A quick look back at Winter '09

Watching the tube with Grandpa Jim...some really educational kids cartoon, I'm sure! Or, my money is on a duck hunting show...well at least we know Lily will be able to shoot a duck 500 yards away!

So much fun with Auntie Laura!

Cohen has no idea why his Cousin Lily is so loud??? Just sit there and smile like me & Grammie, he says!
Of course Grandma Linda spoiled the grandkids (and kids for that matter) way, way too much! Thank you Grandma Linda and Grandpa Bill!
Christmas time ='s Christmas outfit! provided by Auntie Sydney and the squeaky shoes from great friends Brooke, Tom, and Vaughn Amidei! Way, way too cute!

"I got your nose!" A great game Great Grandma Jay taught Lil who still plays this with Ken and I...in fact, when we look at photos of Great Grandma Jay Lily starts leaning into my hand to grab her nose! Ahhh the trickery we play on kids...whatever, if it keeps them entertained, go for it!

I turned one! Here's Lil at her one-year-old doctor's appointment...holy big girl! I cannot even believe it!

Chillin' with Cousin T (Tristan)...before the weather went cold for winter, we were able to have brunch at our house for (if my memory serves me right, yes yes I know I should keep up on this blog stuff better - i hear ya Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sheryl!) Laura and Bob's birthdays in November. Lil absolutely adores her cousins!!

Lily Turns One!

Sneak Peak on Lily's TWO birthday parties she had! more to come!

Sundance in the Fall, ahhhh beautiful!

Thank goodness for rich people that make impractical decisions! So one of Ken's clients bought this crazy big pick up truck which serves no real purpose except that it's cool...but because of that, we get to stay at his cool, quaint cabin-like condo in Sundance! Thank you Boyd! Actually, he's a very nice guy and he has been generous enough to let us use his condo twice now and we've enjoyed it tremendously. Here's a few photos (or a lot) of a gorgeous October weekend and an even more gorgeous little girl (not bias at all!).

Sportin' her cute new snow hat...she's looks so innocent and passive in this photo. Looks can be deceiving!
We had a fantastic view from the deck of the condo...amazing what Mother Nature can create, all natural, of course.

Our mornings were quite relaxing (especially after a few of those tasty beverages above) and peaceful. Who knew picking up leaves and dropping them into the hot tub could be so entertaining?! Drop your bagged leaves at our house!

Although, not so relaxing...chasing her and fishing out those leaves and sticks and dirt and pretty much anything she could pick up out of her mouth. Did I say relaxing??But with one active baby, comes one nice, long nap equaling a nice time to kick back in the sun, read a magazine with a delish' morning drink in hand!

Ken skipped the magazine and focused his attention to a bloody mary...

Afternoons were filled with hikes up into the mountains - absolutely beautiful!

While Cash and I walked briskly through the trees...

Lily and Ken carried on some amazing conversations...

One of our hikes ended in this incredible waterfall. Cash especially liked this part!

After a long hike, we thought Lily would be tired...not so much. Apparently, she was so amped up, she just had to pull out her old man face. What in the world???

And as her craziness rose, so did her hair. The mohawk is back!

Yikes, I think someone snuck some of her father's and mother's morning cocktails. What can we say? The girl likes to party!

The next morning all was fun and games...

...until that dang hang over kicked in! Oh boy, I feel your pain Lil!!

And Cash? Well, I think he got cabin fever with all the chaos.

As I was saying, the colors of Fall were everywhere and just plain awesome...here's a few pics from our hikes, which would never come close to doing it justice, but to give an idea...

Not too bad of a view...my two favorite people and one lovable pup.

I think I can I think I can I think I can

Lil is much more advanced now, but taking a look back as our lil' engine was determined not to give up!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Stink! I mean, the Skunk!

We celebrated Lily's first Halloween which consisted of me rushing back from the airport, only to be rushed by Kenny to Real Salt Lake's playoff game, then scampering over to Laura's house for some yummy chili and treats, and quickly getting Lily into her costume really for the sake of only her parents and photos for the relatives! Happy frickin' Trick or Treat!

Actually we were wondering how long Lil would stay in the Skunk costume (thank you, by the way, to Laura and Brockbank boys for letting us borrow this oh-so-cute costume!) since it consisted of a hat, which usually stay on for about 1.2 seconds. However, she must have sensed our eagerness to snap some pics for the photobook because she left it on for a good 10 minutes as she crawled around and went up and down the stairs. The tail of the costume actually waved back and forth as she scooted along the floor - too cute, really.

And the tugging and pulling of the hat began...

Lily 1...parents 0...hat came off.

A great night with the Bartons and Brockbanks - Tristan went as a nerd, Will went as a devil (I think??), and Luke went as the sweetest elephant I think I've ever seen! Happy 1st Halloween Lily. And with that...

This Skunk is outta' here!

Turning One!

Hey I'm turning 1-years-old in exactly a month - you'd better be there! And I mean it!

Happy 11 months Lily! We can't believe you are almost one...where in the world did this past year go? Can't wait for the rockin' party! We love you to pieces!

I'm the BIG cousin Mom!

Lots of photos from our visit to Washington to see new, baby cousin Cohen, Aunti Sydney, and Uncle Branden! So let's get to it...
Lily (thankfully) did amazing again on the plane...this is her 3rd trip so I was bit nervous that our luck of her sleeping and not "bugging" the other passengers would run out. She proved me wrong yet again, props to her...and to our pocket book - Dr. Ferriera, Lily's pediatrician, said to take cash on the plane so I could buy everyone around us drinks if she was acting up! Luckily, she saved me some money!!

We arrived! Lily was so excited to see Aunti Syd & Grandma Sheryl...

And as you can see, stoked to meet Cousin Cohen for the first time! Cohen's enthusiasm was a bit delayed...

Well, what an amazing site to see my sis in full on "Mom Mode"! Prior to our visit, I couldn't quite picture my energetic, sometimes loud :) sister remaining calm and quietly rocking a tiny baby to sleep because you know, we only had her mother-child relationship comparison to Syd and Mack! But wow! I saw Syd in action and was thoroughly impressed - soothing lil' Co by talking with him, singing to him...all at 1am...3am...5am...oh I was so not envious!

A present from Co's auntie...didn't realize the bib would be more like a full-body apron!

So Ken and I officially suck as parents! Lily was in heaven playing with Cohen's toys which actually interact, make noise, flash lights and on and on. Lily, now 10 months, still has 0+ toys and pretty much nothing age appropriate. I try to tell ourselves it's because we want her to develop her imagination; we're actually really great, intelligent parents...right.

Since Co is still just a wee guy, he slept in his bassinet and Lily slept in his luxurious Dr. Seuss themed room & crib! Here we were waking up the first morning - we laid Co in with Lily. So bright and chipper.

At first...

Lil wasn't too sure what to do once Co realized he wasn't in his mama's arms.

After we got over our tears and all cleaned up, off we went to Grandpa and Grandma's house to see the whole fam! Lily conned Cousin Elise into walking around while making a grand entrance of high fives...
What up Gramps?!

Uncle Jerry - u da' manOh Cousin Nolan, I knew I was pretty funny but didn't know you were that funny!

Well look who has the touch again...pretty sure I've seen Aunt Rosalie in this same pose with a sleeping Lily. However, I think this is a Cohen original on baby poses - sign this kid up for the next Gerber commercial!

Yes, Lily, I think that flower may be bigger than you are...kinda like you're Dorothy in Wizard of Oz and the flowers come to life...pretty sure a Munchkin is going to jump out.
Thanks for throwing such a great party Grams and Gramps!

Next party...The Prentice's! And we found Miss Party Animal herself - hello, Hadley! Lily wasn't sure how to take this crazy 2 1/2-year-old.

We were kinda social butterflies on our trip...the following night, we, along with Meg & Ryan, Sarah, Eric, Collen Kelley-Westman and her friend went out to a fundraising dinner at a cool, little Mexican restaurant for high school friend Heather Marshbank, who has a son battling cancer. It was an uplifting and humbling night all at the same time and of course, with this crew, was filled with laughing-so-hard-I-cried moments!
Now I'm not sure what exactly is going on in this pic, but I'm pretty sure Sar and Lil are plotting a prank on someone...

And I think that someone was Meg...maybe Lil talked Meg into eating some kind of pepper making her believe it wasn't that hot...

AHHHHH, I think they gotcha' Meg!

While in Washington, Lily wanted to relax and reflect on life through a little yoga. Here, she displays Downward Dog.But to really get into it, she decided to shed the layers of stress...and her clothes.

Cohen joined in and became so relaxed, he went into a trans...look at those cheeks! Pinchable!

She then decided to get into some deep conversations with the family - "Yes Grandma, Mom let's me eat cookies. She said you could give me one, I swear." Next, Grandpa..."The fish was how big, Grandpa?!"And now...I believe Great Grandma Jay is explaining what Grandpa Jim's jokes mean...or an attempt to, because let's face it, who really knows????

Beach time! Although this is officially Lily's 2nd time to the beach, this is the first time she actually gets to see it and not be wrapped in a gazillion blankets! And I do believe this is Cohen's first time.

Now you can't go to Warm Beach without dipping your toes in the Puget Sound

And of course, take a walk down the beach

Some sand castle building...or maybe just shoving sand and rocks in the mouth with mom constantly pulling it all out
And a little basking in the sun which quickly led to an hour-long nap in Great Grandma Jay's arms

All and all, a beautiful day to stick your toes in the sand - thank you Daly's for the fun time!

Thanks to everyone for just a great trip! I'll give you all a ring soon!