Well, what looks to be our last big airplane trip until Christmas (at least that I what I am hoping!) Harrison and I headed to Utah. It was a great escape from the Houston heat and I loved seeing old friends and even spending some time with my family. We went back to our old house in Provo (my parent's own it) so I brought Harrison back to the house he was born in-not literally but the house we brought him home to! It was a great time! My wonderful friend, and old roommate, Emily picked me up from the airport on Wednesday, June 23rd and from there we headed straight to another old friend's house. We went to see our friend Kerry before her big move across country.
Since leaving Utah, Emily had her little girl and this was my first time meeting her. She is so sweet and so tiny (she is a light weight but as tall as Harrison). She and Harrison got along really well and although they are both too busy to sit still for a picture, they played and had a lot of fun together.
Eating one of his favorite foods. I have to get him on video saying banana because it is so funny!
We decided to take the kids to the Bean Museum on BYU campus. It was a lot of fun and they really loved all the animals. Harrison ran from animal to animal and just kept saying "wow!" I wanted to take some pictures of him by some of the animals, but he couldn't stop moving. Everything was so exciting.
They have a little kids room in the back and they had a good time playing with all the toys in there. They had plastic animals, Legos, magnets, books and all sorts of fun things. They both had a good time.
Harrison needs to work on sharing but he did pretty well. He wasn't mean at least, but he kept moving all the animals away.
Have I said yet how much I love this boy? As we are running around the house and eating dinner way to late again, Harrison continues to stick to his routine. We read books before bed and he just decided to do some reading by himself. I thought it was too cute!
The main reason for going out to UT was to help my parents work on the house and try to fix some little things. While we were all busy working, my little sister Della was in charge of Harrison. He loved to be out where we were and spent a lot of time pointing to the bikes ("Bite") He had a good time.
We found some baby blue birds in the backyard and Harrison loved them. He was really good about not touching them and made sure to check on them everyday.
I thought this was a good picture.
When Della didn't know what to do with him and he was going to get in the way, she put him in the car. He isn't a big fan of the car seat, but put him in the drivers seat and he is so happy! He will stay there all day and play. He finds all sorts of buttons and it is funny to turn the car on and see the turn signals and wipers all go on.
The last day I was there, Emily came back to visit and we tried again to get some pictures. Harrison was trying to hug her...I guess he has to get used to rejection at a young age.
She is a cutey!
We thought it would be better if we held them...
wrong again! This was the best we could get.
Harrison's cheesy smile with his Aunt Dillan. Dillan is up at BYU-Idaho and came down for the day to see us before we left. It was fun seeing her.
Harrison enjoyed playing some sort of cup game with her.
Then we had a little Smore party in the backyard to celebrate all our hard work.
Everyone says things are bigger in TX...but I have never seen a marshmallow this big anywhere except in UT.
Some other big highlights of the trip not pictured here:
*Seeing my friend Jennie and her little girl Kylie (thanks for the Pack n Play Jennie!)
*Living above my friend (and old roommate) Mary for the 10 days I was there! Thanks Mary for letting us crash your house!
*Going out to lunch with my good friend Caren and getting a chance to really talk! Thanks Caren for talking and listening and thanks Della for watching Harrison so I could go and really visit!
*My parents and Diana, Drake and Della driving cross country to help work on the house and spend some time with us.
*Deana flying out from DC and spending a few days with us before heading up to Idaho.
*Visiting old neighbors and seeing how big their kids have gotten.
*Working on the house and making some much needed improvements. (My mom has some of those pictures)
*Hiking the Y with Harrison on my (and my Dad's) back. Thanks for the help Dad! I wouldn't have made it with a monkey on my back by myself. (I will post pictures of that when I get them from my mom!)
*Hanging out with my friend (and another old roommate) Melissa and going to one of her softball games! I miss playing!
It was a great trip and really not a bad flight. We had a great time and wish we would have had time to see even more people. I never thought I would say this but I really miss UT. Especially when I came home and it was hot and muggy!
I just love these boys!
Then on Monday I decided to grab a shot of our glazed over TV watcher. He hardly ever sits and watches TV, but stands here the whole show. It is pretty funny!
Elmo is another favorite at our house!
He would watch TV and read all day if I let him so we have to moderate.
Harrison doing his "woo-hoo" cheer for Grandpa Ward.
Someone wanted to keep posing so I got a few more shots.
I love that face! The Reds won and it was a really great game! After was fireworks-a first for Harrison-and we had great seats for the fireworks. He wasn't sure at first but by the end was asking for more! It was a great family night!
This is just the "little" kid area. The other side had huge slides and tunnels. It is like a McDonald's play place on steroids. I had to put my camera down so I didn't lose my child in the maze of the place. I definitely think we will be going back!
Then just this morning, I got really ambitious and decided to take Harrison to feed the ducks. There is tons of water by us and lakes but not a lot of them have ducks. So we found this place near our home and took advantage. Harrison was a little cautious at first. He kept signing bird and wanting to look at them.
Then he saw the bread. I threw a piece first and when the ducks came for it, he decided he was ready!
He threw some to the baby ducks. These ducks are so used to getting fed, they stayed really close to us.
Not sure this is even a duck, it looked like a duck and a turkey...but it still loved to chase Harrison while he waited to throw the bread.
Then Harrison started chasing him.
Pondering...
Then he spotted some really pretty white ducks.
and of course he has to put it in his mouth first...he quickly realized it didn't taste good but I guess you still have to try it.
Now he is starting to get it...he doesn't really know what to do with it but he enjoyed the feel of it.
And loved picking it apart!
He even helped me put it all away!
Then last weekend I looked out at my bird feeder and found this little guy. The picture doesn't do him justice but we found a male cardinal out by our bird feeder! He was so bright and we loved having a pretty bird to look at. He has since returned a few times to our feeder.
Then I decided that I wanted to try a new kind of project so I made a hat. I know, it is 100 degrees in Houston right now and I am making winter hats but there are some times you can use them. And I have a friend having a baby soon so I gave it to her! Every baby can use a hat!
Speaking of babies... I love this boy and he will always be my baby! Some how he got a big scrap on his nose this week. Not sure where it came from but he still looks cute.
Harrison is talking more and more each day! We just love trying to figure out his new words. He has been a fan of Sesame Street for some time now and loves Elmo and Abby. He can say both names very clearly too. While visiting my parents house, I took some old Sesame Street beanie characters and brought them for Harrison. These are his 2 favorite...
You might know them as Burt and Ernie, but at our house they are known as "Burp" and "Beana" (the a making the long a sound). It is so funny. If he has one, he has to find the other. He loves giving them hugs too!
This is just another week in our many of life. One that we have to be grateful for and look forward to the next wonderful week that we are blessed to have!
It doesn't look too long, but still not quite the best summer cut.
Here are the casualties of the cut. It made me so sad to watch the hair come off his head. I just love playing with his hair and running my fingers through it. That blond is just to die for too! People keep telling me that it won't last long, but I don't see it going anywhere and I will enjoy it while it is here.
Here he is after...maybe not too different but to me it looks so short!
Still my same smiley baby and I think he feels lighter. We will see if we have less tangles and sweat with the heat and the pool!
I love that boy, with or without hair and in any way, shape or form I can have him!
Harrison brought Daddy his special presents and when he was almost there, he wanted to start opening the gifts. They did make them to Jeff unopened though.
Harrison drew a picture for Daddy and then we got him a game and new sunglasses.
The extra surprise was a new waffle maker. We are probably the only people who don't have a waffle maker (I'm more of a pancake person!) but I broke down and got Jeff a waffle maker. Then, we used it to make some wonderful waffles for breakfast.
I am married to the most wonderful man! He is amazing dad and husband. He works very hard and I am so grateful for all he does for our little family! Love you babe!
Maria on her special day...
All of us girls in front of the temple. The picture is a little off, but that is what we get for using the timer I guess.
It was a wonderful morning and a great way to start the day!
Eating one of his favorite foods. I have to get him on video saying banana because it is so funny!
We decided to take the kids to the Bean Museum on BYU campus. It was a lot of fun and they really loved all the animals. Harrison ran from animal to animal and just kept saying "wow!" I wanted to take some pictures of him by some of the animals, but he couldn't stop moving. Everything was so exciting.
They have a little kids room in the back and they had a good time playing with all the toys in there. They had plastic animals, Legos, magnets, books and all sorts of fun things. They both had a good time.
Harrison needs to work on sharing but he did pretty well. He wasn't mean at least, but he kept moving all the animals away.
Have I said yet how much I love this boy? As we are running around the house and eating dinner way to late again, Harrison continues to stick to his routine. We read books before bed and he just decided to do some reading by himself. I thought it was too cute!
The main reason for going out to UT was to help my parents work on the house and try to fix some little things. While we were all busy working, my little sister Della was in charge of Harrison. He loved to be out where we were and spent a lot of time pointing to the bikes ("Bite") He had a good time.
We found some baby blue birds in the backyard and Harrison loved them. He was really good about not touching them and made sure to check on them everyday.
I thought this was a good picture.
When Della didn't know what to do with him and he was going to get in the way, she put him in the car. He isn't a big fan of the car seat, but put him in the drivers seat and he is so happy! He will stay there all day and play. He finds all sorts of buttons and it is funny to turn the car on and see the turn signals and wipers all go on.
The last day I was there, Emily came back to visit and we tried again to get some pictures. Harrison was trying to hug her...I guess he has to get used to rejection at a young age.
She is a cutey!
We thought it would be better if we held them...
wrong again! This was the best we could get.
Harrison's cheesy smile with his Aunt Dillan. Dillan is up at BYU-Idaho and came down for the day to see us before we left. It was fun seeing her.
Harrison enjoyed playing some sort of cup game with her.
Then we had a little Smore party in the backyard to celebrate all our hard work.
Everyone says things are bigger in TX...but I have never seen a marshmallow this big anywhere except in UT.
Some other big highlights of the trip not pictured here:
