Peace Pagoda

We went with some friends of ours to a Buddist Peace Pagoda here in MA. It was such a nice day and it was fun to get out and do something different. We have lived close to this place for the past 3 years and never even knew it was there! It was really pretty. It is also all taken care of by volunteers, so if anyone is working for a service project..... :)

Yes, Oliver's hair is seriously sticking up in the back, not sure what happened there? OH well it's character right?

Ruby trying to escape. She's so naughty. So much more adventurous than Oliver ever was! Just just looks sneaky in this picture!
Oliver had fun running around the gardens and checking out the water with his stick.

After we visited there, our friends knew of a fun bookstore/restaurant in the area. It was a tasty end to a fun trip. Plus it's always fun to look around an old used bookstore! All in all a fun day! Thanks Koppners!

Walking and Preschool!

So Ruby has FINALLY started to walk a little. I say finally because by 1, Oliver was almost running. But Ruby has been more resistant to walking, she's really into the crawl I guess. So we've been in intensive training for the past little bit and she has finally started to take a few steps on her own. Mostly if you hold out some food for her to get, she will give it a go! So Ruby. That girl loves to eat!! I can't wait until she can walk! It's so hard to take her anywhere because she always wants to get down, but can't walk which means she gets filthy crawling on the dirty ground or floor. However, I'm sure I'm forgetting the new set of troubles walking brings, but for now: GO BABY GO!!

As for Oliver, he started Preschool last month and has been LOVING it! He can't get enough! In fact he is seriously angered when he finds out it's Saturday and there is no school! Ha, ha. I hope that enthusiasm lasts for years to come. His teacher is Miss Sandy and she is really creative and fun. He has informed us that "Preschool is for fun and playing, Kindergarden is for learning!" So heaven forbid that you ask him what he learned about at school. Lesson Learned. Now I ask what he got to "play" at school that day. Anyway, he is loving it and it's so adorable to watch all the kids line up in the morning with their little back packs on following their teacher and waving goodbye to their parents. So cute. And it's cute as the kids have gotten to know each other a little, after school they are all waving goodbye to each other as we all walk out to the parking lot. So fun.

One funny story about preschool that Miss Sandy told me:

Eden (a girl in Oliver's class) to Miss Sandy: Miss Sandy, can I tell you a secret?

Miss Sandy: Of course.

Eden: I think Oliver is Handsome!

Miss Sandy: I think he is too!

How funny! Of course we think he is extremely handsome, so we found this story super cute! But what can I say? We are his parents!

Utah part 2

So below are some pics from August. We were still in Utah during the first 1/2 of August having fun with the family. Oliver had his b-day which was super fun to go up Provo Canyon and play at the park and go fishing. He had a lot of fun. I can't believe he is 4 now! Time has flown by. He is such a smartie pants, he is constantly amazing me. He also has an incredible memory, which as a parent can seem good or bad depending on the situation! ha, ha. In August he took some swimming lessons at the P.G. pool with his friend Kate, they had a lot of fun and on the last day he even got to go down the big slide with his teacher, which I think he thought was horrifying and slightly fun. But it was good because he got in the water which was a big step for him and he enjoyed it, so all in all it was a good experience. (Ruby also had her b-day in August, but that was talked about before.) Also on our trip, Ruby learned to drink through a straw and she has been in heaven ever since. She loves it, she doesn't care what is in there, she just wants to use a straw! We're just hoping this doesn't turn into a drinking problem given all the guzzling she is doing!

Pics from August!

Our trip to Utah- Part 1

Ok, yes we have been back from Utah for like 3 weeks now, but I'm just getting to the posting of stuff. We had such a good time in Utah just hanging out with family and being together. So here are some pictures from July. Oliver had fun running around in his underwear for some reason and loved my parents garage. I don't know what it was about the garage that was so alluring, but he was always wanting to go out there! And Ruby was overwhelmed at first by the largeness of my parents house compared to our house in Craziville, so it took her a bit, but once she mastered the art of going down the stairs backwards, she was a wild woman! She roamed till her little heart was content.

Zack actually went to Japan during a part of July for what I'm choosing to call a "research VACATION." (notice my emphasis on the vacation part!) But while he was gone I saw a lot of my old friends for high school and college, so that was great. So fun to catch up with people. And the kids were in the Children's 24th of July parade that Zack's parents ward has every year. They enjoyed that a lot. They also had fun over at Bubbie and Grandpa's house playing with Striker and Gage and all the neighborhood kids running around that place! Oliver was in little boy heaven! So enjoy some of July's pictures and look forward to some from August in a few days! (I know, the suspense will be killing you, with those adorable faces, who can blame you? ha, ha)

July In Utah!!

Ruby Turns 1

For Ruby's Birthday we went to Newport, RI for the day to have a little fun in the sun! We walked around town and ate lunch, then we headed to Goosebury Beach. It was fun to play at the beach, the kids had a blast, and it was a perfect day to be out in the sun! Then we had some birthday cake at home! I can't believe our little girl is 1! It's crazy! Seems like the past year has just flown by! We love you Ruby!