Brown County State Park

This weekend we traveled over to Brown County State Park and spent our Saturday exploring nature.

Dax spends most of his time in nature finding sticks and rocks to throw and there were plenty for him in Brown County.

 We found a nice shady place to enjoy a picnic lunch. I love this picture, because I captured both of my boys eating fruit (cherries and watermelon) voluntarily! We also had sandwiches, plum bread and oatmeal cookies.

 There were awe-inspiring vistas throughout, I didn't know Indiana had any hills but it was full of them in the park and beautiful!

 We went on a little walk.

 And spent a lot of time admiring nature and God's creations.

 Pictures never do justice to how beautiful nature is.

Also in the park is a water tower that is open for the public to climb. The top of the water tower is the highest point in Southern Indiana. 

Curtis, though very afraid of heights, thought that he could make it to the top- no problem. I laughed and told him we would see him in a minute. He made it about a quarter of the way up, froze and came back down. Then after some time we made a friendly wager, myself of course betting that he couldn't make it up it, and he headed back up. This time he made it about half-way. Both the first two attempts I had Curtis take our camera up the tower with him so that he could take pictures of the view from the top. Here are Dax and I from halfway up the tower (what you can't see is how big my smile is and how bad my side is aching from laughing so hard at his wobbly granny-legs trying to tough it out up the climb.

So on his third attempt, I had Curtis leave me the camera so I could at least get a picture of him up on the tower. Here he is, Mr. Brave, halfway up!

 Besides Curtis' wobbly legs, it was also really funny that on his way down from attempt #3 we passed our friends the Hinds whose 8 year old was quickly scaling the stairs and made it to the top without hesitation. He also shared with Curtis that his 6 year old little sister had made it up the week before.

Dax, only 17 months, also wanted to give it a go up the water tower. The tower is old, shaky and definitly not child safe and Curtis stopped him from climbing as long as he would like, but he was having no problem and climbed up as far as Curtis did on his first attempt. 

 Note that there are no pictures of me on the tower, I, too, am scared of heights and enjoyed my role as the picture taker, mocking wife and bet-winner just fine from the ground. 

Dax took an afternoon nap in the car while Curtis and I drove around the park, stopping at vistas and enjoying the beauty. 

It's always interesting to me how much closer I feel to my Heavenly Father while enjoying the beautiful Earth around us. It is so nice to slow down, take a look around and have some meaningful conversations out in nature. We truly are so blessed and love one another. We thoroughly love life right now.

Independence

Dax has been wandering off into his room more often lately, this morning we found him like this...

(Clearly proud of himself, note the smile and wave.)

 But the other day we had just gotten home from the pool and I went into my room to change. I could hear him reading to himself and found him in his room looking through our Ensign and pointing to pictures saying "Jesus, Water" (see-sus, wah wah).

We're learning that you take the good with the bad when it comes to a child learning independence. 

4th of July

We celebrated Independence day with fishing, swimming, food and family.

 Dax was exstatic with his Dad's catch (even though cousin Avery told Curtis it was just a little one!).

 Aren't they sweet?

 My sister-in-law Melissa and I are due just weeks apart this fall. Yes, she is due before me- regardless who's belly is larger (but just add the height she has on me to my belly and we are about even!). Between the two of us we'll have 5 kids under 2 and a half.

 Curt filled up a pool at Nana & Papa Gibb's and

 my pregnant self took it over! Several cousins and Papa were already in this little pool when I came around the corner in my swim suit and my nephew Easton exclaimed "No WAY, Shayla. You aren't going to fit!".

 I may lose my status as Jaylee's Favorite Aunt for taking, posting and LOVING this picture- but it was so cute. Her grassy, wet little cheeks crawling through the grass like an elephant.

 Dax spends most of his time at Nana's yelling for the dog with his hand posed by the side of his cheeks just-so, "Oh Tiara!"

 He loves this dang dog.

 Along with a variety of other things, Curtis and I made a red velvet sheet cake and

 a Raspberry-Strawberry pie, God Bless America.

 Isn't this what the 4th is supposed to look like?

Asay Family Reunion 2011

A year has flown by since our last Asay Reunion. This year we gathered again at Grandma and Grandpa Asay's for a day of fun. There are always little kid pools spotted throughout the front yard for the grandkids. Dax was a much bigger participant in the pools than last year.

Curt's brother Morgan and wife Melissa take all the credit for a whole slew of games throughout the day. It was really fun for kids and adults alike. We played lots but I only got pictures of a few including,

a water obstacle course

water balloon toss

 and a frozen t-shirt contest (they soaked folded t-shirts in water and froze them, the first one to get their's unfolded and on won. It was a blast and felt great after a hot day!)

The only game our family one was the chubby bunny contest, we were so proud (NINE marshmallows, folks)!

We made Dax this rice container this summer after Dax loved one similar at a friend's house. It is a great substitute for a sandbox, since we don't have a yard of our own right now- just a patio. We thought that some cousins would love it too, but didn't know it'd draw such a crowd!

Kinley loved it the most, well.. she loved eating handfuls of the un-cooked rice and yelling YUM! 

 We had a great time with cousins and

even had a great time with those "flowery" kind of relatives.

And just in case the neighbors did not notice ALL of us in the front yard's pools or (not one but) TWO cars with the trunks open with a flat screen TV & PS3 inside so that family could play Call of Duty while still feeling like part of the party (Seriously we could not look more redneck!)

 just in case all that got past the neighbors, we thought we would make ourselves known with our annual Fireworks. They were great again this year!

 Dax had to have a little convincing that the fireworks were a good thing. We would yell "YAY!"and clap for every one. He would nervously yell "yaaaaay" through some tears to begin with. 

But he ended up liking them pretty good!

It's so nice to see all the family together, even for just a few short hours.
See you next year!