Hoyt's Favorite Room

Hoyt reading a few books

Playing on the rocking horse - what fun!

Hoyt now loves to play in his room. I walked in the other day to find him "reading" a few books. I was surprised that every book was not on the floor, which is usually the case, and that he was intently looking at each page and all the pictures. He loves when I read to him and he gets to turn each page of the book for me.

Another fun activity in the room is the rocking horse. Ryon gave me a hard time when I bought the horse before Hoyt was born, because he thought I spent too much money on it. However, he now believes it was a great purchase. Hoyt loves to sit and rock and listen to the horse whinny. He smiles every time he's on it. When I ask him where his horse is, he crawls right over to it and tries to get on. I might be biased, but I think he's pretty darn smart. It must be all the reading!!

Eleven Months...

Eleven months and he already wants to drive!

Hoyt and dad with Annie

Hoyt loved sitting on Annie

Hoyt and mom hanging out by the trailer!

Lately I find myself wondering where eleven months have gone, and wishing that Hoyt would stay "little" for just a bit longer! He is definitely losing his babiness and turning into a bonified little boy. He loves to walk along everything (couches, walls, beds, bathtubs, etc.), pull cans and pots and anything else out of the cabinets, babble and carry on full conversations with everyone, and play with other children. I like to say that we need a "rent-a-sibling" program - he gets so bored with only two adults in the house!

We have had a great summer thus far, with lots of fun in the sun and playing outside. We went to watch Ryon rope the other night and took a few pictures with Annie. Hoyt now loves to pet the horses and even loved sitting in the saddle! Ryon thinks he can be riding on his own by age three - as a mother I think I have issues with that - so we will have to wait and see. (I suppose it could be a possibility if an extremely docile, gentle pony is somewhere in our future!)

Funny Farm....

This past week we were also able to spend a lot of time with my family. Now you have to know one thing about the "Hoyt" family - we have always taken animals to the local county fairs. My brothers, sisters and I all showed a variety of animals...sheep, steers, horses, etc. I vividly remember bawling my head off when I had to sell my lamb "Ernie" (my sister's lamb was named Bert). I had a tendency to get a little too attached!!

While Hoyt and I were in California it was that time again, and everyone was getting ready for the county fair. My brother's kids all take animals (sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits) and my two youngest brothers show animals as well. Caleb is taking a lamb, and Brandon is taking four chickens! We were lucky enough to be at my brother's house when countdown to the fair was on. Everyone got together to wash, weigh, and clip all the animals. Hoyt had a marvelous time. I have to admit that I am looking forward to when we have some land, so Hoyt can raise animals as well. (I'm sure that Ryon will take that statement to mean that I am looking forward to Idaho...oh well!)

Great Friends

I was able to go to California this past week and visit some great friends that I had not seen for a long time. It was so fun to sit and reminisce about the "good old days" - high school, college, days as a vice principal at GHS.....I could go on and on. I have to say that I truly have some of the greatest friends ever. We could not see each other for years, and then when we do get together it is as if no time has passed.

Charlene, Jeannie, Paul and I (top picture) were the best of friends growing up and have known each other since middle school! Charlene and Paul are brother and sister, and their older brother Bobby was great friends with my brother Seth. We were all able to get together at Bobby's house in Modesto last week. What a reunion! Charlene's sister Deb and her family were also there, and it was so fun to catch up with everyone. As we were sitting around talking, Deb said, "Wouldn't it be fun if we were all in the same ward?" I would love it - but unfortunately we are all scattered across the country. Luckily every four or five years we seem to be able to get together, so I guess that will have to do.

Diann, Chantelle, Cheryl and I (second picture) have been friends for at least the last twelve years. When I started teaching at Galt High School I met all of these wonderful ladies. We coached volleyball together, went on long trips for FFA, took students to Disneyland, cried and laughed and screamed in each others offices, took masters classes together....I could go on and on. The last few years I was at GHS Diann and I were vice principals, and I learned so much from her. We all say that the greatest years we ever spent working were the years we were together in Galt. I have to say that I loved my job, primarily because I was able to work with my best friends. We like to give Ryon a hard time, because he broke it all up when he came on the scene and I had to get married and move to Reno!! (Love ya babe!)

I just wish we were able to get together like this more often...

America....America

I was feeling a bit patriotic the day before the Fourth of July - Hoyt was helping me put this flag in the flower pot out front - so I had to get a few pictures of him waving (holding...eating...) the flag. I was sure that I would also take pictures the next day, but wouldn't you know I forgot my camera so there are no pictures of us having fun swimming with friends and gorging ourselves on all sorts of food!!

Ryon asked me (rather hopefully) the morning of the fourth if we had to go watch fireworks. I'm sure he was thinking that even though Hoyt really isn't old enough to have fun watching fireworks, that I would want to get all sorts of pictures to put in scrapbooks, photo albums, etc. To his delight I told him that we would save the first fireworks for next year - so where was Ryon the night of the Fourth of July? Riding his horse...why am I not surprised?!

A Crazy Week...

This past week was a busy one! Ryon's parents came to town for a few days, we celebrated my birthday, went to the Reno Rodeo, had the Relief Society retreat, and then took off for California to visit my family. While it was super busy - we had a great time. Now I just can't believe that June is over and in two days it will be the Fourth of July. Where does the time go?

Reno + Rodeo = Cowboy Hats!

Grandpa and Grandma Murray came for a visit last week, so we decided to go to the rodeo. You just can't go to the rodeo without your cowboy hat, so he are three generations of "Murrays" with their hats on. Hoyt wore his hat for the pictures and for about 5 minutes at the rodeo -while he had it on he did look pretty cute!

Our Newest "Favorite Thing"

I bought this little "walking toy" for Hoyt on Tuesday of this week. When he first saw it he wasn't too sure what to think, and crawled behind it instead of standing up to walk. However, by day two he had figured it out. It is now his favorite thing to do. He stands behind it and walks back and forth across the family room floor - once again, he thinks he is pretty big stuff. We can't believe that he is getting to be such a big boy!

I Love My Dad

Seeing as how this is Ryon's first Father's Day, I thought I would put together a little slide show of Ryon and Hoyt over the past 9 months. Many of the pictures bring to mind some funny stories....

When we found out that Hoyt was 9 pounds and breech, and that he would have to be born via c-section, Ryon was worried to say the least. (If you didn't know, Ryon suffers just a bit from paranoia!!) The day Hoyt was born he was pretty nervous. Everything, however, went great with the c-section and Ryon was beaming when he held Hoyt for the first time. He then got to go to the nursery with Hoyt while I remained in the OR getting "stitched up". While in the nursery, one of the nurses explained that Hoyt had some fluid in his lungs due to the c-section and would need oxygen.

Ryon flew into action! He asked what the optimal oxygen levels should be, and stood by Hoyt's bedside while the nurse administered the oxygen. A little while later the nurse went to check on another baby, and Ryon took it upon himself to administer the oxygen to Hoyt. When the nurse saw what Ryon was doing and questioned him, he replied with (I'm paraphrasing here) "His oxygen levels went down and you were busy, so I gave it to him myself!" When one of the nurses came into my room and explained that she thought Ryon could use a xanax - I thought she was kidding. However, Ryon told me "the oxygen story" later that day and I knew that the nursing staff would probably be happy to see us go!!

For Christmas this year, Ryon picked out a present for Hoyt by himself and wouldn't even tell me what it was. One night while I was out at a church activity, I came home to find a box wrapped in birthday paper sitting under the tree. I had to laugh because 1) Ryon hates to wrap presents and 2) He said he couldn't find the Christmas paper so he just used the "birthday stuff". When Hoyt and I opened the present we found a stuffed deer head for Hoyt's room - Ryon was extremely proud of himself! Ryon can't wait until Hoyt is old enough to take roping, hunting, etc. We already have enough camo for two little boys, and Hoyt is already learning to like horses.

I could go on and on, but I guess those stories will do. I am thankful that I found a man that is a wonderful husband, and also a terrific dad. Hoyt could not ask for anything better. I look forward to watching them "grow up" together! Happy Father's Day Sweets - we love you!!

A Week of Firsts

This was a week of "firsts" for Hoyt. He got to ride his first horse (with Dad), he went swimming for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa Hoyt's house, and he started climbing the stairs at home (the gates have now been put up!).

I had no idea that he would figure out how to climb the stairs so quickly. One day while I was putting away groceries it got awfully quiet, and I went to see what Hoyt was up to. I found him three stairs up and continuing to climb. When he saw me he started laughing - he thought he was pretty big stuff! We wonder what he will start doing next!