Hunter's First Birthday Party [12 months]...

ONE!!!  My baby is ONE! As cliche as it is to say, but there is no way this possible!   It feels like it was just yesterday we brought him home. We had the chance to celebrate our sweet little man this past weekend and I thought it turned out pretty great. I will share some pics of our fun day but first let me brag about my growing boy... -----------------------------------------------------------------------

This little man of ours definitely keeps us on our toes.  He is non-stop, go GO GO! Constantly walking, running, climbing, opening, closing, playing, babbling, eating, ect. He is all over the place and gets into everything! Hunter is infatuated with cars... Actually anything with wheels. Our living room is covered in cars, trucks, dump trucks, and hot wheels. "VROOM VROOM" is said on the daily in our house. The past couple weeks he has learned and changed so much. He has recently started dancing, waiving, and kissing... lots and lots of kissing (which melts me) On his actual birthday we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner because B was working. It seemed like everyone and their dog was celebrating a birthday. We heard the birthday announcement every 10 min. It was cute though because H actually clapped! he clapped whenever everyone cheered after. First claps for our little man. As I said earlier, Hunter is always eating. He LOVES food! Some of his favorites are canned peas, mac and cheese, milk, yogurt, beans, peanut butter, blueberries, apple juice, and animal crackers. If you are eating something in front of him, and he wants it, he will stand in front of you and do one of two things; grunt or laugh very excitedly. (the laugh is hard to explain... its something you have to hear to truly understand) This kid currently has a mouth full of teeth...  top four + two molars, bottom four + two molars.  Really?! 10 teeth?! This wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that he bites :/ We try out best to help him understand that biting is not nice... its still a work in progress. Hunter is all boy.... loves to be outside, is constantly covered with scrapes and bruises, and destroys everything in sight.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hunters birthday was small and simple.

[Papa and Nene... Quentin, Kristina, and Adelyn... Maddy... Justin, Kelsey, and Henry... Brian, Teri, and Bo] We had some of our closest people come party with us and enjoy some awesome food made by B.  We had pulled pork sliders on Texas Roadhouse rolls, baked beans, homemade coleslaw, Rudy's creamed corn, cupcakes, and cookies. 

 ^^Someone was a little sleepy during his party

^Best pictures I could manage of the three of them 

^^These two are so in love

Happy Birthday our dear sweet boy... Mum and Dada love you oh so much! We love you more than you will ever know

A Birthday Weekend...

I am officially a quarter of a century. I feel old... I had a conversation with my nephew yesterday...  an actual conversion...  That means, not only am I getting old, but all of my favorite little people are getting older too.  Kinda makes me sad. Wish they would stay little forever. Even my babe... He is closer to a year than a newborn!  And he even waived yesterday for the first time. Dada was leaving to go fishing and he actually waived.  I about cried it was so cute!  Well, my birthday was great.  Thank you to everyone and your love. My boys spoiled me, my parents surprised me, and I got to shove my face full of ice cream cake!  What could be better?! Here are a few pics of our quick trip to Sedona on Monday. It looks so much like home (Southern Utah) I couldn't help but love it

Adios 2013...

It is so crazy to look back at the beginning of 2013 and see where we were, and how it has all changed in such a short amount of time. 

January--> We started off another great year in North Carolina and Texas with the Howell side// Made it back to Arizona and enjoyed a lot of Saturday explorations in the warm sun (hiked Camelback, hiked "the hole")// Went shooting a lot, and enjoyed the company of family and friends

February--> Celebrated ONE YEAR with the love of my life// Went to Bakersfield to see the beloved Worthens and witness Bo be baptized// Went to LA// Hiked trails in Estrella Mnt// Made Valentines for our sweet sunbeams at church// Learned some intense yoga moves!

March--> Spring Training started so baseball took over our lives again ;) Mom and Dad came for a visit// Took advantage of the wonderful Arizona weather and our pool// Started Flight Attendant school for US Airways (that ended due to a "baby" hiccup)// Spent a beautiful Easter holiday in STG

April--> Announced the growth of our little family// Had a correction on the due date// Had a few dates to the Mesa Arizona Temple// Took a few of the baseball guys shooting

May--> Had our first trimester screening// Surprised Mom in Santa Monica for her fitness competition// Blaine gave some pitching lessons

June--> Had another ultrasound and learned Baby H was a BOY//Took a last minute trip to Bakersfield// Went to girls camp as camp director for our ward

July--> Celebrated the 4th on the Salt River// Reached 24 weeks// Blaine became obsessed with paracord// We spent our summer nights catfishing

August--> Blaine made a few of his first appearances back on the mound// 28 weeks along// Started working at Youngker again// I turned another year older

September-->Blaine had his second Tommy John surgery// Went to Bakersfield for the Todd's reception// My sisters threw Baby H a shower in STG// Had our prego pics taken

October--> Blaine turned the big 25// Blaine went to NC// My belly button "popped"// I quit working at Native// We carved Pumpkins// Went to the Laytons and had a bonfire and tinfoil dinners for Halloween// We also moved when I was 38.5 weeks pregnant... third floor apt to a second floor apt of a different building

November--> My mom came to town// Work (Youngker) threw Baby H a shower// My due date came and went// Blaine started work at Texas Roadhouse// Our babe FINALLY arrived// Laurin, Paige, and Lauren came to town// We all celebrated Thanksgiving in our little apt// Went to the Mesa Temple to see the lights

December--> Attended Glendale Glitters// Hunter was blessed and given a name by his daddy// We got our first REAL Christmas tree// Hunter turned a month old// We drove to Vegas/STG to spend Hunters first Christmas with family (More in another post)// I stayed in Vegas for a few extra days with Hunter to help my parents move into their new house// Hunter flew for the first time// Rang in the new year with my two favorite boys

2014 is going to be full of a lot of firsts... especially for Hunter. 

I cannot wait to watch him grow and experience the world. 

Lets go 2014... show me what you've got.

Daddy Dearest...

Happiest of Birthdays to the best Dad around. 

My dear sweet Poppy turned the big 5-0 yesterday.

Here are a few things about my dear ol' Pops.

1. Fountain Mountain Dew and generic puffy Cheetos. He loves em. Growing up, every time we stopped at a gas station, that was our purchase. (It has to be generic Cheetos though because he swears there is more cheese on them)
2. He is Mr. Fix-It. If he can not repair it, replace it, or re-do it, I am certain no-one can.
3. He is one outstanding chef. Makes amazing food and is my partner in crime when it comes to baking.
4. One of my earliest memories is jumping off practically anything and landing in my fathers arms. The roof, the refrigerator, a brick wall, ect....and that tradition has now been carried on to the grandcuddles.
5.He is an amazing Papa and all those kids LOVE him to death.
6.Music.This man is obsessed with it.He has so much of it, that he can listen nonstop for 4 years, and never repeat a song.
7. Rodeos. Dad used to rodeo back in the day and was amazing. Saddle bronc and bareback were his specialties  That is actually how my parents met, at a rodeo.
8. He is currently in the process of building his own motorcycle.
9. He is one of those super annoying people that is good at everything he tries. You name it, he can do it.
10. He has been the greatest dad to 5 children, a loving husband to a beautiful woman, and an incredible person for the last 50 years.

Dad, you have taught me so much and given me such a wonderful life.

 I am so grateful for your influence and guidance 

Thank you for always being there for me and being the best dad a girl could ask for. 

I love you and I hope the next 50 are just as grand...