we have a one year old!!!

can you believe a year has come and gone? seems i was just blogging about his birth, and here he is all grown up. well, not really ALL grown up, but really how time flies! we celebrated this cutie's big day yesterday and he is such a joy to have in our family. we are so lucky we were chosen to raise this sweet little man. he is definately a 3rd child. happy as long as he is in the middle of stuff. he also screams when things are taken away or lately when we don't shovel food fast enough. we have been so lucky to have a place to call home lately. we sign on our house this week, but jeanne has been so great to let us take over her house (literally). she even let us celebrate mr. g's big day. what an amazing thing it is when family helps you out, ya know? she's the best and the boys really love her. here's our 1 year old eating his presents. at least its the actual present and not the box!

caleb brushing his brother's teeth. he quickly proclaimed he would never do that again. "he bites!!!!" mr. toothy is 12 for 12. its hard to believe but he sprouted his 12th tooth on his 1st birthday. what a kid! we've started throwing raw meat at him (just kidding moms!)

garet got a card

and a book

and a wrapping paper hat

and a first taste of juice

here's the famous first look at fire face. he only tried to grab it twice and being that he is the 3rd..we were prepared!

garet loved his little baby '1' cake. not sure if it was just the fact that we actually gave it to him and allowed him to eat it!

we are still trying to stay away from milk, but its just not fair to have a birthday without ice cream!!! garet was perfectly happy with mango sorbet. and unlike mommy, garet doesn't know what he's missing!

here's where the brain freeze sets in

so we switch to cake

his first real 'sweet' was a real hit! and he didn't even wake up screaming last night with a tummy ache. i guess he really can handle more than we dish out..

satisfaction...finally they give me what i need!

we feel so happy and blessed to have this little guy in our life. he is really a light in our family. he has a great smile and i haven't found a rounder softer head to rub yet! he is so funny and opinionated but also loving and sweet. we know he will really be a blessing to all those he comes in contact with. we all love him already! we are glad to have gotten to know him this past year, look forward to many more, and can't wait to see what this kid can do! we love you baby g!

we're official!!

we've arrived

we even woke garet up for this shot!

caleb registering for school

1st day of school

1st weekend here, we decided to take a quick road trip. figured we were official now, had to visit the closest national park. so we left friday afternoon and spend a good part of saturday at the canyon. we didn't go down-we'll save that for next time, but the boys had a great time and we loved it! kinda makes us sad that a friend jeremy works with told him "yeah-the first time it's cool. every other time its just like a big hole" where is the admiration for creation or thankfulness for the beauty of nature.??!!! we'll be back for sure and not just to look in 'the big hole'
caleb on the edge

i love how caleb is holding on to ethan's shirt. maybe he is trying to protect him? maybe he's scared himself? not sure, but look how cute as they look over the edge.

the safest way to take a picture of all 3 on the edge!! in front of the glass....

he wants out!

all the boys

the trick is to carefully place and quickly take..scary

this is the best family shot. what can you do? you have to rely on strangers for family pics..

after listening to a lecture on the endanger-ment of the california condor, garet does his part to eliminate the population. i guess this blog eliminates his future as an environmentalist.

he also tries to eat the older brother

my family..kinda how our day ended.. garet is the smart one. ethan learned you can't fall asleep standing up holding dad's hand and caleb was asleep before we even drove out of the park.

on a weird side note, we like to count license plates, and 27 of the 50 states were represented in the canyon this day, along with a bunch of mexico plates. there were also a ton of europeans who didn't speak much english but were very nice. we figured their cars had arizona plates since they would have to be rentals.
all in all, great day. great fun. fun family adventure. will do it again soon now that we are offical!

this is why they are called classics....

..and this is why we read them....
on watch

you know the cry....

rowing out

the master harpoonist



who knew you could get this much from: a trampoline with the net falling off, a bike trailer not attached to the bike, and a few rolls of empty packing wrap

LOVE the love of literature

don't be jealous

so....once was this genius man who had an idea......he used his idea to pitch a laundry detergent company and an event was born. the laundry detergent failed to deliver, yet event continues on without the 'clean' promise. proving a good idea is a good idea even if no one wants to pay you for it!
this is the rip off of the mighty mud mania that occurred the weekend before. we had to make sure the boys could handle the real deal! and handle it they did!
dad takes ethan down the slide

the 3 muddy boys--rock on!!

caleb's action shot

yes that's caleb

proof....

what a good dad, even takes them in the mud...

the human car wash

now here's the real deal..... 30 some odd years in the making and this is every little boy's fantasy. best time ever!!!
ethan hits the course

safe!!


caleb waits

garet eats dirt (and likes it!)

caleb hits the real course
this thing was so totally awesome i wanted to go on it! maybe it would prepare me for my wipe-out debut!


it comes clean for the most part

3 happy kids

ready for his hose down

caleb gets the wash off

ethan heads down

now this is some puddle splashing!

so...
yes it was hot (115)
yes their clothes didn't come totally clean (almost)
yes we did have to buy them goodwill shoes to participate ($3.50 for both)
but will we do it again??
YES YES YES!