Week 1 in Jersey

Last Sunday the kids and I said goodbye to Utah and boarded a plane to New Jersey. Ryan had already been out there for 2 months. We were excited to go join him but sad to be leaving family. Our plane was delayed an hour so the kids kept busy looking at the planes out the window and playing freeze dance.

They were GREAT on the plane. The hardest part was just getting on and getting all situated. After that the flight was long but good. Luckily I packed sandwiches and snacks because the only food available to buy on the 5 hour fight was some apple and cheese tray, and a weird breakfast sandwich. My kids would have been miserable.

On Monday, our first full day here, it was a nice warm day and we took advantage of that by heading down to the beach with Ryan before he took off for the day. Our apartment is just one building back from the beach so it's a very short walk to get there.

McKay and Ellie love standing out on the rocks and commanding the waves to go higher. They love it when a big one actually comes.

Clara hard at work with her stick.

The next day all the wives and kids got together for a potluck picnic at a park. It was a good chance to meet most of the wives.

I think this was McKay and Ellie's favorite part of the park.

Clara, Ellie, and their new friend Ellie. She is the daughter of Justin and Courtney, really the only people I knew before coming. We have taken to calling their Ellie, Ellie Peach, which is her real middle name, and out Ellie, Ellie Pie. I told Ellie I could call them Peach Pie when they were playing together and she thought that was a great idea.

On Wednesday we headed out with Courtney and her kids to pick our own strawberries.

It was the last day for picking so the strawberries were sparse and a little over ripe but it was still fun. How often can you pick something off a plant and plop it in your mouth, dirt and all.

These are what happen when I am trying to get a picture of Clara. I am in love with this girl!!

Sorry about the double picture. I couldn't get it to erase.

Dana, Cody, Ellie Peach, Ellie, McKay and Levi. Clara was so over the strawberry patch by this point.

Everyone was tired.

Friday, another morning on the beach with dad.

The kids wearing their hats that they got for free. They were being given away on the boardwalk to promote wearing hats in the sun and raise awareness about skin cancer.

The weather has still been cool and it has rained a bit almost everyday but we have still managed to get out everyday but one. This will definitely make for a memorable summer.
OUR SUMMER ON THE BEACH!

I'm back, or I'm gone

I'm back to blogging but gone from Utah. The kids and I just got to Long Branch, New Jersey where Ryan is selling for the summer. After 2 months apart we are excited to be back together as a family and are looking forward to our summer on the beach. With a personal computer back I promise to be better about updating. Unfortunately I uploaded a bunch of pictures to my Mom's computer that I didn't bring with me but I will do my best to keep up to date on the happenings out here. Don't you feel bad for us that this is where we have to live?

Monmouth Park Horse Races

Last Sunday we went to the Monmouth Park Horse races. Come to find out, this horse track has a lot of history, with many jockeys winning major horse races here. It was really cold that day, but we had a lot of fun.

This is the winning horse with the Jockey. Once the race was over the winning horse and Jockey get a picture with the owner and his family. After the picture the Jockey has to go and stand on a scale to be weighed. I guess this is to make sure that they aren't cheating and that he is in the right weight class.

There wasn't a lot of people there as you can see in the back ground, but they were all beating.

Justin Bankhead, me, Jared Kalama and Taylor Dames. I'm holding the ticket, but I didn't bet, it was the ticket that lost Jared $10.

This is like the Hall of Flags at UVU. This where everyone hangs out, places bets and enjoys a hot dog and a cold beer. There were so many people betting. All of the banners hanging up behind me are of winning jockeys and the years that they won here at Monmouth Parks.

Before all the horses race, they walk the horses down this parade route. It allows people to see the horses and the jockeys and I guess it helps them decide on who they are going to place money on. The kids would have really liked this. Plan on going to one when you come out.

I'm not really a horse guy, but these horses are beautiful.

Underneath the Monmouth Park it states that this is the home of the $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational on August 2nd. We might just have to come out to this race and see it we can finish the summer out strong.

A Day in New York City

It felt like home to be back in my old stomping grounds from my mission. New York City!!! I love this place. If I could only convince Mandy to move here. You feel so alive. For those of you that have been here, you know what I mean. Sundays are our only days off while we are out knocking doors in New Jersey, so we try and take advantage of the opportunity to go to the city. Time Square was closed off for some rally that was going to happen. Usually Broadway is full of taxi cabs up and down the street where I'm standing.

Braden Spence, Matt Stevenson, me and Ryan Starks all went into the city. Again we are standing in the middle of Broadway. I have never seen Broadway so empty, it was kinda weird.

Matt Stevenson, Ryan and Ryan Starks getting more pics in Time Square.

I don't know what Matt is doing behind me, but we where having fun. M&M's anyone?

Matt Stevenson, Ryan Starks, Braden Spence, Taylor Dame and me standing on the steps that lead down to that famous water fountain that has been in a lot of movies. The only movie I can think of is in Ransom when Mel Gibson's son is kidnapped. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

This was a family that was singing together. They were actually really good. You see a lot of this all around New York. Everyone was taking pictures and giving them money.

This is where all the New Yorkers come to hang out. It is so funny, people act like there on the beach. Girls have bikini's, guys are playing volleyball and everyone is sun tanning. This is a day at the beach for most people who live in New York. You always see a lot more than you are planning for as well. We probably walked through this park three times for Ryan Starks.

You have to get a picture in front of the David Letterman Show. Taylor Dames, Braden Spence, me and Matt Stevenson. We have a great time and plan on doing it again really soon.

Makeup!

Ellie loves makeup! She always wants me to put it on her but I rarely do it because I don't want her going anywhere with it on, like school or church. On this evening we decided to have makeover night. I did Ellie hair and makeup fancy, and she did mine. She looks gorgeous and I love my green eye makeup. Don't you just love ALL the green?

Ellie can never make too many serious faces at one time.

McKay wanted to join in on the fun and NO we didn't mean to almost touch toughs.

Clara Turns 2!!

Our baby is 2!!

I can't believe how time has flown by. I think Clara is one of the happiest, easiest, goofiest kids ever. She has been a joy to have in our family. Her big brother and sister especially love her and take such good care of her.



We had both sides of the family over for pizza, cake and ice cream for her birthday party.

Jackson, Whit, Grandpa Jeff, Grandma Sherrie, Clara, and Hailey.

Wyatt with the soon to be Mrs. Wyatt Grow, aka Courtney

and Lindsay with the birthday girl.

The cutie enjoying her dinner before she could open presents.

You can't see her whole face here but you can just hear her saying "Ahhh!" all excited. The best part is that it was just some clothes. She did that for every present, and almost every present was clothes. That's what Mom asked for, not her.

Enjoying one of the few toys that she got, a Sesame Street remote control.

Learning all about animals.

Modeling one of the cute outfits she received.

Then it was time to sing.

Once we blew out the candle she asked for more. You can see she is doing the sign. I think we relit the candle and blew it out again about 4 times.

I guess this time she is embarrassed.

Mom and Dad with the birthday girl.

Finally she got to enjoy her cake.

We love you Clara!

Happy Birthday!

Baby Poppy is Here!!

Poppy Lind Catano

Born April 22, 2009

6 lbs 8 oz

My kids were so excited for the birth of their newest cousin. When I told them this morning that Poppy was going to be born today they all screamed and Clara started saying "Poppy, Poppy". They couldn't wait until she was born and we could go see her. Tonight they got their chance.

The proud parents

Aaron & Lindsay

Aaron is sick, hence the face mask.

Lindsay, well, she is queen of ugly faces.

McKay couldn't wait to hold the new tiny addition to the family. He looks so proud of himself.






Ellie didn't want to let go. She is such a little mother to her sister Clara and now she has an even tinier person to take care of.

Clara didn't really like holding Poppy but if anyone else had her she loved to hug, kiss, and pet her. She didn't even get jealous when I held her. Good sign.

In my family no one besides me has had a child for 12 years. It's so fun to have another baby in the family. It's also so different having a sister have a baby when I'm a fellow mom. I know exactly the magical feeling.

Poppy's cousin Kim.

Enthralled!!

Welcome to the family Poppy!

We love you already!