COLORADO!

My goodness, we've had quite the eventful summer! California Vacation, Wagner Family Reunion, GRADUATION, and a move to Colorado. Now that we're settled, here are some pictures from our last few weeks in Colorado: 

 We made the big transition to a Big boy bed... and he did great! We did our best to be super positive about this change and how fun it would be to sleep in a different bed, so he went to bed just like normal. His door doesn't shut very well so we leave it cracked open. He doesn't ever get out of his bed until morning or after he's done with his nap. The first morning I woke up to his face two inches from mine saying, "Hi Mommy."

 One of our favorite things about being in Denver? Being able to go to sporting events! As an anniversary present to Craig, I got him Rockies/Giants tickets for the game on August 4. We are excited that the University is having a promotion and giving $5 tickets for the Rockies came this Wednesday(CRAIG'S Birthday!)... who are they playing? THE GIANTS!

 Moving to a new place comes with redecorating! When we moved we got ride of our old dining room chairs and table because they were falling apart. Here's a little preview of the new ones!

 There is so much more to do here! Craig has been taking Eli out on Adventures("abbeen-chhhurrs") each Saturday to give me a break. Here are a few pictures from some of the things that they have done:

Lots of bike rides to the parks. There are bike paths EVERYWHERE here!(I will probably enjoy them a lot more next summer)

 Hikes... the mountains are so close!

For being a student, Craig gets a sweet deal with the transportation department, and gets to ride the trains and buses for CHEAP...and Eli rides for free, so we go on lots of train rides.

 Paddle-boating in downtown Denver. Craig called me while out on the lake/pond and told me that he was having fun paddling, even if Eli wasn't really helping....

 Every first Saturday of the month, the Art Museum downtown has free days, so here we are taking advantage of that sweet deal!

I was really excited about moving, but really nervous at the same time. I LOVED Rexburg, and always will. There is something really comfortable about a small college town with lots of people in the same stage of life. I was afraid about moving and being some 7 months pregnant. But it all worked out. We have felt so welcomed and loved already, and there is so much to do here! We have felt guided to move here, and have really loved it so far. Ask me in a month or so when I have a toddler, a new baby, all my help(mom and in-laws) has come and gone and Craig is back to his regular schedule how I like living somewhere new... the answer may change, but for now I'll bask in happiness of being somewhere new!

Big TWO year old!

For the past week or so, we've been asking Eli what he wants for his birthday and each day the answer changes: a little brother, pancakes, elephants, monkeys, letters, trains, pancakes, etc. He didn't get an elephant, but he did get pancakes for breakfast. We've had a pretty low-key day, but it was really fun watching him open presents because he understands what they are!

 (after I told him to smile AND say cheese I got this fake smile^)

I know I've said it before, but I can hardly believe that our sweet Eli is two! It's been a HUGE blessing to be his mom, and am honored and humbled to have him in our life! 

California

After my class finished at the end of May, Eli and I met up with Anna and the kids and we drove out to California. It was so much fun!

The Drive:

The pool: 

(This is from the first day in the pool since last summer. Since this picture he has done SO much better. Now he'll put his face in the water, blow bubbles, get rings, kick, and do his swimming arms! Bummer I don't have a picture of him happy in the pool!)

 The entertainment:

Eli had a tough time adjusting to sharing ALL the time, but after about a week I think he realized that being with kids his age is more fun than not! Looking back I'm so grateful that we went and that I have these memories! Hopefully grandma and grandpa will let us come next year too. :))

Stuck

We took a trip to Tracey Aviary in Salt Lake City a couple of weeks ago (we have some catching up to do in the blog world--June has been a busy month!!).  We met my brother Spencer and his fiance Ashley there and had a great time.  We are so happy for them and excited for their wedding coming up later this month! Eli made the Aviary a lot of fun.  He got so excited seeing all of the different birds, and he loved feeding the baby ducks. 

 Posing for a picture inside a pelican's mouth.

 Eli just reading up on rare and precious birds.

 Family picture! 

After the picture we all took our heads out...except for little Eli...he got stuck!

 I couldn't help myself so I snapped this quick picture.  He was so scared that he'd be a bird forever.  Poor little guy.  

Brush?

Eli will walk around the house saying "brush? brush?"(sounds more like buh-sh). Instead of holding him up to rinse his toothbrush so that he can suck the water and repeat several times, I came up with this little number.

I was able to do my make-up, Eli was able to drink water via toothbrush. Win-Win. :)

Memorial Weekend

On Saturday I worked and on Sunday it rained all day, but Monday was really pretty so we decided to take a trip to Jackson Hole. This is one of the trips that we've had on our "Rexburg Bucket List," so this weekend was perfect! We started out in Jackson Hole, and walked around some of the shops, but there is only so much time you can spend in the little shops that sell the same little trinkets, so we only spent about 30 minutes before we took a little boat out across Jenny Lake.

 On the side of the lake that we got into the boat, it was sunny skies and warm weather, when we got on the other side of the lake, it was SNOWING/raining and SO muddy! I think if we would have known how muddy it would be, we would have planned something a little different, because poor Eli had to stay in the pack the whole time. The hike back was about 3 miles(because we took a little detour to hidden falls), and SO pretty! I would recommend this little trip to anybody and everybody planning on going to Jackson!

 After the boat ride, Eli insisted on throwing rocks. We had just put him in the backpack, so we just left him there... haha.

HE'S the one that pulls the bill of his hat down to cover half of his face. When he's walking around he can barely see... but he gets mad when we try to fix his hat. So we just let it be.

 Hidden Falls

 Craig and Eli in front of the Lake

 This moose was not even 25 feet away from us! Right before we got off the boat, the driver warned us of bears, so I kept my eyes peeled, but instead saw THIS! trust me.... equally scary! Even if it wasn't phased by us. Eli's reaction? "Mooooose! Mooooose!" 

About 20 minutes before we got to the car, Eli fell asleep in the pack. Good timing Eli. 

Although these pictures don't show it, Becca and Elle Mele came with us. It was so nice to have some friends to keep Eli company on the drive and to help us out in Jackson. Because Eli had his little power nap, he talked and talked and talked on the way home. Poor Elle was trying to sleep while Eli's little hands kept poking her face. OH dear. I couldn't help but laugh. Thanks for coming with us ladies!