Salt Lake City trip

The one weekend of the summer that we decided to go camping the weather decided against our plans and rained the entire weekend. Instead of camping in the mud, we decided we would have more fun going to Salt Lake City. Our main reason for going was to eat at the Red Iguana restaurant that we saw featured on the Food Network. The food and mole sauce were worth the trip. We also had a great time playing at the Children's museum.

The kids enjoyed playing with the ball vacuum. Xavier buzzing around in the bug car. Madelyn enjoyed cooking up some tasty treats in the kitchen.

"Hello? I'm having fun, what are you up to?"

Busy delivering the mail

Sometimes a boy needs to stop and smell the daisies.

Playing in the water

Riding the horse

Madelyn drove Daddy crazy, I mean she drove him to the grocery store

Picking some apples on the farm

Following in her Mommy's footsteps, her first job is as a cashier

She also enjoyed playing with the gears

Misc Summer and Fall 2010

Daddy made a fort using the couch, coffee table, pillows and a blanket. The kids had a blast and there was just a little static under the roof. Xavier is still our little cuddle bug

Madelyn working on her first homework assignment

Xavier is fascinated with his belly button, or as he calls it, his "but." He was just relaxing, watching TV, and playing with his "but."

Xavier loves Wylee. First thing every morning he says "wake" (as in he is awake) and then he asks for Wylee and Madelyn.

Xavier loves to give Wylee hugs and this morning he had to go sit next to her so he could share his book with Wylee.

Enjoying a snack while Mommy mops the floor

Mommy mops, and the kids get to play train or bus

Doing a paint with water picture

Michael has wanted a Flowbee for several years and Melinda said only if it also took care of the dog. Well now that Xavier needs a haircut every few weeks Melinda decided to reconsider the Flowbee (or suck-and-cut as a friend calls it). So for Father's Day, Michael got the RoboCut. It's much better than the Flowbee because it can work on the dog. We haven't used it on Wylee, but Xavier doesn't mind it at all.

We actually have to hold the RoboCut next to his head if we use the scissors or clippers because he doesn't mind as long as he hears the vacuum.

Nothing beats a bedtime story read by Grandma at Grandma and Papa's house

Another awesome thing about Grandma and Papa's house: cookies!!!

Xavier 18 month pictures

Time sure does fly by with little ones. Xavier is already 18 months and walking and talking. We took him to Sears to get pictures taken and he did a pretty good job. He kept wanting to walk off the backdrop and he was fascinated by the light on the floor. He knew he was supposed to sit or stand on that light.

He is still such a happy little guy! Lookin' so cool in my shades at the beach.

Xavier and Dos his doggy.

Sitting up so big.

One of the few he's not smiling in, but such a sweet little face, especially with the softened focus.

Xavier loves to play with his belly button. Belly button is too much to say, so he just calls it his "butt" (because all buttons are a butt at this point). This one is about Mommy's favorite, just love the expression on his face.

He's getting so big. He's not our baby any longer, he is officially a toddler.

Cancun

For five nights Melinda and Michael took a trip to Cancun, Mexico. Allison and Treece Bohall watched the kids for the first couple days until Grandma Freidenberger arrived. It was great to get away, but it was also good to come home to the kiddos.

We took a Jungle Tour. Took a jet ski out in the laguna and through the "jungle" and then to a national park where we snorkeled. We saw lots of fish and a stingray. We missed seeing the baby turtle. We Zip-Lined!! There were 6 different lines, a suspension bridge, and vertical poles to walk between. Melinda only screamed like a little girl on the first line. Michael was brave enough to go upside down but Melinda was more comfortable in the upright position. In the lobby of our hotel (Le Meridien)

Having fun at Margaritaville.

After a delicious meal of shrimp and lobster at the Habichuela restaurant.

Outside AquaWorld where we did our jungle tour.

An iguana on the fish display outside AquaWorld. We saw him when we went in. On the way out we saw him again. A group walked by him and tried to feed him and he jumped on the guy's shirt like an attack. Note to self: do not feed the iguanas.

A view of our hotel. We stayed on the 5th floor, the last balcony to the right.

The view from our balcony--two of the three infinity pools, the beach, and the ocean.

The view of the laguna from our room.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

On July 3rd, we decided to take a short drive and go visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It's less than 1.5 hours away and we had never visited it before. Wylee even got to go along for the trip.

We stopped in Montrose and had a little picnic in the park before going to the Canyon. Madelyn got her own Camelback backpack just for hiking. This was her first hike and it was Xavier's first time in the backpack. Madelyn did pretty well hiking the trail.

Xavier enjoyed the ride.

Eventually Madelyn got tired so she got to ride on Mommy's shoulders.

Just say "NO" to crack

A family picture...complete with the dog.

The views were amazing!

Both kids were knocked out before we even hit the highway. Even after we got home Madelyn asked to go to bed and sleep some more (that was also a first).