July 2010

Just wanted to post this cute picture Stacy took while watching my kids for the temple dedication so if grandparents wanted to snag it they could =)

Now to get back to where I left off SO long ago... our trip to Utah at the beginning of July:

packing for our trip stressed Avery out too...

she did what mom does, grab a can of soda and feel so much better!

I love the guilty look on her face in the 3rd picture, I feel the same way sometimes.

Then we drove 11 hours to Utah... it was a LONG drive.

Then Avery meet her cousin Elianney... she's cute, but Avery was not impressed and not interested. She was just a little jealous that mom and dad were holding another baby. And she definitely made me come to realize my baby is not so small anymore!

The next morning we met everyone for a yummy lunch at the BYU creamery to kick off the family reunion... Porter didn't love lunch though, he threw it up almost instantly.

Then all the cousins headed over to the Bean (?) Museum on campus.

the kids loved to see all the animals... we decided its way better than the zoo... you can see the animals really well, you don't have to walk as far, and its not nearly as hot.

Porter started another theme on the vacation... being scared of EVERYTHING! He was terrified of this bear... it is a little scary (Bryce thought he would think it was awesome when he took him to see it.)

Then Porter ran through the sprinklers. fun fun.

The next day we woke up bright and early to go to the balloon festival... it was pretty cool


too bad this is as far as we saw the balloons go up... they went down because of wind and they made it seem like that was the end of it. We left and grabbed some breakfast and as we left the restaurant they were floating by in the sky!

For lunch that day grandma and grandpa treated everyone to an awesome place called Pirate Island.

Porter got to play lots of games with dad... some of which scared him like this shooting one, and his favorite game Wack-a-Mole had a shark variation and that one scared him.

Porter playing Wack-a- Mole:

That night was Stadium of Fire... or right outside of Stadium of Fire at the English Language Center where Troy works. Five years before I met Leigh, Joyce and family for the first time at a BBQ at the same place! Awesome seats... too bad the initial fireworks and jets flying over sent Porter into panic attacks and he was beside himself. Eventually we got him to watch some from inside as they did them on the patio. It was SO sad and frustrating how scared he was, its not often we get to see fireworks in AZ.

Sunday Morning we went to my little sister's baby blessing.

Avery fell asleep for most of the pictures afterwards (some pics were taken before and some after)

Porter meets his 'cousin' (Elin's/Elisha's nephew) and the first thing he does is put him in a headlock in the church foyer! Then he hid behind these bushes during pictures... finally dad just stepped on him. Stinker!

Then we went to my cousins house for a BBQ.

Porter jumping with my cousin's sons... having fun...

then this happened (strike 1):

then he fell off the swing (strike 2)... I told their mom Jerusha, that's #2, the 3rd injury is going to be bad. And no sooner than I said that he collided with one of their twins and cut his lip/gums. Nothing that a little quiet time and a popsicle couldn't fix. His 'cousin' felt so bad though and when Porter noticed he was sad he went over and said 'its okay, I'm okay' and then when he was still sad he went over and hugged him. (those aren't really the exact quotes, but the jist of it. I waited way too long to do this post and by memory fades SO quickly!)

Then we went to Danny and Rachel's house for another BBQ... the kids had a blast playing with their dog and throwing a impromptu dance part. It was great to see them... they really need to let go of Utah and move to Arizona already!

(Check out Rachel's sweet moves in this video):

The most steps she had taken to date... while dancing to music!

Monday July 5th Provo had a the Parade... we got there just as it was starting and Bryce dropped us off... I got to where my parents were sitting right as the firetrucks were going by. I thought Porter would love it... he HATED it because they let there sirens go and honked their horns constantly. The whole parade was a bit of a nightmare because he was spooked and afraid that everything was going to make a loud noise. He did like the balloons and he did like the marching bands. Avery on the other hand LOVED it all.

That day we went swimming at the hotel and then headed to Vegas for the night (and then onto Phoenix the next morning)

These two finally will admit they love each other, I look over during the drive and Porter is holding Avery's arm... cute!

Trying to get a picture with great grandma before we leave always turns into a battle, this time was no different. oh well!

The end of the whirlwind 4 day trip.

Randomness from the rest of July:

swinging at the dog park (we braved the heat one morning out of guilt for leaving Sadie home from our trip)

Avery hitching a ride... which is dangerous because brother doesn't steer well.

the kids love when we make dinner for other families... lasagna is good!
(if you look close you can see Avery's little 'buck' teeth... I hope they close in someday)

Avery has interesting ways of eating her dinner... she's quite the goofball these days.

In addition to walking she has started to say several words. Mama and Daddy of course, but she says hot, baba, good night, sometimes I hear a faint love you... but she babbles all the time and thinks shes talking. It's really cute to hear her voice coming out. She's growing up TOO fast.

And finally... dad here's the video I promised eons ago of her walking. It's not one of the first ones, but it shows more than just her walking so it's a little more fun.

(hate this outfit, but she insisted on wearing this skirt... she is pretty particular about what she wants to wear somedays!)

More to come from the last day of July... this is just gotten/taken too long!