Lake Powell

We went down to Lake Powell with my family this year. Chad couldn't go because he had back surgery the week before. Kind of last minute. It needed to happen, and we are glad that he did it, but it put me in a lose-lose situation. I didn't want to leave Chad home when he couldn't do much (no driving, no sitting for long periods of time, no bending, and no me to help!) but I didn't want to disappoint the boys by not going. It is the only trip we have planned for them this year and they were so excited- how mean would that be?! Plus I was really nervous about taking 3 kids, 2 wave-runners, and a new car down by myself. But I decided to go and I'm glad I did. My family is great at helping out and helped me a ton! We had three cars going down so each car had one of my boys! How awesome is that? And I didn't have to worry one bit while on the lake because I knew there were 12 other eyes on my kids. (For those counting: Dad, Mom, Adam, Jessica, Dallyn, and Anna. Did I do my math right?) I LOVE Lake Powell, but I love it even more with wave-runners! It was so much fun. I know Chad was disappointed that he missed out, but we are already planning next year's family trip down. It is one place that I don't know how anyone can think there is no God with they see it! It is alway breathtaking. Here is a picture overload for you. Enjoy!

Tuckered out from the long drive down. He did awesome especially considering he was only 3 months old!

First lesson: remembering that your life jacket makes you float and to not panic!

Dallyn and Adam on the tubes- I really like being the photographer, it's fun.

Tracen wanted to try the tubes so he went out with Adam- here they are being goofy. Surprised?

Getting brave on the tube. He was trying to jump like Adam. He went on the tube again later that day and fell off- I wasn't on the boat and that probably is a good thing! Our friend Travis (Mike and Julie's son who is 10) was on the other tube and bailed to make sure he was alright and Adam jumped off the boat to get to him! Like I said I had a lot of help! He was alright and actually got back on the tube.

Trying so hard to get the tube to move so he could bump Adam. Ya need a little bit more weight on your bones ya skinny minnie!

My wrinkly fish. I couldn't keep him out of the water!

Okay, this is the first picture of three. I had my camera on the sport setting so it takes them fast. This is pretty much what we saw from the boat. It was awesome!

(Adam- sorry I haven't gotten these to you yet- I'm really slow!)

Layne chillin' with Grandpa

This was parked at our hotel and boys were so excited! They thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Myles finally wanted to go for a ride on the wave-runner. I had to make him the first time to remind him that he likes it and it's fun. 2 year olds!

And then he fell asleep- yes asleep in the wave-runner. Who does that? (Don't mind the fatty on the back!)

A familiar sight on the boat

Cutie Patootie

Swimming (Surprise!) at one of out canyon spots. Love Lake Powell!

What is Lake Powell without a little sister sillyness?

Layne George Sorensen

Layne was born April 11, 1011. He was 8 pounds and 18 inches long. Even though he was born via C-Section, he was pretty beaten up on his way out. He was face up at the incision and the doctors had to turn him using the forceps. Poor guy. We kept telling people he was in a fight and the doctor won. He was born at Riverton Hospital. The nurses and doctors were AWESOME! However, I would not recommend going there as their admin side of things SUCKS! I had to pre-register with them months before he was born. All they asked about was my insurance information. They did not inform me until the day after he was born that they are out of network with my insurance. And because of that my deductable was doubled- meaning I had to pay for everything because there was no way I was going to hit the deductable. And that was just for the hospital because my doctor is in network so everything I had to pay to him was on a different deductable! So long story short I went from a $5,000 deductable to a $15,000 deductable! Would it have been that hard to say something to me before I even checked into the hospital?! Really people! Granted, I should have checked, but my doctor's office was also at fault. I signed a financial agreement with them at the beginning of pregnancy and in it states that I was required to deliver at Riverton per my insurance's request. I must be an idiot, but that tells me that they checked with my insurance. They checked everything else. Not to mention that with my other kids they told me that my doctor delivered at two hospitals and I had the choice of where to go. They didn't tell me that this time so I didn't know I had a choice. Which by the way I learned later that I did have a choice! Anyway, off my soap box for now on that subject! ... Recovery for me was 100x better than with Myles. Amazing how it's the same surgery but totally different outcomes! It's good things have gone so well because I had to be back at work after 3 weeks. Chad is still having problems with his leg and it got really bad around that time and he couldn't work. So off I went thinking I knew enough to keep the business going by myself- HA! Luckily we have really good family who are willing to work for a bribe or two. :) Enough about the boring stuff, here are some pics of Layne...

All my boys

Myles was only allowed to touch his toes for a while. He still asks to see "baby waynes" toesies.

Nap Time. Notice Myles' grin- I think that means he won.

Tracen loves to hold Layne. He was really upset the first night that they had to leave me and Layne at the hospital. He cried the whole way home. So sweet.

Here you can see some of his battle wounds. On his cheek and the big line on his head are just a few. He also had a black eye on the other side.

Tracen was a little under the weather when Layne came home so he had to wear a mask around him and not hold for a day or two. Which was torture for him.

Layne with cousin Spencer

D-O-N-E

I am so ready to be done being pregnant! I really can't complain because this pregnancy has gone by fairly quickly and without any complications (if only I could convince my insurance of that- another story for another time!) But I am just to the uncomfortable stage and ready to have this baby here! Even though I rant about wanting to be done, I'm not ready for him to be here either. Nothing is set up, clothes and blankets are not washed, and I am worried about taking care of 3 children instead of just 2. Especially when the only thing people seem to say is that 3 is the hardest. Thanks a lot you people! Make me that much more worried and anxious! And then there is the recovery part. It was so much harder with Myles that I'm afraid it will be that much harder this time too. I just try to keep a positive attitude about it and tell myself that it won't be worse and I'm now a pro. So it has to happen that way right? Luckily we are scheduled to have C-Section on April 11th. So ready or not Layne (and mommy) here you come!

Photo of the Day continued

I finally emptied my SD card onto the computer so here are a few more "Photo of the Day" photos to share.

Jan 7- These two are friends and related. One's daughter married the other's son- who happens to be the head coach of the Bonneville Lakers where my cousins play ball. It was just too funny not to take a photo and ask them about it. Notice their hats- both for the Lakers.

Jan 9- This is a common scene on our way to the family "cabin". I say cabin lightly because it is a brand new, huge home. It's by Rockport Reservoir and we love it up there!

Jan 12- This is the cleaned out toy room- 5+ bags full of crap later! It was the most we have ever taken to the D.I. at once. It has since been distroyed.

Jan 13- Girl's night out at Zumba. It was fun being together but Zumba is not near as fun when you are ready to burst pregnant! I will be back once he gets here.

Jan 20- Grandma Skelton was in the hospital for some time- turned out to be heart problems, but she is better now and back at home. This is her looking at her "pretty" moniter. She kept asking us what we were looking at and so we put her bed back so she could see it and she asked if anyone had a camera because it was so "pretty". She cracks me up! I love her!

Jan 27- Meet all of Tracen's friends. They are placed very specifically on his bed. they take up so much room that I am surprised he hasn't fallen off his bed yet. Notice that they have their own blanket- he can't share his, they get their own. I get in trouble if his blanket gets on them while tucking him in! He will talk to them and make sure they have a good night before he goes to bed. (I have since convinced him to move them to the top of his headboard so he has his bed back.)

Jan 28- Myles (please excuse the crazy hair!) is in the phase where he has to wear basketball shorts under his pants. (I don't know that phase is the correct word- because Tracen is still in it!) One day at the shop he stripped down to only his shorts- it's still January people! then he was playing on a scrap piece of vinyl that was on the floor. Chad asked him if he was at the beach and he responded with a very powerful "YES". So if anyone needs a break from the Utah weather feel free to stand on something blue in your shorts and you are there!

Feb 7- We wrapped Chad's sister's car. It was the first wrap that we installed. It turned out really good, but we don't plan on doing anymore, unless it's our own car!

Feb 8- Here we are on my birthday. We went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. No presents because we got a new car! And I love it! It's a Ford Flex and it's Awesome. That's what happens when you out-grow your little car. (I'll have to post a picture of it another time - sorry.)

Photo of the Day

For Christmas Adam gave me the challenge (along with the albums to scrapbook) to take a photo a day for the year as a way of writing in my journal. I love the idea, especially since I'm such a picture person. I've done really well so far. I've only missed a couple of days but took two pictures the next day to make up for it. My days are really rather boring and full of the same things, so it's made me be creative and look at things in my life in a new light. My plan is to print a months worth at a time and scrapbook/journal them once a month. Here are just a few to give you an idea of what we are up to. (I haven't emptied my SD card onto the computer in awhile so there are only a few to choose from.)

Jan 1- Tracen ringing in the new year with Auntie Natalie

Jan 2- Our 8th Anniversary- it's been a wonderful ride!

Jan 5- the boys enjoying some ice cream before bed

Jan 6- Chad brought home flowers for me for no reason! He's a great husband!

I'll keep updating with a few photos here and there for you to enjoy (that is if anyone looks at this but me.) Stay tuned.

After Christmas Family Trip

This year we went to St. George. It is always nice to get away for a while and just spend time with the family.

We went to the Dinosaur Museum while we were down there. It was fun to see what they have there, but not really a fun place for little kids. It was too technical not enough hands on for them.

The boys swimming

It's amazing what one session of swim lessons will do. He is not near as terrified of the water anymore and even ventures out on his own a little.

Something Tracen would not do at this age. Myles is a little nervous around the water, but not near as much as his big brother was.

And the shocker of the trip was that not only did it snow, but it stuck! I have never been there when it has stuck- it was a little weird! We found out that the snow was still there a week later too!