Things

A pterodactyl

Darth Vader

A helmet

Things that had to be removed from our bed before we hopped in last night.

Antidisestablishmentarianism 

Kick counts

Things that kept me awake at 3am.

And then he was FIVE.

My first, my baby, my Damen turned five on July 2nd.  It's hard to describe in words how our lives have changed in these last five years.  It's hard to remember the 8 years we had together before he was born, they're so insignificant in comparison.  Damen was a miracle, a blessing, a wonderful gift.  He is so sweet and fun, very imaginative and social.  He always asks where his friends are, when are they coming over, can we go to their house, he looks for and makes friends as soon as we get to the park.  He loves his family!  He talks about his many cousins all the time and asks when we can go see them, or Grandma's and Papa's, who he also loves to call and chat with.

For his birthday he wanted a car cake.  There are piston cups on top of the cupcakes.

He also wanted a pinata, really really bad!  We found this one for $5, and it even has Lightning Mcqueen on it!

We partied at the park with his friends on the 1st, it was too windy to get the candles lit, but you get the idea.

Then on the 2nd, after driving for 10 hours to Redding, CA, our friends had cupcakes and ice cream ready to celebrate ON his birthday!

On the fourth of July we made it to my parents house in Washington and had ANOTHER night of singing, cake (strawberry short cake), presents and of course fireworks!

 He is still my baby.  

Mormon Battalion

We went to San Diego with our entire church primary to visit the Mormon Battalion visitor center.  It was a really great interactive account of the Mormon Battalion and their journey across the western states.  

 Damen got to dress up like a soldier and play in a covered wagon.

Kindergarten, already. . .

The second week of June Damen got to participate in Kindergarten Camp.  At his school, he got to go to four days of "kindergarten" with a teacher and about 11 other kids.  He came home with paintings/crafts/practice sheets.  He had a great time and can't wait for the real thing to start!

I did my best not to be sad, but that first day was killer :(

IDAHO!!!

Come on, who doesn't get excited about Idaho??
Seriously, it was a VERY long drive, but so worth it!  Dustin's Grandma turned 90 in May so the whole family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins traveled up to party with her.  It was great to see everyone and to cool off in Idaho, where it wasn't summer yet!

Grandma opening her present from everyone, it was a book about her from the kids and grandkids.  Dustin's sister Sari put it together for her, it was really neat to read and to see all the pictures of the family.

Grandma and Grandpa with us.

This is Damen with his cousin Ryan, practically his twin!  They had a great time together.

Having fun on the four-wheeler, always a big hit!

So, the boys above were getting dressed in their "protective" gear in preparation for their roman candle war.  The sheriff that stopped by the house in the middle of it told them to "Be safe", only in Idaho!  

We spent a few days in Salt Lake to catch up with my Sister, Christi and some friends.  We went bowling, ate at Wingers(of course) had a BBQ, and spent late nights catching up.  

Me and Corinne above and her daughter Whitney with Damen below.

Whitney and Westin chowing down on a mud pie from Wingers, mmmm.

Damen with his oldest friend Olivia, they moved to Utah over a year ago, glad they can still have us over for dinner, we miss them!!

Melissa, Dan and Olivia.

Well, that just about sums up our trip, it was a long drive, cool weather, and we got to see a LOT of family and friends, it was GREAT! 

Mothers Day

Mothers day this year was so special. Five years ago I was pregnant with Damen on Mothers Day and I couldn't have been happier. This year, pregnant with baby boy number two left me feeling twice as wonderful and so blessed to be a mother:)

Ummm, May?

I keep falling behind! So, actually I think this was April, but who's counting/reading anyway!

The week after Easter Dustin's sister Terra and her fun family came to visit. Their son Benjamin was SO much fun and we had a great time in the sun.

We went to the train museum, always a hit with small boys! (and some big ones too)

We went out to the Living Desert, unfortunately the Giraffes were not hungry that morning :(

We went to Oceanside Beach, this is Terra posing in pink!

Dustin and Damen enjoying the waves.

Benjamin and some of his daddy, Josh, splashing away!

Once we were good and exhausted we walked out to the pier and ate at Ruby's Diner.  Mmmmm.

It was so much fun having them here, we love it when family visits!!