Thanksgiving in AZ

After the birthday weekend festivities, we headed to Arizona on Monday morning. The weather was a bit cooler than usual but that didn't stop us from getting out and about. On Tuesday we went to a train park and Trevor took his first ride on a merry-go-round. He wasn't sure what to think at first:


And then he broke down. He isn't a fan of going around in circles apparently!


He was a fan though of hanging out with Grandma Pauline and Grandpa John:


And he was a big fan of going for a train ride! We picked the yellow car so our little guy could stand up. And that is exactly what he did the entire ride!

He loved it!!

After our ride we wanted to get his picture on the train's engine but Trevor wasn't having it. Amazing how he settled down once Daddy gave him his cell phone. What is it about cell phones that kids love?

They had a playground there so of course Trevor took some turns down a slide with Daddy and Papa:

They had a lot of neat photo opps at the train park and we took advantage of most of them. Do you ever wonder what we are going to do with half the pictures we take? We do!

Since Trevor had so much fun on his first train ride, Mommy and Trevor took spin #2 together:

That evening we went back to the house to enjoy a wonderful steak dinner and captured the most beautiful sunset. Brian is becoming quite the photographer!

We might just have to frame these!

On Wednesday morning we went to see some horses as well as a petting zoo. Trevor wasn't a scaredy cat at all. He reached right out to pet the horses....even putting his finger in the nostril of one horse :)

At the petting zoo area, Trevor was all about the ducks who gave us quite a welcome when we entered. They came running over to say hello like we were celebrities!

This place too had quite a few photo opps but this time only Trevor and Grandma Pauline got their picture taken!

Our little cowboy was a happy boy (well, when is he not?!?!)

Jeff, Dawn, and the girls arrived late Wednesday - well after Trevor was down for the night. But when he woke up Thursday it was time to celebrate his birthday day! Yes buddy, this is celebration #2! Ooohhh!

Mommy couldn't be more proud to have a one-year old. Notice how he can't smile for a picture because he's checking out what his cousins are doing. Trevor is very ready to grow-up so he can play more with them :)

A few hours after our wonderful Thanksgiving meal, we sang 'happy birthday' and enjoyed some cake. The girls helped Trevor blow out his #1 candle!

Of course Trevor knew just what to do with his cake....he dug in like a champ!

After family pictures and some yummy lasagna on Friday night, the whole family was ready for some TV. Brooke and Trevor had front row seating!

Uncle Jeff may have stayed in this position for the rest of the night :)

Saturday was the warmest day of our stay (60 degrees) so Grandma and Grandpa heated the pool. Trevor sure is a water baby!

We had a wonderful time spending time together the five of us and then the 10 of us. We definitely all have a lot to be thankful for this year!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Trevor's 1st Birthday Party!

On Saturday we had Trevor's 1st birthday party....ah, our baby is no longer a baby :( He's all grown up now. We celebrated by having a pool party at a nearby hotel - since we all know one of Trevor's favorite things to do is swim! It was comfy quarters with 19 family members in attendance but a good time was had by all. Our birthday boy even seemed to know it was his special day!


Really Mom and Dad - a pink balloon?!?!


On Saturday it was Aunt Annie's 30th birthday and Grandpa Steve's birthday is Monday so we quickly captured a picture of the birthday crew!


Trevor enjoyed a lunch of BBQ/sloppy joe's, pickles, homemade mac-n-cheese, and chips. He ate so much we weren't sure he left room for cake!

And finally it was time to break out the cake! Mommy and Daddy made Trevor's smash cake along with the "big people's" beach ball cake. They turned out pretty cute!

Trevor didn't blow out his candle, but he looked like he could have tore into this cake!

We got him down to his diaper so he could dig into his smash cake without worrying about getting messy. At first Trevor wasn't sure what he should do. He kind of poked at the cake for a while...

And then he started taking bigger and bigger bites.

Hmmmm....this is a-okay!

Yum, sugar!

Big bite for a big boy!

Every so often in the middle of eating his cake, he'd give a "so big"!

How much cake can I fit in my mouth?

Sara surprised her family by making a checkerboard cake for the beach ball cake. Her Grandma Kelly used to make these for family members' birthday celebrations so it was only appropriate that we'd make one in a way to celebrate her life. It was one year ago that heaven gained a special angel :(

Hey back to me people! So big!

We kept waiting for the cake to hit his gag reflex but nope, he just kept shoveling it in.

You can see how much cake he devoured so we had to finally take it away or we think his belly might have exploded! Even with the cake gone from in front of him he was determined to finish what was on his hands.

We washed him down in the hotel sink before heading to the pool!

Time for splish-splashing!

Yep, the birthday boy was having a great day!

And Mommy and Daddy couldn't be prouder to have a 1 year old!!

After swimming we opened gifts. Trevor was pretty into seeing what he got - sometimes even helping to tear off the paper. Christmas should be fun :) Everyone was so generous for Trevor's 1st birthday. Thank you for all of his new clothes, books, and toys!

We had a wonderful day and will put his pool party in our memory banks. Can't wait to celebrate again on his actual birthday!