Scavenger Hunt

When I got back from Kamas lastTuesday afternoon 

there was a note on the door...

I put Mabel down for her nap and went on a hunt!

This first clue was the hardest because I didn't know what I was looking for.  

It's no wonder kids love scavenger hunts, this was so much fun! 

Every time I found a clue I would get a huge grin.  

I loved thinking about Nate taking the time to put each clue in place.  

Clever clever with it safety pinned to one of my shirts!

I looked under 3 different rugs before I found this one.

Finally, I found it!

When I opened it up the first thing I saw was Cafe Rio and I thought to myself, 

"What?! All that for Cafe Rio gift certificates?!"

(I do love Cafe Rio but c'mon Nate!)

Then I took them out and realized what it was....

concert tickets!

The Postal Service

yay!

(and I am excited to check out 

The Great Saltair, I have never been.)

Such a fun way to get a present, and I am really looking forward

 to this concert with Nate.

Thank you babe!

I also found this buried in the couch cushions.

Nate's ipad microfiber cleaner. 

He has been looking for it for months.

I love being a momma to this little person.

The joy that she so freely expresses over such simple things 

makes me so happy.

She is so loving and so quick to forgive.

She knows that when she screams Mom a million times in a row 

it drives me nuts. So she does it all the time.

I soak in the moments when she wakes up from her nap and 

wants to be cuddled in my arms all warm and sleepy.

Experiencing someone learning to talk for the first time is one

 of the best things ever. 

She loves to dance and has some pretty crazy moves.

Here are a few more things I don't want to forget:

• We call him the "wiggle guy"....we see him when we drive to Harmon's - he is one of those inflatable wind dancers on the roof of Sonic and she goes crazy when she sees him.
• She always wants to see the "apple, momma!" When we drive to the library each week we pass Applebees and she gets a big grin on her face when she spots the apple out her window.
• The other day on our walk she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and sat down to watch an ant. She said, "Momma, C'mere!"
• She is really afraid of the garbage truck. Just the sound from a block away makes her cry and she wants me to hold her. :(

I wanted to say how much I love my own momma
and how much I appreciate her friendship and support.


I am so thankful for so many wonderful women in my life: my wonderful mother-in-law, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, sisters, friends, neighbors.  I am constantly learning from all of you so keep sharing your stories, your ups and downs, your best recipes, your hopes and dreams....it means the world to me!

Adventures with Grandma & Grandpa Naylor

We spent Friday the 10th up in Kamas hanging out with Grandpa Naylor while my Grandma went to Provo for her annual heart exam.  She had been having some chest pain, and tingling fingers and was anxious to make sure things were okay.  

Mabel and Grandpa had lunch together...

tray tables and bibs for both of them! :)

Grandpa and I played Rummy while Mabel napped.

My grandpa taught me to play rummy when I was little and I have always loved playing it with him.

It's hard for him to see the cards now (his little lamp helps) but he still manages to win almost every time!  He is a rummy master! 

(and an Ace hog)

Grandma came home with bad news, they thought she might have several blocked arteries and wanted her to come back early the next morning so they could do a heart cast and investigate further.  Nate drove up Friday after work and we decided to spend the night so I could drive my grandma to the hospital in Provo Saturday morning and Nate and Mabel could take my grandpa to Dialysis in Murray. 

Mabel had fun taking a bath in grandma's sink!

Snuggle before bed:

We got to her appointment at 7:30am and my cousin Tyler and his girlfriend Tiffany met us there.  Grandma got all prepped and ready and got to Skype with my Aunt Koreen for a little bit.

The nurse tried and tried (OUCH!) to get the IV in but had no luck. She called in another nurse to try and she burst one vein had to call in the main nurse supervisor who finally got it to work. Poor grandma was a trooper and her arms were already starting to bruise.  They finally wheeled her to surgery around 11:00am.  Around 11:45am her doctor came out and told us that her large left artery was 90% blocked and they were putting a stent in.  He said besides that her heart looked good and she should be feeling perfectly fine in a few days.  She would have to spend the night at the hospital and could go home Sunday morning. We were so glad they caught it before it turned into a heart attack! 

Tyler and Tiffany stayed with grandma and I left to drive to Murray to check on Grandpa at Dialysis (he has to be there for about 4 hours) and to let him know how grandma was doing. He was so worried, and grandma was so worried about him. These two sure love each other.  He was so relieved to hear that grandma was doing fine!  My Aunt Kristy picked him up from Dialysis and took him back to Kamas. She stayed the night with him. Thanks Aunt Kristy!

Nate and I had signed up for a babysitting fundraiser for Saturday night with the Young Women from our church.  I thought we would just cancel since we needed to be in Kamas but with my Aunt Kristy there we were good to go!  After a long day it was nice to have a little dinner date together.

(sushi at Sakana)

When we came to pick up Mabel she didn't want to leave!

She had so much fun playing and kept saying "more!"

Thank you Young Women and leaders!

Love my colored flower and poem.

Since it was Mother's Day Nate didn't have any early morning church meetings Sunday.  He and Mabel made me an awesome french toast breakfast! After church we headed back up to Kamas.  Tyler and Tiffany picked up my grandma from the hospital and we had a nice Mother's Day dinner with the family.  My cousin Anthony and his wife Ashley were visiting from Georgia too.

Anthony, Grandpa, Nate and I in a Rummy Showdown

I made creme brulee for everyone.

It is one of my favorite desserts!

Mabel and I decided we would stay over Sunday night
so my grandma could rest Monday.

Breakfast with grandpa:

We got out some of grandma's old toys - 

LITE-BRITE!

I loved this as a kid.

Applesauce snack

My grandma's neighbor Destry let us see her son's pet turtle.

Meet Larry.

Mabel sleeps with her stuffed animal turtle every night 

so it was pretty normal for her to want to kiss Larry.

Rummy on the patio while Mabel napped.

CHECK OUT MY HAND!!! 

I was dealt these beauties and I won big time.

Grandpa was not happy.

Mabel and I went to pick up some dinner and to 

check out the new Kamas playground.

Swings sure make this girl happy.

After dinner we all got a water pedicure from Mabel:

Grandma first:

Then me:

Mabel wanted to take off grandpa's socks and slippers 

but we finally persuaded her to give a manicure instead:

Last but not least, herself!

We decided to stay another night so we could help take my grandpa to Dialysis Tuesday.  It was a good thing we stayed too because my grandma woke up with flu like symptoms Tues morning and needed to stay home. Their sweet neighbor Cindy drove to Salt Lake and brought grandpa home when he was done.

Right before bath Monday night Mabel went streaking out the front door!

That country Kamas air makes you feel FREE!

 

I'm happy to report my grandma is feeling so much better.  I am so glad we were able to come help and I am so thankful for family and close family friends that are always so willing to help my grandparents whenever they need them.  Sweet neighbors check in on them, take their garbage out (they have a loooooong steep hill of a driveway), and are always willing to go above and beyond.  

Thank you so much! 

Called to Serve

For several months Nate's parents have been getting everything ready to submit their paperwork to serve an LDS mission as a couple.  When they got their mission call in the mail a few weeks ago we had an impromptu family gathering so we could all be there when they opened it up!  

We were the first ones to arrive at the house and 
Mabel was really excited to jump on the trampoline.

Actually, when we got there and she stepped into the backyard she started shaking 
and saying "YAY!" because she was so excited and couldn't figure out 
what she wanted to play on first 
- trampoline? swings? slides?

Nate's mom used to teach preschool so their backyard is a dream. 

 I got on to jump with her....

and she politely sat me down and asked me to please get off. 

In other words she said, "Noooooo, miiiiiine!"

Her favorite phrase.

Flying in an airplane with daddy:

Cake and their call:

Bryan and Jenna brought this fun cake and Jenna made

their name tags:

Mabel loves cousin Jones.

Peek-a-boo with cousin Morgan:

DRUM ROLL PLEASE:

They read a few of our guesses first...

And we made sure that Brady and Becky and family in Alaska could see too:

Just a smidge excited:

Opening it together:

Laughing because they haven't even read anything yet 

and they are crying!

(now you know where Nate gets it!)

taking turns reading every other word:

and they are going to:

Alpine: German Speaking!

(parts of Germany and Switzerland, a small part of Italy, 

and all of Lichtenstein and Austria)

Rick served a mission in Germany when he was younger and 

can still speak pretty fluently in German.  Praying that Georgia

picks it up quickly!

They will be working with the young single adults there.

They leave October 28th and will be gone for 18 months.

A snuggle with the littlest grandbabies who will miss them so much!

Cute baby Emma was with us via Skype too!

Mabel was pretty excited that Grandma put two little candles in the cake 

so she could practice blowing them out. 

We love these two so much and can't wait to hear about the incredible experiences 

they will have as they serve, teach, and grow.

(We will be praying that 18 months goes by fast!)

We think Alpine, Utah sounds like a great alternative if Austria doesn't work out! :)    

(photo taken the night before Nate and I got married 8.05.04 at our wedding BBQ)