Our 2015 Summer Part One: Leaving Colorado & The Tyler Family Reunion

Hello family and friends! Its been quite awhile and for that I apologize, but we have been busy having fun and sometimes just being plain busy. My last update was in June informing you that we were moving in July, and we did just that, but more of that later. So lets begin back in June where we left off!

June was a lot of fun but a little crazy. We had only one more month in beautiful Colorado with our friends and family. Looking back it seems a little bit like a blur of packing, dejunking, good bye game nights, and dinners. I remember baby being a little weirded out by lots of the stuff in the house disappearing into boxes. Every time we used the packing tape he would start crying. He handled everything pretty well though.

Here is a small glimpse of the disaster our house was through all of this. I have more disaster styled photos, but I will limit it to the ones that have people in them.

Our box springs broke about two weeks before we left. Random things seem to break on us right before we move

I think the main thing both Nathan and I were feeling was disbelief. It didn't really seem like we were moving. We just hadn't had that much time to process it. Realization struck for me when we sold our large 55 inch screen TV; worried that it wouldn't fit in a smaller place in LA (we fully expected to downsize because rent is much more expensive out here). We got rid of other big things as well; an old couch in baby's room, my pier 1 chair, the TV stand, Nathan's motor scooter, old weights, and more. We dejunked really well this move because we had no idea what kind of place we would find in LA.

Along with dejunking and packing we tried to make the most of the time we had left in Colorado. One of things I wanted to do was go on a camping trip with my sister and her family before we left. I also wanted to see Rocky Mountain National Park. So we decided to kill two birds with one stone and went camping in Rocky Mountain National Park now to be called RMNP for short.

The trip was fun, but a little crazy, but as Brooke put it; those experiences make for the better stories. First on our trip we got there a little later than anticipated so we were pretty hungry; then Nathan and I realized we had forgotten our tent. So as we were debating if we could all fit into the Buie's tent; one of the poles popped (they had an inflatable tent) leaving us with no working tent. So as we debated what action to take next with ideas being thrown out to: get a hotel, head home, sleep under the stars, or go buy a new tent. We landed on buying a new tent. So Nathan and Ben drove into town in hunt of a tent that hopefully wouldn't be terribly overpriced (it was a resort town after all). As they were gone Brooke and I finished up the tinfoil dinners and watched the boys; making sure they didn't break their necks climbing the rocks nearby and making sure Wrenn didn't put the pebbles he was so fascinated by in his mouth. Finally around 8:30 our men returned with tents and hungry bellies. They had barely been able to get the tents as the manager was locking up the store when they arrived. Thankfully he let them in.

After all of this we settled in around a nice warm fire enjoying smores and roasted starbursts, and enjoying the stars.

The next day after a rough night of sleep; sharing a double air mattress with Nathan and Wrenn isn't my favorite way to catch some Zzz's. We decided to go for a hike!.We picked one around a lake that seemed like it wouldn't be too difficult and set out. Now I think its time for some pictures!

  Wrenn was tired from his first ever camping trip

 Brooke had stayed behind to work on a talk for church she had tomorrow.

 I wasn't terribly impressed with Rocky Mountain National park until we drove around. The mountain peaks were gorgeous and amazing.

I like Wrenn's smile in this one.

Another funny almost disaster part of this camping trip was how we almost lost Bryton my two year old nephew. We were eating lunch at the place where the bus picks you up to take you to different trail heads around the park. While we were preparing sandwiches we realized Bryton wasn't with us (this kid is like lighting fast at wandering off). We immediately looked around and thankfully Brooke saw him sitting inside the bus smiling happily waiting for it to depart. We quickly got him off the bus before it left. It was almost a disaster, but it reminded us how the Lord is helping us in our raising of his children. Even if its just a small reminder to do a head count just in time. 

All in all a memorable last outing with the Buies. We miss them a lot. 

We did a few more fun things in Colorado before we left. 

We played in our yard a lot; dreading the possibility of not having one in LA. Also Wrenn didn't love the grass so it gave him more motivation to work on walking.

Wrenn learned to do some pretty silly faces.

We played and slept.

We did not put the book on his face. He fell asleep like that, silly baby.

Nathan and I went Much Ado About Nothing at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. We are sporting our baby's favorite face.

Also before we left I rushed to finish a painting of the mountains that I had promised my sister. I finished it like the day before we moved. Procrastination at its finest.

All in all it was month that went by all too quickly, and before we knew it we were packing up our moving truck getting ready to head out to California. On our way out to California however we had a wonderful, relaxing detour in southern Utah called a family reunion.

My mom's side of the family was doing a family reunion, and my parents decided they wanted to do a family reunion with their kids around the same time. So they rented a cabin for us to stay in as a family, and in addition to my mom's family reunion we went and explored the national parks nearby: Bryce and Zions. 

The first Tyler family adventure was hiking the narrows in Zion's national Park. Brooke unfortunately wasn't able to go because she was pretty pregnant. Mom stayed behind and kept her company. The narrows were awesome! Though Nathan felt the water was a little shallow to truly be a "narrows experience". I kind of agree, but that's probably because I would love an excuse to go again.

 So Nathan and Jaren went exploring this nook thing and ran into some quicksand. That's why you can't see Nathan's foot.

The second adventure of our trip was the Swapp family reunion (my mom's reunion). It was fun seeing everyone. It had been a long time since I had seen many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I also enjoyed hearing the stories about my great grandparents. While there we tried to take some family photos, but I don't have those what I do have is the couple shots my mom took.

Also Wrenn had fun meeting his extended family.

 It was a fun day I was glad we were able to all come. After a couple of fun days it was nice to rest up on Sunday.

On Monday we had another fun adventure of riding mules through Bryce Canyon. I had never ridden anything; horse, mule or otherwise so I was a bit nervous. It was fine though, even if my mule was a bit slow and walked a little closer to the edge of the trail than I liked. Bryce Canyon was beautiful, and being able to ride a mule through it made it's splendor all the more fun.

In addition to horseback riding Nathan and I went to a few of the Bryce Canyon look out points. They were stunning.

To finish off our wonderful vacation we did a hike in Zion's that the whole family could enjoy; pregnant ladies and kiddos included. It was very pretty although the "emerald pool" at the end kind of looked like a dirty pond. It was good to be with family, and bring Wrenn although he had to be held a good portion of the hike.

Then after the hike we went our separate ways. The Buies back to Colorado, Mom, Dad, Jaren, and Ashley on another hike and as for us we headed out to California. There to stay with Nathan's parents while we looked for a place in LA. This post is getting a little long though so I will tell you all about our California adventures and pregnancy in another post. Oh yeah I'm pregnant if you didn't already know. :) Until next time and hopefully soon love you all!