Cute Pictures of Chase

Chase is 26 months here in these photos and he just keeps getting cuter. He loves to say mama and dada and we hear the word "car" 50 times a day as well as "ooh kayy", "ooh noo", "all done", and "that way". These photos were taken while Chase and I vacationed in Utah. We had a great time seeing family and friends and we played a lot. Don't know if we will be making that trip again, because the full day of travel and the getting over the jet lag thing was rough. But it was well worth it and I am glad we got to go home before Chase's brother arrives. Just wished Cole could have joined us. Also, like his shirt says, he might be a great soccer player. His favorite thing right now is running around in our neighborhood playing soccer with me or his Dad. He is actually really good and it just cracks him up.
Pumpkin patch, it was not quite the awesome New Jersey pumpkin patches I remember as a kid, but I forget Utah is a desert so we made the best of it and now have some funny memories of our search for the perfect pumpkin patch.
Discovery Zone at the gateway.
His dad has taught him to hit left handed even though he is right handed. And boy can he slug the ball.
Bouncing on the tallest air pillow at Thanksgiving Point Halloween celebration.

Chase's favorite slide.

Giving the penguin kisses, and he also gave the lion and the other animal statues kisses as well. Chase can be a lover and a kisser one moment, and then display a case of terrible 2's when he doesn't want to go a certain way or do a certain thing.

Chase and Grammy

Feeding the baby goats at Thanksgiving Point's petting zoo.

Chase getting up close to the penguins at the aquarium in Salt Lake. Grammy sharing her favorite animal with Chase.
Riding the pony at Thanksgiving Point's petting zoo.

Playing in the water at Discovery Zone. He was in a definately in a zone.
Feeding the geese at Sugarhouse Park. Their were so many of them. They would have eaten Chase if we hadn't been there.

Chase and Grampy

Riding the Carousal at Hogle Zoo with Grampy. He was having a blast, Chase and Grampy.
Taken right after Chase rode the train at Hogle Zoo. Choo Choo as Chase says and pumps his fist.
Jumping with Grampy on the air pillow at Thanksgiving Point. Chase then decided to go to the tall pillow behind them that we were not allowed on. And we never thought we would ever get Chase back down cause he was having so much fun. It took some strategic planning.
Washing their cars. Grampy helped Chase, then Chase helped Grampy. Maybe someday Chase will get to drive Grampy's car, if he is lucky.

Fun Memories While in Salt Lake

Enjoying holding my cute niece, CoCo. I guess she is going to be Ute since her dad is a Ute.
Going down the slides at Sugarhouse Park.
Fountains at Gateway. Chase did not want to get to close.
Chase loved going for walks around my parents house to see the neighbor's horses. He was a pro at feeding them carrots.
Touching my very first sting ray at the aquarium. So cool. It was so funny cause they seemed like they wanted you to touch them.

Pool Time in St. George

Chase and Grandma making pancakes for breakfast.
Grandpa Gary and Chase having fun in the pool.
Grandma Dawn and Chase at the public pool trying not to get wet.
Chase had fun on this frog slide. His first water slide experience. He preferred being in the water where it was warm.

The Great Wall of China

I love this photo. It makes it seem like we are the only people walking The Great Wall. Our guide recommended this part of the wall because it is less crowded and more scenic. The views were breathtaking and the Wall was so impressive.

Chase and I are posing in front of one of the watchtowers. Below is the Toboggan ride. We actually had the chance to ride from the top of the Great Wall to be the bottom of the mountain. It was awesome! Chase loved it. And I know it seems like I am holding up the show, but that's just because Bre is taking the photo at the very end of the slide. She couldn't just stop in the middle and shoot the photo or I would have run into her. There was a guy talking on his cell phone on the way down who was slowing people down.

Ming Tombs - Beijing

These photos were taken at the tomb of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The first two emperors had their homes/tombs at different cities, but the third emperor was the first one who called Beijing his home. In this beautiful mountain setting, there are 13 different tombs for emperors of the Ming Dynasty. They have only opened one of the tombs (the 13th emperor). This is actually a funny story. They knew that opening the tomb would cause destruction of some of the artifacts so they decided to open the 13th emperor's tomb as a trial. Well, most of the textiles and silks were destroyed over time. Years later, during a cultural revolution in China, most of the remainder of the jewels, silks, etc. were burned or stolen. Because of this, China has not opened another tomb since. Some of the artifacts still remain.

This was a gold crown from the 13th tomb.

Hair pins and earrings

Leaving the tomb site, the men had to step over this threshold with their left foot first and women had to step over with our right foot. If you didn't do this you apparently are still living in the underworld.

Overall, I think I liked Chinese food more than Japanese food. The funny thing is, the most authentic Chinese food I can think of from back home, that compares to Beijing food, comes from Panda Express. Seriously.