Boys BYU Football Trip, Apple Jack Festival...

Kyle and his friends went on a road trip to Colorado to see the BYU football team play Air Force. Even though BYU lost, they had a great time together...if you ever met these guys you would know why.
Griffin, Wes, Nate, and Kyle.

Kyle got stuck on garbage duty at the tailgate party. Too bad for him :)

The game was on September 11th, so the Air Force displayed a beam from one of the twin towers.

Fly over before the game.

GO COUGS!!!

Last week we went to the Apple Jack Festival in Nebraska City.
They have orchards where you can pick apples, tons of apple treats (apple donuts, apple slush, apple cider, caramel apples,...) activities for the kids, and a parade.
The caramel apples and cider were amazing, we did not make it to the parade. It was a bit chilly that day, and the kids were done after a few hours.

Da and Daddy eating some warm apple spice donuts...yum.

Our sweet Jonas.

Owen, Damon, and Lincoln posing for a pic on the stairs of the Morton Mansion
(as in Morton Salt)

Me, Emily, and Suzanne.

Our family

Our friends told us about this sweet little place to eat at on the way back. At first glance we did not know what to think of this hole in the wall restaurant in the middle of nowhere. We were very pleasantly surprised. It was delicious. And also kinda cute that while we were there over the course of thirty to forty minutes, there was a slow steady stream of elderly women who came to have lunch together.

What is going on with us:
Damon is pretty much potty trained.
Jonas is crawling all over the house.
Kyle is working hard in school, and working to try and get internships for next summer.
I am taking care of a boy whose parents are both going to school right now, starting a rotating preschool with some friends, and just trying to keep up with everything.
We love our boys, and our happy life!

It is crazy to think that we have lived here for a year now. It seems to have gone by fast, but on the other hand feels like forever. Our family has sure changed in a year. Damon seems all grown up, and we have another little guy in our lives. Kyle has been through the worst of school, to China and back, and was able to get a few summer classes in as well. We are getting pumped up for College Football season (Kyle reminds me everyday that it is coming, but not fast enough).

What a lucky mommy I am...
to have such beautiful little boys.

It is funny how you can work so hard all day taking care of your little family and by the end you are so ready for bedtime. Then you find that when they are finally asleep and you have some quiet time all you can talk and think about is them. Damon is a very smart little guy. He can get himself out of every obstacle, block, and lock around.
He makes me laugh everyday, and it is always exactly what I need.

Da loves to give hugs and kisses to his little bro, and whenever he does he says
"Oh, oh he is so cute".

Jonas's eyes get me every time. What a mellow little boy we were blessed with. He is rolling from belly to back, and back to belly. He is also scooting a little bit, can't quite call it crawling yet. He is full of smiles and brightens up all our lives.

Confession; I do not know if I can love Nebraska.
Besides the fact that it is incredibly humid here and I am doomed to NEVER having a good hair day (because the second I am outdoors my mane turns into a frizz ball)...
Here is the second reason
.
.
.

Kyle found this taranchula in our basement. Need I say more. Oh, and you want to know what Damon said when Kyle showed it to him? That he wanted to eat it.

Damon's Birthday, Kyle's China Trip...

Our Damon turned three on July 3rd.

He is learning and growing so much, we are so proud of him.
He is such a wonderful boy, and big brother.
We love you Damon!

He requested a 'Choo Choo Train' cake for his birthday, so I did my best.

Ang, Char, and Da

Brookie, me, Sarah, Lish, and Allison.

Claiming his spoils

Daddy would be proud...(Not quite BYU, but we can cheer for the Huskers!)

Our sweet friend/sis, Aud

We are so grateful for our friends and family. We loved seeing all of you. Thank you for your sweet gifts, letting us intrude on your space, and just for spending some time with us. We love you all and miss you.

We were sad not to have Kyle here for Da's birthday, but he was having some adventures half way across the world! Hopefully he can put up some pictures and stories soon. We sure missed him,...so happy we are back together again!
We made the 18 hour drive home Friday. We started out early, but for some reason this did not help much. Both boys had a rough time. Let me just say that I am not dying to take a drive anytime soon. I hope the next time we make that trip in the car it will be when we are moving. But we are happy to be in our own place again. Damon walks around the house saying, "I love my little room, and my little bed. I love my house, and my cute cute kitchen."



Kyle spent three weeks in China with his law school. A professor that he was doing research for was in charge of setting up a study abroad program with the Xi'an Jiaotong University law school, and she took Kyle along to translate. Two other students also went along to do research.
This was the hotel he stayed in on the University campus.

One thing we miss about China - the crowded markets

The drum tower at night

A long string of traditional Chinese kites

Kyle at the city wall

These pictures were taken at a thousand year old Muslim Mosque

Another one of our favorite things in China - the incredible food. The food in Xi'an was super spicy (the beer bottles aren't Kyle's)

The Small Goose Pagoda. Kyle climbed to the top of the 13 stories. Pretty daring since the building is 1,300 years old.

There is a strong Muslim influence in Xi'an, as could be seen by the beautiful architecture.

The terracotta warriors. One of the world's wonders.


After the soldiers were uncovered, only one was found completely in tact, the kneeling archer

This is the Great Goose Pagoda

A Buddhist Temple

While on the trip, Kyle got to attend a murder trial in the Xi'an High Provincial Court, the equivalent of a State Supreme Court. This picture was taken in front of the courthouse with Judges, professors, and a classmate, Holly.

After the trial, the justice department treated them to the most exquisite feast in the history of the world

Kyle, classmates Holly and Neil, Professor Shavers, and Liu Nan - Xi'an law school graduate

On his way back, Kyle got to stop and visit his favorite places - Hong Kong and Macau - with his friend Nathan Burby. This is Kyle in downtown Macau.
We're sure glad Kyle had such a great time in China, but we are so happy to have him home and safe!