A recap with lots of pictures

Since I am a blog slacker this past month and a half, I just thought I would give a little recap. Jaron’s niece Kinzey got baptized at the beginning of July. We never get to see Jaron’s sister Kim and her family because they live in Clearfield, Utah so it was a good excuse to drive up there. The baptism was so nice and then we went back to Kim’s house for a little luncheon. Lexi had so much fun playing with Kinzey and Trevor especially since they have a fun backyard with swings and grass. We had such a fun time up there and it was great to see Jaron’s parents as well.

Trevor, Kinsey and Lexi enjoying the swing

In the middle of July, Stacy and I drove down to Vegas together. Stacy was going with her husband’s mother and sisters to a beach house in California for a few days so my mom was going to watch Kysa. Lexi and I decided to tag along and stay down there for a week. Lexi had a blast playing with Austin and we were able to be there for Austin’s 4th birthday. I made a racecar cake that turned out all right but Austin loved it. We also went to Chuck E Cheese during the day. Lexi wasn’t really a fan of any of the moving cars but it was great to see Austin have a blast. It was really nice just hanging out with my family even though I missed Jaron tons!

Lexi decided to sit in her carseat when I was trying to put it in Stacy's car

Austin and Lexi before it started moving

Cute little Tillack family (minus Kenzie) at Chuck E Cheese

Lexi and I waiting for pizza

Mom and Kysa

Austin loving the big truck

Lexi not enjoying the truck

Adorable little Kenzie

Austin and his racecar birthday cake

Stacy and Kysa

After spending a week in Vegas, my mom, Mindy and her kids came up and stayed a week in Utah. It was Pioneer Day on the 24th so we were able to hit up the big Spanish Fork parade. We did lots of shopping, eating, and playing and took the all the kids to the Hoogle Zoo in SLC. We had such a good time and Austin and Lexi loved riding along in the wagon and looking at all the animals. The babies didn’t care so much but the adults sure enjoyed it. Austin and Lexi loved any excuse to ride in the wagon and they loved going to feed the ducks by our house too. They weren’t very fond of the big goose that was very aggressive and tried to eat Austin’s hand though! It was so fun having them all up here and I hope they can come visit again very soon.

Going to get the mail

Waiting for the parade

Elephants at the Hoogle Zoo

The family with Giraffes at the Hoogle zoo

Austin and Lexi after church

Feeding the ducks

Mindy and Kenzie feeding the ducks

August 4th was Jaron’s birthday and he just wanted things very simple. He wanted a jello cake, which was delicious and to just be together as a family. I did try to decorate with a homemade banner that took an hour to make. I was in a hurry to get it done before he got home from work so I was retarded and forgot a letter. He made fun of me later for it, especially since I am a teacher. Oh well, I guess that is what you get for being home for a year and a half!

What letter is missing?

Lexi with daddy and his birthday cake

Well, as you can see my little girl is growing up fast and is into everything. She runs everywhere she goes and is beginning to throw tantrums. Everyday is an adventure but Alexis is the joy of my life! I love seeing all the new things she learns each day and I’m so grateful to be able to stay home with her.

Lexi in the tutu my mom made

Lexi's 1st attempt at eating soup by herself

Piggy tails...aren't they so cute!

My little angel!

Camping

This past weekend we went camping up Big Cottonwood Canyon with Jaden and Stacy. I hadn't been camping since girls camp so it was the first time Jaron and I had gone camping together. Jaden and Stacy go all the time so luckily they were in charge. Jaden's family owns a tent trailer too which made going camping even more enticing. We got up there around 2 p.m. and had tin foil dinners that Stacy and I had prepared beforehand. I don't know if it was because we were starving or what, but wow they were delish! After lunch, we put the girls down for a nap and all played Apples to Apples. We loaded up on Red Vine licorice and salted Almonds which made the game much more enjoyable. Jaden and Jaron kept feeding the squirrels almonds, which made many of them regular residents at our campsite unfortunately. Once the girls woke up, Stacy and I made a pineapple upside down cake in the dutch oven. Jaden was the dutch oven cook and he did a fabulous job. The cake was delish but it was a bit of a chore pulling it out and flipping it over inside the tent trailer. I unfortunately ruined my pants in the process, but I guess that is what I get for wearing decent jeans camping. We started preparing the dinner after that and realized we had forgotten a few things in the process. Unfortunately the dinner in the dutch oven took forever because it had to be done in stages. It was the first time we had made this recipe but at 9:30 it was finally ready to eat. It was very good and filling except for the dutch oven liner that broke apart into the meal. Lexi was having a hard time too because she normally goes to bed around 7:45 and by time we finished cleaning up it was almost 10:30 p.m. She has never been up that late but luckily she slept until 7:30 a.m. Sleeping in the tent trailer was very nice and it even had a heater. It was very cold at night too and the bathroom was unfortunately a ways down the road. I would have slept a lot better if I wouldn't have had to go to the bathroom the entire night, but it was just too cold and too dark to go in the middle of the night! The next morning we had muffins and juice and made Smores. We were just too tired to make them at night. The Smores were unique however since we had strawberry marshmellows and cinnamon graham crackers. Jaden's parents accidentally got those for us instead of plain ones. They weren't terrible but I don't think I would purposely make them again! After lounging around for a little while longer we started to clean up and were on our way home at about 1 p.m. We were all exhausted, stinky, and dirty but we had a great time and can't wait to go with Jaden and Stacy again!

Stacy and Kysa

Jaden and Jaron swinging newspapers to kill the bugs

Lexi and Daddy

Lexi being silly

Stacy and Strawberry Marshmellow Kysa

Our cute little family

Stacy and Jaden cooking in the dutch oven
Kysa giving herself hugs

Best cousins

A few new things

I know I have been a slacker lately in updating my blog, but I feel my life is somewhat monotonous. There have been a few things worth blogging about however. A few weeks ago my parents came up to Utah for Stacy’s baby, Kysa’s, blessing. We had such a good time just being together. The blessing was so nice and there was a huge luncheon afterwards at Stacy’s in-laws house. My dad took some adorable pictures of Lexi and Kysa together that I had to post.

Aren't they adorable!?
"Um, she is falling over on me!"

"Your ear is very soft, Kysa!"

The Shaw and Rime family

Grandpa and Grandma with the girls

"Cheese"

The next day we were all able to go to the new temple open house. I hadn't been to an open house since the Las Vegas temple and I was eight years old. The temple was beautiful and such a neat experience to walk through. After attending the open house, my mom, Stacy, Kysa, Lexi and I went shopping while my dad and Jaron hiked up to Timpanogos Caves. I guess it was a pretty strenuous hike. It was very rainy that day and the path up there is a mile and a half all uphill. They said they had a great time and luckily the weather wasn’t too bad for them.

Can we say WIND!

Two very handsome men

Last weekend we met up with one of Jaron’s old roommates, Scott, and his family. Scott’s wife’s father rides horses and was in a competition over at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. We went to watch and had a good time going to lunch together. Afterward, Lexi got to sit on one of the horses and she wasn’t really sure what to think. I believe she liked it at first, but got a little worried and upset after a few minutes when the horse started making a lot of sounds with it’s mouth.

Jaron started a new job on Monday with a different mortgage company, which we are hoping will be really good for us. It’s in Lehi though, which means Jaron has a bit of a commute. He has to be at work now from 9-5 like most people, which makes for long days. Alexis misses her daddy, but loves playing with toys and reading books. She learns something new everyday and has such a cute personality. One of our favorite little treats in the summer is a little Hawaiian Hut that sells shaved ice. It is fabulous and the medium size we all share is huge. It's also only $2.50, which we think is quite a bargain and in our price range.

Our blue mouths

Lexi also has acquired her old bouncer as her new recliner. We bring it out when Stacy and Jaden are visiting for Kysa, but Lexi has reclaimed it. She does have a chair that is more her size however. My grandpa made all of the grandkids these adorable little teddy bear chairs for our children. Luckily, Lexi has now moved on from the bouncer to the teddy chair!