Update

Here is a quick update for the past month or so... We have been running around a little crazy trying to keep up with student teaching, young women and my family. So far everyone is doing really well. Alexis is growing like crazy and she is learning more and more words every time we turn around, it is wonderful and fun to hear all the new things she has to say and understands. Chris is finally starting to slow down in his work and is relieved to have a bit more time and flexibility in his schedule. October has been a fun and eventful month. Alexis and I attended many Monte Vista Volleyball games and a few football games, we even had Chris come with us a few times :) . Alexis loved the games, she was so cute whenever we went she would get very excited. She also has learned a few of the cheers and is very excited to join in the with the cheerleaders. It is very adorable.

Halloween rolled around fairly quickly! We carved a couple of pumpkins, and took Alexis out trick-or-treating. She was a cowgirl and loved being dressed up in her cowgirl hat, boots, and of course her horse! It was a great time.

Alexis is 2!

I cannot believe two years ago our lives changed forever in the best way possible. Our little Alexis Cora Gay was born at 3:18 am on September 27, 2007, she weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz and was 19 inches long. Today however, she is a rambunctious toddler running all over the place as fast as her little legs will carry her. She is so full of personality it is a joy to watch it unfold. We are so fortunate to have her in our lives.

To start the big day Chris and I walked into her room to tell her Happy Birthday and she looked at us like we were crazy and went right back to playing in her crib. Apparently turning two is not a big deal, yet. We had a lovely morning hanging out and getting ready for church. I decorated her cake (first cake I really decorated). We were off to church, she is finally adjusting to church in the afternoon. We then came home and Aunt Nicole and Uncle Scott came over to help celebrate and get ready for everyone else. We blew up balloons, once that was done Alexis' attention was gone for the rest of the evening. She did not care too much about her cake or the presents that arrived but she wanted to show everyone her balloons. It was very cute.

We are lucky to have so many friends and family close by. Alexis' grandparents came over, as well as a few adopted grandparents and friends. It was a great afternoon party. I am still a bit in shock that it has been two years. Chris just laughs and says, wait until she is a teenager, then we can be in shock.

So Proud of My Brother

My dear brother Lynn has been called to serve in the Philippines Tacloban mission. He is more than just my brother he is a wonderful friend and I already miss him terribly, but I do know that he is going to serve our Heavenly Father and am so proud of his decision to do so. I also know that he is going to do a wonderful job. I was lucky enough to go along with my parents to take him to Uhta and drop him off at the MTC. It was a wonderful experience. We had the chance to hang out with Nicole, Craig, Brianna, our adopted siblings Ellen and Katy. We stayed with our cousin Rachel which is always a blast. Lynn had a few last minute items he needed before the big day so we made a late night run to Wal-Mart, we then spent the rest of Tuesday night and most of Wednesday morning playing Risk. This was a new game to me, luckily Lynn helped me. We finally called it quits and helped Katy win around 5 am. Then we all crashed until my parents came around waking us all up. We then went to eat at Panda Express Lynn's favorite place to eat in Utah (it is just better out there). Then with the new regulations at the MTC we all piled into the back of the pick up to give him a proper redneck send off. It was great!! I hope you enjoy the photos.

End of July update

As usual July few by in the blink of an eye. It is amazing how it happens every year, and every year I am still surprised. To continue from the last update, after the fun trip to Lake Navajo, Chris, Alexis, Lynn and myself all went up north to Grand Lake, CO. Chris' family has a cabin up in the mountains that we have been taking a yearly trip to. It is so much fun. We went into town and road around the lake on a boat, which Alexis loved! We also waked around town looking at all the neat shops. As usual we spent some time in Rocky Mountain National Park looking for moose and elk. We were again lucky this year to see some moose and many elk. Alexis loved seeing the animals, the elk were so accustomed to people they hardly noticed she was yelling at them to 'come here'. It was a great time had by all.


We came home just in time to attend the Manassa Pioneer Day Celebrations and Stampeded. Nicole, Ryan, Lynn, Scott (yes he is old enough to go!!),myself and many cousins all went to the Rodney Atkins concert it was a blast!! We took Alexis to the parade both Friday and Saturday. She loved the floats and going to get the candy that was thrown out. She is so cute! Seeing the horses in the parade had her telling me quite frequently, "I need a ride". It was very hard to resist so Chris and I took her for a ride. I know we give in too easily, but she asks so sweetly.
Rodney Atkins at the concert
awaiting the parade getting her ride
Aunt Nikki and Alexis drinking heavy under the trees!
My favorite float
Alexis getting her ride on a real horse.

After the crazy weekend celebrating, mom, Nicole, Alexis, and myself along with my cousin Stewart and his wife Jody all went to the Mortensen Mountains for a picnic it was a blast. On the way home we stopped by my Grandma and Grandpa Mortensen's house and my cousin Kayla was there with her twins who are one day older than Alexis. It was so cute to see the three of them together. Nicole and I took them out to see the horses and play in the front yard. It became apparent that Alexis is just a bit bossy, luckily the boys did not seem to mind too much.

The three counsins

summer update

This summer has been great, but busy. It started with us taking a trip to Steam Boat Springs for Chris' cousins graduation. It was so much fun hang out with Chris' family.


Then I had class for 2 weeks, that was the end of classes, just student teaching this fall and I will be done!! To celebrate, Alexis and I headed down to the cabin with Nicole to help with the fencing crew. It was so much fun we played and cooked and just relaxed.

The next weekend was the 4th of July so we had a great time celebrating that. Michelle came to town, we went to the breakfast, the parade, and a picnic at mom and dad's and then the fireworks in Alamosa. It was a great time.


My cousins have a long standing tradition of spending about a week at Lake Navajo. This is the first year I went along for part of it. Alexis and I had so much fun playing in the water. She did not want to leave, but eventually we headed home.

This is the video I took of Alexis when we were in Utah shopping for clothes for Lynn. We were trying to find ways to keep her entertained, and found we were probably more entertained than she was.

Track Meet

Chris, Alexis, myself and a friend of ours went to watch my brother Scott in his last track meet of the school year. He participated in the shot put, discus, and one of the runs. It was a fun day to be out in the sun watching him. He came in fourth in all three events. We were proud of him. Alexis had a great time cheering for her uncle, it was very cute.

Fun Trip to Utah

This past weekend we went to Utah to attend Amber and Brittany's graduation. We had a great time. It was so exciting to watch Amber and Britt graduate, what an accomplishment! Both ceremonies (yes two) were great. I was surprised Alexis behaved so well considering she and the rest of us were in the Marriott Center for about 6 hours with an hour break in between.


Luckily after the ceremonies we had a fun relaxing party at our cousins house. It was great to hang out with family. Alexis enjoyed being around other kids, she was a little shy at first, but it didn't take long for her to join in the fun. It was so fun to catch up with all of our family out in Utah. They are so much fun!!

Saturday we went shopping to get Lynn some clothes for his mission. Alexis had a great time dancing in the mirrors is was so fun. Amber turned the music on her phone on and she danced away. As soon as I figure out how to load a video on here I will let you all see how cute it was. That evening we all gathered at a mexican restaurant for dinner. We then stayed up way to late watching movies in Rach & Dave's awesome entertainment room. The conversation and company was well worth the tired eyes and long drive home.
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