Swan Valley - Memorial Day Weekend

We had an enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend. We started our journey out Friday morning. We went to the Salt Lake Cemetery and put a beautiful bouquet of flowers on my dads grave. We also put some mums on baby Miles grave (Ryan and Naomi's first baby boy), My grandparents (Hollis & Evelyn's) grave, and my great grandmothers grave (Anina Lund). My mom was with us and it is still difficult to believe my dad has passed on. Actually it was the 29th of May, 3 years ago, that he received his diagnosis of CJD. I am proud of my mom for how she has continued her life, but she still misses him horribly, as we all do. We stopped in Pocatello, ID for a sandwich and after eating we decided to drive around downtown Pocatello to see if my grandpa's (M.E. Toliver) laundry was still there.....it was with the sign on it and all. It was fun to drive around that town and have my mom share her memories, she lived in Pocatello until she was 4. Then we were almost at the cabin and there happen to be an estate/yard sale on the property my Grandpa Toliver owned in Swan Valley. We visited the sale (which happen to be in a barn that my grandpa constructed). When we were leaving my mom mentioned that she grew up in the rock house. The people said they weren't the owners but managed the property and offered to take us threw the rock house my mom grew up in. That was pretty cool too. To say the least, it was a day down memory lane for my mom and a day filled with neat stories for all of us.
A picture of the old laundry in Pocatello, Idaho.

We mostly worked around the house in Swan Valley and worked on getting the yard ready for summer. Shawn and I were able to go on a bike ride up to Victor and the kids had fun playing. My Uncle Bud and Aunt Penny were at there place on Saturday and they offered to take us up the very full Snake River in his speed boat to see the waterfalls, they were amazing.

Cruz went fishing on Uncle Bud's pond and he caught a huge Rainbow Trout!





We had a birthday party for "Geddy" Cruz's little lizard.
We rode over to Jackson Hole on a rainy Sunday, and Cruz got into Grammy's lipstick!

Dress Up!

Alegra got into my hairbands and they somehow ended up around her body.
Cruz had fun playing construction, knight, superman!

"Don't bother me.......

I am eating my apple with carmel sauce....

yummmm, so good!"

18 months

Alegra is 18 months old today. How fast time flies!!! Alegra is so full of life and loves to laugh....other things she loves:
-being outside, ALL the time! :)
-Her pacies
-Her pink blanket
-Her Cruzy!!!
-Her mommy and daddy
-Her bottle after lunch and dinner (I know we need to give this up soon)
-Her Mac N' Cheese
-Doggies
-Laughing
-Putting lotion on
-Hugging her brother
-Saying "bye"



We love you Alegra!

Cruz's Preschool Program

Jacob and Jason sitting close to Cruz waiting for the program to begin.

Cruz had his year end preschool program. We have been practicing some of the songs, but he usually tells me he can't sing them with me because he needs "a piano'. It was a combination program of the 3 year old classes and 4 year old classes. It was so cute. Dad was able to work from home this morning so he could see it too. We are so proud of how well Cruz did at school this year.
The first song Cruz really belted the words. As the program went on his interest came and went :)
Cruz playing his instrument. He was really excited for this part!
Going for it :)
Good job Cruz! They ended the program with "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Yellow Submarine". We have been singing Puff a lot lately. I found a "Puff the Magic Dragon" book at Barnes and Noble that was so beautifully illustrated and it came with a CD of the song too. Shawn and I gave that to Cruz after the program for such a great school year. Good job buddy! He loves the pictures in the book!

Alegra's Pants

When Grandma Frye came out to visit she helped me copy a pair of pants that I love of Alegras. We sewed them together and they are so cute on Alegra!

Here is the debut of the pants: :)

Cruz's first school pictures

This was Cruz's Preschool class this year. Cruz went to preschool at Swenson Station in Sandy, Utah for the school year 2010-2011. His teachers were Miss Valerie and Miss Kathy. Miss Kathy was his main teacher. The boys were Jason, Jacob, and Cruz. The girls were Tia, Eden, Eliza, Lilly, Ashley, and Brinley.
This picture kind of makes me sad! Cruz looks like such a big boy, my little man is growing up. I can't believe we already have a school photo for him. We love you Cruz, you did such good art projects this year at school!

Can you believe it, more snow!

MAY 17th

Porch

(I wasn't involved in this conversation, but I heard about it later from Shawn and thought it was so funny)
Shawn and Cruz were driving somewhere together in the truck. They saw a fast red car pass them. Conversation goes as follows:
Cruz: "Dad, what kind of a car is that."
Dad: "That is a Porsche."

A few minutes later:
"Dad, I want a Porch (pronounced like a porch on a house, that is what makes the story so funny to me). Can you buy me a porch?"
Dad: "Maybe someday."

Another fast car passes,
Cruz: "Dad, is that a Porch."
Dad: "No that is a Ferrari."
Cruz: "Oh, well I want a Porch."

What amazes me is how hard wired boys seem to be to like fast, red sports cars, even at a young age!

Everything Cruz does......

Alegra has to do. Cruz was swinging on his belly Sunday morning on the swing set, so Alegra had to do it. She was giggling the whole time!

Park time

We went to a park Saturday afternoon/evening to meet up with Shawn's cousins. Shawn's cousin Fran lives in the area and it is fun to get together with them because they have 2 boys, Wyatt (almost 5), and Walker (2). Fran's sister, Shawn's other cousin, was in town for the weekend with 2 of her kids. Bridget came into town for a dance competition for her daughter Paige (around 8). She also brought her little girl Olivia (2) with her. The kids had fun playing at the park except for the crazy wind we had!

Cutey Pututy

She is so dang cute!

"Look Daddy, deer!"

(In Alegra talk pointing to the deer) "gabbg dadd waawaa theee"

Sweet Pea

Grandparents

Grammy Raddon came over to dinner last night while Grandpa and Grandma Frye were still visiting. We thought it would be fun to get a picture with all the grandparents. We tried explaining whose mommy and daddy whose were, I think Cruz got it!

Funny Kids

Alegra has started to total want to interact and play with Cruz. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't ! :)