Our fun filled trip to Utah!!

We left on Friday, August 17. We drove all night and arrived around 7:30 am Saturday morning. Matt and I were completely exhausted. The kids did alright with the drive. They slept off and on throughout the night. Anthony would get really mad because he was unable to roll over and sleep on his tummy. On Saturday, we drove to Salt Lake and visited with my mom's sisters and parents. That was the first time that some of my moms sisters have seen Anthony. We had an enjoyable visit with them.

On Sunday the 19Th, was my birthday and for the second time ever I was able to spend the day with my Grandpa Gowans who also has the same birthday. So my parents threw a birthday party for Anthony, me, Grandpa and Josie. My dad made his very yummy Korean dinner for the celebration, Eric made his yummy egg rolls and mom made a heath cake. It was all very good. Here are some pictures from the party.

Shannon and my dad planned many fun filled activities for our trip. On Monday we had three activities planned. The first one being a trip to a dinosaur park. Inside the park they had fossils and upstairs there was a robotic t-Rex and triceratops growling and in the process of beginning a fight. Outside the park there were many life like dinosaurs to look at. They even had sound effects as you went through the park. They were very cool and gave you a great idea to what they might have really been like. There were paths you could take to look at all of the dinosaurs. They even had an area that the kids could dig for dinosaur bones. Josie had a blast and so did Shannon's kids. I think Matt and I enjoyed it just as much.

After we got done at the dinosaur park we headed over to the Union Station and saw some retired trains.

I was a little tired still so while everyone was looking at the trains I tried to catch a couple of zzz's. Shannon was quite comfortable.

After we left the train station we headed over to this indoor tree house for children. I don't remember the name of the place but it was like a children's museum of sorts. It had a huge indoor tree house on the bottom level it had a story station, a school house, a fire truck and many other theme places for kids to play. Once we walked up the stairs through the top of the tree house on the top level there were more theme stations. The oval office was there, an instrument room and an arts and craft area. The kids were able to run and play throughout the entire area. On Tuesday Matt, dad, Adam, Shannon and her entire family and I all hiked up to the Timpanogos Cave. It was 1 1/2 miles. The hike was very steep and strenuous at times. The cave of course was very beautiful and remarkable.

This was at the half way point. The hike got quite a bit steeper at this point.











Here we are sitting and waiting for Shannon and Dad to catch up to us. Adam was watching a little chipmunk that was right next to the trail.

Here are some pictures of the inside of the cave. It was cool inside and very close quarters so we had to be to careful not to touch anything.

This was the heart of the cave. There was a really neat Indian girl story/theory about the heart of the cave.

Matt and I after our tour through the cave. The hike down was much easier than the hike up.

This is an incredible view of the valley from where we were.

On Wednesday the 22ND, we went and visited the Bingham Canyon Mine. It is the world's first open pit copper mine. I had been there before but it has been several years. The kids were a little tired of getting in the car and driving so they had to be bribed to get in. Here are some pictures of the mine.

After we left the mine we went to a pool in Kearns, UT. It was so much fun. They had an indoor and outdoor pool. The outdoor pool had two play ground areas were the kids could go down different slides and end up in the water. Emma loved to go down this red curvy slide with me. Josie also liked it until she hit her head on it. Inside, the pool in there had a huge water slide. Which was lots of fun. The pool had a small river in it, the kids loved to ride with the adults through there. We put a life vest on Josie, then we laid her on her back then sent her through the river all by herself. She thought that was great. She wanted to do it over and over again. Dallin tried it too, and also enjoyed himself. It was a great afternoon, I think the kids were glad we talked them into getting into the car after all.

On Thursday, we all went to Lagoon. Lagoon is an amusement park out there. Dad stayed with the kids all day and took them on ride after ride. Josie really loved the kiddie roller coaster. Each time she went on it she would laugh and giggle. Once the ride was over she would say "I want to do it again." She was so excited to go to Lagoon all week. She knew she was going to be able to ride rides. She was really looking forward to riding boats, the train, airplanes, and helicopters. She kept telling us that she wanted to go in the sky. Here are some pictures of us at Lagoon.

On this ride Dallin didn't like that he was strapped down. So when the ride started he was bawling, then it turned into a whine, then as the ride was ending it was just a pout. It ended up being one of his favorite rides later on. Emma on this ride told us that she was shooting Josie.

We had a great time at Lagoon. There was this one ride that Matt and I both really liked. It was a rollarcoaster called Wicked. When it first starts it shoots you up going about 55mph then you go straight up then once you reach the top it takes you straight back down. It was great. I was screaming so loud that my mom told me to shut up. It ranks up there as I one of our favorite rides ever.

On Friday our last day in Utah, we took it easy. Anthony was able to take two good naps for the first time in days. In the afternoon we went to a duck pond and a playground. We let the kids play for a little while. When Josie and I first came across the ducks there were quite a few in a grassy area. When they saw us they started waddling towards the water so Josie and I flapped our wings, quacked and chased after them. She thought that was great.

We had a great time out in Utah, we were so fortunate to be able to do all of the things we were able to do. We want all of our family to know how much we love them and thanks for the great memories while we were out there. It was great to be able to spend time with Shannon and her kids each day. We were able to make memories with her kids and the kids were able to get to know their cousins better. Her kids are absolutely precious. It was great to meet you Liz, you are a beautiful little girl with a very precious smile. Thanks mom and dad for being wonderful hosts. We love you and are very blessed because of you.

Happy 1st birthday Anthony!!

Yesterday was a milestone in our little Anthonys life. He celebrated his first birthday. We are so very blessed to have him in our family. Not a day goes by that we don't thank God for him. He has brought much joy and happiness in our lives. He has such a sweet smile and personalitiy.

We had a small party for him at Schramm Park. There were geese and ducks all around us. They were pecking at the table cloths, the presents and even my rear as I sat on the bench. It was very hot and humid but we all had a great time. We hope you enjoy the pictures from Anthony's party.

Josie was so excited that it was Anthonys birthday. She helped wrap all of his presents, helped make the cake and decorate it. She even brought out all of his presents for him that morning. I told her that Anthony would open them that evening at his party. We had to sing to him several times throughtout the day and when the song was completed she would cheer then tell him "Anthony I got a present for you" over and over again. It was really cute.

Anthony didn't care to much for the cake but he sure liked the ice cream as you can tell as he is wearing it around his eye and around his mouth.

After we got down opening presents and eating cake and ice cream we feed the ducks and fish. I think the kids had a great time, some of the fish they were feeding were really large.

We are very blessed to have family nearby to celebrate these milestones in our life. Anthony and Josie are very lucky to be a part of such a wonderful family. We wish our out of town family could have been there as well, but we know that they were in spirit.

We want to thank everyone for all the wonderful gifts that Anthony recieved. For his birthday he got his very own optimus prime potato head from Aunt Carri and her family. From Aunt Terese he got his very own toy dog which his big sister absolutely loves. From Gramma and Grandadda he got some new clothes, laugh & learn cookie jar (which his big sister loves too), his own little people Noahs Ark and he got a toy that once belonged to Matt. Anthony also got the little people fire truck from Aunt Melissa and family. We can not forget the present that Josie picked out for him, his own toy remote control. From Matt and I he got a little people train, a ball that lights up/makes noises, little tonka trucks, a tonka fire truck and a shark bath toy.

The next morning... Anthony playing with some of his new toys.

And Josie playing with some of his new toys.