Liberty Park

Regan lives a few blocks away from the coolest park. Liberty Park is 110 acres with a lake for fishing and paddle boats, a pool, tennis courts, play grounds, water play areas, huge trees, rolling hills, an aviary, and carnival rides. I'm sure there is much more too. Carson and Noelle played in the coolest water area for two hours. There were little waterfalls, that flowed into a number of streams. Carson loved it! He is a little too much of a dare devil in my opinion. I wish I had a park like this by me.

Utah Trip

I am currently staying with my sister Regan in her darling new house. Her and her husband Pete and bought a turn of the century home in Sugar House (part of Salt Lake). It has beautiful, rich moldings and the original doors and knobs.




Sugar House is such a neat area. All the houses are old and have so much personality. It makes me sad that my home is so generic. I guess that is what you get in a subdivision in California, oh well. It's been a fun trip. Almost all of my family (everyone but Steve, poor Steve) was here this weekend. My parents drove Chelsea up to BYU to start school and Annie and Cody and Brian and Amanda drove down from Idaho. On Saturday we had the opportunity to go with my sister Laura to the Salt Lake Temple for the first time. It was a really amazing thing to be able to do with most of the family. (Pete and Chelsea stayed behind to watch the babies.)

After we all went out to eat, which is quite the event for my family. Grandpa and Aunt Kathy joined us. Here is Carson, his Grandpa, and his Great grandpa.




Yesterday Regan and I drove to my old stomping grounds, Provo. I get so nostalgic when I'm there. College was the funnest time of my life and all the memories come flooding back when I visit. It is bitter sweet though, because none of my friends are there anymore and all the college students look so young, which means I'm looking old. Carson has been such a good boy driving around all day, missing naps and sleeping in a different place. Poor guy is getting his first tooth too. I am lucky to have such a happy baby. Carson and I are here until tomorrow and am looking forward to more shopping and eating out. If any of you don't know Utah is the shopping and dining capital of the west! There is any and every type of store and restaurant here. Thanks Regan for being my own personal driver. Here is a funny picture of Noelle and Carson while we were grocery shopping at Walmart. Carson felt so proud of himself sitting like a big boy with his cousin. So funny.

Seven Months

I am learning so much lately. Seriously every day it seems like I’ve learned a cool new trick. Just in the past few days I’ve mastered sitting up on my own, I can rock back and forth on my knees, scoot backwards, and do the downward dog yoga position. I’ve been a pro at rolling over for a while now. I surprise Mom and Dad because I am able to roll and scoot all over a room. I’ve got to be careful because sometimes I end up under a table or beneath a bed. Mom set up my high chair and I feel like such a big boy in it. I am getting braver about solid foods. I love to suck on Mom’s apple and pear cores, and I love bananas and green beans. Still no teeth! My gums are getting really strong. I love to chomp down on fingers. Mom and Dad have been leaving me alone to fall asleep lately. At first I hated it, but I am learning that it isn’t that scary and I can actually fall asleep without them. That doesn’t mean I do it every time. I can be very stubborn. Sometimes I’ll go to sleep on my own without much of a fuss, but other times I’ll scream my head off. Mom has to come in a few times to sooth me, and then I’ll finally give up. It has been particularly hard this month because we’ve done some traveling. Nothing throws off my sleeping schedule like trips! Mom is trying to get me to take two long naps a day instead of three. Hopefully by next month I’ll be there. I am doing a much better job at sleeping through the night. I’ve also been much better in the car, and even enjoy it sometimes. I love watching home videos of myself. I just laugh and laugh anytime I hear myself talk on camera. Mom and Dad think it is pretty funny. My hair is really starting to grow. It’s coming in blond. Everyone asks Mom if she buzzed it, because it is the exact same short length, but she tells them that it just grows that way. I have the softest little head. A new thing I’ve learned that I love to do is swim! I am a little water baby. I love to be out in the sunshine and to kick and splash in the water. Mom and Dad love seeing my little personality come to life. I know Mom is a little sad that I’m not her brand new baby anymore, but she is having so much fun with me that she doesn’t seem to mind!

Home Sweet Home

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Steve and I were on a walk yesterday, talking about how weird it is that we have been here for four years already! I think that has officially established us here. The crazy thing is this is the longest I have ever lived in the same house(correct me if I am wrong family.) A close second is the house on Paulette. We moved into half way through my freshman year in high school and then I went to college after senior year was over. Weird. Good thing we love it here. The bay area is such a great location. The weather is great, there are cool things to do, and we've got great friends. What more could a gal ask for? Well- We would have preferred not to lose over half the house's value over the past few years, but it will go back up...one day...right? Other than that, oh, and the state of California in financial ruins, We are so glad we chose to move here after graduation.

Giants vs. A's

Last night we went with our good friends, the Petersens to AT&T Park to see the Giants play the A's. Steve got really great tickets from a vendor at work. We went to a delicious Mexican restaurant, Tres Agares, before hand and Ghiradelli's for sundaes after. The game was really fun. Giants won if you were wondering. If you've never been to AT&T park you've gotta go. It's in a prime location, right on the water. We are a little angry with Aaron and Carolyn because they are moving next month to South Dakota of all places! Well at least now I can say I know someone from the Dakotas...

Monthly Vinyl Club

Many of you know that I have a vinyl cutter and have been making signs and other types of vinyl lettering home decor for the last few years. Now that I am a SAHM (stay at home mom) for the time being I wanted to start some fun get togethers with friends. I've already started a monthly Bunco group, which has been a blast. My latest idea was to do a monthly vinyl club at my house. What we are doing is making a 12 inch board for the next month's theme/holiday. Like last night we made a 4th of July board. Next month we will make a summer themed board for August. I had a pretty good turn out, around 10 people, and we all had a lot of fun! The board kits are $8.00 each so it is a pretty inexpensive way to have a fun evening with friends and to take home something cute. If anyone wants to be a part of next month's craft just let me know!

Laura's Misson Call

My little sister Laura just got her mission call to Korea Daejon mission. She reports to the MTC Sept. 23rd. I know she is going to be an AMAZING missionary.

I heart spin class

After 6 weeks of letting my back heal I finally was able to make it back to the gym. Glorious! Carson is over 6 months now too and can go to the Kids Club. He was the youngest in there but he did pretty good. You could tell he felt like such a cool kid being in there with all the big kids. They did page Steve once because Carson spit-up and they didn't know if he was sick...I don't think they have spent too much time with babies. Anyway, I was able to go to my favorite class. I love the cycling class at 24 hour. There is nothing like it! If you've never done spin you've got to do it. It is the most extreme 1 hour workout. It felt so good to be back.

Andrea's Pictures

While we were in Arizona my very talented cousin Andrea took some pictures of Carson while we were swimming. I love them. Thanks Andrea!

Trip to Arizona

Well- I am back home. My Grandma's services were just beautiful. There were well over 300 people there. My Dad's eulogy was great and the "Kelley Girls" (me and my 5 sisters) song, Wind Beneath my Wings actually sounded great! My Grandma's Good Friend Ronnie Miashiro came from Hawaii to be there. He is a professional pianist and really jazzed up the piece. AND none of us cried during it. Grandma created and led the Sun City Singers a choir in her retirement community. They sang a few numbers and sounded wonderful. Grandma would have loved it- after all she did plan it all out, even down to what type of sandwiches she'd like served after the funeral! It was very sad to know we'd never see her again in this life, but everyone was so happy that she was with those who she loved who passed on before her. Side note---For those of you interested my no sugar thing has been going pretty good. I was sugar free before Arizona, but splurged a few times there. It is always harder when you are out of town.
It was so nice being with family. All of my siblings flew/drove in and we stayed at my Grandma Knudsen's house. She is in Oregon all summer so we had the place all to ourselves. I had to sleep in the same room as Carson. Needless to say I didn't sleep well the whole time we were there. How do moms co-sleep? Anyway, we were able to see cousins from my Mom's side and cousins from my Dad's side. I don't know what it is, but there is really something special about cousins. When I was young I was always so excited to see them and still am even though we are all adults now. It seems like the only time any of us see each other any more is at weddings and funerals. Does that happen to all families? To escape the heat we went swimming twice.

Carson went swimming for the first time and loved it! He is officially a water baby now. We were in the pool for at least 2 hours and he had a ball. I wish we had a pool here. Another side note---I don't know how you Arizonians do it. It is SO freakin' hot there. I guess it is something you just have to get used to.


It is kind of nice that I can't drive right now. Carson is so sick of the car, I'd feel horrible if I put him in it. It is great to be home and to see Steve. Everything looks so green here! I am thrilled to sleep in my own bed tonight, and to have Carson all the way down the hall in his crib. I'm sure in a few days I'll be bored out of my mind again wishing I was on another trip, but for now I am looking forward to staying at home all day tomorrow.

Visit to the Aboretum

Today Becky, Laura, Oliver, Carson, and I went to the LA arboretum for a few hours. It was a little rainy, but we had fun anyway.

Grandma Coats

Grandma Coats (my Dad's mom) passed away on Saturday. Even though she was 85 it was still pretty suddin. She had a massive stroke and they ended up taking her off of life support a few hours later. Grandma Coats was not your average Grandma! She was a professional violin player and played until the day she died. She had long blonde hair and was just about the spunkiest, most opinionated woman you could ever meet. She was never afraid to voice her opinion. She was a wonderful grandma and I will miss her very much. The funeral in on Saturday in Tucson, AZ. I flew into LA yesterday and Carson and I are going to drive up with my Mom tomorrow. It is always nice to be with your family at a time like this. Here are two pictures from her 85th birthday last year. Aunt Kathy, Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad.

Carson video from the last week