Playing at Grammy's

Oliver brought his car suit case full of cars and played with them every day while we were at Grammy & Gramps. Santa brought him some cars for Christmas that we left at Grammy & Gramps and he remembered and asked for them often. The tractor and truck that were left there both had trailer hitchs. He was so excited to be able to hook his trailer to his cars from Santa.

Here he is pulling along the trailer.

Emily & Avery were able to hang out with us while Madi had an eye appointment today. Oliver loved having popcorn with his cousins.

Look at these girls, could they be more different??? Light hair and light eyes v. dark hair and dark eyes.

Grammy had a fun idea of getting sponge brushes and letting the kids paint the cement with water...they all loved it!

Emily & Avery painting

Madi & Oliver painting together

Here is a video of Oliver playing hands with Grammy & Gramps. This had been going on for a while when I filmed it, and could have gone on for a lot longer after. Oliver loves spending time with Grammy & Gramps!

Oliver's dream lunch

My parents were going to my sister's house in Lehi on Tuesday to watch her girls while she and her husband attended a funeral. Since Oliver hadn't had a nap in four days, we decided to stay behind and let the little guy get some sleep. So my parents left around 11:30, and we went over to Gardner Village for lunch. We ate at the Naborhood Bakery which I have always loved. Poor little Oliver, he loved it too. He loved that they had rows, and rows of cookies. He picked out the one he wanted right away and insisted that was to be his lunch. We tried to convince him to eat a peanut butter sandwich but to no avail. So Tuesday, Oliver had V8 and a sugar cookie with pink frosting and sprinkles for lunch. Every mother's dream, right??? :) We walked around a little after lunch and then went back to my parents for a much needed 3 hr and 15 min nap that only ended because I needed him to be able to go to sleep that night!

Daddy convincing Oliver to drink the V8

I love that Clayton got this shot. Whenever Oliver wants me to see something and I don't look right away, he uses force. See his little hand on my face? He takes my face and literally shoves it in the direction he wants me to look.

I think these geese must have been very hungry; they let us walk right up next to them. Too bad we didn't have any food!

I loved these purple flowers!

Here is a good shot of Oliver & Mommy on the bridge

What is that Daddy showing Oliver?

oh, a fountain.

I loved the big white ball flowers in front of this little shop. If I moved back to Utah, do you think they would let me live in this house??? :)

hmmm, which rock should I hop to next?

Oliver checking out the barn

I loved this shot of him adjusting his hat...doesn't he look like he just had a hard day at the farm?

checking out a wagon

I loved the blossoms on this tree; how come I never noticed them when I lived there???

Gardner Village

some father-daughter time

One of the things I totally miss about Salt Lake is skating on the Jordan River Parkway. My skates are too big to shove in my suitcase on a regular basis, so since we were driving I stowed my skates in the bumpy rider and made a promise to myself that I was going to use them. So, early Tuesday morning, my Dad and I went to the Jordan River Parkway. He walked and I skated. It was great getting to do two things I enjoy at once!

I was able to go two more times while I was there, for a total of three times in six days. Woohoo, I LOVE SKATING!

Debbie, it was so much fun helping you learn how to stop. I hope you will use your skates now! :)

Emily's Gymnastics Meet

Emily invited us to her first Gymnastics meet tonight. Living so far away, we miss so many family firsts, and so I was thrilled to be able to attend this one. It was so much fun to watch Emily work through her routines, she has really taken to gymnastics and loves it.

Emily ready to go

The theme was super stars, and Emily was the third in line. Notice the girl leading the group has boys underwear on her head...was that supposed to be cute?

Oliver & Daddy watching the meet

Oliver took this picture of Madi & Grammy

Avery came to sit by me to watch Emily

After the meet, she even received a metal...1st place in all our books!

Dinosaurs go Roar!

My sister Michele has a membership to Thanksgiving Point, so today we went to the dinosaur museum. Oliver really enjoyed playing with his cousins and was really amazed by all the big fossils. I heard "look Mommy, look...what's that?" a lot. He wasn't interested in the erosion (water & sand) hands on exhibit, or the dinosaur dig, but he was entertained all the same.

Avery & Oliver playing in the gift shop

hmmm, what is in these buckets?

Layla checking out the big dinosaur fossils

Photogenic Aunt Shell

Daddy & Emily trying to convince Oliver to go through the tunnel

Out comes Daddy

Out comes Emily, Oliver still won't go.

Oliver looking up at the gigantic dinosaur fossils

Clayton standing by a leg, the fossils were enormous; of course, so were the actual dinosaurs! :)

Avery playing at the erosion table

Layla was such a good baby, she loved looking around and when she grew bored, she just slept

Madi riding the baby dinosaur

Oliver riding the baby dinosaur

Oliver wasn't terribly interested in the dinosaur dig, he didn't even get in until I did

and then he just complained about the sand in his shoes

I think if we lived closer, and were able to go more often, Oliver would enjoy the museum just as much as my sister's girls do. For now, I think he likes the Thanksgiving Point farm a lot better.

Little Red Corvette

...oops, I mean Mustang! My sister's girls have the cutest little red battery powered car. Emily is a pro at driving it and she gave Oliver a ride. He wasn't sure what to think about it at first, but warmed up pretty quickly. He even tried driving it after my camera was inside. So cute!

Oliver & Daddy checking out the car

my sister lives on a cul-de-sac, so the kids can drive around the circle a little more safely

look, he even put his arm on the window

how cute are they???

All Oliver, All the Time!

Oliver is content playing by himself only because I can't play with him ALL the time, after all I do have to do somethings around the house. But his optimum situation is what we like to call "all Oliver, all the time". The morning after we arrived, Grammy played blocks with Oliver for about an hour while I got ready; Oliver was in heaven! :)

can't you tell? :)

the block tower they made was taller than he was

Grammy even played trucks, his favorite!