DISNEYLAND!!

One of Matt's friend's (from high school) husband works for Disney and they offered us free tickets. Who could pass that up?! We went with friends Jason & Tiffany Smith and their son, Trevor. Trevor loved showing Lexi around the park, holding her hand and taking her on the lines to the rides. We got to skip some of the longest lines thanks to Tiffany's handicap pass! Free tickets and no lines... the only way to see Disney with a toddler. Thanks friends!!

Here we all are outside the Tiki Room.

Uncle Lewis and Lexi

Trevor Smith driving the firetruck with Lexi on board.

Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma Portlock

At the Newport Beach Temple Open House in Orange County, California.

At the J. Paul Getty museum in Los Angeles.

Sierra, Aunt Lari & Lexi donning some homegrown daisies.

Dave took Lexi for a spin on the Vespa!

We always wondered what Lexi would think of the 2 big Newfoundland dogs that Dave & Lari own. Turns out, she loved them!

Lexi & Katie taking a bath.

We spent some time at the Gateway in Salt Lake City. They have a great Olympic Plaza with this giant in-ground water fountain. Every hour on the hour the Mormon Tabernacle Choir blasts through the square singing the Olympic Theme, "Call of the Champions," composed by John Williams. "Citius! Altius! Fortius!" (Faster, Higher, Stronger) as the water dances to the music and slowly reaches for the sky. When the water/music show is not going on, there is a continual array of jumping water that shoots up from the ground. All the kids loved running through it.

On our way back from the reunion, we stopped off at Uncle Todd & Aunt Amy's house. We let Lexi out of the car to run around on the grass with her cousins for a little while. Lexi got a bit curious about the sidewalk and the iron slab that covered the gutter at the end of the driveway and ended up stepping right onto the iron that had been baking all day in the HOT Utah sun. Startled by the sudden heat and pain, she was frozen in panic. So her little feet just kept right on cooking. Cousin Cole ran to the rescue and swept her up into his arms. Thank goodness he was there and reacted so quickly! As it was, Lexi formed several little blisters on the bottoms of her feet and was in too much pain to walk for the rest of the day. Over the next 3 days, she gained back all her walking and running capability after lots of first aid and tender loving care. Here she is with her feet all bandaged up (Neosporin to the rescue!)

Dad, Mom and Lexi on a paddle boat

Lexi loved this little goat. At one point she tried to throw her leg up and onto its back so she could take a ride.

Taking a rest in the bouncy air castle

Grandpa & Grandma Cope with Lexi

Lexi riding a mini-horse at the reunion.

Vacation

Today we are off on a trip to see some of our family and friends in Utah & California. This will be Lexi's second airplane ride, but her first real experience since she was just 4 months the last time we flew anywhere. We will be at a family reunion for Matt's family in Altamont, Utah (see http://www.hiddenspringsranch.biz/), then off to California! We'll post some pictures and anecdotes when we return to the Big Apple...

Rock Star

Dad has had the summer off (sort of- he doesn't have to teach at the Middle School, but has been taking classes towards his Masters degree). So in his spare time, he has been playing the guitar more often. Lexi & I LOVE IT!! Sometimes dad will let her strum the strings, and sometimes she attempts to "tune" the guitar (much to Daddy's dismay), but mostly she loves to listen and dance to the music. Here she is enjoying a good time in the guitar case. She climbed in there all by herself.