Glabe Family Adventures

Gotta love Oklahoma!

2012-01-23T21:46:00.003-07:00

Since we have moved to flat Oklahoma and never get to go hiking anymore, there's nothing too exciting for Dave to blog about. So I thought I might make a few comments about our adventures in Oklahoma thus far:

First of all, before we first moved here and we told people we were coming to Oklahoma, they always said "Oh, the people there are really nice." Translation: "There's not much nice about Oklahoma except for the people." It's flat. It's windy. People talk with a funny accent. There are nearby chat piles with toxic levels of metals like lead and cadmium. And there are lots of cows. Apart from the toxic metals, none of those things are entirely bad in and of themselves, just not exactly my ideal place to live. But I have to agree that most of the people are pretty nice.

Second, there are some weird food traditions here: homemade noodles for Thanksgiving and black-eyed peas for New Years. Wierd.

And now, I'd like to close by sharing some of the road signs we saw on a recent trip to the zoo in Tulsa:

1. While on a road crossing over a small stream: "DO NOT DRIVE INTO WATER. DO NOT DROWN" (Thanks for the advice.)

2. On another bridge: "$10,000 fine for throwing things off the bridge" (Apparently that's a problem here.)

3. While driving through a construction site: "It is illegal to hit the workers." (Well, I was thinking about taking a worker out, but since it's illegal....)

4. When the right lane ended: "Merge left. IT'S THE LAW" (Do I really have another choice?)

Happy Birthday Nolan!

2011-12-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Our little man turned one year old on November 28th. With Dave leaving that night to take his second round of boards and considering we had just moved to Oklahoma a couple weeks before and didn't have any friends or family nearby, we just had a simple little party.

Nolan did some modest damage to his cake, but enjoyed every bit of it.

He was all business and never cracked a smile.

Aly, on the other hand, was all smiles. She could hardly contain her

excitement all day in anticipation of cupcakes.

It seems impossible that it has been a whole year since we welcomed little Nolan into our lives. He has brought us so much joy with his sweet little personality and those big dimpled smiles he flashes. We feel so blessed to be his parents!

Oklahoma

2011-12-04T13:07:00.001-07:00

We've been in Oklahoma for about three weeks now. Our arrival started badly, as the propane company seriously misled us about the cost of heating the beautiful 4-bdrm home we had planned to stay in. We simply couldn't afford it on our student loan budget, so we ended up moving into an apartment closer to where Dave is in clinic. It was an absolute nightmare having to move everything we own twice in 4 days without any help, but we'll laugh about it someday.

We're settling in pretty well now. The town is quite small, but has a Wal-Mart, and Joplin, MO is only a few miles down the road with everything you could want. We miss the mountains of southern Utah and Colorado dearly - outdoor activities around here consist mostly of fishing and hunting. Thankfully, the holiday season gives us plenty of activities to take the kids to on the weekends.

Dave loves the clinical experience he is getting. The clinic is very disease-heavy, and he sees a lot of rare and interesting conditions - he always has several stories to tell when he comes home.

The local ward is very small, but the members are wonderful - they have been so good to us, and have made us feel at home. We got together with a handful of other young families in our ward for Thanksgiving, and have managed to make a few friends already. We got invited over for dinner again at church today, so either the people here are sincerely nice, or they think we're really poor because we're students:) Regardless, the people are nice and we are enjoying experiencing a new part of the country.

Fall Fun

2011-10-30T21:37:00.000-06:00

We've been enjoying the beautiful fall weather here in Colorado. It has snowed twice already (once we got a good 6 inches or so), but the weather seems to rebound every time back to the 60s or 70s with plenty of sunshine. We can't believe how gorgeous all the leaves are!

Once there was a snowman....tall, tall, tall!

In the sun he melted....small, small, small.

Our snow angel!

Nolan's fridge antics just keep getting better.

And the toilet antics?... I spend half my day washing his hands.

The corn box.

This week, we attended the ward chili cook-off/trunk-or-treat party. We love the ward here - some of the best saints you've ever met. Although our chili didn't win an award this time (and definitely should have, according to Dave, who took it upon himself to sample every last pot of the 30 or 40 chilis represented:)), the cook-off was a blast. Aly was a tiger (that was the costume that Dave's parents sent for her), and Nolan was a bumblebee. It was adorable to hear Aly say, "Grrrrrrr! Twick a' tweet" every time she approached another trunk. Not as feminine as a princess costume, I guess, but she enjoyed herself immensely, and that's what counts. Cutest tiger you ever saw, to be sure.

Aly won the cupcake walk on her first try.

Sorting through the loot.

We've had some cute quotes lately from Aly. Most have been forgotten, since we're terrible at recording these, but here are a few.

Me: "Aly, do you want to go hiking today?"
Aly: "My legs don' wanna go hiking today. My legs just wanna stay home."

We've been bribing Aly to sleep in her bed all night and not wake us up - if she sleeps through the night, she gets a pack of fruit snacks. Dave started taking a little cat nap while we were playing in Aly's room today.
Aly: "Daddy, you need to sleep by your own self in your own bed, and if you don' wake me up all night long, then you can have fruit snacks."
She reads Dave a story, kisses him on the cheek, then shuts her door. A minute later she opens it, jumps on Dave and says, "Daddy, get up, get up! Thank you for not waking me up all night long - now it's time for your fruit snacks!

Aly: "Daddy, carry me!"
Dave: "Aly, you carry me!"
Aly: "No, Daddy, you are too heavy! You are not a baby."

Aly: "Dang it!"
Me: "What did you say?! Where did you learn that?"
Aly: "Yesterday my Daddy said 'dang it'."

Aly also gets a treat for going potty in the toilet all day without an accident (we're in the midst of potty training).
Aly: "I went potty, and now I need a snack."
Dave: "Aly, I went potty, too. I need a snack."
Aly: "Daddy, you are not a big girl like me. You cannot wear big girl panties, and you cannot have a snack."

Dave started snitching some food off of Aly's plate during dinner.
Aly, scowling: "Daddy, don' eat my munch, or you will get a big time-out!"

We were with a female friend of ours some time ago at an activity. We had been working with Aly on naming body parts lately.
Aly, while pointing to each body part on our friend: "That is your nose, and that is your ears, and that is your boobs..."
Our friend: "What did she say?"
Me (lying through my teeth): "Um, I think she said 'belly'. Sometimes she's hard to understand."

We're reading a story about Moses and the Exodus at bedtime, and there is a picture of Moses standing on the mount with the stone tablets, and Aaron standing below with his staff in hand.
Aly: "What does Aaron have in his hand?"
Me: "A rod - it's like a big stick."
Aly: "Oh... he is going to hit Moses with it when he comes down?"
Me (thinking to myself that the Disney movies we let her watch are maybe a bit too violent if she gets ideas like this), "No, Moses and Aaron like each other. They are brothers. Aaron doesn't hit Moses."

We take off at the end of this week to travel to our next destination: The Middle of Nowhere, Oklahoma. Although we are going to miss the mountains and scenery here dearly, we're quite excited. We managed to make a connection to a ward member who is renting us an enormous 4-bdrm country house, newly remodeled, complete with plenty of land, a big barn, and a field of cows next door. We asked him about arranging a time to pick up the keys, and he laughed at us. Apparently nobody locks their homes in the area. Unbelievable, right? He laughed again when we asked him about the neighborhood. His reponse was, "what neighborhood?" The nearest neighbor is over a mile away, as far as we can tell. Everyone has a thick accent, seems very friendly (at least over the phone), and talks as if they have all the time in the world. It will definitely be...interesting. And perhaps a little refreshing. Internet access might be an issue, so bear with us if another period of time goes before the next blog post.

Until then.

Mischief Makers

2011-10-02T22:58:00.000-06:00

What use is a blog if you can't randomly post cute snapshots of your kids? Enjoy!

Nolan's great-grandfather designed this jet!

Refriger-raiders

Feeding the giraffes at the zoo.

Nolan's favorite pastime...unloading the dishwasher

Colorado adventures, continued.

2011-10-02T22:23:00.001-06:00

Okay, it has been a while since we've blogged anything. The weather here is still great, so we've been hiking every chance we get. Between that and caring for a teething Nolan and a potty training Aly (who is doing great, by the way!), our time is pretty well consumed. I'm too tired to write a longer blog entry, so here's a glimpse at some of our recent fun in Colorado:

New Adventures in Colorado

2011-09-04T10:20:00.002-06:00

This past month has been so busy, and we have had so many problems with our internet, that I can hardly believe it has been a month since the last post. Here's the long update on our happenings since then:

We left St. George a few weeks ago for Dave's next clinical rotation in Colorado Springs, CO. We were a bit sad to leave St. George - it really had started to feel rather homey to us - but excited to discover Colorado. Aly had some fun while packing, insisting that we not forget to pack her as well.

On the way over, we decided to take some detours to see more of the amazing sights in Utah, and to complete our tour of the national parks there (we have now been to them all, and all but one of the national monuments in UT). Here are some photos from our stay in Capitol Reef.

The views and hiking there were spectacular, although we were hit with a couple of intense thunderstorms (one that occurred right as we were cooking our dinner over the fire - we managed to bolt for the tent before being drenched, and had to restart the fire with wet wood after the rain dissipated). One of the best things about Capitol Reef is that it wasn't near as crowded as Utah's other parks - you really felt as if you were out in nature.

Lunchtime.

We made it into Colorado Springs two days later, after driving through some beautiful scenery in Vail and other high mountain towns along the Colorado River. Our new home is in one of the temporary lodging units on base at the Air Force Academy, set against the mountains just outside of the city. It is kind of like staying in a hotel (the maids come every day to clean and restock the shampoo and mouthwash), but it spared us the headache of having to find a 3-month lease for under $1500/mo, which seemed virtually impossible. The unit isn't bad - granite counters, wood floors, a great playground for the kids right out our front door. But the BEST thing is the view - here is what we look at all day long from our front porch - amazing, huh? And if you look the other way, there is a fantastic view of the entire city of Colorado Springs (no picture).

Ah, the mountains! Literally taken just out our door. I could get used to this.

The playground, 10 yards away from our front door.

And you know that smell of being in the mountains, away from everything else? The one with a mix of pine, sage, and the freshest air you've ever breathed? That's what we breathe all day long here. We love it! It comes replete with black bears that visit our neighbor's garbage cans every few nights and strew the trash over their lawn (the bears are nice enough to leave ours alone - I think the poopy diapers in there act as a deterrent - anyone interested in marketing some cheap bear repellent for campers?). There are also hordes of deer that roam around the place, and supposedly a handful of elk and coyotes (haven't seen any of those yet).

We've been settling in here quite nicely. Dave is able to come home for lunch every day, and is off by 4:00 or 4:30 every afternoon. There is so much to do - more hikes than we could ever possibly do in 3 months, and breathtaking scenery everywhere. It seems that being active is the thing to do here - apparently Colorado Springs is one of the most physically fit and most educated cities in America, and you can tell by the number of hiking and biking trails. Nice.

Family Reunions

2011-08-07T22:49:00.001-06:00

Last week, we traveled to the small town of Delta, UT to attend Dave's family reunion. His grandparents are now both in their 90s with failing health, so it was good to spend some quality time visiting with them.

We stayed with Dave's Uncle Reid, who is one of the neatest men you'll ever meet. He keeps sheep, cows, and pigs as a hobby with his grandchildren, so Aly got to see all the animals and help feed them while we were there. Nolan seemed to have fun too.

On our way home from Delta, we visited Cedar Breaks National Monument to do some hiking and some searching for agates nearby. The views all along the hike were stunning, and the weather was quite a bit cooler at 56 degrees compared to the 100-degree weather we've been having. By the way, Aly has turned into quite the little hiker. She hiked for over a mile continuously on her own around the rim at Cedar Breaks, and several times lately she has declared, "Momma, I wanna go hiking today." The little girl loves it, and she is good at it! Rarely does she need help scaling rocks, even on the more challenging paths.

With the weather just beginning to warm up, it was Spring there and the wildflowers were blooming

We also took a trip this last week over to Red Cliffs Preserve to do some hiking in an area we hadn't been before. There are two incredible waterfalls out in the middle of the desert there, with treefrogs, crayfish, and butterflies all over the place. We saw plenty of lizards as well as a 3-foot snake. There are supposed to be plenty of rattlesnakes and Gila monsters in the preserve - thankfully we didn't run into any of those.

You could climb a steep wall with the aid of an anchored rope to continue the hike past the falls. Somehow we managed to scale it even with the kids in our arms.

After the reunion, Dave's parents came to spend a couple of days with us here in St. George. Unfortunately, all the pictures we took were on their camera. Aly loves Grandpa and Grandma - it was such a treat for her to be able to play with them. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma - we love you! Come visit again soon:)

Mountain Meadows, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas

2011-07-19T22:08:00.001-06:00

This past week was another vacation week, as Dave's preceptor was out on a scouting trip. We took full advantage of the time off to travel to some beautiful and interesting places around here.

First off was a trip to Pine Valley, nestled in gorgeous alpine mountains with a stream running next to a hiking trail. Only a few miles away, we stopped at the infamous Mountain Meadows, home to the tragic massacre of an emigrant wagon train from Arkansas by members of the Church under the direction of their local priesthood leaders. Both of us have read the most recent book released by Church historians on the topic, so the place meant a little more to us. Today, the grave sites of the victims can still be seen, and two memorials have been erected by the Church. A sad, but true part of our history.

Hiking Pine Valley

Mountain Meadows

Mountain Meadows gravesite

Our second trip was to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, where we made it to all of the viewpoints and most of the hikes. One hike took us right along the rim, with breathtaking (and sometimes scary!) views. We had to watch Aly like hawks, since most of the sites had no railing.

Grand Canyon!

Finally, we went back to Las Vegas to visit some of the converts from Dave's mission and some old friends who recently moved there. We were able to stop by the temple. It was a great experience for both of us, and we enjoyed seeing all of the people who mean so much to us. Thanks to all of you who have made an impact on our lives for the better.

100 degrees? No problem!

2011-07-03T16:03:00.002-06:00

The heat is on... literally. We've been up to 106 and 108 degrees in the past couple of weeks here, with no end in sight. It's still over 90 degrees outside when we put the kids to bed at 8 o'clock! Good thing our hot tub doubles as a swimming pool:)

In spite of the hot weather, there is a lot to keep us busy around here in the time Dave is out of clinic. Erin's family reunion was last weekend in Richfield, UT. We traveled up the day before to do some camping and hiking in the surrounding Fishlake National Forest. We stopped at Kanarraville on the way up and hiked into a beautiful slot canyon with a stream running through it. To do the hike, you have to cross and/or hike in the stream several times. The scenery was incredible! A little further on, we discovered a great campground nearby Fremont Indian State Park called Castle Rock, where the sites are within a stone's throw of Bryce Canyon-esque rock formations.

Hi everybody!

Crossing the stream in Kanarraville Canyon

Aly likes camping... she gets to jump on the air mattresses before bedtime

We forgot the spoons for the yogurt, so Aly just licked hers out

Sunset at our campsite. Pictures never do nature justice.

We visited the state park while we were there, and saw hundreds of Fremont Native American petroglyphs scattered on rock faces and in caves. It was fascinating to see this artwork left by a civilization that we know so little about. I wonder just how they connect to the Lamanites...

Hundred Hands Cave petroglyphs. Hard to see in this small photo, but these are all painted hands.

At the reunion, we got a four-generation shot with Erin's grandmother and made some neat memories.

Four generations. Of course, the only photo where Aly smiles is the one where Nolan is unhappy.

After the reunion, Erin's dad and sister came to stay with us for a few days. We took them hiking with us in Snow Canyon, then spent much of the afternoon at Sand Hollow (like a miniature Lake Powell). We played in a splash pad on the way home.

Yesterday, we explored more of Pioneer Park, and went through the slot canyon there. We could just barely squeeze through sideways, brushing the rock face on both sides, but Aly had enough room to go through forwards. I guess being skinny has its advantages; we ran into several other adults our age on the way out who were amazed that we had been able to fit through:)

View out of the slot canyon. Yes, it was this tight!

Aly in the slot canyon.

Hiking out of Pioneer

Erin on the hike

A trip down memory lane

2011-06-19T21:05:00.000-06:00

We made it back to Provo this weekend to see Dave's sister and her family, who were dropping his niece off at BYU. Aside from spending some wonderful time with them, we took the opportunity to visit some of our favorite old stomping grounds and do some camping and hiking in magnificent Provo Canyon. It was fun to relive some of the memories of our courtship and first year or so of marriage, and think about how much life has changed in just a few short years with our two beautiful children.

We did a hike near Squaw Peak that was one of the last places we went before leaving BYU. In spite of all our prayers, we had tried unsuccessfully to have children for the previous year and a half... we remember all too well the pain and uncertainty of not knowing if we would ever be able to have children of our own. This time on that same hike, Aly led the way for us, skipping along and smiling back at us while Nolan babbled in our arms. It almost brought tears to my eyes. We never could have imagined then the joy that our children would bring to us.

Like any good BYU alums, we had to take "the picture" with the kids in front of the "Enter to learn, go forth to serve" sign. Here it is. (Please note that the awkward postures are due to the fact that the wall we were sitting on had a total of ~3 inches for our rear ends, with spiky bushes that poked you if you tried to scoot back further).

We've already started the process of planning for Aly and Nolan to attend the Y.. Aly readily answers "yes" to the question of whether she will go to BYU, and she learned the fight song well before she learned her alphabet:)

St. George

2011-06-12T21:34:00.001-06:00

We've been in St. George for a few weeks now, and we're loving it! Endless sunshine, warm days, a hot tub and grill on the patio, and lizards and squirrels living in our backyard (Aly loves them). Dave works with an excellent doctor (who coincidentally lives in our new ward) and is enjoying the experience he is getting. He has quite a bit of time off since the doctor he is under works with scouting and has to take several weeks off for trips over the summer. We have been taking advantage of the days off to see all the incredible sights nearby.

Although the desert is a far cry from coastal Oregon, the recreation here is unbelievable. We've already explored Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Snow Canyon, and the local Pioneer Park. We also live only 2 blocks from the Virgin River, and are just waiting for the water levels to drop a bit so we can do some tubing one of these evenings.

Here are some photos from some of our recent escapades in the local red rock formations.

Aly's hairband fell out on the trail, but it was a good place for the rugged look.

Some of the "painted" rocks

Bryce Canyon. Here's us at the top.

Erin and Nolan on one of the most scenic hikes in the world... still toward the top. We went from top to bottom, then back up again. Unbelievably beautiful!

Some of the "Hoodoos" of Bryce seen from the bottom.

Kolob Canyons at Zion

Moving On

2011-05-15T22:17:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow, the great Glabe family adventure officially begins. Over the next year, Dave's clinical rotations will take us coast to coast across 11 different states, settling in four of them for 3 months apiece. The first destination: St. George, UT.

Moving is bittersweet. We'll certainly miss the many friends we've made and the natural beauty of Oregon, but we're anticipating great experiences ahead and looking forward to some consistent sunshine:)

I was going through my church bag today, where I found and re-read a copy of Elder Holland's 1999 conference talk entitled "An High Priest of Good Things to Come". A portion of the talk was turned into this video below:

I thought it no coincidence that the talk bears the following resemblances to our own circumstances:

1) Elder Holland was traveling to attend school with his family, consisting of his wife and 2 young children
2) They had a U-Haul trailer with all their earthly possessions inside
3) They were dirt poor
4) They were traveling through St. George, UT
5) Elder Holland and Dave both have dark hair and are stunningly handsome men:)

And that is where I hope the similarities end... I don't want our car to break down in Kannaraville, in spite of the fact that the population has grown to a whopping 318 since Elder Holland's time.

We'll try to keep everyone updated... wish us luck! If we can survive the next 3 days of travel with the kids, we might just make it.

Aly turns 2

2011-04-06T17:21:00.000-06:00

Our little girl had a big birthday last week. It's incredible to think that our baby has grown up so much, and yet it's hard to believe she's only been in our lives for 2 years. She is such a joy to us. Despite being sick we celebrated with lots of play time, decorations, lunch on campus with Dad, a special dinner, presents, and oreo cupcakes!

Nolan thought it was great fun too.

First Smiles

2011-02-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

We can't get enough of these dimples! Here are some of Nolan's first smiles caught on camera:

Nolan's Baby Blessing

2011-02-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

The whole family

Baby Nolan makes 4

Mom and Nolan

Dad and Nolan

Grandpa and Grandma Shurtz and Aunt Katie came from Wenatchee to visit.

Grandma Glabe came from Nebraska to visit

Nolan with his Grandpa

Nolan with Grandma Renae

Nolan and Aunt Katie

First eye exam

2011-01-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

Aly had her first "official" comprehensive eye exam today. It is recommended for all children to be examined by an optometrist (not just a pediatrician) between 6-12mo of age, but we put it off a bit longer because Dave has been examining her eyes since day 1. Aly did great - she didn't even flinch when the dilating drops went in, and only fussed about the fact that the doctor kept getting in the way of the movie during retinoscopy. We're happy to report that our little princess appears to have Mom's good eyes - thank goodness she hasn't shown any signs of Dad's nearsightedness! The first picture below documents her reward - a popsicle! She even tolerated the sunglasses for most of the afternoon, which is good since her eyes were dilated. After the drops wore off a bit, we all went to the park and played in the (rare) sunshine.

3D family photos

2011-01-22T00:53:00.001-07:00

Every now and then, Dave decides to pick up a new hobby. Recently, he determined that he was going to get into stereo photography (3D photography). He managed to build most of the camera rig himself. We've decided to post some of his first attempts around the house. For those of you who can't cross your eyes well, these will hold little value for you. But if you can, you're in for a treat... 3D photos of the Glabe family (and some other miscellaneous items).

(To view these properly, you'll have to click on the photos, then make your eyes cross until the two photos blend into a third photo in the center. It may help you to hold your finger out in the center of the photos, focus on it, and bring it closer to your nose while noticing when the photos begin to "merge" together. This will probably happen with your finger ~6 inches from your nose - then shift your focus back to the merged center photo and - voila! - the photos appear three-dimensional. If you can't get it to work, Dave suggests some vision therapy to work on your relative convergence ability).

Baby Brother arrives...and finally has a name!

2010-12-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

We welcomed little Nolan David Glabe to the world on Sunday, November 28th at 12:06 AM, nearly 3 weeks before his due date. He weighed 6 lbs 9 oz and measured 19.5 inches long. We feel so blessed to have been entrusted with this sweet little spirit. So far he has been a very calm baby. He eats, sleeps, and poops just like he's supposed to and even gained nearly 2 ounces by his first doctor's appointment. Aly is thrilled to have a baby to help take care of, even if it has been a bit of an adjustment for her. She likes to help change diapers, swaddle, and rock him and I even caught her trying to feed him some cereal today. She is a great big sister.

And now for the first week's worth of photos...

Mom and baby Nolan minutes after birth.

Aly's mad face - she isn't sure that this is what she ordered.

Pals already. It didn't take long for her to warm up to Nolan.

Aly tells Nolan all her secrets.

And Nolan tells Aly all of his.

Family photo at the hospital.

Duckie jammies!

Our little guy.

Grandma Renae came to aid in the transition. She was a huge help, and it was great to see Aly warm up to her.

Stay tuned... more photos to come!

Halloween

2010-11-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is two weeks later and I'm finally posting about Halloween. Our little lion had so much fun at the trunk-or-treat. At first she was scared to approach all those strangers, but once she realized that they were putting candy in her bag she ran from car to car. She was so excited to come home and dig into her loot.

Here are some shots from our visit to a local pumpkin patch.

Lil' Cougar

2010-10-03T22:52:00.001-06:00

It's a rule around here - Glabes are avid fans of cougar football, basketball, and volleyball. So, when we visited Provo this past summer, we picked up some cougar gear for Aly and her new little brother to wear during the football and basketball games. Even though BYU football has been struggling a bit this year, we're still decked out for the games every weekend like loyal fans. Aly loves singing the cougar chant - Ra! Ra! Ra-Ra-Ra! Gooooooooo Cou-gars!

At Aly's height (99th percentile for her age) she'll be a cinch for the women's basketball and volleyball teams. Here's our future BYU all-star (already training on the monkey bars!) in all her blue-blooded cougar glory.

He doesn't know it yet, but Aly's little brother (still no name yet...) is destined to be the next great quarterback (and valedictorian) at the Y...

Ratatouille

2010-09-19T20:45:00.000-06:00

Like most of you, when we saw the Disney movie Ratatouille, we had never tried the dish. So we decided it would be a fun family activity to make it and watch the movie together. The best part is we were able to make the entire thing from produce from our own garden. The only thing we had to buy was the eggplant. We wanted to share a few pictures with you. Also, here is the link to the recipe we used: www.smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/rat-a-too-ee-for-you-ee

More...cheese!

2010-09-10T13:07:00.000-06:00

Aly has effectively learned to use the word "more", which she uses roughly a thousand times a day. Now we are trying to teach her to say "more please", but her "please" ends up sounding more like "cheese". This is the face she makes when she really wants something. How can you say no to this?

Baby Brother!

2010-08-08T22:17:00.002-06:00

Since this blog is really about Aly anyway, we thought we would let everyone know she is expecting a baby brother this December. She is very excited, and loves to lift up Mommy's shirt and kiss her belly to give baby brother kisses. We have no idea what to name him... boy names are ridiculously hard to decide upon. so if anyone has suggestions feel free to send them.

Just for good measure, here are some more photos of Aly being extraordinarily cute...

Me and my baby dolls

Nice kitty!

Go Huskers! (and BYU!)

Return to Utah

2010-08-08T22:10:00.001-06:00

Aly with grandparents and great-grandparents in Oak City Canyon

We took a vacation back to our old stomping grounds in Utah last week on our way to Dave's family reunion in the small town of Delta. We stopped over in Boise going both ways, and were able to spend time with family and friends there (thanks Bethany and Ryan!).

Dave and Aly in Fire Engine at the Weed's block party

Spending some time in Provo made us nostalgic; we miss BYU terribly, with its overdose of high-octane Mormon culture and unmatched proximity to some of the most beautiful mountain scenery on earth. We made sure to grab the latest edition of BYU football t-shirts to enhance our game-watching this fall... if only the game against Washington was an away game:( It was fun to see some of our old friends in Provo and reminisce about college days and falling in love.

Dave and Aly with "Y" mountain in background

We took advantage of an extra night to camp out on the Alpine loop at Timpooneke; the wildflowers were in full bloom, and the scenery could not have been more picturesque. It was like a little piece of heaven.

Erin and Aly with Mount Timpanogos in background

Aly loved spending time with her grandparents and great-grandparents, despite some new teeth that decided to come in at a bad time. Dave's grandparents are both in their 90s, and manage to get by remarkably well despite some of the health challenges of aging. We got to hear stories from grandma and grandpa about how their families joined the Church and what it was like growing up "back in the day". Dave's mom quickly became Aly's new best friend, and Aly was sad to leave her, especially when it meant another 2 days of riding in the car.

Old enough to know better

2010-08-08T21:11:00.001-06:00

Aly has learned quite a few of the functions of our new phones... most notably, how to turn them on and off repeatedly and how to call people, especially at the most inopportune times. She has also developed the habit of sneaking items she knows she isn't allowed to have; fortunately, she usually alerts us to the misdeed by saying "unh-uh" (no-no) repeatedly, as if she is having a conflict of conscience out loud:)

Catching up

2010-07-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

Okay, I know it's been a while since we've posted. You can blame it on a few different things; 1) Aly just hasn't been as willing to smile for the camera lately, 2) We've been too busy enjoying the nice summer weather (finally), and 3) I've been dealing with first trimester sickness. That's right, WE'RE PREGNANT again! We should be welcoming a new baby around December 17th, just in time for Christmas. Thankfully, the morning sickness is over and I'm enjoying 2nd trimester now.

Here are a few pictures to get you caught up from the last month or two:

We hiked Multanomah Falls.

We went to Wenatchee for my brother Matt's mission farewell. Good luck in Utica, NY! See you two years!

Aly makes folding the laundry so much more fun!

We endured a cold, rainy start to summer.

We took Aly to the zoo for her first time. She loved it! According to her, all the animals

say "ah..ah..ah..ah" like a monkey.

We went to a local u-pick farm and got 13 pounds of strawberries. I made lots of freezer jam and even some homemade strawberry ice cream. Yum!

We did some tide pooling and sand-digging at the beach.

And finally, we celebrated the 4th of July by hiking to Punchbowl Falls and Wahkeena Falls. We are going to miss the beautiful Northwest next year.

Also, not pictured, we have been working hard on our first "real" garden, thanks to our friends letting us use their land and water in exchange for a little back labor. We have enjoyed tons of fresh garden lettuce, carrots, peas, and broccoli and are looking forward to some more.

Just for laughs

2010-05-21T12:41:00.000-06:00

Aly's new thing is trying to dress herself (and her baby dolls).

Sometimes things get put on in the wrong places though.

White Coat Ceremony

2010-05-21T12:39:00.000-06:00

"The White Coat Ceremony is a 'rite of passage' for students beginning the study of medicine that encourages a psychological contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine."

I am so proud of Dave and all the hard work he has put into getting to this point. I am always so amazed at how much he is able to fit on his plate as a student and researcher and then is still able to come home and be such a fantastic husband and daddy. Not to mention the perfect grades he's managed to pull.

Here he is with all "the guys"

And here are all of us beautiful, supportive wives

Myrtle Beach

2010-05-21T12:29:00.000-06:00

I'm finally getting around to posting again. A few weeks ago Dad and Renae treated us to a fun-filled family vacation in warm Myrtle Beach, SC. We had such a blast playing on the beach, golfing, kayaking, surfing, skim-boarding, and going to different shows. We spent a day in Charleston learning about some of the history and touring a plantation. We also went to the aquarium, a Medieval dinner, and Le Grande Cirque. There were so many fun things to do and it was great to spend time with family, especially as we celebrated Dave finishing his second and hardest year of optometry school.

Aly especially loved digging in the sand and jumping in the waves.

Aly's Birthday

2010-04-01T22:03:00.001-06:00

Our little girl is no longer a baby. Aly celebrated her first birthday yesterday, and she did it with gusto!

She couldn't wait to get her hands on that cake!

We finally had to take the cake away so that she wouldn't make herself sick eating the whole thing. I've never seen a one year old tear into a cake quite like this!

And she loved opening her packages.

She could hardly wait for Dave to finish assembling the baby stroller because she wanted to play with it so badly. Thanks Grammy Nae! (Look closely...she is wearing her hair in her first little pointy ponytail.)

The smile we adore

2010-03-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

Mischief Maker

2010-01-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

Aly's new favorite thing to do is get in the fridge and pull everything off the shelves. She comes running every time she hears the door open. We can't help but think it's adorable.

Merry Christmas

2010-01-04T21:28:00.001-07:00

It was a very Merry Christmas for us as we enjoyed the magic of Christmas through a child's eyes. Of course for Aly most of the magic was found in ripping wrapping paper and chasing the cats.

We were blessed to spend Christmas with Erin's family in Wenatchee. We filled our break with plenty of games, movies, food, and fun family memories. We also took time to reflect upon the many blessings that we have enjoyed this year as we celebrated the marvelous gift of the Christ child.

My First Snow

2010-01-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Yum! Aly was excited to play in the snow for the first time. Mostly she just liked eating it.

Giving Thanks

2009-12-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

For Thanksgiving break, we were able to visit Erin's family in Washington. It was great to spend quality time with family

We have so much to be thankful for. More than anything else, we're grateful to have our baby girl. Many of our family and friends are aware of the fasting, prayers, and patience that preceded the birth of Aly into our home. What a joy she is to us!

Dancing Queen

2009-11-15T21:43:00.002-07:00

One of Aly's many new skills is dancing. We think she has great rhythm. Here is Dave teaching her to dance.

Game Time

2009-11-15T21:02:00.005-07:00

Aly loves to watch sports with Daddy. She shares his passion for all the same teams - the BYU Cougars, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Aly and Daddy at the Spurs-Blazers game.

Aly and Daddy at Husker game time.

Fall Break

2009-11-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Dave was on Fall break this past week, so we took advantage of the extra leisure time and headed to the coast. Our destination was Astoria, OR, and the nearby Fort Stevens' State Park. We hiked around a toadstool-bordered trail with Aly's new hiking backpack...

... explored the wreckage of the Peter Iredale at low tide...

... and enjoyed fresh fish 'n chips from a landlubbered fishing vessel.

Aly's favorite part was learning to drive. She got us home safely.

Aly's First Halloween

2009-11-01T16:32:00.004-07:00

It's great having a baby under a year old, because every holiday and special event is a "first" once again. Somehow that makes it more exciting for the rest of us, too.

For her first Halloween, Grandpa and Grandma Glabe sent Aly a few costumes they had gathered along the way. We made sure to take plenty of pictures to record the moments. The only thing Aly loved more than wearing the costumes was watching Daddy try to wear them:)

Fall Leaves

2009-10-30T11:11:00.004-06:00

Fall is a fun new season for Aly. She loves all the colorful leaves on the ground. She especially loves ripping them into a million pieces and then shoving those pieces in her mouth. We just couldn't resist posting some of these adorable pictures of her.

Lifting Burdens

2009-10-25T21:20:00.001-06:00

We listened to this video today, and it reminded us of all that we hold most dear. Hope you all enjoy it!

Click the link below to view the video:

Lifting Burdens

Pumpkin patch!

2009-10-18T17:09:00.003-06:00

We took Aly pumpkin picking for the first time at a nearby farm. She loved it, especially the corn maze. Some of the squash and pumpkins in the patch were larger than she was!

"Real" food

2009-09-27T22:11:00.004-06:00

Aly has been eyeing our dinner plates for the past month and a half, but we've managed to hold off on solid foods until now. The pediatrician's advice was to start her out on rice cereal mixed with Mom's milk until it was soupy... yuck. What a way to be introduced to real food - rice cereal. Aly didn't hide her distaste very well, although she seemed to like the idea of chewing on the rubber-coated spoon with her two new (and very first) teeth.

We later found that if we mixed the rice cereal with some watered-down white grape juice, Aly found it tolerable. Like granulated sugar on your cornflakes, I guess...

Hair bows

2009-09-06T22:47:00.004-06:00

Apparently making hair bows is a "must have" skill for mommies with little girls. Here is Erin's first attempt. A special thanks to her friend Lyndsie for teaching her and providing her with her first time supplies. Now she's hooked. And another thanks to Aly for making it look so good. Now hopefully no one will ask if she is a boy or a girl.

Playtime

2009-08-30T20:55:00.002-06:00

Aly loves to laugh and giggle when she plays. She especially loves it when Dave acts like a dog chasing after her, as in this video.

New toys

2009-08-30T20:37:00.002-06:00

It's exciting to watch Aly as she discovers new things. Lately she loves to grab her toys (and Mom's hair, and our plates at dinnertime, and Dad's nose, and anything else that gets too close). While at Grandma Shurtz's home in Sequim, we learned how much Aly loves balls, so we purchased one for her. It has quickly become her favorite toy, as evidenced by the smiles in these photos:

Canada!

2009-08-30T20:32:00.003-06:00

While vacationing in Sequim, we took the ferry from Port Angeles to Vancouver Island. It was the first time Dave and Aly had ever been to Canada. We found plenty of fresh fish, breathtaking gardens, intricate architecture, and even a wooly mammoth!

More Sequim photos

2009-08-30T20:26:00.002-06:00

Sequim!

2009-08-30T18:09:00.003-06:00

Sequim (pronounced "skwim"), Washington is one of our favorite places on earth. This gem of a town is a small, sunny retirement community on the Olympic Peninsula. Wait... did I just say "sunny" and "Olympic Peninsula" in the same sentence? Indeed I did. Sequim is an anomaly, to be sure, and is surrounded by the most breathtaking rainforest and mountain scenery you can imagine alongside the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. Picture orca whales, mossy forests, waterfalls, beaches, crystal-clear glacial lakes, and six-foot ferns - that was our vacation in Sequim. And here are some photos of it:

Ducks and wetlands

2009-08-30T17:57:00.003-06:00

Aly loves being outdoors, just like her mom and dad. Here are some photographs of us at the wetlands near our home and feeding the ducks at the local pond.

We can't get enough of this girl

2009-07-27T14:53:00.002-06:00

Aly performed well for the camera during her 3 month pictures. Here are some of our favorite shots.

Shurtz Family Reunion

2009-07-26T19:47:00.005-06:00

For the 4th of July we headed up to Lake Chelan for a memorable reunion. We had so much fun playing on the beach and the boat and watching all the cousins play together. It was weird being a parent when I feel like I should be one of the kids running around. Lots of games and sun and water made for a great vacation. Thanks Dad and Renae for making it possible!

The thing that makes it all worth it...those first smiles

2009-06-14T17:47:00.002-06:00

Here are some of Alyson's smiles caught on camera. If you can't tell, we're pretty crazy about her.

Aly's First Hike

2009-06-14T17:28:00.002-06:00

For Erin's birthday we decided to do a beautiful hike to Angel's Rest in the Columbia River Gorge. The view from the top was spectacular! After all that hiking, Aly was exhausted...

Aly makes 8

2009-06-14T17:23:00.003-06:00

Erin took Aly home to Wenatchee for her grandma's funeral and brother's graduation. All the Shurtz cousins were together for the first time since Aly was born.

Strawberry Season

2009-06-14T17:13:00.004-06:00

One of the greatest things we've discovered about living in Oregon are all the U-pick farms. This week for family home evening we picked a box of Hood strawberries for $1 a pound. We've been enjoying strawberry pie and freezer jam all week. Yum!

Family Visits

2009-05-17T16:09:00.003-06:00

With Aly's baby blessing, we had the chance to see our families. Dave's mom (Grandma Glabe) arrived early and stayed with us for a whole week. (Uncle) Brian and (Aunt) Melinda arrived next, with Aly's cousins Jaya, Joshua, and Avary. Grandpa and Grandma Shurtz, Uncle Matt, Aunt Katie, and Aunt Jenny (with Aly's cousin Meagan) also came to be with us. Here are some of the photos of the great memories we made together.

Aly's Baby Blessing

2009-05-17T15:52:00.007-06:00

Aly's baby blessing was last Sunday, May 10th, and a number of family members traveled here to witness it. The blessing was a beautiful and sacred occasion, and a time of reflection on the temple covenants we've made that bind us as a family. What a privilege it was to share the experience with our extended family members!

Sisters

Grandpa and Grandma Shurtz

Grandma Glabe

Family Photo

Aly

Spring Break

2009-04-14T11:55:00.005-06:00

We decided to take advantage of our last vacation without kids and spent some time on the coast. We spotted some gray whales migrating north at Boilers Point before heading down to
Newport where we explored the impressive aquarium and marine science center. We even got to pet some sting rays and baby sharks! Next was a visit to Yaquina Head to see the lighthouse and some of the best tide pools we've ever seen. There were seals, sea aenomes, starfish, and urchins everywhere we looked. Dave even spotted a nudibranch, and Erin managed to balance on the slippery rocks despite her pregnant belly. Dinner was Mo's famous clam chowder and then we headed back to the hotel in Lincoln City to enjoy the pool and hot tub. The next morning we walked down the beach in the pouring rain, but unfortunately Dave wasn't able to find one of the famous glass floats, so instead we went to the gallery to watch a glass blowing demonstation. When the rain finally cleared we decided to buy a small sport kite and enjoyed being kids again and learning to fly it. The video is Erin's first attempt. Don't worry, she improved with some more practice.

Later that week we went back to Seaside with some friends for a campfire and Dave tried to go clamming, but pretty much just ended up poking the ground with his shovel a lot. Other highlights of the week were that we put the finishing touches on Alyson's room and got our garden (which consists of a few rectangular pots sitting on our porch) started. It was a much needed and enjoyable break!

Happy Easter

2009-04-14T11:52:00.002-06:00

Here's Alyson in her Easter dress. She enjoyed her first time at church.

Walks, poopy diapers, and sleepness nights

2009-04-12T20:06:00.004-06:00

Aly's hiccups video

We're convinced that Aly is absolutely the cutest baby on earth, with the cutest hiccups ever. It's so much fun to watch her grow (literally!) each day, gaining new abilities and having new experiences.

It's a game of firsts. First poopy diaper (that didn't take long), first bath (and first and second poops in the bath), first walk in the stroller outside, first visit to the grocery store, first time at church, etc. The game of firsts is our new favorite game. That, and the game we play where we just stare at her and think about how much we love her. We play that one a lot.

Can you tell how excited we are about our new bundle of joy? Sure, there are the downsides - lack of sleep, lack of sleep, and more lack of sleep - but the upsides outnumber these a million to one. Babies are so great!

Angels

2009-04-12T19:16:00.004-06:00

Uncle Matt, Aly, and Mommy

Uncle Matt and Aly

Grandpa Shurtz

Grandma Renae Shurtz

An angel. That's what we think Erin's stepmother, Renae, really is. She may never know what her service to us this past week has meant. After having spent 2 weeks helping her daughter with a new baby followed by a week of vacation in New York, Renae came straight here to Forest Grove to spend yet another week away from her family helping new parents in the family adjust.

Renae cooked, cleaned, babysat, laundered, washed dishes (without a dishwasher), stocked cupboards, and offered the support that only family can during a week when we needed her. Aren't grandmothers great?

There have been other angels, too. Friends and ward members who cooked meals or made a point to offer their services have been indispensable as well.

Thank goodness for friends and family.

Look what the stork brought!

2009-04-12T18:28:00.003-06:00

As far as Erin is concerned, she did all the work, and the stork shouldn't get any credit at all...

Alyson Jane Glabe was born on March 31st, 2009 at 1:50 PM. Erin's contractions began at 2:30 AM. Around 4:00 AM, Erin awoke Dave, who patted her on the back, mumbled something vaguely comforting, and promptly returned to his slumber. By 6:30, things started to register for Dave, and the preparations began. After showering, eating breakfast, and packing for a 3-day hospital stay, we were on our way.

At first, the nurses didn't believe that Erin was in labor. When they felt how low the baby's head was, however, they changed their minds.

Following a glorious and much-needed epidural and a subsequent hour-long nap, Erin was ready to push. The nurse was excited to have Dave see the tiny head emerging from the birth canal, and had him bend over to get a good look. Just then, Erin decided it was high time that her water broke, and sent a stream akin to that of a fire hydrant 8 feet across the room, narrowly missing Dave's face.

An exhausting 90 minutes later, Aly was born.

In the week and a half since our baby's birth, we've been adjusting to a new life, void of sleep but full of surprises and the greatest joy we've ever known.

We feel so blessed to have this little miracle from our Father in Heaven in our lives.

Daffodils and dandelions

2009-03-22T16:57:00.003-06:00

So, Dave has this thing where he accidentally tends to call daffodils "dandelions." That wouldn't be so bad, except when he comments to others about how beautiful the dandelions are that are growing in their flower beds...

Anyway, daffodils also happen to be Erin's favorite flowers, so we traveled to Lake Oswego yesterday for the annual Oregon Daffodil Society Daffodil Show. After seeing all of the different varieties, we've compiled a list of specialty hybrids we want to include in our own garden someday. Above are some photos we took of the daffodil gardens outside of the exhibit (we forgot to take our camera inside where the actual "show" flowers were). Enjoy!

Hot Mama!

2009-03-15T22:08:00.003-06:00

36 weeks! 4 weeks and counting to D-day ... delivery day (hopefully). We're just crossing our fingers that she doesn't come a bit early (during Spring Break), or a bit late (during Dave's finals). Regardless, we're excited to welcome our new baby to our home.

Dave's Birthday

2009-02-01T18:47:00.006-07:00

Well, here we are trying to update our blog, which of course means we went to the coast and got some beautiful pictures (since the only time we seem to update our blog is when we go to the coast). We spent one weekend at the beach and couldn't believe how beautiful it was in the middle of January, so we decided to go back the next week for Dave's birthday. It's great to have all this just an hour away.

Here's Erin with her "baby bump" at 30 weeks. She's been dragging Dave to birthing classes and we are excited to welcome little Aly into the world in April.

PREGNANT!!!

2008-12-07T16:47:00.003-07:00

This summer we found out we are pregnant ... finally! After much fasting and prayer we feel very blessed that the Lord has sent us this little spirit. Ultrasound pictures showed a healthy, active baby GIRL! Here's Erin at 22 weeks. Over the morning sickness and feeling great in the second trimester, she's excited that people are finally beginning to ask whether she's pregnant (and not just getting fat)! We are anxiously awaiting her arrival in April.

Tillamook Trip

2008-12-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from a recent visit to the Oregon coast where we saw a lighthouse, the octopus tree from Ripley's Believe it or Not, and even hiked among ferns (Dave's favorite). We also visited the Tillamook cheese factory and ate some tasty samples.

Waterfalls!

2008-09-03T22:42:00.004-06:00

We're starting to feel at home here in beautiful Oregon. For Labor Day, we went hiking at Silver Falls, a state park not far from our new home. The 10-mile hike featured spectacular up-close views of 10 gorgeous waterfalls. We were even able to walk behind some of them!

More vacation photos

2008-08-08T22:43:00.002-06:00

Summer Vacation!

2008-08-08T22:28:00.003-06:00

We've racked up a lot of miles so far this summer. Since we left Provo at the end of June, we've been to Oregon, Mexico, Nebraska, Nauvoo, the Olympic peninsula, and central Washington. Here are some of the photos we've taken along the way.