Fun at the Yurt!

Eric, Max and I decided that Max was ready for his first fishing trip...so, we rented the Yurt at Meeks. What is a Yurt you ask...well, let me tell you, says wikipedia: A yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. A yurt is more home-like than a tent in shape and build, with thicker walls. They are popular amongst nomads.

Since we've been living like nomads, we decided to try it out......and I sort of feel like it's a part of my culture (not really!).

Hanky, making Max laugh...gotta love having cousins!

three cutest boys, ever...they just needed Grady in the pic...maybe next year!

My attempt at being artistic.

Fun at Meeks...it was so strange being at the lake at Meeks and not being able to walk to the cabin and have some of Sue's Swedish Fish! All the girls getting the delicious cook out ready.

Hanky, bless his heart, is the most well-natured boy in the world! First, he let Carli play with his beloved fishing pole (pictured here) and she cast the red fish out and it broke and the fish went flying into the lake, never to be found again...Rather than pitching a fit, he just looked at Carli and said in his unusually low and adorable voice, "it's o.k." Feeling badly, Carli attached a pine cone to the end of the line. Hanky's only concern was that, "I don't think the fish will like the pine cone." (as opposed to the red plastic fish). So adorable!Then, still trusting, asked Carli to roast his marshmallow...unfortunately it got a little burnt...and still Hanky said nothing...but his face says it all!

Yes, that's right, I caught a fish and reeled it in myself...and I could not have asked for more perfect timing, as I was just about to reel it in, up drove a truck full spectators (i.e. Hanky, Brookie, Dylan, Carli, Julie, Geoff and Jody)!

Max throwing rocks in the water...life pretty much doesn't get better than this (if only ALL of our family was able to be there)!

Fun at Hogle Zoo!

Eric always has fun weekends planned for us during the summer, recently we went to Hogle Zoo.

Pottery Barn has some really great deals sometimes, so, I couldn't resist. Eric and Max in their matching hats...Eric hated it...he pretty much only wore it for this picture, he said the hat hurt his game.

Du-Du-Du-Du...

Nature's Nightmares was pretty fun. They had bats, slugs and all sorts of gross things. There was even a guy in there with a mullet. He wasn't on display though.

Max loved the monkeys.

He could relate to the fact they throw their own pooh.

It was like 150 degrees and this boat was in the shade. The only thing that burned was Eric's right arm, I wonder why?

Max getting in touch with his rice picking roots.

Max and Eric were terribly startled when the Tigers suddenly jumped to their feet and took them for a wild wide to Narnia. Oh wait, that was a lion. Never mind.

Happy Fourth!

Fourth of July wouldn't be the same without the Kemmerer Community Choir and Brother Cook dressing up as Uncle Sam...here is a split screen of him holding Max from last year to this...poor Max!

Here is Max helping 'Favorite Uncle Chuck' with the dishes.

Julie made Chuck's grandmother's lamb recipe and it was so D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!! Annie, I put a lot of extra pictures for you!

We were invited to the Wellings for a get together and I made patriotic red velvet cup cakes...Meradith told me the most interesting story about how cooks used to make the cupcakes so red...so, of course, I googled it...it turns out that it's not red velvet cake necessarily that is made from crushed beetles, but red food dye...so, if you're not super keen on the idea of eating beetles, look for an OU symbol or K- designating that the item is Kosher, also FD&C Red Dye #40 ( known as Red #40) is made from a petroleum product or coal tar, not insects. There's your random fact for the day.

Tracy and Eric holding Monson and Maxwell...just their names alone make them destined to be good friends, don't you think?

Little girls in heels is a hoot...but little boys in heels is ridiculously funny...as long as it's not my son! Just kidding. Sort of.

Corey's new baby...have you ever seen a cuter little smile?!?!

Max in a helicopter.

The fireworks were amazing this year...Max loved getting to stay up late and see all the 'lights.' All night I could hear him saying 'light, please.' It's great to live in a country with so many freedoms, amenities and pride. Happy Birthday!

My Big Brother is a married man!

I'm not sure how this picture happened...but I really liked it...they did a rehearsed dance for their first dance...watching my big brother dance was really touching...he really is going to be the best husband out there...sorry, Eric...he even trumps you.

The only picture we got with the bride and groom and my mom's eyes are closed! Thank goodness they had a real photographer...though, I think Eric did a pretty good job.

Me and the cutest ring bearer, EVER!

The entire day he kept making this face that we dubbed, "scared face!" Every time someone said it, he would do this face.

Me and my brother right before the wedding.

A montage of the wedding day.

A Chiu family shot

This is an action shot of me and Max walking down the isle...
That's right, Max is actually high fiving my uncle Francis as he walks down the isle. You gotta love that kid!

Peter, getting all chocked up during the ceremony.

The kiss...and now, my big brother is a married man! It really reminds you how much you love someone when just seeing them happy makes you feel so much happiness, too!

A visit to Lander to meet Grady

We tried to get all artistic with pictures...this is one of my favorites...

...I made Max get in the same basket...I can't believe how big he's gotten. He still seems like a teeny, tiny baby to me...craziest of all...next month he goes to nursery...oh the trepidation (on my part, of course).

Max's face is priceless...he was so excited to have caught the ball on his own.

That's right, we're each wearing 'Pee-Pee tepees' on our head. I'd never heard of these until Julie told me about them.

Beautiful little Grady.

Julie was there being the super helper and made the best burgers, EVER.

The proud papas

Happy Fathers' Day

Ezra Taft Benson said, "...a father’s calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity."

Howard W. Hunter said, "Earn the respect and confidence of your children through your loving relationship with them. A righteous father protects his children with his time and presence in their social, educational, and spiritual activities and responsibilities. Tender expressions of love and affection toward children are as much the responsibility of the father as the mother. Tell your children you love them."Eric is more than I could ever hope for in a father for our children. Thanks, for being all that you are: funny, attentive, loving, kind, patient, witty and so much more. Max looks up to you, already, in more ways than you can imagine.

Since they were having a fight a week before our anniversary in Salt Lake, I knew they would be the perfect gift for Fathers' Day. Since my brother got married the Friday before, it was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family. I love you, Dad!