Playin' with Mommy

We have been taking advantage of the beautiful summer days and I am loving not having to worry about homework (at least until August). We headed over to Freeman Park to cool off in the water.

Spread your wings and fly!

Taking a break with mommy

Cannon Ball

Superstar!

Cannon Ball!

If she doesn't jump on 3 I'll make her go!

Taylor, Faith & Gavin

I see Taylor, but where's Gavin?
He jumped in just like the older kids and loved it!

Fishin' with Daddy

Cody wanted to take Gavin fishing again, but this time we went to a lake instead of a fast moving river like last time. Gavin actually sat and fished this time. We would even try and cast out like his daddy did, it was so cute. He was even reeling in all by himself by the time we left.

Only 2 and he knows how to fish!

Jamaican Me Crazy!!!

Since this is the first time I have blogged about one of my family reunions I thought I would explain them a little first so you don't look at the pictures and wonder why the mental hospital let us all out at once.
Every year we have a family reunion with my mom's side of the family, the Butikofer's. The difference between our family reunion and others is that we have a BLAST together and every year we have a theme. It's usually the 3rd week in July every year and goes Wednesday-Sunday. On Friday night we all dress up as the theme and eat food that relates to that theme. Some of the previous themes we have had have been: Pirates, Hollywood, Greece (over 100 people in toga's, what a sight!), Cowboys & Indians, Hawaii, etc. Every year it's something different.
This year is was Classic Disney goes to Jamaica. Each of my mom's 9 brother's and sister's were assigned a different Classic Disney cartoon to dress up as (some with a Jamaican twist) and we ate Jamaican food that night. It's so much fun to see all the costumes and try food from all over the world.
Gavin had a blast this year, he was old enough to enjoy everything. We took him frog hunting one night and caught 2 big frogs and he loved it. We had to go show everyone his frogs. He also loved the water and it was hard to keep him from jumping of the dock himself.
It is so much fun to get to catch up with everyone every year and see how much their kids have grown. We look forward to it every year!

Back in Blogger Land

I am officially back from my month long hiatus. I didn't realize it had been quite that long, but I guess it has. Anyway, here is a little of what I have been doing the past month.

Playing with Hercules

Teaching Gavin it's NOT ok to wear a skirt, even if it is his shirt

Also teaching him that leggings are NOT made of dirt

Cleaning up after Gavin

Making Gavin clean up after us

Watching him laugh

Being the judge of chocolate milk drinking contests

Trying to convince him that one stick pony is plenty even if he doesn't think so

Listening to him read stories to himself
(after watching him put his shoes and gloves on all by himself)

...and of course watching him sleep!


I've posted other blogs on here also so hopefully I'm caught up for now!

4th of July

Even Princesses Love Dirt!

Girls Camp 2009
Here we are after a week of dirt, mosquito spray and campfire smoke. We were smelling good!!! And you can't forget about our hairy legs!

Our Mighty Bishopric!
It's probably good that they are required to wear suits on Sunday!

Lions and Roosters

As soon as we got to the zoo all Gavin could talk about was the Lions. He didn't even care about the monkeys, flamingo's or even the little joeys, he wanted to see the lions. Even after we went and visited the lion...twice...he wanted to go back. That was until he heard...dun.dun.dunnn...

The rooster crow!
Then it was all about the rooster. He would have stayed there all day and watched the rooster if we would have let him. I would crow and it would get the rooster crowing and he thought I was the coolest thing since sliced bread, he loved it.

Going for a ride on Mr. Stripes

This is one lion he wanted nothing to do with. Even at 2 he knows that there is something wrong with sticking your head in a lion's mouth. Grrrrrr!

We did however have a bit of a time trying to get him away from this lion.

If you didn't notice already Gavin isn't looking at me and wouldn't look at me at all because he has his eyes glued to the real rooster.

Future Pilot in Training

If I told you Gavin LOVED airplanes that would be a total understatement. Every time he hears an airplane (or even what he thinks is an airplane) he looks up at the sky to try and see it. He LOVES to go to Grandma B's work and see the airplanes.

Here he is studying up before the show starts

Here we are!
It was cold that morning, but not for long. It warmed up to perfect weather later, not to hot and not to cold.

Gavin in Momma Bears glasses
(That's his nickname for me courtesy of Cody)

The Jelly Belly plane actually landed on the truck, it was fun to watch.

Self-explanatory

Dito

This plane had wings that folded up to take up less space when it wasn't flying.

Our Trip to Boise

We went to Boise to go to Cody's cousin Lindsay's Wedding which was Saturday, June 13th. Here is a little run down of the trip.

Gavin was watching "Pig Movie" (Lion King 1 1/2, but he calls it the Pig Movie because there is a warthog on the cover) while we were getting the car packed and ready to go. He put on the hat and goggles by himself, he loves them.

TWIN FALLS

I had never been to Twin Falls before so we decided to stop there for lunch and let Gavin get his wiggles out. We went over and walked the path by the bridge which was really amazing. I loved it. It's amazing the things people can build. It is far more impressive in real life. It is so HUGE!!

This is us. Gavin wanted to run around and not be held, but I can't complain he was so good in the car the entire way to Boise AND back.

DOWNTOWN BOISE

Playing in the water in The Grove in downtown Boise.

Gavin with Uncle Connelly

Connelly was pretending to run into trees and light poles as we were walking around downtown and Gavin thought it was the funniest thing ever. He was laughing so hard it was making all of us laugh.

DONNIE MAC'S TRAILER PARK CUISINE

This place was recommended by the front desk at our hotel and even though it looked like...well Trailer trash...we decided to go because we'll try anything once and it was really fun and the food was surprisingly really good.

It was an old car garage and they actually had a car in one of the bay's on the hydraulic hoist and there was a table in there so you could even eat in it.

This is one of the manikins that was in there along with old car parts, old furniture, etc. It was a super fun atmosphere.

They had the bay doors open and a live band outside so you could eat and listen to the music or just chill on the furniture outside like Gavin was doing.

AUNT BUTT-PINCHING-WET-WILLYING SUSAN

We were able to sneak away for a bit and go visit with my Aunt Susan whom I haven't seen for almost a year so it was nice to be able to go visit with her and Cody was due for another hug followed by a butt pinch so it worked out well.

THE WEDDING (in the bathroom)

Gavin was super good all day and so well behaved, but as soon as the wedding ceremony started he wanted to talk and run around so Gavin and I hung out in the bathroom during the ceremony. Cody said it was really good and even funny...the bathroom not so good and funny.

DANCING WITH THE LADIES

After the ceremony and dinner they had a dance. When the first slow song came on I went out and danced with Gavin, and he was hooked. He danced almost every slow and fast song with whoever would dance with him. When they took a break to give toasts around 10 pm he finally crashed right on my shoulder.

Dancing with Aunt Saliva (Cassie)

Dancing with Aunt Sadie

(My camera battery went dead before I was able to get any pictures of the bride and groom, how retarded is that? We drive all the way to Boise for a wedding and I don't even have a picture of them. One of these days I'll learn)

SHOSHONE FALLS

On the way home on Sunday we took another detour through Twin Falls to go see Shoshone Falls. We had never been there either and we wanted to Gavin to get his wiggles out again. It was perfect timing to because as soon as we got in the car it was a total downpour.

TWIN FALLS TEMPLE

We drove past the new Twin Falls Temple too, but couldn't get out to look because like I said it was raining cats, dogs, cows and horses.

The temple from a side view. I'm bummed we couldn't get out and walk around.