Anniversary Weekend

We had a great anniversary weekend thanks to a few people.

#1 Sherrie & Jeff: Thanks for watching the kids and enabling us to have a few free days.

#2 Bracken & Talia: Thanks for inviting us to Tim McGraw. It was a great start to a great weekend.

Bracken & Talia had 2 extra tickets to the Tim McGraw concert Friday night and they were nice enough to think of us. It was a wonderful anniversary present. I wonder what they will do next year?

I've been a little out of the music scene but, back in the day Tim was my main man. He even found his way into our wedding video.

We got the VIP treatment. Free parking, free dinner, and great seats.

Thanks again for the concert. We had a great time!
On Saturday we got to SLEEP IN, since the kids were with the Hills. Once we rolled out of bed we got ready and headed to Park City. We spent the day doing my 3 favorite things: shopping, eating, and watching movies. We ate at two of my favorite restaurants, Cafe Rio & California Pizza Kitchen. Went shopping at two great places, Park City Outlets & Gateway. We even got to go to 2 movies in the same day. I was in heaven! Not to mention, I was with the man that has been my love for the last 8 years. (plus 9 months before)
Dinner at CPK.
Back at home.

Sunday we got to sleep in again. We went to lunch and then spent the afternoon driving looking for a new home. We will keep you posted.

We had a great weekend!

What a great way to celebrate still being in love!

8 YEARS

We have been off celebrating 8 years of wedded bliss.

Still happy, still in love!

McKay's 6th Birthday

I know I am very, very late with this post. McKay's birthday was two months ago, but there are just a few past posts that I really want to get on here. McKay turning 6, definitely one of those.

For McKay's birthday breakfast he picked donuts. We had to put in the candles and sing.

From Mom and Dad McKay got a plasma car. He uses Grandma and Grandpa's all the time so we thought it was time to get one of his own.

Ready to test it out indoors. He couldn't go far but he did ride around the wood floors in the kitchen.

He was nice enough to let sister have a go at it.

After breakfast he took it outside to really test its speed.


That evening we had a birthday party at our house with all the family.
Kim, Angie, Hailey, and Courtney (Not family but we are keeping our fingers crossed.)
Great Grandpa Chynoweth
Great Grandpa Hill

Our kids are lucky enough to have around two sets of great grandparents.

Uncle Jackson giving us the thumbs up on the plasma car.
Mom and the birthday boy.
The men of the house.
McKay with Uncle Alex.
Opening presents.

McKay is obsessed with Mario. He was happy to receive this remote control Mario Kart. Thanks Angie and girls!



Ken, courtesy of the Great Hill Grandparents
His t-ball set up from Mom and Dad.
He has been on a team for the last month and is doing well. Pictures to come.

More Mario! Mario Party 8 from Grandma Sherrie and Grandpa Jeff. He also receive Mario Kart Wii from Grandma Judy and Grandpa David. I told you he loves Mario. He wanted a Mario themed party but I couldn't find the supplies. He settled on Transformers, which he likes too.

His Transformer cake.

Happy Birthday McKay!

It is crazy to me that I have a 6 year old. It makes me feel a little old but I wouldn't trade it for the joy of being this kids Mom. He is so loving and smart. He makes each day a joy. We love you McKay! Happy Birthday!

Lake Powell

Grandma Judy, Ellie and Hailey all enjoying the views of Lake Powell. Thank you Grandma Judy for the wonderful trip to Lake Powell. We look forward to going again.

It has almost been 8 years since we first went to Lake Powell together and had almost the exact picture taken. Wow, has time gone by fast. Eight years, three kids and one on the way. . . (got ya!!) We have enjoyed going as much as we can together as a family. I love the rock formation in the back, it is so cool to watch the sunset and see the beautiful silhouettes.

How COOL!! is this picture. The kids McKay and Ellie loved running up and down the rock, singing, and of course throwing rocks.

The moon shinning bright one of the nights.

It seems that when ever the Grows are going to Lake Powell some of the Gallands come and enjoy the fun times together. On this trip you had from left to right Kim, Grandma Judy, McKay, Ryan, Mandy, Dean, Kathy, Taylor, Morgan, Ben Hoopes (Chelsea Galland husband), Dannie, Hailey, Amy (Galland) Williams, Annie Stewart (soon to be Grow), Alex (soon to be Annie's husband), Wyatt, Adam Galland, Ellie, Courtney Bledsoe, Randon (Adams friend) and York Galland. All the Gallands stayed in their own house boat next to us.

We had such a great time with everyone, from cliff jumping, hiking some narrows, starting fires, eating dinner together and sharing stories about David Grow and of course playing Mafia.

First day in Lake Powell and the kids couldn't wait to get into the water. So Hailey there cousin was willing to get in the water with them, and boy was the water COLD the first day. It seemed like no one jumped in and really enjoyed it. Thanks for being such a great cousin Hailey.

Grandma Judy and Ellie enjoying the water. Grandma Judy bought these really cool tubes that had little water guns on both sides so you could shoot water at other people. The kids really had fun on the tubes. Ellie was able to swim across with Dad to a small island by the house boat. She was so brave to do that in the cold water. I know that the swimming lessons worked, she loved the water. Thanks for being Dad's swim partner Ellie. I love you.

What can we say about Ellie. She loved Lake Powell and enjoyed going on hikes and treasure hunts to find candy with Grandma Judy. Of course she is wearing a dress. In fact that is all she wanted to pack.

Every night we hiked up to the top of the rocks above the house boat, and enjoyed the beautiful sunsets that Lake Powell is famous for. With McKay wearing his I love NY shirt, I had to get a picture of him and the house boat the we stayed on. It was so pretty every night. McKay loved the run all around the rocks and especially throwing rocks down into the water and watching them splash. He could have stayed out there all day just throwing rock into the water. We love you McKay.

Look at the most beautiful family ever. We left Clara with Mckenise while we played in Powell. Thanks Kenz. Lake Powell is great for just hanging out and not having to worry about what you look like. At the end of every day we were all so tired and lazy, it was just fun to hang out with everyone. Thanks to all for a wonderful time. See you there in October.

Post by Ryan

For Lindsay

Underwater

For the past 5 weeks McKay and Ellie have been taking swimming lessons. They take from Pam Young who is a wonderful teacher. They love her and look forward to swimming everyday. The lessons are 4 times a week. At their last lesson they had someone come to take underwater pictures of all the kids.
This picture is exactly how the whole 5 weeks have gone. Ellie is gung hoe, totally under the water, and smiling. McKay has to have the top of his head sticking out, and even then he is not to sure he likes it.
Ellie is like a little fish in the water. She can now swim from side to side, or the whole length of the pool all on her own.

I love the hair cap and goggles that she wears every time.
McKay has been such a great sport and has made such progress in the water. He was very leery of the water before this. He has got a very nice back float, and is good at doing the swordfish swim.
My pictures to come. Their last lesson is tomorrow.