Discovery Gateway

Over UEA weekend, Colby and I had the opportunity to go to Discovery Gateway with our friends Noah and Ethan (and their mommies). These boys are 8 months apart. :) We LOVE spending time together. I work with their mommies, so we get to play together often. 

This is called the "Beehive". The balls go through the holes in the wall.

Colby {LOVED} to steer the car. 

Colby was getting the dog out of the dog house. He {LOVES} doggies. (Just ask him!)

I {LOVE} this picture. So stinkin' cute.

This was a super fun water table. Colby ended up getting soaked!

Colby {LOVED} pushing around this wheelbarrow. It just slid on the carpet (no wheels). 

The boys had a blast and they played so hard. This was also the first time Colby had been on an escalator. He fell asleep before we even made it out of the parking garage at the Gateway Mall (although, it does take forever to get out of there).

Splash Pad!

There is a super awesome park near my work. My friend from work and I took our boys to go play. Colby LOVED the water!

Potato Salad

It's interesting how the littlest things bring back such wonderful (and sometimes hard to think about) memories. Making potato salad does that to me.

My grandmother's potato salad is my absolute favorite. I compare everyone else's potato salad to her's. When she started getting really sick, I decided I wanted to learn how to make it. I bought everything she told me and spend an afternoon with her and my grandpa making potato salad. I loved listening to her talk about how the potatoes were supposed to look and feel and how the sauce was supposed to look and taste. It was a whole new way of cooking for me.

As I made her potato salad for our Father's Day BBQ this morning, I couldn't but help think about my sweet grandma. She fought her breast cancer so hard. She told all of her doctors her goal was to be here when Colby was born. She fought so hard, but didn't quite make it. She passed away just three weeks before Colby got here.

It's amazing what a little potato salad will do. :)

Reggie

Colby LOVES animals. So I decided we should get him a dog. It look me about 5 days to convince Erick, and he finally said okay.

I found this adorable labradoodle on KSL (Lab/Poodle mix). He was so cute! We found out they make super great dogs. We brought the dog home on Memorial Day and named him Reggie.

Everything was going pretty good until today. Colby decided he was scared of the dog. He wanted to be held, or sit in his high chair, or sit at the back of the couch where the doggie couldn't get him. When the dog would lick him, Colby would push his face away. The dog would take the toys right out of Colby's hands and he'd cry.

So, we decided to take the dog back to the breeder. Having a kid is way easier than having a dog. And, I don't want Colby to be afraid of playing on the floor.

Hello Reggie. Goodbye Reggie. We won't be having a dog any time soon.

Little Things I Don't Want to Forget

Colby is so funny! I wanted to jot down some of the things he does so I don't forget.

Colby loves being outside. He figured out how to go down one stair walking just to look out the backdoor while Erick is working in the yard. He cries if you go outside without him, and cries when we bring him back inside.

Colby likes to wiggle into tight spots. He often gets stuck. These spots include between my bed and nightstand and between the couch and the wall.

Colby likes to drag stuff around our house. This "stuff" includes garbage cans, laundry baskets, and rubbermaid containers. Sometimes he gets stuck and grunts until he wiggles free.

Colby LOVES animals. He tried to run across the street to see the doggies. He loves laying on my mom's cat and getting licked in the face by big dogs.

Colby loves to carry anything that has a handle: spoon, spatula, and pan lids. He also LOVES cups. Good thing he can drink through a straw.

Colby weened himself off a bottle, formula, and baby food all in one week. He eats whatever we're having for dinner and uses his fingers to help "chew" because he only has two teeth! :)

My Cancer Fears Me

The words "Your child has cancer," are four words no parent ever wants to hear.

Samantha is six years old. She has been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. It's a cancer that is usually found in adolescent boys on "long bones". Samantha cancer is on her spinal cord. They found the tumor because it crushed to vertebrae and she collapsed walking to the front doors of her elementary school.

Everyone hears about children with cancer on the news or by the commercials asking for donations to help these kids. Samantha's dad grew up next door to Erick. They are best friends.I never thought it would happen so close to me. It makes me realize how precious life, and time with your family, really is. Life is so short. Take advantage of spending time with your family and your children. Make fantastic memories together. Never take anything for granted. You never know when that time will be taken away.

Samantha went through two back surgeries to fuse her crushed vertebrae. She has begun her year-long chemotherapy treatment. My heart goes out to Sam and her parents. I do not know how they are holding it together. I can't even writing this email.

Sam's new motto is "My Cancer Fears Me." Despite her lack of hair due to her chemo treatments, Sam is doing much better. She still has about 10 months of treatment to go. Right now, she is running around, laughing, and having a great time. It was so nice to see her actually smiling.

I am helping organize a fundraiser to help pay for her treatment (close to one million dollars). If you, or anyone you know, would be willing to donate items for a silent auction, please let me know. We are looking for items to put into baskets. Anything is appreciated.

Colby's Birthday!

I cannot believe Colby is one year old! Time has flown by so fast! Here are some of the awesome pictures I got while we celebrated!

We had an Elmo birthday party. My sister made these stinkin' cute cupcakes!

Colby LOVED eating the cupcake. YUMMM!

We're going to a family reunion in Idaho this summer at Rigby Lake. So, Colby got a life jacket! It even matches his swimming suit!

My mom got Colby this cute reversable cape! A mom at Spectrum makes them custom. Here is the other side:

(This is Colby with my "Boppie")

 Kristyn, Grandpa Pete, me and Colby!

-----

Here are a few of the adobable 1 year pictures my sister Kristyn took of Colby!