Cascade Springs & Steel Days

We went to Cascade Springs today with My family. It was wonderful. The mountains always leave Me feeling emotionally Refreshed. It was cool and just a blast.

Steel Days was kinda lame for Us this year. We really didn't do anything but the fireworks. Life just gets so hectic. Though I am so glad we did the fireworks. I was super nervous for Ruger's reaction. The fireworks on the Fourth of July scared him. It went awesome though! Ruger ohhh/awed and clapped the whole time. It was so fun. Plus He would go back and forth between Clayton and I. It means so much more when He chooses to come to Us. Unlike He when He was little and He was just got passed to whoever wanted to hold Him. We did get snow cones to celebrate Steel Days and that it ALWAYS a hit. 

Dear Ruger (12 Months)

I find My self so emotional lately. Especially thinking of you being a toddler and not a baby. You are growing up so fast. Like the famous song "I wish I could save these moments put them in jar. Keep you just the way you are. I know I can't but I wish I could". Even though I feel that way, I still wouldn't want to go back because I LOVE the little person you are turning into. Your personality and quirks are so fun and make you a blast to raise.

I love watching you be you. Ruger you are such a busy bee. Always on the move, and keeping busy. There are so many time through out the day, you will be doing something and I think You are such your father! Daddy will always say "Just like your Mom". I can't help swell with pride. If its not exactly a compliment. Though that might seem weird to swell with pride because you do something silly I do or act like me. You are a part of Me and seeing that shine through brings Me such joy that We your father and I have made you. Why wouldn't I swell with pride:)

Holy Attitude! I didn't expect a attitude at such a young age. LIKE WOW. If you don't get exactly what you want when you want it, You will start scream/squealing. If that doesn't work you will pinch or even bite. NOT COOL. I am trying to teach You that, that isn't ok. Though lets be honest its really really hard to discipline a 12 month old. I am trying and I see some progress but it is slow VERY slow. It is working though. Mostly because everyone will laugh at your tantrums, then instantly it turns into a game and then Its really really hard to get you to stop.

Walking is now your main way to move, rarely do you crawl. I can always tell when your getting tired because your balance will basically disappear and you will fall constantly. I know it frustrates you. With a nap your back to your old self and the balance is back.

Hugs from You are probably My favorite! You will randomly stop what it is that you are doing and run and give someone a hug. Who ever you feel like give that extra little "I love you" to. Once you give the hug your back of doing your previous activity. Its so sweet to me that you will stop and want to give a hug. Just to show You love whoever you choose to hug. It just shows how sweet you are:)


You are becoming more and more independent every day. You try and doing things yourself instead of Us doing everything for you. For example you try and feed yourself by grabbing the spoon or fork. Though I know I should let you I'm not ready for that mess just yet.

You are into EVERYTHING. Cupboards, drawers, really anything you can open, that you shouldn't. Example...

You love  Daddy. You say Dad, Daddy, Dada all the time. When Dad gets home you light up and get so excited!! I love watching you two together. I am so grateful that you get to have such an awesome Father who loves you. If you happen to be napping when Dad gets home Dad waits very impatiently asking if He can just get you up right then, I say NO! So He will wait until you get up and then runs to get you ASAP. Heaven help us if you wake up before Dad has to leave for work, because YOU hate  when He leaves! Tantrum awaits. NO fun. Though I do LOVE that you love Your Father so much,  I don't love it so much at 6:30 a.m. though. We can nip that it the but and I would be just fine.

You absolutely love our family. Though Grandpa's and Uncles have your full attention. When grandpa's walk into the room your attention goes directly to them and you run into their open arms.

Fourth of July

It was Ruger's last first holiday. It makes me kinda sad. Writing this I'm getting a little teary eyed. Its crazy that Ruger's first year is coming to a end. It was a good last though. We started the day early way early. We went to the Provo Balloon festival. We got doughnuts and orange juice and met A few of My family members, the Gunnells, and the Houlins down in Provo.  Sadly when we got to the festival they canceled because of the weather 500 feet above us. We didn't let the weather cancel our fun. So we all sat down and enjoyed the morning and of course doughnuts. Ruger loved doughnuts. Every time I looked down He had another one in his hand.

We then had a BBQ with My family and then just went to My parents for fireworks. Derrick bought a thrity pack and We did a test run to see if Ruger liked the fireworks before we took Him to Thanksgiving Point for a big show. I'm glad We did the test run because Ruger wasn't a fan. He like fireworks for a distance but the loud ones weren't His Favorite.

Ruger Turns One...Almost.

We had Ruger's first birthday yesterday, and though He doesn't turn one till the 10th. It still doesn't seem real that my baby is no longer a baby! The day started of awful. Ruger woke up puking and then a blow out and then more puke. He then fell and got a bloody nose, So I was super stressed He wouldn't feel good for  the party. I went to my moms in the early afternoon and started to set up. A hour into decorating it started to pour!! I mean streams running down the side of the streets. I already had balloons and streamers up and just like  that they were gone! URGH so frustrating!! I just started to cry. I had My perfect set up in My head of what I wanted and then it was ruined!! I know I over reacted  now but I had put so much time and effort into this party that it was so upsetting seeing  it just literally melt and pop away.

I called My aunt and asked if We could have the party at Her house. She was amazing and at last minute was ready for us to come! A HUGE thanks to My Aunt Linda and Her wonderful kids for helping Clayton  and I set  up.  Another HUGE thanks to My family for helping set up and for watching Ruger while We set the party up. A super thanks to Lauren who saw  the rain in the middle of Her church and left because She knew I needed help and I that I would be stressing. So Family you saved ME!!  Of course a BIG thanks  to Clayton who put up with My stressing and helped so much!! Also thanks to everyone for the food you brought and presents you truly made it a special day!! Mollie thanks for getting streamers and balloons to replace the ones I lost!! One more HUGE THANKS to My wonderful Mother-in-law who sewed Ruger's birthday outfit! I'm in love with it.

They Party went Perfect. I am so glad its over! I got teary eyed through out the day because I can't believe its almost been a year since Ruger joined  our family. Its gone by WAY to fast! Though its been a hard,long,short,wonderful,fun year I am glad the party is over!

Here is the fun part the pictures and video!

Please excuse My singing voice!! Yikes! Ruger had already started to dig into His cake before we sang, because I was afraid He would cry,since He did at every other birthday We've gone to. I was so mad I forgot a candle!! Oh well right? At this point Ruger had a Huge clump of frosting in his palm and He was licking away.

Of course I want to remember the invitation so here it is! Plus a BIG thank you to Nic who put it together for Me!!

We still are going to do a little something on the 10th. Plus take Him to pick out his presents from Us. I am excited for that mostly because there won't be any stress involved! :)

Clayton turned 24

Clayton isn't one for a BIG birthday celebrations. Every year He tells Me not to do anything. Seriously Clayton,  I can't do NOTHING. So I decided this year to do one of his favorite things. Go up the Canyon. So some of both our families joined us for some s'mores and the fresh mountain air. It turned out to be a perfect evening. I decided not to do the normal s'mores but branch out to other candy bars and let me tell you if you haven't tried a milky way s'more yet, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!

Ruger just like His Daddy loves outside, He wanted to run everywhere and touch everything. Most of that really cool looking fire. Yikes camping/fires will never be the same once  your a  parent, because instead of enjoying the fire your paranoid you're child will find it. Plus The stream was a major  hit, to the point if we tried to take him away Ruger FREAKED! Next outdoor outing will have one of the leash/backpack things. I used to think that the kid leashes were ridiculous. Now I think of them has a safety line. Funny how things change when your a parent. 

A birthday wouldn't be complete with out cake. I brought out my inner Maratha Stewart and made a homemade (by scratch) Carrot cake with an amazing cream cheese frosting. This sucker took a lot of work and it didn't turn out beautiful though it tasted beautiful!!

All in all it was a pretty laid back birthday. So happy birthday babe! I love you so much!

Memorial Day

I always feel like Holidays are super busy for Us. We try to visit both sides (Fraughton & Wiggins) every Holiday so I feel like a chicken running with its head cut off. Though its crazy busy I wouldn't have it any other way because Family is what is important and I want to share those days with the ones that matter.

So for Memorial day with the Fraughton's we went and visited the graves of our relatives that have served and ones who have passed on. It always makes me Super happy when I pass the cemetery on Memorial Day Weekend and there is decorations and flowers every where. Back in the good old days people used to picnic and have celebrations in the cemetery, so that they could be close to the ones who have passed on. Though now people would tend to think that's morbid, I wish cemetery weren't so "scary" and sad. Don't get me wrong We won't be having a picnic any time soon in a cemetery. Though I wish they were a happier place to visit more often and think of the better times:)

Then of course it wouldn't be Memorial Day with out a BBQ so we joined the Wiggins/Wardell Clan for that part of the evening.