Big Guy

I haven't updated on our little guy (who is getting to be a big guy) for a while! He began taking steps when coaxed in August. But didn't start walking until he was 16 months. He could do it but really had no desire. Now he walks like a pro and is enjoying his newfound independence.

Like Afton, Peter LOVES being silly and making others laugh. He also loves laughing himself. He admires his sister like no other but also realizes that she often is an opponent when it comes to toys and Mom. 

Loves to tease by hiding under his blankie

He is getting very picky and particular about what he wants and has no way to communicate it so that gets frustrating for all of us.

He LOVES his grandpa and most males. One day Afton's friend's dad came to pick his daughter up who had been playing at our house and Peter was hardly walking (we really had to coax him into taking a few steps at this point)but he let go of the couch and walked right up to the guy (who was a couple feet away) and put out his arms to be picked up. Peter had never met this guy before. This was my second time ever meeting him. He knows guys and loves them.

Peter is a crazy guy at church and rarely content. So I just HAD to pull out my phone and take a picture of this in Sunday School. Peter loves to find Grandpa. Look how content he is!

He has a fierce love for his mom. Like clingy, almost annoyingly fierce. But as I said to Pete the other day, I think the reason it doesn't bother me and I give into it is because I know one day we won't have that connection. I know Afton and I will always be buds because we are girls, and she's my oldest, and that connection is just THERE. But I feel that when Peter gets older I'm not going to be able to have that same connection with him so I have to cherish it while it lasts. 

Peter has too much to do and eating just gets in the way. If he can't eat on the go or in less that 5 minutes, he doesn't want it. This is incredibly frustrating to his parents who want him to get bigger and stronger and healthier! I just do my best in trying to make eating in his high chair more appealing and let the mess go when he carries crackers all over the house or makes a mess in his carseat because otherwise he won't eat!! His favorite things to eat are fruit (all fruit!) and salty foods like pretzels, chips, goldfish crackers, sausage, bacon, etc.

Eating Nutella & peanut butter on the go. Which made for a VERY messy house!

Peter has the sweetest cheesy smile that we just love. He also makes hilarious faces. I told Pete I am going to start texting him using Peter's face for emojis.

Another Car Accident

This is the third car we have had totaled in 4 years! On a Thursday morning the kids and I decided to go to the Whitmore Library in Cottonwood Heights. This was the library we used to go to when we lived in Murray and we love it. We hadn't been in a while so we decided to go there instead of the library closest to us. 

On our way there we were hit by a driver who ran a red light as we were turning left on a green arrow. I saw the driver coming with enough time to panic but not quite react and it was probably the scariest moment of my life not knowing how everything would play out in a couple of seconds and feeling trapped without any way to get out! She ended up hitting the driver side wheel and pushing me into another car turning in the other lane on my right. Multiple airbags came out and my first thought was about if the kids were OK. I looked back to find them both wondering what just happened but seemingly unscathed! I could smell smoke and was worried that the front of the car was on fire (but I couldn't see it because of the curtains that fell down with the airbags). I asked the lady I had just bumped into on the right to help me get the kids out and she had to pry our door open since the car was in freak-out mode. I ended up unbuckling them and passing them through the front passenger door. We made our way out of the busy intersection with help from a man who saw the accident and stopped to help. There were SO many kind people who stopped and helped in any way they could. We sat on the side of the intersection for a couple of hours while the police were called and the ambulance came to check out if we were OK. I am just so amazed and grateful that the kids were untouched. I had some bruising from the seatbelt and airbags but nothing lasting. The car was totaled and we felt that we got a fair payout. 

So we went a week or two later and found another van that we feel happy with. It all worked out in the end. I truly feel that we had individuals from the other side there to protect and calm the kids. We feel so blessed with how everything turned out and that the accident wasn't worse than it was!

*I did not get any pictures of the accident but some people who were there got a few and texted them to me. I wish I would have taken a picture of the front of the vehicle but my mind was, as you can imagine, completely elsewhere.

Fun Happenings

Hiking Mount Timp on Labor Day

Conquering fears (this is a really long slide Afton has been afraid of in our neighbor's yard)

All dressed up and posing for the Fairy Festival

Found cousin Clara at the Fairy Festival!

Started Miss Kim's pre-ballet class again.

We got a play set in our yard! It was a hand-me-down from Aunt Bessie but was originally Pete's when he was growing up! Afton LOVED having picnics on it for lunch everyday while it was warm.

Caught an "Animal Zoo" family concert by the BYU philharmonic. It was SO fun for the kids!

One of the lion cubs at the zoo tried to get through the glass to play with Afton! He was loving her and her doll that day!

Ice cream and dinner at Arctic Circle with Grandma and the Wirigs.

Witch Hunt at Gardner Village

Having a cookie after our witch hunt. I LOVE Peter's face in this. He loves his sister!

Enjoying fall in Mimi and Grandpa's backyard.

Peter Pan!

Mom and Dad got to attend a BYU football game!

Preschool

Afton started her second year of preschool in September. The other moms and I  decided to make it a little longer and a little more formal this year and Afton loves it. We also do a "field trip" once a month so us moms can still see each other and chat :).

2016-2017 preschool group from L to R: Kami Christensen, Afton, Maizie Converse, McKay Hansen

We are working very hard on learning to write their names this year.

Bubble art

Hiking Silver Lake

It was during Peter's nap time and he really did not enjoy it, poor guy.

As you can see Afton LOVES preschool and her preschool friends!

Blossoming Buddies

The last couple months Afton and Peter have been really started to interact and play with each other for extended periods of time. It is so fun to watch them play and enjoy one another. Just as quick as this began, the sibling quarreling began as well. Some days I feel like a referee! And it scares me to think this will be the rest of my life!

If I ever go get Peter in his room after a nap or in the morning without Afton trailing behind me he asks "Afton? Afton?" until she come to play. If she is still asleep in the mornings I will never hear the end of it!

See that admiration in his eyes?

August Fun

We went the the hot air balloon festival in Sandy. I have always wanted to go to one of these but it seemed so early to get the kids ready and out the door. But we finally made it! We packed some snacks and enjoyed watching the balloons launch. Then we went and got some doughnuts after at Daylight Donut It was a fun morning!

 We went to Alpine Days with Mimi and Grandpa this year.

Afton got to ride in the ATV over to the parade!

 Boofie invited us to This is the Place Heritage Park. We had a fun time with cousins!

We kind of took a break from the Zoo since it gets so hot and crowded through the summer. But once school started we started back and, as always, we enjoy ourselves. We loving having a pass so we don't feel bad about going for only an hour or two.