DaBell Family Labor Day Hike, BBQ 9-3-07

On the morning of Labor Day weekend we always try to go for a hike with the DaBell extended family (Michelle's mother's family). This year we went up Big Cottonwood canyon for a short little hike. Michelle and I were the only ones from her family that came, but we love Dan & Jean and their family so we had a great time anyway. We were a little late because I had to set up flags with the young men in the morning, so when we finally made it everyone was ready to go. Hikers: Dan & Jean; Jed & Tanna -- with Pete and Abby; Mike and Megan -- with Blake; Marci; Dave & Michelle -- with Samuel. These pictures are curtesy of Dan DaBell. Thanks Dan! Afterwards we went back to Dan's house for a wonderful lunch, and everyone else from the DaBell clan met up with us.

Here we go!

Dan wanted a picture of the four different ways we carried children up the little hike: carrier (Dave-Sammy), in your arms (Jean-Abby), shoulders (Jed-Pete), makeshift carrier (Mike-Blake).

Here is the Jed & Tanna family with children Abby and Pete

Here is Mike and Megan with little boy Blake.

We were worried about keeping Sammy out of the sun, but he just slept the whole time and I tried to keep the hat positioned so that it put him in shade. I think he got a bit sunkissed anyway.

Yeah! We made it. I think it was actually only a 1/2 mile to where we went, but it was fun to get out and breathe some fresh air and have a good time with family.

Mom's birthday

For my mom's birthday, all my siblings decided to go in on a digital camera. I think the one they used to have is the same one they used to take pictures of me when I was a baby. A couple weeks previous, our family got together and went to Seven Peaks. She was just having a ball using Annie's camera, so we were all smirking to ourselves and thinking that she was going t0 love this gift. Sure enough, she did!

Here she poses before opening the present.

This shock was priceless!

We love you mom!

HP -- Our local hero

HP, or H, or Heather Pond, however you prefer to call her, is our local hero. She plays for the USU soccer team and does a great job. This is her freshman year and she is getting lots of playing time. In fact, this week she just made the travelling team (Oct 19 - Oct 21) and that is very exciting. It's been a lot of work but we are super proud of her accomplishments and we're glad she's our sister. We haven't been able to go to a ton of her games, but here is a preseason game when the Aggies played Dixie. Go HP!!

No, she isn't just standing around, she's preparing for her next attack!
Sammy's first soccer game.
Go Heather!
Sammy's little Rugby outfit.
Anyone recognize that belly? Sammy looks upset that he was beaten in the big belly category.

Sammy's Month 2

It was fun to watch Samuel's growth during his second month. He went from sleeping a whole ton, to being awake and cracking smiles. Each week as we email our birth mother, it's fun to note his growth and the activities that he enjoyed. During his second month, he went on his first vacation, went to a couple movies, listened to all of Harry Potter 7 and developed a time of the day to fuss. We of course took a whole ton of pictures, so just scan through and enjoy.

Sammy in Grandpa Pond's Coca Cola hat. This was at the USU -- Dixie Soccer game
Michelle and Sammy lie down for a picture together.
By the end of month 2, he could sit up on the couch (momentarily)
Sammy with Grandma and Grandpa at the soccer game
Super Sam!!
Samuel's birth grandparents gave him an outfit, and by 6 weeks he was looking like he was ready to be blessed, but that won't be until 6 months.
Yes this is the same child. Our polynesian Sammy gets all curly Q when bath time comes.
Sam and his Daddy
Hey! How ya doin?
Look I can hold my head good.

He is so precious asleep..
He is so precious awake.
Hey you have plenty of time to ponder on the complexities of life, just enjoy for now.
Harry Potter Week! We both took turns reading, but Sammy just listened.

Bear Lake with the Ponds August 2007

We took another trip up to Bear Lake with the Pond family the first week of August. Like last year, it was a lot of fun. We boated, and played games, ate a lot of food, listened to Harry Potter on Ralph's ipod, and even went to the Bear Lake County Fair. Ralph bought a pig and a cow at the livestock auction, which was a very interesting experience!
I started to get the hang of the Airchair, but we didn't get any pictures of boating with our camera, so we'll have to update this later..

We were a little nervous with how Sammy would do, but he was a trooper! Annette bought a little lifejacket which was just so huge on him, but hey if we swamped the boat our little guy would float! Safety first, so in the jacket he would go. He endured to the end though and we were able to have a great time. Everytime we put him in it, we just had to smile at how annoyed he looked!
Sammy busted out the mo-hawk look while wearing his motorbike shirt.
At the fair, there was an activity for the kids under 12, the tractor pull. The guys running the show would throw some weight in the back depending on age and the kids would see how far they could go. Heather and Nicole wanted to go for a ride, so they hopped on and got a picture on the fun little tractors.
Here is the auction. I'm not sure if this is the steer that Ralph bought or not.
Here's our little family!