Soccer

Alyssa just finished her first soccer season. She had 6 games. The first game she did fine, the next 4 games all she wanted to do was hold peoples hands and fall down. The last game she did awesome. She was totally in to it. She scored 3 goals and was running after the ball the entire time. Noelle was able to come to one of her games, unfortunately it was Alyssa's worst game, (falling down constantly!) To bad she couldn't have seen this game!

"which was are we going?"

Scoring her first goal

Alyssa and her friend Maizie

Part of the team

7 months

Kate just turned 7 months old! She has had a rough time the last few weeks. She had an ear infection for 2 months so we finally decided to treat it with antibiotics. That cleared up the ear infection but cause her to have diarrhea for 2 weeks. I had to give her probiotics and bananas to help stop it. Today she hasn't had any so hopefully it is gone! Then of course last night she got another cold. Hopefully this one doesn't result in an ear infection because I don't want to do antibiotics again!!! Poor girl. She was happy through all of this though, she is such a good baby!
She now rolls both ways and really can move around. She is not crawling or scooting (I am not ready for that!) She can sit up for quite a while but still topples pretty easy. She has the cutest laugh and loves watching Alyssa. She laughs ALOT for her sister! I love watching them interact, although sometimes I wish Alyssa would give Kate a little more space =)
I measured her at home and she was 24 inches! Yay she grew almost an inch in a month. (much better than 1/4 of and inch in 2 months like her last measurement!).
She is developing a little stranger danger and doesn't like to go to unfamiliar people.
I say this every time but I am so in love with having a BABY! I don't want her to get big so fast because I am enjoying it so much. It is so fun to have a child that doesn't talk back to you and it sweet all the time =)!  I can't get enough of her!

Fall

My mom and I went up to Cascade Springs. We went at the height of the fall colors. The reds were vibrant. It was breath taking. I had never been to Cascade Springs before. It is a really cool place. Natural springs and mini waterfalls with a little board walk through it. I loved it. I got some really great pictures. Alyssa was NOT wanting her picture taken at all (nap time) One time I snuck a picture of her and she said "Mom never take a picture of me again"

My favorite picture!! (She only would let me take this because she was holding Kate)

The Big 3-1

Russ had a birthday today. We had a two day celebration. Yesterday we went horseback riding up A.F. canyon. It was so beautiful and a lot of fun. Russ is more experienced horse back rider then I. I get a little nervous. Half way through my horse kept wanting to rub me again the trees and wouldn't stay on the path. So we switched horses. Then the horse I was on liked to lag behind and then trot to catch up. Of course this was nerve racking for me, but also fun. Then we went to dinner at Z Tejas, one of Russ's favorite restaurants ( I usually am only willing to go on his birthday because I don't like it that much). Today we had a birthday dinner at home.

Manila Pond

There is a pond not to far from our house. I have never been there before today, I can't believe it. It was so much fun. We met my friend Sierra there today for a play date. The kids had a blast playing in the water. I will go there more often now that I know about it! When we walked up Alyssa said,
It's like a beach." I guess it is as close to a beach as we can get in Utah!

Camping

We decided to give camping a try. I have only been camping twice in my whole life, the last time was 15 years ago. I love the mountains and thought it might be a fun adventure. We decided to do it for one night for our first time with the girls. I was nervous and almost backed out many times. Even after we set up the tent I thought maybe we should go home. We went to Payson Lake. I had been there 15 years ago with my gymnastic team camping. It wasn't too far away either. We rented a tent and sleeping bag from REI. After work on Friday we got ready and left. Alyssa was really excited (as she is for ALL new things). She LOVES to have  fires too, she always asks if we can "have a fire pit". So we had a fire, made smores and enjoyed each other that night. That was fun. I love how many stars you can see being a little bit away from the city. Then we went to bed. I put Kate in her car seat bundled with blankets, hat and gloves. She seemed cozy. Alyssa had her own sleeping bag and Russ and I were on an air mattress. (I would not go with out an air mattress, my back hurts at night anyway and I can't imagine laying on the dirt!) I was comfortable in my sleeping bag. It was in the 40's, so COLD. About 1 am Alyssa woke up crying. She had peed in her sleeping bag!! So we stripped her down, changed her clothes and she cuddled up in my 1 man sleeping bag. I was so uncomfortable. I barely slept. About 5 am Kate woke up. I gave Alyssa to Russ and cuddled with Kate until about 7 am. Then we got up and Russ made breakfast. Alyssa was so cold she had to sit in the car with the heat blasting. Finally the sun came out and it was a very nice temperature. We went on a little hike around Payson Lake. It was really pretty. We were going to go on another hike but we were all tired and Kate was hungry. Overall it was fine, I think next time I would prepare more for things like bring pull ups for Alyssa, more fire wood etc. I also would not go again with a baby who was on a bottle. I was constantly worried about getting warm water. If I had been nursing it would have been easier. I think we will go again next summer, Kate will be 1 and that would be easier as well. Alyssa loved it minus being cold. When we woke up in the tent she said "Mom can we stay here for 1 week".

Alyssa needed many "breaks"

She found the perfect walking stick

Kate napping on our hike

Alyssa carrying the cambleback

Silver Lake

Last weekend we decided to go up to Silver Lake. I have never been there before but had heard about it from my cousin and grandma. It was a nice place to go. It is a huge lake in the mountains, it has a board walk around it. Alyssa like looking for squirels and climbing up rocks. I love the mountains, it is so peaceful up there.