Can it get any better?

This year we spent our Labor day devouring delectable Brigham City peaches.  It was kind of a last minute trip, but a great one!  We missed the actual Peach Days Celebrations by a day or two...I'm pretty sure Dale would argue that the best part of the trip is the peaches anyway, so it didn't matter if we missed all the Peach Days hoopla.  I on the other hand love the hoopla...so next year we'll do our best to make it :).  We did try out a new place to eat...but we were not impressed.  I don't remember what it was called...but once I do I'll post it so no one else will have the same misfortune of dining there that we had.  The food wasn't bad...but the service was awful.  We almost left several times.  But we were hungry.  And we had a hungry, fussy 1 year old with us.  And if we left we would just have had to wait again somewhere else.  So we sat and waited.  And waited.  And waited some more.  FINALLY the waitress brought us our food.  Honestly, I'm not sure if the food was actually good or if it was just that we were just incredibly starving from waiting so long that it tasted decent.  We decided from now on we will only eat at Maddox during Peach Days, where we know we are guaranteed a quality meal (and next time we need to have the Millers and Hymers come with us :).  Trey loved his peaches as much as his daddy.  He downed his peach faster than I could eat mine!  He is his daddy's son! :)  Our boxes of peaches are already gone (we got 2)...we are thinking another trip to Brigham City is in order.

Waiting for his first peach!

Yum!  We had to strip him down...he had those peaches everywhere!  Look at that face...pure joy!

 Don't talk to me...I'm eating!

P.S. Dale informed me the awful restaurant is called "Bert's Cafe and Grill"...don't eat there!

4th of July

The weeks are flying by!  Here's a look back at our 4th of July.  

Our failed attempt at getting a family pic. in the car :)

Trey enjoying his delicious french fries.

Waiting for the fireworks at Riverton Park!

More french fries...yum!

Trey lasted for about 10 minutes watching fireworks.  Then he made a friend with the baby next to us.  They shared their toys and babbled through the show.  Trey was one tired boy by the end of the night!

Trey is 1!

My baby is 1.  I'm in awe of how fast this happened.  I have such vivid memories of his birth and bringing him home from the hospital that it couldn't have possibly been a year ago that it all happened.  He has honestly completely changed my life.  I love him more than words can say, and am so glad he is ours forever :).  

Nothing about Trey's birthday went as planned.  It was SO WINDY at the park where we had his party that nothing would stay up.  The food kept blowing over, the balloons all popped, and the park we had chosen was taken by another group, so we had to relocate :).  We are grateful for the family and friends who came and that Trey loved all the fun (and all the cake :).  That's all that really mattered.  

 Getting ready...

 The cake

Here's some pics of the food, etc. after the wind got ahold of everything.  It was not at all what I envisioned, but oh well.  The table cloths kept flying off and pulling the food with it, so we did away with them.  At least the birthday boy enjoyed his cake :).

 The INCREDIBLE cupcakes made by my sil Laura!  

 These didn't last long in the heat/wind :)

Trey loved his 2nd cake smash at the park in Provo where we had his pictures taken.  Marcie once again took AMAZING pictures of our birthday boy.  It was kinda hectic getting us there with all the construction and our lack of internal GPS instinct, but we did finally make it after Marcie found us and we followed her there :).  I LOVE these pictures of Trey.

Trey got to do his 3rd cake smash on his actual birthday, June 28th.  We bought him a cupcake from the Sweet Tooth Fairy and he got to eat it and open his presents from us.

1 year old facts:

* You love opening and closing doors.  Sometimes you accidentally trap yourself.
* You have recently learned to open the cupboards.  Mommy and daddy don't love this.
* You can take a few steps, but then "dive" into our arms when you're through.
* Instead of crawling you do this funny frog leap.
* You are suddenly interested in the garbage can.  It's hard keeping you out of it.
* You like to eat toilet paper.  We have to keep the bathroom door closed at all times.  Otherwise I find bite marks in the roll.
* You like to wave with both hands.
* You like giving "high 5's"
* You babble a lot, though still only say dada and mama
* You keep us smiling kiddo! :)  We sure love you!

11 Months

Dear Trey,

You are growing up so fast buddy!  You are such a sweet little boy.  I say "little boy" because you are looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby every day.  We are so in love with you and everything you do.  Daddy and I are constantly in awe of your silliness and the things you love.

You are walking along ALL FURNITURE...and it has become essential to move all crafts, books, papers, etc. out of your reach.  You are getting so brave and will stand without holding onto anything for a few seconds.  Yesterday you set a new record...10 seconds!  Way to go bud!  Dad and I were so excited!  It's so fun to see you reach new milestones.  Every new stage becomes our new favorite.

Right now you have an obsession with empty water bottles, empty baby bottles, empty cups, and anything else plastic that you can get your hands on.  You'll literally entertain yourself for an hour by playing with your giant legos, a water bottle, and a cup on the bookshelf.  For some reason this is your favorite game.  You love to put things on this shelf.  A couple of days ago I lost my phone.  The battery was dead, so I couldn't even call it.  I searched all over the apartment...well, in all the usual places.  For some reason I didn't think to look on your little bookshelf.  But, there it was, stashed with your legos :).  You are becoming an excellent hider of things we need.  Last night Dad and I looked all over the place for a bottle for your milk.  This morning dad found them all in the bath tub :).  The bath tub is another place you love.  Not only taking baths, but knocking everything off the side of the tub into it...and apparently throwing new things in that don't belong as well :).

You will do anything for attention.  Not only do you look like your daddy, but you act more and more like him all the time :).  You have a cute "fake laugh".  If we are giggling at something you do, you laugh too...it's a sweet, very forced little giggle :).  I am in love with it.  You make me smile kiddo!

You love to eat.  You are such a good eater too...not picky at all (yet?).  Not too long ago we gave you your first taste of ice cream.  After the initial shock from the cold, you fell in love with it.  You ARE my child :).  You did this sweet little puppy begging act for us...sitting up on your knees with your little hands up like a puppy, begging for more.  As soon as you got another taste, you'd bounce up and down.  We've had to be careful of your sugar intake...you are already a busy little boy, but add a little sugar and you're borderline crazy :).

You've recently started giving us kisses...they are done with a full on open mouth :).  Trey kisses are my favorite!  And your favorite song is "If you're happy and you know it"...you LOVE to clap your hands!  I'm pretty sure you think the word "Yay" means "Clap your hands".  I'll take it :).

We have loved getting to see more and more of your sweet little personality as you grow up.  We sure love you!

Hugs and lots of kisses,
Mama

Diary of a Second Grade Teacher

The end of my 6th year of teaching will be here in no time.  It's hard to believe it's actually been 6 years since I started.  During that time I've taught well over a hundred kids, occupied 9 different classrooms (one of the joys of a year round school :), taught closely with 6 other ladies I absolutely love, and can still say with a smile that I love teaching!  I'm not gonna lie...it's definitely challenging...and some days I really don't love it...especially those times when the weather's bad and we've been cooped up with inside recess for a week...or when a kid gets sick in class...or when my baby is crying when it's time for me to leave for work :(...but as far as careers go...and being a working mama, I'd say my job is the cream of the crop.  I'm grateful for my sweet little class, the friendships I've made, and the chance to make a difference in these kids lives.  And of course I couldn't do what I do without my incredibly supportive hubby.  You may not know about Dale's hidden talent, but he's honestly (no joke) a better copier than some of the teachers at my school.  I am truly blessed!

I love my supportive boys! (who wouldn't love these mugs :)

It's been too long.

It's been too long.  Life has been crazy, as usual.  A quick update for us...Trey is now 10 1/2 months old.  He brings us so much joy!  He's also recently become the biggest mess maker you've ever seen.  Here's some proof of his mischief...

His favorite pastime is pulling all of the books off the shelf.  Is that a guilty look or what? :)

This mess happened on my watch...Trey got ahold of a Flipz pretzel.  Not sure how he managed that one, but the next thing I knew his face, hands, and our couch were all covered in chocolate.  He loved it :)

I left the room for only a few seconds, and Trey managed to attack the stack of papers I was grading.  Gotta watch that kid like a hawk!

Easter Shirt

This is Trey's cutie Easter shirt :)...that's the only thing the Easter Bunny brought him.  We're still trying to decide if we want to really introduce the Easter Bunny to our kids.  Guess we have another year to decide.

He wouldn't hold still long enough for me to get any really good pics...

This face makes me laugh! :)

Trey and his mama :)

Happy Easter!