Demolition derby and visiting the Kemps

This past weekend Ryan and I made a short trip to Utah to visit his family, celebrate his dad's birthday, and meet two new little additions to the Kemp family (baby Nathan, and Avery).  Before I get to my first demolition derby experience I must say the drive to Utah was more pleasant this time.  The last picture provides a small glimpse of the green rolling hills and blue sky.  Yes I did say green and as many know that this drive to Utah is usually brown and nothing but brown.  All of the rain has made the drive quite scenic and not so boring.  Enough about that let's get to the important part.  The West Jordan Demolition Derby brought out the "white trash" in me!  By the end of the event I wanted a car to catch on fire and I found myself yelling "flip that car"!  What added to the charm was the nice vests we had to wear so we didn't have to pay to get into the event.  Ya we all were volunteer ushers.  I must say when people had to ask me where their seats were located I looked just as confused as they did.  All in all it was a surprisingly fun event.  We had a great time with the family and enjoyed our weekend in Utah.  

Here is one of the cars that flipped that evening!  I must say we were cheering pretty loud when it happened.

More collisions.....and smoke from the crappy engines

Rick and Ryan

Zack, Austin, Julie, me, and Ryan.  Gotta love the vests! 

the green hills on the way to Utah?

Baby blessing and a birthday

Sunday was such a great day! Baby Easton was blessed in the morning and we all enjoyed a lovely brunch hosted by the Zickgrafs.  We spent the afternoon and evening at my parents playing ping pong, running through the sprinkler, and Ford using his racket all afternoon.  He is really good at hitting the ball and is very coordinated. It was also my 26th birthday and we ate my favorite cake.....TCBY ice cream cake.  It was so good.  Thanks Ryan for remembering!  There are a lot of pictures because I love taking pictures of my nieces and nephews.  They are so adorable.  Being an Aunt is so much fun. 

Izabel, Elly, and Ford attempting to play ping pong.....Ford is the only one who can hit it.

Ryan getting the kids wet.  They loved having the trampoline all wet while they jumped.

Look at the three amigos enjoying themselves.  It really wasn't very warm, but they didn't seem to mind.

Cousins sporting their new matching swim suits.  Grandma June is the best!

Blowing out birthday candles.  Well what was left....Ford blew them out before I could.  :)

Easton smiling for his Auntie Kristie

Aunt Emily, Uncle Brian, and baby Easton on his blessing day

Baby Easton is such a precious little boy. I was happy to share my birthday with his blessing day.

Ford playing with his racket.  He can through up the ball and hit it.  

Elly tried to hit the ball like Ford.  Maybe in a couple more years, but she sure looks cute in her sunday dress.

Bakfiet bike ride and babysitting

Last weekend Amy and Jay asked if we would watch their little girl for a couple of hours. Of course we would! It was the most fun I've had babysitting in a long time. We rode Jay and Amy's bikes all over the greenbelt while baby Tesla slept. Seriously this bike is amazing! We had so much fun going on an afternoon bike ride that we honestly forget that we were babysitting. That is Tesla was so good and didn't wake up until we ended the ride. Jay and Amy arrived ten minutes later and our afternoon bike/babysitting ride was over. So if anyone would like us to babysit please provide a bakfiet bike to rock your little one to sleep :) It was fun to spend some time with Tesla she is so darn cute and we love those chubby cheeks.

Tesla just woke up after a long bike ride.......time for a snack

it looks like the cactus is coming out of her head! ha ha

posing.....Ryan actually rode the bakfiet bike

I rode Amy's cruiser bike

Tesla just waking up! Look at that double chin....too cute. :)

Tesla are you ready for your close up!?

Pool Party! oh and #10 graduates!

So yesterday was another beautiful summer day and what goes best with warm weather? ......water of course!  Most of the family gathered for a dinner before Riley (the youngest of ten) graduated!  The graduation wasn't until eight so the grand kids wanted to take a dip in the pool.  We didn't have to convince Ryan or Andy to join them.   They had so much fun! Little Izabel is a fish and loves to swim to anyone and jump off of the diving board.  Elly loves to blow bubbles and ride on her dad's back while he swims.  Ford just loves to be thrown really high and wear the goggles!  After a nice swim we all went and watched Riley get his diploma and sport the yellow valedictorian cords!!!!  We are so proud of him!  Oh and my mom and dad will soon be empty nesters, well good thing they have tons of grandkids to keep them occupied.  I am excited for many more pool parties and warm summer weather.  WAHOO SUMMER IS HERE!

Izabel swimming doing her circle arms (like grandma and Auntie Kristie have taught her to do) 

go little fish :)

Elly and Izabel

Tesla the cutest darn chubby baby girl and her mommy

Elly going for  a ride

Sweet Izabel

Look at her jump!

Ford and Uncle Ryan

Last but not least, Ford sporting his swim goggles!

California Fun!

About a month ago I won a trip to Disneyland from work.  I filled out a short essay and figured it wouldn't hurt to submit it to my boss.  He sent out the original e-mail explaining the offer.  So this past weekend I flew to Aneheim, California for an all expense trip to enjoy Disneyland and attend the California Dental Convention.  I also made some time to visit my sister Jenelle, her husband Joe and their two little boys, Sam and Evan.  It was a perfect trip and I would have loved it even more if my husband could have joined me.  Maybe next time!  Seriously though Disneyland was tons of fun!  I really did feel like a kid again and I wanted to dance around and wear a Cinderella dress!  All of the little girls were dressed up like princesses with tiaras.  The rides were fun (Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Soarin', Monsters Inc. (California Adventure).  Kelly (a fellow co-worker) and I enjoyed a busy afternoon and evening at Disneyland and California Adventure on Thursday.  Friday we attended the dental convention, as well as Saturday morning.  I then rented a car a drove about 35 minutes to Dana Point to visit my sister.  We enjoyed spending the afternoon at the beach watching Joe surf while Sam ate fries and a hot dog, and Evan pooped in his diaper.  Jenelle ran out of baby wipes and had to use Sam's napkins to clean his bum!  I laughed pretty hard while she wiped his bum with a dry napkin.  Oh the things moms  have to endure!  Love ya Jenelle!  That night we ate at a yummy Thai food restaurant and had frozen yogurt for dessert.  It was the perfect day.........thanks Joe and Jenelle!  I had to leave the next morning for the LAX airport and come back to good ol' Idaho!  I must say as much as I love to visit the beach I love Idaho and how small it is!  I also love my baby......I always miss him when we haven't scene each other for a few days!  It was a great weekend packed with good memories.

Mickey Mouse!  I had to quickly snap the picture as he rushed by on a bike!

Sam enjoying some fries and a hotdog!  This was a special treat :)

A few of the characters at Disneyland ( I had to get a picture of Cinderella for Elly. She is obsessed with Disneyland and princesses)

Sam riding his bike!  This kid can fly down the hills and he is only three!

Kelly and I after the Disney parade!  It was a dance party :)

Posing at the entrance to Disneyland

Sisters and Evan

Evan is so big now!  The last time I saw him was Christmas!!!!!!

Joe walking down to his surf spot!  Love ya!

Run Ryan Run....

This past weekend Ryan and I drove to Utah for the Salt Lake half marathon.  We left Friday after work and didn't arrive until 12am!  Ryan had to wake up at 6 am to run in the race.  My best friend and I were the ultimate cheerleaders and waited at the finish line for our boys to complete the race.  I must say it was hard to watch all of the runners as I was supposed to run this race before I tore my ACL.  I think I won't sign up for this one ever again.  The year before I got terribly sick from out honeymoon and couldn't run in it either.  I think from now on I'll sign up like a week before so I won't curse myself!  So Ryan and Jake ran the first 6 miles in 48 minutes.  Ryan finished in 1 hour and 51 mins.  Jake finished in 1 hour and 43 mins.  I think Ryan pushed it a little too much for the first 6 miles, but he did a great job.  I miss running with him!  Now we go on tons of walks together, but it isn't quite the same.  I know before long I will be able to run along side my hubbi.  

Denae and me!  Go boys!

Jake and Ryan.....sweat, smiles, and a thumbs up

Jake pushing it to the finish line

Ryan flashing a smile as he is near the finish line.

Baby Easton

On April 16 at 2:41 AM, the newest member of the Zickgraf family was born.  Another baby boy to keep Ford from feeling out numbered.  Easton William Zickgraf weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long.  Both Cindy and baby Easton are doing well and the family can't get enough of him.  He is the perfect mix of both Izabel and Ford!  Izabel is such a good big sister and loves to hold him/ kiss him.  It is really fun to see the little kids with the baby and Ford doesn't quite understand how little he is.  Ford want to play with him, but is also very sweet.  It was so much fun to just sit and hold him.  Easton is a darling baby boy!  Everyone is happy that he has finally arrived.

The proud Aunt and Uncle

Ryan holding Easton like a football!

Izabel giving her baby brother a smooch

Izabel is such a little mommy 

Easton William Zickgraf

He can't wait to meet everyone!