Playing Catch Up

So I am totally behind in my blogging and I hate that feeling! Gavin is learning new things a mile a minute; I can hardly keep up with the little guy. Here's what our precious boy has been up to:

Gavin is all but running these days! He is walking so good and is so steady now. He even stands up from a sitting position! He is such a busy, curious little boy and loves to check out everything.

Since Gavin was 6 months old he was been watching Signing Time videos that teach him sign language. He LOVES the videos and is now starting to sign to communicate. His first sign was dog, for Sugar. She gets all the love and doesn't even know it! He can also sign all done and more. It's really cute!

Gavin is talking these days as well. He says Momma, Daddy, Puppy, Daw (for dog), hi, bye-bye, baby and "ba-bee" (for blankie). He imitates many other words after you say them but we can't get him to repeat them, so they are one time things at the moment.

Gavin is definitely a BOY!! He LOVES playing outside in the rocks and the mud! Last week I was outside brushing Sugar (she was shedding SO bad) and Gavin was walking around outside playing with the rocks. Well, he finally got brave enough to walk in the grass but the ground isn't level and he face planted in the MUD!

Sam's Graduation

Gavin and I flew to Houston the first week of June for my baby sister's high school graduation...yes I feel old! My whole family was there except my oldest sister and my hubby who had to work. It was SO AWESOME spending time with my sisters and their families. Grandma FernEtta and grandpa Mike were there as well, bringing the count to...wait for it...16! We had such a good time going to the Natural History Museum to see China's Terra Cotta Warriors, going to an Astro's game and of course, boating in addition to the graduation. Sam's graduation was awesome other than the fact that Gavin exploded out of his shorts! Luckily I had a change of clothes in his bag! Way to go mommy! The ceremony was only an hour and 15 minutes! SHORT and SWEET! Sam looked beautiful and couldn't stop smiling. Boating was so much fun as usual and Gavin LOVED splashing in the water and would cry every time we tried to take him out. Once he got his hands on a Gogurt he was pacified though. :) Thanks Mai and Daddy for a great trip! Y'all ROCK! Congrats Sam!!

CoUsIn FuN!! YIPPEE

During the month of May, Gavin was able to spend a lot of time with his cousins Elise and Melody. We were up in Utah for Jenny's wedding and then a few days later they came down to Arizona! Gavin loves pounding on the piano with Elise and climbing up the steps with Melody. Gavin and Melody are only 3 weeks apart and have a good time together. Although they don't really play together they play side by side pretty well with the occasional Monster Gavin steam roller over Melody. All the kids love swimming so we swam at the pool while Brian and Ann and their family were here. WE LOVE COUSINS!

Jenny and Fez's Wedding

CONGRATULATIONS JENNY AND FEZ ALAMA! May 26th, Jason's little and only sister Jenny was married in the Salt Lake Temple to Brian (Fez) Alama. We flew up the Friday before the grand event. We were able to be there for the bridesmaids luncheon at the Lion House (YUM!), Jenny taking out her endowments and one of Jenny's bridal showers (which they planned right before the wedding so I could attend...so sweet). We had a blast spending quality time with family and getting to know Fez better. Gavin loved playing with cousins (all three even took a bath together...pic left out due to Jason's strict "no flashing the family jewels" policy!) The weather was perfect on their wedding day, sunny but not too hot. Jenny looked GORGEOUS and Fez looked quite dapper. :) The luncheon and decorations were amazing. Jenny's colors were black, white, fuchsia and green. My favorite part, aside from the actual sealing, was the musical number Jason and his brothers did for Jenny at the luncheon. They did a PERFECT rendition of MY LITTLE BUTTERCUP from The Three Amigos! It was pee-your-pants funny! Launa flew home with us on Wednesday to spend a few days with Gavin (it's all about the grandkids!) and then we were joined by Brian, Ann, Elise and Melody 2 days later. They drove down to pick up our extra table and chairs that will match their new kitchen, yay!

Saturday could not have been more packed with family fun! In the morning, Jason, me, Gavin, Brian, Ann and Melody hiked The Summit (it's a mile long hike that rises 1200 ft!) Then we all went swimming with Victor, Sam and Haley who had arrived in Mesa from Tuscon while we were hiking. A family get-together could not be complete without shopping so the girls left the kids with the boys and headed to the mall. That night grandma watch the kids while we went on a double date with Brian and Ann. We haven't done that in so long, it was really nice. Sunday was more relaxed and in the wee hours of the morning on Monday they all left to drive back home! :( (I'll add some hiking pics when I find them. Apparently we were all pictured out from the wedding because we barely broke out the cameras the whole weekend Launa and Brian and Co. were here...darn it!)