Summer of Trails

I've been having lots of fun this summer running trails...mostly on Sunday mornings with Brynn and sometimes Brooke joins us.  I've also signed up for some trail races.  It's a fun, different challenge and a great way to get out and see our beautiful mountains.

This was up in Millcreek canyon at Dog Lake/Lake Desolation.

After running a 5K trail race out in Herriman during which is rained buckets.  I slipped and slid my way through.

The Temple Quarry trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon with Brooke.

Corner Canyon in Draper.

America's Birthday at Snowbird

We had a great time celebrating the 4th of July this year.  Last year, Josh was laid up in bed all day after surgery, the year before the girls were too little to do much of anything, and the year before that I was pregnant with scary complications.  So this year was fun!  We spent the morning with Brynn and Nate up at Snowbird enjoying their pancake breakfast, a ride up to Hidden Peak on the tram, some fun in the bounce house and a trip down the Alpine slide. 

These pics were taken at the top of Hidden Peak.  I worried the whole time that the girls were going to fall off.

 Enjoying the bounce house and the big slide.

 The Alpine slide was so much fun.  Both girls absolutely loved it.

We came home after lunch at Chipotle and spent the rest of the afternoon/evening hanging out at home and trying out some sparklers (which they thought were kind of scary). 

The girls recently learned about America's flag at school and they were so excited to see flags all over and talked a lot about "America's birthday".  I think they wondered where the birthday cake was though. 

Golfing, Hiking and Firetrucks

We are having a fun (and busy) summer so far in Utah.  Most of our weekends are jam packed and I have a hard time remembering to take pictures and blog about everything.  So, here's a recap of some things we've done lately.

Father's day: We went out to a local cafe for breakfast and ran into an old friend from high school (and junior high, elementary, etc).  Robert was one of Josh's first friends and is now a fire fighter with one of the local stations.  He showed the girls around the firetruck and made them some balloon chickens.  It was fun to catch up.  Later that day, we also went up to my parent's and had a delicious lunch with my family, but I forgot to take pictures. :(

A week or so ago, I took Blue boy out for a quick hike in Ferguson Canyon on my lunch break.  The trail head is just about a mile from our house and there are some incredible views from up there.  Blue had fun being off his leash and running after all the other doggies.  And I am so happy to be home in this lovely little valley.

Golfing!  The girls have been mini golfing with grandpa twice now.  The first time Uncle Scotty came, and the second time Bubba came.  Now whenever we pass a golf course they say "I golfing with grandpa!". 

Last time they played golf, they got their first cart ride around the golf course.  I have many memories of riding around the golf course with my grandma at Mick Riley where my grandpa was the pro.  As we would pull away from the clubhouse, he would yell after her not to let me drive the cart.  As soon as we were out of eyesight, it was game on.  I took the wheel and tore around anywhere I wanted - up on the greens, down into ditches, way off the cart paths.  Maybe the girls will get to drive soon. 

Christmas Day Surprises

There's a secret Josh and I have been keeping for the past week or so.  Christmas Day came and we could finally spill the beans .  We are moving to Utah!  Josh was up for orders this summer and a few months ago, he learned that there was a recruiting position open in Salt Lake, along with a few other cities that would be a lot closer to home.  Josh put in a package for it and set my expectations very low.  He told me it was a competitive board and the chances of us getting SLC were not high, there would be a lot of ground marines applying for these jobs, and he didn't know how competitive he could be with his back injury.

Nonetheless, our hopes were up and we kept thinking about how nice it would be to be a little closer to home.  In early December, we received a strong hint that the orders would be something "we would both be very excited about", but we still waited on pins and needles each day to hear official word.  Finally, the Friday before we left for this trip, Josh heard from his monitor that he got the SLC position. Like an hour later, he also got word he was being promoted to major.  Merry Christmas to us!  We decided to keep the news a surprise until we could tell our families in person.

Christmas morning, my parents opened a box with a crafty message inside (thanks to Josh's handiwork).  It was Josie and Piper's gift to them:

I think they were excited!  We have had quite a good run the past ten years and I wouldn't change any of it for the world, but it's time to come home.  There was another surprise that morning, but we are going to have to save that for another day. 

After presents, my dad's whole family came over for a big lunch and more presents.  For now, the girls are the only kids in this family and to say they were showered with love is an understatement.

Uncle Jeff with Piper, and her new baby doll. 

 Uncle Scotty with Josie. 

Kelcy with Piper.  We had one more Christmas surprise when Kelcy let us in on her own news that she is expecting! 

 Jeff and Leslie with Piper

 This is what Josie does when she says "cheese!"

Brynn, Nate, Scotty, Kelcy.  Once again, I failed to get pictures of everyone. 

 Bubba and Piper

 Josh, Nate and Moosie. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

I'm back with more fun from our travels in Utah.  So far, the trip has flown by and we have been busy everyday.  Unfortunately, the girls and I all showed up here sick, and then got my dad sick.  Runny noses, coughing and sneezing, yay!

The Egan family party has been held on Christmas Eve since the beginning of time and this year was no different.  Growing up, we always had the party at my grandparents house, and the grandkids always acted out the nativity.  The family has grown and changed a lot over the years and this year my parents planned it.  Since there's no way to fit everyone in their condo, we had it at the Gale Center in South Jordan. 

I really didn't get the camera out all that much.  Sometimes it's all I can do to chase the girls around.  Conor, Melissa, and Bubba...

 Piper sporting her runny nose

 Brynn and Nate and lots of other family members in the background

 Josie and daddy "cuddling".  Josie has been quite a mommy/daddy's girl lately.  She demands "cuddles" constantly.  Most of the time, we are happy to oblige, but she has a knack for asking for "cuddles" when she is supposed to be eating, taking a nap, or riding in the car. 

 My sweet grandpa sang "I'll be home for Christmas".  He can definitely still sing!

 Josie took a liking to Michelle and her boys

Holiday Travels - Part 1

We have made it to Utah!  As usual, our trip here included a variety of motorized transportation.  This time, we opted for a direct flight out of Washington DC, which meant a long drive up to the DC area and a visit to see our good friends the Cromwells in Quantico.  We miss having Adam, Kimzey, Gavin and Tobiah two houses down from us and we had a great time catching up with them, which included a fun trip to the National Zoo in DC.

The girls got some new warm coats and hats for this trip.  It is like 25 degrees here in Utah and still over 70 today for a high in New Bern.  Our weak, southern blood doesn't know what to do with the cold.

The Cromwells at the zoo.

Checking out the gorillas; the girls made their monkey sounds.

Family pic in front of the crocodiles...or the turtles, I can't remember!

After leaving Quantico, it was time for our flight.  As I mentioned, it was one, direct shot, which makes the biggest difference when traveling with the girls.  We had to buy four seats this year, but we ended up giving up one of our seats and trading with someone so we could all sit on one row together.  The girls were troopers.  Josie came down with a cold the morning we left, so she was overly tired and sick.  Piper was literally bouncing between the seats.  One lady in front of us was Facebooking about being stuck on the "baby wing of the screaming baby plane".  Sorry Erin Parrish, whoever you are!  All things considered, the flight went well and we made it to Utah right on time.

The very next morning we headed downtown so Josh could make his radio debut on our very favorite radio program, Radio from Hell on x96.  We have been listening to this show for years, maybe even a decade.  I listen religiously from 8-12 everyday.  It helps keep me entertained when I am stuck by myself at my computer and it has given us a connection to home as we have moved around the country.  The show has a regular "Ask A" program where they spend an hour with someone with an interesting (or even not-so-interesting) job.  Josh offered himself up to talk about his experience as a marine aviator.  It was a lot of fun to visit their studio and sit and watch them talk to Josh.  I thought he did a great job and lots of our friends and family listened.

We got a picture with Kerry, Bill and Gina.

Then, last night we had more fun at the Jazz Game, thanks to an invite from Brynn and Nate.  They played the Trailblazers and won, but just barely.  We haven't followed the Jazz in years, but it was fun to be there and fun hanging out with these two...

Then, the next night I was able to catch up with some of my friends from high school at Suzy's house.  We had a great dinner and chatted away the evening.  It was so fun to catch up.

Utah Wrap-up

The rest of our trip went by so quickly.  We had so much fun and just like our last trip, I noticed how all the fun, the change of scenery, and lots and lots of love seems to change the girls a little bit.  On the way home, a random flight attendant picked Josie up and she didn't cry.  In fact, she giggled and played with her.  I think the travel and the change of scenery is really good for them!  It is hard traveling with kids, but in my opinion, it is definitely worth it.  Seeing them with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, makes me really really miss home.  I'm grateful we were able to make the trip.

Here's some more fun we had - Josh, Jer, and the girls with their cousin Riley

 EJ and me with the girls

 My parents with Piper one night right before bed

 Uncle Jeff came up for a visit and for some lunch.  The girls thought the bow was pretty funny.

 Brynn and Nate came over to my parents for dinner one night

We had dinner at Jer & Erika's and Jim & Rebecca and family came down too.  Look at those pretty Jones girls!  The girls jumped right into the mix with their cousins and had lots of fun playing. 

 Grandma Bubba and Piper.  We were eating at Brynn and Nate's house. 

 One night, Josie learned she was supposed to smile for the camera.  "Say Cheese!"

 Playing with Uncle Nate and Aunt Brynn at their house

 Grandpa and Josie

 Can't wait to go back!