Catch-Up Post

With frequent babysitting, work schedules, and church callings, we're just having a hard time keeping the blog up. But we're going to. Here are many shots to try to catch things up a bit. We start off with some video clips of Avril taking some steps. By the way, not all the shots are in order below. I'm packing for a business trip to NYC and did this post in short order given its size.

Here Avril leaves her walker and takes some steps on her own.

And here she shows her skills with the walker.

Jared and Gayle at Angie's. Alicia and Jared took Gayle to a birthday luncheon (with Avril, of course).

Avril liked the food too.

Angie's gives a complimentary cinnamon roll for birthday celebrators. All four couldn't even finish it.

Alicia and Avril at the lunch.

Gayle posing with her new hairdo. Cute!

Still looks young.

The weather was still cold, but the sun was out and Avril wanted to be near the next door kids.

She gets a wagon ride from Jordan and Madison.

Avril and friends

Gayle gave a Relief Society lesson on the Fall of Adam and Eve. This was what she used for her table display.

The Yargers after Jesse's game. More game shots are further below.

Adrian, Ray, Brit, and Arleen at the Baby Animal Days event.

Some of the rest of us at the Baby Animal event.

Avril, of course, loved the animals.

Jared and his mom.

Gayle, gazing at the baby animals.

The Historical Farm sits below the Wellsville Mountains, ever so scenic. It's April, but still cold up in the mountains.

Some of our girls.

A Yellowstone cub.

Avril pulling another face.

Jared, about to stroll with Avril

Papa Spencer with Avril

Avril and uncle Jared

Our attempt at a family photo - the sun was in our eyes

Brittney and Avril - the two granddaughters going for a walk

Checking out the big workhorses

Watching the sheep riding event

Mom's birthday dinner. Note that our photos are not in chronological order.

Olivia, Carly, and Kristen about to enjoy Sizzler.

Us.

Grandma with her birthday root beer float

One of our many four legged visitors - photographed through the window of our TV room

Avril loves toys

The Easter Bunny visited Brittney and Avril

The two cousins

Watching a Stampede game

Ali and her father-in-law, Bryan, with Brit

Adrian and Arleen, relaxing at the game

Yes, that's snow on the field in April. #11 is Jesse.

Staying warm in a Mexican poncho

Avril likes stories. See her skinned up nose from a fall on the pavement at Jesse's football game.

Another story

The Easter Bunny made it to Logan to find Brittney

Group lunch between Sunday's General Conference sessions

Enjoying the meal

A happy couple

Steve, Susan, and Dallin joined us too

Three generations

Another happy couple

Tri-birthday celebration. Adrian, Arleen, and Jared all share April 16th as their birthday, seriously.

And they all got the traditional root beer floats

Another attempted family photo

Avril's First Steps

February 2010

It was another busy month (what month isn't?). Early in the month we ate at the home of our friends from India, the Haq family. We loved the different herbs and spices, including a saffron dessert. On Sunday, Valentine's Day, I went to the viewing of the son of a friend (Justin Hutchinson) of mine. The next day, Presidents' Day, I attended Dane Hutchinson's funeral in Nibley. The following Saturday Craig and I performed at Pioneer Valley Retirement Home. In between, we continued to see lots of Avril. Here are some shots from the month.

One day Gayle, Avril, and I walked the Logan mall. Here we stopped at the kids' play area to sit on a cupcake.

No matter the age, children like to look at bright candy! If she could talk it would be, "Papa, can I have a quarter?"

"Oh well, there's no way I could chew it anyway."

Avril likes few things as much as pulling stuff out of cupboards and drawers. Here she is in Gayle's bathroom checking out the toiletries.

"What's this for, grandma?"

She's starting to get into music, too.

Two generations. How about that Valentine's design on the new outfit from Carme, Jesse's mom?

Mom and daughter in our hallway.

Gayle with the flowers I got her (we got together) for Valentine's Day. Gayle's dressed in red because she gave the Relief Society lesson that Valentine's Sunday.

Nana and Avril. Similar hair color.

Great grandma assisting with Avril's walking lessons. We were all at Alicia's and Jesse's for Avril's 1st Birthday Party.

One year old! It didn't seem unusual to her because she's always the center of attention anyway.

An uncle (Jared) and the parents. Adrian and his family are hopefully coming in the spring and will get some time to spend with Avril too.

Gayle made and decorated the birthday cake (cheesecake).

Among the guests were the great grandparents.

Jesse's and Alicia's friends, the Brown family, also came to the big event. Their parents came by later. Bryan and Shelby came too. It was a grand celebration. We had "haystacks" for dinner.

This was taken out the lower window at Gayle's physical therapy office at the Sports Academy. Do you see something hiding in the bushes, camouflaged?

Maybe this is easier to discern. Click to enlarge. It's in the upper right quadrant. Yep, it's a pheasant. They are pretty common around town.

Gayle, modeling her new hat and pocket book from Rosemarie, her sister in Social Circle, Georgia. Gayle's birthday (61st) comes in two days.

Avril came by today to show off a new dress. Here she is sitting on the countertop. Later, she came by again and we helped her practice taking steps.