Time to Catch Up!

Well, it's only been about 6 months, so I figure it's time to catch up, and keep up! I apologize this post is going to be L-O-N-G! This past summer was so much fun for us! We went back home to Utah for almost 3 weeks. First of all, the 2nd day in Utah, my Dad and I went to the Kenny Chesney concert. It was AMAZING and so much fun. I tried to attach a video from the concert, but it took too long...so here's a picture for ya:

We spent the rest of the time going back and forth between my family and Nate's families houses. We also spent a few fun filled days in Grass Valley, California with my mom's side of the family. They are so fun, and the girls loved all the attention. Here's are some pics of the California fun:

http://www.slide.com/r/1s-lSuLi7D_MQu3ElLLJwBNNdb-m3fX0?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

This little pool is a pool/pond that was handmade (with a lot of physical sacrifice too!) by my uncle Bob in his backyard. He lives at almost the top of a mountain in Grass Valley, and they can see my aunt's new house across the valley on the top of another side of a mountain. It is such a gorgeous area out there. We had fun at an anniversary party for my Grandpa and Grandma Murphy (the greatest ever!), hiking, playing ping-pong, sand-volleyball, walking around Nevada City, and of course Nate's favorite part...flying with Gloria. My uncle and aunt Gloria and Gary are building such a neat beautiful house right now. They are living on their property in a cool little 5th wheel...with a screened-in porch and chili string lights to boot, oh...and a hand-made cool looking outhouse to boot! - (With a side-view mountain-view window!) Is there anything that those Apples do that isn't cool? ;o) The girls had so much fun playing with their Grandma Debbie, all their aunts: Pauline, Gloria, Denise...and of course Amanda and Laura too! It was a great trip, and thanks to the Murphy side for your hospitality and fun! We hope to make it out there again soon.

We spent the 4th of July with my mom. She spoiled the girls with a wading pool, and we kicked back and let them play in that and on the slip'n'slide. Then we drove up and watch the Lagoon fireworks. Abby decided she doesn't like fireworks, so of course Grandma Debbie offered to stay in the van with her. The girls love their Grandma Debbie. I also had fun going to the Park City outlets (more than once!) with my mom. We know how to shop!

We had a lot of fun with the Nielson side too. The guys enjoyed golfing a couple times, and I enjoyed whooping Mom Nielson in crochet. (Wait..did I ever cheat? I don't remember.) We always have fun out there playing games all night, eating cinnamon bears, and letting the kids play with their cousins. There just isn't anything that can replace living close to family. The girls love their cousins so much, and we have so much fun hanging out. We had family games and fun at the church park all day one day. Baseball, pillowcase races, 3-legged races, finding treasures in the sawdust for the kids, wading pools, water balloon fights, volleyball, you name it! And good food of course. We also got to see our new nephew Parker for the 1st time. He's such a little sweetheart! With chubby cheeks to boot. We had so much fun catching up with everyone, and we miss you all already!

(Click on the link below to see the slide show of pictures. I can't get it to load into my blog for some reason!)

http://www.slide.com/r/PpseWxG_1D_mxLz88hgoVfW0zyNZ6fcQ?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

We had fun boppin' around with my dad too. We hit the Gatway, and let the girls play in the coreographed water-sprayer things. I don't know what you would call them, but it's water that shoots out of all these holes in the sidewalk, and it's coreographed to music. That was fun, and we love just boppin' out with Grandpa Brian. He also had a little pool in his backyard that the girls loved playing in. My favorite, of course, was the concert. I love that my Dad and I can go to concerts together, and just get away for a little while. We both enjoy live music, and find it relaxing.

We also went with my Dad and Joseph up to Logan to visit Justin and Becky, and the girls favorites: Delaney and Kaylee. They have so much fun together...it's so hard that they can't see each other more often! We had fun walking around USU and remembering old times (like becoming True Aggies! Love ya Nate!)

We went boating with our friends Skylar and Lindsay at Jordanelle for an evening. It was eventful to say the least! It turned to be pretty nasty weather once we got out on the water, and the wind was merciless. Thanks to Skylar's pro-boat-maneuvering skills...so we'd be sunk. It was scary, and we said probably a thousand combined prayers until we finally made it safely back to the dock. I don't think poor Abby will ever set foot on a boat again!

Our Utah summer was so fun, and we thank everyone for the hospitality, and the love and fun that we had. Yes, we love Missouri, but Utah will always be home.

Nate is officially a second year! His first year went very well, and we're hoping his 2nd will go the same. We will find out in October where we are going for the next 2 years for his clinical rotations. He is very involved in several things, and keeps very busy. Yet he still finds time to be an amazing husband, and great daddy to his girls. We are lucky to have such a great man as the head of our household!

Caitlin just started preschool again, and she loves her new teacher, Miss Carrie. She is so smart, and loves learning and writing. Abby is totally potty trained (we started her when we got back from Utah....straight to normal big-girl panties..and she didn't even have any accidents!)...and she is getting so big. She shadows everything Caitlin does, and they have fun playing girlie things together.

I have started watching an 11-week old baby 2 days a week for a little extra money on the side. The girls LOVE it when he is here, and they are great helpers. All-in-all we are all doing great, and healthy. I promise to post more often so that I don't have to do a 5-mile long catch-up post like this! We love and miss all of our family and friends that are away!