Idaho Falls trip

This past week me and my sister went to Idaho Falls to see my parent's new home. It was so much fun to spend time with my mom and sisters and Dane was able to play with his cousin who is his age. Right before I was leaving to head out to Idaho, my dad got an assignment to go back east for work so we were only able to spend a day with him which was really sad for me and Dane.

The first day that we got to Idaho Falls my dad took us out on the town and the last place he took us was the temple. My sister took this picture of my dad pointing out ducks to Dane and I thought it was too cute to not steal it from her. Like all other temples, this one is beautiful.

Here are Grandma and Grandpa at the park across from the temple with Dane and Jaisa. They were wild after the car ride from SLC.

Every day Dane and Jai hung out on the back porch pointing to the flowers and bees that flew from flower to flower. Jaisa's obsessed with bugs and the obsession started to rub off on Dane.

Still Hangin out on the deck.

We kind of ate out... A LOT!!... while we were in Idaho. The kids sat here and looked over the menu while we ordered. They look like they are on a lunch date don't they?

They even rode some Lions while we were there. We visited the zoo since Dane has never been to a zoo because I am too cheap to take him to the AZ zoo. This zoo was only $5 for adults and free for kids under 3.

This monkey cracked me up. He was sitting here like an old man and was even chewing on a piece of straw! Dane is pointing out the monkey just in case we couldn't see him.

After we hung out at the park. It was so cute watching these guys follow eachother around and play with eachother.

Grandma turned on a show for the kids and then was roped in to watching the whole show with them.

Dane has an obsession with flags, especially American flags. I guess you could call him REALLY patriotic. Everytime we pass one in the car he shouts out "BAAG". I bought him a shirt with a flag on it and he always points out that it has a "baag" on it. Don't believe me?? Here is your proof...
Well on our way home from a day of shopping we pulled up to a red light and I saw a flag sticking out of the ground. I told my mom not to leave me and booked it for the flag, grabbed it, and got back in the car before the light turned green. Dane was BEYOND EXCITED when I handed him his very own flag. Don't worry, we just borrowed it...and still have it.

My mom is the best cook/baker so she taught us how to make her homemade cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, peach jam, and granola while we were there. HEre is the granola when it was done. SO YUMMY!!
While we were cooking, we set up a show and the kids sat and watched which shocked us!

Ready for church.

Me and LAra, twinners!! I was crouching down a lot so that we were the same height but forgot that she is really short! Everyone makes fun of LAra because she wears this shirt practically every day so I decided to wear mine along with her. I think these were youth conference shirts but you can tell that her shirt is a little faded...

Dane found this bandana and there just happened to be a "BAAG" on it.
DAne and JAisa at the zoo not looking at the animals in the cages but the ducks not in the cages.
We even got daring enough to put our heads in this big lion's mouth.
Just a picture of the cutest little boy ever!!
WHile we were in Idaho one of our favorite shows had it's season finale so we all jumped in my moms bed and watched it together.

If this post seems jumbled that's because it is. My computer is being really dumb right now and I am too tired to try and fix it.

The BIG 3!!

Well today Ryan and I celebrated our three year anniversary!! Wow! My friend Sara was soooo nice and offered to watch Dane while Ryan took me out to dinner. After classes all day and a couple of hours of studying, Ryan took some time off to take me to P.F. Changs. Yummy!! I haven't been there in soo long and after getting the bill- I remembered why. Now Ryan is back to his 2nd wife...his medical books. Hopefully we can spend a little more time together on our 4th anniversary. Ryan is the best and I am so glad that he is mine, all mine forever and ever!

Notice we are alone!!! Thanks Sara, you're the best!

Funny Stories

I can't Believe I forgot to post this story! It was hilarious!

Story #1
Before school started, Ryan and I took Dane to the McDonald's Playplace. When we got there two little boys were already playingin the play area as their grandma (I am guessing) watched.
Dane ran and started playing right away and one of the little boys (maybe 4-years-old) made his way over to Dane so that he had someone to play with besides his little brother. The kid was talking to Dane but Dane would just look at him with a smile and then would jump around (never leaving the ground) and squealing with excitement. As the boy was only getting blank stares from Dane and never a response, he turns to me and asks, "Can he talk?" I just say no and then he follows up with "Is he shy or just little?" I say - "he is just too little and doesn't know how to talk yet".
The little boy runs off and comes back maybe 5 minutes later and asks "Now can he talk?" I laugh and say "Nope, sorry". Ten to 15 minutes later the same boy comes back and asks "Is that boy talking yet?". I could not stop laughing because this kid's questions were so sincere and he wanted so badly for Dane to start talking so that they could play together. After the 3rd time of asking I think he realized that he was not going to start talking anytime soon so he just gave up.
As the boys' grandma was standing at the door yelling for them to hurry up, the little boy came up to me one last time and with excitement in his voice said "I'll see you tomorrow when you pick me up!" so I just said "okay!" and then he asks "Did you get the Sonic movie yet?" I feel bad because I continued to lead him on and replied "Nope, not yet. Hurry she's leaving you" as he turns to run to catch up to his grandma he yells back at me "Okay, Get it!. See you tomorrow!" I was dying at this point. This kid was such a crack up hopefully I will see my little friend next time I go back to McDonalds.


Story #2
Today my friend and I were walking across the parking lot at our complex. She was with her 2 kids and I was holding Dane's hand. As we were walking I noticed that Dane was walking slower and slower so I kept holding onto his hand trying to pull him to walk faster. After a couple more steps we were walking sooo slow that I can't tell if he is even moving at this point. I tugged on his hand and told him to "hurry up" -as I looked down at him I found his shorts around his ankles and he is walking like a penguin. Poor kid needs to get some meat on his bones. The good thing is that the boys now days think it is cool to wear their pants practically around their ankles so Dane fits right in!

Bitter Sweet

This past week was Ryan's last week of summer vacation EVER!!! I must admit, we have had a pretty great break with a trip to the Carribean, California, hanging out at the pool everyday, game nights with friends, and the best part...Ryan has actually been able to spend time with us!!

I am sad to have Ryan back at school today but am excited to have the 2nd year started because that means he now has 1 day less of school this year. I know I am lame but you would be too if you felt like a single parent and your kid was asleep when his dad left for school, napping during his short lunch break, and saw him for the only hour that he could spare for dinner. Below are pictures recapping this last week of summer break.

Dane is OBSESSED with airplanes lately! He spots them from a mile away, before Ryan and I can even spot them. We decided to take him to the Deer Valley Airport to watch the small planes depart/land. On the way to the airport we stopped at sonic for some treats. You can't beat a milkshake and a slush from sonic. The airport wasn't too busy which meant there weren't tons of planes to watch but the one's that we did see made Dane's day. Dane loved watch from this spot where he could use the steering wheel. I think he loves feeling like he is in control- but then again, who doesn't?

He didn't mind this view either...

We went swimming EVERYday, sometimes twice a day. We and our friends also took advantage of pool parties with free catered rubios and gelato almost every weekend compliments of Mark Taylor, Thanks Mark! We usually got home right in time for DAne's bed time- which worked out great!

Ryan got Dane ready and took him to run some errands so I could have a break. What a great husband, right? Well, when he got home he was telling me how whiney Dane was and that he thought he needed a nap. When I went to change DAne's diaper, I realized MAYBE why he was so whiney earlier. Maybe it was because of the way Ryan put his shoe on...just maybe.

Ryan played guitar for Dane almost everyday! Dane LOVES the guitar, especially when he gets to bang on it and make music.

Midwestern had a party for the 1st and 2nd year D.O. and Podiatry students at some restaurant/bar. We went and met up with some of our friends and enjoyed some free food and entertainment (watching the drunk kids try to mack on the new med school girls)

Dane did a pretty good job of entertaining himself until his little buddies got there.

We all went to the car wash because we thought Dane would like the water spraying the car. He hung out in the car while Ryan washed it and I threw out the trash from the inside. When I was walking back from the dumpster, this is what I saw.

California Wedding

I thought I would add a picture of the beautiful bride and all the girls! Doesn't the bride the look great?!

Californ-I-A

This past week we went to Southern California for Ryan's sister's wedding. My mom happened to have access to a condo right on the beach at Oceanside which was only 3-4 miles away from where Ryan's sister lived which worked out perfect for us! My mom and aunt let us come and stay with them for the week and were able to watch Dane during all of the wedding activities. I couldn't thank them enough for all that they did for us this past week. I just thought that I would attach a couple of pictures from the week and some funny stories.

Dane loves fruit smoothies, especially when he can drink them from our cups instead of his. This is how he looked after he was done.

I don't know how they got in this position but when I glanced over, this is what I found. So CUTE!! Look at that smile on Dane's face.
Dane thought it was funny that I was freaking out because a cold wave came up and got us wet right before this.
ON the pier waiting for our name to be called to be seated. Dane LOVED the pier because he always saw birds, fish (in buckets), and even saw dolphins a couple of times.
Grandma and Dane looking for some fisherman that have some fish that they can look at.

The first day at the beach Dane was soaking in the new scenery and loving every moment! He was kicking a ball around the house and then came into the kitchen where we all were standing and talking. All of the sudden we hear a loud THUMP and Dane is flat on the the ground (not crying). My aunt starts laughing so hard when she realizes that he isn't hurt because she had been watching him. In the kitchen there was a full length mirror that covered the whole wall. Dane booked it for his ball not realizing that he is actually going after the reflection of the ball. He went head first into the mirror which sent him flying back. We even looked and there was a face print on the mirror. It reminded me of a bird flying into a window and the mark it leaves after only this mark had much more slobber mixed in with it.
Anyways, I couldn't believe he did that and that he brushed it off as if nothing had happened. I (being the Psychology major that I am) wondered if he would do it again. So I experimented- I pointed out the ball to him as he was facing the mirror and told him to get the ball... Sure enough!.. SMACK!!! he did it again. DOn't worry, there was no harm done.
Dane got over the freezing ocean water fast so he enjoyed going up to the roof of the condo where there was a hot tub.
This was Dane's favorite thing to do all day every day! He just stood on the balcony yelling "ga" at all the cars that passed, barking at the dogs, and waving to people walking by. Poor kid didn't get many waves back.
This sign was up in the restaurant that we ate at the first night that we were in California. Can you believe we still ate there? I thought this picture needed to be sent into the Jay Leno show.
Just too cute, ready to crack a smile

Dane's new uncle, Ryan, put this hat on Dane and he actually left it on even though it was almost as big as him.
We took this picture in Carlsbad at a yummy Italian restaurant the night before the big wedding. Both families were there mingling and we all had a great time getting to know each other.

This picture was taken on the back porch of Ryan's parents hotel suite. The view was absolutely gorgeous!
This is the spot where Ryan's sister got married. It is a little jetty on the beach in Carlsbad, Ca. This is Ryan's family and the happy couple next to me are the bride and groom.
Another picture from the jetty. The view was so beautiful at this time of day.
Me and my little man
Stealin me a kiss after our long walk on the beach.
Ryan was so excited to get back to the condo and eat his food and Drink his Coke. Well, as he was walking onto the balcony he didn't realize the screen was shut until it was too late. I heard a big crunch and when I looked, this is what I saw. He ran into the screen, his drink was smashed and half of his drink was on his shirt. I am so glad that his sister was there to see it to. We could not stop laughing...
Back home to the heat! Dane is OBSESSED with cars so we decided to rent the movie Cars and watch it with him. He enjoyed most of it and so did Ryan. The whole time he kept yelling "ga" "ga".

CONGRATS to RYAN and KIM!!

Watch out! This may be contagious...

Dane is a little "slap happy" in this video clip.

Poor Kiddo

Poor Dane! He just got one of his vaccines at his last check-up a couple of days ago and now has a fever and is soooo lethargic. Yesterday he kept laying down on the middleof floor and then would get up walk over to the couch and lie down on the couch. He then would hold up for his arms for me to hold him and he would lay his head on my shoulder. Poor kid, I can't wait to have my fun, Rambunctious 1 year old back.

Dane's First Dollar....

Today we went to the mall to let Dane run around in the play area. Before heading for the play area we were sitting up in the food court splitting a cookie from Paradise Bakery (my newest addiction). We sat down to these obnoxious kids who were pulling pranks on people. They placed a dollar bill on a fishing line that was draped over a section of the frame that came down from the ceiling. They would rest the money on the floor and when people would walk by and try to pick up the money they would hurry and yank it so the people couldn't grab it and the person would then look really dumb. (they actually ended up getting a crowd watching them as they continued to do it). As we were eating our cookie we were watching all of the these people bend over to pick up the dollar bill and from nowhere the money would be soaring through the air. Everyone tried to pick it up from old people to parents to children to little gang banger teeny boppers (even Dane tried a couple of times but was never quick enough). I felt bad for the people but could not help but chuckle as I watched everyone fall for the trick and not even come close to getting a hold on the money. Ryan and I decided to leave and head for the play area which meant we had to pass the kids little trick. As we were walking by, Ryan was holding Dane and he and I were talking when all of the sudden Dane reaches out to the side and grabs a hold of the fishing line (It kind of reminded me of Mr. Miagi catching the fly with chopsticks without breaking a sweat in 'Karate Kid'). First of all, how could a kid this young and moving this rapidly see the small fishing line in mid air- and second, how on earth did he get his grubby little fingers wrapped around it when nobody else was able to??? Since Dane had a hold of the string, and Ryan kept walking because he did not realize it at first- Dane yanked onto the string without letting go which got the people watching to cheer and giggle because the "cool" teenagers weren't as quick as the 1 year old. The kid holding onto the string then pulled it which slid the dollar up right into Dane's hand...unfortunately for Dane- one more strong yank and the only dollar he had ever earned was gone in an instant.

Latest Conversation with Lara...

Today I called my mom's cell phone and my sister Lara answered. (Lara is my older sister with Down's Syndrome). This is how the conversation went:

Lara: Hhhhaaaayyyy (a long drawn out "hey" that you picture a diva saying as she is snapping a z-formation)

Me: Hey Lala (that is what I call her) what are you doing???

Lara: Oh just getting ready for my work.

Me: oh, do you still work at Olive Garden? (she rolls the silverware and fills the salt and pepper i think)

Lara: No, not Olive Garden! Now I'm working in Fashion.

Me: OOOHhhh... where do you work??

Lara: Like, you know, the Thrift store!

This conversation just made my day. She used to work at Salvation Army and would buy some pretty sweet outfits from there and even got me some nice BIG earrings as a Christmas present.

I am so glad that Lara is able to live out her dream by working in the Fashion industry! She is such a happy girl, I mean LADY- she doesn't go by "girl" anymore. I love my Lala!

15 Month Check-up

Today I took Dane in for his 15 month check-up. He is in the 10% for weight, 50-75% for head, and 97% for height.

Dane's latest thing is saying "yeah!" If I ask him if he wants raisons the answer is "yeah!" if I ask him if he loves me he shouts "yeah! yeah!" it is so funny. I am pretty sure that he understands (for the most part) when to say it because sometimes I will offer him something and he will shake his head NO when he doesn't want it. ANYWAYS.... While we were at his appointment the doctor was asking us about is progress with words and understanding other things. She then asks "When you give Dane commands does he follow them and do what you ask?" and as she was finishing the question Dane turns around and looks right at her and yells "yeah!!!" It was sooo funny!! The dr. was very impressed with his quick answer. What can I say, we have raised such an obedient boy.(wink,wink)

"Mama Mia"...I'm a Lucky girl!

The night before last I just DID NOT feel like cooking (like most nights I guess). Well Ryan said that he would whip something up to which I didn't even consider arguing. Let me tell you, Ryan has some mad skills in the kitchen. Look how yummy this meal looks!! He made a stuffed burrito in a spinach tortilla (sounds gross but definately was NOT gross). Then he fried it (YUMMY!) put some cheese on top and popped it in the oven until the cheese was completely melted. This was soooo good!! Sometimes I forget just how lucky I am...

THEN,

Last night Ryan agreed to put Dane to bed so that I could go out with the girls to see "Mama Mia". I don't know how the other girls really felt about it but I LOVED it!! I love those cheesy kind of movies and can never get Ryan to take me musicals. I never really cared for the young blonde girl in the movie but totally fell in love with her in this movie. Thanks girls (Abbie, Kim P., Kim W., Joanna, and Alyssa) and thanks Ryan for a FUN, CAREFREE night!
Me, Kim P., Abbie
Kim and me