Sept. 15. He did pretty good!

Rebekah Loves to Swim

Rebekah is becoming a very good swimmer. She can do most every stroke and enjoys her daily swimming lessons. As if those were not enough, when we visit Uncle Scott and family on Mondays for FHE, she usually goes straight to their pool for another dip before we start. On the weekends, we often take another visit in at the public pool, or at her friend Emilee's house. Rhett also enjoys swimming and by this time next year, will probably be able to swim without help. Here are a couple pictures of Rebekah learning to dive below and jumping off the high dive above. She turns 7 in about three weeks.

Football Baby !!!!

Anyone who knows me knows I am crazy about most sports, but am especially fanatical about football. I love football at all levels; high school, college or pro. My pro team is the Chicago Bears-- who cause me more pain than joy most seasons. My big love is college football though, particularly my alma mater, BYU.

I have been to some great games and have lived through up and down seasons, so BYU's recent success has been especially sweet, given the dark years BYU fans had to endure from 2002-2005. The last two years, BYU has finished 11-2 with two MWC titles and LV Bowl wins.

Here are a few pictures from recent games.

2006 Las Vegas Bowl vs Oregon





The picture below is particularly funny. Last November, during the 2007 game between BYU and Utah, some fairly annoying Ute fans were sitting a row or two behind us. Considering how outnumbered they were at the time, they managed to be quite obnoxious.... especially for the minute or so they held the lead toward the end of the game. In the end, BYU pulled out a late win and, amidst our celebration, those guys slipped out in such a hurry, they left their blanket behind. Rest assured, we treated it with the utmost respect.... We dragged it on the ground to our car, then hitched it to the trailer hitch behind our car all the way home before throwing it in the garbage.



(from right to left: me, Alicia, Courtney, Spencer and Lowell (dad). Spencer was visiting all the way from Hong Kong for the weekend and did not leave disappointed.

2007 Las Vegas Bowl:

BYU football has provided the family a great excuse to get out and see some wonderful places as we follow the team around. We have been to Boston, Florida, Atlanta, Virginia, Notre Dame, Boise St, San Diego, Stanford, Reno, the Rose Bowl and LA Colisseum, New Mexico, and the Cotton Bowl to name a few (I am sure I forgot a couple). Notre Dame and the Univ of Virginia were my favorite campuses to see, both beautiful and filled with tradition. Boston was our favorite family vacation and Boston College has one of the finest settings around. My least favorite trips were USC, UCLA and Stanford. I must have issues with liberal Californians or something.

This year, we are planning to attend away games in UW (Seattle), Logan (Utah St), Air Force and Fort Collins, Colorado. I also will be at all six home games, and likely the Bowl game, whichever BYU ends up playing in.

GO Cougars !!!!