Easter Weekend

We've trained Preston all weekend to be ready for Easter Morning. We took him to several (4) community Easter Egg Hunts. We couldn't help it....they were so much fun - for him or us I'm not really sure. The only real problem was getting past the fire truck horn that started each race. Preston still doesn't love loud noises. At one point he basically ended up in a vegetative state in a sea of dum dums. He did win the grand prize at one hunt. I guess it helps when Daddy runs and puts you down right in front of the gold egg...

Apparently the Easter Bunny had a hole in his pocket last night. He left a trail of jelly beans that lead to the back yard where he hid Preston's Easter eggs. After eating a few of the jelly beans, Preston ran and followed the trail to the back door where we found SNOW. Luckily, Jacob had gone out and uncovered a few of the eggs that the Easter Bunny had hidden the night before. Preston has identified them all as balls. Which, let's face it, really is more exciting than gross boiled eggs.

The rest of the morning has been filled with Preston opening each plastic egg and spilling the contents on the floor. He seems so surprised each time candy falls out. He can't stop saying "Whoa!"

The Easter Bunny brought him a Play maze. At first he was too interested in candy to play but we got smart and put the candy inside. He LOVES it. Grandpa and Grandma Ballentine also got him a sand and water table with boats and trucks. It is going to be fun but messy.

Oh the weather outside is frightful

Well the inevitable happened, yes it snowed. Living in Utah is was bound to happen. Preston was not so sure to start off with, but in the end he took to the snow and made his Alaskan dad proud. He spent quite a bit of time just tootling around outside (props to Cass for taking him out!). He had a fabulous time wandering around making tracks in the virgin snow. He would reach down touch it, fall in it, and eat it. So all in all he had a pretty well rounded experience when it comes to snow.

Can never have too many leafs

The colors are gone from the leafs and they are falling from the trees. That means giant leaf piles. This is a first for Preston and he loved it. His favorite thing to do is run in the leafs and scatter them to the wind. He had so much fun with it we had to take a lot of pictures, but we refrained from posting them all. We had a warm fall and it was really fun to be outside and play. He is such an outdoor kid. He loves to be in the backyard and play, he just wanders around. When he gets bored in the back he heads to the front and plays in the next door neighbor's rock driveway. He loves it.

Halloween - Let the good times roll

Well, the wonderful season of death and dead people has come and gone. The season when we dress up as crazy people or items, for laughs and candy. Jacob was the ever simple and clever skinny pumpkin, Cass was a gorgeous Waldo, and in honor of Uncle Tory, Preston went as Superman. Grandma Wright gave out regular sized candy bars so Preston trick-or-treated her numberous times for Dad. Preston also went out and got quite a bit of loot which he is still working through. He also spent quite a lot of time with Weston one of his cousins (not to be confused with Easton another cousin) who dressed as a Fuzzy Monkey.

Preston's first camping trip

We spent Labor Day weekend up Big Cottonwood Canyon camping with my family. I was a little nervous as I wasn't so sure that Preston would like sleeping in a tent. I REALLY like to get my sleep. Luckily, Preston slept great - I can't say as much for my other nephews. I really wish tents had better sound barriers...

Preston and I went to Swiss Days in Midway on Friday morning with my sisters and parents. We have gone for years but I haven't been since my move back East. It was really fun.

When we got to the camp site Friday afternoon it was time for Preston to run around the campsite a bit. He walks really well but is still trying to figure out hills and bumps. My brother and I sat by the fire pit talking and watching Preston and Weston. Preston was just walking around playing. While we were sitting there he made a slow lean and ended up in the fire pit. Thankfully there was no fire going. Needless to say he was covered in ash. He wasn't too happy when I hosed him down afterwards. In retrospect it was funny, but, I didn't really enjoy it much at the time.

Later that day Preston was walking around and tripped. He ended up scratching and bruising his cheek. I think that they are going to try and get us for abuse before too long.

We did a lot of hiking including up the Donut Falls trail and up to Twin Lakes. We sure are glad we bought our Kelty. It got a lot of use this weekend. It was a lot of fun to hang out with family.

Preston's Birthday

Our little boy turned one on July 30th. We can't believe it. We celebrated with family that night as well as at a pool party on Saturday. It was fun to watch Preston figure out what his new toys do. He obviously was pretty excited about the cake also.

Preston has recently started walking in earnest. In fact this video was taken almost two weeks ago and I swear he is already thinking about running. He is a fast little walker. He is pretty impressed with himself. He has also been cracking us up with his little laugh. I call it the velociraptor laugh. We all try to imitate it but no one comes close.

Moving

Okay, I realize that we moved three weeks ago, but, due to a computer crashing we haven't been able to upload photos.

Jacob and Dantzel drove the Penske truck across country. They did pretty well other than a flat tire somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I was just happy they made it without any injury/speeding tickets.

Preston and I flew without too many problems. Flying with a one year old is always interesting in that they can't sit still for two seconds. We walked up and down the plane aisle over and over. Some passangers commented that they were making bets on who would wear out first, me and him. My bet was on me. Finally I just let him crawl up and down the aisle and followed. When we finally made it to Salt Lake I was exhausted and looked it. I was surprised though when I found my entire family waiting at the gate with welcome home signs. It was a great surprise.

Weston, Preston, & Easton

We have pretty much settled into my parents house and are anxious to find a house to buy.