Travel, State Championships, and Other Fall Things

Hello Friends & Family! We are enjoying a sunny, warm day today in Utah--a perfect day for a birthday :).

Samuel Scott turns 4 months old at the end of next week! That's a third of a year already. Hard to believe! It was about this time last year that we found out I was pregnant. Thinking back to those days seems like a different lifetime. Samuel has changed our lives in many positive ways, but parenting is not without it's challenges. I continually remind myself that God will not give me more than I can handle. We enjoy Samuel's smiles & giggles, and watching him learn to use his hands!

At the end of September, my parents traveled to Utah to be here for Samuel's baptism. We are so thankful for God's promises to Samuel and that he has called him his own. Mom & Dad were able to come to a (cold) cross country meet to cheer on Olympus! We also went to Red Butte Gardens, one of their favorite places in Utah and enjoyed some nice walks with Samuel.

Samuel's baptism

Samuel wore the same outfit Todd wore when he was baptized

Bundled up at the XC meet

Red Butte Gardens

Sadly, Todd's Grandpa Mitchell passed away at the end of September. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed! Todd, Samuel, and I traveled to Iowa for the funeral. Although the circumstances were sad, we were happy to see family.

Grandma Irma with Samuel

Grandma Kathaleen with Samuel

Jeff & Bonnie with Samuel in his baptism outfit

Our cross country season concluded its regular season on a high note! The Olympus boys' team won state! They raced SO well at the state meet and are now ranked #10 in the country! The girls didn't have their best day at state, but still finished 8th! We are excited for our two post-season races in Arizona (Nike Southwest Regional) and California (Footlocker West Regional). If we do well enough at Regional, there could be a third meet in Oregon (Nike Nationals).

Happy coaches after winning state

We took our first family vacation during Todd's UEA break. We went to Rocky Mountain National Park and stayed in Estes Park. Although exploring a National Park is much different with Samuel than what we're used to, we really enjoyed it! And if you need a recommendation for a place to stay in Estes Park--just ask! We loved it!

Bear Lake

Elk in Estes Park

Dream Lake

Emerald Lake

Sprague Lake

Samuel and I spent last week in Michigan with my family! We had a wonderful time doing lots of fall things...watching Michigan football, carving pumpkins, going to Robinettes, etc. I was able to see some high school friends as well. The weather and fall colors were beautiful!  What a great week!

Cousins!

Checking out the crazy pumpkins at Robinettes

Go Blue!

Haagsma/VanWyk clan (we missed Melanie!)

Hanging out with Lori & Hazel

Samuel & Great Grandma Klein-Wassink

Here's some more pictures from this fall!

Hiking to Willow Lake

Friends & Babies

Wheeler Farms with the Strikes

2 months!

Our little man turned 2 months old on Monday! Hard to believe. I've spent most of the day cuddling Samuel. Poor little guy is running a fever post-vaccinations. He got three shots yesterday and hasn't been himself since. It's given me the opportunity to catch up on posting pictures and also writing on this blog.

I've been enjoying days at home with Samuel. We try to get out of the house once a day for a hike, lunch with friends, errands, etc. and then join Todd at practices in the afternoon. It's been such a blessing to have friends with little ones that we can spend time with.

Bonnie and her friend, Becky, stayed with us for a night in mid-August during a road trip out west. Bonnie couldn't believe how much Samuel had changed in a month! He's definitely a growing, changing little boy.

Holly, Matt, and Lily came to Utah last week to meet Samuel. It was so great to spend time with them! We went for a couple of hikes, went to the Living Planet Aquarium, went swimming in their hotel pool, and cheered on Olympus XC at the Murray Invitational. Lily liked yelling "Go Lympus!" at the runners going by.

Meeting Samuel

Lily was intrigued by Samuel...but didn't dare get too close :)

Matt & Lily hiking around Cecret Lake

Ruth Lake

Feeling the COLD water

Samuel slept through most of our day in the Uinta Mountains, but woke up at the water fall

Provo Falls

We are over half way through our XC season already! Our boys team is really strong this year. In fact, the boys team is ranked nationally: http://dyestatxcrankings.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=46052&do=news&news_id=433634. Pretty cool!

Sam and the XC ladies

We are looking forward to having my parents here again next week! Samuel is being baptized on September 25th.

Here's a few more pictures of Sam for your enjoyment ;)

Twin Lakes Reservoir

1 month old

Our little man is a month old as of yesterday! Time flies when you're having fun (except in the middle of the night...). He is growing and changing so rapidly. He continues to be very active and makes lots of cute baby noises. Samuel loves playing under his activity gym & being in the jogging stroller. We're getting braver and are leaving the house more often...for walks, XC practice, eating at restaurants, hanging out with friends, etc.

My parents were in town last week to meet Samuel. We enjoyed spending time with them and appreciate all of their help! Samuel loved being cuddled by his grandparents. The time went by too quickly!

The 2016 Olympus Cross Country season is underway! We had our team time trial last night and there were lots of great performances. We're eager to see how the team does at our first invitational next week Thursday.

Big yawn!

Samuel takes his eating very seriously! He likes to hold the bottle himself :)

Post bath crazy hair

Story time!

Spending time with Bumpa & Gramma VanWyk

One of Samuel's favorite toys...a stuffed alien

He likes to sleep this way with daddy

Baby toes :)

1 month pictures

Trying to hold his head up

Who sleeps like this???

Relaxing in the shade after shopping at the downtown farmer's  market

Talking with Gramma

We are so thankful for friends and family who care so well for us! We have received lots of love and support since Samuel's birth...in the form of meals, visits, cards, gifts, phone calls, and more. It takes a village to raise a child!