Quick Summer Trip to The Ranch

Deven was off on a High Adventure trip with the Young Men in our ward so it was easy for my Mom to talk me into flying to California with the kids to visit for the week.  I was especially excited that it was Allison’s first time to the ranch and Cody and Trevor were going to be visiting for a few days as well.

Allison spent her days lounging around the pool, playing the piano, chasing the dog around the ranch, visiting the horses and making messes as any mobile 12 month old would do. 

I had never seen her so excited about eating... or messy.  Thanks for your help Mom.  

This is Tucker the dog.  Allison has been obsessed with dogs ever since.  

 

 Trenton, having been to the ranch several times before, felt right at home.  He spent his time playing dress up, make believing Slim was the "fastest race horse in California", finding sticks and rocks to play with, having water wars with Grandma, feeding the horses with Grandpa, developing his swimming skills and just being a crazy 2 year old boy.

 Cody has a bubble head!...

 Cody and Trevor were only there for a few days but it was so fun to see them. They are both busy working and figuring out what they are doing for the rest of their life. I guess that is important. They are great brothers and uncles.

Trevor off to sell some more alarm systems...

The Teerlink boys love photo shoots.

 Grandpa Tiger's future ranch hands. 

We can't wait to go back!

4th of July

We are proud to be Americans... and Texans.  So we have no shame filling up a cooler and BBQ'n with friends every other weekend, or letting our half dressed kids run around in a public park's splash pad or teaching our 2 year old son how to light fireworks in the drive way. It is a good life.   

Allison's First Birthday

Cute, sassy and lots of fun... Allison turned ONE!

I had a lot of fun throwing a pink, girly birthday party for Allison.  I told Deven that I was going to make chicken salad sandwiches, pasta salad, and a variety of cupcakes and treats for our guests and he said "can you at least have some buffalo wings in the kitchen for the guys?"  And ruin Allison's tea party?... Absolutely not!  

I think the one year birthdays will always be my favorite because it is so amazing to see how drastically they have changed and grown in a years time.  Allison has become a wonderful addition to our family.  A few things she loves includes; horses, her Daddy, Lily, playing outside or in water, climbing, dancing, reading 'first word' books, smoothies, ketchup.  She's not interested in stuffed animals, vegetables, fresh fruits, story books, bed time, sitting in grocery carts, long car rides.

Where was Trenton during the party? At one point he talked his buddies into climbing onto a wobbly card table then proceeded to push the chairs away so they were stranded.  

A few newborn pictures and a six month picture to recap the change we've seen this year...

...And that was just the first year!