May '07 to Oct '07 Recap....

Well, it's been months since we've posted something, but thanks to our sister-in-law's blogging expertise and some nagging from the rest of you, we have attempted to catch you up to the (almost) present. Below are some highlights of our year, from May through October. Enjoy!

MAY

Yeah! Dave finally graduates with his Bachelors Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah. We're not sure whose smile is bigger - Dave's or Lauren's! The "no-more-school" celebration was a bit premature as Dave has decided to go back for a Masters Degree in Transportation Engineering.

Dave has always had such a wonderful and patient supporting cast to put him through school.

To celebrate graduation, or at least have a good excuse to do something super fun, we went to Puerto Rico for a week with our friends, Chris and Linsay Whipple. Wes stayed with Lauren's parents - it was really, really tough to be away from him, but is was great to come back and have him sleeping through the night (maybe we'll take a trip like this with our next child so that Grandma and Grandpa Andersen can teach the next one how to sleep through the night!) Chris had previously been there for work, so we had our own tour guide. Between him knowing the island, and Dave knowing Spanish, we got around quite nicely! This picture was taken at an old fort built a long time ago (Dave wishes he would've had a fort like this when he was kid!)

Outside the fort walls we had a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. You know, you wouldn't think of Puerto Rico as a "Top 10" vacation destination, but that is one of its great hidden secrets - we would go back there in a heartbeat!

Ahhh, how cute is that? Two lovebirds gazing out over the ocean with the sea breeze blowing through their hair.

Normally Dave wouldn't be looking down the barrel of a loaded cannon, but heck, you're only in Puerto Rico once, right?!

These cannon balls are what they shoot out of cannons - I know, I know, it's a great concept!

This picture was taken on a Sunday drive around the island. The town is called Punta Tuna (Tuna Point).

On our Sunday drive we stopped by a little beach and hiked around a corner to get this sweet photo of a lighthouse. We had a really fun time just rock-hopping until the tide started coming in - then we hustled back to solid ground.

We spent some time in El Yunque Rain forest, and they don't call it a rain forest for nothing! We were "smart" enough to bring some rain jackets, but Linsay had to improvise with a giant rain forest leaf. We hiked up to some look-out towers and were temporarily above the clouds, but then the wind picked up and the clouds climbed the valley upto the tower and we were surrounded by a white mist. Dave kept teasing Lauren that she was on cloud nine (punn intended!)

Our first hotel was in Luquillo, and this was our view from the back steps. We would hop down 10 steps and then wade into the ocean. Off in the back of this picture there was a small river that emptied into the ocean. One day we walked along the shore and found a palm tree with coconuts. Dave and Chris must have spent 30 minutes throwing rocks at a coconut until it finally fell down. They husked it and then Dave split it right down the middle with a rock. We enjoyed fresh coconut milk and then used a plastic knife to scrape some of the fruit out - we would've totally rocked on the show Survivor.

This was the first time that either of us had stepped foot into the Caribbean Ocean. To get to this abandoned dock (in the background) we hiked through desert-like conditions along the backside of some stinky salt ponds. The picture was well-worth it - at least that's what we tell ourselves.

This glamour shot was taken in the Rio Camuy Caves. We took a little ride down into this canyon, then hiked through some really huge caves. It was a super neat experience.

It was super dark in the caves, but we found our way the Bat Cave. Our guide told us to be really quite and we could hear (and sometimes feel) bats flying around us. On our way out, I couldn't help it but to get about 8 inches away from this sleeping bat to snap a picture. The other people in our group thought I was completely nuts and got really nervous, but heck, you're only in Puerto Rico once, right?!

JUNE

Well, Lauren's family decided to make a vacation out of a wedding reception to honor her brother Ryan and his wife Emily. Ry and Em got married in Dec. 2006 in Salt Lake, but had to high-tale it back to Philly for dental school, so they had a second reception a few months later in Emily's hometown of Corvallis, Oregon. We all flew into Portland, but had a long drive. Wes was a super champ to be in his carseat the whole time, but that does not mean that there were moments when he protested (and let us all know about it)!

We stayed in Newport and one day took a stroll up to a lighthouse. It was great weather but super windy along the coast. It was fun to take Wes along.

We got to climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse.

This is the first time that Wes's little feet had felt the sand. There's nothing like two pairs of the cutest feet in the world with sand between their toes! While it looks really nice, the water was fah-reezing! Our brother-in-law, John Riggs, and Dave played in the ocean until they were so numb and cold that their whole bodies ached. But heck, you're only in Newport once, right?!

This was a nice family pictures taken on the windy shore of a Newport beach. We absolutely loves Wesley's hair.

While in Oregon, we made it to an aquarium and had a fun time looking at all sorts of marine wildlife. We even some other forms of wildlife. This one is called Laurenus-Goldium-Cranius.

This one is affectionately called Davidicus-Droidius-Aquius.

This one we called Cutius-to-the-Maximus-Sir-Wesius.

Here's Dave with his luggage, including his carry-on, in the Salt Lake Airport.

JULY

Lauren, Wes, Aunt Jen, and Baby Nicole at the Holladay City firework show. Jen bought some earmuffs for Wes and Nicole so that they wouldn't be scared of the fireworks - surprisingly, neither baby minded wearing the earmuffs.

Grandpa Andersen holding his little grandson - do you think he's proud of his grandson or what?

Wesley was absolutely enthralled by the fireworks, and probably sat in this position for nearly 10 minutes.

This is what life is made up - memories that will last forever. I guess you could call this our family picture for the month of July. We has such an awesome time.

Firework shot #1.

Firework shot #2.

Dave and Wes playing pool up the cabin over the fourth of July for the Lehman annual rodeo.

Wesley's first pinata. The cabin. Gram and Wes sharing a binki. Wes helping me fold the laundry he is such a good helper.

AUGUST

Wes always found Wes rolling under the bed when he was in his rolling phase. Me, Wes, Uncle Nick, Aunt Jen, Nicole, And Dave at the ward camp out. Wesley and I at breakfast the next morning Yum! Cute little Wes loved the tent and the blow up mattress. Dave and Wes on a hike the we ventured on just off the camp site. Yummy! Yummy! Wes's first taste of watermelon.

SEPTEMBER

Ride on cowboy! Just playin' in his saucer. Who needs McDonald's ball pit when you've got a laundry basket! Who knew eating graham crackers was such hard work? One morning when we went to get Wes we found him just chillin' like this and had to get a picture!

OCTOBER

Daddy and Wes looking at the fireplace . Me and Wes at our friends' cabin. He was showing us his loud voice that night. Wesley's fist time on the swings. Wes at the park. Nicole at the park (Wesley's cousin). Happy Birthday Dave! (26 years old).

This was actually pretty exciting. UDOT had to replace the bridge on 4500 South that crosses I-215. Under typical conditions, the roads would need to be closed for about 9 months, however, with a new procedure called ABC - Accelerated Bridge Construction, the freeway was only closed for ONE weekend, and 4500 South for 10 days. Basically, they built the bridge on supports near the off-ramp, and then closed the freeway, got a big machine (self-propelled modular transporter), lifted the old bridge spans out, and lifted the new bridge in place. I know, for the average person this was a big "so what" event, but for Dave it was awesome because it was the first time it was done in Utah. They plan on replacing several bridges along I-80 between State Street and 1300 East in a similar fashion. This picture shows the east-span of 4500 South being driven up the freeway to a demolition site.

Here's a shot of the new bridge. It is a single span bridge and is 173' long. It will rest on a 12% grade over 4500 South.

Here's the proud civil engineering with his supportive family. Dave's firm did not design the bridge, but was in charge of the public involvement and managing the event that will be included in the FHWA's Showcase of 2007.

Look at the cute little horse and his Pooper Scoopers. These are some scary treats that Lauren made for a Halloween party. Another treat that Lauren made.... anyone hungry? Ride horsey ride! Man, he is so cute! Um, Dave maybe you should lay off of the spaghetti.