September Fun

So during September we didn't get out much because of the new baby, but we did make it up the canyon to see the leaves. We spent most of our time getting to know our little guy Easton, who is getting bigger everyday. He gained almost a pound at his 2 Week visit. He has a little double chin and everything. Here are some pics. . .

Up AF canyon, making silly faces

Easton just stayed in the car all bundled up

Me and the kids

Chandler and Easton

Easton getting more and more alert

Brooklyn loves to hold the baby

1st Grade & Soccer

Brooklyn started first grade this year! I can't believe how grown up she is. She was SO excited to go to school ALL day, but mostly she was excited to eat lunch at school and play on the big playground.

Brooklyn & Chandler. Saying goodbye to big sis!

All Ready to Go to 1st Grade!

Brooklyn also started playing soccer this year. These are pics from her first game. She absolutely loves soccer! She had a great time, and even got to play goalie sometimes.

Getting ready for the ball

Playing Goalie.

Introducing......

EASTON KASH GIFFORD

8 lbs. 15.4 oz

21 in

4:53 pm August 16, 2010

Our little man

Shad had a cold so he had to wear a mask

Me holding him after they cleaned him up

Proud Mom & Dad

Our first family photo

Me holding Easton

Alta View brings you this nice little date night dinner for you and your hubby!

Shad and the kids

Easton getting ready to go home

Me and Easton are ready to go home!

Birth Story:

Shad and I went to the hospital around 8AM. At about 9AM they broke my water and started me on pitocin. Everything was going well, but a little slow. I had to wait what seemed like FOREVER for them to get my epidural. I think I waited about an hour and half from when I first asked for it. NOT FUN! Oh well it happens. I was still progressing really slowly. My mom & sister had come for a little while, but then left to check on Brooklyn & Chandler and help my Dad get them lunch and put them down for a nap. I was still at 5 cm for what seemed like FOREVER. Then at around 3:30-4pm I started to seeing stars and not feeling well at all. Shad was getting worried when I kept falling asleep and my blood pressure machine kept beeping. The nurse came in and checked my blood pressure 2 more times and it was 70 over something, but REALLY low. So the anesthesiologist came in and gave me some blood pressure medication in my IV. Then I started feeling A LOT of pressure. So the nursed checked me again and I was at a 10! So Shad hurried and called my Mom & sister to come back. They came in to set up my room and they paged the doctor. I was pushing for just a few minutes when the nurse said just to do half pushes because the doctor was 5 min away. UGH! I was annoyed. But he finally got there. While I was pushing the nursed asked me if I signed the Hep B paper and I very rudely said "I have no idea" and everyone laughed and my doctor told her this probably wasn't the best time. A couple of pushes later Easton was here at 4:53pm. This labor was only about 8 hours and I pushed a total of 10 min, so not too bad.

Flaming Gorge

For our family vacation this year we went to Flaming Gorge for a week. We had a blast. The weather wasn't the best, but since I was 9 months pregnant, and Shad had knee surgery, neither of us could do much, so we didn't mind. We love going there, it is so beautiful and there is so much to do!

Chandler and Uncle Skyler

Chandler and Uncle Tommy playing on the tube

Shad and Chandler fishing. Shad caught a couple of these little guys.

My nephew Boston, my Sister Sharae, my Dad (a.k.a Captain of the boat) & Brooklyn

Tommy and Brooklyn had a blast tubing, and since it was windy they got to go a ton.

Brooklyn, Shad and Chandler swimming

Chandler driving the boat with Papa

Beautiful Brooklyn

Shad on flag duty

That tiny little speck out there is Brooklyn knee boarding. My mom got in the water with her to help her and Brooklyn loved it! She just looks so tiny. Way to go Brooklyn! Maybe next year she'll learn to ski.

We love Flaming Gorge and hopefully we will go again next year.

Brooklyn is 6!

Brooklyn turned 6 this year! I can't believe how fast time is flying. This year she wanted a Barbie Birthday. So thanks to my mad skills of ordering cakes, (and a little help from Walmart) she got the perfect cake! Love you Brooklyn!

Shad and Brooklyn

She really wanted a scooter this year, so we had her close her eyes to surprise her, Chandler is holding it for her.

Brooklyn, Me (super preggo) and Chandler

Her pretty cake

My family came to celebrate

We had it pretty low key with just my family and Shad's sister over for cake and ice cream. We had a good time.

4th of July & a Two-Wheeler

We had a great July 4th Weekend this year. We went up the canyon with my family and spent the day, played games, and had s'mores. We also had a barbecue with some neighborhood friends and did fireworks. We had a great time!

Chandler with his glow-stick

My sister and her little boy Boston, and my brother roasting mallows

Brooklyn & Chandler sitting by the fire

My brother Bryce, Chandler, Shad, Brooklyn, my nephew Boston, and my brother-in-law Brady. We hiked on the board walk around the lake.

Me and Shad by the river

Our whole family

Chandler

Brooklyn

Yummy!

Brooklyn's chocolate face

Chandler LOVES fireworks and keeps reminding me that we do fireworks in July, he is already counting the days til next year

The kids waiting for fireworks

Chandler and Shad at the neighborhood barbecue

And that same weekend Brooklyn learned to ride a Two-Wheeler. Through tons of tears, scraped knees, and some frustration she finally did it! Way to go Brooklyn!

Our new bird & swimming

While we were camping over Memorial Weekend our cute little parakeet Begheera died. Poor Chandler was the one that found her, although he really didn't seem to mind that she died. Brooklyn took it the hardest. Poor girl. Anyway, so we told the kids we could get a new bird. Chandler insisted on picking a green one, so off to PetSmart we went. We found this beautiful parakeet with gorgeous coloring and a really sweet disposition. If you look closely you can even see he has a turquoise tail. Chandler named him "Mater" from the Cars movie. So introducing....Mater Gifford....the parakeet!

It has been quite hot lately so the kids did a little swimming in Chandler's shark pool in our backyard. They love it! We have been outside so much that the kids are pretty tan, and Brooklyn's hair is totally bleached, and her eyebrows are white! It looks cute next to her tan skin. Chandler has a nice swimsuit tan too. I have to say they really are the cutest kids!

We have had a great summer so far and there are lots more pictures to come! And at the end of summer we will have a third little one arriving! So keep checking back for more updates.