Hanover Vacation

I can't believe that 5 years have already passed since my graduation from Hanover in 2003. Kevin graduated in 2004. We went back for Homecoming this weekend and had a lot of fun. It was nice to see some of my professors and catch up with friends. It's a bit surreal how a different it feels to go back as an alumna. Most things are the same or similar, yet we have changed so much. A place that once felt like home, now serves for a walk down memory lane. That being said, it was a wonderful weekend. We went for a hike to the waterfall where Kevin proposed to me 5 years ago on November 1. Due to a storm a few weeks ago, much of the trail has erroded or is blocked, but we made it anway. It was a nice hike and Isaac liked throwing rocks as usual. This is our family picture by the waterfall. Kevin and Isaac climbed up to the ledge where Kevin made me dinner and asked me to marry him. These last pictures are from our engagement. On the ledge, Kevin set up a dinner table and had music playing. What a fun memory and such a cute husband!

I almost forgot...

I published my post before I was finished and I didn't add the picture of Isaac throwing rocks in our backyard with Grandma Hop. I think he wore her out with his desire to be outside, play ball and throw rocks.

Last weekend was also General Conference. Isaac got to play with his beans during part of it. It tickles me to see how long he can sit with a box of dried beans. He loves his Discovery Toys cups and dump trucks. If you're jealous, I know a lady who can get you some of your very own :).

Visit from Uncle Thor, Magnus, Lindze, and Grandma Hop

Last weekend, October 4, we had visitors. Isaac was so excited that he would not nap. He kept chanting all day and insisting they would be here soon. He has decided lately that family is the greatest thing on earth. My mom came to visit for the day and Isaac talked her into staying in "Grandma's bed." My brother Thor, Magnus and Lindze came to visit as well. It was a very fun day. Isaac and Magnus play so well together. I was happy to get some cute pictures of them. Sometimes it is really hard to catch them and get a good picture. Thor does a much better job than I do in this department. I did manage to get them in coordiating sweatshirts. Magnus would not put down his motorcycle for one second. I love that we have it documented in the photos.

First Camping Trip and Pumpkin Carving

This weekend was Isaac's first overnight camping trip. We had a blast. He loved being outside and making the fire. He was pretty amazed by the smores. When it was time for bed, he asked to go home until we went to the tent. He slept well and woke up happy. His first word was "play" even before his eyes were fully open. Isaac and Daddy are looking at a stick bug on the tent in the above picture.

Here they are getting ready for the fire. The tent is ready to go and we need marshmallows. The night was perfect and we were the only ones in the area. We couldn't have asked for a better time.

The next morning, we went for a hike. It was a fun day, but next time we will try to avoid those pesky deer ticks. We found a hollow tree and took some fun pictures inside the tree.

Kevin is playing peek-a-boo on the left as Isaac steals the show on the left. Isaac shares the stage with Baby Utt and peeks his way into the picture.

Isaac was a happy camper and hiker. We took him home and prepared for a night of pumpkin carving.

Isaac prepared the pumpkin with Crystal. He tried to put his whole body into it, but only his arm would fit. He thought that the pumpkin guts were squishy and stopped shortly after the pictures. It was a good time and we ended up with a spider pumpkin.

Moving on up

Kevin and I would like to announce the arrival of the newest member of our little family. We have welcomed into our home a dishwasher. I am so excited. I have lived 5 years without one and with Kevin much busier this semester, the new baby on the way, and being pregnant, it is nice to have the extra help. Yeah Kentucky Utt family!

Baby update

We went to the doctor today for our 22 week check-up. Our doctor said that our baby boy is looking healthy per the ultrasound and is right on track for his due date of January 31. Isaac listened to the heartbeat and almost every word the doctor said about the baby. He also proceded to tell most of the world about the appointment.

It has been a fun day. He and Audrey (the little girl I watch) were "gentle and loving" today. I have been singing different primary songs to them and it is working. Every time I told them to be gentle and loving, they stopped whatever they were doing and hugged. Who knew?

Isaac slept all through the night last night without a fuss until just before 7 am. He is doing great without the pacifier. I almost wish I had taken it away sooner. I am finding out that sometimes I am the one who has a harder time with change than Isaac does. Today he asked for Curious George bandaids when I said that we couldn't find the pacifiers. We have his 2 year old check-up tomorrow. Oh how time flies.

We have a 2 year old

Isaac turned two on Friday. He had a great day. He got to drink out of the birthday cup and we went to the park. We had a little party for him with the RA's. He had a grasshopper birthday cake. He is really into bugs right now. On Sunday, Isaac lost his pacifiers and has been without them for two whole days now. It has been a little hairy, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Our little man is growing up. I hope he adjusts well to being a big brother. He has been working on saying "baby brother" and likes the idea of having a baby. We are 5 1/2 months along, so he still has more time to get excited.

Birthdays and Graduation in May

In May, we went to Indianapolis to celebrate birthdays and my brother's graduation. Kevin's brother, Nathan, turned 25, my mom turned 50 and my nephew Magnus turned 3. We had a blast and a lot of cake. Here are a few picture highlights.

Everyone got a special cake. Mom's is made of cookies from a family recipe, Nathan had a lion, Thor made Magnus a Monster truck, and Thor had a plumber's cake.

Isaac and Magnus are into giving knucks. Here they are mid-knuck. What cute cousins!

We weren't sure if crazy Uncle Nathan wanted to share his cake, but in the end...

Isaac won! Uncle Nathan is such a softy.

It was a fun weekend and we enjoyed being with family. Parties are so much fun:)

Radio Show

We made it to the radio! On Friday, our little Utt family was featured on WKYU, Western's Kentucky University's public radio station. We have participated in a program for first time parents since we were eight months pregnant and it has been fun. We were interviewed along with our parent support worker. Check out this link to hear the interview:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1239959.

Cousins

My mom and Nephew came to visit for a post-birthday celebration. Isaac and Magnus had fun trying to "share." I loved having the two little cute monsters together. We tried to take pictures of the two boys together. The photo-op is such a rare occurance. Magnus will be three in May and Isaac is seventeen months old. They look so excited in this picture. Grandma Hop knows how to make them laugh.

New Hair Cut

We decided to cut off all of Isaac's curls. As I was looking through photos, I thought his before and after pictures were too funny. <<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

Clearwater

We recently went to Florida for a conference with Kevin and it was great. It was in the 70's during the day and the 50's at night. Isaac and I went for long walks on the beach every day and enjoyed playing outside. Every morning he would run to the balcony and sit in his chair. He loved the sound of the waves crashing and the birds singing. He was an absolute blast. He was a little afraid of the waves and when the chased him. He did like it when he could chase the waves, though. It was too cute watching him run after a wave and quickly run away as a new wave came in . We are back in Kentucky now and he still wants to go back to the beach. He gets his orange crocs and his fisherman hat out, then asks to "go." I enjoyed this vacation.

Kevin was called as a counselor in the Bishopric at our Church today, so we will be busy for awhile. I think this will be a learning experience for both of us. Though it may seem overwhelming right now, I have faith that the Lord has called Kevin with the knowledge and foresight I lack. I know that we are not given more than we can handle. God is amazing in His faith in us and I am thankful for the comfort and reassurance He sends.