Wyoming 2010

Last week we were in Alpine, Wyoming for a family reunion. We spent one week with just us siblings and dad. On Saturday, dad's brothers and sisters came out to the house for a big reunion. We had a good time being together. We did some fun things including swimming, boating, four-wheeling, alpine slides, feeding horses, going to the Bar J for dinner and a show, playing on the playground, wagon rides, and playing in and around the house. It was so beautiful to be in the mountains and away from the city (and a lot of other things). We enjoyed the break. Here are just a few pics of stuff we did:

Swings are always a hit with Maia.

Swimming in the pool.

So cute.

Taking a break from the boat and eating lunch in the forest with cousin Andi.

Boating. (We just went along for the ride while everyone else did some wake boarding, skiing, and tubing) Maia liked it because she got to have some "spicy" (a.k.a. soda).

Chris taught me how to drive the four-wheeler. Maia fell asleep in Chris's arms.

Before Maia fell asleep.

Abram, Lyla and Maia going for one of many wagon rides.

Feeding the neighbor's horses.

This is a soap pump in the upstairs bathroom. I was helping Maia wash her hands when she saw the soap pump and said, "The bear is reading the scriptures!"

YOU STAY CLASSY, WYOMING!

Summer?

This "summer" hasn't really felt like summer. We have had over 30 days of temperatures under 80-degrees. I'm really hoping that fall/winter ends up feeling like summer. This past weekend was in the 80s- I think.

We went to my cousin Jeanette's wedding celebration and took a picture of just us two. We haven't had a picture of just us in a long time. It was about time and we were all dressed up.

Maia getting ready for the wedding party.

Yesterday afternoon was gorgeous. It was so fun to be outside. Mom was planting some flowers and Maia decided to help her. She had a blast in the dirt. Mom was very patient and Maia was in heaven.

This is our exciting summer.

This coming weekend we are heading off to Wyoming for a week for a summer vacation. The weather in Wyoming just might be prettier than it is here.

Maia's 2nd Birthday

I was thinking about some events that have occurred lately. I could have sworn there were some big events. I forgot to post some great things!

Maia's 2nd birthday was on May 20th! We went to Disneyland again for her birthday and then we celebrated with family on the weekend. Maia loved the festivities including hitting the pinata with a stick but did NOT want to blow out the candles on her cupcake. I think it was too scary for her. Big cousin Abram had to show her that it was okay. She still didn't take her chances.

Maia also had her 2-year check up. Her stats are:

Weight: 28 lbs. 4 oz. (75%)

Height: 35.5 inches (90%)

Head circumference: 19 inches (75%)

She's a healthy and happy baby. We are very grateful for Maia and her health.

Thrifty's ice cream for everyone!

Maia loved her birthday cake pinata.

Maia and her buddy Abram

Maia asked for brownies for her birthday.

Daddy was quick enough to get the pink elephant.

Mother's Day was in May and I had to talk in church about mothers. I was happy that my mom was there to hear it because it was mostly about her. Joe got up with my nieces that were visiting to make breakfast for all the moms in the house. After the outside oven glass broke on Joe, he changed breakfast plans and still created a nice meal for us. What a champ! And my gift? A day at the spa and a massage!!! LOVE!!!

Father's Day was in June! Let's recap the past 3 Father's Days for Joe:

Father's Day 2008 Maia was a colicky newborn screaming and crying all day long!

Father's Day 2009 Maia was in the hospital for her phytophotodermatitis thing.

Father's Day 2010 I was nauseous and my dad had to leave an Alaskan fishing trip with his son to settle some lawsuit against his company in Mexico. It was the first Father's Day in 10 years that my dad had been home for. Joe was sweet enough to share his day with my dad. Joe cooked some pretty rockin' barbecued chicken for all of us.

Cousins Camp started this year. The four oldest cousins (Marin, Santi, Autumn, and Sadie) all gathered at Grandma's house for the first cousins camp. Amy pretty much ran everything. Maia loved having cousins around all the time. Joe, Maia, and I got to spend Saturday with the girls at Wild Rivers! I hadn't been to Wild Rivers since I was maybe 12! It was just as I remembered it with a few new rides. It was WILD!

That was May, June, and part of July. I'm catching up...

Baby #2

Joe and I are expecting our 2nd baby on January 25th which puts me at only 10 weeks pregnant and nauseous. We had the first ultrasound and saw the heart beat which was very comforting. Joe was comforted when he found out that there was only one baby in there.

Joe and I are very excited and Maia has no clue. We will probably find out if it's a boy or girl in September.

That's the latest and greatest here. :)

Family Pictures

Laura took our family pictures at Soka University. We loved the campus and our pictures.

This was one of our last pictures. A student was kind enough to get out of his car and tell us that there were lots of snakes in the grass where we were taking our pictures. I wondered what creatures lived in the holes that I was sitting on. YIKES!

Hot Joe

Maia and her "Snow Puppy" - it wouldn't be a family picture without Snow Puppy.

Auntie Marla's Wedding

Marla Morin and Jared Marelli tied the knot on May 1st in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in Utah. We were so thrilled to be able to celebrate their big day!

All the Morin cousins and Auntie Mar-Mar

This almost had me in tears. I will be showing this picture at Maia's wedding one day.

Holding the bride's bouquet.

Maia couldn't be happier riding the carousel at Pirate Island.

The video showing the Morin's mad dancing skills will have to posted at a later time due to Blogger video upload failure.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Last weekend we took a trip out to Carlsbad to go strawberry picking. It was so fun to be together as a family and to do something a little different. I hope we can do this every year.

I loved how Maia counted while picking strawberries. 1,2,3!