Exciting and Cute Things

Some exciting things have happened since our last update......

Dad feeding Burke rice cereal!!! He had it for the first time when we went camping in Bryce with Gma and Gpa Grater a few weeks ago, but he wasn't too crazy about it. So we took a break for a few weeks and tried again...now he LOVES it and eats it twice a day. Soon, we'll be introducing vegetables.

Uncle Alec and his favorite nephew.

We got a sweet used back pack to carry Burkey around in. Only $30. Sweet! And Burke loves it, of course.

We went to a free concert up at the Canyons Resort in Park City last weekend with our neighbors Chris and Tessa and baby Beck Linford, and Stu's friend from work, Rob and his wife Beth and daughter Lauren. A New Orleans jazz band. I think this picture is so cool of the Linfords. They are great and it's been fun getting to know them better.

Little Beck and Burke sitting together. Beck is 6 months older than Burke and they are the same size!! Better lay off the rice cereal Burke! Rob is in the background.

Just heading home from the concert. Burke is sleeping like a rock.

Lauren and I. Lauren is so cute and polite.

Mom reading National Geographic to Burke in bed. He loves the pictures and hearing the cool stories.

Jenn Niedfeldt got married on Saturday to Andrew Waterhouse. The wedding activities were wonderful and it was a lovely day. This is Joe and Darci Sloat and Burke and I at the ceremony, which was held at the Storm Mountain Amphitheater up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was such a lovely venue and the ceremony was so touching. Burke looks hot! We ended up taking his pants off so he was just sporting the onesy to cool off.

The ceremony.

Rick, Eric and Mary. Rick and Mary are Mel's siblings. Eric is Rick's son.

What a cute family. :)

Mary was so good with Burke. He was fussing during the lunch after the ceremony so she took him in her lap and tickled his face and he calmed right down.

Val and Tamie and their daughter Madison. We sat next to them at the reception and had a lot of fun goofing off. Stu has known them for years.

Stu chillin' at the reception. What a hottie!

Me and Burke at the reception.

Look who's sitting up all by himself!!!

I'm glad we finally captured him in the sitting position on film. He is loving the independence.

Tonight's beautiful sunset!

Life with 2 babies

No, we are NOT pregnant again. I just consider Simon our baby too. :) Yesterday, while Stu recovered on the couch from a horrible 2-day flu, I went on a walk with Simon and Burke. (I had the flu too, I just got better 1 day sooner - yuk!!) Our dog-son only made it about 1/2 way around the neighborhood, so I plopped him in the under carriage of the stroller. One of our neighbors stopped to tell me how cute he looked, and that I better get my 'two babies' home. :) Simon fits perfectly under there and seemed to enjoy it .... I'll have to remember that next time I go to the park.

Grater Gardens in Summer Bloom

Being home with Burke has given me more time this year to spend in the yard. We had such a mild and long spring that everything grew extra big before it bloomed. I carry Burke around in a little pouch out in front of me and narrate as I garden every day. "Mom is watering the plants, plants need water to grow." "Mom is dead heading the garlic chives." "Those purple flowers are lavender, and those pink flowers are echinacea." "Mom is getting rid of the spider webs, we don't like spiders. Well, you can like spiders if you want to, but Mom doesn't like them at all." That sort of thing. :) He seems to be fascinated by everything and has started to grab the hose or pruner handles to help me out. I was even washing my hands today at the sink and he reached his little chubby hands out and stuck them under the water. It was the cutest thing ever! Enjoy these pictures of our beautiful garden this year.

This is the view from our kitchen window. I love the pot with all the decorative grass in it. Sonya helped me pick those out. Rosemary, thyme and basil in the small pots.

Impatiens.

The back deck is such a relaxing place to come and sit in the shade.

View from upper deck to lower one.

Close up of decorative grass pot. My favorite one this year.

Mr. Gnome is taking a break from working hard and resting in the shade.

Front garden next to our front door. Someday I'll really spruce this up. I think it has too much green and not enough color during the summer months. It helps when the pink zinnias and purple russian sage finally bloom in late summer, but that won't happen for a few more weeks.

I put this path in a few weeks ago. It goes from our driveway into the front lawn. We were always walking there so Stu suggested putting a path. When the green moss fills in over the next few years it look even better.

Purple gazing ball amidst the lavender.


Simon waiting patiently for me to throw the ball. He is feeling MUCH better by the way. Almost back to his normal athletic self. Thank goodness!!!

I love this view of the front yard. I planted 3 white daisy bushes in the fall just to the left of the arch (that Stu and I got married under) and they are about 3 feet tall and so beautiful!


Last year I dug out a bunch of grass on this side of the driveway with plans to have another sun flower garden, but didn't do anything else to it because I was all preggo and too hot to work outside. This spring I finally finished it and everything is starting to bloom. It is so pretty and one of my favorite spots in the yard now.

The garden by the new mailbox sure turned out pretty this year. I love lavender. It's pretty to look at in a garden and so nice to use for a flower arrangement inside cause it smells so good.


Close up of the white daisies.

Pink echinacea. I transplanted 2 of these flowers from another place in our yard 3 years ago and they keep spreading and spreading. I'm ok with that cause I think they are SO beautiful. :)

And a quick thank you to my wonderful, handsome husband...Stu, you are the best! Thank you for providing for our family and making it possible for me to stay home and take care of our little munchkin and make our home beautiful. I love you!

July 2010

Stu and Uncle Calvin being dorks at the pool. Calvin put on my Mom's outfit. :)

Ahhh, the infamous Johnny Jump Up.

Burke at the pool.

Dad trying to making the same face as Burke.

Everyone sucking their lower lip like Burke. :)

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa Grater

We went camping last weekend with Guy, Sue and Snoopy at Red Canyon campground, just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park for 5 days. We had so much fun! Burke LOVED meeting his Grandma and Grandpa Grater. He ate solid foods (rice cereal) for the first time while we were camping and Grandpa and Grandma gave him his first 2 spoonfuls. He didn't really like the taste initially, but seemed to like it more towards the end of the bowl. The weather was perfect the whole time; it was in the 80's during the days and thunder/rain stormed every day for about 15 minutes to cool things off and freshen things up. It was beautiful.

Guy and Sue, we love you and had a wonderful time hanging out with you, as always. :) We miss you already.

Burke meets his Grandpa Guy 'Old Granddad' for the first time.

A 3 generation photo. How cute!

Burke meets his Grandma Sue for the first time! He loves his Grandma Sue!

We recently purchased a Johnny Jump Up swing for Burke ($8 off of ksl.com yippee!) and he loves it! Stu set it up in the campground and he spent some time here every day.

Burke loving his Johnny Jump Up.

Spending time with the grandparents and Snoopy in the trailer. Burke was mesmerized by Snoopy.

How cute is this picture? Old Granddad and his Grandson. BFF's.

Just starting on a hike in Bryce.

Family photo in Bryce.

What a view! This was from the trail at Bryce.

Champions! We made it to the end of the trail and are just about to start back up.

Stu and Guy standing in front of the mountain that they DID NOT tackle. :) They attempted and made it a long way. Way to go guys!

Grandpa and his little man. Guy had Burke laughing pretty hard here, it was so cute!

Grandpa and Burke can't get enough of each other. I think they kind of look a like. Two handsome guys.

Saying goodbye. :(

Burke is cheering because he's so happy to be a Grater! :)

One last picture before we all hit the road.

Burke is tuckered out from a long weekend of camping and hiking and playing with Grandma and Grandpa. He fell asleep like this about 30 seconds after we put him in his car seat. What a good boy!