Gardner Family Reunion 2016

 Gardners go to Sterling

Where, you ask? Middle of nowhere, Sterling, UT! We rented a cabin near Palisade's Lake. It was such a fun time being together. Sadly, Ben and Shalon couldn't come this year since Shalon is about to have a baby, but Vivian went and got Cael and Leah so they got to come play. And Jason got a new job and had to work so he and Jenna couldn't come either so we were down two families this year. We missed them but still managed to have some fun ;) I'll let the pictures do most of the talking, so here we go!

Wesley loved going on rides with Dad and Uncle Natty!

 Having a blast riding in the Rav4!

 She had a blast too!

 Gavin too!

 Love how Grandma and Grandpa are always willing to play with the kids. They love playing duck duck goose!

 We went to Yuba lake 3 days. We wake boarded and went on the jet skis and the kids loved the tube. They really liked sitting in the tube while someone would pull them up and down the shore. They liked tubing behind the boat but it was half joy and half fear. Haha! 

 Eating lunch at the lake

 Emry loves playing in the sand. "sand angels were great!"

 Wesley loved to ride on the boat

 Me and Ryan on the boat. Love this guy!

 Wake boarding is still one of my very favorite things to do. I wish I was in better shape so I could go longer and do funner stuff because man, that wore me out!!

 Emry on the jet ski with Gavin and Grandpa!

 Grandpa cuddling Emry and Wesley in the tube. We were hoping they (mostly Wes) would fall asleep. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

 Norah loved the lake too. We set up the pack and play so she could sleep without getting all sandy. Worked great.

 Getting buried in the sand was a highlight of the trip.

 Driving the boat with Daddy (super dirty from a combo of sunscreen and sand)

 Wesley loved the tube the most!

 Or maybe it was a tie between the tube and the jet ski!

 Wearing her helmet, waiting for her turn on the four wheeler.

 Waiting for his turn on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa

 At the lake, there was a little 9 year old girl named Isis who had a kayak with just her parents. She really wanted other kids to play with, so she gave the kids rides in her kayak and she rode on our boat with us. We decided it would be pretty boring to be the only child on a vacation. haha!

 Tubing with Jacks and Em!

 Driving the boat like a pro!

 Jumping off the boat to Uncle Nate

 We looked pretty awesome getting ready for a ride on the Rav 4. We got so dirty on the rides so we wore these to help save our hair from all the dirt.

 Leah loved the rides the most. She had a huge grin on her face the whole time! It was hilarious!

 The boys went golfing 3 times while we were there! What?!?! One of the times was a glow in the dark golfing tournament. We made it a triple date and all the wives went to watch. I'll admit I was pretty excited and thought it was a blast for about the first 5 holes. Then, I just got tired and wanted to go to bed. It was a good experience though.

4 Months: Norah

Weight: 14 lbs 4 oz 61%)

Height: 24.3 inches (48%)

Head: 16.3 inches (59%)

Norah is such a bright spot in our home! Everyone is drawn to her and can't help but smile when she's around!

*Happiest baby! She can't contain her smile if you make eye contact. 

*Started laughing! She loves to be tickled! She's most ticklish on those luscious thighs and her armpits

*Rocks those baby blues!

*Wears size 3-6 months and size 2 diapers

*Has a hint of red hair!! It's too soon to call it but there is a slight chance this girl might end up a redhead! 

*Has rolled over from her tummy to her back a couple of times and from her back to her tummy once

*Started playing with toys. Her "crinkly purse" is her favorite toy

*Wants to put everything in her mouth-especially my fingers. She loves to chew on my fingers!
*Loves her Bumbo. She loves to sit there so she can see everything going on. She loves watching her crazy brother and sister play!

*Loves her bath time. It definitely makes her calm and happy.

*Adored by her Mamma, Daddy, Emry, and Wesley!

Evolution of a Rollover!

July 4th and Happy Birthday to ME!

We started our 4th of July celebration early by going to the Riverton Parade. We really love parades!

My last birthday in my 20's! I had such a good birthday this year. Since it was on a Sunday, we celebrated on Saturday. I wanted to take Emry to her first movie so we went to see Finding Dory. She loved the experience although she was scared at times. (sorry, it's blurry but oh well...)

Dave and Lynne came down and surprised me for a birthday dinner at Tepanyaki. Then Ryan and I went to the mall where he let me shop all by myself with no children! That's actually my very favorite birthday gift!

 On Sunday, Ryan made my favorite-biscuits and gravy for breakfast even though it was fast Sunday and he didn't get to eat any of it! What a good hubby!

 Sunday night we went to Nate's house to play games and have a BBQ. We ended up staying the night so we could celebrate the 4th of July in Grantsville. We went to the parade (which is a great parade!) and ate lunch with Brooke's family. 

Riding in the 4 wheeler to get to the parade. Emry and Wesley loved riding in this with Uncle Nate!

 

Waiting for the parade to start. Love my little family!

 It was so hot at the parade-we had to cool off with Popsicles. Mmm

 Norah did not like the loud fire trucks so we had to cover her ears.

 Waiting to catch all the candy. Emry was so funny. If they threw candy she didn't like (like all the taffy) she would run over to it, look at it and say, "no, I don't like that." She was holding out for the good stuff. Haha!

 We had lunch at Brooke's sister's house. She had bunnies that the kids loved. 

 

 The night of the 4th, we had an O'Fallon reunion at the Gardner's friend's house. We hung out and did fireworks with our cousins. It was so fun!

 

 

Wesley being patriotic with his big hat!

Whitaker Family Reunion 2016

The Whitakers got together in Heber, UT and we had so much fun all together!! It was such a fun time and I was amazed at how well all the kids got along and played together!!

Day 1 was Thursday. We packed up in the morning and then headed to Lagoon for LanDesk's annual Lagoon Day. Ryan was able to get tickets for most of the family so we all went and had a blast! I think this event will just keep getting more and more fun as our kids get older. Emry wanted to go on all the big rides. She went on every ride she was big enough to go on and loved it (including some pretty fast roller coasters). Wesley loved the Carousel the most but also enjoyed going on everything we let him go on. Even though it was a long day, the kids did great and were happy most of the day. That night we headed to the cabin to spend our first night at the cabin. All the big cousins slept in the same room that had like 4 bunk beds. If you ask Emry, that was the best part of the vacation! She LOVES sleepovers!

Day 2 was the day we had planned to just hang out at the house and play. The house we rented was supposed to have a pool but it ended up not being finished by the time we got there. However, it still had a hot tub so the kids went "swimming" in the hot tub and we played baseball on the lawn. It was a nice relaxing day at the cabin where we all just got to be together. Scott rented a car and it ended up being a Mustang Convertible so we took it up the canyon for a beautiful drive. We ended the day with a delicious BBQ.

Day 3 started off with everyone getting in their "Whitaker" shirts. Then we headed off to do our morning hike. We went to Cascade Springs which was the perfect hike for our crew. Pretty easy, lots of shade, pretty water. What more could you ask for? Then we headed back to hang out at the cabin for the rest of the day. The kids swam in the hot tub again and then we finished the day off playing baseball and painting rocks (WHAT?! More on this later). The kids had a blast just playing and being together.

Day 4 was Sunday so we all got up and got ready for 9 AM church and headed out the door. Only to realize that it was Stake Conference so there wasn't any 9 AM wards. We finally found a different Stake that had 9 am church and attended that all together. The kids went up to sing for Father's Day even though they had no idea what they were singing. They still did awesome! We came home after church, ate lunch, and then had our Father's Day program. All the kids learned 2 songs to sing to their dads and it was so adorable! After singing, we headed out to Fairy Land, a place up Mirror Lake Road that people bring little Fairy houses and painted rocks and such. We brought our rocks to add to the collection too. Emry loved to see all the cute fairies and fun rocks. Even Wesley loved it. We came home for our Father's Day dinner of steaks and salmon. Yum! Then we finished off the day with popsicles and croquet.

Day 5 was Lake Day!! We rented a boat and a jet ski on Deer Creek lake and it was a blast. Emry and Wesley (especially Wesley) loved riding the jet ski and riding on the boat. They both went on the tube and had so much fun! Ryan did the tube and unfortunately got thrown off super hard and hurt his ear (possibly burst his ear drum...eeek!). I tubed and tried skiing (which I haven't done since I was like 12!). I got up but decided my muscles couldn't take it and I was going to tear something so I decided to make that a short lived ski session to stay on the safe side! The kids had so much fun playing in the sand and just hanging out. It was a fun afternoon on the lake. We went home that night and Ryan's ear was hurting so badly he fell right to sleep at like 6 pm. The rest of us had dinner and then had a little video for Grandma and Grandpa of all the grandkids answering questions about Grandma and Grandpa. It was sweet and a fun way to say thank you for all they do for us!

Day 6 was our last day. We packed up the house in the morning and then  headed to "hike" Bridal Veil falls. We did the little nature hike and then headed to Provo to BYU. On the way there, Ryan and I took a little stroll down memory lane as we showed Emry where we lived when we met and our first apartment when we got married. It made me feel all sorts of nostalgic. We at lunch at the Creamery-I just love that place! It's so delicious. We walked around and shopped at the BYU Bookstore and then said goodbye to our cousins and headed home. We had such a fun time with all our family and just wish we could all be together all the time. But it's weeks like this that the cousins' bonds are strengthened and friendships are made! Here's to Christmas when we all get to see each other again!!

Norah 3 Months!

Happy 3 Months to little Miss Norah!!

*She is such a smiley baby!! If you ever make eye contact with her, she lights up and has the biggest smile!! She just can't contain her smiles!!
*Started laughing. She is ticklish so every time you tickle her it's the cutest laughter ever!! I just love her! She's adorable!
*Wearing 3-6 months clothes and size 2 diapers
*Still sleeping and eating great
*Started to really like her binky. She has it whenever she goes down to sleep and then if she wakes up in the middle of the night, she gets the binky and she goes back to sleep. Love her
*Loves her older siblings. Happy baby when she sees them she just lights up!!
*Everyone always comments that she has a "different" look. She isn't a clone like my other kids :D They also comment on how big and blue her eyes are. She rocks those baby blues!! :D
*Found her hands. She is constantly chewing on her hands.

Wesley turns 2!

 Our cute little Wesley boy is 2!

Weight: 27 lbs (38%)
Height: 34 inches (44%)
Head: 19.25 inches

*Loves to do puzzles-and he is GOOD at them! I'm amazed at how well he figures out where the pieces go and how they all fit together

*Pretty picky eater. 

*Loves his sisters. Especially loves to hold Norah, kiss her, and snuggle her. 

*Loves Mickey Mouse

*Really loves to play ball. He see the basketball game and he says "basketball guys!" Loves playing with the football and the soccer balls.

*Loves the Cardinals and knows what the bird looks like. Always wants to see the Cardinal at Gma and Gpa's house and loves to wear his Cardinal shirt.

*Loves birdies. He watches the birds in our yard and says "Robin, Robin"

*Loves Grandpa Gardner. He is like the only other person he will snuggle with besides Ryan and me. 

*Loves his mommy and always wants me to put him to bed

*Loves to read books-especially books with animals in them.  

*We love this little boy of ours and we love to see him grow up!

 Birthday cupcakes!

Happy Birthday Emry and Wesley

 Emry and Wesley had a combined birthday party this year. We had lots of friends and cousins come celebrate with us. The kids had a blast swimming in the pool (complete with slide), doing the slip 'n slide, and throwing water balloons into the basketball hoop. Pizza, chips, and watermelon for lunch and followed up with cake and presents! It was a fun day with our friends! 

Happy Birthday siblings!

Swimming in the pool; at the table with Tilly, Emry, Jadyn, Kate, and Addison; picture with Kate, Jadyn, Emry, & Tilly; Little babies playing in the water (Wesley, Liv, and Pearl)

 Wesley opening presents; Em & Wes with their cake; Gavin & Brady eating; Emry eating her cake; Wes eating his cake; Emry opening her presents; Wes & Brady eating

Emry Turns 4!

It's her birthday and she's SOOO excited about it!! She told me that it's ok for her to be 4 year old Emry because she is still my Emry. It's a good thing too because we just love that little Emry girl.

Emry is such a light in our life. She is so smart and funny. Everyone who meets her comments on how smart, articulate, polite, and cute she is. And she really is. She has the cutest little voice and happiest little face. She loves to say, "Guess what" and I say, "What?" and she says, "Can I tell you something?" and I say, "Yes." and she says, "Let me tell you something." and I say, "OK" She will then actually tell you what she wants to. She thinks through things and takes her time to do things. She loves to do "projects" which is to cut, color, and glue paper together to make cards or a pair of fake binoculars or whatever else she comes up with. She loves to sing and has an amazing memory. Today Wesley wanted me to read "Goodnight Moon" to him while I was driving. I told him I couldn't read it while I was driving. Then Emry says, I'll read it mom and starts to say all the words to the book. I've read that book a million times but couldn't remember any of it and that girl had the whole thing memorized. She amazes me. She loves anything princess and girly. She is the best big sister-always taking care of Wesley and whenever she gets hurt she wants Wesley to give her a love better. They have the best relationship. She is obedient by nature and always wants to follow the rules. She cares about others and always wants to help them. One time a girl in her primary class was sad because she couldn't go to class with her brother. Emry went and sat by her and said, "It's ok Carly, I'll sit by you." I can tell she is close to the spirit because every once in a while she will be more serious and tell me that she misses her sister Olivia because she didn't get to see her but that it's ok because she will see her after she is resurrected. She always wants to bear her testimony and say her prayers. I'm so proud of this little girl and the big girl she is becoming. We love you 4 year old Emry!!

Weight: 36 lbs (59%)

Height: 40.25 inches (62%)

I'm FOUR!!

She has been talking about getting breakfast in bed for awhile now so she was so excited to get pancakes in bed with 4 candles!

 I told her we could go anywhere for her birthday lunch and she chose Chick-Fil-A. I trained her well! Little did I know that they will bring you a free Sundae.

She waited all day to see her birthday sign in our front yard. We have a great ward!