Private Blog

We are officially a private blog. After attending a class that discussed the positive and negative aspects of technology Dan and I have decided to be a bit more protective for our kidos! Just think, now it will be even easier for everyone to leave a comment...you are already logged in! (hint hint family!)

Tess doing a craft after dropping Jake off at school.

Abby loves it when Jake and Tess play with her!

Jake and Abby at FHE

Abby loves to climb into the cabinets!

(notice the bandaid...1yr. shots)

First Day of Pre-K

Friday was Tess's first day of preschool. After dropping off and picking up Jake for a year and a half at Damascus Community Preschool it is finally her turn! She has missed her playmate sooo much since kindergarten started! She wasn't the least bit nervous and gave her teachers a big hug when we walked in. When I picked her up she was all smiles and excitedly told me "Mommy, I didn't even get in time-out!" I later found out that listening to your teachers is one of the tid-bits of advice Jake had given her when they had their talk on the top bunk on his first day of school. Jake was very proud of her too!

We love DCP and are so grateful for their kindness and love they show our kids!

Abby's first steps...

It doesn't matter what number of child it is, the first few steps are exciting and soooo adorable! Abby had FOUR cheerleaders today and I couldn't be happier!! (notice the hair brush in her hand, she'd take a couple steps and stop and brush her hair!)

California

The week after the reunion Dan had to be in California for training. So, we had the great idea of asking my mom and sisters to watch the kids so I could go out with him! Dan's training was in Sacramento. This was his first time back since his mission and my very first time in California. We spent the first night driving around Sacramento so Dan could show me his mission.

Sacramento Temple (which was built at the site of one of the chapels Dan served in.)

The next day we headed to San Francisco. We found our hotel and then headed to the Wharf. This was a very touristy place with lots of entertainers on the street. The best part, Ghiradelli chocolate! That night we went to WICKED! It was a perfect day!

Check out crazy tinfoil man, we had to take a picture when he wasn't looking!

The next day we went to China-town. I felt like I was in Shanghai! My stomach is a bit sensitive when it comes to the sight and smells of all the food! (apparently these signs say "stop taking my picture tourist", in chinese.)

We found parking to be scarce downtown... here's an example of someone's creative parking job.

The way the cars were parked was crazy...I expected them to go tumbling like logs at any second! Of course we had to drive the crazy winding Lombard street.

We spent some time in Muir Woods hiking around the huge trees.

This was my favorite spot, after seeing WICKED that is. We ate at a restaurant on the cliff and then walked along the beach. (See the pretty white rock behind us, I thought it was pretty until Dan told my WHY it was white over supper...bird poop, YUM!)
I touched the pacific...

My first time in CA was great...though I didn't expect to be wearing a jacket at the beginning of August! Just a side note for all you Californians, We made it a point to go to IN N OUT Burger so we could tell everybody how overrated it was...however, it was great.

Mt. Timpanogos

Dan and I decided we wanted to hike Mt. Timpanogos together back in March. So, using that and getting rid of my baby weight as an incentive I started to run again to be ready. I am very happy to say I have finally lost all my baby weight. However, I have never done anything like hike a gigantic mountain before so I had no idea what I'd gotten myself into. Dan on the other hand has hiked Timp several times!

We started out at 630am...

Here we are taking a quick break: Dan and I, Dona and Brad, Aimee, and Vernon

Dona took the lead and set the pace for us on the way up. We were amazed at her speed, she whipped us into shape!

Talk about rough terrain...

I am a bit afraid of heights...can you believe this is our trail!

Dan at the top of the bowl

On the way back down we took our time and took lots of pictures of this AWEsome landscape!

Emerald Lake (GORGEOUS!)

We came within several feet of mountain goats.

Aimee stuck with me the whole time! Love ya sister!

On the way down Dan decided he wanted to uh, cool off! He didn't mean to SLIP! He is always smiling when he is outside, in the mountains, even if he has to hike the rest of the way SOAKED!

We made it! It was quite the adventure. I loved doing it with Dan and found I had a lot more confidence at the scary parts with him by my side. I can't even begin to describe how gorgeous it was at 11,800ft...the kind of beauty you EARN to see (Dan's favorite). We had a great time. Thanks Aimee, Dona, Brad, and Vernon for coming! I will be conquering this mountain again!

Before the reunion

We flew into SLC a few days before our reunion so we could visit with friends and some of Dan's family. We had a lot of fun catching up with Vernon and Sarah Jane Geckler. Our kids got along great!

Here is the sign that greeted us at the front door!

The kids had a blast running and jumping into this pool!

Dan, Abby, Vernon, and Zach

Dan tormenting Abby by making her touch the grass!

Anna is quite the artist and sold Jake and Tess some of her artwork!

One of the highlights of the trip for me was to be at my nephews baptism! I wish we lived closer to cousins so that we could be apart of these special occasions. Way to go Dean!

Dan took advantage of being so close to mountains as often as he could. Here are a couple pictures of a time he took Tess exploring in the mountains by my parents house. Tess loves to smell and pick flowers, rocks, anything that is on the ground!

A trip to Utah would not be complete without visiting BYU (the Geology Department) and getting candy at the bookstore!

Breinholt Reunion...THE END.

Alpine Slide

Since Dan wasn't back in time to go to the slide with us Aimee and Stephanie helped me with Tess and Jake. Aimee and Jake went down both times together. After the first time down my sweet cautious Jake couldn't wait to go down again. However, Aimee told me that he was pushing the break while Aimee was pulling the lever to go faster...funny. Now Tess. She went down with me the first time and kept telling me "faster mommy faster"! So the second time with Stephanie they FLEW down. Stephanie and Tess were challenged to a race by Charles, some serious trash talk'n took place that made Stephanie and I laugh!! Tess can talk some serious smack back:) Tess and Stephanie won.

Rachel, Liz, Dona, Joseph, Suzanne, and Mom waiting to take the lift up.

Aimee, Jake, Charles, Elise, Tess, and Stephanie on the lift.

All of us waiting at the bottom.

Day on Deer Lake

Aunt Colleen and Uncle Craig came for the day and brought their boat. Thanks to Chuck, we had a second boat and 2 jet ski's. It started out to look like a stormy day, but one prayer later the sun came out and we had a blast. My new favorite activity ever...jet ski's. It was fun to watch the cousins and adults water-ski, get thrown off of inner-tubes and hear about Bekah driving the jet ski and throwing Uncle Steve off. Jake and Tess enjoyed riding on the boat and took one quick ride on an inner-tube and jet ski with Dan and I. ( I didn't take many pictures this day)

One day, which I have no pictures of, the women went shopping while Dan headed up a hike for the men and kids. I thoroughly enjoyed having a break from the kids and lots of opinions on what cloths to buy. I miss shopping with my sisters. I thought it was funny that most of the items we all bought were for others (our kids). We also spent an evening at Sundance enjoying "The Adventures of Huck Finn."

After cleaning and packing up the last day everyone headed to Lagoon. Dan and I opted out since we were going to hike Timpanogus the next day. The family reunion was a fun filled week spent enjoying each other and stuffing our faces with LOTS of yummy food. Each morning we had a devotional and family prayer and then ended the night with our classes and family prayer. Jacob loved hanging out with his older cousins. Tess really took to Aunt Stephanie and hasn't stopped talking about her. Thanks mom and dad! We can't wait to see everyone again.