60 Years Young!

A few weeks ago, we went "over the hill" to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. We saw some friends we hadn't seen in years, spent time with family, and hung out in the pool. Hoyt loved spending time with his cousins and loved walking around my parent's house saying, "gramma...gramma...gramma"!

The best gift at my dad's party had to be from my sister Holly and her two girls. My nieces, Kaylee and Kaycee, had just raised some turkeys for the county fair. They decided to give my dad a turkey for his birthday (a 35 pound turkey!) and told him it could be Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing like a live turkey birthday present....great photo opportunity! The poor thing met its demise the next day, so consider this an invite for everyone to come to the Hoyt home for Thanksgiving - I'm sure 35 pounds of turkey will feed quite a few!

Kids in Ootah!

As Ryon and I figured, Hoyt is going through a bit of separation anxiety because he no longer has his "kids" right around the corner!

The other morning I walked into Hoyt's bedroom (he was yelling "Mom...I get up now!), and I asked him, "what are we going to do today?". I had told him the night before that we were going to go to grandma's house and swim, and he was pretty excited. Instead of responding that we were going to grandma's, he immediately said "Go to church and see the kids!"

I reminded him that we were going to grandma's house and then I asked him, "Hoyt, where are the kids?" He replied, "kids is Ootah...Matt in Ootah...Allison in Ootah." Sounds to me like we need to plan a trip to Utah, or Ootah, however you want to say it!!

A Girl's Night Out

Does it get any better than dinner - and dessert - out with some of your favorite girls? (Well...if this wasn't our last girl's night out with Allison it would have been perfect!) While trying to find a night that would work with five very busy schedules was nearly impossible, we finally got together and had a great time.

We had dinner at Bertha Miranda's (great Mexican food) and then forced ourselves to get dessert at the Chocolate Bar. By the end of the evening, Allison and I were driving home telling each other how sick we were because we had eaten far too much!! Sounds like a perfect night out to me!

Dinner!

Dessert!

One of my Favorite Days

To the only guy I would want to spend eternity with....Happy Anniversary! Here are a few things to love about Ryon Murray:

- He is pretty darn funny (we laugh a lot)

- He works hard to provide for his family

- He is a great dad

- He's got sexy legs, and the greatest eyes!

- He talks to himself all the time

- He tries to help out around the house (he clears a mean table)

- He smells good

- He honors his priesthood

- He hates fans and air conditioning (I'm trying to love this one!)

- One of his favorite words is "budget"

- He loves to take Hoyt on horseback rides

- He loves me

I could keep going....but I have to stop somewhere. Here's to a great day babe - and thanks for getting me those Pottery Barn bells that I've had my eye on! (hint, hint)

Look Mom!

The other day I heard Hoyt calling from the playroom "look mom, look mom"! When I walked in he said "I build a tower".

I probably hear the phrase - look mom - at least a hundred times a day. I rarely grab the camera when I hear it, but I thought he looked pretty cute this day building towers with his cowboy hat on. I had to take just one!

Road Trip - Part II

Well...one day after Hoyt and I returned home from Idaho, we set off for California. We decided that we needed to have some rest and relaxation beside grandma and grandpa Hoyt's pool. We took about five days and swam...swam...swam.

Hoyt decided that he absolutely loved the pool, especially jumping in both the shallow and deep ends. He turned into a little fish and since we have returned to Reno asks me daily to swim in "gramma's pool"! He routinely tells me now that he is going "upstairs to put on swim clothes" - I definitely think we need a big pool now!!

Jumping into the shallow end to mom

Getting ready to jump off the rock into the deep water!

Swimming back to the side after the "big jump"

Playing Lego's with cousin Isaiah and uncle Caleb

Enjoying a favorite summer treat - the Otter Pop

This one was a bit sour!

Another fun spot at grandma and grandpa's - the trampoline

A night out with some of my favorite ladies. I didn't get home until midnight...I don't think I've stayed out that late in years!!

Road Trip...

to Idaho - of course. I'm not sure if we take road trips to anywhere besides Idaho and California, and I have decided that has to change!

Hoyt and I, along with my mom, grandma and nephew Isaiah went to Idaho to see my sister Noelle, her family, and her new house. We had a fun time shopping in Salt Lake, talking, eating out, and performing a "room makeover". One morning over breakfast my mom and I decided that Noelle's kitchen needed to be painted. Noelle agreed, so that day we bought paint and supplies and got to work. By the end of the day the kitchen was re-painted and re-decorated with purchases from our trip to Salt Lake. I kept saying that I needed to take pictures of the transformation, but I never did!

We had a great time...maybe roadtrips to Idaho aren't so bad!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

A few weeks ago Ryon and I went to an Ace's game. Intuit has a suite, so we had great seats and we actually left Hoyt home with a real babysitter (not a relative or the Bigler's). That was a big step for us....mainly Ryon!!

Bigler's went to the game too (explanation of the real babysitter) and by the end of the night we had the entire suite to ourselves! We have decided that Hoyt would really have fun at a game and we'll have to go back; however, we'll be getting lawn seats. It's highly doubtful that he could manange sitting for even one inning!!

Date night!

A view of the field from our seats

This little (actually big) guy sings the 7th inning stretch song. Hoyt will love him when he gets to go!

Hey...how did these two get in here?

Oh Say Can You See....

I love to decorate for the Fourth of July. I put flags in the flower pots out front, and Hoyt (of course) loves to help. Last year I did a little photo shoot with Hoyt and the flag, and it turned out so cute that I thought I would make it a tradition. When I took out the camera this time Hoyt looked at it and said, "Mom...a camera...cheeseburger!" (Whenever I take his picture I tell him to say "cheeseburger"). He obviously gets it!!

We had a fun-filled Fourth, and are grateful to live in this country and have all of the freedoms that we enjoy. God Bless America!!

He decided that he really liked waving the flag!

A close-up of that cute grin

Waving....once again

I think he was telling me here, "Mom...ah wave ah flag!"

Handsome Hoyt

My camera was on the wrong setting for this picture, but I loved the look on his face so I had to include it!!

One of the flower pots Hoyt helped decorate

Roping on the Fourth

Ryon and Matt had a great day planned for the families on the Fourth of July.... an all-day roping. I think Allison and I were pretty good sports to pack up the kids, some snacks, and the cameras and head out to Spanish Springs to cheer on our men!

We all had a great time, the guys were excited about how they roped, and the kids loved it. I'm not sure if we're ready to make it an annual event, but if it were up to the guys I think we'd do this every year!

The boys waiting patiently for their turn

Ryon and Annie - when Ryon asked why I didn't get any "action shots" of he and Matt roping I politely reminded him that I was also working the video camera. He got some great footage of the roping, but no still shots. I guess I need a few more arms!!

Posing for a picture after placing fourth out of 80 teams. Not bad boys...not bad!

"I Love You Man" (sniff...sniff)

Hoyt enjoyed riding Annie when Ryon had a little "down time"

He rides all by himself while dad leads Annie. However, he has to be reminded pretty often to "hold on with BOTH hands"!

The kids getting a bird's eye view of the festivities!

After the roping we got to spend a little time with Grandma Hoyt, Aunt Marissa and Aunt Tarsus

Even though the guys didn't get home until about 8:00 the night of the Fourth, we managed to take Hoyt out and catch a few fireworks. He loved them...

as you can clearly see!!