Labor Day Loungers

Isn't this the sweetest picture of my lovies relaxing in the hammock at the cabin? We went for a quick visit over Labor Day weekend and I'm so glad we did. The weather was just divine and the leaves are barely starting to change. Everywhere you looked, you could see mostly green aspen leaves with little splashes of yellow. I don't know how anyone lives where there aren't all 4 seasons. The changes renew my soul and are evidence of divinity. Gettin' pretty deep over a simple hammock pic, but whaddaya do? haha

July 2013

4th of July ~ swimming at Nana's

4th of July BBQ at Nana's

Cabin over the 4th of July weekend with Grammy and Papa - oh, and Cruz too!

Swinging on the hammock at the cabin

Front porch relaxing at the cabin!

Seriously, I need to get caught up on a more private journal as well as the blog....I also met my biological mother, her husband, and her daughter, Felicia as well as Felicia's two daughters, Alexi and Malia. They came here from the Denver area for a few days. My emotions about this are much more complicated than the Viet side of things.... but I will say that meeting Felicia and especially seeing the bond Felicia and Chloe instantly had, was pretty darn amazing.

Chloe meeting Malia and Felicia for the first time ~ SO sweet!

Last, but not least, in July we found out during an ultrasound that we are expecting a BOY! I have always felt, intuitively, like we had a boy who needed to come join our family. I'm so grateful between all the craziness that life has brought us, that it has also brought us this gift. Oby is such an amazing dad to Chloe, truly he could not be better! But I know he will have such a special bond with a boy just because he is ALL boy at heart! We are blessed beyond measure and excited! His name will be Sam and we love him already.

Nick and Megan brought blue balloons and treats to celebrate our boy news. So sweet! We are so blessed!

Hiking at Mirror Lake on the 24th of July: Henry, Izzy, PJ, and Will

Provo Falls on the 24th of July with the Bennett herd ;)

June 2013

Chloe got her first Botox treatment ever this June. We saw quite a bit of improvement from it and are now firm believers. She had fewer leg spasms at night so she slept better and she started using her left arm/hand a lot more.

This pic was when we were swimming/lounging on the back patio to celebrate kindergarten graduation! What a big girl!

Yes, I know, we were just celebrating kindergarten graduation, but just a few weeks later, Chloe was back to summer school! And she wouldn't have it any other way ~ this girl LOVES school!

Chloe got this new swing and we had already got our money's worth out of it after the first day. So, yes, she LOVED it!

Chloe's Virginia souvenir bears

We also got Chloe this Wike special needs bike trailer/all-terrain stroller. (Wow, I just realized how spoiled we were this summer with lots of new stuff!) Chloe LOVED going on bike rides, but we used it more for hiking - mostly to get out of the blistering/record breaking heat! But this fall, I'm sure we'll get back to biking (if my pregnant body can handle it, that is!)

All these pictures were from our first weekend at the cabin with the new stroller. We went to Whitney Reservoir, Mirror Lake, and just adventuring around the cabin. It was so much fun and Chloe was in absolute heaven!

Happy Trails

For our "last hurrah" of the summer, we headed to the cabin and its many trails....



We love to cruise the mountain trails on 4-wheelers....




Anything to escape the dangers lurking at the cabin. Did you know my mom married an axe murderer?....



There are horse trails....



Sheep herding trails (did you know those still existed?!?!)....



Trails lined with wildflowers....



And trails leading to breath-taking views....






Sometimes we take a break from the trails and just relax....




As long as those trails lead me to these two, I'm a happy camper....



So long, summer!

Cabin Cuties

We had so much fun going to the cabin with my parents and my brother's family. We don't get to see my brother's family nearly enough, so we treasure our time together!

Just being cute:





Scavenger Hunt:







Camp crafts (art & jersey-knit bracelets):



Hanging out with Papa & Grammy:




Eating (nom, nom, nom):





Picnicking at Mirror Lake:



and 4-wheeling!: