Recent Activities

We've been having so much fun lately! I'd definitely say that we are trying to take advantage of Utah, complete with our family and friends, before we take off for four years!

We decided to take an overnight camping trip with Christina and Jeremy.  Not planning very well (and not anticipating how PACKED the canyon would be), we went up AF canyon thinking we could snag a campsite.  If you weren't at an official campsite, you weren't allowed to have a fire.  BUMMER! What is camping without a fire, lets be honest :D.  

As we pulled up to the ranger station, they asked us where we were headed and said that all the sites were full! Luckily, there is a church campground-type-thing up this canyon called Mutual Dell.  If you are going to Mutual Dell, you don't have to pay the canyon recreation fee, plus they have FREE campsites! Couldn't be better for this pinching-your-pennies couple :D We had to wait til 6 pm, but then we could go find a campsite.  Our's was called "Boogeyman Hollow"... um, k? No, it was fine! 

The ONLY downside... because we were at Mutual Dell, and they have lots of youth groups there, we weren't allowed to have a fire, even though they have designated areas.  The fire restrictions are so high right now, and youth groups don't tend to be the most responsible, so.... Good thing my mom let us borrow her little propane camp stove! 

Let me just say, Bennett was in HEAVEN.  I was trying not to be a paranoid mother, and just let him throw dirt, eat dirt, play in the dirt, etc... he LOVED it!

 We set up our tent and then grilled our hot dogs over the propane stove and just enjoyed the beautiful weather and being with our friends. 

Bennett was so quiet after we put him down in the pack-n-play, so we thought he was asleep.  We were roasting marshmallows and making delicious smores! And tell yo' mamma jokes :D  As soon as we unzipped the tent, Bennett was peaking his little head out! We climbed in bed and were trying to be quiet so he would sleep, but in the pitch black we kept hearing "Hi!".  It was so hard not to respond to that cute little voice!

Breakfast was interesting as we forgot a spatula(!), but we made due and enjoyed the not-so-pretty looking food :D.  Then we packed up so the boys could go fishing at Tibblefork resivoir.  Christina, Bennett and I sat on the beach while Jer walked around the perimeter of the lake trying to find the best spot, and Bryan paddled around in his float tube.  It was BUSY there! They didn't have much luck... But it was such a fun little trip! Thanks Pendletons :D

A few of Bennett's faces... he's got several! The bottom one is what I affectionately like to call his "whiney" face :D

On Tuesday, I got a call from my sister telling me that Lambert Park (a field in the foothills of Alpine, a few blocks from her home)was on FIRE! Oh my goodness... I was panicking... my beloved Alpine, on Fire? What?! She hadn't been ordered to evacuate, but decided that it would be a good idea to start gathering things in case it came to that point.  Then she scooped up those cute kiddos and came over to my place.  We lived in panic for a few hours as we watched the news, seeing our mountain go up in flames... 

The fire at the beginning stages...

Luckily, no homes have been burned thus far.  One barn burned, and several homes have suffered heat damage, but what a blessing! Thanks to the wonderful firefighters helping to keep homes safe. Today it rained! It helped in some ways, and didn't in others.  It wasn't enough rain to completely stop the fires, but it did dampen everything pretty good and lower the temperature a lot.  However, it made for bad visibility for the helicopters who were working to go up and down the mountain, and also provided bad footing and slippery conditions for ground crews... I still think it's a good thing!

Last night we got to go to Stadium of Fire! My family and I waited out for the really cheap tickets from Daily Deals (if you can call $26 cheap!).  We had SO MUCH FUN! It was the Beach Boys and Scotty McGreery, and it was a blast.  I didn't really know what to expect with the Beach Boys, but it ended up being so much fun.  My sisters and I were dancing and having a party! And of course the firework show was INCREDIBLE! Everything is timed to music and is just awesome.  

Tyrell, Katherine, Doug and Rick

My two cute boys :D

Scotty McGreery! He's there... I promise. 

Our little dance party! Needless to say, we had fun :D

Trying to protect Bennett's ears from the extremely loud music and fireworks.  He was super tired so he just sat there and chilled :D

Thanks for a fun evening everyone!

California May 2012

**Disclaimer! I need a tutorial on how to make those cute picture collages, because it is much easier to view pictures that way!**


I realize its a little late for this! But June is not over yet, people! I really wanted to document our trip that we had recently... even though we will be going back in just 4 short weeks!  

Sunday walk through the Orange Groves

Poppy with her fly cover on

We had such a fun relaxing trip with Braden and Mandy... they have already left for Oklahoma and we are already missing them terribly! This was a very fun last hoorah with them before we don't get to see them for pretty much 4 years.  

Maybe in their wedding video someday? :D

They did lots of this too... playing in this little makeshift kiddie pool!

At the Shamu show... Bennett liked the spraying water more than the whales, I think!

We went to Sea World! Originally we were planning on going to Disneyland, but with the age of our kids, we thought this would be a better plan.  Brightyn and Bennett absolutely LOVED the animals and so it was definitely a good choice.  They even have a few rollercoasters for the elders... aside from Mandy! She is cute and pregnant so no rollers for her! 

Bennett had a lovely explosion right as we were pulling up to Sea World... no extra clothes... I know, I'm a great mom.

Cutest little penguins :D

He was so little, you couldn't see him when he was sitting down!!

All six of us! The lady who took it didn't focus well so it's a little far away and I had to crop it majorly :D But at least we got one!

I love my two boys :D

It was Mandy's birthday that day, so I made sure to make her a birthday cake (the day before...) I hope it was a good day Mandy!

The next day we did lots of this: 

Bennett LOVED exploring the world of swimming.  He kicks his legs and just loves to float around.  He does NOT like to get splashed, however!  Such a cutie. 

Then we went to the beach!

Cute Brightyn! She loved the ocean water.  Bennett, however, did NOT!

Bennett and Grandma Mimi walking in the wet sand.  Bennett liked to throw the rocks in the water, but thats about it!

A little boogie boarding action!

Bryan and Ron attempting to fly this giant kite.  I thought it was going to hurt someone!

Good job boys!

Cuddling with Bennett... he got a big diaper rash and was really tired and sad :( All that sand in their diapers does not do well on sensitive bottoms!

Cute Mandy and Brightyn

The Boyers.  We miss you guys!

The Duffin clan! 

Then we got to see this lovely lady (Sarah) graduate from Hemet High.  Go Sarah! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments and ambitions.  We are so excited to see where life takes you and we wish you the best! 

Sarah, Anna, Ron and Mimi

Beautiful! Congratulations graduate :D

 We really had the best time spending time with family and with the Boyers.  Thanks for the wonderful trip! We'll miss you Mandy, Braden and Brightyn! (oh and baby boy to come :D)

Bennett these days...

Doesn't he have the sweetest blue eye's you've ever seen?  

This is my 14 month old.  He is so energetic and busy!  But I love him for that.  He definitely keeps me on my toes!  Probably one of his favorite activities is to go into the bathroom, open the drawers and pull everything out as fast as he can and throw it on the tile.  Then he moves under the sink and pulls everything out of that and throws it on the tile.  We like to call him the "tile tester" around here! Don't ever leave your phone laying around or... you guessed it! He'll throw it on the tile. 

He loves hats.  Bryan always wears a hat to work, so when he comes home, Bennett just says "Hat! Hat!"... cute little thing :D

He says so many words.  I am always amazed at how much he knows! It seems like everyday there is a new word he learns.  Lets see if I can list them all here: 

Ooosh (shoes)

Hat

Hot (he usually says this when he sees steam, when his food is hot or when we put him in the carseat... that can definitely be hot!)

Bankie (blanky)

Beekie (binky)

Ummmm (whenever he eats ANYTHING)

Baba (bottle)

Wawa (water)

Bah (ball.  He also says this when he wants to go outside.  Because we are at my aunt and uncles house, he always sees the basketball court right outside when we go, so he just says "bah, bah, bah!" when he wants to go out!)

Duggee (Doggie)

De-ee(Kittie)

Mama

Dada

Dough (throw)

Kicki (kick it)

New, New (no, no... of course haha)

Choo-Choo (for trains, cars, trucks, etc)

Eeee! (wee, when he goes down the slide)

OOOO!(he says this for anything he sees that he wants to play with!)

His favorite word: Hiiiii! He is so friendly and says this to everyone, especially the girls.  Oh dear, I've got a little ladies man on my hands!

He also knows baby sign language, and loves learning new words! With baby sign, he knows: 

more

cracker

food

all done

dog

baby

signing time(he does this when he wants to watch the movie)

milk

He blows kisses, waves bye-bye and hi, and is just a pretty good communicator! He jabbers a lot, and I can tell he has a few words that are just on the tip of his tounge!

Splashing in the watering can

He says lots of animal noises! Probably his favorite is Dog... he can hear those from a mile away and just starts barking until I acknowledge him. :D He says sounds for:

Dog

Cat

Horse

Cow

Duck

Chicken

Snake

Bear

Monkey (for this he just breathes in and out of his nose really fast... I'm not sure where he got that!)

Riding the Vaccum!

He loves to "read" stories.  He will bring me a book, mainly just wanting to flip through and see all the animals.  He is just too impatient still to hear the story :D 

Although he is mostly sweet, he has been starting to throw little tantrums and will scream like a little girl... so joyful I know.  We're working on using our "quiet voice". :D

When he wakes up in the morning or from his naps, he throws everything out of his crib (except one blanket) and onto the floor. If he keeps a blanket, he will hand it to me to put on my shoulder.  He likes to lay his head down on my shoulder :D

Nice... :D

He is SUCH a daddy's boy.  He wakes up in the morning asking for "dada!" and starts to cry when I tell him he is at work.  When Bryan gets home from work, he jumps right in the shower before holding Bennett, because he's been spraying pest control.  Bennett thinks this is the WORST thing in the world! He cries and screams until Bryan gets out and there is nothing I can do about it! Needless to say, he loves his Daddy!

I love seeing Bennett learn and grow.  He changes so much everyday! I can't wait to see what he will do next :D 

I love you Bennett boy!