July

Happy 4th of July (and Happy Birthday to Uncle Zach)!! Utah LOVES to celebrate the 4th, so each year we have plenty of activities to choose from. This year we had a family BBQ (complete with a slip 'n slide), a girls viewing of Carrie Underwood at Stadium of Fire, we went to the Parade and hit the Freedom Festival afterwards. It was very warm, and very fun.

And because my picture taking skills have gone down hill recently, you get two pictures from the parade, and you'll just have to image how cute we all were for the rest of those activities :)

Mid-July brought swim lessons for Tyson. Oh, the stories I could share from that experience. All I can say is that his teacher, poor Annie, didn't charge enough! Tyson ended up being the only one in his class... I think Annie wishes she could have canceled the whole session.

This last one is of Tyson taking a rest. When he didn't want to do what she asked, he'd tell her that he was going to rest... and he did. Yikes! Can I already apologize to his kindergarten teacher?!?

June

As I sit here, I SERIOUSLY can't remember anything that happened WAY BACK in June! I guess that's why you blog as life happens, then you don't have to play catch up. Not that you would believe this, but I used to be an excellent record keeper. I have BOXES of journals I kept DAILY---my life was apparently way more exciting in high school and college... It's the kids! I am blaming my laziness on them.

I do remember that we spent lots of time outside. Utah has great summer weather. Tyson got a sweet farmer's tan.
Oh wait! That was Cruz's month. (I just looked at my pictures.) Baby Cruz was born at the end of May, and then he spent the entire month of June at Primary Children's Medical Center recovering from his first (of hopefully just 3) heart surgeries. He is a champ, and so are all of the people who stayed with him. Sorry, I have no pics of the little Cruzer... Check out Faith and Shaun's blog for updates on him: http://shaunandfaith.blogspot.com/.

So here are a few pics of me, Grammie and the kids at the zoo. One of our attempts to get out of the hospital... The Hogle Zoo is pathetic. I'm sorry if you are offended by that. I guess I'll attribute that statement to growing by the San Diego Wild Animal Park (even that name is cooler). I can't even say the kids enjoyed it. Macy threw her pink bow to the gorillas. That would have been the most exciting part of the trip.

Tyson loved a decorative elephant outside the elephant exhibit more than he did anything else. Macy just struggled to fight off the heat stroke!

River Rafting

I'm not so glamorous in these pics... and I have kind of forgotten all that transpired. I do remember that it was fun.

ReCap of May..

In short, here was our end to May 2010.

Greg had a birthday (He's 32!!)

We said Good-bye to our Daily Dose of Sadie

We did a little landscaping (sadly, lots more to do)

And we welcomed Cruz Peter Garff in to the world.

Congratulations Shaun and Faith!

Then.... there was the white water rafting trip! Whoa baby! That's and entire post all on its own.

Welcome baby Cruz!

Here is his story (written by his dad)--

After 44 hours of labor and over 3 hours of pushing, Cruz Garff was born yesterday afternoon. We're sure it took so long because he wasn't done saying his goodbyes in heaven and receiving his final coaching and training from those who have come before. We can already tell, Cruzer is a very special spirit.

He and Mom are both doing great. Faith is recovering very quickly from the unbelievable task she performed yesterday. In times when many would have given up and simply went to a C-section, Faith pushed on (quite literally actually) and used that competitive fight in her to pull through.

Cruz is very stable and has very good readings and numbers from all the monitors he is hooked up to. He as a slight internal bleed on the top of his head from the long hours in the birth canal, but his blood levels show no sign of needing further treatment. His heart is perfect for a baby with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). With so many factors that could go wrong for these babies, he is at the top of his class already. Good valve flow and good size arteries and veins. He is also a big HLHS baby, weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz, which will be good for the upcoming surgery. Right now the plan is to have the first surgery on Friday.

What a special experience it was to be a part of Cruz's delivery. He is indeed a very special boy. And he is HUGE. He weighed 7 Lbs. and 15 oz. (I'm calling him an 8 pounder) and was 22 inches long! Have you seen Faith? She is TINY. He just kept on coming out. He looks sooo big in the little NICU incubator. We are just THRILLED that he is so big and healthy. Here are a few pics our our miracle boy.

Baby Cruzer

I just cannot believe that Faithy's baby is due to arrive in just over a week! I am so excited to see her as a mom of her own little guy. She has been my own kids' stand-in mom countless times--Macy Faith honestly believes she has two mothers! They love her so much. I asked my mom just the other day if it would be strange if I named all of my kids after Faith.

Sometimes in life, you meet people that impress you. I believe when people encounter Faith, and Shaun, they are immediately impressed with the amount of love they have to give. Both are very giving and considerate. What a blessing for us that they found one another! What a blessing for their children, that they have so much love to share and shower upon them! I honestly cannot think of two better people to be parents. Two better people who are designed from head to toe, to parent our Heavenly Father's children. Cruz is a lucky little guy. We send all of our love and prayers in their behalf during these next crucial weeks. They have amazing strength and faith, which is just what their little baby is going to need. I can't wait to meet this special little boy, who has such incredible parents.

Shaun's brother, Rocky, put this little thing together. What a great idea!

Happy Birthday Macers!

I know every parent says it, but because it is true, please allow me to repeat: I cannot believe that my baby is already 1! That went by sooo fast.

Happy Birthday Mace-Face!

(she's so smart too, already showing how old she is--a totally fluke by the way.)

It's really hard to believe that our teenie, tiny baby went from this:



...to this (4 MONTHS! How could I have forgotten the chubbiness!)


...to this: (not much change from 4 months, I know)

Here are Macy's stats at 12 months:

length: 33 1/4''

weight: 26 ish pounds

tooth count: 2 fully erupted, 2 barely emerging

words spoken: Momma, Dadda, bobba (bottle), ball, bye-bye, hi, doddy (doggy), Begas (Vegas-dog), Uhhp (up), weresit (where is it)

and the favorite word (especially since Baby Sadie's arrival): Babee

Things we love: Her cuddles (dad), kisses and jabbering (mom), her chubby little cheeks (Tyson)

We had a fun family party to celebrate the big day. Macy got a car, baby stuff (including the CUTEST stroller that she didn't even care about), and the present she loved the most: a fruit and veggie basket from Faith.

Now, I can't do it all, so there is UNFORTUNATELY no picture of Macy blowing out her candles (I am very bugged). We do have the token birthday family shot for your enjoyment.

Happy Birthday Macy. We love you so much!

KAUAI, anyone??

Sadly, we have returned from paradise. It has been exactly one week since we've been back and this week DRAGGED in comparison to our week on Kauai. Sad how that goes! We had a blast, though, and are grateful that we even got one week in paradise. Faith and Shaun spoiled our kids while we were away, and we didn't worry about them for a second. They are the best (Shaun and Faith.. our kids are not bad either)!

So, here are some pictures as evidence (for our own minds) that we really did get away together. Greg's brother, Chris, and his wife, Sheri, went with us. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves... They were so much fun. I don't think I have laughed so hard for awhile. Couple time is therapeutic and essential!

This is the token shot we always do at the resort. It is BEAUTIFUL (more so in person)!

The first day we spent laying out and enjoying the nice weather. This was actually the last picture on our camera. I think it is the only evidence of my hat... I actually did wear that thing most of the time. G found it very amusing--you may as well, but I plan to do my best to avoid facial wrinkles, my friends!

Our weeks' activities included: soaking up the sun, napping, reading, kayaking, relaxing, brunch at the Princeville, a little zip-lining, more relaxing and a tiny bit of exercise in the form of a mini-hike to a waterfall, and of course we finished off as many nights as possible with....
That's right! A Hula Pie!

Fern Grotto

This picture is SOOO Greg and Chris! So, I'll close with it! Thanks for the good times and great memories! Until next time.. MAHALO!

A Tribute to my Girl

Now, there are many girls in my life that I love and admire, but this one goes out to my girl,

Macy Faith.

I know it's a little early for the birthday post, but I have to do a little loving brag about my Baby- Love. Macy is the sweetest little thing! I just can't stand how much I love her. She is soo observant and very smart. I think I experienced this surge of motherly love when Tyson hit 1, too. It is just so amazing that these little babies, who were so entirely helpless when they arrived, can learn and grow and become so independent. The amount of change and growth that happens in the first year of life, is just plain, AMAZING.

So, I thought I would share a few of my favorites about my Macers right now.

I thought Tyson began "talking" early, and I think he did, but Macers is on to something. She picks up words so fast (for a 10 1/2 month old). She calls Greg "Dadda" and sometimes calls me "Mamma". She Loves balls (don't all babies), and says, "Bah" every time she sees one. She waves and says, "hi" and "bye-bye". She loves all of her babies (like her mommy). And so it should have been no surprise when she said, "Bay-bee" recently. Very impressive. It used to be "Bay-Bay", which I thought was just plain darling, but she is advancing my friends. So, "Bay-bee" is the word I was most trying to catch in this video. She is such a chubby little baby herself, that it is very surprising to hear those words come so clearly, and purposely out of her mouth.

I hope you found as much enjoyment in that as I did!

Happy Birthday Tyson

My BABY is now 3! I can't believe it. Tyson has been a very fun, creative and exciting little boy. I seriously wish I could get him through the "3s", and then freeze time. He is becoming more independent and opinionated, if that is possible. And, although many days seem to be a battle of the "wills", (he usually wins through his trickery and flattering words), at the end of the day, when I put him to bed and he tells me how he loves me "much more than Daddy", I can't help but love him to pieces, and forget how many times he put Mace in the scissors and tried to shhhush her as she cried. All I can think about is how long we prayed for him, and how much joy he brings to our lives each day. He is my little miracle baby, and that HOPEFULLY will get me through this next year.... The WOnderFUL age of.... 3!

I should have known he'd have a bit of attitude when he posed like this. Obviously he is very young (1 or 2 weeks old), as he still has his umbilical chord stub attached!

I had to put this one in for Grammie. Despite his mind-games... he LOVES Grammie and asks daily to "take a ride on a jet to go to her house at California." (I just have to point out the pants, as if you could miss the height of them... that has always been her trade-mark revenge move... ask any of her kids. She must have had a rough night with him.)

What a special little Love our Tyson Boy is!

We love you Ty, you are our BEST!

All Ty wanted to do for his big day was visit "his friend Chuckie.." who apparently missed him. He loves Chuck E. Cheese... so who am I to disappoint. We broke out the hand sanitizer and off we went!

Notice our faithful family party-goers in this picture--the Jeff and Krystal Trapnell Family. Krystal happened to have given birth to little Carter the day before, but Jeff and Karen (Krystals's mom), didn't let us down.... They knew if they didn't show that Tyson would have no friends at his party!

Greg was gone on Tyson's actual birthday, and although I am very aware that 3-year olds don't really know what day the 29th of January is, I still wanted to do something special for him on that day. So, I took Tyson to the Children's Discovery Museum in Salt Lake. We had LOADS of fun. Leticia and her kids met us there. And, of course, we brought two of Tyson's best friends: Aunt Faith and Aunt Shelby.