Seattle!

We did it! Lots of driving but it was worth it. I LOVE the pacific northwest. Seriously. 

We left last Wednesday to spend a fun-filled weekend with our dear friends the Pecks in faboo Seattle. They were so very accommodating with our crazy lot and Eli loved being able to play with his buddies at all hours of the day and night. 

 We rigged up my laptop in the car which made the trip to and from much more pleasant for Little Bear. 

 At Pike's Place. I love the look on Eli's face here. 

 Eli and "Madden" (as he says) watching the boats. 

 Eli on Redondo Beach. It was so fun to be back here. I served in Federal Way on my LDS mission for 8 months and ran along the boardwalk almost every day. There is something so peaceful about the Sound. I miss it's tranquility. 

 Love love love.

 Someday when he is older I'll regale Eli with tale of how his Daddy shot him down a slip and slide like a rocket when he was two...and how he loved it. 

Sir Peck in a pink hat. 

Sammy at 6 Months

Our little Sammy is 6 months old now. I can't believe how fast these months have gone! He is the most pleasant little boy. He is big on cuddling right now and I can't get enough of it. He rolls over, scoots a bit, eats lots of solid foods and even sat in the booster chair for the first time tonight! What a big boy. He is sleeping really well and usually only wakes up once a night if that now. 

Sammy is so good natured. He pretty much only cries if he's hungry or tired. Other than that he is happy kicking it on the floor or in his bouncer. Eli is doing really well with Sammy and, outside of the few times he tries to ride his little brother, he is really sweet with him. He will share toys and give kisses...even if some of the kisses are a little more than gentle. 

I love you Sammy boy! 

Denver!

We just returned from a wonderful vacation to Denver. We painted the town...all sort of colors! Seriously...we were busy folks. Be prepared for many many pics. But they're mostly of the kiddies...so it's ok. 

 Eli got to sit in a fire truck...the firefighters were very accommodating after we accosted them in the Target parking lot. 

 My Sammy...

 Train museum! Definitely a hit for all of us. Hot but lots and lots of fun. 

 Driving that train...

The Garfield women organized a photo shoot for all the grandkids...Eli was less than cooperative but I have no doubt we got something cute and useable...maybe not posed but cute for sure!

 Jeff at the botanical gardens! We had a great time with his fam. 

 Cristy! We were so lucky to see her...even if it was for just a sec. 

 Blurry fam. 

Love love love. 

 Casa Bonita! This place was such a hit. Eli was in toddler heaven. It's like Mexican Disneyland...complete with a mariachi band and hourly piniatas. We partied hardy with the Garfield group. 

 Big guns. 

 We promise we didn't drug the kids...they're just so tired they look a little loopy...

Sword!

The Cabin Show

This weekend we went up to my Dad's cabin for a lovely bbq and Father's Day celebration. The weather was perfect and the company was ideal. 

GrandPapa and Sammy

 Eli's hero. 

 Scout Dog...she's settling in nicely with our family. This pup LOVES the outdoors. She ran around for about an hour and then collapsed and slept the rest of the time. 

 A nice shot of the cabin. And for my AD aficionados out there...no...it is not a dusty old clap-trap. 

 Eli and Grandpa on the tractor. This kiddo thought he had died and gone to heaven. Best use of gasoline ever. 

Tree house! Seriously this place has everything. 

 Mama and the Samster.

 Clover Dog

 Swingy me. 

 Tractor: Now with added wagon!

Dan getting his S'more on. 

Sunday Evening at the Park

Last night we went for an evening walk around the American Fork Amphitheater. It was lovely. Reminded me of Spain. Everyone else there was taking family photos. Apparently this is The Place to go for family pics. So I made Dan take a few of our little group...I guess I should have taken a few of him too...oh well. Next time!

Hill Air Force Base Air Show

A week ago last Saturday we set off on an adventure that I will not soon forget. We had been planning on taking Eli to the Hill Air Show for a while. What we hadn't planned on would be the weather. It was the coldest May day I have ever experienced. We had planned on just hopping on FrontRunner in Bountiful and taking the train up to the base for the show. As we boarded the train, we noticed it was raining a bit. By the time we got to Clearfield it was a torrential downpour.

We started off on the base thinking things would let up and we'd at least be able to seek shelter and look at a few airplanes to keep Eli occupied. We didn't make it ten feet before it became apparent we needed to get inside sooner. We asked a nearby soldier where the best place would be to get out of the rain and he directed us to the Commissary.  We hurried in, pushing Eli in the stroller through seriously the craziest amount of rain I've every been in and sought sanctuary with about 300 other civilians in the food court of the BX.

We waited out the storm for about 2 hours. The BX wouldn't sell us any dry clothes because we weren't military but my amazing persuasive husband talked the store's manager into letting us buy a few hoodies and hats.

When the clouds finally parted we were able to (finally) go see some airplanes! Eli was in heaven. He hadn't had a nap and was so over stimulate he just sort of ran around mouth open pointing and yelling at everything. It was awesome. Made the whole soggy day worth it. Here are some pics.

 Eli got to sit in a Black Hawk helicopter, an event he has not stopped talking about since. It was awesome because when he climbed up into the copckpit he looked at Dan and said, "Ummm Daddy, shut the door." He was ready for take off!

 I loved the aeronautic acrobatics. 

 Eli on the train with Grandpa. It doesn't get much better than this. 

Here he is again on the 'copter'.