Summer Fun

So these last two weeks have been really cool. My mother-in law, Liz, took us to some fun wee places here in Oregon as we (well mainly Jack) were getting kinda restless in the house and just spending time in the garden. We ventured out to this gorgeous wee petting zoo in a place called Brooks, where Jack was able to hang out with some goats and ...well mainly goats...but it was pretty fun for him. Then we drove out to Lincoln City and hung out at the beach for the day. The weather had been so hot at home, but the minute we got to the beach it was windy and kinda cold. We still really enjoyed ourselves though and even got Jack to come paddle with us in the Ocean. He wasn't sure about the sand at first, but then couldn't get enough of it by the time we were due to leave. We got some fish and chips...they were not as good as the ones I had when I was at home though. But of course not!
Lastly, we went to the Portland Zoo. It was a brilliant day. I think Liz, Callie, and I enjoyed it more than Jack for the most part, but he did enjoy seeing the animals he could see up close.
He's been kinda grumpy for the last wee while, but it is all over for NOW...he has 2 new teeth. Four on the bottom now and still just two on top. He is babbling non-stop...I swear he really thinks he's talking and who knows, he might be soon. We are pretty sure he's saying "yes" and "hi" now, but who knows for sure at this point.


At the beach in Lincoln city
On a hay stack at the zoo
Jack and his auntie Callie
At the Petting zoo
Jack and the wee goat
On the small tractor
Mummy and Jack at the beach
On the big tractor!
The sand pit at the zoo

Tagged

Tagged

ATTACHED OR SINGLE?

Married-December 18th 2004 in the Orlando Florida Temple

BEST FRIEND?

Ryan is my best friend. We became great friends not long after we met and it just got better. My mum is also another one of my closest friends.

CAKE OR PIE?

I love most cake...especially carrot

DAY OF CHOICE?

It used to be fridays when I taught elementary school, but now my days just run together and I can't tell what day of the week we are on half the time

ESSENTIAL ITEMS?

My nappy bag, specs, Jack

FAVORITE COLOR?

Blue and Green..or at least most of the clothes I own are that colour

GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS?

I prefer worms, but there are many other sweets I would rather have

HOME TOWN?

East Kilbride, Glasgow, Scotland...oh how I miss it...not really E.K, but Scotland

INDULGENCES?

I like to draw, paint, read, and more recently scrapbook

KIDS?

Yes. Jack. I want more soon.

LIKE OR LOVE?

I think it's cool when you realize how much you love someone

MARRIAGE DATE?

December 18th 2004

NUMBER OF SIBLINGS?

4 brothers. 3 sisters.

PHOBIAS AND/OR FEARS?

Most bugs....my favourite is watching Ryan freak out when there is a big bug flying around...I can not stop laughing and then I don't feel so scared.

QUOTES?

"I don't wear socks...they're useless" - (Wee bro.Neal)
"Surprise children at all times" - (Neal at disney world...the sign actually said....supervise children at all times)

Unkown Fact:

well...I had dreadlocks when I was in my 3rd semester at BYU..but I did wash them!

VEGETARIAN OR OPPRESSOR OF ANIMALS?

I like my meat

X RAYS OR ULTRASOUND?

I guess Ultrasound since the last one was so much fun

FAVORITE FOOD?

I love Indian food and seafood

ZODIAC?

Tauras

Jack is one!

Daddy and Jack
Jack and his wee golf clubs
Jack and his froggy pool.


Jack's 1st Birthday was on June 15th. We had a lot of fun celebrating with our wee boy and Ryan's family. Here are a few pictures from his special day:



Mummy and Jack

Big smiles!
Jack and his ice cream and cake

It's been a while...

Scotland 2008 - The Highland Cows
Mummy and Jack
Pulling the heads off daisies
Peering through the train
Jungle Gym
At Pollock Estate park
Jack's first time swimming
We are back in Oregon now. We got back a week ago and have been enjoying the lovely weather here for the last few days. Jack is still dealing with getting over his jet-lag and I am pretty sure I am too....I am always tired. The trip home didn't go quite as smoothly as the way to Scotland. We went to the airport on Friday(6th) and they wouldn't let us on the plane....not because there weren't enough seats, but because they said that Jack wasn't listed on the flight. Even though he was a lap child I guess he was still supposed to have a boarding pass. The thing is I got all the way to Scotland without any difficulties whatsoever! The women at the desk were so unhelpful. I was crying my eyes out and getting myself into a right state, but they told me there was no way I was getting on the plane and that I was to try again the next day after I had talked to the person that got me the stand-by ticket. Now, usually I would have been happy to get another day at home, but I had been so stressed out with the whole thought of having to do the big long trip again and Jack and I both had a cold. So, instead of being happy that I got another day home I was pretty stressed trying to get hold of my friend who gave me the ticket. Then we called the airline and we got this really nice girl who told us that she could change the info to add Jack no problem and that the idiots at the airport should have done that for me. When I went back to the airport on Saturday one of the same girls tried not to let us on the flight again! I got really angry and shouted at her....next minute she was printing out the tickets.....like she should have done in the first place! Well, it's over now and it was all worth it getting to see and spend 3 weeks with my family.

It has been really nice spending time with Ryan again. He still has a lot of studying for the Bar and is feeling quite overwhelmed, but I am sure he will do well. I miss my family terribly, but I just have to get my head back on straight and get on with things.
It's Jack's 1st Birthday tomorrow! I can't believe how fast it has come. We aren't going crazy for his birthday, but we will have a nice wee party with Ryan's family. He's getting a sand-pit, a new car seat, and some other fun odds and ends. He's a great wee boy. I can't imagine life without him now.

Home Sweet Home

Jack and I made it to Bonnie Scotland! We flew stand-by which made me so unbelievably nervous, but the kind gate crew of US Airways took pity on me with a young child and let us on the first flight going to Philly. I was supposed to be the 2nd stand-by and there was only 1 seat left, but they chose me over the other guy...it was a miracle. The 2nd flight going to Glasgow had a few seats luckily, so everything worked out for us. Jack is a super traveller too. Not a single crying episode the entire 19 and 1/2 hours! In fact at the end of each flight the person sitting directly behind us stood up to leave and said, "What...there was a baby on this flight!" I was so proud of him. He'll be a traveller like his mum.

We arrived Saturday morning and were greeted by family. We are having such a lovely time with all of them. Jack adores his aunts and uncles (especially uncle Neal who is 11 yrs old) and they love him. I got to meet my only nephew, little Samuel, for the first time too.
We miss Ryan terribly back at home in Oregon, but we will see you again soon luv!

I'm getting old

The last few days have been fun and eventful. On Friday night we all went out to Chinese to celebrate both Ryan's sisters birthday, which was on Thursday and my birthday, which was on Saturday. I am feeling very old...and won't reveal my age. Ryan and I then got a chance to go out alone on Saturday to celebrate. It was so nice getting a break and time to ourselves without the wee guy. We went to a cozy wee Italian place here in Salem. It's crazy that I can't wait to get home and see Jack though after only an hour or so. He is getting so much better about staying with other people and not crying when I return. It's a huge relief to me knowing that he'll be well behaved for the sitter. Mother's Day was lovely too. I am so grateful to be a mother..sure it has it's rough moments, but I can't believe the joys that come from it. I can't believe my mum had 8 though! She is the most wonderful woman! It wasn't Mother's Day in Scotland yesterday, but I just want her to know again how much I love her.


Here is a late graduation pic of us outside the Provo Tabernacle.

Nothing new

Nothing terribly interesting has been happening since we moved out here to Oregon, but I thought I should post at least something short. Ryan has been working away for the last week now at the Portland law office. He is starting to feel a lot more settled there which is good. He's been studying for the Bar and I am overwhelmed just looking at the size of the two books he's got to get through before the Exam in July.
Jack is doing really well here. He seems very settled. When we came here for Christmas last year he was a nightmare. He didn't sleep well and was kinda grouchy all the time until we got back home to Utah. I was nervous that it would take him a while to adjust to being in a new place again and having all these new faces around him, but he's been wonderful. He's hardly been grouchy at all and is starting to sleep well too.
I have been struggling a little with not having my own place, but I am very grateful that my in-laws are kind enough to put us up for a few months. My mind is occupied with the flights to Scotland and hoping so much that things work out for Jack and I on the trip. So, keep your fingers crossed for us!

Pic: Jack doing a bit of gardening with Grandma and Grandpa Harris