Swimming and Birthday's

Last weekend was a very busy and interesting weekend.  Let's just say we interacted with the police twice on Sunday.  We'll get to all that later thought.  We began the weekend by starting up swimming lessons again.  This time I signed up Wyland as well.  He was excited to join the big kids in the fun.  That was until he found out how cold it was, then he wasn't so sure anymore.  But he did stay in the whole time and once I got him all dressed again he was a happy camper.

That little boy in the middle there decided to take himself for his own swim while the teacher was taking one of the other kids out for some practice.  While the lifeguard slowly got out of his chair the boys mother (pictured above in soaking wet clothes) jumped in after him.  Boy was she embarrassed afterwards.  This week when they walked in I told her, "Now no jumping in the water today."  Not sure if she thought I was funny .. lol.  But I'd been there with Jackson.  I knew what that moment felt like.  I didn't have to jump in fully clothed but I definitely got soaked from him when I hauled him out of the water.  Having kids near water is scary the majority of the time.  This week I had to take all the kids by myself.  I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't a little nervous.  It's really hard juggling that many by myself.  The challenge is that we are there for an hour and a half because there's 30 minutes in between the end of the boys lesson and the beginning of Baylee's.  This week I changed the boys into dry clothes and then we walked up the parking lot to pick up a cup of coffee and a couple cookies.  So we survived and I was very happy!

Then Saturday was Jeramie's sister, Gelasia's birthday.  So Wyland helped me make a casserole to take with us to the party that night.  He was actually really good at tearing up those tortillas.  He was also very proud that he helped make dinner.

The birthday girl and her brother.  We found out a couple weeks ago that Gelasia is pregnant with her first baby.  We're all very excited for her.  She's going to make a wonderful mama!  Secretly I think we're all hoping for a girl .. however her husband who already has two girls is definitely hoping for a boy I'm sure.  It's kind of fun because it means that her baby will come to our house during the week to be watched by Robie.  Which means I will get some newborn cuddle time most days when I come home from work.  Yay for newborns!  But I guess Oliver better prepare himself .. he's not gonna be the baby anymore.

Then as we were getting ready to have cake Grandma Robie let little Oliver stick his fingers in the cake.

He was really liking that frosting!

The next morning (last Sunday) I was set to head out for a quick 3 miles with my friend Rebecca.  It was a taper week and so we didn't have much to do.  We started this new tradition where we run out 1 mile further so that we can stop off at the new Beans & Brews on the way back.  We grab a cup of coffee and then walk the last mile back to the car.  It works out perfectly.  Well as we were on our return walk to the car all of a sudden there was this other female coming towards us in running gear and behind her about 20 feet was this guy running in jeans and a black work jacket.  Ever since that lady in Montana was kidnapped and killed a few months ago we're definitely on high alert.  And you can usually tell who seems like a bit of a creeper and who doesn't.  Well instantly Rebecca asks me whether I think the guy behind the girl looks normal.  I replied definitely no and she took my coffee as I grabbed my pepper spray out of my SpiBelt.  The girl ran straight up to us and said, "does it look like that guy is chasing me?"  Long story short she was completely freaked out and the guy was definitely a creeper.  She said to us she was going to pretend she was meeting up with us and we knew each other.  So we began chatting and the guy stopped and asked if we had seen another guy with a dog.  We said no and just started walking away.  She told us there was another guy up further ahead that was with him and equally creepy.  We talked about giving her a ride to her car or how she could go up a block and run down a road that runs parallel to the parkway.  In the end we stopped a guy that was just heading out for a run (a normal looking guy) and asked if she could run with him for awhile.  He was totally cool about it and off they went.  We then were back at our car.  We warned another lady that was just headed out on her own. She was appreciative and got back in her car to go run by her house, however she did ask if we called the cops.  Duh!  Guess that's probably a good idea and so we did.  Good 'ole Siri helped hook us up with Sandy City PD.  They had us move to the top of the parking lot and then keep an eye on the guys.  There were now three of them and a dog.  Fortunately the South Jordan PD got there before they left and stopped them for a little chat.  The police called me once I got home to get my story again while they were down there with the guys. 

So the story they gave the police was that the guy with the dog (whom I remembered later in hindsight) had taken his dog there to swim in the canal.  The three guys all worked together and the guy running had decided that they needed to leave real quick and had gone off running to find the guy with the dog.  The other guy sitting on the bench was supposedly injured with a groin pull and so he was just sitting there waiting.  The cop asked me whether I thought it was a believable story.  I told him no.  They were definitely NOT in a hurry to leave as we sat at the top describing them and their vehicle.  Plenty of time for the South Jordan PD to get there.  But I also understand that they didn't actually catch them doing anything illegal and therefore couldn't actually do anything.  It was scary and made us really grateful that we run together on the weekends.  I'm so tired of feeling like we can't just go for a run without worrying about our safety.  It's frustrating. 

As if that all wasn't enough I was driving home from work and I saw the guy with the dog in the truck we had seen only a few days before.  Turns out he lives right by me!!!!!!!  I'm sure it's just a coincidence but it's still a little unnerving.  I definitely came home feeling very grateful for my running buddy and my pepper spray.  I have added to my "defense" tools that I run with.  Just more weight for me to carry with me.  And this week we ran a different route.  It's too bad.  But I'm very grateful that we've never actually run into any real problems.  We continue to try and run very aware and smart.

Then that night as we were headed up to my parents the alarm at our house went off so we had the West Jordan PD out clearing the house.  Turns out it was just the dogs. 

Yes, we interacted with 3 different police departments all in the same day!!

All's well that ends well right?

Was it Pioneer Day?

We were originally supposed to go camping this weekend however we couldn't find a campsite to reserve that included a tent spot.  Normally this isn't a problem however this weekend we had traded because of some commitments Jeramie's kids had with their mom and so because there isn't room in the trailer it meant we needed a site with space for a tent.  Jeramie was already conjuring up all the ways we could all squeeze in the trailer.  When push came to shove it just wasn't going to work this weekend so we had to settle for a day trip.  So up the canyon we headed, a 3 car caravan (that's Evan and Rachel in front of us).

Now my dad's boat is supposed to only seat 8 people.  The majority of the time we actually have 9 people, but we count Jackson and Wyland as 1.  It's my parents, Evan and Rachel and then us Howard-Kramer's.  Mike and his family only come occasionally and so when we have Jeramie's kids or Mike and his fam we then have to rotate in and out of the boat which is no big deal.  So this weekend I suggested that we go to Deer Creek because I had seen people walking up on the ledge along side the lake so I thought it would make for a good little hike / nature walk.  Rachel cut her hand earlier this week so she was out of water activities and decided to join us as well.  It was BLISTERING hot!  And there is NO shade along this trail.  I think we found the one and only tree that provided shade along the way so that Baylee could sit and have a rest. 

Along one side of the trail were the Heber Creeper railroad tracks,

The other side was Deer Creek Reservoir.

Baylee and Grandma took a rest under the tree.

Rachel and I headed up the trail a little further.

Heber Creeper came by once.  It's just a pretty lake!

Along the way there were pretty wild flowers.

We hiked for about 2.5 hours and then headed to the day use area for

a little lunch.

This kid is growing up WAY too quickly.

Wyland doesn't love the wind in his hair.

He usually hides under a towel when the boat is moving.

After lunch Evan and Rachel had to head out so us ladies jumped on the boat to watch a little tubing.  Jonathan (Jeramie's oldest) wanted to try wakeboarding for the first time this year.  He didn't manage to get up this time.  But for most it does take a couple trips before they get the hang of it.  So after spending the morning trying to learn to wakeboard it was time to bring the tube out for some hold on for your dear life fun!

Jeramie and Jonathan

(J'Von had joined them for one run and got scared and came right off)

Then Dad went out there with them too.

It was only ever Jeramie that fell off.  SO funny to watch.

We also did some swimming too.

Jackson had lots of fun just climbing up and down the ladder.

Jeramie, J'Von, Jonathan

Jeramie with all but one of his boys.

Wyland's hair just blows in the wind!  So cute.

We had a really great day!  We didn't head down the mountain until 7:30pm that night and went straight to our house for some dinner and fireworks.  Mike and his crew joined us at the house while we set off our own fireworks one last time this month.  It was so much fun.  It's been awhile since we've had a big group at our house but what a great day we had!!

First ever Kramer Pictures.

Every year my parents organize to take pictures together. We haven't ever done it Jeramie's family so I thought I would take the bull by the horns and organize it myself. So we headed out on Sunday in the wind and the cold hoping the weather would hold out for us. I think they turned out really great. Kudos to my mum for coming out and being our photographer. Gelasia and Daniel will be moving to Wyoming early next year, plus we rarely get Jeramie's boys when it's time for pictures. So all in all it was a big success. I can't wait to frame some up and give them as Christmas presents (shh .. don't tell!)

Jonathan and J'Von

Robie (Jeramie's mom) and Gelasia (his sister)
Robie and Gerald
Myself and Baylee

Daniel and Gelasia (the newlyweds)
I like this one.
Jeramie just has the one sister.

Jeramie's immediate family.
Plus spouses.
And we have a winner!

First Kramer Family picture.
Robie, Gerald and their grandbabies.

I think this one might be nice blown up big.
Robie and my kids.
Another of the whole clan.

Happy 13th Birthday Jonathan!

This coming Sunday is Jonathan's 13th birthday. So tonight we hosted a little get together to celebrate. My parents, Geleasia and Daniel, Robie, Matius (sp?), Emmit, and Issac all came over to celebrate with us. We had cake and ice cream as well as a few presents. Matius and Emmit stayed for a sleep over as well. We don't often have Jeramie's kids on their birthday's so this was a treat. The very next day he will be shipped back off to his mom's for more birthday celebrations. Definitely a benefit to having two separate families, you always get two of these kinds of events.

Robie and Wyland

Wyland really enjoying his cake!

HAHA! So cute.