10.31.08 - HALLOWEEN

Matthew, Maleah, Jacob, Christine & John, Michael & Camille and Lance. Julia, John, Claire, Papa & Nana and baby Johnny, Kyle & Collette.

Halloween is always such a fun Holiday in the Covey home. Every year we are themed and have a fun time creating the characters and getting really excited about getting together, eating soup, taking pictures (and now thanks to grandbabies) going trick-or-treating!


The Bat Trio

The Peter Pan Clan!

Matt and Becca McNairy came over with their children Mathew, John, Julia, Claire, and Emmy. They just moved back to Utah from New Mexico and it was so fun to have them! Papa also came (Grandma was out of town), Collette's boyfriend (soon to be fiance) Kyle, and Jacobs cute friend Maleah all came too! It was a lot of fun and a great excuse to get together and dress up!

Mom made her traditional home-made soups, Matt made some home-made soup, and Christine made home-made bread bowls... You can't get better than that!

Captain Hook, Tiger Lilly and Johnny the Croc. with his clock.... soon to be a big brother in April!

Christine and John made a very special announcement that evening... Christine is PREGNANT! Horray! They are such a great couple and wonderful parents. Christine is already 3 months along and kept it a secret the whole time! She even ran a Sprint Triathlon with my mom while she was pregnant a couple of months ago... Wow! Not to mention that she is a mother and full time student at BYU getting her Masters Degree... what a woman!

Captain Hook, Tiger Lilly, Pirate Papa and Batman.

Papa Covey and Lance sword fighting... the only thing that would keep him happy.

I love Papa Covey. What a handsome and good man... hard to believe that he is a great grandfather... thanks for always being so supportive and such a big part of our lives. We love you!

Katie is the sister who LOVES Halloween and started the tradition of having the family be themed. Every year it is something different and it is always so fun. Peter Pan Theme was actually her idea and it was sad not to have her with us this year. Thanks for the great idea Katie and we missed you!!! We are so proud of you for getting your Masters Degree and for working so hard in school. We love you and can't wait for you to be home in a few days.

Jacob and Maleah = Pirate and Lady Bug... look at those perfect smiles.

Kyle and Collette = Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. Don't they look cute? (I made the costumes... proof of how much I love you.) =)

Robin, Bat Girl, Captain Hook, Tiger Lilly, Batman and Pirate Papa.

Collette and Camille. It's so fun that we look so similar... we are missing Katie, she is in Sunny California at an internship in Occupational Therapy.

HALLOWEEN AT DENTASOURCE

As much as Mommy really wanted to get "one good picture" of the Bat Trio - Lance wouldn't have it. I put a good amount of work into these costumes (especially Batman's) and wanted to be sure to get a few good pictures.

Michael's boss Brady has always been great at appreciating his employees and making the holidays, as well as other occasions, really fun and going all out. He requires that the office dress-up for Halloween and then invites all the children to come and Trick-or-Treat around the office with candy that he bought. It's a lot of fun to see all the employees, spouses, and children all dressed up!

Robin and Bat Girl (and baby Afton of course) outside of Michael's work.

10.30.08 - GARDNER VILLAGE

My mom and I took Lance up to Gardner Village and had such a great time! Lance LOVED it and was dressed in his Batman costume that I made him for Halloween. He was so cute and got lots of comments from other people who were there.

The Witches were out... there were stuffed witches everywhere doing different activities. Lance's favorite were the 3 witches playing baseball. After he saw them he kept reminding me and telling me about them "Witch pay (play) baseball Mommy!"

Lance loves his Nana. "Mommy, go Papa Nana's house? Peeeease!" When he hasn't seen her in a while he will always ask to go over to see her and Papa.

Lance was definitely playing the part of "Batman." All day he struted around putting his hands on his hips and running to make his cape flap in the wind. He loved all the attention he got.

Lance was anxious to get closer to the animals so Nana paid for Lance to go on a horsie ride and into the Petting Zoo. Thanks Nana!

Another first! He rode the whole time all by himself!

Lance got to ride a horsie all by himself and also got to run around the Petting Zoo with a bunch of farm animals... some of the goats and pigs were bigger than he is! He really loved being right in the middle of all of the animals and was not scared at all. He would talk to them, pet them, and hug them. He even tried to ride on an older goat that was napping! It is so fun that Lance is so outgoing and that he is not afraid to try new things.

Lance in heaven... surrounded by animals that he can hug and touch that are just his size!

Making his super-hero pose with his hands on his hips... he did this throughout the day. =)

Lance would put his hand to his ear and say, "Waa sat? Listen Mommy, listen!"

Lance speaks goat... or at least he thinks he does! He was "talking" with this goat at it was so cute and funny!

Lance likes to pretend to be different animals. He decided to be a Lion and growl at this white little chicken.

"Comeeer lil goat!" Lance would get down on the level of the smaller goats and talk with them, feed them bark or leaves, or just let them lick his fingers!

This little one seemed to like him quite a bit.

"Nice lil goat.. he nice Mommy!" Lance spent the afternoon talking to the goats and would tell me all about them. "He hungie Mommy." and "He likes it! Yummy!" or "Too loud Mommy, too loud!" (when the goats would baaah) and "I Batman!"

10.24.08 - BABY SISTER

We took a Sunday Drive up American Fork Canyon and through the Alpine Loop in the Convertible Mercedes... it was beautiful.

Today Lance was helping me around the house like he always does... loading the dishes, switching over the laundry, getting ready... etc. While we were in the laundry room he was standing next to me and said, "Mommy... baby sisser go?" I told him that she is in my tummy (as I pointed to my stomach). He looked at me, then at my tummy, and was sufficed with that answer for a couple of minutes and then he would ask me again. The second time he went and sat down by my feet (to get a different view) and looked up at my "baby bump" and asked again, "Baby sisser, Mommy?"

My Monkey Boys... Lance loves to pull on Michael and I's ears and say, "Monkey, Daddy? Monkey Mommy?" and make us look like a monkey!

I know that he understands that the baby is in my tummy, but he doesn't quite get how a baby could be inside of me. He is really starting to think more and more about the reason things are and it is so fun to see the innocents in his thought process.

Utah is truly beautiful. I love the mountains.

It is scary and exciting to think about the reaction Lance will have to being the "big brother" instead of the "baby" in the family. Sometimes he acts so grown-up, but other times he definitely still acts like the 2 year old he is. For a while to get my attention, when his attempts were not working as well as he wanted, he would hold up his fist and say, "Hit baby sisser!" I of course would then give him my FULL attention and tell him that he was not allowed to hit the baby (especially with my condition... that could be very bad). He would then say, "I'n so saawee Mommy" (I'm so sorry) "Hug baby sisser?" and he would give my tummy a big hug.

3 soon to be 4...

Lately he has been better at not using baby threats to get my attention. He has actually been super cute and will say, "Daank you so much!" (Thank you so much) all of the time. I love that he is so polite! I think he is going to be really sweet when Afton is born. I'm sure he will want to hug and hold her all of the time... he is going to be a great big brother.

10.24.08 - IMAGINATION

Trying out our new camera. I just bought this camera for a killer deal and had Lance say "Chesse!" for the camera.

Lance experienced another first last night and it was so adorable and I have to write it down before I forget...

So, Michael go home from work just before 9pm and Lance was still awake. The 3 of us were in Lance's room all sitting on the floor and Michael and I were trying to get him into his pajamas and into bed.

BATMAN! This is the costume I made for Lance to wear next week on Halloween.

Lance is a smart little one and was trying to distract us in any way that he could. He heard the family that lives in our basement talking, or the water running though the pipes, or an airplane that was flying overhead and every time he would say, "Waaah sat?" Michael and I would tell him what it was and continue to try to get him to sit still long enough to change into his pajamas.

One of the times Lance asked "Waaah sat?" Michael said, "It's a dinosaur!" Lance believed him and then continued on to tell us all about this make-believe dinosaur that he was hearing.

Lance giving an intense Batman face for the camera.

These are direct quote of what he said. He went on for a long time trying to describe for us what his little mind was making up.

"Dinosaur up there" (pointing to the ceiling in his room).
"Up in the sky."
"Don't touch him... bite you" (he put up his hand like a "stop" and told Michael and I this multiple time"
"Ouch, bite you."
"Dinosaur want drink"
"Daddy... dinosaur drink?" (he handed Michael his sippy cup with water in it for Michael to give to the dinosaur. Michael then pretended to feed the dinosaur).
"Dinosaur no like apple juice" (we told him it was water and that the dinosaur liked it).
"More for dinosaur" (giving his sippy cup to me so I could share with the dinosaur).
"Don't touch... he bite you" (again putting his hand up in warning).
Michael asked if the dinosaur was big or small. Lance said, "Small dinosaur."
We told Lance that this was a nice dinosaur and that he was our friend. We asked him if the dinosaur was his friend. Lance said, "Yeah, friend!... don't touch... bite you! Be careful."

Michael and I just sat there and looked at each other in amazement. He just turned 2 last month and we had no idea he was capable of being so imaginative and being able to express himself so well. We didn't want him to start imagining scary monsters in his room that would scare him so we tried to keep reiterating that it was a nice dinosaur and that he was our friend. So even though Lance agreed that the dinosaur was our friend and that he was a nice dinosaur, he still persisted in reminding us that he would bite us.

This morning Lance was in my room with me right after Michael had gone to work and he put his little hand up to his ear again and said, "Waaah sat?" Before I could answer he said, "Mommy, the dinosaur."

8.19.08 - BOATING and 4 WHEELING

4 WHEELING, BOATING, and ZION NATIONAL PARK



We had one last "summer vacation" down in Southern Utah and it was so great. The weather was beautiful and although it is already October it was nice and warm.

Here are all the fun people who came with us:

John & Kathleen
Johnny & Christine and Johnny
Michael & Camille and Lance (and Afton)
Katie and her friend Rachelle
Collette and her boyfriend Kyle
Jacob
John & Debbie Bennett


4 WHEELING AT SAND HOLLOW

John and Michael in their riding gear.
John & Debbie are up for the adventure!


Lance likes motorcycles and 4 Wheelers too...
Wearing nothing but Daddy's Motocross gear! =)

Michael and his dad and step-mom (John & Debbie) went 4 wheeling and had a really great time. Michael is pretty adventurous and took them on some exciting trails. Michael and John spent the first day with the 2 of them scouting out the good areas, and then Debbie joined them the next day. Debbie joined the Covey family on the boat the first day and we all had a lot of fun.




All the exciting places Michael found for the 4 Wheelers.








BOATING AT SAND HOLLOW RESERVOIR
Lance took these first 5 pictures. He took a lot more than this... but pretty impressive that he got some fun shots, huh?

Aunt Christine, Cousin Johnny, and Uncle Jacob
Aunt Katie doing the scary face she and Rachelle taught Lance.


Kyle & Aunt Collettie.


Gandma Bennett and Mommy.

We really enjoyed taking the boat out one last time before the weather got colder. It was also a great opportunity to spend some time with Collette's boyfriend Kyle and to send Katie and her friend Rachelle off to California for their internship in their Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Utah. They are both in the Masters Program there and are great friends.


Kyle Collette, Christine, Nana, and Johnny.
Rachelle, Jacob, Lance and Katie.


Camille and Debbie... showing off the "baby bump."


Debbie skiing and wake surfing!


Johnny going from laying down to standing on the wake surf!
Kyle on the surf. Kyle was great on the wake board and can do a back flip!


Lance and Papa driving the boat.
Nana and Lance.


Lance loves Aunt Katie... she is so playful and fun!


Katie on the wake surf!


Papa looking like he's in his 20's again... =)


Lance and Mommy. Lance is a great snuggler!


Lance napping on the boat.


HANGING OUT


Kyle, Michael and Jacob playing Rock Band.
Papa making Lance laugh... he loves his Papa!


We got to stay at the Whittingham's home there in Hurricane and it was so nice to have a place to come "home" to at the end of a fun day. We have stayed here before and just love it. Brady and Terri are so great to let us stay and enjoy their home. Thank you Brady and Terri!




ZION NATIONAL PARK
--The Weeping Rock--


Catching the "tears."


While everyone was eating Lance was busy discovering the water...
Eathing lunch at the Weeping Rock.


Kyle & Collette.


On our last day, Sunday, we went into Zion National Park to eat lunch and enjoy the specacular beauty of Southern Utah. It really was beautiful. We caught up with the Joey & Tammy Covey family (who was also spending the weekend down south) and had a great time together! We took a little hike up to Weeping Rock to eat and then found a fun river to hang out by. The little kids loved it because they could play in the cold water and throw rocks in!

--The Fun River--

Lance throwing dirt and rocks into the river and showing us his "so messy" hands.


Michael and Dad.
Collette and Camille (and Afton- 7 months pregnant).



Family photo