August Rush

For us, August is a busy month. Half of our special days so far occur in August. First is Gavin's birthday on the 10th. I can't believe another year came and went so FAST! He is such a fun guy, very smart and very BUSY. He definitely keeps me on my toes! This year, he was much more into the presents thing. He got an awesome John Deere truck, tractor and trailor from Grandma Valarie and Grandpa Brad.

On his actual birthday, we went to the Splash Pad in Ogden with Aunt Chelsea, Avery, Uncle Dave, Aunt Angi and Brighton. He had a really great time. On the way home, we were passing an Arctic Circle so I decided I'd spoil him and get him a cone (and of course I couldn't pass up getting myself one as well since they're so cheap; plus, the flavor of the day was blackberry...need I say more?). Well, I discovered that Gavin is allergic to ice cream - he broke out in hives. They weren't too severe, though, they seemed to have cleared up by the time his nap was over.

Then we just did presents at home with my brothers and parents. I didn't get any after shots, but these bags held a tool belt with tools (like paba) and a few church books to help him be reverent (wishful thinking on my part).

His big gift was his bike. The official name is a TOUGH trike...appropriate.

My parents gave him a stylin' new outfit complete with bomber jacket and new shoes! You can barely see it in the background...

Daddy showed him how it all worked.

Then he discovered the compartment under the seat/his own private junk drawer.

I think he liked it!

Mace was a happy camper in his bouncer.

He loved watching Gavin open his presents. He'd get all excited and his little hands would quiver with anticipation!

Then my sweetie turned 26 on the 17th! I surprised him by taking him to dinner at a yummy BBQ place, then we came home for CHOCOLATE cake and ice cream!

How'd I score such a HOTTIE?!

Our anniversary was on the 23rd. It's been a full three years!!! Who knew that life could be so great? I'm so grateful for Craig. He's such a good man. He takes such good care of us and makes it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom. I've ALWAYS wanted that; now I can live the dream! We actually celebrated the day by going to the Oquirrh Mountain temple dedication. We were down at Brad and Valarie's and they watched our boys so we could go. It was a great meeting and a great visit down south (as always).

Pioneer Day at the Park

For the 24th of July, we went down to the park where the community put on a little fair of sorts with the booths and concessions and everything like that. We had a lot of fun seeing our friends and family, and Gavin had a ball doing all the activities. Just as we were getting there, they turned on the hose of the fire truck and Gavin ran through the water and got pretty wet. It was a super hot day, though, so he didn't mind.

Then he went fishing for a goldfish.Our little Mace was fine just hanging out in the stroller (again). Oh, he's so CUTE! Look at those lips!!!
Gavin caught several fish before he decided he wanted to keep the one he got. He loved it!

And here's the lucky winner!

Then it was off to get a tattoo. He chose a boat.

What a cheeser!

Then he got to sit on an authentic John Deere tricycle - he couldn't ride it because his legs were too short.

Even Mace got a tattoo.

But he would have been happy either way!!!

Notice all the little scabbies he has on his face in these pictures. This is what happens when you're baby loves his little hands up by his face ALL the time. He developed this habit in womb...I remember it well.

For lunch, Brad and Valarie took us to Chili's - YUM! I love this 2 for 20 deal....with molten chocolate cake for dessert!!! Aaron and Chelsea and Avery also came. I only got one picture, though, because I forgot I owned a camera until we were on our way out to the car. Typical.

Lagoon

The end of June, Craig's office had a Lagoon day. We took our boys so they could enjoy a day out. It was a lot of fun. But...Gavin didn't care too much for the rides. I think it's because he's kind of a control freak. Plus he was going through a separation anxiety stage so he didn't like that he had to go by himself. I know it's hard to believe, but both Craig and I are too tall to go on any of the kiddie rides :)

Gavin's favorite part of the park was the water show/splash pad. At first he just sat and watched all the other kids run through the water, but eventually he got brave... And got his sandal wet!

By the end, we had to drag his soaked little toosh outta there!

Our little Mace did great in the stroller. He's just such a happy, content guy. Everyone should have a kid like this - I just LOVE him!

Craig and Gavin on the Carousel

And here's Gavin during the ONLY ride he liked. Top 2 reasons the tug-boats were a hit:

1. Each boat came equipped with a bell to ring incessantly for the duration of the ride, and

2. Gavin had a co-pilot.

We thought the cars might measure up because Gavin LOVES anything with a motor. But this was what G thought of them!

I'm fairly certain, he wasn't a fan.

So we tried the boats again, only this time Gavin didn't have a ride buddy. But the bell kept his attention for a while...

but not long enough.

Not pictured: Gavin getting back out of the boats before the ride had even started.

So after about five attempts at the rides, we decided to walk around the pond and look at the animals, then head to the pavillion where Craig's co-workers met for a yummy dinner.

Isn't having kids great? They turn a could-be-boring day at a park we've been to almost a thousand times into a grand adventure with unexpected twists and turns all along the way! Wouldn't have it any other way...

Mason's Blessing

So one of my goals for the week is to update our blog...I set it BEFORE I saw how many pictures I've blogged nothing about. Two downloads plus more still on the camera. Wow! I am a slacker.

Well, gotta start somewhere. So here are some pics from Mason's blessing. He was blessed on June 14,2009. Thanks to Chelsea (who was pregnant but hadn't told anyone) for trying to get some with all our faces at least visible. A smile was just too much to ask for from Gavin... It was a beautiful, sunny day, and thank goodness! because we had TONS of friends and family come over to my parent's house (which was also our house at the time) after church. My brother Garrett had just come home from his mission to Alabama and we were able to have Mason's blessing on the same day he reported. What a great meeting! Garrett really did a great job (at least on everything I heard from the mother's room while nursing Mason). Gavin was all for the pictures. Especially when he heard everyone's oohs and ahhs over him hugging his baby bro.
So he went for a kiss... and made sure everyone was still watching!
We got so many cute ones of Mason in his tux, but here are some of my favorites.

Happy Boy!

Sleepy boy... with extremely kissable cheeks and lips!

Handsome boy!

Like I said, we had lots of people come out to support us. It was so awesome! But, I didn't get very many pictures of those that came. Here are the very few I did catch.

Everyone eating all the great food that I did hardly anything to prepare. In fact, I was in charge of picking up the cookies. Yeah, I know, I'm so domestic. Thanks everyone for bringing stuff. Big thanks to my mom for making all the great teriyaki chicken and gravy. YUM!

My awesome piano teacher/mentor/second mother and her husband. They're so awesome!

Uncles Tay and Tan love their nephew!

Grandma T (she's so cute)

Grandma and Grandpa Smith

Uncle Gar (formerly Elder Smith) - doesn't he look so good?

The proud, sweaty (I speak only for myself) parents!

Cutest daddy in the world

My boys will get far more kisses than they want from me, but I can't help it!

It was a great Smith reunion. I'm so glad we could all be back together. We've grown by three since Garrett left, and we'll just keep on growing! Can't wait for my little niece from Tay and Sara!

Orlando

We spent August 18-21 in Orlando and had a blast! It was such a fun trip. We left Gavin with Grandma and Grandpa Smith and took Mason with us. He is the BEST baby ever! He did awesome! We did a lot of driving around to just kind of get a feel for the area. There is so much to do there, but hanging out in the car and enjoying the beautiful scenery made the trip for me. There's something about road-trippin' with my sweetie that beats pretty much anything else (maybe because I started really falling for him on a road trip to Cedar City to visit my brother Taylor during Spring Break :o).

We did spend a day at the beach, and the drive there was gorgeous. We thought it was funny that they actually mow the grass on the sides of the road in Florida. It is so green!

Most of the road we took went right through a HUGE cattle ranch that the church owns out there. I think we heard this is the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. Pretty impressive...

And here we are at Cocoa Beach! There's something about lounging on the beach with nothing to do and the sound of the waves in the background that is beyond wonderful. I can understand to some extent why my bro Ashton's aspiration is to be a beach bum. Sort of...

Mason really did like the beach, but we stopped pretty much right in the middle of nap time because we were trying to enjoy the sun before a storm came in.

I love his chubs! He BARELY fit into his swim suit - it had to be retired after this trip...

Don't we look good in Florida?

I sure hope you said "yes" because that's where we're going to be spending the next few years of our lives. Craig's starting up a business out in Orlando and we move a week from today! Kind of crazy - when we moved in with my parents, I thought that when we left we'd be going across the county, maybe, but not across the country. I'm incredibly grateful to know that the Lord is leading us where He would have us be. Also I'm very grateful to know that the church will be the same there as it is here, and we will still enjoy the blessing of having a temple close by.

And since I have no guarantee of coming back here to visit very often, here's my pitch to whoever wants to hear it (I guess read it). Should any of you wish to enjoy all the innumerable pleasures of Orlando, including but not limited to DISNEYWORLD!, let us know and we'd be happy to have you stay with us. We can't make any promises about the comfort or quality of the available accomodation, but hey, it'll be FREE!!!