Summertime

Oh how I love the summertime. :) Well, here goes another gigantic post. This one has pictures from April to July. I will start with the most recent things we've done and go from there. It's been a great summer so far and we're glad it's not over yet.

Last week, we were at the ranch. The weather was beautiful and Eli is the perfect age to love every second of it. Here are a few pictures from that. First, is this one on our last day...Eli was exhausted. He always falls asleep on Ranger rides. It's hard to be a baby and be driven around in a jeep in the woods. :)

We saw the most gorgeous sunset while we were there. The pictures come close to doing it justice. Here is the token self family portrait.

This is my favorite picture though.

Eli entered his first beauty contest while at the ranch. His girl cousins (Abby and Allie) put it together and it was a lot of fun. Eli won for best talent which was jumping up and down.

You have not lived until you have experienced the Snowflake Pioneer Day parade. Matt said he refuses to ever miss one. This year was our first and it was really something. Complete with fashion shows on floats from the local boutique and flying candy aimed for your head (not intentionally of course....or was it?). It was great fun. Here is Eli on Grammy's lap. He loved it.

Eli got a tricycle for his 2nd birthday which he is getting close to riding by himself. He looks so cute and little boyish on it.

Posing with his stash of presents.

His birthday party with all of his Trendler cousins.

A close up of my cake masterpiece. All he wanted was a "truckie" cake. I think I delivered pretty well if I do say so myself. :) I must give a shoutout to Matt for helping with the design and color scheme. We had fun putting this together for our little Elijahbarry.

So happy to finally have his truckie cake.

Just looking cute in San Diego. We went there for the 4th of July.

Dad and mini-dad reading Dad's and Eli's favorite book. They have matching outfits of course.

Watching fireworks on Grumpy's (Grandpa T) dingy in San Diego Harbour. I must say, Eli has quite the life....

Waving, a little nervously, to Grammy who we left behind on the sailboat.

On Memorial Day weekend, it was unseasonably cool, so we celebrated by being outside and went down the street to this little pond/lake thing where they have ducks.

Grandma Patti with Eli in San Diego...we had gone there in May for Matt's brother's graduation.

Eli and Grandpa looking at Eli's favorite thing about San Diego...watching hot air balloons at night.

Watching all the balloons. They come really close to the Faas' house somtimes.

At the beach...

Getting ready to get on the plane.

Daddy and Eli looking at the planes in Phoenix getting ready to go to San Diego.

Just cute.

Earlier in May, the Faas' also cam to visit us at our house. We had a fabulous time and Eli loved them being on his turf. Here is Eli and Grandpa.

Sometimes Eli comes out wearing Mommy's cherry red heels. Of all the shoes I have, he of course picks these ones. Pretty funny.

We also went to San Diego to celebrate being done with Matt's April 15th deadline. A welcome break! This is on the sky ride at the San Diego zoo.

A little camera shy with his glasses....