IT'S A BOY

Yesterday we had the ultrasound to determine if the little goldfish kicking around in my belly is a boy or a girl. And... IT'S A BOY!!!! We were so expecting a girl, that when the nurse said, "It's a boy," we were like, "WHAT?" With the ultrasound we were able to see all of our little baby. He has his hands and feet up by his head and is holding onto his big toes with his hands. It was so fun to see our little boy. To celebrate we went and bought our first little boys outfit. Klaron and I had a good time looking at all the baby stuff. Then we came home and looked up which stroller and crib and everything we want to get. The stroller we decided on is the Evenflo Journey Combo set. If anyone has any advice on strollers and cribs, please let us know. Klaron before didn't really care about pattern and how everything looked, now he wants everything to match and look just right. He's so funny.



Here's the two of us going into the doctor's office. The doctor's office is an old Victorian home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.



The Ultrasound pictures. The last one is the proof that indeed he is a boy.



This is the first time Klaron was interested in picking out baby clothes. We couldn't decide which outfit to get.



Klaron hung up the outfit in the closet with our clothes.

BUM I AM

Last week our apartment was inspected by the city. In consequence our landlord was sent a long list of things to do to get our apartment "up to code." So, he and his partner decided to get started on it today. Klaron had to work at 8am and I didn't want to be home while they were working on the house. AWKWARD!! I wasn't sure how I was going to spend my day so I packed a few things so I would be prepared for anything: my pillow, bathing suit, goggles, shampoo (to go workout, i don't just pack shampoo), scriptures, sudoku, water and other miscellaneous stuff. When I left the house, I didn't know where I was going to go. I wanted to go back to sleep so I drove around looking for a good park, but I didn't find one. I ended up in the Family Fare (grocery store) parking lot, in the back so no one would see me sleeping in my car. In back of the parking lot there is a swampy creek with about 10 foot high banks up to the parking lot. That is important to know. I actually slept very well, the best you can in a compact car in the drivers seat that doesn't go back. About three hours later I woke up and says to myself, "What now?" As I was deciding about what do next, I saw a Blue Heron down in the creek right in front of my car. It walked into the creek, its long legs hardly made a ripple in the murky black water. As I watched the Heron, it shot its head and long skinny beak into the water and came up with a 6 inch fish flapping in its mouth. The Heron put the fish on the side of the bank and started pecking at it to kill it. Then it would pick it up and shake it, then put it back up on the bank and pecked at it some more. I watched in amazement for about 3 minutes at this Heron and fish. All the while thinking to myself, "How is this Heron going to eat that fish with such a skinny beak?" But then, after the Heron had decided the fish was sufficiently dead, it arranged the fish in its mouth face first, AND THEN ATE IT WHOLE!!!! I was shocked. I sat in my car starring at this Blue Heron, wondering what it was going to next and still awestruck at what it had just done. I wish I had brought my camera along with all the other random things I had in my backpack, but sadly I didn't and the world will never see how a Blue Heron with a long skinny beak ate such a large fish in one gulp and then just walk away looking for its next victim.
So that was my morning as a bum.

The Elusive Amy Awesome Has Returned

I have spent the last two weeks in Gridley, California/ Victor, Idaho. Every two years, my mom's side of the family get together for a family reunion. This year the festivities were held in Victor, Idaho. Population 840, nestled below the Great Teton Mountains. We rented the family lodge and everyone hung out for five days. It was really good times. I spent a lot of time with my nieces and nephews who I don’t see very often, we played games and of course ate a lot. I learned a new game called LIARS DICE. It's the game played on Pirates of the Caribbean 2, while Will is on the Flying Dutchman. It’s an addictive game.

Here are a few highlights of my solo vacation to see the familia:

Highlight #1
YELLOWSTONE PARK

This was my first trip inside Yellowstone. I've been around it a few times, but never inside. It was pretty exciting. We drove down the road with both sliding doors of the van open so we could see all the animals. Here is my dad with a herd of buffalo. How many can you count?



A few times we were driving on the roads and be stopped by blockades of empty cars. When this happen we knew there was something to see. Here is a black bear across the stream. Dakota, my nephew was pretty excited.



On the way out of the park, after a long day of animal watching. We thought we had seen all the animals we were going to see, BUT THEN, two cars ahead of us, A GRIZZLY BEAR walked across the street!!! My loving father, opens my sliding door, and I see the Grizzly 20 feet away from me. The Grizzly didn't take any notice of and just meandered down into the trees.



Highlight# 2
Milk can dinner

Everyone was a little sceptical when we heard we were having Milk Can Dinner, take it or leave it! But it turned out very good. Here's my brother dumping the contents of the milk can into a trough, while all us hungry piggies waited.



Highlight #3
My nieces and nephews

Gracie and Landon found a hole in the second floor and decided to entertain us.



Shaylee. The newest addition to the group.



Hunter. Just hanging out by the pool.



Ma and the gang.



Highlight #4
WHITE WATER RAFTING DOWN THE SNAKE RIVER

Me and my unborn baby watched from the sidelines. Here I am at Lunch Counter, waiting for the two boats to come down.



This turned out to be a very memorable trip. The water was 23,000 sfm, translation, REALLY FAST, LOTS OF RAPIDS. My mom had to tie her glasses on with a shoe lace so she would still have them after the first big wave.



Because the water was so fast, both boats missed the out point and were swept down river. They eventually made it to the side and clung to trees and roots so they wouldn't go any further down river.



That day we all experienced our own Good Samaritan story. A girl on a boat in front of us had seen the boats miss the out point and ran to see if she could help. She brought with her ropes so we could get our people out of the boats and the freezing water. Each person had to climb up a steep 35 feet bank to get out of the river. We don't know what would have happen if Lauren (our Good Samaritan) hadn't help some strangers.



Highlight #5
The Rexburg Temple

Finally finished, we drove up to Temple Hill. Here's me and Grandpa Norm and Grandma Verda trying to find a little shade from the hot sun.