Trip to Nauvoo

First steps into the Mississippi River

We have had so much going on this month that I will start at the beginning. The first weekend in July we drove down to Nauvoo, Illinois to visit some dear friends. Our friends Wayne & Kris were down in Nauvoo helping with the Nauvoo Pageant for our church. They were the ones who introduced us to A-man's birthmother and took care of both of them for a little while. They were super excited to see A-man again and we couldn't wait to show him off.

Look at him standing on his own

We left on Friday afternoon and arrived that evening. Luckily it's only a 4 1/2 hour drive so it wasn't too bad. The next morning Jason went golfing with Wayne while A-man and I hung out at the hotel and took our morning nap. After napping and golfing we went into old Nauvoo and took a wagon ride around town. Then we met with Wayne and Kris for a little while. We also went on a drive looking for turtles and just enjoyed the day outside.

On the banks of the Mississippi River

The highlight came when we went out to dinner with Wayne and Kris and showed them how much A-man is learning! They were so happy to see how he is progressing and to see us as a family. It was a perfect evening. We ended the evening by walking down to the Mississippi River - playing in the water for a little while and getting some fun pictures by the river. Then we went and watched the Nauvoo Pageant dress rehearsal. A-man was awesome - he was sooo good the entire show. He even stayed awake to greet all the actors and say goodbye to his friends Wayne and Kris.


Wayne, Kris & Aiden reunited again

The next day we went to take some pictures at the Nauvoo temple and enjoy the beautiful day before we headed back home.


Our happy family at the Nauvoo Temple


Looking up to hero's - Aiden at the Joseph & Hyrum Smith statues

We had a great weekend and are so thankful that Wayne & Kris helped us to become a family!

100% BOY

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails

There is no question about it A-man is totally a boy at heart! He loves getting dirty, eating dirt (he put a whole handful of dirt in his mouth while we were planting our garden), catching bugs and frogs and playing with his cars and trains.

We haven't pushed boy toys in any way but he automatically fell in love with cars and trains. He loves them and plays with them constantly. He quickly learned the signs for car and train. He loves it when we walk down to the train station to meet Jason. He makes sure I know every time a train goes by.

He also loves getting dirty! Whether it is with dirt, water or his dinner he just thinks getting dirty is the best thing ever. Here are a few pictures of A-man eating his dinner - beef-a-roni! We had to call him our oom-pa-loom-pa after this meal.







While visiting with our friends in Oklahoma - Jason caught a frog and put it on the blow-up pool to see what A-man would do. Baby C went running when the frog started to move but not A-man. He decided he needed to catch it and he did - and then he pinched it as he tried to lift it up. When the frog jumped away A-man started to laugh. What a character!






Last night we came home from our family date night and I accidentally brought a firefly in with me. Jason wanted to show A-man a firefly up close so we took it into his room and let him look at him. He immediately wanted to pick up the little bug and examine it more closely. I was a little jumpy about having my little boy holding a bug but A-man tried to reassure me that it was all okay. In fact he giggled when it jumped out of his hand and crawled up his leg.









I have a feeling my future is going to consist of a lot more frogs and bugs! But that's okay as long as it's with A-man!

Our trip to Oklahoma - a stop at Grant's Farm

We decided to break up the drive home from Oklahoma and stay in St.Louis, Missouri for a night. We thought that would make it easier on A-man and it allowed us to see something new also. We decided to go to Grant's Farm while in St. Louis and it was so much fun. Grant's Farm is the home/farm of President Ulysses S. Grant and then the Annheuser-Busch family purchased it. They have turned the farm into a zoo and historical site. It is free so we definitely decided to try it out.

Our family at Grant's Farm

The first thing we did was take a tram around the area and saw a ton of animals. A-man is learning sign-language in order to help him communicate early and he has learned the sign for bird and dog. Those are the only animals that he knows the sign for so everything in the park was a dog or a bird according to A-man. It was super cute.

Dad and A-man meeting a donkey


Mom and A-man cuddling on the ride

After the tram ride A-man and dad decided to take a ride on the carousel. He had a blast. Everytime he came around and saw me he would start giggling. It was so adorable. Although after 3 times around he was done and ready to move on to something else.


Around and around we go


Look ma I'm riding a dog - right

After a turn on the carousel we then went over to feed the baby goats. That was hilarous. I was a little nervous because these goats really like their bottles. But A-man and Jason braved the little goats and it was a hoot. Once again A-man wasn't phazed by anything. Even when one of the goats tried to take a bite of his hair he just gave it a look and pushed it away. He tried to pet them and would laugh as they climbed all over them. Jason had a bit more of a difficult time since he was the one holding the bottle and trying to protect his baby boy. At one point the goats were trying to eat Jason's clothes. I'm amazed I got any photos I was laughing so hard at the fun my two boys were having.


Hey dad - the goat's eating your shorts


You don't mind if I pet you, right?


Weird looking feet if you ask me...

We continued on through the park, A-man had a snow-cone, we saw lots of birds, camels, elephants and finally horses! Grant's Farm is the home of the famous Budwieser Clydsdale Horses - they are beautiful and huge. We had to let the little guy pet one of them before we left.

A true Clydsdale horse


A-man trying to climb on board for a ride

Although it was a short trip to St. Louis & Oklahoma we all had a wonderful time!

Our trip to Oklahoma - more water fun

Our second day in Okey we decided that we wanted to have some more water fun for the little kiddies. Tiff pulled out their blow-up rubber duck for the bath and we filled it up with water and started the fun outside. A-man jumped right in and was ready to go swimming in that little pool.


Let the fun begin

Baby C wasn't quite as excited as A-man at the beginning but he soon convinced her that this water thing was going to be fun. He wouldn't move more than a foot away from the duck pool. He was not going to let anything stop him from his water fun. He splashed the water out so many times that we had to keep filling the duck up.





Baby C got a little tired of just splashing around the duck but not A-man. While baby C occupied her time cleaning up the deck with A-man's shirt he stayed focused on his goal - the water. Can I just say that boy LOVES water!





As the day went on we had a visit from a frog - A-man tried to pick him up. I guess he's not afraid of frogs...Jason and Rob got in a concentrated water fight with the hose (ouch) and Tiff and I enjoyed the beautiful day and our beautiful kids.





We sure love Rob & Tiff and wish they lived closer to us. As soon as we were together again it was as if we hadn't ever been apart. That is what true friendship is all about!

Our trip to Oklahoma - boating fun

My two favorite men out on the lake

Over memorial day weekend we took a trip down to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit with our favorite friends Rob & Tiff and their baby C. A-man and baby C are only one month apart in age and so it was a blast to finally see them together. We are all holding our breaths that they because become best friends like their parents are :) - probably wishful thinking but we can try.


Rob, Tiff's dad, and baby C

One of the days we were out there we went boating in Rob's new boat and with Tiffany's parents. It was great! The weather was perfect for a day out on the lake and the little ones especially loved it. There was water-skiing, knee-boarding and A-man's favorite thing swimming!

playing in the lake

A-man absolutely loved the water! Once we put him in the lake for the first time he was trying to get back in the rest of the time. He had a blast. He especially loved when we would go fast and the water would splash up on him.

Tiff kicking everyone's butt on one of their fun water toys!

After an awesome time on the boat - thanks Rob and Tiff - we went back to their house for a great barbeque and birthday party for baby C.



Can they get any cuter?

Birthday Party - part 2 & 3

Even though we know that A-man won't remember his first birthday we still wanted to do something special to celebrate his first birthday. So we combined it with our Easter dinner (it was only a few days before his birthday) and had some friends over for dinner and then a party. A-man LOVED having some of his friends over to play - although they were older than him he was in heaven following them around and playing.





Then it was the big moment - the cake. I was so excited to see how he would react to have a cake all to himself. I made a small cake and then put a cupcake on top of it so it looks like a tiered cake. Then I made some cute chocolate sea-creatures and put them on top of that. The guests all got cupcakes with their own chocolate sea-creatures. It was fun - although don't look too closely at his cake - I couldn't find the smoother for the frosting so it isn't the smoothest.







When it came time to sing Happy Birthday and give A-man his cake he was a little confused to be at the center of attention. But he was very anxious to get a hold of the red chocolate 1 that was on the cake.






When it came time to dig in - he wasn't very interested. Jason had to help him out a little and then he finally got into it. His favorite part was the chocolate one and the chocolate shark. I think he was too distracted by all the people around having a party for him.










For birthday presents we gave him some of them at his party and then saved the rest for his actual birthday. He got lots of cars, a fun ramp for the cars to go down, a train, sprinkler, clothes, and of course - BOOKS! On his actual birthday we went out to dinner to celebrate the day. he got special cupcakes in honor of his birthday and mom made him wear a birthday crown ( I loved it but unfortunately he only would wear it for a few minutes. Over all it was a wonderful day to celebrate a wonderful boy! We love him so much and are so thankful that he is with us to share his 1st birthday.
Happy Birthday Little Man!!