Jack Starts Pre-School!

Jack started pre-school this year at the same one that James attended last year!  He is loving it, and has a great little friend from the neighborhood, Eve, that goes with him.  I can't believe how big he has gotten:)  He is adorable, and feisty, and a wonderful big brother, and will fight and miss James all at the same time.  We love this little munchkin, but he has given us a run for our money.  He's a Daddy's boy, but don't let that fool you because he'll want mommy at times that I never thought (like going into the mother's lounge at church to feed the baby and he'll insist on coming with me...wha?) He is named after Kyle Aderman, and has ended up being like him in lots of ways:) Love you little buddy!

Ready to go in the garage

School here we come!

The Best, Most Spontaneous Day. Ever.

This day was seriously like the book "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" or something like that.  The spontaneity and how one thing led to another.  It was the first Saturday in September and there was a "Meet and Greet" by the Ogden Nature Center up at the lodge at Snowbasin to see some owls.  We had seen this advertised, then decided on a whim to hurry and go.  We barely made it to see the owls, and I'm glad we did.  First of all the owls were pretty neat:

James by a Great Horned Owl and a tiny Screech Owl

Then it was gorgeous fall day up there, and the boys decided to use their money and buy a frisbee.  So we threw frisbees around for awhile:

 

But then the gondola lift up looked so inviting.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  It wasn't too expensive. So we decided to take a ride up to the lodge at the top...

 

 ...and while there we got two hot chocolates to share:)

 Then the trails around the lodge looked fun, so we thought we'd take a little walk...

...and Nathan said "hey, that doesn't look to high up"...

 

 ...so we started climbing...

...and then we couldn't not make it...

...to the top of the mountain!

That view is to the other side of the mountains, the

Wasatch front.  We live on the Wasatch back.

Because, you know, when you go to see owls

at Snowbasin, you might just want to climb the whole thing.

(P.S. we never even took the diaper bag out of the car because

we were only going to stay at the lower lodge and see some owls!)

Our Favorite Fotofly

I'm weird where I like to get family pictures taken.  Most people just plain don't like them, or don't like the stress, or whatever.  It does take me a little while to relax and get into the shoot, but I do love it, and when you are having fun it shows through the picture. I actually really like figuring out the coordinating outfits:) And I love the end results from our favorite place in Draper, Utah, Fotofly.  This time we got two sessions because I wanted family pictures, and individuals for James 5yrs, Jack's 3yrs, and Jonathan's 6months photos, and some of the boys together. What is great about Fotofly is that you can view your photos an hour after you session, and that is when you pay for your CD (you now own that copyright) and session.  If you don't like them, you don't pay, as easy as that. We have never not gotten great pictures there.  They have excellent photographers and modern backgrounds and props. I give this place place five stars and two thumbs up.  (But you don't have to take my word for it) Check out this years favorites:

Family

Jonathan

Boys

Jack

Family

(check out Jack's mid jump!)

James

The Parents

Jonathan

Boys

Jack

Family

James

James Starts Kindergarten!

Wow, my first baby started Kindergarten this year, I can't believe it!!  We were lucky to get into the only all day class up here also.  It is brand new, and we entered the lottery on a whim, and got in!  I wasn't sure at first if we wanted to accept the spot or not, but I am really happy that we have.  He loves his teacher who is new here this year, but has over 20years of experience.  She is great and he has just blossomed under her.  It is the beginning of having kids in school and all that brings :)

Ogden Temple Open House

The LDS Ogden Temple has finally been reopened after almost two years of renovating (if you can call it that, I'm not sure what was kept from the original):

old on left, new on right

We were able to attend the open house as a family before it was rededicated.

"The temple lifts us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all to see, and points us toward celestial glory."

 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.).  The temple is a house of God, a place where heaven and Earth meet, and we can feel close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  It's a place where we make sacred covenants.  I am so grateful that we live very close to really so many temples because all over the world not as many have that advantage. If you are interested in learning more visit here. 

I love all these boys of mine!

 There was a visitor's center type tent where we got our picture taken.

James is a HAM!!  Oh he makes us laugh daily:)

 Outside at the beautiful new reflection pool

 

It was Jason's birthday that day and we got to spend it with him and Emily at the open house before having  birthday dinner that evening at Kathy and Alan's home. 

And the boys loved their new shoes so much that was the footwear of choice:)

Breckenridge 2014

Breckenridge, Colorado was the site of the Aderman family reunion this summer.  We got together to celebrate my Grandma Kitty's 90th birthday!!! Wow!!  The cabin was at 10,500 feet...next time we need to meet at a lower altitude.  However, we wanted to make the most of the family time so I'll let the pictures do the talking...

We played tennis two evenings,

Cousin Cate was giving James and Jack some lessons

from a pro.  Another night Nathan and I played 

each other, and remembered we liked that game 

before we had kids:)

 GAC and Jonathan Carl, her namesake :)

There was lots of time at the awesome cabin

...playing with cars, reading, enjoying the afternoon storms...

 Cousin Bill with Jonathan, there was no

shortage of people willing and wanting to hold the babe.

There was altitude sickness abounding.  

Poor cousin Bill didn't feel well from the beginning, 

and had to go down after a few days 

because he just wasn't getting better.

They decided to head home (they were driving!) after

only a few days, but a few days of sickness is rough.

I'm so grateful that Bill and Rosie came all the

way from New York, and I am hoping that we can 

make it out there soon to visit there.

 The boys enjoying the attention of the adults


 Cate holding Jonathan while on a walk

 Everyone took turns cooking in the evenings,we enjoyed each

other during the storms in the afternoons, and all were able

to relax while enjoying and catching up with family.

Rosie lovin' on Jonathan

 More good times...

Uncle Kyle and Nathan went on a mountain bike ride too!

We are excited he's getting into that.

At that elevation, both were sucking air during

the single track ride.

 Another with Great Aunt Carol and Jonathan

Out on the porch was wonderful, and we put that grill to use!

We took a hike, that rock we are standing on 

seemed really high.

Our cute little family

I didn't feel the best, so every few steps would

be something different: either fine, dizzy, nauseous,

then back to fine.  The altitude was getting to me,

but I was able to hold it at bay thankfully.

 Nathan did a few bike rides...

...including a century ride.  He was coming up to the finish line,

but was told he missed a turn and so missed a whole pass

he had to climb.  Instead of being done, he went back out.

We met him at the top of the pass at Arapahoe Basin,

and he called it done there as he had in the total miles :)

Some of the people there:

Jessica and Meghan, Boompa and James

Uncle Dana and Uncle Kyle and Great Aunt Carol,

and of course Grandma Kitty!

Hot tub time!

Kirstin and Mom took a drive up to the 

Continental Divide

 Kirstin and Cousin Cate climbed a 14k foot mountain!

Mt. Quandry was right behind our cabin.  

So high up...it ended up giving Kirstin altitude sickness

the worst, and Cate wasn't feeling the best either.

Kirstin had to go down to Denver early because she wasn't

getting any better either.

There was even an oxygen tank in the closet of the cabin

for situations like this that was utilized on her and Bill

  (administering O2 is a remedy for altitude sickness,

but the sure way is to get to a lower altitude)

Boompa and Grammies going on a walk with the boys

and their dog Ellie. 

Some of us at the cabin 

 Great Aunt Carol trying to get Jonathan to eat some 

baby food, he had just started solids a few days

before this trip

On that Saturday night we had a birthday 

celebration for Grandma Kitty's 90th!!

Wow, what a milestone!

Our gift was a slideshow of her life that

everyone contributed to. That was neat

to see so many memories packed into the 

slideshow.  So much love throughout the years!

Grandma Kitty with all of her children:

Julie, Dana, and Kyle

Birthday party for Grandma

 Great Aunt Carol and Jessica showed up to 

see the slideshow in crazy matching footwear!

 

 My grandma has been a huge support in my life,

and I am so blessed to be her granddaughter.

 Blowing out the "90"candles :)

We went to the top "fun park" with a lot of the fam,

the gondola was free! 

Grandma wanted to ride the zip line!  So everyone

got the tickets, and we got her up to the line to take the

lift to the start, and they closed it due to lightning in the area :(

We did get a refund, but still discouraging.  

James and I were able to ride a coaster together, and we had a 

nice lunch before the afternoon storms started again.

 Adventures at the top fun park

Waiting to see if the lift for the zip line would be reopened...

too bad because Grandma was going to be the oldest

ever to have ridden it!

Gondola ride up, I love Jack's expression of joy :)

Thank you to everyone who came and helped with food, lodging, and overall made this reunion a hit!! Now where shall we go for 2015?