Summer Fun

We have been having such a great summer, staying busy and doing lots and lots of driving! Mike got Lagoon tickets from his work and we were able to go, (thanks mom for watching Evelette so we could go!!) with my sister Brianna, her boyfriend Logan, and my brother Brent Jr. It was such a hot day but we had a lot of fun together! I was surprised I was able to relax and enjoy my day without Evelette there. I have never left her before, I have serious Evey withdrawals haha. But it turned out to be a really good day!

My baby girl is growing up SO fast! Last week she started pulling herself up in her crib and on furniture. Yesterday she started CRAWLING forward!!! She has been crawling backward for a long time now, so Mike and I were freaking out when we saw her go clear across the room! Probably more exciting for us than for her haha.

She loves doing "Big Girl" things and anything mommy and daddy are doing. We bought her her own keyboard because she is so obsessed with pounding on daddy's keyboard. She liked it for like two minutes and wanted to go back to smacking on daddy's. SO funny. I forget what the point of buying her toys is, she only wants to play with boxes, bags, shoes, her feet, chairs, phones, keyboards, etc. Silly girl.



Since she was a couple months old, one of her favorite activities is to going swimming.

She loves playing at the park and watching all the little kids running everywhere, probably counting down the days until she can go join them.

Smily butt

Playing with Sadie and Kim

Of course, trying to eat anything she can get her little hands and tongue on!

Family fun day in Grand Junction. And the many faces of Evelette.

She LOVES eating everything we eat. And making a mess of everything. But what baby doesn't!?

Evelette has a little bunch of hairs on the top of her head, that are like two inches longer than the rest of her hair. And they are always sticking up. I love it!

My little beauty!!

Evelette Diane Meinzer... from the first instant I saw you, I knew you were going to light up my life, but how much joy you were going to bring to my life I had NO IDEA!!! Day by day I am reminded that I am the most blessed woman on this Earth to have been trusted to be your mother. I love you more and more every day. You are my best friend. I am loving watching you grow, learn, and develop. Thanks for being my amazing daughter, I love you!!

 You are 7 1/2 months old. You weigh 13 lbs. 11 oz. and are 23 1/2 inches long. You are my little shorty, but that's okay because your big, BEAUTIFUL hazel eyes sure do make up for it! You are obsessed with mommy and daddy's cups and wanting to "drink" out of them too. You love licking and sucking on plastic water bottles, (you are sure smart enough to know when there is not water in them, then you want nothing to do with the bottle.) You have the most contagious, high pitched laugh I've ever heard! You are starting to get "shy" with other people, you will smile at them when they talk to you then you hurry and hide your face in your blankie. SO CUTE! You love your baby food- peas, green beans, and applesauce is your fav! You love to eat your feet, wish I was that flexible! Whenever you hear another baby or child cry, you cry. You are so observant of every single thing going on in the room, no secrets when your around. You love to swim, go on walks in your stroller, and do anything outside. You love to sit in your little chair in the garage while daddy lifts weights. You love to move in circles, round and round and round, on your belly. You crawl backwards and do "push-ups" on all fours ... you are our buff little baby girl! (Daddy even made you your own pull-up bar, so funny to watch you do that!) When you toot, you look at me like what was that mommy!?!?, and I cannot help but laugh. You have the most HUGE, open-mouthed smile when I come to get you in the mornings or after your naps, melts my heart. You love to read your new books with mommy, you even help to hold the book, haha which makes for interesting storytime!

You love to make messes and you can hardly crawl yet, and you sure think you are funny doing it!! I am sure in for a treat! :)

 I came in your room today to check on you because there was an awful lot of happy noises coming from your baby monitor, and this is what I find!!! I about had a heart attack, my 7 month old baby girl is already pulling herself up in the crib! I guess those pull-ups really are coming in handy haha, time to lower the mattress!!!

Gosh you are so dang cute, how could I ever get mad at that cute little face of yours!?
Love you Evey!!

LOVE this recipe!

Chicken Pesto French Bread Sandwich

Recipe from: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com ... I love her blog!!

1 loaf french bread

2 T olive oil

2 chicken breasts

freshly cracked salt and pepper

1 1/2 t minced garlic

1 large white onion

1/3-1/2 C pesto

2 C mozzarella cheese

1 C shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Cut your chicken into 1 inch chunks with some kitchen scissors. Heat up a large skillet and add your 1 T of the oil. When it's nice and hot throw in your garlic, and then your chicken. Season it up with the salt and pepper. Let the chicken and garlic cook until it has a nice golden look to it. Set the beauties aside.

2. In the same hot skillet put the other T of oil in along with your onions. Let them cook until they are nice and golden as well.

3. Cut your loaf of french bread in half, right on through the middle.

4. Spread the pesto over each half.

5. Layer the chicken, onions, and then sprinkle with the cheese.

6. Throw the lovely concoction into a 400 degree oven and let it bake just until the cheese is all bubbly and the bread is heated through. About 10-15 minutes.

This post is mostly pictures! ...

The fourth of July weekend was one of the best we've had in a long time. A much needed relaxing, getaway for our wee little family! :)
The weekend started off by taking a visit to my dear Grandpa Hunsaker's grave in Vernal, Utah. I am so glad that we took the time to go there, my grandpa was an incredible man who accomplished SO much in his life. To keep it short, he lived a great life and touched so many people. We miss him and can't wait to be with him again!

Evelette was sure enjoying getting out of the car and being in the sunshine!

We spent the weekend up at my Grandma Hunsaker's cabin 10 miles from Flaming Gorge Lake. It is so peaceful and so beautiful up there. We will for sure have to take advantage of the cabin only being 2 hours away, and go LOTS more!
Saturday, after getting rained out at the lake, we went to the car show and 4th of July festivities going on in Dutch John at the resort. Evey was loving the cars, especially the bright colored ones. Her new favorite thing is watching little kids or people around her. She is so fascinated by her surroundings. It is really fun to watch.

I am in love with her big, beautiful eyes!!!

Sorry sweetie we tried getting your whole face in the picture!

Evey was loving looking at the animals!

 Saturday night we went back to Dutch John for some live music and food before we watched the firework show. It was Evey's first firework show obviously, and boy did she love it! She was just a starin' and giggling the whole time!

Waiting for the fireworks to start

BRIGHT FLASH!

My adorable cuties!!

Flash was too bright for them haha

We went to the lake each day, did some hiking and swimming, ate yummy food, read a lot, took naps, and mostly just enjoyed being together the three of us!

"Layin out" with mommy and daddy!

She was having the time of her life!! Isn't she just such a CUTIE!?!

Myself and my cute husband :)

She didn't whine or cry once in that cold water. She is our little fishie!

Enjoying the beach, have some rolls why don't we!?

"Hey mommy give me that!"

 I warned you, LOTS of pictures!! haha. You would take this many pictures if Evelette was your daughter too!!

Poor baby girl, I guess I need to invest in some childrens bug spray!!



Beware everyone! We have a 7 month old driver on our hands!!!

Back home in Rangely, we went to the firework show at Kenny Resevoir with my friend Amanda and her kids! It was an amazing show! We loved being in the beautiful weather right next to the lake. What a great fourth!!



Little Miss Evey just a talking away, doing what she does best!



Evey and Mommy

Evey and Daddy. Once again trying to grab the camera.

Laural, Amanda, Evey, and Kim!

Hope everyone had as great a fourth of July as we did! And thanks for sticking with it until the end, through my millions of pictures. :)