HOT

It's been the hottest June on record in Utah, and my poor little toddler and 30-week pregnant self have really felt it (not to mention Daddy, who has been out installing a sprinkler system all week). We've gotten pretty creative when it comes to keeping cool, with activities including but not limited to playing with soap bubbles on the kitchen floor, filling the little pool and playing in the yard, borrowing Grandma and Grandpa's shade tent, pouring cups of water down Mommy's fully clothed back (that one was all Jack's idea of fun) filling a bin with water and then climbing in it, taking cool baths and showers three times a day, dunking our heads under the faucet (that one was NOT Jack's idea of fun), playing with and singing into the fan, eating ridiculous quantities of Otter Pops, and running around in nothing but a diaper (too bad Mommy can't join in on that one).

Despite the heat, it's been a fun summer so far, and I absolutely love all my time with my little guy. Daddy has been busy working on research as a research assistant to an accounting professor, studying full time for the GMAT, and this week installing a sprinkler system. Here's hoping the GMAT goes well at the end of the month so we can relax a little in August!

Soap bubbles in the kitchen - Jack loved it and it entertained him for a full half hour :)

Getting ready to take the pool outside and fill it up.

Jack's new ball - Anything remotely round he points at and says "BALL!!!!!!" 

"Helping" Daddy's team win their intramural football game

Staying cool with Grandpa Parks

Dream Vacation and Home!

Before we came home from Texas, we took advantage of a really great airline deal and some Christmas and birthday money and went on our dream vacation. {Correction: Jen's dream vacation.} I am the very blessed wife of a loving husband who was willing to use our vacation allotment for the next few years to go to all my favorite places. Next time we can afford a big vacation it's all his :) {Mexico, anyone?}

Our vacation included the following:

Disney World

Universal Studios [Harry Potter world]

Kennedy Space Center

the BEACH (Tarpon Springs and Clearwater, to be specific)

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks [read: beachside shopping - just what we both love]

So here is a giant bunch of photos to document said vacation:

Jack playing in the dinosaur uncovery pit at Downtown Disney

Riding the boats around Downtown Disney

Our trooper starting the day off right at Disney World - despite having been up all night with a molar coming in...

First ride of the day: Dumbo! (Just like Mommy's first trip to Disney World)

Family selfie on the carousel

Outside Cinderella's castle

Jack and random photobomber outside the castle

Universal Studios: riding the Hogwarts Express!!!

Jack and Daddy (and Doggie) at the Hogwarts Express

In Hogsmeade village 

Outside Hogwarts castle

Riding One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (the only ride Jack went on all day... he was a bit short for the Universal rides, but enjoyed himself nonetheless)

Basically the coolest picture we've ever had taken. I was busy riding the Spiderman ride twice in a row on the single rider line and missed the epic meet-and-greet. 

Family picture outside Kennedy Space Center

Jack and Daddy with a very, very large rocket.

Seeing a real, live space shuttle (Jack was obviously enthralled)

Playing at Tarpon Springs beach - it was windy!

Swimming at Clearwater Beach - definitely in my top three beaches. I would go here again, no question.

It was hardly even cold - and for me, that's saying something (especially because it was March!)

Jack LOVED the sand. He also loved eating the sand. We did not love changing the resulting diapers for the next few days...

Very washed out sunset picture, Jack is obsessed with his straw from lunch.

We watched this boat sail right into the sun. It was beautiful.

And then we came home and started real life all over again!

Best friends Jack and Emma :) 

Jack's excitement when we told him he's getting a BROTHER in September!

Wearing Daddy's hat 

Playing on the swings while waiting for Emma's new brother to be born!

Texas Part 2

The second half of our Texas adventure was pretty similar to the first :) Ryan ended up only working on two clients for the duration of the internship - the second group loved him and requested for him to stay on the team. He had a great schedule and only had to work late for the last three weeks of the internship. 

Jack and I kept busy playing with cousins, trying to help out and be good houseguests, and working on a few projects I had brought down with me. 

Visiting the butterfly center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Attempting to eat with a spoon

Getting our first look at Little Sommerfeldt #2, or "Baby Brother" as we inevitably call him - we're pretty sure that he's a boy :)

Family toothbrushing time

Valentine's Day

Valentine's dinner at Kevin & Laurel's house

Camping at Stephen F Austin state park near Katy

Eating chocolate pudding after FHE

Attending a session at the Houston LDS temple

Playing in puddles

Texas Adventures

A week after Christmas, we took off to Texas for Ryan's accounting internship at Grant Thornton, Houston. We took three days to drive down and loved the extra time to not stress (and swim in hotel pools!) We're spending time with each of Ryan's siblings while we're down here.

Ryan is mostly enjoying his internship - though it's solidifying his plan to get a PhD and become a professor rather than working in public accounting. The hours haven't been bad so far, so that's been nice.

Jack is loving all the cousins (friends! attention!) He's walking behind his walking toys and has learned to navigate the stairs (not without mishap, though, sadly). He is busy eating everyone out of house and home and is pretty much the new favorite person of all the cousins.

I am enjoying the great weather (60s and 70s, people!) and the time to spend with family. I made my second ever IKEA trip the other day and have had fun painting and projecting and hanging out with the sisters in law. We just started a little clogging class with all the nieces - which is pretty much the highlight of my week now :)

Jack's first birthday cupcake

Canoeing on Michelle and Ben's lake

Walking around the lake at the park

Watching the rain

At the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

Swimming at the hotel pool

One year old!