1st Birthday!

I can't believe my "little" pup has turned 1. We're so happy that he has become part of our little family. It was funny how we even got him. We had been talking about getting a dog not really being serious. We tossed around the idea for a couple of months and had forgotten all about it. One Sunday night I told Mike that we should look into it and see how much a Golden Retriever would cost (For some reason that is the only dog I could ever imagine myself with)

So, we went to sleep and the next day when I woke up Mike told me he had found one on Craigslist. A little 8 week old retriever trying to find a home because his owner had moved into an apartment and no pets were allowed. I e-mailed the girl and by that evening we had a puppy! She said we had been the very first people to contact her, lucky! He was just meant to be in our family because finding another Golden Retriever on Craigslist has been impossible.

Oh and his previous owners called him Butter. We tried calling him other names but Butter seemed to stick.

 I absolutely fell in love with him the moment I saw him cuddled up in my arms, so peaceful and so stinking cute. This pup has taught me SOO much. I've learned to be patient, to care for another being other than just myself. It's so rewarding to see him do the things I have taught him. I love that every single day I get home there's always a little puppy there to greet me by the door just delighted as can be that I am home. I've also learned how much work a dog is.. Ay Caramba! All the food, and the toys, and the vet visits, and the bones, and the classes... gees Louis. And he chews through his toys in a matter of hours.

We couldn't imagine how boring our lives would be without Butter.  Butter makes us go out on walks, jogs, beach trips, hikes, dog park, play dates, or just playing ball outside.

Oh and my pup is SO smart. He learns tricks so quick! Right now we're learning how to be courteous and gentle with little kids and how to have manners around humans...I love it!

I love you my little Butter Ball! Happy 1st Birthday. I look forward to many, many more birthdays to come!

Oh and to commemorate his first birthday, here's gazillion pictures of him hehe :D

I can't believe how much he has grown. He's a wopping 62lbs now

 

Wee little Butter hanging out with me in the back yard while doing yard work.

 

 

 

 

 

 Butter woke up such a happy boy on his Birthday. He got some new toys (which are gone already ofcourse) and a Rawhide bone which he enhailed entirely without breathing! :D Oh and he also got a hair cut, he's a baldy now

 

 I didn't get him a birthday hat which I am so sad about, but Butter got to eat his very first piece of cake on his birthday weekend.

He was so excited look at him trying so hard not to eat the cake

Once he started he did not stop, he LOVED it! 

 

Nom, nom, nom...

 He even made sure to lick ALL of the crumbs off the plate

 

 

 Oh and not to forget, he went CRAZY with all that sugar, look at him go! Running and running in circles like a crazy dog.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday my little Butter Ball!

Take me out to the ball game!

It's that time of the year again for our home town 66ers baseball team to play ball. I love that there is a "Mormon Night" when everybody I know is all gathered together in one place enjoying 50 cent hot dogs and cheesy nachos. Mike and I love to go cause it means hanging out with friends, chit-chatting, and lots and lots of food. All of my friends from singles ward were there and there was lots of catching up to do. I love how they make it so family friendly and there's a little game going on every 30 minutes in which a little cub scout would race the mascot down the bases or a boyscout and their dad would race their parents to see who could put a baseball uniform on the fastest. Oh and the mascot is hillarious! We had such a great time and im thankful I got to get out of work early so that i was able to go. Can't wait for next year's ball game

San Francisco

This weekend we had the privilege to go up and visit our family in Roseville to celebrate Dean's ordination. I can't believe Dean is 12, time sure flies when you're having fun. I love this sweet boy. Every time he comes over or we go over to his house he always greets me with a big warm hug. I love being his aunt!

Here's his big brother Drew whom we were able to go up for his ordination also.

+I meant to take a family pictures after church but with all that was going on and trying to figure out where all the kids were after church, I totally forgot all about it..darn!

Here's one of the reasons why Mike is the favorite uncle. He loves playing and running around with his nieces and nephews and pushing them so fast on the swing it made all the mommas nervous, hehe

The day after the ordination Ann made every body yummy lunch and we all hung around laughing and having a good ole time. Jill was in San Francisco with her friends and even got to drive in and join us for the fun.

On Monday we decided to drive to San Francisco and do a couple of tourist-y stuff.

 Mike and Evan played a candy game in which who ever held the candy in their mouth the longest wins...oh boys. Mike said that when he was younger they would play that game on road trips but instead of candy they would do it with grapes...GROSS! :) I guess you have to find ways of keeping 8 kids entertained and quiet on long road trips. Papa you are so smart!

Gracie opted out of playing. I don't blame her

Elizabeth is the best tour guide. She knew were all the hot spots were without being crowded with tourists. Check out this view on top of the hill!

This was our second time visiting the Golden Gate Bridge but the first time didn't count because it was late at night and we were driving by on our way home. This was much, much better.

There was even a little hike spot on the hill with great views. Millie say "Cheesh"

Oh hey there good looking!

It was so pretty up there and the weather was so great.

 Sorry about the upside down pic, wans't sure how to turn it around...oh well

Crazy Mike!

 I thought the tunnel looked kinda cool so we had a little 1 minute photo session. Thanks Drew you are quite the photographer

Mike and I took some of the kids across the Bridge. The littles stayed with Grandma and Beeb.

It was quiet windy!

 Since we were a little short on time Gracie and I decided to jog across the bridge. Look at us go! There were so many people there Conrad almost got ran over like 567 times. Crazy boy!

  Gracie and I stopped by for a quick picture. It was so windy we had to hold our hair down to keep it out of our face. Isn't she presh!

Thank goodness it was a clear day because a couple of days earlier it had been overcast.

 Conrad striking a pose

Golden Gate Bridge survivors!

 After walking across Marcia and Elizabeth picked us up on the other side and we headed over to Fisherman's Wharf for some fish and ships. We found a nice little corner, away from all the birds, where we could eat our food and listen to a band playing Bob Marley music.

 After lunch we headed over to Ghirardelli to eat ice cream covered in delicious chocolate 

What a great looking bunch!

 It was finger licking good huh Gracie?

I'm sad it was such a short trip but so happy we were able to spend the day with family eating delicious food. We had such a great time. I'm so proud of my nephew for being such a good great man. Always doing good in school and fulfilling his church callings.  He's going to make a great missionary some day!