Gavin had another great adventure this past weekend: backpacking trip #2! This one was with my dad and they hiked Castle Peak in the White Clouds. It was a pretty intense hike--lots of climbing and scrambling over rocks. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but right up Gavin and my dad's alley.

This is what I mean by "not for the faint of heart"--can you believe how steep that is?! But they conquered it. My dad said it was hard, but worth it.

Here's Gavin diving into the lake they camped next to. He swam across the whole lake and back. When he told my dad that's what he was going to do my dad just replied, "Well, ok, but if you get a cramp in the middle of the lake I can't come in after you." Glad to know you've got Gavin's back, dad. :)
This was taken from the base of the peak. The peak farthest to the right is where they summited.
My dad catching a fish. He said the fishing was great in the upper lake, and caught 4 fish in the hour they were up there.
This is their campsite south of the peak. Great view!

Gavin came home with his hands pretty scratched up from the rocks, plus a few more scratches on his legs. But if you've seen his legs, they can't get much worse from all the scars he already has. My dad however is still limping around. But he kept up with Gavin so way to go Dad!

Gavin went on a backpacking trip with his brothers this past week. Tobin was in charge of the pictures so we'll have to wait to post some of the hike. But here's Mr. Hot-Stuff-Mountain-man-Gavin all unshaven and dusty. The hike was about 20 miles up in the Sawtooth Mountains. They hiked by lots of different lakes: Alice Lake, Bowknot Lake, Twin Lakes, Petit Lake and a few more. I'm just happy he didn't get in a fight with a bear.

August 7th came like any other usual Sunday for Gavin and I. Woke up, went to church, ate lunch, had a Sunday nap. At about 3:00 pm Gavin says to me: "Hey, today is our 2 year anniversary!" Both of us had totally forgotten about it! We hadn't planned anything but Gavin remembered that we still had our wedding cake in the freezer since we were in DC last summer. So we ate 2 year old wedding cake, and let me tell you it was DELICIOUS! 2 years old, in the freezer, and it was tasty. Here's some pictures of the impromptu celebration:

2 years down, an eternity to go!

Gavin enjoying his first bite. It was fun to relive all the fun memories we've had over the past 2 years.
Looks pretty good for having traveled hundreds of miles (we've gone from Boise to Moscow and back to Boise again with this cake) and for being frozen for 2 years.

It's been such a fun 2 years and it just seems to be getting better and better. We don't know where the next year will find us but we're excited to find out!

This is 18 weeks along, I'm now 20 weeks. I'm a little bigger now, but not much. If you can't tell by the background,

IT'S A GIRL!

It was so much fun to get the ultrasound and see her little face and hands and feet and know her gender. Some people can wait to find out but I just couldn't! Now it's time to go shopping for pink frilly stuff.

I can't believe I'm halfway through pregnancy already. I thought this would be the longest 9 months of my life, but it just seems to be flying by!

Here's a few quick updates:

Gavin passed the Patent Bar Exam a few weeks ago! I am so proud of him. It has about a 50% pass rate and he passed it the first time he took it, studying for the test amidst all his other school work and finals and papers to write. He has officially graduated from law school and is taking the Bar exam the end of July. WE ARE SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE!!! So come the last week of July keep us all in your prayers that he will pass this one too!

Baby update: 20 week ultrasound is tomorrow!!! Boy or Girl?

Gavin and I are pleased to announce:

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!

After trying for a year we are finally pregnant and we couldn't be more excited!

Some fun and not so fun details:

I am currently 12 weeks along and just barely starting to show.

Morning sickness is an understatement. All-day-and-night-sickness is a better description for me. How can something so small wreak so much havoc?! On a happy note, pregnancy has been the best diet ever. :) I have been pretty sick and I have been so grateful to everyone around me. There were a few weeks there where I would literally get home from work and just go straight to bed at like 3:00 pm. Gavin was so understanding and sweet and waited on me hand and foot. It makes me cry just thinking how lucky I am to have such an incredible husband. The ladies I work with have also been so understanding and caring. Every day every one asks me how I'm feeling and wants updated on my health status. If I start to look a little pale they have me go sit for awhile and make sure I'm eating and staying hydrated. And they all have baby fever so they're really excited for me. It makes it fun.

I had my first doctor's appointment 2 weeks ago and we were able to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time. What a beautiful noise. I can't wait till 20 weeks when we will get an ultrasound!

We are so excited and feel so blessed to be pregnant. We did have to wait a little longer than we expected, but I know that this is exactly what Heavenly Father planned for us and we got pregnant just when He wanted us to.

In another 2 months we'll take votes for boy or girl! And name ideas. Sheesh, it's hard to think of good boy names that aren't already in use.

The Christmas holidays have come and gone and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family. My sister Natalie and her family were able to fly in from Georgia and I was SO grateful to see them. My niece Olivia is the CUTEST thing. I was afraid she might not like us since it's been so long since we've seen her but she just loves everyone she sees and ran around, smiling and laughing all day. What a doll. For those who know Natalie, you know she's always loved kids and they have always FLOCKED to her in droves, so it's no surprise that she is a wonderful mom. I sure miss them.


Here's a fun picture of our other niece. She was loving this and kept asking for more. Brave little girl!