Before we left Utah

In the month before we moved to Iowa, we mostly hung out with our family and friends and soaked up as much of them as we could. I cried a lot. Gabe began to refuse to say good-bye to anyone, even if we were going to see them the next day. BUT we also did some really fun things. Here are a few pictures of those fun things.

Trying to take a photo of all the Balzotti boys. These are all of Gabe's cousins on Jon's side. I stole this from Debbie's blog. I think there are better pictures out there but I haven't seen them yet, hint hint Tyfani! It was hilarious!

We went to the Annual Springville Folkfest. Again, I stole the picture from Debbie. It is the only one any of us took so I am using it but don't believe for a second these boys just sat there. They were up and dancing and running around. Fun was had by all.


Gabe got to ride Will, one of the beautiful horses belonging to our friends Ken and Jane Naylor.



We got to live at my mom's house. This is the only picture I have there but it is a lovely place and we are so grateful for her generosity. These boys are pretty cute!


And of course, one last trip out on Aimee's boat. Gabe now thinks all boats belong to Aimee and is always disappointed when he sees one and Aimee isn't on it.

We love all you Utah folk and miss you terribly.

Oh by the way...

We live in Iowa now.

Water Sports

Gabe has taken to the water like a little fish. He can't quite get enough of it. He has his "super suit" which you can see in the only pictures I got when we went to Lake Powell with some friends from our ward. My excuse is that Nico was only 6 weeks old so I was a little preoccupied. Luckily we have also been able to go boating with my good friend Aimee and once our friend Chelsea took pictures for me!

Lake Powell
Gabe enjoying the beach next to the houseboat in the aforementioned super suit. He could stay out there all day playing with sticks and throwing rocks. He seemed genuinely surprised and delighted each time he found one. Gotta love the joy of childhood.
Gabe and Jon swimming or "fimming" as Gabe calls it, after going off the slide on the back of the houseboat.

Boating

Chelsea, the photographer

Gabe watching me wakeboard

Surprisingly I actually got up. Aimee is a good teacher. Jon is much better than I am already, not surprisingly. Unfortunately we didn't get any shots of him.

A year in review - Part 1

To prove we were alive for the last year and didn't just live in a hole, here are some highlights of the fun things we did. This is a post in two parts because it just is. Anyone reading this blog should just be impressed that there are as many pictures as there are and that anything was documented at all. We really do love all of our family members and friends who are far away so for those of you who care, here's what we've been up to.

For Spring Break 2009 we went to St. George and did some hiking. We also went to Zion and hiked Angel's landing. Though Gabe and I sat out the last little bit because I had done it and Jon hadn't and making the summit with a baby in a backpack is precarious at best.

Matt, Jon, Gabe and Josh near Angel's landing. Matt and Josh are Ph.D students at the U who are friends of Jon's.

Easter egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Balzotti's house. Wish I had more pictures of this fun event. Gabe is just too cute in his little sweater not to share this one.

Last year we spent as much time as possible at my family's ranch because we knew its sale was imminent. In December the sale was finalized. We are still so sad about it. Gabe still asks to go frequently. Unfortunately 52% of the shareholders voted to sell. We will always love the Macfarlane Ranch.

Gabe, ready to go for a hike

Gabe and Dawson

Gabe in front of the Ranch house.

Gabe in front of the Pony Express

Gabe fishing at the pond

Nat and Gabe fishing at the pond

Grace, Gabe and Jon in the canoe on the pond

See part 2 for further proof of our existence.

A year in review - Part 2

Last May I went to Moab for a work trip. We took the girls from the treatment center where I work down to hike and go river rafting. I can't post any pictures of the girls but here are some of my favorite people I was lucky enough to work with who made the trip really fun.

Natalie, Nora, Aimee and Me. Yes that is a fake tattoo on my face. I was trying to bond with teenage girls.

Richard and Aimee being bridges

One of many bocce ball games that usually follow Sunday dinner at the Balzotti's. Gabe, Uncle Chris, Haydon, Aunt Marie and Dawson.

Gabe with the box of Cheerios he poured on our floor. Funny because we have a photo of me when I did the same thing at his age. I'll have to track it down.

Gabe and Natty during a visit last summer sitting on our front porch in their rocking chairs. Gabe's face says it all. I think Nat is his favorite person.

In February I got to go out to Berkeley to visit my sisters. I took Gabe and he got to stay with Shane and Natty while we took my new niece Maud and went to Monterey for a girls trip. It was so great to be with two of my favorite women.

Krista, Elisa and Maud on the beach we were told to evacuate, by about 10 people yelling at us, because of a tsunami warning

All four of us and one of the few photos of me pregnant.

Thanks to a flood, Elisa and Nat and Maud came to Utah around the same time I went to visit them. Nat and Gabe got to build a snowman with BG and Yaya.

So now you're all caught up. I'll try not to go that long again without posting. I promise nothing.

Welcome to the World Little Nico!

Dominic Jonathan Balzotti or Nico, as he is more commonly known, was born April 26, 2010 about a week and a half early. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz just like Gabe who was a week late, and he was 20 1/2 inches long. An inch shorter than Gabe.

At his 2 month check-up he was 12 lbs 1 oz and 24 inches long. He is growing fast and he is pretty darn cute.

Gabe loves him and often says "Mommy put my baby on my bed so I can hug him." He is also good at reminding me when he is leaving "Mommy take care of my baby okay? Don't forget to give him his binky."


Nico is a very sweet baby and is starting to give us lots of smiles which we haven't really been able to capture yet on camera

Gabe Quotes

A sampling of our daily humor from Gabe

After pouring dirt all over the floor:
Gabe: "But Mom, it my job to make a mess right?"
Mom: "No, but it's your job to clean up the messes you make."
Gabe: "You kidding me Mom? No way. You gotta be kidding me."

Chelsea made Gabe a crown that said "I'm a big brother" when Nico was born.
Gabe's response was "Oh, I'm a princess!"

Mom: "No hitting Gabe."
Gabe: "But Mom, I a bad guy!"

We are in the throes of potty training and one day when he pooped in the toilet I told him we could go on a walk and get a treat. He was very excited and said "First I have to do my dance mom. Don't come over here while I do it. It dangerous." When he finished his dangerous dance we went for a walk. To everyone who we encountered on the walk he said "Hey! I pooped! I going to the store to get a treat!" I think our neighborhood was thoroughly entertained. Several people laughed out loud. Mind you, most of these people were strangers.