Happy 30th!!

Just wanted to wish my big sis a happy birthday today! 30 years old is a big milestone! Hope you have a great day!! Love ya tons, sis!

Summer 2009 - The "Hole" Summer

(I'm finally catching up on the summer.)

We spent a ton of time in Jackson Hole this summer. We were there for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and many other times. Unfortunately, we were bad luck this summer and had bad weather most of the times we were in Jackson but we still had plenty of fun with the family!

On the 4th of July we went to Hidden Falls. Jaxon loves to hike in his backpack (but he usually falls asleep!)

The fireworks show in Jackson is pretty good. I even woke Jaxon up just to say he saw fireworks on his first 4th of July! (And I still haven't missed one 4th of July in Jackson yet!)

On a couple of other trips we discovered an awesome hike to Phelp's Lake. (Jackson is just so beautiful in the summer!)

He sure loves his "Papa" May!!

Contemplating life . . . like father, like son!

Unfortunately, my Grandma May died this summer so we spent a lot of time at the ranch. I am so glad Jaxon got to experience a little of it before my Grandpa no longer lives there.

We got to see my Grandpa again after the funeral when he came with my uncles to clean out his house. This picture has 4 generations - Jaxon, his Mom, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa. His Great-Grandpa May was excited to see him because he was the first great-grandson after 5 great-granddaughters!

It was so good to see him but sad that he will no longer be living in Jackson.

Jaxon got to "help" his Grandma and Grandpa pick raspberries at the ranch one evening.

They have the most amazing raspberry patch!

Jax also got to sit in the big tractor with his "Papa".

(I think "Papa" May loves finally having a boy to play trucks with!)

Papa calls Jax "Boy".

The ranch has always been a huge part of my life and I'm having a hard time letting it go. I will very much miss spending time there and sharing it with my children.

We also got to spend some time with my parents' neighbors. They are a great family and have a little boy exactly one month younger than Jaxon.

We had a few swimming parties together.

They even had a special birthday celebration for both Jaxon and their son.

They had party hats, presents, and cupcakes! (Jaxon and his buddy got most of the cupcakes on themselves! I think they each had 4 or 5!)

The birthday boys!!

Unfortunately, they moved at the end of September. We will really miss playing with them!

My parents took such good care of us on all our trips! They fed us and played with us. Jaxon became good buddies with his Grandma May because she helped watch him for me while I got some work done.

Thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with us this all summer!

First Day of Winter?

So it was really cold today and for the first time this season, felt like winter was officially on its way! I am not ready to put the sandals away yet.
To keep the spirit of summer alive, I am going to (finally) get up-to-date on our summer adventures. So, the next few posts will being going back a few months. (But at least they will remind me of the sunshine when it is snowing!!)

I Heart Keith Urban!!

For my birthday in May, my in-laws bought me tickets to a Keith Urban concert. Last week, after waiting 3 long months, Shane and I finally got to go. It was awesome!! He is my favorite and the concert just made him even better.

And not only did the Hogans give me the tickets but also paid for dinner at the Macaroni Grill (one of my favorite restaurants) and babysat Jax for the evening. I think it was the first night that I wasn't the one to put my baby to bed!! But he did great.

Thanks Hogan family for one of the best birthday presents ever!!

"NO"

Jaxon said his first word a few weeks ago. Guess what he said? "NO." Not "Mama" or "Dada" but "No". Of course. He already has a mind of his own.

Birthday Bash

For Jaxon's 1st birthday, we had a John Deere themed party at the Hogans house (hence the John Deere blog background.) It was so cute! My mother-in-law decorated the house with John Deere streamers and balloons. And I have to say that Jaxon is the most spoiled 1 year old in the world!!

Look at all those presents!! He got a cute John Deere outfit from Grandma and Grandpa May, a couple of cute shirts from FL from his Aunt Lacey and Uncle Todd, a Batmobile from Aunt Kalei, and a totally cute John Deere quilt from Aunt Leisel.

And since he is so fond of blankies, I even attempted to make him a quilt. It was the first sewing project I did (mostly) by myself. (I had a little help from Jaxon's Grandma May!)

And then, of course, he got TONS of toy tractors from us and his Great-Grandma Gruwell.

I even made him a birthday cake! (I thought it turned out pretty well for my first decorating experience.)

Shane even got his first experience putting together a toy. The Hogans got him a little car he could ride around in and it required assembly. But Jaxon absolutely loves it and hates when we take him out of it!

Overall, Jaxon's 1st birthday party was a smashing success! Thanks to everyone for their sweet presents and for making Jaxon's 1st birthday so special!

Tall and . . . Small?

Jaxon just had his 12 month checkup. He is such a tough little kid! I always dread the shots because I hate to see him in pain but he only cried for a second and then the nurse gave him a lollipop and he was done. What a trooper!

They took his measurements and he is 30 inches long and weighs 20 lbs 14 oz. His weight turned out to only be in the 22 percentile! This is crazy because he has always seemed like such a big kid. He must just be getting skinnier from all that crawling around. I totally miss his baby fat! He had the cutest rolls and they are almost gone! I hate this growing up stuff!