Love My Growing Boy!

I often hear remarks about how time flies too fast with little ones, and people wishing for time to stand still so their babies can stay babies forever.  But personally, I don't wish to slow down these years. With each passing birthday comes new adventures, new discoveries, (and of course new parenting trials)!  With both my boys I've tried to determine my favorite baby stage. But there are both wonderful - and truthfully some terrible - things that come along with each new stage. I don't love every moment of it, but I love my boys wholeheartedly!

Happy 6th Birthday to my inquisitive, outgoing Gavin!

Not only did this little man turn six today... he also finished his last day of Kindergarten. He's loved his dual immersion English/Spanish class and keeps telling me he's both excited and sad to be done and wants to do summer school over the break until he starts back to school as a big 1st grader!

Kindergarten School Picture


Gavin & Mrs. Giese

Gavin & Maestra Renteria

Kindergarten was a year full of fun new adventures. Class swimming and ice skating parties, a Heber Creeper train ride, and the last month of school seemed like all play and no work! There was a bus ride field trip to the Hogle Zoo, walking field trips to Papa Murphy's and Rancho Market, a walk-a-thon fundraiser, school assemblies, pet days, field day, and a final class program. Here are photos from the walk-a-thon and some field day fun!

Our May Visitors

Although Gavin and Liam see my parents often over Skype, it's not quite the same as having them here for cuddles! Christmas 2014 we went down to Mexico, and in February 2015 they were up in Utah for a brief visit, but that was the last time we've been together. Liam was only five months in February, and has sure changed in the 15 months since. So this past May my parents came up to Utah for another visit!  It was great to have them here and to celebrate my Mom's birthday with her.

Gavin's Provo River hike with Grandpa Ducky.

Before my parents arrived Gavin showed my dad all his rocks over Skype and was excited for Grandpa Ducky to come with his magnifying glass to teach him more about all his rocks and what kind they were. Gavin wasted no time! The first day they were here Gavin and my dad went for a hike along the Provo river looking for rocks. Gavin became quite the little photographer while my parents were in town. My dad was more trusting than me, and let Gavin take over his camera. They came back from their hike with all sorts of pictures of rocks, birds, flowers, etc. that Gavin had taken, and put together a family home evening lesson about the creation (with an emphasis on different types of rocks)! One morning my parents volunteered in Gavin's kindergarten class. Mrs. Giese asked Ducky to explain to the kids what he does for work, and Gavin was excited to help explain all about rocks to his class with his Grandpa Ducky.

Afternoon Walk

Luckily I only had to work one day while my parents were in town. So while I was at work Gavin, Liam, Nana, and Grandpa Ducky went for a long walk down to a park with a stop along the way for Slurpees. (It didn't occur to them that giving a one-year-old an entire Slurpee was out of the norm - but what would Grandparents if they couldn't spoil grandkids when they visited!) There was more picture taking from Gavin, shoulder rides, and monte-monte caballo rides at the park!

Provo River BBQ

Later during the week we decided to check out where Gavin and Grandpa Ducky went on their hike. We spent the evening roasting hotdogs, throwing rocks in the river, and enjoying some s'mores!

Mom's 60th Birthday

We celebrated my mom's birthday with strawberry short cake topped with 60 candles! For her birthday my mom had asked close family and friends to write six memories each of her. Allison and I were talking one evening and decided it would be special to compile all the memories from everyone into a book. So we finished the book and had it sent to my house so Mom could open it while she was in town for her birthday. It was fun to work on the book with Allison, and to read the memories that everyone shared. And of course there was also a dinner at Zupas Cafe to celebrate as well!

 

 Duck Pond 

I love the duck pond at the Wasatch State Park near where we live. There are so many ducks and geese there to feed, a park to play at, and beautiful scenery to just sit and take in. Apparently they stock the pond with fish, but we have yet to have gone fishing there. Once again Gavin was Mr. Photographer trying to get the perfect shot of the geese!  

There were also trips for milkshakes, games, a visit with my Great-Great Aunt, 

a trip to the Provo City Center Temple, shopping at the Tanger Outlets, fun at the pool, and bedtime stories and cuddles!

Spring Soccer

Gavin loves playing soccer! And I love watching him play and seeing him improve each season. He's not completely past the stage of a clump of kids all chasing after the ball, but he's getting there. He's starting to get the concept of passing, and this season he got lots of practice passing to his teammates. Although his team didn't win every game, they won most, and we tried explaining to Gavin that instead of trying to get another goal, he could practice passing if his team already had lots of goals. It was comical during one game when he got a break away, made it five feet from the goal with no one around, then turned and passed the ball back to a teammate. 

Go Gavin!

GOAL!!!

Cheering on Brother

Gavin and his team

For Gavin it's the social interactions more than the game that he loves so much. Sometimes after a big kick, or a far throw in he'll stop playing to ask his coach if she saw that, forgetting that the balls still out there. During one game we were winning by quite a bit, to the point where you could tell the kids on the other team weren't having much fun. We suggested Gavin practice passing rather than try and score, which went well. At the end of the game he had had such a fun time he didn't realize the other team wasn't quite as happy. Not trying to be rude or anything, just wanting to share his excitement of how much fun the game was, he ran up to the other team, jumped in the air, and shouted "We beat you!!!" Yes, that was my kid. After sharing our watermelon with the other team to help smooth things over, Jared and I had a great conversation with Gavin on the ride home about good sportsmanship and came up with some better alternatives for next time!

"It's a Small World"

Back in 2013 we went to Disneyland with the Edgel family.  Every so often Gavin will ask us when we can go to Disneyland again, reminding us that he's only ever been once in his whole life! Well, considering he was only three the first time he went, we weren't planning on another trip anytime in the near future.  I tried explaining to Gavin that I was seven the first time I went to Disneyland, and I never went again until after Mommy and Daddy were married!

But it just so happened that Gavin's wish came true this past April and he got to go on his second trip to the happiest place on earth! Patti has a year pass to Disneyland, and wanted to take the three oldest grandkids with her. The only dilemma was figuring out how we would get Gavin from Utah down to Vegas...so I volunteered to tag along on their trip! Jared stayed behind and worked, while Gavin, Liam, and I headed down to Las Vegas. While Liam enjoyed a three day visit with Grandpa and Auntie Janea... Gavin, Easton, Teagan, Patti, and I set out for California. It was a quick trip, arriving Sunday evening, hitting Disneyland and California Adventure on Monday and Tuesday, then driving back to Vegas Tuesday evening. Tuesday was also Patti's birthday, so it was fun to celebrate with her and grandkids at Disneyland!

Fires and s'mores Saturday night before heading to California

I don't think this bug even missed me!

These three were too cute on the drive together

Pre-Disneyland fun and the hotel pool 

The very first ride we went on was Space Mountain (now Hyperspace Mountain). This trip Gavin was tall enough to basically ride everything...but I didn't think to explain before getting on that he was perfectly safe. You can't fall out, the TIE fighters won't actually hit us, we're not really going into hyperdrive, etc. It was all a little much. While I sat in front with Teagan I could hear Gavin's worried cries of, "Oh no! How do we shoot them? I want off!" Easton loved it, while Gavin was wiping his tears when we finally stopped. After a long hug and explanation that everything on the rides is make believe, Gavin wouldn't let Hyperspace Mountain get the best of him again! Our very last ride at Disneyland was a second spin on Hyperspace Mountain, now one of Gavin's favorite rides!

Gavin was all about the maps. By the end of the trip I think we had

collected at least 5 maps of Disneyland and California Adventure

Toontown Fun 

What would Disneyland be without the overpriced treats?

California Adventure was TOTALLY worth it, just for Cars Land! Stopping dead in his tracks, Gavin looked around and started jumping for joy say, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Look! We're in Radiator Springs! We're in the movie Cars for real!!! I can't believe it! It's like a dream come true!!" There was Luigi's Casa Della Tires, Flo's Cafe, the Cozy Cone Motel, and Stanley's Statue. Gavin wasn't kidding! As you walk down the street past the one blinking street light, it really feels like you've entered Radiator Springs.

Although the fireworks were canceled Monday night, we

still had fun hanging out and watching the evening parade

Happy Birthday Patti!

More fun in Radiator Springs

Of all the ride pictures we just couldn't get over how hilarious this one was! Easton and Gavin's faces are the best.

Gavin had such a blast with Grandma and cousins and it was great to join along in the fun!!