Quinn - 17 Months

Oh how I love my little Quinn Grin!  He is just too cute right now.  I haven't done a very good job of keeping track of all of his tricks and milestones, but he has grown and changed so much in the last few weeks.

The biggest change is that he is talking.  He started saying a few words, and quickly that turned into parroting everything that he hears.  He has started to say little phrases, "I love you," "love you too," "where's mommy?" "I so cute."  He calls Ethan "E.E.," Caden is "Cay, Cay," but he has yet to say his own name.  When we tuck him in he names his favorite buddies that sleep in his crib, "Mickey, Snoopy, Dolly Pie and Tigger."  I need some videos of his little voice right now, it is all too cute!

At Ethan's soccer game he kept yelling, "shoot it, go blue, hi E.E."

His favorite toys are balls.  He loves to throw and have a ball at all times.  He loves vrooming cars along the ground, and racing them down his little race track.  When we go outside his favorite toy is the big push broom that he uses to sweep the road.

His favorite game with Grammy was smacking the birthday balloons.

He wants to be independent.  He tries to dress himself.  Frequently I find him with someone else's shoes on in the family.  

Pretty proud to put on Ethan's soccer cleats.

He is affectionate and sweet.  He loves to give hugs and kisses.  The other day when I put him in his car seat he was whining and trying to get my attention, finally I realized he just wanted a hug.  So I gave him one and he was good to go.  He has done that at the grocery store several times too, while riding around in the cart he just wants a hug as we go, so he reaches out his little arms until I lean into him.  It's pretty heart melting.

He also likes giving hugs to his big brothers...usually he knocks Caden over.  He also imitates EVERYTHING that he sees and hears from his brothers.

I'm only posting this picture because Google Plus added this photobomb #hoffsome!  It freaked me out when I first saw it.

We've been loving the spring weather!  We go to the park several times a week.  This little guy won't take the safe stairs up to his favorite slides...he has to take the climbing wall, or the rocking ladder, or any other dangerous way just to make me nervous.  

He has started to get over his attachment issues and gets excited to go play with other kids at different houses.
He has the most expressive big blue eyes and eyelashes, along with his cute little grin he can pretty much get everything that he wants...and he knows it!

He's pretty special and pretty great!  We LOVE this little guy!

Photos of the Century, Really, Best Ever

So a few weeks ago Ethan had soccer pictures taken, I was out of town so my mom took him.  I didn't even plan on ordering pictures, but my mom felt bad and ordered some, I am so glad she did!  These are priceless!

When I first opened the envelope I saw this one:

It definitely made me chuckle...but then I saw the group shot!

And a close up of my first born!

Oh. My. Word.  I took one look and couldn't stop giggling, I literally cried my make-up off laughing so hard.  I noticed several other moms were also chuckling and I heard Ethan's name mentioned more than once.  Ethan went to get his treat after the game and the treat mom had run out, so he started to cry, I still could not compose myself and was crying myself.  We were getting a lot of weird looks, so I finally just put my arm around him and ushered him quickly to the car.

Seriously, I have no idea what the photographer could have possibly said to get this face!

These pictures kind of sum up this soccer season perfectly.  It was out of Ethan's comfort zone for sure, but he has powered through, even managed to touch the ball a time or two during games, and usually ends practice with a smile on his face.  I'm glad I will have these pictures forever to remember this special season.

Vernal Spring Break

I took the boys on a little road trip to Vernal for the last park of Ethan's Spring Break.  I spent the first part of the break with my friend Sora Sarah, one of my favorite mission companions!  The best part is that she married one of Clark's mission companions.  And to make things even crazier, we each have 3 boys now, almost exactly the same ages!

With 6 little boys it was wild and crazy and so much fun!

Ethan, Rhett, Caden, Hank, Quinn and Lee

 We spent the last part of the trip with the famous Grandma P.!  To make things even better my parents came for the weekend.

The boys were pretty excited to wake up and find that Grammy had arrived!

 All 3 boys loved Grandpa tossing them onto the bed!  Especially Quinn.

 Enjoying a bedtime story with Great-Grandmother Peterson.

California Knows How To Party

Just a few weeks ago Clark had a conference in California and took me along!  No kids for 3.5 blissful days!  It felt pretty weird going through the airport with just a small carry-on and no stress, I kept feeling like I was forgetting something.  I took 2 books I was excited to read and didn't even make it through one paragraph before I fell asleep, it was time for some very needed R&R.

The day before we left Quinn had a chest cold, I took him to the doctor and because of his allergies they gave us a breathing machine.  The doctor reassured me that within 24 hrs. he would be a new kid.  The next morning he seemed better so I felt okay about leaving.  I put him down for his afternoon nap and headed for the airport.  My mom flew in about the same time we got to the airport and drove back to Greeley to take care of the boys.  When she arrived to our home (we were in the air at this point) she found a sick, lethargic baby in his baby-sitter's arms with a temperature of 105!  She got his fever down a little, and with the baby-sitter's help gave him a breathing treatment, but when we landed and I called to check in I was worried sick.  I just about turned around and flew back home right then and there.  But Grammy Tammy took care of Quinn and nursed him back to health.  By the next morning I knew he was a sick little guy, but was starting to get better...so I could enjoy our getaway.

We stayed in the hotel where Clark's conference took place.  It was awesome!  The hotel was right in the heart of Hollywood, attached to the Hollywood and Highland shopping area.  It was so fun!

This was the view from our hotel window.  And I will admit I spent a lot of time lounging on the bed, napping, watching movies, and enjoying the view.  Clark would call at lunch to see where I was at and most days I was still in my pajamas.  One day after watching a few movies I realized it was almost 5, Clark would be done with his conference and ready to play and I hadn't really moved from my bed all day.  It was great!

Clark and I had a lot of fun exploring Hollywood.  It's crazy down there!  Our hotel was right across the street from Jimmy Kimmel Live, I stood in line one afternoon trying to get us in and missed by just a few people.  

Bowling at Lucky Strikes Lanes, fancy bar food and a night club feel.  Definitely a unique bowling experience.  

 I was really excited to take Clark to try Sprinkles cupcakes in Beverly Hills.  I picked him up in our awesome rental Impala and headed to Rodeo Drive to look for Sprinkles.  While trying to find a parking spot and obey all traffic laws, I made a left turn and realized the car coming through the light was going pretty fast!  I hit the gas as hard as I could and that Impala surprised me, tires were screeching and Clark claims we were up on two wheels.  I got a few weird looks from the tourists on the crowded streets.  At that point Clark told me to just go park across the street and we would walk to Sprinkles...he also informed me after witnessing that episode (along with a few other incidents trying to get out of downtown Hollywood) that we would never be moving to L.A.  I laughed so hard I cried, I still laugh thinking about it!

I had to take this picture for Weston, to reminisce about the year he gave all of us 5/$10 t-shirts for Christmas.  We had gone to Temple Square to see the lights.  My parents let us all do Christmas shopping at the mall across the street.  Everyone split up to find the perfect gifts.  Weston was done in about 3 mins. after hitting the cheap t-shirt shop...I'm pretty sure this was the exact shirt my Dad received.

Unfortunately we didn't get to eat at Rusy Mullet.

 Two different nights we got to hit the beach!  I love seeing and hearing the ocean.

Re-living the honeymoon with dinner at Bubba Gump's.

 I totally talked Clark into playing this game one night on Santa Monica pier because I knew he could win!  It took two tries.  I was a great coach!  I was so into it, cheering and yelling commands to him I didn't notice that I had drawn a crowd of people to come see what the fuss was about.  I was a little embarrassed with my over the top reaction to him winning this lovely Hello Kitty doll...but what can I say, it was exciting!

 We took a spin on the ferris wheel and it was slightly terrifying...probably more scary than romantic.

 Especially when the shark attacked us.

 All in all it was a pretty perfect trip (besides the guilt of leaving an ill child behind)!  We even got asked if we were newlyweds...8 years later and we still like each other!

Hoping for one of these kids-less trips again soon!