Happy Birthday Sam & Lindsay!!!!!!

Both my sisters, Lindsay and Samantha, were born in June. Sam celebrated in SLC on the 16th and we are going to dinner for Lindsay's birthday tonight. When we were little, the age difference seemed huge. We had fun together but our interests were as different as our ages. Now, it is hard for me to believe that they are 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 years younger than I am. We all live in Vegas now and I enjoy getting to see them regularly. They are both extremely talented and amazingly generous to their nephew and neice. Kyle and Abbie are lucky to have them as aunts. I love them both and am so honored to call them my sisters. Happy Birthday!

Last Two Weeks

As I mentioned previously, our family was going to be out of town for two weeks so I wouldn't post until we got back. This should quickly cover the last two weeks of our lives.

Family Reunion

Our trip started the day after Kyle got out of school. We loaded up the car and drove to Heber, Utah for the Marz family reunion. My dad is one of 10 children (7 living) so our family reunions are quite large and always have been. Now that the majority of my cousins have children as well, it's a lot to keep up with. Kyle made friends instantly with a ton of the kids and Abbie enjoyed walking around the camp site. We camped for two nights and basically enjoyed each other's company. My immediate family was responsible for the reunion this year so there was some busy work to do but we had a ton of time to visit with the family as well.

Unfortunately (as some of you read in Lindsay's blog), I got the stomach flu Saturday and was terribly sick all day. Tripp ended up taking me to the emergency room that night where I was shot up with IV fluids and medication and sent home to sleep it off. Tripp got it next and was sick all night and the next day. With the help of Wes, Lindsay and Sam, we somehow got our camp packed Sunday (Tripp and I were both a mess) and headed to our family's house in Draper, UT where Kyle got it Sunday night. Monday came Sam, Lindsay and Wes. Thank goodness the only ones spared with the old and the young (Dad, Barb & Abbie). I guess that is enough said about the family reunion.

Week in Utah

My immediate family planned to spend the next full week in Draper (basically a subburb of Salt Lake City) . With both Lindsay and I being pregnant and due at different times during 2007, plans for a big family trip kind of fell apart. After we kicked the stomach flu, we spent the week hanging out in SLC.

We decided one night to go minature golfing...here is a photo of the group. Sam was planning a bridal shower (for a friend) so she volunteered to stay home with the tiny tot.

Next stop was Hogel Zoo. It is a smaller but fun zoo and we all enjoyed seeing the animals. It was the first time Abbie visited a zoo and understood that she was seeing the animals we read about in her books.

A friend recommended the Gateway Discovery Museum and it was fabulous. It is a children's science museum that unlike the usual children's museums, has a ton of things for little guys like Abbie to do. I think it was the highlight of the trip for her. She absolutely loved it.

Tripp, Kyle, Abbie, Sam Lindsay and I spent a day at Lagoon (amusement and water park). There were a ton of little kid rides but Kyle wasn't allowed to ride them and I wasn't sending Abbie on alone so she ended up riding the big rides. She is the first one year old I know to ride a log ride! She absolutely loved it. It was Kyle's first time riding huge rollercoasters as well and he went on them all. I couldn't believe he was brave enough to go on the 90 degree drop rides but he couldn't get enough. Here are a few photos from Lagoon...

On our last day, we spent the afternoon at Wheeler Farm, another recommendation from a friend. It is a historic, but working farm. The kids got to see all kinds of animals, feed ducks, take a wagon ride and milk a cow. Kyle even earned a Cub Scout patch.

Virginia

We arrived home from Utah on Saturday and I ended up in the ER again that night. It seems I probably have an ulcer but since they don't like to scope pregnant ladies I probably will never know for sure. I am getting treated but they warned me that recovery is slow and painful...bummer.

Tuesday, Tripp, Abbie and I boarded a plane in the early a.m. for Richmond, VA. Tripp was asked to go on business and since his sister, Elizabeth, lives in Richmond, Abbie and I decided to join him. Elizabeth and I really didn't know each other before this trip and her family had never met Abbie. We saw them two years ago at a family renuion but only had a few days to be around each other. It was a nice opportunity to hang out with them and we had so much fun! Abbie got to hang out with her cousins Trey, Elijah and Emily for four days and loved being around them. They were so cute with her and truly made sure she had a ton of fun. Abbie adored their two cats....I think there might be a kitty addition to our family in the future. Elizabeth is so wonderful and was so good to us. We had a great time with the kids at the park and the pool and generally just hanging out. I wish she lived closer because I definitely would be spending tons more time with her. My nephew Trey works for a shaved ice truck and drove the truck home one night for us to have a treat...not something you see everyday in Vegas! Anyway, the trip was wonderful and it was sad to leave them. Thanks for everything Gormus Family!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mama Thom

Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law Mama Thom. She is a wonderful Grandma to her 12 (almost 13 and by the end of the year 14) grandchildren. She is very generous with a commodity most people have trouble sharing...her time. She always has time for her grandchildren and grandpets. I don't think she has ever been too busy to watch any of her grandchildren while her children are out of town or simpy need an extra hand. She is a wonderful example to me and I hope to be the kind of Grandma she is....one willing to give any and all of her time to her grandkids (and pets).

Tripp, Kyle, Abbie, New Baby, Kramer, Reggie, Tilly (in spirit) and I all love you Mama Thom!

A Wonderful Little Boy

Kyle will be finishing up the third grade this week. It has been a little bit tough this year with a teacher that didn't quite fit but he has really worked hard this last quarter and earned the Attendance Award, the Principle's Award and Student of the Month. We couldn't be prouder of him and his efforts. He had a piano recital on Friday and did a wonderful job on one moderate piece and one pretty tough one. His piano teacher is retiring but insists that he keep it up because she thinks he is one of her most talented students.

Many people have commented that I was sent to Kyle and am a blessing in his life but I think they got it wrong...Kyle was definintely sent to me to be a blessing in my life. He teaches me so much every day and is such a pleasure to be around. I couldn't be luckier to have him for a son. What nine year old insists, even begs to share a room with his one year old little sister! (That's right...this summer we will begin moving Abbie's stuff into Kyle's room, including a bunk bed, and in the fall they will officially share a room).

So, here are some photos of Kyle and one of Abbie (I know I'll get an angry note from Tara if I don't post at least one). We are heading to Utah Friday so I probably won't post for a week two....until then~

Weekend in Reno

Tripp, Abbie and I traveled to Reno to spend the weekend with Grandma Sandy, Aunt Susie, and Katie's family. We arrived really late Friday which made Saturday morning a little crabby. I got in my Saturday run while Tripp, Abbie and Grandma Sandy fed the ducks and played at the park. We spend the evening with Katie, Martin and Caedon in their backyard. Abbie had lots of fun running around with Caedon and Shasta (their English Bulldog, Tilly's sister).

Sunday morning we went to church then spent the day with Grandma Sandy and Aunt Susie. We walked along the Reno Riverwalk and watched families enjoying swimming and rafting in the Truckee. Abbie and Tripp got their feet wet.

Monday morning we met Katie, Martin & Caedon at their house for a trip to the park. Katie & Martin were so kind as so give Abbie Caedon's old car which Abbie loves. Tripp talked a guy at the airport into letting us put it on plane even though the box we put it in was oversized. We played at the park then had a little lunch and unfortunately it was time to pack and head for the aiport and our trip home.

We're Having a Baby!

Well, I'm the one actually having the baby but we are all pretty excited to welcome a new brother or sister to the family. I am three months along, due November 30th. Not much to report otherwise...Kyle's soccer season ended with a really exciting win on Saturday. Tripp, Abbie and I are heading to Reno for the three day holiday. That's it for us...have a nice week.

What We've Been Up To

Well, nothing much to talk about...just the life of a normal four person, two dog family. Kyle is finishing third grade and soccer is over next week. He has enjoyed it but it is starting to wear on me. He has a piano recital the first week of June then school ends shortly after. He will be spending one week with us then one week with his mom during summer break. It will be very quiet and sad around here without him for an entire week. I'm not sure how we are going to handle it.

Abbie is doing well. She is walking around, talking and signing. She is a chubby tub of fun and adored by her family...especially her brother and her grandpa. She loves Sesame Street and The Wiggles and beams when we arrive at the library or park. I'm thinking of signing her up for a baby-gymnastics class this summer...should be funny.

Most of you probably know that our sweet Tilly died last year. I'm still not really over it. A family heard about us through our friends Katie & Martin and they needed to find a new home for their bulldog Reggie. We happily adopted him and he has been making himself at home on our furniture ever since (he is naughty).

Tripp is pretty busy. He travels a lot so we are glad when he is actually home for an entire week. He is still working on finishing his degree and is a cub scout leader as well. His love for golf has fallen by the wayside (for now) but hopefully we will make it snowboarding a couple more times this next winter. I am busy working for my dad, being a stay-at-home mom and generally volunteering way too much at Kyle's school (another reason I'm ready for summer). I am training for the Disneyland Half Marathon in September which will be a nice break from the last two marathon training schedules.

My best friend Katie moved to Reno so I get to see a lot more of her and her family. We always planned on living in houses next door to each other but I guess we will have to settle for the same state for now. My dear friend Tara married her soulmate Scott a few weeks ago. She has been a great friend to me since I moved to Vegas and I couldn't be happier for them. I hope to meet up with my college roomates, The Heads, this fall in Columbia. It's been awhile since we've all been together.

I guess that is it. Hope some of my friends start blogs too so that I can catch up on your lives!