Wrapping Up Summer

We wrapped up our summer by dragging it out as long as we could. While everyone started busting out the pumpkin spice, we took a trip to the pool, hit up a Rockies game, and have been on walks every day to soak up the beautiful weather! Long live summer!

I had the opportunity to work an event in the Bahamas through a company that a friend of mine started. They needed some event planning experience and I am glad I could help out! I mean, fiiiiiine, I will go to the Bahamas if you make me ;) 

It was crazy (read: expensive) to get my passport in order and then book flights. I was a little hesitant to leave Marlo with Nephi, but his schooling is such that he does most of it online and had to put Marlo in daycare only 2 times for him to go to campus. Also, there was no question in Nephi's mind that I should go. A little of it was networking, a little was to earn some money, and then a lot was just for me to get back in the event planning game considering that I have taken some time off to do other work. I LOVE it and hope I will have future opportunities to keep doing so. It keeps me sharp. 

These 2 did just fine without me! In fact, Marlo had a rough 2 weeks after I got back with all the transitioning but turns out she is teething (still is). So grateful for a supportive hubby like Nephi. There is no one else like him! 

August in AZ

A week after we got to Colorado we jumped on a plane and went to Arizona to spend a few weeks with my family. Nephi was able to join us for 2 of the 4 weeks because he had a break after his first week of orientation and we soaked it all in!

We basically never stopped sweating. We spent a lot of time indoors and just playing with family. Marlo had just started walking so she was all over the place loving all the open space. She got SO much love during her time there that at moments I thought she would explode from happiness. Her grandparents and aunts and uncles love her unconditionally and she loves them back! It was a good taste of what it would be like to live near my family and if it wasn't for being separated from Nephi for 2 weeks, we wouldn't have had the urge to come back to CO! Luckily, the flights to PHX from DEN are fairly inexpensive so I am sure we will squeeze in a few trips a year.

Kendall had her little baby boy (Colt Steven) while we were there and we got lots of snuggles! He is growing so fast and I can't wait to see him again! 

We took a trip with my parents to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. It was so beautiful and I forgot how breathtaking the views are. I had more of an appreciation than I did when I was last there (6th grade) and I want to plan a trip next summer to hike Havasupi! 

Marlo took lots of baths in Namas sink. 

Any chance she could, my Mom would rock Marlo to sleep. They had such a sweet little routine and I know Marlo misses her. Every time we get on FaceTime Marlo starts blowing kisses to her! She doesn't do that with anyone else. She loves her Nams! 

Nephi left and then my parents, me and Marlo went to California for a few days to visit friends in Pasadena and family in Southern California. It was also SO hot there and so we didn't escape the heat much but went to the beach and did some exploring in LA. 

Marlo fell in LOVE with my cousin Hannah. She is so wonderful with kids. If I had the money, I would make her our live-in nanny. She is so darling. 

I celebrated the big 2-8 while we were there. Shopping and food - it was SO great (just wish Nephi could have been there with us!). 

I am so glad we took the time to make the trip. My parents are so gracious with their time and just making it a fun trip for us before we started our life in Colorado. I don't know if they realize how much it meant to us (especially me) but we had the best time and counting down the days till we go back to visit! 

That Weekend *High*

Sitting in bed last night with Nephi and we were planning our week and I was like, "When I have a GOOD weekend with tons of time with you and Marlo it actually doesn't make Monday's dreadful." Maybe a little high off the weekend fumes? I don't know, but we had the best weekend! 

We planned on hiking Table Rock this weekend with Andrew & Kelli but it was stormy last week and the forecast showed another storm and we decided not to risk it. Since Nephi still had the day off, we hit the next item on my bucket list and hiked 'R' Mountain on Saturday morning. It was so great! Perfect weather, picnic breakfast, and happy babies. The hike was easy, just a little slippery from the gravel, but the view was beautiful.

Please do not take these yoga pictures seriously... 

Then we ran home and got ready real to hit the road to the Hillman Family Reunion (Nephi's Moms side)! I finally got to meet Nephi's 'long-lost' Unlce and Cousin. Literally - Nephi's Grandma had a baby before she met Nephi's Grandpa and they only found this out about 7 or so years ago! Crazy. So I finally got to meet them and just fell in love with them and so did Marlo.

Peter, Nephi, Marlo, Mallory, Elizabeth, Kira, Tim
Anna & Brooklyn

This girl! ^ Dad introduced her to this animal app. We used it in emergency situations but I afraid it's too late and we are in for it. 

After the reunion we raced back to Idaho Falls to meet up with Neal, Angie, and Grayson and go to the drive-in. We saw Minions and Jurassic Park. Marlo was a gem at first but then got super cranky and was fighting sleep so bad. Nephi and I were both in the back of the car wrestling her down and then she whacks her head and is screaming - poor girl! But then suddenly she slowed down and fell asleep on me. She can't know you are actually trying to put her to bed or she will melt down. It needs to be subtle. But I am so grateful for her little attitude and putting up with a long fun day!

On Sunday we went to church, got released from our callings, and then went home and hit the sack. Marlo and Nephi slept for 3 hours and I slept for 1.5 which is highly unusual of me. I guess we all really needed it! We did some cleaning and organizing which I love to do with Nephi because I need the extra hand, had dinner, and then went to Tim and Kira's for dessert and just to hang out. Marlo may have taken her "first step" but it's so premature that I am trying not to get too excited about it!

Like I said, no 'Monday Blues' when you have a great weekend! We are looking forward to Monday-Thursday going fast because we have camping, swimming, and picnics planned for the weekend!

OKAY - So maybe Marlo has the Monday Blues!? (10 month photos did not go well)

Last Summer in Idaho

Considering this is our last summer in Idaho we are trying our best to soak it all in! With busy work schedules we are trying to check off a short bucket list before we move. The nice thing is that we know we aren't leaving Idaho forever. Who knows if we will move back here but I think we will have family here for a while so that means every other Christmas, at least! I am glad that we will be able to come back to this beautiful place.

Our summer so far [in pictures]!

Went on a little hike up at Heise:

Ran our first family 5k! I pushed Marlo the whole time and she didn't make a squeak:

Tiffany came into town to help Sheridan move and we went to these waterfalls that are about 30 minutes away from where we live (Don't judge us for the Lion King pic - we had to!): 

Went camping up at Palisades for Father's Day with Grandma and Grandpa Guymon + The Cannons. Went paddle boarding too! Marlo was a rockstar :

Took the day off work and went to Rigby Lake with our best friends (Sarah & Avery): 

 Went to a Chuckars game with the Cannons: 

Celebrated 4th of July in Driggs for the day (parade and swimming) and then Idaho Falls at night (dinner + fireworks): 

Only a few more things left to do: 

• Hike Table Rock
• Rexburg Rapids
• Iona Splash Pad
• Lagoon (in Utah) 
• Hike 'R' Mountain 

#bahamas2013

In August, Nephi and I went with my parents and sister to the Bahamas on a 5 day cruise! It was everything we hoped for--hot, sunny, clear waters, great weather, great company, and fun adventures! Oh, and the food was pretty good, too.

I didn't feel like arranging the photos in order after I downloaded them but here is the gist of it!

{{These pictures don't do it justice so be sure to check out the vlogs that Nephi is working on! He is doing a series of them because there was so much footage.}}

Miami Beach! We got to spend a day in Miami before we left and I decided I want to move to Miami. I loved it!

Look at how white we were... :) This was before we left.

Half Moon Cay was our second stop and we just spent all day on the beach. It was PERFECT. The sand was like flour and the water was like bath water. We swam all day and Nephi was confident it was 120 degrees outside--Ha! It was very hot.

At the Atlantis Resort in Nassau! This was one of their beaches at the resort but we spent the majority of time at the pools. They were amazing.

In the theater on the boat. We went to all the shows and tried to keep busy for our first day at sea.

We loved every minute together!

At the Atlantis Resort they have a lazy river. Trust me, you cannot be lazy in that river! There were rapids, a wave generator and a conveyor belt. It was amazing! We burned our legs from going round after round throughout the day. It was worth it!

I get very motion sick so I wore a prescription patch. I didn't suffer from any of the side effects really except my vision was off a few days after I got home. It worked perfect and I didn't get sick once! I highly recommend it.

Grand Turks was amazing! A beautiful Island that is so eco friendly and has great weather. We want to go back some day.

We did dinner in the dining room each night.

We loved our dinner crew! Our servers were awesome and we will always remember them!

Our room was cozy. Of course we had to get a mirror shot.

We went glass bottom kayaking in Grand Turks. It was so cool! We didn't see anything huge but it was paradise out there.

Wouldn't be a cruise without a towel pic, right?

Remember how I love Miami?

I got brave and held a sea creature. It was squirmy and a little sharp but pretty harmless. 

Guys...you have to go to the Atlantis Resort some day! It was a on my bucket list and I am so glad I got to go! It was paradise. I would say the cheapest was to get there would be a cruise. The rooms are hundreds of dollars a night and the arch that you see here is the Presidential Suite which costs about $25,000/night! Save for it, right? ...NOT! 

Vlog 1 -- Welcome to Miami

Vlog 2 -- Boarding the Ship

Vlog 3 -- 1st Stop: Grand Turk


Nephi and I had the BEST time! It was fun to be there with family and I would recommend going with people you know. We hope to fit in another one, soon, but we are so grateful we were able to go! It truly was a trip of a lifetime.