Chirstopher, Monica, Aden, and Raleigh

Wedge Pictures

2011-11-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

We did a fun photoshoot out at the wedge....Such a great backdrop....here are a few of my favorites.

Random Cuteness Back in the Spring

2011-11-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

So disregard the crazy mess in the background but I couldn't help but get this crazy cute picture of the boys with their "cool dude" glasses on. These pictures are from earlier this year and I never got them posted. You'll notice in the picutes Raleigh looks super little compared to what he is now. The bottom picture is after I cut Aden's hair ALL off....he cried afterward "I want my hair back!" I told him it would grow back...the next morning he informed me that it didn't grow back yet and he was very upset. Within a week you could already see that there was growth and Aden told me daily that it was in fact growing back :D.

June Photo Shoot

2011-11-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

I did a little photo shoot with the boys in June for Mother's and Father's day pictures. I loved the bright colors of the playground equipment as a backdrop. The boys didn't mind the giant toys too much either :D

Long time No Blog :P

2011-09-27T21:10:00.001-07:00

So I have taken a kind of break from all things blog, facebook, and pretty well everything. I would really like to catch up on the blog but tonight I just wanted to post a picture that I thought was SUPER cute and was just last week....probably the last chance for the kids to swim since October is just around the corner. I will try to fill in the gaps between Easter and now...wholly crap I'm behind, but until then enjoy this little postlette :D.

Easter...a few months latter

2011-06-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

So I have been slacking bad on the blogging and need to catch up. First on the list is Easter!

Bathroom Facelift!

2011-03-11T22:23:00.001-08:00

Here are some before and after shots of the bathroom remodle we did with our tax return!

Raleigh's First Haircut

2011-03-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

So a while back I decided that Raleigh's hair was getting too long in places. Growing over his ears and straggly...so we gave him his first hair cut. Worried about how he would react, given that Aden still FREAKS out EVERY time we cut his, we decided Raleigh would go first and we would take it slow....well the experience could not have been more different from Aden's first haircut...

He smiled and laughed the entire haircut.He held very still and was an excellent little man.Here is the after shot....It isn't perfect but at least you can see his ears again :).Such a sharp looking little guy! I love it.

On other news with this guy, we just had his 15 month check up. He is 22lbs 12oz, 31.5" tall and very healthy. He is currently cutting more teeth and a little cranky about that and the shots. But he is doing great...I can't remember what we ever did without him and wouldn't want to try :D.

Super Bowl!

2011-02-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have never been one who liked to watch sports....basket ball is the only one that I have ever watched willingly....but Chris mentioned that he would like to watch the Super Bowl...and because we don't have a lot of evenings together we decided to watch it together. And while I have to admit, that even though I went into it not really caring what happened and not really interested in the sport, I had a great time watching the game the commercials and the half time show, but most of all I loved watching my boys watching the game. Aden was more interested in playing and eating junk food than actually watching the game...Raleigh did some playing but what really surprised me was how much he loved sitting with his daddy and watching the game!

He enjoyed the junk food too...
Here he is pointing out a particularly good play.

It was so funny and great to have some family time.

Come Fly With Me

2011-02-18T08:42:00.001-08:00

One thing that can be said about flying with kids, besides that is crazy expensive, is that the flight crew and people at the airport are SUPER understanding and helpful. With Chris being injured it was especially nice to have great help. On the way up they were so good to help us on the flight and get us seated first and on the way back they gave us an entire row to ourselves. The boys flew very well considering their age. On the way up Raleigh wouldn't sleep...he wanted to walk around and play and anything but sleep...but when we got their and his Grandpa took over holding him he passed out in Grandpa's arms...it was so cute. On the way back he sat with his daddy on the other side of the row and fell asleep almost at once. Aden was so excited to fly and was jumping up and down the whole time...he LOVED it so much and for days before and days after flying it was all he could talk about!

Our Trip to the Zoo!

2011-02-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite things that we did while in Washington, apart from having a great time just visiting, was going to the Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa. As usual Aden loved the fishes...and Raleigh liked them too.

We took in a little show of the animals that they have trained to do some really fun tricks.

Raleigh spent much of the Zoo on Grandpa's shoulders...this being his first trip to a Zoo I think he loved seeing everything from up there!

We got a stroller for the boys to ride in between animals because they are way to heavy to pack all the time :)

Checking out the Elephants...

Raleigh LOVED them...he even tried to make the noise

Raleigh and his Daddy take a break in front of the penguins...sorry this was the cutest picture but you can't see the penguins very well.

Chris lifting Aden to get a better look.

Raleigh loves his Grandpa

A little Mere cat saying hello to the boys....they thought he was the coolest thing ever.

Aden was a little leery of the armadillo but Raleigh was all for giving him a pat!

what is a trip to the Zoo without a group picture! We had a great time and owe a big Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma for being such great hosts and taking such good care of us.

While in Washington

2011-02-17T20:26:00.001-08:00

We tried to fit as much fun as possible into our trip. A few of the things we did...

Hung out with Grandpa and Grandma Tortured...I mean played with Auntie Brooke

Fed the Birds with Grandma...

... helped Grandpa around the yard.

and Raleigh showedoff his dancing skills!

Trip to Washington

2011-02-17T12:32:00.000-08:00

So after Chris's surgery we headed up to Washington to spend the recovery with his family. Raleigh got to fly for the first time and Aden for the second time. It was so fun to see how excited they were for the trip. They were excited to see their Granparents and Aunties and Cousin Cameron. And as you can tell from the pictures they were excited to be out of the car/plane.

Chris's Shoulder Surgery

2011-01-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Before...still smiley but hungry...nothing makes you hungry like someone telling you that you can't eat. Back home with his shoulder padded like he was going to play football.

But still able to slap on a smile...gotta love the drugs :D

So Thursday before the sun even came up we headed over to the hospital for Chris's shoulder surgery. For those who don't know, he damaged his shoulder on his mission and has dealt with pain and dislocations since. This last year has been particularly hard so we decided to get it fixed. Chris really likes his doctor and things went really smoothly. The doctor said that he could have the pictures of the actual surgery next week when he goes in for his check up. So when he brings those home I will scan them and add them to this post. The doctor went in arthroscopically and was very optimistic about the whole thing and said Chris should be in much less pain...once he heals up from the surgery of course.

The Rest of The Party

2011-01-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

Here is Aden on his new bike! :D

So while I was taking and editing pictures the guests played games and decorated their hero capes. Presents and cake and ice cream followed. All in all a great party thanks to everyone who came. Aden LOVED the hero theme and ran around in his cape and loved showing off his Spiderman cake.

Boom! Smack! POW!

2011-01-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

This is Aden's Birthday comic book....It was so fun to see all the kids get excited about posing and getting into character. Even the reluctent kids got into it eventually. It was so fun and I love how it turned out!

Aden the Photographer

2011-01-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

One of the things Santa brought to Aden was a kid tough camera. He is SO cute with it. He loves taking pictures and playing with his camera. Here are some of his best pictures of his favorite people and things.

Raleigh Close up :DBuzz Lightyear....there were a lot of this guy.Mommy and DaddySelf Portrait

Auntie Courtney

There were a lot of bunny pictures tooanother self portrait...in the mirrorTook a picture of his eyesGrandpa

and Grandma. He had more and some with Tianna but unfortunately Aden found the delete button...he didn't really know he was deleting but there you are.

Random Cuteness and Raleigh Update

2011-01-08T07:49:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since I have just done a status update on this little prince. He is now walking...which as predicted by Grandpa, happened just before Christmas. He had his one year check up in late November where we found out he is average in height and weight but has an exceptionally large head. He is super smart...which may explain the large head....and he loves shape sorting and feeding himself. He is now learning animal sounds and can imitate a horse, cow, sheep, and of course a monkey :D.
So what could be better than a great Binki in the morning..... ...two Binkis at once of course!

This little man is a vacuum fiend....he wants a turn every time I vacuum....although he isn't so good at waiting his turn. He sure is cute though :D

Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

So as usual the Christmas morning post is very much full of pictures! And also as usual my kids were beyond spoiled. Aden started off grumpy but as soon as he saw all the stuff for him he forgot why he was so upset in the first place...which was mommy wasn't the one walking him in...I had gone to the other end of the room to take pictures....but anyways....most the pictures speak for themselves....check the faces of these boys....they sure did love their stuff. Thanks Santa :D

I Can't Beleive My Baby is One

2010-12-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

To mark the occasion we had a monkey themed party (of course). It was so much fun to see Raleigh interact with all the kids and have such a good time. We played a few games with the kids then had ice cream and cake....Raleigh got his own cake to tear into because, well its tradition.

Blowing out the candle!

Here is Raleigh's Cake This was the cake that I cut up for everybody else.

He didn't tear into his cake with the enthusiasm I expected. I think everyone watching, his sore mouth, and the fact it was the WHOLE cake threw him off.

Got in to it eventually....now how to take the cake away?

We then opened presents, here he is clapping. He loved all his toys and clothes...

..but he loved his little monkey best...this is a few seconds before he kissed it...sorry I missed that picture.

Here is Raleigh with a few of his new gifts. :D

Now I have a favor to ask. At Aden's first birthday party I passed out note cards and had everyone write something about Aden's first year that he would like to know when he gets older that we may not remember. I fully intended on doing the same for Raleigh but with all the party craziness I forgot. So if you could leave a comment on this post for Raleigh I would really appreciate it. As for me, I have loved watching this little boy grow and develop. He is my little dare-devil. He is fearless and loves to climb and hang like a monkey, LOVES being on a horse, and prefers his Grandpa, after whom he was named, over pretty much anyone else (including me). He is resistant to change, he was an early scooter, but didn't crawl for a long time, not because he couldn't...but because he didn't want to...same with walking...he still isn't walking...he has the balance and skills he just doesn't do it. He is super loving and affectionate. He loves his big brother and Aden can make him laugh harder and longer than anyone else. I never imagined I could love someone as much and as completely as I love Aden. But when Raleigh came along I not only loved him just as much, I loved them both more.

Teething

2010-11-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

So a couple weeks ago I would have bet my little one would make it to his first birthday with no teeth. Well the week before his birthday his gums were swollen and he was pulling at his ears to the point I took him in the doctor to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. When the doctor looked in his mouth she counted 10 teeth moving down. Days before his birthday one of his top front teeth finally poked through. Then the next day the second came in. He is now working on the bottom two. Here is a picture of my upside down monkey with his two front teeth :D

and a close up.

My little Artist and My little Monkey

2010-11-30T09:09:00.001-08:00

If you can't tell what this is, it is Aden's drawing of a monkey! I was so proud and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it....... ....Unfortunately it was on my wall :( It was so hard to yell at him for drawing on the wall when I was so impressed with his skill.

You can not only tell it is a monkey but you can totally see his arms above his head and he is swinging from a tree.

Here is the artist smiling...we should call this the before picture because he was no longer smiling when I made him help me scrub it off the wall.

Speaking of monkeys....my other little man has acquired an interest in climbing. We bought the boys bunk beds earlier this year. So far the top bunk has remained empty....but has been a place for Aden to go and play and color away from his brother. This sanctuary is no more.....Raleigh, who has no interest in walking, has serious climbing skills!

This kid doesn't mind the climb or dangling off the side (which gives his parents heart attacks) and even falling from a few rungs up the ladder...so far we have prevented the falling from the top...but only because we are watching like hawks....we have tried blocking the ladder and doing everything we can think of to keep him off of there....but this is what we see more times than not when we go looking for him in the boys' room.

Alas I foresee this one being my baby that has to go to the doctor for x-rays because of his dare-devil stunts.

Halloween...finally

2010-11-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

Raleigh went as a Monkey :D He is my little monkey he loved his costume. When I washed it and got it ready to put away he started snuggling and kissing it...which makes me especially happy since I made it for him. :)

Aden was Spiderman.....and Spiderman Ironman....and Spiderman Buzz Lightyear....if you are catching the theme, we had to say Spiderman before whatever costume he wore or we had a huge meltdown on our hands.

Can you tell who's pumpkin is who's?

Raleigh's New Toy

2010-10-31T20:22:00.000-07:00

We gave Raleigh his birthday present early in hopes it would encourage him to learn to walk. Aden was such a good little helper. He even pushed him around a while...it was SO cute.

Costume Photo Shoot

2010-10-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

What to do....what to do.

2010-10-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of blog surfing lately...I love seeing all the craft ideas and fun activities everyone is doing. So when the question of what we should do while the boys were out hunting deer came up I picked a few of my favorites and we LOVED every minute of it. First we did a Creepy Breakfast...an adaptation from the witches breakfast that I saw on the Bradford's blog. We dressed in costume made a huge breakfast where everything had a creepy name and color. This is our French Ghosties, with fried bat wings, brains, crispy fingertips and stomach bile.

Witches cooking breakfast.

Witches Eating Breakfast :DSo after breakfast we got everyone ready and did a little photo shoot...which requires it's own post. But after that we went and visited our grandparents in costume. By the time we finished visiting the little ones were ready for a nap so we pulled out a fun activity for the older kids.

SLIME!It is TONS of fun and Everyone got into it. Aden made Green and Tianna made purple. Aden loved it so much he has spent hours and hours since playing with the stuff....It is super fun and easy to make...and best of all it's cheap. If you want the instructions for slime click here. It will take you directly to the blog I got the idea from.

And this is Adelia when her mom broke the news that slime isn't edible. We finished the day with a Spaghetti and bone bread sticks dinner. It was a wonderful day and a great way to spend the deer hunt.

Deer Hunt 2010

2010-10-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

Chris got his first Buck! He was so excited. He made a great shot and killed the deer instantly. The boys were so proud of their daddy. Aden kept saying "Good job daddy, good job."
My dad named the deer Lucky. Because while we were admiring the deer we noticed this large caliber whole in his ear. He had been shot through the ear by what looks like a mussel loader it also nicked one of the tines on his antlers. Then latter on while skinning Lucky we found a .22 caliber lead just under the hide on his leg. Apparently the third time was not so charming for Lucky and his luck just ran out. His loss is our gain...and I can't wait to sit down at the dinner table and say "please pass me some Lucky steak" :)

Grandpa and Grandma Come for a Visit!

2010-10-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Chris's parents came down from Washington for a short visit. It was perfect weather and just the right time of year to go look at some Indian writings. We went down on the desert to the Rochester Panel.

Aden loved the hike...he was so big and walked the whole way out there!Raleigh LOVED playing in the dirt!

It's SPIDERMAN! In case you haven't heard Aden has officially changed his name....he is now Aden Spiderman Christopher Bingham a mouthful, I know...but who can argue with such a great climber! Chris and his Dad climbed up on top of the rocks and waved for a great photo opportunity.

Grandma and Raleigh watched from the rocks below.

Since he was such a trooper Grandpa gave Aden a ride back to the cars :)

Aden found a cool rock cave to stand in.

Raleigh had the best ride and view....he loved being able to see where he was going and riding with his daddy.

Chris and his Dad are proud of those boys.

Raleigh got to bond with Grandpa...he pulled his hair and put finger prints on his glasses...in Raleigh's world that is true love....and Grandpa's face says it all :)

All in all a great day. We were sad it was such a short visit but we will take any time we can get :)

Salsa!

2010-10-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

I think it must be some kind of instinct to store food for the winter. To get ready for the cold barren months with food storage and supplies....I am fairly certain it must be biologically ingrained because I was in somewhat of a funk then all of a sudden when canning season hit I was ready to can and can and can...and I am still looking forward to canning apples. So far we have done tomatoes, salsa, and peaches. Aden loved helping pick the tomatoes and get in on as much of the mess as possible...what a boy :D. I didn't get an after shot of all the great food beautifully in the bottles but believe me when I say it was A LOT. On top of the canning I felt the need to stock up on everything I could get my hands on in the case lot sales...so instinct or intuition or just plain ambition I am ready for whatever this winter brings!

Somewhere Over the....

2010-10-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

This week has been a soggy one. The rain and overcast reminds me of the time I lived in Washington. One marked difference is the lightning and thunder, Washington doesn't really have thunderstorms like we do here. I love the rolling thunder! Aden wasn't a real big fan of a particularly close one that scared the daylights out of him. He is however, a huge fan of puddles and rainbows! The other day the sun peaked out just long enough to make the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It was not only a FULL rainbow but it was so bright and vibrant and a perfect opportunity to try out my new wide angle lens.

Stinkin' Cute Random Photo

2010-09-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

So this Super cute random photo is brought to you by.....a cell phone picture! My dad took this with his cell phone and I am in love with it. Aden loves when his juice changes his tongue colors and Grandpa captured it perfectly....I edited it only slightly to sharpen and enhance the quality but that's all I did....his tongue really was that blue!

My Beautiful Boys

2010-09-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in the day-to-day I forget to be grateful for my blessings. Two of the biggest blessings in my life are my boys and some times in the chaos of it all I forget how much I love them and really am extremely grateful for them.

On the Move!

2010-09-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Since about 5 1/2 to 6 months old Raleigh has been doing a fun army crawl scoot thing....which while effective at getting him around, the front of all his clothes were always trashed and the toes of some of his jammies even had holes wore through. In the beginning of Aug he started to crawl a little....but always resorted back to his scoot. For the last couple weeks now he has finally converted to the traditional crawl and is even trying to stand up...it won't be long til he is walking and in to everything! (more than he already is anyways)

My Little Cowboy!

2010-09-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

My dad borrowed a tiny saddle from his friend for Aden to use and he LOVES riding! He is learning a lot and will be ready for riding club in a couple of years. Looking at the pictures you can totally tell that Aden and Grandpa are both enjoying themselves.

Labor Day Adventure!

2010-09-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend we went and stayed with our friends Nate and Becky in Vernal. On Labor day we went to the dinosaur museum. It was so fun to see Aden get so excited about the dinosaurs and things and to see Raleigh start to enjoy himself too!

My Two Boys!

2010-09-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

So I have some pictures of both the boys around the same age that I have been wanting to post.
Here is by far my favorite! Aden's picture was one of the first times I got to play with black and white with some color elements.

Grandpa and Auntie Hannah Visit!

2010-08-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

After riding the float and enjoying some of the festivities we got some much anticipated guests! Grandpa and Hannah came for a short but FUN visit! We loved having them come and we were sad to see them go but the short visit just might get us through til we go to Washington for Christmas.

Peacock's On Parade!

2010-08-15T10:31:00.001-07:00

Pioneer day this year we were in the Orangeville day's Parade! My Grandma Peacock, with some help from the rest of the family, put together a float and it was so fun for the boys and me to be in it. I added some feathers to their cowboy hats so they would be showing their Peacock side! The float turned out SO cute and I must say it was a blast to ride the float and throw candy and beads to all the kids. On a side note, Grandma and Tammy adapted the float to go along with the County Fair Theme and in the parade on Aug 7th we rode it again won the Commissioner's Choice!

4th of July Fishing Trip!

2010-08-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

After our fishing trip on Father's Day went so well we decided to go up on the mountain fishing for the 4th of July. We actually didn't go til the 5th but it was our celebration of Independence day. It was so fun and Raleigh even got to help Grandpa reel in a fish!

First Double Tubby!

2010-08-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

These pictures are kind of old.....I have been really bad at keeping up on things lately but here are the pictures from Aden and Raleigh's first bath together. I love how they are both loving every minute of it! Aden was overjoyed to be combining two of his favorite things...his brother and water and Raleigh thought the big boy tubby was the coolest thing EVER!

Lake Reunion

2010-07-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Annual Lake Reunion took place the end of June and we had way too much fun :D...Thanks to Courtney and Dale who planned and all our great family who make every year so much fun.

So here are some pics of the fun!

Buzz Lightyear

2010-07-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to add something from Aden to Chris's Father's day card. So I gave him some cardstock and a package of markers. I watched him carefully pick colors and color away. Well after he finished I put his drawing in Chris's card. When Chris opened his card he admired the drawing and Aden exclaimed "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!" and sure enough....when you look at the portrait next to his action figure you can totally see it...the colors are perfect and he was so proud. I love it!

Happy Father's Day

2010-07-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

So late as it may be here is my father's day post. I love the dad's in my life and appreciate them for all they do. My own has always been a great dad and provider for me and is now a fantastic Grandpa.

I also appreciate the father of my children. He is so great with the boys and takes care of us and makes our happiness his highest priority and I love him for it.

Raleigh is On the Move....with bonus Aden Flash back.

2010-06-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Here is Raleigh using his crawl scoot combo....

If he isn't doing that he is Rolling.....

Here is Aden about Raliegh's age atempting to move....the best part is the most movement is his hair :D

My Two Studs

2010-06-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Gotta love the cool dudes in their sunglasses!

Aden's New Friend

2010-06-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

That little animal behind Aden is not a dog....it is Buttercup Mom and Dad's new baby goat. Buttercup follows Aden around like a shadow and it is the cutest thing ever. Aden loves her and she loves Aden. Aden would run around the house up and down little hills and sure as anything that little goat would bound around behind him. When Aden goes in the house Buttercup tries to follow and when she is blocked she bleats until Aden comes back out. Buttercup likes Raleigh too. She started sniffing his bare feet, which tickled so he kicked her, to which she paws the ground and gently butts his little feet....so CUTE!

Bad Mommy Momment

2010-06-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

I had one the other day. I had Aden in one arm and Raleigh in his car seat in the other. I didn't have another arm so I used the car seat to shut the truck door....well a little toe slipped in the way and got slammed in the door.
Poor sad toe :(

French Toast!

2010-06-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

1 Hungry Baby with no teeth+1 French Toast-Crust+Baby Food Grinder=One Happy Baby :D

Beautiful Eyes

2010-06-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

The more I get to know my boys, the more I realize they are so different. One of the more physical differences is their eyes. I was playing with my phone and got a picture of their drastically different peepers and thought I would share. Beautiful :D

Aden's Hat Stage!

2010-06-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

So the last couple of weeks Aden has been obsessed with hats. He has never been very good at keeping them on since he was born...it was a matter of seconds before any hat was taken off, which was fine because he has such great hair. But as of late he has been hat crazy....the outfits he puts together are always interesting and sometimes HILARIOUS! I got some pics of the cowboy hat because Aden tends to put that one on when I have the camera out.....like he has to have his hat on for pictures...but his hat wardrobe is not limited...he has ball caps, winter hats, sun hats, and even a Santa hat!

Gotta love this getup....he even has shoes for this one :D

6 1/2 Months Old....When did that happen?

2010-06-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Raleigh is now 6 1/2 Months old and cute as ever. He weighed in at 18lbs even and is 26 1/2 inches long. He is such a fun little guy and is quite the thinker. He is slower to smile than Aden but much more contemplative. Aden was and still is one that just flies by the seat of his pants....doesn't plan, just does. Raleigh I can already tell is more of a planner thinker type. I sit and watch him sometimes as he just studies things....his fingers, toes, toys, and random objects. The best example of his thinking happened the other day while I was busy in the kitchen and I had Raleigh in the high chair with a number of toys and foods to keep him happy while I worked, well he had pushed everything to the outer edge of the tray including his binki. Well he struggled and fussed a little and then he stopped fussing and started leaning forward and then slamming his back against the high chair.....I was curious as to what exactly he was doing so I watched and he leaned forward again and slammed back, he did this three or four times before I realized what was going on. As he would slam his back against the high chair everything on the tray would move toward him just a little bit. Raleigh with his eyes on nothing but the binki moving closer and closer was so cute as he finally got it in hand and in mouth..so I have to admit once I realized to what lengths he was going to to get his binki I cheated and scooted it to him so he wouldn't hurt himself :D.

Swimming!

2010-05-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

Aden took back to the water like the little fish he is and but Raleigh seemed pretty reserved about the whole thing....He didn't cry but it was hard to get him to smile...after a while he was splashing and talking...and he even spent some of the time in my arms sleeping... in the water :D!

Pickle Eating Boys

2010-05-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

I love how babies always have that hilarious squinty eyed puckered mouth when you first give them pickles. So with Aden I was ready for him to have the funny sour pickle face but from the first time he had a pickle he has loved them, no funny face just a kid addicted to pickles....even so I figured it was still worth a try with Raleigh...so I got a pickle and my camera and was ready to take the picture....but yet again I don't have a silly pickle face picture to show...in fact I couldn't pry the pickle out of his hands.

Raleigh's New Toy

2010-05-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

This little boy loves this bouncy chair! He loves playing with his toys, watching his brother and even eating in this great play center. In fact it was hard to get all of this Oreo off of him his clothes and his play center but he LOVED it! :D

My Big Boys

2010-05-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Aden 3 Years Old Raleigh 4 Months Old

Two Beautiful Boys :D

Fishing Trip with Daddy to Moab!

2010-04-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

It was a long ride but this guy was a real trooper...he loves going fishing with Daddy.A pitstop at scenic Eagle Canyon

He reeled in his fish and was so excited...but apperently they fought some..."help daddy help!"

So excited about his FISHY!

Showing off his catch.

glub glub....a close up of one of the days catches. Final tally...Daddy cought 3 on his big pole and Aden on the Spiderman pole cought 5....I don't know what it is about that pole, but the fish LOVE it....or maybe it's the little fisherman :D

My Silly Boys!

2010-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

Checkin his emails....chatting with his peeps....

speaking of peeps....the determination of this boy to get to those peeps was SO cute!

Turns out he didn't care about the peeps...he wanted the package :)

The last couple of days Aden has been getting dressed and going to "work". He goes outside and plays in the dirt.....What a great JOB!

This is him "working" at Aunt Tammy's house with the cousins :D..

He loved going down the hill over and over and over.....he didn't want to come home.

Easter Sunday

2010-04-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

So after all the egg fun and baskets of goodies from the day before, we had a great Easter Sunday with Conference and visiting and a wonderful Easter feast. Between sessions of conference we took the kids to the Elementary school and rolled the colored eggs down the good hills there...and the slide just because we could :D.
Watching the eggs roll down the hill....they loved it!

This kid loved watching them crack and didn't even care if his egg was the fastest!I would call this a serious case of egg envy...It's a good thing he loves that girl...he isn't above taking things from her but he was patient when it came to the eggs. When we ran out of eggs the kids took turns going down the slide too!

Cute picture with Mary and the baby cousins...I can't wait to see if they are as good of friends as Aden and Tianna.

Easter Bunny!

2010-04-06T12:11:00.001-07:00

The loot the Easter Bunny left! They both made a haul!
Aden was so excited about the toys but mostly the CANDY!
Raleigh didn't quite know what to think....
...but we talked him into a smile
Then off to Grandma's house for an indoor hunt with Tianna
His face says it all! CANDY!!!
The Easter Bunny got a little morbid when he hid the eggs there :)
Raleigh participated in the only way he knows how....chewing on an empty egg!

Then off the Great Grandma's for an outdoor egg hunt...that bunny was SUPER busy.

This was not Raleigh's idea of fun...it was mom's and it didn't last long...oh well :D

Easter Eggs!

2010-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

The egg coloring eggs-travaganza! Need I say more?

City Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Chris took Aden to the City Easter Egg hunt. Aden had a good time even though he didn't get any eggs during the hunt. He got the goody bag and toy and later on someone took pity on his lack of eggs and shared some of theirs. Chris felt disappointed for him but really he didn't mind that much.

My Boys

2010-04-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

As a mother of two there are many things I have had to adjust to. One that I have LOVED is to see my boys together and how much they love each other. Aden absolutely adores his brother and would love nothing more than to just hold him and play with him for hours. Raleigh is very reserved with his giggles but for some reason Aden can get him to giggle faster and harder than any one else. He loves when his brother plays peek-a-boo with him and just to see them interact makes my heart swell. The other part that is heart wrenching is watching Aden get upset when Raleigh is upset. When we had Raleigh on breathing treatments the very first time, Aden saw the contraption and heard the loud pump and got really upset when he saw his brother crying and he ran away crying too....I guess I didn't expect at such a young age for him to be so compassionate and sympathetic for his brother.

Darth Vader Baby

2010-04-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have decided a baby should be born in the late spring...this due to the fact that it isn't cold and flu season....Raleigh got sick shortly after he was born and he got sick again a couple weeks ago. He had the really raspy cough and an ear infection. The pediatrician gave him antibiotics for the ear and a breathing treatment regimen for the cough. He is now recovered and doing great but here is a picture of him getting the breathing treatment...not a fan obviously.

Spring Break!

2010-03-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

So for spring break we decided to spend some of our vacation up in Logan with Luke, Mary and the girls. When I say we I mean My boys, my mom, and myself. We got in some good quality shopping and the kids got in on some great play time. Aden got to participate in Tianna's Gymnastics class, and he LOVED it. I think it was great for his confidence and it was great to see him follow direction...the teacher is a SAINT!We also accomplished a Cousins picture or two.....here is one of the best :)

A big thanks to our hosts!

Random Photo

2010-03-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I have a few posts that I need to get posted but I wanted to post this photo because I love it and everyone in it :D

Day to Day Life at the Bingham's House

2010-03-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

It has been just over three months since Raleigh made his debut into our family. We are finally settling into somewhat of a routine. Every day is a new adventure with these two. Aden loves his brother....if possible too much. The only reason I can't get things done around the house is because as soon as I put Raleigh down Aden swoops in to "love" on him, waking him, and driving me NUTS. But it is so fun to see them together. Aden can't possibly get enough of his brother and Raleigh gets a kick out of him and smiles the bigest gummy grins. Aden is getting smarter and smarter and growing in to such a fun little man. He is currently working on his colors and letters. Raleigh is growing a learning every day. He has learned to grab things and put them in his mouth. He loves his swing and he loves to be sang to. This is the little guy in his swing mowing on the tangle toy his Aunt Heather Rae gave him for Christmas....less than 5 minutes later...He is fast asleep :)

Raleigh's Blessing

2010-03-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures with Raleigh in his blessing tux. And one family picture from yesterday with us all in are Sunday best.

Day at the Museums....continued

2010-02-16T09:16:00.000-08:00

After spending a good deal of time at the San Rafael Museum we decided to head over to the Prehistoric Museum in Price where Aden was amazed by the display of the mammoth bones, loved the dinosaur displays and especially loved the live animals they had on display. He also spent some time being an archaeologist, using a paint brush to uncover a dinosaur skeleton in a sand box! And again Raleigh slept through the entire thing :D.

Our First Official Family Outing with Raleigh

2010-02-13T08:13:00.001-08:00

So a few weeks ago we decided on a whim that we needed to get out of the house and go do something (I think the long winter is giving us all cabin fever). We decided to go to the Museum in town...Aden LOVED it. He was a little leery of the dinosaur bones at first but after he got over that there was no stopping him. He loved all the animals and he really liked going in to the dark room with the glowing rocks. Raleigh in true two month old form, slept through the whole thing. It was such a successful trip we decided to head over to Price to visit the museum there too!

My Baby Turns 3

2010-01-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

Now there are lots of things that change your perspective, none quite so much as having a baby. Perspective on priorities, needs, and especially time. Before I had kids three years didn't seem like that long, but now it is the measure of a lifetime. It has been three years since Aden was born and he changed my life in so many ways. I love him and think the world of him. He is a great fisherman, a fantastic big brother, and the reason I laugh daily. We had a party with Grandma's and Grandpa's, Aunt Tammy and some cousins. There was ice cream and cake and a great haul of presents!!Aden couldn't even wait for me to bring the cake to blow out the candle! So we re-lit and blew them out a couple more times for good measure. Aden got to help cut his cake...which he was so excited to be finally eating it!

...in fact he couldn't even wait for a fork!

Thanks to Tammy and the kids for the great power toolsThanks to Great Grandma and Grandpa Peacock for the cool outfit and cars with a twirly track for them to go down on...and the plaid tissue paper which Aden was a fan of for some reason.

And a big thank you to Great Grandma and Grandpa Lake for the cool card and MONEY.Thanks to Grandpa Bert and Grandma Belinda for the loudest toy ever....and an awesome truck that has compartments for all Aden's toy cars. ..it also came with a ton of new ones!Chris and I gave him a RC car that he absolutely LOVES...sorry no picture, don't know why...and Raleigh gave him a book of puzzles...Tonka trucks and that sort of thing :)

And we can't forget Great Grandma Barbra, Thank you for the card and gift card I am looking forward to seeing what he picks out to buy with his own moneys.

Aden's Cake!

2010-01-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

So I found some adorable little lights at the craft store that inspired this cake for Aden's birthday
Aden loved helping mommy make the cake....he was the official taster....he did a great job :)

He even kissed his brother so he could share some with him

Here is a little video of the cake from all angles again it is a video from my phone so the quality isn't great but it gives you a little bit of an idea of what it looked like with the lights flashing :D Aden was so cute! He loved his cop car cake so much that as I was finishing the decorating he told me "good job mommy good job!" He was beaming and I have never felt such a sincere compliment in all my life...so worth the all day project it turned out to be. He also had to see the cake every few minutes...it was the last thing he wanted to see before bed on Thursday and the first thing he wanted to see when he got up on Friday...thankfully that night we ate it so the madness could end, but I loved that he got such joy out of something I made for him.

Bath Time Stories

2010-01-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

My good friend and coworker Kresta gave Raleigh the cutest bath robe for Christmas. I couldn't help the mini photo shoot that followed his bath. There is also a short video that I shot with my phone...so sorry for the poor quality but he was so cute and he was even telling stories :)

Welcome Visitors!

2010-01-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

Chris's dad and step-mom came all the way from Washington for a visit. We were so happy to see them and this was their first time meeting our new little man. Now I'm not one to put words in someones mouth but I think from the pictures it is perfectly clear they are as in love with this little boy as we are....but then again, what's not to love ;) Grandma spent much of their visit just like this...loving on baby Raleigh.

She told me that holding babies gives her peace and calm :) Grandpa likes to play tough guy but you can tell from the pictures when it comes to his grand babies he is a softy :D

And while they were here Grandpa fixed our drain (thank you so much by the way) and Aden had to get his tools out and help Grandpa...he was so cute down there fixing the dryer along side his grandpa!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

The loot...this is what it looked like after Santa came but before the kids got to it. Chris gave the kids a ride in to see what Santa brought.
I wish I had a better angle but Aden's face was priceless!

Aden using his new walkie talkies....with

Grandpa....who is going to kill me when he sees this....bed head and all...holding one of the cutest babies ever! This is Raleigh's idea of a great Christmas....sleeping and being held. The dynamic duo together on Christmas morning!

When Aden discovered his stocking it wasn't the candy that interested him.....and he was bound and determined to hold every one of the cars all at once....he obviously needed more hands :)

More of Raleigh doing what he loves!

Christmas Eve

2010-01-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

This year we had EVERY member of the family present for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It was fantastic! We all stayed at my Mom and Dad's house (even though Chris and the boys and I live in town) It was so fun all being under one roof. We got up Christmas eve morning and had a HUGE breakfast. After that had digested some we went sledding...I didn't sled due to the fact that I had surgery a little over a month before, Grandpa also sat out the sledding because of recent surgery/injury...but we made ourselves useful all the same. Grandpa shuttled people from the bottom of the hill to the top and I took pictures and watched the baby's. Every one had such a great time!

Luke and Tianna made it to the bottom

Mom enjoyed her ride...grandmas can have fun too!

Chris and Aden riding....Aden didn't like it so much

Still not happy about it.

Laura swooshes by...

..Eric catches air on his way down....check the gap between his back and the sled!

Mary and Tianna had a major WIPE OUT!

A close up of the wipe out...in case you missed it on the animation

Courtney zooms down.....and you can see Tianna and Mary still recovering from their spill

Dale had a nice tumble in the snow as well!

Speaking of wipe outs....This is Chris totally "eating" it check the saucer flipping over him!

After every one recovered from sledding with some Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate....got showered and changed and warmed we did a little Christmas nativity. Mary brought some cute little books that told the story of the Jesus' birth and had a song for each little part of the story. It was so much fun and the kids really got into it....some were willing participants (Tianna did such a good Mary...VERY reverent) and others were bribed (Notice the skittles all down Aden's face) and yet others were cute little by standers that we still have some control over...Adelia made the cutest little lamb and Raleigh played the part of a newborn seamlessly :D.

One Month Old

2010-01-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but document the one month mark of the life of this beautiful boy with a mini photo shoot.

SNOW!

2010-01-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

When it snowed in the beginning of December Aden was itching to get out into it. Because I had a brand new baby and because Chris was plowing said snow, he had to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and play with Aunt Laura to get the experience. But his reaction tells me it was worth the wait :)

Dear Santa,

2009-12-13T02:54:00.000-08:00

This year I must have been very good because I have every thing my heart could possibly want. I have two beautiful boys that are healthy and all a mommy could ask for, a husband who loves me very much, and family close by that I love to be around and who make my life so much easier. Plus all the material things that I could want or need :). So this year I don't need anything at all. Thanks for all the goodies from years past,

Monica

This is Aden and Raleigh getting to sit on Santa's lap at the City Christmas party this last week. Aden had a blast and I was so proud of him sitting on Santa's lap and getting his picture taken! Raleigh, well he slept through the whole thing....what do you expect from a three week old? :)

Raleigh's First Bath at Home

2009-12-05T15:29:00.000-08:00

One part of the first week that I didn't put in the last post was Raleigh's first bath....that needed it's own post. So Grandma and Auntie Laura came over to help with the first bath. Grandma did Aden's first bath at home so I thought it only fitting she did Raleigh's too!
Aden helping mommy clean the sink for Raleigh's bath.The calm before the storm...He liked this part of the bath...
Aden was super helpful.This part was not his favorite.But he was calm for some of it.Espeacially when he got out.This is the face of a clean little boy...who likes having his clothes back on.

The First Week Home

2009-12-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

So all those waiting for me to post pictures of all those who came to the hospital or visited shortly after....sorry it isn't going to happen. There are just too many and well the blog uploads photos painstakingly slow and one at a time....so if you want to see those pictures they are on my facebook page. If you are not yet added as my friend just add me and we will go from there :).

I wanted to get a picture of Raleigh in this outfit because it is one of my favorites from when Aden was that size and thought it would be super cute to compare their looks :).

And because of high bilirubin Raleigh got to spend some time in the light box (rotisserie oven as grandpa calls it). For those who also keep up on Luke and Mary's blog, this may feel like a repeat post.....because Adelia had the same problem and same solution :) I guess Raleigh just can't wait to be just like his cousin! Aden has been totally in love with this boy since he came home and can't stop loving, kissing, and touching Raleigh at every opportunity...(all too often waking or disturbing an otherwise calm baby)...but I prefer that to him being jealous and mean so we let him love on him as often as possible.This particular night I had just finished feeding Raleigh and was burping him when Aden stole the boppy (the 'u' shaped pillow that makes feeding super easy), set it up on his lap and reached his arms wide and demanded "I HOLD HIM!"...I am not one to cave to the demands of an almost-three-year-old but it was so cute I couldn't help it! Another great story, it was finals week at work and I took Raleigh with me for most my classes, well when I got home I was warmly greeted as usual...but as soon as Aden saw the car seat he said "I hold him!" So we got Raleigh out and sat Aden by his daddy on the couch and put Raleigh in his out stretched arms. Well not two minutes had passed when Raleigh messed his diaper with a loud farting and squishy sound...the funniest part was Aden's reaction! It was priceless, he got a scandalized look on his face and exclaimed "EWWWW!!!" and started pushing his brother towards his dad!

First Night Home

2009-11-26T21:40:00.001-08:00

After we got home from the hospital the boys put on their matching dinosaur jammies (thanks Grandma and Grandpa) We did our first night time routine together which included Daddy reading stories.

Snugs
Kisses

More snugs

And just being together as a family!

The Boys Finally Meet!

2009-11-23T20:07:00.000-08:00

After 9 months of pregnancy and then days in the hospital my boys were finally able to meet! Aden was so excited!

I couldn't help it, seeing them finally together made me so happy!

Raleigh wasn't so sure about all this attention and flashing cameras

Aden was so soft and sweet.

I loved when Aden started pointing out parts...almost like he was doing what we all do...making sure everything is all there in all the right places and wondering who he looks like :)

Brother's by Picture Message

2009-11-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

This past week Tianna has been visiting at Grandma's house and has been a great distraction while I have gotten things straightened out with insurance and made final arrangements before baby was born...little did I know how much distracting he would need. Since Raleigh was born two days early Aden has been staying with Grandma too so they have really palled around together and had tons of fun. These are picture messages I have gotten of his adventures while I have been distracted...

Now these are the picture texts that I have sent to my dad so that Aden could see his little brother...I don't know exactly how well the concept is working but Aden always replies enthusiastically with "Oh BABY" and "Oh baby sad :(" I am hoping it is enough to get him through one more day...and that he will have at least a little idea of what is going on....the miracles of modern technology allowing nothing, not even the flu season, get in the way of new brother bonding :D

Raleigh is here!

2009-11-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

Finally here and perfect in every way! I say finally but really he was early! Wednesday at 3AM I was no longer able to sleep...not uncommon if you have ever been pregnant. I started cleaning house because I had stuff that still needed to be done and well what else do you do at 3AM when sleeping isn't an option. So with two days before the scheduled surgery I had yet to pack anything and still had laundry to do before I could pack. Did I mention durring this time I was haveing contractions?...another reason sleep was not happening. They were really inconsistant and weird...with Aden they were very regular and progressivly worse....so I wasn't stressed or at all concerned I may be in labor. I started timeing contractions and writing them down after Chris left for work in the morning and decided I had better call the doctor since I had a two hour drive to get to the hospital. Well upon hearing about the contractions and the travel time the on call nurse contacted the doctor and I was informed he wanted me to get to the hospital as soon as possible. So I threw together a bag for me, and a bag for baby and Chris got off work and came to pack his stuff....finally we were on the road. We got to the hospital and went through the usual monitoring and checking, then the doctor was called and the next thing we new we were scheduled for surgery. Well I am happy to report dispite my hope to avoid labor this time, I must say the C-section the second time around was much easier. I had great doctors and nurses and the whole team was super supportive and great at their jobs. Raleigh was born at 3:54 PM and weighed in at 7lbs 4oz and 19in long. We are both still in the hospital recovering well and I am just enjoying the time I get to spend with him. On the down side, because of flu season Aden is left out of the story...for now...he can't be in the hospital at all and is staying over and grandma's house. I have talked to him on the phone a little and am thrilled with what a trouper he is being. We have had lots of visitors and have loved seeing everyone love and adore our new little man. I will post pictures of all our guests once we get home so I can dedicate a post to that. Thank you to all who have come, to all who have called, or shown support in anyway, thanks also for those who have brought gifts. We can't tell you how much we appreciate all the supportive and loveing family and friends in our lives.

Belly Pictures

2009-11-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

I made a promise to myself that I would be as equal as possible with my kids....well I did some belly pics during my pregnancy with Aden so naturally I knew I would need to do them with Raleigh...but I have been putting it off for a long time....I decided today I needed to do it or it may not get done while Raleigh is still in there. For those who haven't guessed yet on the poll this may help you decide how big he is :).

Just for Fun!

2009-11-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

So I came up with the idea today to do a last minute poll....Raleigh will be here in a few days and I want to know what every one thinks....Now here are some photos and stats to help you decide:
Christopher Michael- 10lb 3.5 oz, 21.5" long, and a full head of red hair!
Monica Jean- 7lb 5oz, probably 21" long, and a nice head of short dark hair.

Aden Christopher- 7lb 3.5oz, 21" long, and a FULL head of long dark hair!So here is what you do....I want to know what everyone thinks Raleigh's Weight, Height and Hair will be when he comes out...every one guess please, it will make it more fun to compare and see who was right on what!
Monica's guess is:
7lb 5oz (like his mommy), 21" long and a little less hair than Aden...but dark like his brother's.
Chris's Guess is:
8lb 3 oz, 21" long, with lots of red hair (like his daddy)!
Now it's your turn...

Blog Neglect

2009-11-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

I usually pride myself on keeping my blog updated....but the last couple of weeks have been a whirl wind trying to get the house and everything ready for our impending arrival :)...I have updated the count down on the right side of the blog...I had made it with the tentative date of the 17th of November and have been meaning to change it since we found out that Raleigh will be here on the 20th. I have a few pictures of Halloween to share...I know it's half way through November and I am way behind. First I have some more of the cute pictures from our photo shoot that I loved but didn't get a chance to edit...until now. And a bonus of Aden's first carved pumpkin! It goes with the Spiderman theme :D

Spiderman!

2009-10-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

You can feel safe knowing that Spiderman is out there keeping the city safe :)

Happy Halloween every one! Here is Aden all dressed up for the City Halloween party. He loves being Spiderman and would live in his costume if we would let him :).

Deer Hunt and Crafts :)

2009-10-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had friends and family down for the deer hunt! We loved having the extra company and fun was had by all. The hunters were successful with Dale, Mom and Dad getting their deer. We still feel bad Nate was unable to get one while he was down but 3 out of 4 isn't too bad. While the hunters were out on Saturday we enjoyed some crafting at the Bingham house hold. Aden and Tianna put some fun Halloween stickers on some mini totes. It was so much fun and so cute! They were both very creative and loved it! I made some toddler aprons...that turned out sooo cute, while we visited Mary got to spend some much loved mommy time with Adelia.

The Date is SET!

2009-10-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

So I got a phone call today to confirm the date of our C-section! Raleigh Bert Bingham will be joining the family November 20th! We are so excited and can't wait to see this little guy on the outside!!! So anyone who wants to see him when he is first born is more than welcome to come visit us at the hospital...with a couple conditions (not mine, the hospitals). Because of the swine flu and regular flu for that matter, they won't allow any visitors who are sick or fevered. Also no visitors under the age of 14.....this one gives me a big sad because that includes Aden :(
If there is any more information I will post and let everyone know. But for now, unless any unforeseen complication should arise, we are planning on having a happy healthy surgery and baby on the 20th!

Last Minute Popsicle!

2009-09-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Aden got to discover the joys of the Ice Cream Truck! I was leaving for work and Chris and Aden were going outside to play, when we heard the chimes of the Ice Cream Truck! Now I have heard it around before but it has never come all the way to our house before....well the lady must have seen us outside and decided to come on down. Aden was all excited, although I don't think he knew why. I handed him a dollar and Chris helped him pick out which one to get.....well Aden picked a HUGE Popsicle! In fact he wore safety goggles for the occasion....would just hate to loose and eye to a tragic Popsicle accident. :)
From the blue grin and the sticky mess he made you can tell that this boy's first Ice Cream Truck experience was a complete success!!! The perfect way to end the hot days of summer!

Aden Loves Nemo!

2009-09-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

I doubt you could ever find a more devoted grandpa than my dad. He has named his only surviving colt for Aden. Nemo is this cute little guys name and Aden loves him pretty well as much as he does the cartoon fish that is his namesake (if not more). I got this cute little picture on my cell phone and just thought it was such a priceless picture I couldn't not share it. Aden has the cutest smile under that pucker and Nemo seems to like the loves too!

Takes After His Mommy

2009-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

So you have seen him fishing and hunting and doing things with daddy....but now it is mommy's turn for quality time with Aden doing something she loves!
As most of my close friends and family know, I have a real passion for all things artistic. From painting and sketching, to photography and digital scrap booking, I dabble in a little bit of everything. Well on Saturday morning since Chris had to work and Aden had spent the night over at Grandma and Grandpa's house, I was patient and well rested enough to get out the paints and let Aden dabble a little in the arts. I had some wood little figurines I got for 88cents at Wal-Mart and Aden went to town....notice the helicopter, train, and car on his tray plus he had enough paint and ambition left to paint a picture on some paper.....and himself....and his high chair.....luckily all the paint came off of all the subjects that were not meant to be painted :).

Happy Birthday Chris!

2009-09-18T11:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Christopehr I love you!

Dove Hunting and the Unexpected Find

2009-09-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

So Chris has had the opportunity the last couple of weeks to go dove hunting with a friend from work few times. He even takes Aden with him....who by the way LOVES it and even spots birds for his daddy to shoot and is excellent at doing what he is told while on the hunt. Every time he has gone he has come home with at least 2 birds sometimes more. The first trip they took Chris found something that wasn't a dove, but was a welcome site (to him anyway). He found a den of rattle snakes....to most people this would be a bad thing....but not to Chris, who dreams of one day becoming a snake scientist (herpetologist). Any ways because they are poisonous and Chris isn't stupid he didn't even attempt to pick any of them up...he settled for a few excited phone calls and a couple pics with the cell phone to document the occasion.

Labor Day Outing

2009-09-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Labor day we took advantage of the beautiful weather and fantastic company and went to the Rochester Panel....for those who don't know, this is a panel of great Indian writings that takes a little hiking to get to. Aden hiked most of the way but spent some time on his daddies shoulders just enjoying the view. Tianna was a trouper! she hiked the whole way without being carried at all!

Dad is still recovering from hip surgery so he was missed but my Mom made the trek with us.

Aden is obsessed with Adelia....I think he might be ready for his little brother to get here.

Here is a good family photo...including the little bump that will soon be a baby :)

We loved spending the weekend with Luke, Mary and the girls!

Aden was so lovey and I really liked this picture....Tianna found a stick that she had to have in all her pictures.Adelia spent much of the trek asleep but was awake for some pictures and was a champ the whole time....not to mention adorable :D

A little over 2 and a half and he isn't a baby anymore.

2009-09-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

So I made a sad discovery today....up til now I have been doing pretty well at getting some cute pictures of Aden for photo album and to share with family every mile stone....well today I relized I haven't taken any since Aden turned two. So today we did a photo shoot at a playground here in town and over at my Grandma's house. So here he is, not yet three....so I guess I am still okay to call them his two year old pictures. The second startleing discovery I made was the fact he doesn't look like a baby anymore....he looks like a little man :( when did he grow up?

Summer Fun!

2009-09-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

So I was going through some pictures and realized there were some from July that really were blog worthy but never got posted. They consist of some fun side walk chalk drawing and bubbles....out door activities that Aden LOVES and begs me to go outside and play with him.

Lake Reunion '09

2009-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

So this year Chris and I were in charge of the Lake reunion. We decided to have it in mid Aug. so Chris could actually be there, rather than the usual 24th of July weekend it has been. Well it turns out it was a good thing Chris was there. On the 14th Chris, Aden, and I had to run up for an ultrasound and Dr's appointment and then joined the campers. We got there in time to set up our trailer and get in on dinner and a little socializing :). Early Saturday morning we got the news that my dad was hurt in the mine and would be going into surgery for a broken hip. So Chris and Aden stayed up on the mountain to represent the family, along with Mary and the girls :)...while Mom, Luke, Laura, and I hurried down to see dad. (Courtney was supposed to work, so she was still up in SLC, but headed down as soon as she heard) Well Chris and others thankfully took some pictures of the reunion. Dad feels horrible about "ruining" the reunion (like he had a choice). But from what I hear, and the pictures I saw, a great time was had by all :). My apologies for the Reunion not being the best planned and executed event. And a special thanks to Rachel for the pictures I stole off your facebook :) and everyone else who took pictures and made the trip!

More Pictures of our Baby Boy

2009-08-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

So we went up Friday the 14th for another ultrasound so that we could get a better look in side our little bundle of joy. For all those holding out hope that there might have been a mistake with the last ultrasound, he is definitely a boy :). Here are the pictures, one face shot, a foot shot, and a really cute one of him leaning his little head on his arm.

Fair Week

2009-08-10T10:06:00.001-07:00

This past week was Fair week here in Emery County. Aden got in on allot of fun. He loved the parade, the different activities going on and the inflatable slide along with the regular playground and all the festivities. Actually this years parade was the first Aden has ever been to and he had a BLAST!...and along with help from some special friends Aden made out like a bandit...in fact I think we will still have enough candy for trick or treaters come Halloween. He also got a "Spider Man" inflatable friend from the fair as his special treat for being so good.

Killing time waiting for the parade to start.I think I see something coming.Whoo Hoo Throw some this way!Heading home for a nap.The spoils of a long day at the fair!