Sunday, February 7, 2010

big time


Little G is 15 months old
Crazy, but true
Here are some things I want to remember
about him at this stage:

he RUNS everywhere, doesn't walk
turns anything into a cell phone and talks loudly into it
somehow knows how to turn on my phone and listen to music while bobbing his head
can unscrew and take apart anything
likes to drink saline solution
hates to have his diaper changed
pats his belly when he is proud of himself
climbs up the slide and goes down backwards all by himself
never makes it through even the first hour of church
still loves to "get you"- chase and tickle
finally lets us read him books
shakes his head "yes" a lot (its better than no)
runs super hard in the bath while we take him out
such a busy-body mom still can't keep up
has a hilarious new face with small puckered mouth
is fearless




hangin with some of his buddies at the park
talkin about guy stuff


always eating

chit-chatting on my cell phone

his "new face"- LOVE IT!

playing at Dads office



On Saturday we went to the cutest place called Pretend City
Griffin got to try out all his new 15 mth skills

destroying the play house

trying to run away from mom
(this occurs pretty much all day everyday)

He loved this bridge and went back and forth a million times

hangin out with Dad

throwing fruit everywhere

Driving cars

and shopping and the grocery store


while looking at the chicks he kept trying to offer them his fake banana


splashing in the water

and of course making more important phone calls

Thursday, January 28, 2010

What the Christmas?!


Yes, its almost February...
ahh well, better late than never eh?

We had a wonderful 2009 Christmas- in fact the BEST yet.
We were lucky enough to be able to see both
sets of Grandparents this year-
It was a mother of a trip, but well worth the
time we got to spend with all our family.


We started off the trip on the right foot and turned Griffin's car seat around for the first time. He looks a little drugged in this picture (and NO he wasn't! :), but trust me-
He LOVED it and thought he was the coolest guy around.
In fact he hardly wanted to sleep because he loved looking out the windows.


We stopped in Baker and got some super nasty fast food.
G would hardly eat it so you KNOW its gotta be bad!


After like 500 hours in the car we finally made it to Logan-
We stayed with Ben's parents, but also got to visit
my Grandparents (G&G Griffin!)
My dad and brother Daniel were also there for
a pre-Christmas visit- so FUN


Ben with his Grandma Barker


Griffin opening his Christmas singing dog...
he wasn't quite sure what to think at first (now he loves it).
They are having a staring contest


G playing the piano with Grandma Barker

G with his Grandparents



Like father like son?...I hope not in this case!
Seriously?!!



On to the Burg
I LOVE having a white Christmas
(at least for a week or so :)


G was actually really good with the Christmas tree and didn't destroy it like I thought he would-
I guess I could have put mine up!

Playing with Grandma G


ahhh- my sweet Christmas babe

(On Christmas Eve we had our annual bowling night- My brother took a bunch of pictures and has had a month to send them to me and hasn't...so I'm not waiting anymore!! Maybe later there will be an {insert here}with pics?
It was fun though and the BEST part was that I beat EVERYONE...you heard me. Even my DAD and all my brothers...SWEET VICTORY! Don't mess:)


Early breakfast with dad Christmas morning before presents


Walking in on Christmas morning to check out the presents

(he took a detour to play peek-a-boo)


Sliding down presents with our African brother Benoni

Opening his gifts with dad
(notice the spatula in hand...it was my gift he stole. He has a true love for all things kitchen)

His boat bath toy was a big hit


and his lawn mower was a huge hit too!

Thanks G&G!

He also loved the football Grandpa got


G's first taste of snow
He loved it and would have played outside
naked in it if we would have let him


We went sledding one day with my
friend Janeese and her kidlins
Griffin looked exactly like Randy from a Christmas Story...
(he even fell over and couldn't get up, and yes we have it on video. Hilarious!)

Eating more snow


His nightly bath in Grandma's kitchen sink!



Haulin' around doing "stuff"
This kid got sooo much attention from both
families it was crazy.
We had the BEST Christmas ever...till next year!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Family Pics



11.09




















Monday, November 30, 2009

this & that

I'm a bit behind...

At the beginning of the month we went to Disneyland as a family and had the best day together. It was a beautiful day and there were NO LINES on any of the rides!
It was a day I will always remember-
just us spending time together as a family.


Griffin had been on Pirates of the Caribbean a few times before, but for some reason this time he was scared and had to hug us the entire ride. Poor guy. It was too cute though and rare to get some snuggle time. Looks like I'll be taking him on that ride every time we go :)


He loved the swords and pirate paraphernalia in the gift shop
How is it that little boys already know they love weapons and know how to use them?!



Eating lunch


His favorite ride of the day was Nemo
He loved going down in the submarine
and looking out into the water



A few Saturdays ago Ben watched Griffin for part of the day.
When I came home I found him dressed in this little get-up straight from Mexico...

I thought it was too funny
Too bad Ben had to cut a slit in the back so his huge head could fit into the top!


Seriously? Could a mouth be any bigger?!


Griffin has also been busy this month pushing
things around the house.
It's his new hobby and he's pretty darn good at it

Like this new box of 200 diapers
Its got to weigh more than he does and he
pushed it around for hours


Put your back into it



He also loved pushing around this car seat box



After pushing this box around one night he decided to mix it up and get inside and go crazy
Who knew the best toy to keep him occupied would be a silly box?!



Sunday, November 8, 2009

Calling all Wild Things!

We had a birthday party for Griffin on Halloween
in celebration of our little man turning the big

1!

We sent out a call for all his little mischief-making friends to join him for a "Where the Wild things Are" party!
Since it was Halloween costumes were highly recommended and most came dressed up.
Griffin arrived as Max- King of the Wild Things!
One of my friends was nice enough to offer her house so we could have more room for the little monsters to run and play. Thank goodness! We ate pizza, played in the bounce house, opened presents, took pictures with the Wild Things, had story-time, ate cake and goodies and pretty much had a "Wild Rumpus" of a time with our family and friends.
It was a long day and a lot of work,
but sooo worth all the memories we have.



Here is part of the invitation we sent out:


Come help Griffin make mischief of one kind...
or another

Let the Wild Rumpus start!!!




Max with his Wild Things




Some of the decor:

Cake pops!

Wild Things cupcakes and Griffins cake


Little Princess Milla in the bounce house


Griffins friend Owen made a big entrance in his
darling plane costume



Minnie Mouse (Saylor) and Pink Monster (Brooklyn) enjoying their cake pops!
They are both too cute





Roaring his terrible roar and gnashing his terrible teeth!



Mom in the bounce house with little G and his buddies


King Max without his wolf costume


Opening his presents
He got spoiled and is LOVING all his new toys


Thanks for the gifts everyone!


Some of the mischief makers...it was impossible to get all the
little monsters to pose in the same picture!



Griffin discovered his tail! Too cute!



Our friend Troy reading "Where the Wild Things Are"
He did a great job and the kids loved it!


The birthday boy and his cake
He didn't cry when we all sang to him!
I think he liked the attention


Once he realized it tasted good he was stuffing fistfuls of cake in his mouth.
He knows a good thing when he gets it!

I think he had the most fun just playing with this cup!


After the party we took this little King home for a nap...but it WAS Halloween so later we headed out for more fun in the Max costume...

We walked across the street to the town center and had the BEST time! Free food and tons of rides and fun things to do for the kids...and did I mention everything was FREE?!
I couldn't believe it!


I love this picture







Seriously- Griffin is yelling in so many pictures
He is such a crazy man!

Here Emily finally makes her blog debut...
Love that girl


Griffins first pony ride
He loved it and giggled when the horse would walk
He also tried to eat the saddle


On the train with Em and Brooklyn
This was a fav. for the kidlins


We finally made it home after one very long, exciting and eventful day.
But our little Max still had some spunk in him and made mischief of one kind...
or another...
And finally sailed to bed a very happy and content little one year old.

We love you our little Wild Thing!






Tuesday, November 3, 2009

One love

Today you turned one
It is a day that came way too fast for me
Just yesterday you were this tiny

Happy Birthday my little one
You make me laugh everyday
You have the funniest sense of humor and a big personality
I love that you are such a little ham and open your mouth so big to smile
I love that you give me fake grumpy faces when I tell you not to do something
I love that you like to be surprised
I love that you are always pretty happy
I love your 8 little teeth and that you are finally sprouting some hair
I love that you are the fastest crawler I know
I love that you get so excited to see me in the morning
I love that I can tuck you into bed each night and give you a kiss
You mean the world to me
I love you to bits



Monday, November 2, 2009

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!


The wild rumpus all started with
our ward Trunk-or-Treat a week or so ago.
It was the first of many occasions where little G would be wearing his Max costume. I knew I wanted to throw him a "Where the Wild Things Are" birthday party and that it would take place on Halloween, so it was only fitting that he would just have to be the King of the Wild Things (which, trust me, is not a stretch for this little guy).

G sitting in his favorite spot watching dad eat chili
(really in 85 degree weather?!)
How cute is that wiley little tail?

Check Spelling
I couldn't find a good Max costume so I bought a fleece suit and added the claws, whiskers, buttons, ears and the wolf tail. It turned out pretty well (minus the fleece was sweltering! Poor guy!)
Here he is showing off his ears and claws


Practicing some of his growls and roars!

A very serious little Max
He is all business handing out candy
from the trunk of our car with dad

Family photo before Max sailed home for the night...


My friend Emily and her little girl Brooklyn flew in from Idaho to spend part of the week with us
which was a lot of fun.
One night we went to a little pumpkin patch near our house.
We dressed in our Fall best pretending that it was crisp outside and that we don't live in the middle of the city


Griffin looking in the pumpkin for Brooklyn
Little does he know she is behind him

Of course G just wanted to eat all the bark and hay on the ground all night long!
I think we left with half of it in his diaper

Little Miss Brooklyn and Griffin

Family photo on the old tractor

Looks like G has some of my Idaho roots in him after all!
He was sooo excited to pretend to drive the tractor

Dad helping G feed the lambs

King of Pumpkin City