Fun Times at Jackson and Teton Village

Gil enjoyed the gondola ride up the Jackson Hole Ski Resort.
A dinner scene of the Little's eating.
Bath time for the kids! How awesome is that bath tub?
A little skeleton time......Andrea this picture is going in my "our little goblins" frame.
Gwynnie and Judakins having a lovey moment. They were really cute together and only had a little bit of fighting on the last day. I L-O-V-E these Jammie's from Gymboree.

The first day we were there, the boys watched from my mom and dad's condo deck while a moose and her baby walked right past. Amazing! It also made me a little nervous to take a walk by myself.
The boys thought this was such a treat.
One morning Bob took the three older kids and went on the Gondola ski lift. They had a great time looking for animals, Gwyn loved saying "I looking for a marmoset". Later that day we went on it again, and then later that night Bob and the boys went again.
Gwynnie girl was busy looking for some activities we could do.
Here we are at the top of the Gondola ride. This is so typical of what happens to Bob. If he is holding one the other one wants him.

Jenny Lake

Jenny lake is about 10 miles from Teton Village, it sits at the base of the Teton Mountains. This is a must visit spot. We love to visit Jenny Lake. I took this picture for you J-Do and I hope you and Steve get to visit there soon.
This was 12 years ago, do I dare say that? I went with a group of friends and we took Anke my friend from Germany to visit this Wyoming area. That also might be my High School boyfriend with us......I have to admit this was my least favorite trip to Jackson.
Six years later I visited with my own little family, oh how time does fly....Tucker walking on the beach of Jenny Lake.
Abee baby

Now 2007

This is Nate and Paige taking my boys for a canoe ride out on the lake. Gwyn had a fit to go out also so my wonderful mom kept Gil and Bob and I took miss priss out for a "boat ride" as she called it.


Miss Minie Moo catching some rays and loving her dad. Holy that little girl is cute. Brooke also keeps her dressed to perfection.
Paige and Lucy. Lucy is an odd dog, she is very shy and timid but she sure loves to snuggle Paige and Nate. Gwyn won her over by her sweet singing and very gentle petting.
Tucker and Abe made a quick 2o bucks each by diving into the glacier lake. It was freezing cold and they were really funny once they made it in.
Gwyn trying to put her shoes back on.
Abe sitting by Uncle Dustin and Minie trying to warm up.



My mom and Paige just enjoying the awesome scenery.
This was tucker wading in the lake before he decided to make a quick buck.
The most surprising thing to me was Gil's love of this freezing water. He was the first one in the water completely. We laughed and thought he lived up to his middle name Odin. Odin is the Norse God.
After about twenty minutes of playing in the very cold water he decided he was done. So he snuggled up to dad to warm up.
Gil's bum! You have to appreciate a chubby bum like that.

Jackson Hole....the town

Jackson Hole is the family vacation of my childhood and Bob's as well. He would go snowboarding with his brothers every winter and I went with my family every summer. I LOVE Jackson....I always dreamed about living there. Since we moved away we haven't been their for 6 years. The last time we went Abe was only 5 months old. So here are some then and now pictures......4 kids later.
2001

I maybe totally embarrassed by how heavy I look and my hair?
The only actual big foot I have ever seen:) My boys were very impressed with this rendition of big foot.
My boys! Look how much they have grown. Love them. (Note the snake in Tuck's hand, this was purchased in Jackson Hole and is still a favorite at our house. Also, remember when Tucker couldn't say his"S" so he would run around yelling "a nake a nake"or "where are my lip-ons" (his slip-on shoes).

Happy Happy Birthday Gilly Bear, Happy Days Will Come to You All Year

The day Gil was born I only saw him for a few moments, this picture is all I have of the first 10 hours of his life. Bob and I held him for about 5 minutes until the nurses whisked him away. He came only 2 weeks early and he weighed 7lbs.7oz. He looked like a big healthy boy, until he kept gasping for air. He had RDS and we spent the next two weeks in the NICU.
This was the first picture of his face that was taken very late that night. Bob was with him non-stop the next 15 hours. They wouldn't let us hold him because it was to stressful for him to feel touch. I cried at his little bedside for a few hours, everything was so fast and I had a hard time keeping up with all the changes. I was shocked to find out I was pregnant with him, he and Gwyn were going to be lucky to be 15 months apart. I felt so overwhelmed, I wanted him but I was hoping that it would have been at least 6 months later. I swear my pregnancy was only a few months long, the time just flew. Having him being in the NICU was actually good for me it made me stop and spend time just on him. I was then forced to look at how blessed I actually was. I fell so deeply in love with my baby boy those next two weeks.
Here is one of the pictures Staci took of him right after we got home from the hospital. She really is a great photographer.

We were in Jackson Hole, Wyoming over Gilbert's 1st birthday so here is our little celebration of his special day.
He loved his cake and smooshed it up and then ate it. Honestly the kid had 2 pieces. He got some great presents from Aunts and Uncles and grandma's and Grandpa's.
Great G-ma JB sent money for the great grand kids to buy something, these PJ's are Gil's little treat from Great Grandma. Wouldn't you agree about the saying on the PJ's?
Bob and I love this funny little boy. He does things at his own pace and seems to sit patiently through the family commotion. He doesn't love to go to anyone other than Mom or Dad but he will give you his best crinkle nose smile, but from a far. We took him to his 1 year doctor appt. and he weighed 25lbs 12oz. he was 32 inches long and his head is in the 99th percentile. He may have been fragile in the beginning but now he is as healthy as can be. Happy Birthday my little boy. We love you like crazy. Thanks for choosing us.

The Big Surprise......

I woke up on my birthday morning to find my husband had "wrapped"(LOL) my presents and had them waiting for me to open them before breakfast. My siblings and parents and parents-in-law were so kind and sent me presents the day before and I was so touched! I saved them for my birthday.

But even before that, when I got up at 5:45am to walk with Andrea and Mary Ann, Andrea had a mini cupcake and candle in it lit singing happy birthday to me. It was promising to be a great day!
During the day I had many great friends drop by to wish me a happy birthday and they were all so kind and brought really cute gifts. Mary Anne surprised me with a home made birthday cake and told me Bob had asked her to make me a homemade cake because it's been a few years that we have really celebrated! ( I felt like Bob was up to something so I figured this was it.)
Andrea showed up at my house at 6pm with a gift and then a plea to come over and see her new Boden order. She said she needed a break from her kids and that she might actually get a babysitter. (That should have been my first clue.) She and Brian were actually going to come with us out to Dinner at 7pm. On our way back to her house we dropped by Mary Ann's and saw her paint job and then I went over to Andrea's to see a lengthy show off all of the kids fall wardrobe. Although all of the her kids clothes are DARLING I kept suggesting I needed to get back to get ready to go out to dinner and finally she took me home.
I was totally surprised to walk in my house and find this Party going on! Bob had been working very hard on this all week! He got me so good. I had NO idea. He had kept in contact with Andrea and Mary Ann all week working this out. He had ordered all the food platters had Jen, pick it all up. I am sure there are things I still don't know about. Sarah had planned a game of Pictionary all things having to do with me...(let me tell you how embarrassing that is. I plan on showing up at my friends houses on their birthday to play this little game.) Let's just say Mark started every game with "it's Robyn" and it ended with some very strange pictures. ( Anne's drawing was my favorite the word was "lover" you can only imagine what she drew:)
He even went to lengths of having friends call and say that they couldn't come to dinner that night (Brit) and other friends feigning that they had forgotten it was my birthday. (Andrea is in the gray and red.)
Bob had told no one in my family about it because he knows no one can keep a secret he he he (me included). He told no one in his family, he said he was taking no chances. He was really cute and made my day...actually my week wonderful.
Poor Sarah had to deal with my phone calls all week trying to talk to her about our Friday night plans of dinner and a movie, all the while not knowing if I had any clue or not. I even had a dream that she had a Tiki pool party and invited everyone but us.
This is the cake Bob bought for the party and he had secretly devised with Mary Ann to throw me off with bringing me a cake earlier in the day, which by the way was YUMMY!

Here was the food Bob ordered and stuff friends brought. What a fabulous day! 29 looks like it's going to be a great year. I have to say I have enjoyed my later 20's more than any other time.....I am hoping my 30's can stay that wonderful too. I have been told that those are the best years! Thanks to everyone who helped (unknowingly to me). Thanks to my fun husband who is the best to me. Also thanks to my kids for making my life's journey worthwhile. What a great day!

Finally a little ballet....

Today my dream and Gwyns dream came true. Gwyn started her first dance class. She was so excited to go, all morning she kept asking, "can we go now?" About a month ago she saw a video of her cousin Miranda dancing at the age of 4yrs and she jumped up and started yelling "I need to do that! I need to dance!"
The requirements for her class is a pink ballet suit and hair pulled up. No skirts because they do dress ups while dancing. Today she was mermaid, and a princess, a mommy, and dancer, and a little girl with a teddy bear. She had no fear and danced right next to her teacher. They ended the class with a tea party and a few snacks...how cute is that.
My little princess, I have waited a long time for you.....we have sat through many soccer, basketball, and baseball games waiting for you. Your brothers both kissed you goodbye today before school and told you good luck at dance.....Tucker even told me to take pictures or video tape it. It seems we were all waiting for you. Oh, the fun you are.

gilbear moments.....

Bob has this knack of getting all of our children to just simply fall asleep on him. They wouldn't do that with me unless they were nursing or very ill.
Gil took five steps yesterday! Bob and I were shocked, he is just a little slower on the movement thing so were so thrilled. Mind you, it was with a ball in hand, and then walking to the ball.
riding his little bike...

Oh, the fun of the sandbox, moments later he did a header right on in to the sandbox.