Northern Pike

During Dad's visit up to Alaska, we decided to head out after Northern Pike, a type of fish that we have never before caught. After a little homework and a few phone calls we head out to a lake in the Nancy Lake Recreation Area. The trip involved dropping some cash at a local tackle shop, renting a canoe (that is located on the lake) and a 3 miles hike through moose and bear country. It was a nice hike through lush forest. We saw grouse and moose and bear sign. As you will see it was a successful trip...

Me on the trail. We had to pack the paddles and life jackets to the lake and the key to unlock the canoe.

Here is the pike lake. Nice and remote. There are a few cabins on the lake and we saw a few float planes fly in and out (a.k.a. the lazy way to get there).

We ended up catching some nice pike. The biggest was a 24 1/2 incher. These fish are furocious predators and hit a few different lures that we threw at them and several methods to catch them worked.

Here is mine that I caught using herring. You can see from the pic that they like to hang out in the reeds and ambush their food (which consists of minnows, frogs and leeches).

Here is why you see me using my pliers to hold the fish in the previous pic. Pike have very sharp teeth. Their gill plates are even lined with barbs - so look out!

Trip to Visit Family at our "Second Home"

Phew, we are sure lucky that the division office for my work is in Salt Lake City and that we get to come down for business trips and see family at the same time.

We started off by going to the zoo with Nathan and Amy, Ethan and Elizabeth, and Natalie and Mom. We had a great time and Ethan was happy to teach Jaycie how to feed the ducks.

Here is Daddy teaching Jaycie the ever-important art of throwing snaps. We also had a fabulous fireworks show courtesy of Uncle Scott and Grandpa.

We went to the traditional Centerville 4th of July parade and Jaycie caught a lot of candy (with some assists from Daddy and Uncle Scott).

A combo Pop and Jaycie birthday party. Jaycie got a lot of great gifts and enjoyed hanging out with family.

A sweet moment with Pop. Jaycie loved interacting with him. They had fun playing with toys and reading books. Ethan was nice enough to let Jaycie borrow his snake hat that he got at the zoo.

Thank you everyone for the Birthday gifts. Jaycie has fun playing with them all and as I mentioned before, loves to ask me all about everyone of you by name. Isn't family great?

Jaycie's 2nd Birthday

Jaycie had a fun "early" birthday at our house before heading for a visit in Utah over the 4th of July. The festivities continued in Utah with fun family parties and much needed time with grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins. In fact, after the trip home, Jaycie asks me all about everyone BY NAME!! She had such a great time and remembers everyone surprisingly well. She must get her smarts from her Mommy.

Shannon made a great strawberry cupcake cake for Jaycie. It has become her favorite flavor.

Jaycie opened many gifts from Mommy and Daddy and relatives. You can see that the look on her face says it all.

Jaycie with one of her new dolls. Great practice for when the baby comes. As you can see, she has a great pose in this pic, she must have taken notes from her Uncle Nathan when she saw him last.

One very satisfied little girl playing with her new gifts.

Best Day Ever!

Last Wednesday we started out our day with swimming at Robyn's with her boys. Jaycie just loves her three boys. The youngest one (Mason) is her age. Robyn is also expecting a girl 3 1/2 weeks before me. We can't wait until our girls are here!
Later when Ryan got home he took Jaycie in the hot tub. This was Jaycie's first time in the hot tub. Because I am pregnant, Ryan had to find a new hot tubbing buddy and I approve of this one. Jaycie had so much fun being with her Daddy!
After a day of hot tubbing and swimming it was time for a bath. Jaycie absolutely loves to take baths. When I mention it's time to take a bath she runs upstairs and waits for me by the door.
This day will definitely be hard to top!

Enjoying the water spraying into the pool.

With her friends Chance, Carter, and Mason.

Jaycie and Daddy looking super cute.

Jaycie playing in the bubbles from the jets.

Daddy enjoying some quality time with his little girl, after a long day of work.

Jaycie's First Bike

Jaycie loves to ride her new bike. She can't pedal yet, so the big handle in the back comes in handy. The handle lets us push her and control the steering when we go on walks. She loves to go on walks with our neighbor Allison, because Allison has a new baby and a dog (two of her favorite things.) After our walk she has to make sure and say bye to everyone and everything around (even the stuffed animals on the baby's stroller.)



Jaycie and Daddy posing for a pic.

Jaycie loading up her bike with rocks. She loves to put them in and take them out, over and over again.

Jaycie Playing

Here is Jaycie playing on her toys in the backyard. Her favorite thing to do is "go outisde". Most days the first thing she asks me is, "go outside" or "go bye-bye." She's getting so tall and her hair is getting longer. She talks so much and loves to sing songs.

Shannon's Growing Belly

Here are some pictures of my growing belly. In both of these pictures I'm about 26 weeks.




This was on our Memorial Day hike.

A view from our deck (pre-fence).