Welcome Fall: Grotto Trail Hike

We went up Payson Canyon to welcome in fall.  It was stunning and the absolute perfect time to go.

We have met some good *friends in our  new ward, and they took us to the perfect spot: Grotto Trail.  

We had so much fun with them...it was a fabulous morning hike!

(not edited - gorgeous colors!)

I am sure we have lots more hiking days ahead. Love this family of mine!

Weston, Annie, Emily, & Tave

Ryder doing what he loves:  running (away!)

 I love Amy and her cute girls.  I see lots of fun get-togethers ahead!

 Chad & Amy took us to a look out a few miles up the canyon (after the hike).

This is what makes me love where I live. What a beautiful world we get to  live in.

I had to take a few shots of my boys:

 Ryder: dare devil, sweet, crazy, fun, busy, runner

Tave: funny guy, silly, happy, easy-going, energetic

Weston: Sweet, kind, compassionate, caring, loving

A small part of our collection from the hike:

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*It's a small world: Chad was in mine and Jeff's singles ward. I randomly ran into him at the library with his three girls. We talked about where we lived and I mentioned we were moving soon. When I described where, Chad said he thought that was right by his house. Yup, we are now neighbors and I got to meet his wonderful wife. We love this family!

Callen: 4 months

Stats

Weight:  15 lbs 12 oz

 Height:  26.5 inches

This adorable little Callen is just SO fun!!  

He is turning into such a chunk (to us, at least!) and is so squishy and sweet.

He has started grabbing things and holding on...hasn't quite figured out how to let go!

He bats at the toys on his playmat and loves to look at the star that plays music.

He is tracking things with his eyes really well and likes to watch the fish that circle around on his swing.

He loves being held and is such a snuggler. Oh I love when he snuggles into my neck and cuddles there.

He found his toes! He thinks they are the coolest toy ever and grabs them constantly!

He officially gave up the binky and sucks on his fingers...ALL THE TIME! 

He is such a good eater and sure loves his nursing time.

We tried giving him a bottle and he refuses formula. Hates it. I should have tried sooner, but kind of forgot with the business of summer!

He doesn't really like tummy time.

LOVES his brothers and watching them play.

Loves being talked to- he smiles a HUGE, adorable smile the minute anyone gives him some attention:

He is sleeping through the night completely now! He has one final feeding around 8 pm after the other boys are in bed, gets a little one-on-one snuggle/play time with mom & dad and then is put in bed around 9. Then he sleeps until 7 or 7:30. Oh it is WONDERFUL! We are both loving his sleep schedule!

Dear little Callen,

Every day with you is better than the last.

You are so alert and aware now, and love to interact with all of us.

You love watching your brothers and have the best giggle to give us when we play with you.

You are such a special and sweet soul, we are so grateful every single day that you are part of our family.

You are ours and we are yours- you have all of us completely wrapped around your little fingers.

We love you to the moon and back,

Mom, Dad, and the bros.

August's Everyday Moments

August has been a strange mix of happy and sad moments.  Sad that we moved from good friends. It is always so hard for me to change. A new home, new neighborhood, new ward, new new new. I love it but I definitely don't love feeling a little lost.  

But mostly, it is full of happy:

Happy that we have this little guy in our lives, he is such a joy

Happy that we have cousins close by again. Oh how we have missed cousin playdates:

and happy whenever we get a moment with this man:

I love these every day moments that make up our lives.

Ryder's big boy bed!!

Well...here's the first sneak peak into our new home.  

Ryder's room:

Our crazy little man figured out how to climb out of the crib. It was the coolest trick ever, so he had to practice it over and over and OVER...at 9pm, 2am, 4am, 6 am...

SO. we decided he might as well be in a bed instead of possibly getting hurt while he climbs out of a crib in the pitch black. He LOVES his room and bed and has done so great in it.  I did put a child lock on his door so he knows he has to stay in there during sleeping hours. It took him a couple of nights to be okay with that and now we are ALL getting much more sleep. Awesome!!!

I can't believe my baby is getting so big!  Everytime I say that, though,  Weston reminds me that I have a new baby now... so here's to my big 2-year-old. 

We sure love you Ryder!!

School is Fin-tastic!

We had a fun back to school party the night before West started school.  

We had pizza for dinner at a park and then the boys came home to this surprise set up:

The yummy dessert:

West had to add fish for the sharks to eat, of course:

We made a fun little shark craft (the teeth spelled out their names)

Weston was one happy kiddo to be heading off to school the next morning:

Our cute Tave could NOT wait for his turn the next week. (9-05-2012) 

He was so thrilled to start preschool. His favorite part about it (so far) is the little tree house:

I can't believe both my boys are at school now. They are LOVING it and so happy to be learning!

Nicole & Shar's Birthday!

 Shar & Travis moved here August 18th, just in time for us to spend our birthday together! YAY!!!

It is SO much fun to have the kiddos back together again. 

They are having a blast, and we are loving it too!!

So they stayed at our house for the weekend and Monday morning (our b-day) the guys let us sleep in. 

We had to be ready to leave by 10am and that's when they gave us our gift:  the day together!!  

It was awesome.

We went to Kneaders for the amazing french toast breakfast. Then headed to the mall for mani/pedis. Bliss.

Did some shopping and then met up with the guys for a date night dinner.

After dinner we went back to our house for a fun party with the kiddos.

It was AWEsome. So amazing. I love my birthday...Jeff sure knows how to spoil me!!!

Love my sister:

Happy Birthday to us!

The guys made our favorite dessert, cream cheese pie with fresh fruit. And they ROCKED. 

It was THE best pie ever. Really, they made it better than I ever have. 

Cute kiddos enjoying the food:

Ryder loved my party  hat:

Happy Birthday Shar!  

Love this little fam:

I love my crazy guys!