Fun with Family

On Saturday morning a few weeks ago, Caleb, Robyn, Matt, Emily and Abbie drove down from St. George where they had been staying at a friend’s house (unfortunately we just couldn’t fit everyone in our 2 bedroom condo...).
We went to breakfast at the Old Pancake House, which was really good. Ian and Emily entertaining themselves at breakfast.
Then we headed to the Ethel M Factory and Cactus Gardens. Emily and Val (Val, shopping in the kid's section versus the infant's section are two different things!! Though you do have a small head! :P)
For those of you who know everyone in these next two pictures, this isn't as much fun. But for those who don't know Chris' and my siblings--we like to ask who looks more like Val's siblings (Val is in the middle)--Caleb and me?
Or Chris and Robyn? It's amazing how different they look! Plus, the brown-eyed in-laws are dominating with 4 for 4 brown-eyed grandkids...I guess we'll see what happens with Robyn's newest addition come August.
Val and I thought this would be funny. Chris didn't so much, but he was a good sport. No worries--no husbands were hurt in the production of this picture.
These three are so fun together! Luckily, we were outside for this noise--can't you almost hear them screaming? :) It was so fun to play with our cousins again. It's weird not to see them each week that we usually do.
Then we went to M&M World down on the Strip to watch the "I Lost my 'M' in Las Vegas" movie. Since we are new to Las Vegas, we are definitely still learning where to take people and how to get there. Thanks for your patience and for being our guinea pigs! Word of advice: don't drive down the Strip to get where you want to go, if you can avoid it!
Looking at the boats at Bass Pro. Chris and I think we'd decided we'd like to get a boat someday. We figure it would be a good way for our famiy to recreate together. Unfortunately a “quick” stop at Bass Pro to exchange a shirt turned into almost 3 hours when Caleb and Robyn’s keys to their van got locked in. But we did have fun hanging out and looking at the boats, fish, and big giraffe. Oh well! The day didn’t turn out quite as we’d all planned, but it was so nice to spend time together and to have Chris’ family come visit and see where we live. We miss everyone, so it was nice to see them all for a little bit.
Val is such a cute aunt. She did Ian’s hair on Sunday morning. We called him “Lewis” (from Meet the Robinsons) which Ian seemed to like.
Chris teaching Ian some karate. That face on Ian makes me a little nervous!
Thanks to Grammie and Granddad for bringing Ian a trike! He is really excited to have it.
Robyn brought down our book orders, which was so fun. Thanks! We always love getting new books. Yep, Ian still sucks on those two fingers. With Cooper sucking on his thumb and Ian on his pointer and middle finger, we've got 3 of the 5 fingers covered. Sometimes when I lay down with Ian for a nap, he tells me to suck on my fingers. I try, but he hasn't converted me to it yet.

A Very Nice Dinner

Chris wanted to take us out for a nice dinner while his family was visiting us. I don’t know that any of us knew quite how nice the food and service would be....Luckily Ian and Cooper were pretty good (considering their age) and I wasn’t too embarrassed to have them there, and gratefully, the waiters were very gracious and accommodating. We went to Panevino on the recommendation of one of the other clerks who works with Chris. The food was wondeful! Val and I shared salmon and ravioli. And we all thoroughly enjoyed the dessert.
I think this was Chris’ way of telling his parents thanks for all they do, have done, continue to do, etc. I also think it's been very satisfying for Chris to have a "real paying" job and feel like he can attempt to "pay back” his parents for all wonderful things they do for him and our family.
We had a really nice night. Thanks Chris for wanting to treat all of us! I appreciate all your hard work and your desire to let others know how much you love and appreciate them! I am grateful for how serious you take your role to provide for our family. I love you!

Cooper Cuteness

I just can't get enough of Cooper! We were waiting to go visit Chris at his office after Chris' family got here last weekend, and Cooper was being so cute, so Val had to take pictures (I'll attempt to shift the blame for all of these pictures to his doting aunt...)

Hoover Dam

We went to the Hoover Dam a few weekends ago. It was probably a good choice to go so early in the year, as I assume it will get hot there come this summer. For the tour we went on an elevator way down in the ground (I'll let Chris add all the details, since he remembers things like that) to see how the dam works, producing power for millions of people in Nevada, Arizona and California.
Chris and Ian on the dam. Lake Mead is in the background. It is a beautiful lake!
Jenny and sleeping Cooper straddling Nevada and Arizona state lines in the middle of the dam.
Ian liked the little dioramas. I have to agree with him; I've always thought minatures were cool.
In order to keep the dam structurally sound, they are building a new road that will take traffic over the dam area (a.k.a. high about the river below!), instead of directly on it. I think driving over it after it's completed might cause a little bit of anxiety for me, 'cause just seeing the construction freaked me out!

First Temple Trip

In honor of my family...though since we arrived in Vegas we've found out some interesting facts about Las Vegas Lambs (not sure if we're related or not)--from an ex-sheriff to a convicted state senator. Though my parents may have hit the jackpot during their stay down here earlier this year--when the receptionist at the hotel they were staying at on the Strip heard their last name, they said she gave them kind of a funny look and upgraded them to a very nice suite. They weren't quick sure, but from the sounds of it, Lamb is a known name around here. Heck, maybe I'll use my maiden name more if it'll help! Then again...maybe there are some associations I don't want with that name!!
The view of the temple coming up Bonanza. It is really pretty with the desert mountains in the back.
We met a family from Utah County while we were at the temple (pretty nice people, though they weren't the most uplifting when it came to their opinions of Vegas...oh well, to each their own...it at least made me feel like I was being fairly open-minded and optimistic!). This is Ian and their two girls on the temple fence, with a view of the Las Vegas Valley in the background. There is a beautiful view from the temple, since it sits on the hill on the east side of Vegas.
Ian loved the water. Gotta love that cheesy smile, too!
A quick teaching moment about not getting too close to the water.

It is a beautiful temple, with gorgeous grounds. Desert landscaping is a lot different than Provo, but we really like it. The foliage and flowers at the temple are very pretty. It is so neat to be on the temple grounds and feel the Spirit there. It is a testimony to the peace the gospel brings, as well as the temple being a shield and place away from the world.
We really like the palm trees. These are our favorite. Chris named them "pineapple palm trees".

Scoop Park

Despite voiced concerns and my worries about moving to the "ghetto" of Las Vegas, our complex and the areas nearby, are pretty nice. The further out I get certain directions, the less comfortable I feel, but I've learned quickly where those are and we just make sure we are with Chris or other moms and their kids before we go hang out at certain parks, etc.
We are very lucky to have a little playground right in our complex, very close to our condo. Ian calls it the "Scoop Park" because they have two little diggers. It's nice to have a close place to go after our morning runs or to go play in the late afternoon or early evening
Cooper chilling in the stroller. He is such a good boy! So patient to get strapped in this thing and hang out while Ian plays. We've even tried to go down the slides with Ian, but that still makes Cooper a little nervous.
Sorry this picture is a little bright, but I loved Ian's expression. He found this rock on a walk a few weeks ago and has dubbed it his "rock phone". He was animatedly talking to Grandma and Isaac on his phone this particular morning. It is a riot to listen to him! He gets very into it.

Handsome 'Lil Man

We thought Ian looked adorable in this outfit--his church shirt, a pair of brown shorts, and Chris' Mickey Mouse hat that Ian has adopted.
Playing with his BYU ball outside our condo.

New Jogger

I mentioned this is my running blog, but I had to post it here as well, since it's been so fun to have. I am grateful for all those who gave me birthday money, since you helped pay for this! I have enjoyed getting out running again. And it's red (have I mentioned red is my favorite color?)
It is a big stroller, but does fit through our front door, so we can store it inside, which is so nice!
The boys both seem to like it. Cooper has even learned to fall asleep in it, which is great when it's time for naptime and I'm ready to go out for a run before it gets too hot!
Ian loves chasing birds. This was a few Saturday mornings ago at a park near our house.

Lots of Books

I was sad I missed Robyn's Usborne party (but the plan is to have her do a party for me sometime after we get back in August; of course sometime after she feels semi-normal again after having a baby...when does that happen again?! For me it's almost 4 months, it feels like...Chris may say it is never...) but the week I wasn't able to be at the party, we were at the library and they had a big box of books that said "Free" on them. The ladies at the children's desk said I could take as many as I wanted...
Most of these books are board books in EXCELLENT condition that are now part of our collection. It added greatly to our Las Vegas book supply, as we left many of Ian's children's books at home. Ian likes to get all the books down and have fun! So other than saying the library's name, a lot of them look almost new. I guess this is a perk of living in a big city that doesn't have a lot of kids--free kids books!

P.S. I have now visited the library at least 5 times in the last 3 weeks and have gotten home with my phone each time. For me, that is a pretty big accomplishment!