Because...

Don't you hate it when one person ruins it for everyone else?

Recently, while looking at who reads my blog, Chris noticed that I had a follower who, not only we didn't know, was rather disturbing... let's just say that a (rather unflattering, I might add... though I realize that doesn't matter) image of a naked woman for a profile picture leaves nothing to the imagination as to what kind of person they are.

In total frustration, I switched to private in the moment. Being the kind of person that thinks the best of people, I was rather disturbed when thinking about what kind of people actually may come across my blog and see our family... and though I keep many things private about who I am, where I live, etc... I suddenly had trust issues.

I like to keep my blog open - because I enjoy it when random viewers can come across a blog they like, and come back to read because they happen to like the way I write or the stories I tell - much like I go to others' blogs for the same reason.

It's people who choose to use profanity in their profile name next to a dirty picture that I want to keep out. And, for that reason, I have chosen to switch my blog to private for the time being.

I have sent a few invitations out already, so to those who have already accepted, thank you for reading and for being non-creepy. You don't need to leave your email here. To others who haven't received an invite - I either didn't know you look at my blog, or I don't have your email. Please leave it if you'd like to continue viewing. Thanks to this unfortunate viewer, this blog will be private again soon...

...Because there are just too many weirdos out there.

Recap

Due to my laziness, or it might possibly be the fact that this little guy has been my priority...

...and I'm still not sure how to balance everything yet, there are a few things I have failed to blog about over the recent months that I've been meaning to share.

Here is my attempt to catch up and share some of my favorite moments of the summer (which, I do realize, was several months ago).

Weddings. We attended three over the summer; one of which I failed to document (Unfortunately... but my cousin Micah's was just as wonderful as the two below).

Jeanette has been part of our family for as long as I can remember, and it has been fun to watch her grow into the woman she has become. It's clear to see that she and Craig are perfect for each other - and as beautiful as she is on the inside as well as the out, I've loved seeing him treat her that way.

Chris's brother Geoff met Aubrey in November of last year. While out to dinner with the two of them, it was clear within the first 30 minutes that she was it. We love her and her two girls, who Geoff is also the proud new dad of.

Aubrey is also no exception to being beautiful on the inside and out. She is wonderful.

Who doesn't love family pictures? (Enter sarcastic remarks here...)

They did turn out great though. Crazy how big the family is getting.Note to self: wear something to conceal the farmer's tan when taking pictures....Flying Jack...

I can't get over this face.

Jack's blessing. Awesome.

My sister Heather and I

Two of our favorite people came to visit, Chris's brother Aaron and his wife, Julie. He is finishing up his last year of dental school, after which they will be headed off to begin practicing and starting their lives post-school.

Julie is amazing with kids, having several nieces and nephews... and, just being the person she is. You just can't help love being around her.

There wasn't much of anyone else getting their "turn" with Jack when Aaron was around. He loved soaking up every bit of him he could.

My nephew Lance. I love this boy and I love this picture.

Jack with his Great- (and great she is) Grandma Thelma.

Jack loves to sleep on his stomach, at times with a textured blanket underneath his face. The result:

This one is just because.

We attended a Hot Rod theme birthday party, and dressed for the occasion.
Who does Jack resemble here? Mario or Luigi?

We discovered Jack loves water....

Chris had another jiu-jitsu tournament. He won this match, lost the next.
But he's still awesome.

Weekends with friends...
This is us up near Heber.

And in Midway.

Me and two of my best friends, Nuria and Christy.

Christy is six months prego. Doesn't she look fabulous?

It's been a fun few months... life is good.

5th Annual Doughnut Night

I don't see this girl nearly enough.

Amanda and I served together for exactly six weeks while on our mission. Six weeks that, I can say with confidence, were the best of either of our entire 18 months.

In November of 2005, we showed the elders up and brought the winning treats - the end to a competition that had been happening for weeks. Since then, we've made it tradition to make them every year around that time. So, this should be our sixth year running... but, much to our dismay, we missed 2009. Here are highlights from what we hope to be the first of two donut-nights this year (our attempt to catch up). It's always a good time.

This time we had the men step up to the challenge of making them,

And there were a few other "helpers" as well...

While Cessna enjoyed eating them more than anything,
constantly asking her mom for more...
Lance was loving being able to make his own.
Me with my sister Heather, rocking her apron and looking fabulous as always.

The finished products... mmm mmm good.

Looking forward to November...

What A Trip.

Lake Powell, with a baby, has proved to be quite different than without. While we did have a great time, we started the trip off with every mother's worst nightmare... a trip to the Emergency Room.

This is Jack and I on our way to the houseboat. He loved every minute of it (except, maybe, being forced to wear his life vest. Doesn't it look comfy?) and actually fell asleep during the 20 minutes it took us to get there.

Not an hour after arriving, we decided to go for a wake-surf run. Because our little man loved the boat so much on the way in, we decided to take him with us. In hind-sight, it probably wasn't our best idea; it was quite windy and the water was pretty yucky. On our way back in, the surf board that was carefully put on the swim deck was picked up by the wind and thrown in my direction - ricocheting off my jaw and hitting Jack, who was in my arms, hard in the forehead.

I have never seen anything grow so fast as the bump on his head did. Luckily we were seconds away from the houseboat - where we quickly made our way and handed him off to my dad where he ran in to put some ice on it. Needless to say Jack was screaming... and luckily, he stayed that way (with some help from me and Chris) all the way back to the marina and to the hospital. The blow to the head didn't break skin and didn't send him into unconsciousness, for which we were grateful.

He was a happy boy at the hospital (once we took the ice off his head) and was acting like our little Jack again. The doctor was fantastic and sent us on our way after about an hour, assuring us that everything was fine and he didn't need a CT scan (for which we were also grateful).

As if on cue, Jack fell asleep as soon as the doctor said he was okay to close his eyes. Having the rough morning that he did, he cuddled up in grandpa's arms, who came with us to the hospital.

He stayed asleep on our way back to the lake...

And seemed to be fine on the ride back to the boat in his dad's arms.

Over the next few days, we took time to ice his bump by trying to keep him distracted, either with something to put in his mouth....

Or grandma and his aunt Heather singing him songs.

So, with the help of Tylenol, he didn't get the black eye we expected. Instead, the swelling went down and the bruise, by some miracle, was almost non-existant by the end of our five-day trip. I'm told now how frequently boys get hurt. If this is any indication of how his life will be, I guess I'm in trouble.

The rest of the trip, other than the last 24 hours or so (at which time some kind of flu bug hit our boat, taking down seven of us one by one) was great. Both Chris and I wake surfed for the first time (without Jack on the boat that time around)...

I apologize for this picture. I realize that I look extremely awkward... but it was the only semi-decent one of me. However, here is proof that I actually got up, which I have to say is a thousand times easier than getting up on a wake board.

Chris is tubing here with five-year-old Alexa and seven-year-old Cessna. It was so fun to watch.

We hiked slot canyon, which was much more short-lived than the trouble was worth, I think... beginning (and ending) with a swim through a black abyss... that smelled worse than anything. Ever.

But since this was Jack's first trip, he discovered new things - like sand, which he loved.

And sunglasses, which were more funny than anything.

He drove the boat with Grandpa, too...

He liked the water, for the most part, until it hit his chest. Wasn't too sure about it after that.

Most of the time, he was just a happy boy.

Ah, we love this kid.