James Reunion

We went for a week up to some cabins in the Uintas for my mom's family reunion. It was really fun. I hadn't seen Avery since she was 2 weeks old. She is the cutest little combo of Brett & Sarah. I just loved holding her and kissing her and I kept telling Sarah to enjoy it while she can't tell you 'no' or get away from you or hit you in the face while you snuggle her.

Sarah and the little munchkin:
On a walk, we found something interesting to walk through. Although I have to say everything is interesting to a 18 month old. Shayne loves to looks at ants, clouds, birds, trees, flowers, cars, dirt clods, grass. . . anything.
Cousins in the tub together:
We decided to go on a hike one day. We just didn't realize that we would have to first hike over snowbanks to get to the road. Seriously, this was in June and there were still huge snowbanks. In fact, one night there was a storm while we were there and there was snow on the ground in the morning. It's June people, June!!
Dad & Shaynie:
You may notice that there are no pictures of Shayne with my parents. She was so clinging to me the whole week that I don't think I even had a chance to take a picture with either one of them. Luckily once we got home, she mellowed out to her usual self. Whew!

Wyoming

My sister-in-law Katie came to town and we headed up to Wyoming with our kids. Shayne taking a ride on the lawn mower:

Shayne got sick one night and I was having a horrible time calming her down. She was just having the longest meltdown she's ever had. So I did what every other desperate mom would do. I turned on "Finding Nemo" and she watched it while she took a bath, got her pjs on, and ate dinner. This was the aftermath-- zombie face-- before she want to bed. She loves to watch movies, animal videos, and animal cartoons and always goes into super zombie mode. I have to keep it to a minimum, but it is nice to pull out if I ever need it.
We went to a farm and checked out the chickens, ducks, dogs, sheep, and cows.
Cousin Clark fell in the mud and was not happy about it. I can't blame him, it was cold and the mud was in the sheep pasture--ew.
Great Granny & Shayne:

Before we went to Wyoming, Katie and I took the kiddies to the zoo.

Swing of Summer

I love, love, love summer! Maybe it is my Arizona roots, but I would rather have the heat right now than the cold. I love not ever needing a jacket, I love not having to wear socks, I love the fruit and cold treats, I love being able to be outside with Shayne, I love the vacations, the reunions, how beautiful the mountains are in summer, how good a cold drink tastes, I love it. When else do you get to do this:

Cousin Pics

My mom, dad, sister, and her little 5 month old Avery came up to go to a family reunion (more on that later when I get into blogging mode again). My mom got them some matchy outfits and wanted to get some pictures taken. Shayne is such an unwilling participant sometimes when it comes to anything you are 'trying' to get her to do. She just wants to move and discover and not be bothered by anything else. Funny girl! But the photographer still got some cute ones of her (although smiles were hard to come by). Here's a link to her blog with some of the pictures:

http://www.corihenderson.com/blog/?p=2071

Addition #2

We are expecting baby #2 the week of Thanksgiving! But for me that might mean two weeks into December. We are really excited and overwhelmed to add another kiddo to the family. This is a picture from my 10 week appointment. My MD said it looked like a "healthy jellybean" as far as she could tell. I've been sick more than I remember last time, but it's manageable. I am starting the 'really tired' stage though, which I know goes on for about the next year from now. I am even starting to have guilt about taking attention and love away from Shayne for another baby. She's just so little still. But I know in time she'll love her buddy since they'll be close in age, a couple months shy of 2 years. We are excited!

Vegas Trip & WY

Kidding!!

I just got back from a weekend in Las Vegas with 3 of my high school friends. It was so fun, despite being the only one who was ready to go to bed at 9'o'clock every night : ) One day we just walked the strip, shopped, and rode the NY roller coaster; one day we hung out at the pool, ate at a buffet, and went to a show, KA, that night; and the last day we checked out the outlets. It was so fun to just talk and hear about everybody's lives and have some time away. And to maybe gossip about everyone from high school--let the truth be spoken. It was great!

Although I do have to say that Vegas has gotten a lot worse than I remember it in college when we used to go. I don't know that I'd ever want to take Danny there--but the shows and food are pretty great.

Danny also got some time away doing his favorite thing--outdoor guy stuff with his cousins in WY. He went 'fencing' (not with swords, but where you repair barbed wire fences all over a ranch) and rode dirt bikes- of which he has been looking online at them ever since.

Shayne, in the meantime, got to spend some time with Danny's folks in WY where he dropped her off on his way. She got to see lots of farm animals and their babies and spend time with Granny and Grandpa. Sounds like she loved it!

It's nice to be apart for a little bit, but it was also so nice to come home and be together again.

15 month old Stats!

This girl is growing up everyday. Here are her 15 month stats (although she is 16 months now):

Weight: 21.5 lbs.--35%

Height: 28 inches. --30%

Head: uh, large. . . .95%

1. Things she likes: music, dancing, squeaky shoes, animals-any and all, going on walks in the stroller, going on bike rides in the trailer, her toy car, books, rough play with dad, playground, swinging, loves my neighbor Ann, loves animal movies, milk, coloring, Ally & her water dish, watching other kids, naptime

2. Does not like: someone knocking on the door, getting dressed, getting hair done, getting diaper changed, noise of rain on the window, thunder, chaos of too many kids, anything else that she decides she doesn't want to do

3. Things she's eating: cheese, crackers, tomatoes, beans, apples, oranges, grapes, chicken, beef, carrot sticks, PB & J, suckers, noodles, raspberries, cantaloupe, peas, and anything sweet

4. Things to work on: throwing food/eating utensils, hitting people in the face, coloring on the walls

5. Things she's saying: nini (night night), daddy, mommy, hi, bye-bye, no, bowl, more, animal sounds (horse, cow, turkey, bird, duck, dog, cat, elephant, monkey, bear), uh-huh

She is a great, fun kid and we love her!