The Fairest of Them All

OK - I admit that we are a bit repetitive. We spend lots of time with ducks (though less since Simba ate some of our visiting duck's babies) and we also go to a lot of fairs. Normally fairs aren't really Aaron and my cup of tea. With Braden now, however, we have become connoisseurs and our favorite is the Salt Lake County fair. It is small enough to be very personal but large enough to offer lots of fun opportunities. This year we watched pig races, rode some rides that looked like they were going to fall apart, and then finished with a grand finale - Braden's first helicopter ride.

Braden making a new friend on the boat ride.

During the helicopter ride, we all loved looking atht eutah city scape below, but Braden's favorite part was being silly over the headsets.

Shakespearean Festival with Christensen Family

The Christensen's have gone to the Utah Shakespearean Festival every year for longer than I have been part of the family. At first we never missed either. And then I got pregnant with Braden ... This year, after learning that the festival offers babysitting during the plays, we were able to revive the traditionand saw Cyrano DeBergerac. We loved the play and Braden loved the babysitting - so much so that he was the only one still awake at almost midnight - trying not to miss anything. Unfortunately we didn't revive the tradition of taking a photo there, so I have to resort to using one of Cyrano. Hopefully we will remember next year!

Cyrano - a wonderful play though just a touch sadder than Roxanne which is what I was expecting.

Parker Family Vacation

This year the Parker family vacation was held in Hyrum, Utah. And for the first time in years, everyone was able to make it. Why? Well, it was sort of mandatory because it was time for anotehr family photo. We stayed at the Morris' vacation home near the lake and had a great time. We went for morning bike rides in the countryside with Braden and Tyler (and later Ashlee) in the bike trailer spotting horses, cows and goats at almost every property we passed. Becky introduced me to the most delicious and healthy frozen fruit shakes. And Aaron and I generally relaxed - reading books, discussing what we want to do with our lives, watching the kids, etc. Other highlights included a farm tour in Logan, a pretty neat dollar store in Hyrum and getting to visit Danny, my cousin who is a Radiologist in Logan. (I just love him and his family and can't wait to see them again soon!) It was so nice to spend time with Mike and Becca and Becky and Jere. I wish family vacations happened more often!

The onlye family photo with Braden looking at the camers: from left to right in family gruops - Sarah, Brandon and Tyler, Dad, Becca, Adam Mike and Anna, Becky, Ashlee, Jere and Nick, Mom, Kim, Max, Abby, Bena dn jack, Natalier, Aaron and Braden.

Braden, 2 years 10 months

4th of July - Another First

On the 4th of July we went to Centerville to do the "small town" celebration (ironically it is bigger than the one by Sandy City). We had waffles at my parents house and then watched the parade. It wasn't Braden's first parade, but he certainly got into it more than he had in the past. About half way thru, Aaron was able to convince Braden that he was supposed to collect the candy that everyone was throwing. Once he caught on, he shamelessly begged every passing group for anything that they might be willing to part with. What a proud moment ...

Braden eating his first otter pop at the Centerville 4th of July parade - cousin Abby in the background watching for more candy.

Visit from Stephanie and Tate

In June, Stephanie (Aaron's cousin Denny's wife) and her son Tate came out to visit the Yonally clan. For us, Tate was a darling reminder of the past - though I think for Stephanie, Braden may have been a frightening omen of the future. We went to the Children's museum and ate dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen where I did NOT win $10,000 (so much for "The Secret").

Tate waiting for Braden to fill his tank at the Utah Children's Museum

Cleveland Trip - Stops

I didn't think I would love traveling across the country with a 2 1/2 year old, but I did. I dreaded planning stops every few hours, but when it came down to it, I loved them more than he did! Here are some of the fun things we did to keep the road trip from being too overwhelming.

We stopped at Da Vinci's Fun Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Not the best pizza ever, but we had a great time with the race track, climbinb zone and gamed.

Braden saying hello to a turtle at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The aquarium was beautiful but almost overwhelming - and a little bit scary for Braden.

Loyce, Graden and I at the Museum of Science and Instrstry in Chicago (the next morning). The museum was huge - with full sized versionsof so many types of transportation - including a u-boat and Braden adn Aaron toured and teh 747 behind us in this photo.

Loyce and Braden checking out the Chicago city model in the amazing train exhibit.

The Jewish community center park in Cleveland. One of our favorite stops. (Loyce with Braden and Aaron with Ashlee)

Aaron and Braden on the camel ride at the Cleveland Zoo.

Feeding the lorikeets at the Cleveland Zoo - I love their Australia exhibit!

Smoke signals at the Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland.

After so many things to see and do, Braden took a needed rest with Granda on a Chicago bench before going to the Museum of Natural History.

The Museum of Natural History - Chicago on the way home

Feeding a camel an icecream cone at the Folsom Children's Zoo - Lincoln, Nebraska - on the way home

Posing with Lincoln in Wyoming.

Cleveland Trip - Family Tour

Since we were driving across MOST of the country for this trip, it was easy to fit in a few visits to relatives. Although weather tried to get in the way a few times, we ended up seeing everyone on our list at least once.

Becky, Jere, Nick and Ashlee

After spending a week in Cleveland, Loyce flew out to catch her step daughter-in-law's graduation and my sister Becky and her family came down from Ann Arobor for the weekend. Our only glitch was a little complaint from the downstairs neighbor as the kids played super heroes - jumping off the furniture. (Clearly she has no idea how loud our kids COULD have been if they had been trying). We took them to our favorite park at the Jewish communicty center where I took as many pictures of them as I could with almost none of them turning out well. We also went to the Cleveland Zoo and to the Great Lakes Science Center. But I think the thing they loved best was crashing the pool at the Hilton. What is it with kids and water?

The entire gang at Cleveland Zoo - Aaron, Becky, Nick, Jere, Braden and Ashlee

Nick doing a simulation at the Great Lakes Science Center

Ashlee and Jere on the teeter totter at the Jerish Communicty Center

Becky and Jere - taking advantage of the cold evening

Mike, Becca, Anna and Adam

Loyce's return flight from the graduation was delayed by weather and I wondered if she would be ready to set out for Independence, KY to see my brother, Mike, and his family. Fortunately for me, Loyce is always up for an adventure and just hours after she finally got back to us, we took off again. We met Mike and Becca at the Newport Aquarium which is now my favorite aquarium. It was well designed for children 4 amazing fish tunnels. We even got to see a shark feeding. I was thrilled to be able to stay at their lovely home which I had never seen before. WE visited their local park in the evening and had amazing bagels for breakfast (I forgot to mention those in the food tour entry!).

Braden and Anna playing hide and seek from the camera

Anna about to race up the ladder

Baby Adam and his beautiful blue eyes

Becky again

We only intended to see Becky once when we originally made our plans, but decided it would save us some time to stay at their house after Aaron's last day of class. It was so much fun for me to get to see Becky's house, too - with the lovely mural she painted for Nick's room and to appreciate what she means when she tells me it is tiny. (Good things come in small packages, right?)

Theresaand Kumeresh (and pets)

The weather kept us from seeing Theresa, Aaron's cousin, on the way to Cleveland, but we were determined to see her on the way back. Staying with Becky put us just a few hours ahead of the game on our return trip and made all of the difference for us to get spend a little awake time with Theresa and Kumeresh. Their house in Wellington, Colorado was lovely and I was very envious of their 3 bedrooms on eone floor and completely unfinished basement. Braden loved their dog and cats. They were the perfect hosts - even insisting on cooking us pancakes at 4am the next day so that we could have breakfast before we left. Watch out Theresa - we might just drop in more often!

Our 3am chef, Theresa!