Family!

Well… We are back from Utah, and what a fantastic weekend we had! I am so sad that our weekends always go by so fast, but then again they always give me something to look forward to.

We were on our way Thursday night and arrived at my sister’s house pretty late. They had just gotten back from watching a movie with my brother and his wife. It was a quick hello and soon we were all snuggled in our beds being sad and excited about the weekend’s events that would unfold.

Friday morning Jason and I met some work friends (Jason’s) for a delicious breakfast of Kneader’s French toast (life changing and delicious!) I had fun showing off Carter, while Jason and his coworkers talked about business, HR, and changes with their company. I had a very strange moment while listening… that wow… I’m all grown up now!

We had to say goodbyes and head up to Roy for Jason’s ortho appointment. A little secret… his appointments will be coming to an end soon! We’re excited!! While we were there I couldn’t help but think of our house, memories, and the amazing people we were able to make friends with during our short time in Roy. It will always be one of my favorite places we lived.

Later we were able to see some old friends from Logan and spend some much needed time with our whole family. As my sister Kira said, it was Mark Ballantyne Reunion Part II. Everyone was finally together, and who knows how long it will be until the next time we’d be blessed enough to be together again. The best part of the night was our entertainment… Carter eating his rice cereal J

Saturday was mostly spent at Scheels where we looked at everything. We even stopped and took pictures together and went for a ride on the Ferris wheel. When our bellies started grumbling we grabbed some lunch at Costco and ate our delicious hot dogs outside.

Karalee my brother’s wife (she is due any day with Carter’s first cousin!!) was looking pretty tired after our trip to Target, so we all split up with a plan to rendezvous later for dinner. Jason, Carter and I actually ended up visiting my Uncle Aaron in Pleasant Grove. He was awesome and was more than happy to have us stay the night with him. Having 8 adults and a baby camping out in a small living room at my sister’s house, while fun, was a little difficult. We were also able to visit with some of my cousins who will be racing away off on other life adventures of their own. One going on an LDS mission to Mexico, and another headed to D.C. in a week for an internship. It was so good to see them.

Our rendezvous dinner destination was chosen to be at Goodwood. It was there we laughed, played uno with tiny cards, and passed Carter around. Our poor little sport had been so good, but with only little cat naps all day and being toted around… I think he just had enough.

After dinner we all went back to my brother’s house where we played games, wore mustaches, and had our family picture taken. We are some very attractive people with mustaches. Around midnight with a very tired baby in tow and being sad we didn’t have a place where we could all stay together, we left for my uncle’s house.

Sunday was a very sad day. We got up, ate breakfast with uncle Aaron (he made delicious pancakes and hot chocolate), got ready for church while we waited for little Carter to wake up, and headed back to Tain’s house to attend church with him. Every one wasn't quite dressed for the occasion, but we attended a wonderful sacrament meeting, and the time when Tain would leave started to sink in. After lunch I found myself holding back tears, it was time for my family to leave not knowing when we’d all be back together again. My mom and dad heading off to Washington, my little brother preparing to leave on a mission for two years, Jason & I heading back to Nevada, Tain being deployed and across the world from us, and all of us being separated again.

My mom said something while we were all together laughing at Carter go crazy with his rice cereal. She said, “This is joy.” Every time I think of my family now, that’s what I think. Being surrounded by people you love and who love you, just spending time together and enjoying each other. Our families really are joy. I am so thankful that I have a family who is so loving, and finds joy in the time we are able to spend together. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to start my own family who will share memories like these. I can’t believe sometimes that I am so lucky to have my family for eternity. We will be together forever, and because I know this, I know that we have a wonderful opportunity to build this relationship here on earth, that we will have for forever. It’s all because we have such a wonderful loving heavenly father and God.

Now that we are home, I miss my family like crazy! Our next adventure will hopefully be in another couple of months when Tain will be able to bless his little baby. Oh I hope he comes soon! Here is to a wonderful weekend, and wonderful memories to have and share later on. Have a wonderful week! 

A weekend full of firsts

This weekend was actually quite exciting, even though we did just end up staying here. Not the exciting that you experience at an amusement park, but the exciting that comes from having children. This weekend marked many of little Carter's firsts! Every little new thing they do is so much fun!

Friday was Carter's doctors appointment. He was weighed, measured, stuck with needles, and handed back to us. That little man is so brave though and he took everything like a champ. I might be just a little selfish when I say I like it when he gets shots because he's so cuddly, but really I hate them because they make my poor little baby miserable. We basically cuddled on the couch all day and I had to drug him to help him with the pain, but it was actually a pretty enjoyable day. 

Saturday we had an exciting adventure with our lawn mower running out of gas, but we made the excuse to go into town for some much needed socialization, shopping, and fixing of Jason's car. While in Elko, we ate at a new place, bought my first cricuit cartridge, bought bumpers for Carter's crib, got him a bumbo, and some rice cereal! I could hardly wait to feed Carter his first solid food! 

After our busy day in town, we decided a walk would be refreshing. We go on a walk almost every night and it has become part of our routine, so because of all Carter's firsts, we decided why not put him in his stroller for the first time with out his car seat attached. Boy did he look small, but he loved being able to see where we were going and stayed awake the whole time. I think that going for walks from now on will be his favorite thing to do.

He looks so tiny

That night we finally fed Carter his first meal, and he loved it! It was so fun and so messy, so I'm glad we waited to give him his bath after. It has become a part of his routine now, and I'm pretty sure his favorite part of the day is eating his rice cereal :) That same night we also put Carter in his own room for the first time over night! His room is all the way on the other side of the house and so I have found every excuse not to have him in there yet. Once the crib went up, bumpers went in, Jason said it was time and he was right. Needless to say I did not sleep very well that whole night, but our little Carter bug was just fine snuggled in his crib in his own room!

Mom feeding Carter :)

ADORABLE!

Sunday was a very relaxing day with the highlight being rice cereal again. He also experienced his first power outage! We didn't have power for about 2 hours probably because some lightning. We were very thankful when it came back on before it got really dark.

Monday we had FHE. That was quite eventful, because Carter had his first massive blowout while we were on a walk 3 miles from home. It was delightful, and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed the part where he played in it. It was bath night all over again for him, but I don't think he liked the part where we put him in the shower with his clothes on and hosed him down. Oh the joys of pooping children :)

Now Carter and I are just hanging out with Carter's very first fever from teething. He is also going to have his very first play date at our house tonight. I just hope he's not a grump. Happy Tuesday!

A Sweet Little Vacation!

Carter's favorite auntie :) lol

We left Tuesday night right after Jason got off work and made our way to great-grandma’s house. The car was packed and ready by 10am, but of course with a dedicated husband… we had to wait until he got home from work. It was at great-grandma’s house that we put a very sleepy Carter to sleep, and we got some sleep ourselves. It felt like Christmas and I really didn’t sleep that well because I could hardly wait to be home.

Riding in the car

As soon as we arrived in the Tri Cities we were whisked off on an adventure floating the Yakima River. Last year Jason, Kira, and I had quite the experience kayaking down the river. It began with a rescue mission to rescue Kira, and ended with me getting sucked under a tree and Jason rescuing both of us without his kayak. This time we survived without any casualties, lots of water fights, switching floating devices, and Dyelan floating with a life jacket the entire time. When we finally got out of the water, a planned 2 hour trip ended 4 hours later with Dyelan being majorly late for work. I must say however, this time the floating adventure was definitely a success.  

Going for a walk... had to add this picture because it's so cute!

Thursday was a definite girl’s day. All the ladies set out on an expedition to find a cute little swim suit for our sweet little Carter. After looking at all the babies clothes, taking Kira to get a haircut, and getting sad about not buying any school supplies this year, we ended up at a nail salon. It was there the Ballantyne girls got their girl on and got pedicures! I love my toes!

After relieving the boys of a sweet sleepy baby, we all got ready to go to the rope swing. There is an awesome rope swing in Benton City, and it was there everyone jumped out of a tree, except for me. Carter was even routing me on, but after 1 attempt and contemplating my life… I decided heights and rope swings in trees just weren’t my cup of tea. I went swimming instead J

Headed to the rope swing

He is falling kinda funny

Jason going off the rope swing

Siehara landed pretty funny too :)

Friday was a wonderful day. We got up early and headed off to the Farmer’s market in Richland. I love farmer’s markets and looking at all the things people make and grow. We ended up with giant zucchini (2 for $1!), a jar of jalapeños (for Jason of course), corn, honey, tomatoes, and a delicious fresh fruit smoothie. I think Siehara, Kira, Dyelan, and Andres got some snow cones too. Just in case you were wondering, our visit was a success.

What do you do after going to a farmer’s market? You got to Costco of course! There we tried lots of samples, got some awesome deals on diapers and wipes, got all the food for our river adventure on Saturday, and bought ourselves some delicious pizza for lunch. Yep… basically way awesome!

As soon as we got home we gobbled up our pizza and got dressed for the temple. Kira watched little baby Carter for us while all the adults attended the temple. It was so interesting to attend a session in the Columbia River Temple, because it is so tiny! Jason and I are used to all the big temples that we have had so close every time we’ve moved, but it was pretty special to be in that temple again. In fact, we attempted a re-enactment of our exit the day we were married. I’m pretty sure we just looked like huge dorks, but oh well.

His life Jacket is a little too big, but he's still a cutie!

The big party started right about 10pm when Siehara, Kira, Dyelan, and Jason returned with supplies to make Ballantyne shirts! We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning spray painting awesome designs on T-shirts to remember our long weekend together. They all turned out pretty sweet!

Saturday was the Mark Ballantyne Olympics with the biggest and only event being tubing. We headed out early morn and claimed a spot on the beach for Grandma and Carter to chill. For this event, my dad drove the boat as crazy as he could and try his hardest to have us wipe out on the tube. We were all timed and went up against each other to see who could get the best time. My best time was 3min 25 seconds, but I was de-throned when Dyelan went up against me and got 1min 49 sec and I only stayed on for 1 min 3 sec. Kira and Siehara even beat my second time! It was a blast though, and I loved taking breaks and jumping off of the boat into the water. Best day ever!!!

The t-shirt I made :)

Hanging out at the river

Carter in his Ballantyne onesie at the river

The most intense ride ever!!!

I'm a gonner!

We stayed at the river until early evening, and decided we were all too wiped out to continue any longer. It was then we took the winner of the Olympics (Dyelan) out for dinner and ice cream. Where did we go? Well… DQ of course! We were all so exhausted however, that once we got back Carter had a bath and everyone went to bed. We thought a movie might have been a good idea, but I’m pretty sure it would have had all of us sleeping by 5 min in.

My sleepy boys <3

Sunday was a sad day. It was the day that Jason, Carter, and I had to say goodbye to return to our little home in the middle of nowhere Nevada. I almost decided to stay while Jason continued on by himself, but 2 weeks without your best friend or daddy is a very long time. That’s why I am home now, bored out of my mind and getting excited to get started on Carter’s bedroom.

Even though we had to say goodbye, Carter was still a happy boy

On our way home however, we did have a very nice visit with Carter’s great grandma and grandpa. They fed us delicious food and sent us on our way. Oh man, I love getting together with family. It is always so hard to say goodbye too, I’m pretty sure there were tears as we went over the bridge into Oregon…. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family, and blessed with a countdown of 2 weeks until we see each other again. Until that fantastic adventure… have a wonderful 2 weeks of summer!!!

Tuckerd out and headed home :)

Utah and back again :)

So... If you know Jason and I, we never thought we'd end up in Utah and like it. We thought, oh Utah, you are so fun to visit but never to live. Now I get so excited when we go back. I actually miss it there... and get so very excited we are able to visit. That's what we did this weekend, and it was amazing!

We left Thursday night and arrived in just enough time to put little Carter bug to sleep and have some quality time with my sis and her hubby. Then off we went to jump in bed and rest up for the very eventful weekend.

Friday Jason had an Ortho appointment (really the only reason we went there, that and I needed to get out of Nevada) and we made awesome plans to see our wonderful friends from Logan. While Jason was getting his teeth all tight and handsome looking, I went shopping for my nephew.... my first one! My sister in law is due August 31st with a bouncing baby boy, and we are all hoping that he comes early! It was fun to shop for him, but... I also looked at things for Carter. It's so hard not to when you have a cute little one of your own.

Once Jason was done we headed over to Liberty Park to play at the splash pad with the kiddos. I thought Carter would love every minute (he loves the shower), but I guess it's different when the water that's splashing you is really cold. He didn't last very long with daddy....

Carter and Jace getting ready to get wet!

Before getting wet....

After getting wet... look at that sad little face :(

Cute little Illianna with her daddy

Chillin at the park :)

After the splash pad we hit up PF Chang's and had ourselves some very delicious, very expensive food. It was fun to visit as friends and watch the cutest 2 year old play with her food. Putting her chop sticks in her cup and sucking on them like straws, was my favorite part of our dinner. We sadly had to say adios however, because Logan was a little bit of a drive for them.

After saying goodbye, we then headed over to Sheels to get some ammo for my brother in law. We got majorly side tracked (Jason did with shoes), lost on the way to find the bathroom, and day dreamed about having the money to actaully spend at that place. Since we are running a half marathon in Septemeber, Jason decided he needed shoes... after our adventure in Sheels we walked out with Brooks (shoes), ammo, and a very hungry baby.

Saturday was spent being a girl, attending a baby shower, getting my hair chopped off, buying hair dye, and spending some much needed time with the sister. For the first time it was actually wonderful to get away from my little Carter, which is so wierd for me.

Isn't he the cutest?!

Sunday we dyed my hair, had dinner at my brother's house, and spent most of the evening in the car driving home. Carter was a great passenger as always and we got home just in time to bake in our really hot house.

Yes... I chopped off my hair :(

Being a good little boy in the car :)

This week has started off fantastic with a trip to the doctor, blood drawn, screaming baby in the back seat, and a lovely speeding ticket with my name on it. All I can say is next week better come quickly! I hate Nevada and need another break. The end.