Anson's 1st Birthday Party

Anson's first birthday party was on April 28, 2007 at McCormick Railroad Park. It was short but fun! We played on the playground until everyone got there, then all gathered under some big trees for presents and cupcakes.

Here are some of the pictures of the kids that came to the party!
Lily

Rebecca

Anson, the Birthday Boy!
Peter
Emma

Anson got lots of presents from his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! After he opened his presents everyone rode on the train at the park.

Brothers and Sisters

This is a picture of all of my brothers and sisters and me of course! At the time of the picture, Julie is 27, I am 24, Erica is 21, Dana is 16, and Seth and Conner are 14. My sister-in-law, Carrie, took the picture on the Temple grounds. She removed a really tall skinny tree that was between Erica and Dana. Bet you couldn't even tell! Carrie is starting a photography business and she does a great job. Thanks Carrie!

Andrea's Birthday at Shamrock Farms

My birthday was on Saturday, May 12. We started out to the dairy farm around 9:00am to beat the heat. When we got there around 9:20, we found out they don't open the barn until 9:30. Good time to take a picture!
Inside the barn there were activities and a gift shop. Rebecca and Aaron played a game that had different products that Shamrock Farms makes to match. We could barely keep track of Anson - he was being our little monkey! He climbed on all of the tables and even on a tiny windy staircase he found. He sure keeps us going!

The actual tour started at 10:00. We rode on a tram and drove all around the farm. We saw the milking barn, the "cow spas" where the cows are kept cool and walk around and eat, the "kindergarten cows" the pregnant cows and even some little babies! They were so cute!

Rebecca even got to feed a calf! It was a "kindergarten cow", one that still stays in its own cage so that it doesn't compete with the other cows. It is in the process of learning how all of the machinery works and what to do around it. Rebecca picked up some food in her hand, and the calf ate it! She saw other people doing it, so she wasn't even scared!

As part of the tour, we stopped at the Shamrock Farms Playground. They had a maze for the adults, fake cows to take pictures with, a demonstration of how they milk the cows with their machines, and of course a traditional playground for the kids. We loved it!

Friends Come to Play!

Rebecca and Anson had some friends over yesterday! Lucy and Marci are each 6 months older than our 2 kids. Lucy is going to be in Rebecca's preschool group next year. The kids had fun playing with play dough, swinging on the swings outside, and playing with the noisy toys in the family room. Lucy and Marci were very thoughtful and brought dolls and snacks to share with Rebecca and Anson. We had a good time meeting new friends!

Spring Break Vacation in Vail, CO

In March, our family went to Vail, CO with my parent's family.

We got all dressed up to go sledding, then found out that you have to pay $20/hr./person.

We found a little area to pull Rebecca around on the sled and had a snowball fight instead.

We all went to the mining museum and learned all about mining in the west. Aaron took this picture of a box from the Apache Powder Company in Benson, AZ because he has been calling on a few mines in Arizona. We learned a lot and had a really good time. (Practically everything we have in our homes and communities comes from something that was mined.) Go Mining!

Aaron and I took Rebecca and Anson on a gondola ride up the mountain. Skiers use the gondola when they have to go a really long way up. In the afternoon they let pedestrians use the gondola too (for free) - so they can spend money at the top of course! They have ice skating, ski bikes, tubing, food at the lodge, and lots of activities to do at the top of the mountain.
We had a lot of time to relax too of course! Since Aaron's hand was hurt, we couldn't go skiing, so we watched movies and hung out at the condo a lot.
Here is Rebecca outside the condo. She was so thrilled to be in the snow and get to make snowmen right outside her door! She also enjoyed making snow angels, playing in the snow covered playground a block away and throwing snowballs. We had a great time. Thanks for inviting us mom and dad!

Dana and Rebecca

Dana and Rebecca have the best of times together. The other day Dana was tired and laying down on the ground. Rebecca was trying to get her up. Dana told her that she was dead. Rebecca went right up to her, put both of her hands on Dana's cheeks and said "You're not dead - Your cheeks are perfect!" Dana couldn't stop laughing and had to admit that she wasn't dead after all!

Dana also taught Rebecca a funny line. Rebecca: Then call my Cable Man! Dana: No! Rebecca: (in a sweet, pathetic voice - she dips the word, if you know what I mean by that) Ohhhhhhh! You really have to hear it. It is so cute!

Dana and Rebecca like to play Superman too. Dana lifts Rebecca up on her feet, then lets her drop and catches her. Rebecca will do it over and over until Dana has had enough.

What a cute pair!

Anson Turned ONE on April 20!

Anson's big day started out with a great "Birthday Door". Anson was all smiles as he saw all of his yummy and fun treats on his door. He enjoyed being the center of attention as he tried out his new noisy lawn mower.

He is looking forward to helping Daddy mow the lawn once his hand is better. Rebecca also decided to give Anson her scooting bike that she got for Christmas 2005. I had suggested it to her the night before, and she was completely against the idea. I let it drop, and the next morning she went out to the garage and told Daddy that she wanted to give the bike to Anson for his birthday. We were so pleased by her generous decision. Thanks Becca!

Later that night, Anson got a whole cake to himself. He started out poking at the cake pretty daintily, but by the end, that cake was demolished. You definately couldn't even recognize it! He had a great day and enjoyed all of the attention to say the least. We are so glad that he is part of our family and we love the smiles he so generously bestows on all he meets.

First Time Blogger!

I guess I better start catching up with the times. Everyone has a blog but me! I really enjoy reading other people's blogs, so I figure it might be something I enjoy doing too. We'll see how it goes!