Favorite spot

This is Parker's new favorite spot. I'm not gonna lie, I think it's pretty funny that he sits still in there but not anywhere else.

3 Years

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! Where have the last 3 years gone? Honestly it seems like we just got married and yet it seems like we have known each other forever. I love this man and am so excited to spend eternity with him!

Family Pictures 2011

We were able to get family pictures taken a couple weeks ago. Mel Howlett did them, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE them! She did a great job! Check out her blog--http://melhowlettphotography.blogspot.com/

I think that the pictures of Parker turned out especially good. It was hard to pick favorites! But here they are!

Bear Lake and other fun

We went to Bear Lake with Curtis' family for our reunion this year. It was so much fun! We were able to rent a cabin. I didn't really get any pictures of the cabin, but it was so nice to have a place to shower and clean up after the beach. Parker liked playing in the sand and just standing in the water. It was hard to tell if he liked it or not...he had such a serious look on his face!
Grandma and Parker. Mostly Parker just wanted to stand in the water, and when I would try to get him out, he would get upset.
We also went to Minnetonka cave. It was Parker's naptime, so he wasn't the most happy child when we went in...
Cousins!!!
Like I said, not the most happy child...but on the way back out of the cave he was much happier!
On the day we were packing up to leave all the kids wanted to sit on the 4-wheelers...
Parker and Jane just pounding away on the table...
All in all we had a great trip! I think that my favorite memory would be of Curtis, Matt, and Jeff killing a couple of mice really late at night. I'm not a huge fan of mice, but I think that Curtis' sister Sherry dislikes them more than I do. Let's just say that I won't ever forget the memory of 3 grown women standing on couches while their husbands try to kill mice that were running across the floor up into the chimney. I do have to give them credit though--they did get 3 mice while we were there. Good job guys!

Just a few more pictures of our little Parker...he is getting so big!
He really likes to help mom "mop" the floor. He also likes to help me "do the dishes." Sometimes he is a really good helper...other times I wonder how he can makes messes so fast!
He is growing so fast! I can't believe it sometimes. He is saying lots of animal noises and is starting to say a few words. He gets so excited when I understand what he is trying to tell me.

The Zoo

One thing that Parker loves is animals. Anytime that he sees a new animal he points and says, "OH!" So we had SO much fun taking him to the zoo. We actually went to the Willow Park Zoo and Hogle Zoo. Willow Park has a TON of birds...and a few other things. Parker's favorite part there was the ducks.

Like Father like son.
This is us riding the train at the zoo. Grandma taught him how to say "choo-choo."
Looking at the monkeys...
Riding the carousel was pretty fun too. Parker really liked it-especially the 2nd time and he didn't want to get off! He liked waving to Grandma and Dad as we went by.
Parker's reaction each time he would spot an animal: point and say "Oh!"
My favorite part of the trip: watching Parker and Trey run from different window displays of monkeys and follow each other saying, "OH!" and pointing. SO CUTE!
Grandma listening to what Trey was telling her.

We had so much fun! It is so fun to see Parker discover things for the first time. Priceless, actually.

First swim

We went over to Curtis' parents house for a little 4th of July get together and they had a kiddie pool there. Parker wasn't so sure about it at first, but then decided that it was the best thing ever. He didn't want to get out!Somehow Curtis decided that I needed to get thrown in the pool...I would never do anything to deserve that! HAHA! Let's just say that next time I pour cold water down his back, I will have a much better escape route planned.

Camping

We went camping with my family this month. It wouldn't be camping with my family unless motorcycles/4-wheelers are involved. So Parker got to have his first rides. He didn't really like it that much at first...but he was teething at the beginning of the trip, so you have to give him a little break. By the end, he had a good time.

I think that he just liked sitting on the 4-wheeler the best...
We had 1 ride that I could have done without, (Parker almost fell off the 4-wheeler...don't worry, no one was hurt! It was still a little scary though.) but other than that, we had a great time!
I have to say that I was bummed that I didn't get a picture with all 3 boys! I've decided that I'm not good at taking pictures when other people are. My mom and sister-in-laws took a bunch, but I didn't get any. It was fun to get together with my family and let the little boys play with each other. They are all so cute!

Summer is here!

This summer has gone by so fast! First, these 2 girls are getting married! I am so happy for them! I was so sad when Meghan and Amanda moved to SLC to teach...but now we know why!

Then we went to Temple Square with some good friends. Of course I didn't get a picture of everyone...we had a good time though. We ended up spending most of our time at the Church History museum. They have the coolest kids area...Parker loved it!

This bike wheel was his favorite...when I finally pulled him away from it, he cried for quite a while and tried to get back to it.

SO TIRED! When we got home, Parker just snuggled up with Daddy.

ONE

I really can't believe that my little baby boy turned 1! Time flies when you are having fun I guess. We just let Parker go at the cake...
Turns out, he didn't really "go at it..." He just wanted to be fed...but he was still a happy boy! Parker got these 2 balls for his birthday and carried them around our house all morning long...he is growing up to be just like his Dad...

I just couldn't help but include this picture...they both had on their "Peru slippers." Did I mention that Curtis is such a great Dad? Well, he is.

New House

We're finally moved in to our new house! We love it! A special thanks to our families for helping us remodel and move into our house. I've decided that it really is amazing what a new coat of paint, new trims, and new carpet can do for a house. I promised some before and after pictures...here they are!

The Bathroom

BEFORE

AFTER
The Living Room

BEFORE

AFTER

The Kitchen

BEFORE

AFTER

The Dining Room

BEFORE

AFTER

It's always nice to see all the work you have done come together. It really feels like a new house and we are loving it!