90/365

Ellie got to come watch Gavin at swimming lessons one day this week... she liked it.

89/365

Gavin & Logan participated in a week-long session of free swimming lessons put on by Clark County
for this Spring Break week. Gav had a great time after the first 5 minutes of the first day...
he wasn't sure he wanted to get in the water at first, but once he did, it was smooth sailing!

88/365

Gavin is a great errand buddy. Darin usually takes him along whenever he has things to do. 

Today they went to Star Nursery & Harbor Freight, among other places,

and ended up at McDonalds Play Place. No wonder Gavin likes errands!

87/365

Can't resist snapping a picture of these two in their Sunday best. Ellie's been well outfitted lately with girl clothes on loan from Becky, and Gavin got 2 new ties yesterday--his old ties were looking too short!

86/365

Ellie is five months old today! Could she be any cuter? Ellie & I went to another Primary baptism today, then mission clothes shopping with Grandma Gibson, while Grandpa ran 7 miles, and Darin & Gavin were at Lowes' Build & Grow program for kids--they built a kaleidoscope! Later, the Skidmore boys came over to play while Patty & Vance attended a sealing for a couple in their ward.

85/365

It was time for a hair cut! We tried letting Gavin's hair grow out a bit from his usual buzz cuts,
but decided we like it short! The new cut will be perfect too for swimming lessons next week.

84/365

Gavin's been going to preschool Tuesdays and Thursdays since September 15, 2009. He's had a good experience there & comes home with a pile of worksheets and art projects every time. Today was the class Easter party, complete with a bunny ears art project and candy--it doesn't get better than that!

83/365

The aforementioned rice cereal feeding. We've taken multiple videos, but this picture shows her cute, casual posture in the high chair--foot up. She's still trying to figure out what to do with the rice cereal once it goes in her mouth. Swallowing is not a priority yet...

82/365

It's been a whole week since our last Ellie photo--it's time! She is still such a happy girl! She's currently working on her thigh rolls, kicking, rolling over, cooing, giggling, and most recently tried rice cereal for the first time. She sleeps through the night most of the time, as long as she goes to bed late enough (after 10pm is usually good). We love Ellie!!!

81/365

Gavin was out running errands with Darin today, and the plan was to go to the park when they got home. Halfway across the field, they realized there was temporary chain-link fence ALL around the park. It's closed while they replace the old sand with a new soft surface. As a consolation, Gavin got his FIRST EVER treat from the ice cream man--a Watermelon Bomb Pop!

80/365

Gavin's almost nightly bath always ends with raisiny hands--he likes LONG baths with lots of toys!
When he was younger, it worked as a way to get him out of the bath when I wanted him out.
I'd say, "Quick! Hop out before you turn into a raisin!" and he'd hop right out! He knows better now...

79/365

Mom and Dad returned from Utah, where Mom had been with the Dixons since March 14th, when baby Bryce was born. We made Mom's requested birthday cake: German chocolate, and helped her eat it too!

78/365

We went and checked out Circus Circus for the first time in years (and Gavin's first time ever). I'd say he enjoyed it! We played a handful of games, won a few stuffed animals, watched a couple of shows: Nina & Nikolai (husband and wife magicians) and Stoyan, a silk aerialist (a guy who climbed, swung around and wrapped himself up in yards & yards of fabric hanging from the ceiling). Gavin's watching him in this picture. We also checked out the "Adventuredome" & decided we may have to go back!

77/365

Gavin's been studying letters of the alphabet at his Preschool, one or two per week. This week has been the letter "P" so today they had a Pajama Party with Popcorn and Pretzels. We didn't get a picture of him in his class today, but this is what he wore ALL DAY today. These are his newest PJ's, a nod to Uncle Ben.

76/365

For about 3 years, Grandma & Grandpa Gibson have worked at the Las Vegas Temple from 4:00-10:00 every Wednesday night. We all know that Grandpa Gibson LOVES "choc chip cooks" (don't we all?), so it has become somewhat of a tradition to make them on Wednesday nights when we can. We also know that Grandpa Gibson prefers his "burned," so we TRY to oblige. Tonight, one batch was "burned" on purpose, and a second one on accident, so Grandpa had "more for him!"

75/365

Ellie is 20 weeks old today! She had her 4 month well-check appointment today & measured in at 12 lbs 6 oz, 23 inches long & 39 cm head circumference--about the 25th percentile in all 3. As the doctor said, she's petite, but perfectly proportioned. Also advanced--he was impressed that she had started rolling from back to front last week! These days her favorite activities include smiling, rolling, pivoting & grabbing her toes. She got 3 shots at the appointment, and that was the only time she cried (who can blame her?). She's really a happy baby, & we love her so much!

74/365

We checked out a little carnival in a nearly empty strip mall parking lot tonight. We were only there for about 15 minutes--perfect. Gav got to go on a motorcycle ride, an airplane ride, play a fishing game and this ring toss game. He won a little dragonfly stuffed animal & had great fun! As we were leaving, he pointed to a water gun squirting game and said, "We can play THAT at Chuck E. Cheese..."

73/365

Today was Mom's 62nd birthday... and now she shares it with her 17th grandchild, Bryce Benjamin Dixon! Mom & Dad headed for St. George, as soon as they got the word that Susie was in labor, and Bryce was born before they got there. Susie is a champion! Dad returned home tonight, and Mom is staying for the week to help out with baby Bryce. Mom's German Chocolate birthday cake (no frosting yet) is wrapped up in the freezer to be enjoyed at a later date, and we still enjoyed Mom's birthday dinner here, with the Skidmores!

72/365

Gavin loves to get a ride around the block whenever Darin gets out his motorcycle!
We enjoyed a fun Saturday together as a family, running errands & just hanging out.

71/365

These hands are changing EVERY DAY.
This is NOW. I'm so grateful for the stages they're in TODAY.
5 or 15 or 25 years from now, they'll be so much different. And I'll still be grateful.

70/365

Our bathing beauty-ful boy, showing how he fits in the baby tub!

69/365

Ellie's daily all-you-can-eat 24-hour buffet... She can put away about 6 ounces every 4-5 hours
(and goes a little longer than that for her long overnight sleep, thank you very much!)

68/365

Sweet girl. Here she was, entertaining herself until she became so tired that sleep was the only option left. I realized I hadn't heard the clicking sounds of plastic in a few minutes & looked up from my laptop to see this. Adorable.

67/365

Gavin and his stuffed "aminals"... he likes to gather all his "buddies" and play for hours. Of course, there's a story behind each one, too. Some he's inherited from Darin and me (the white bunny & brown bear), some were gifts (the fish from a lady we used to visit in CO),  and some we've bought (sock monkey). He's good to play and share with Ellie now. Hopefully she'll learn from him the essential skill of "entertaining yourself." :)

66/365

It was Logan's 3rd birthday, so we went to the Skidmore's to celebrate! It was also Brett's birthday (26th)--we called & sang to him in the car on the way. Ellie & Clark got the most camera time though! They are growing up & both so cute!

65/365

A Busy Saturday brought to you by... the letter B! It included a pancake Breakfast with the Williams before they left for Disneyland, Primary Baptisms (Gavin, me & Grandma), Baby gift shopping & a Baby shower for Mindy Larson (me & mom), lunch at BJ's, Bowling & Ben & Jerry's at Red Rock Casino (Darin, me, Gavin & Ellie). Beautiful.

64/365

Continuing the Las Vegas tour of parks, this time at Sunset park with cousins Gavin, Tessa, Brady & Logan. We met up for dinner at Buca di Beppo with the whole gang - all 15 of us!
(5 Skidmores, 4.1 Williams, 4 Bishops & Mom & Dad).

63/365

Ben, Becky, Darin, Tessa & Gavin ventured out to Aliante "dinosaur" park and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. Meanwhile, my mom & dad finally received their mission call in the mail! They've been called to serve in the South Carolina Columbia mission for 18 months with a primary assignment to labor at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station as military missionaries. We are so excited for them! They are to report on April 19, 2010.

62/365

The Williams came for a few days on their way to Disneyland! Gavin & Tessa had a great time playing together. Not pictured: 1) ) Gavin's first trip to the dentist - no cavities!, 2) Angie's first trip to the dentist since just before Gavin was born - 5 (small) cavities!!! 3) Metro Pizza's calzone for dinner... mmmmm!

61/365

It was a beautiful day at the park, or so I heard... Darin took Gav & Ellie to the park while I was working. At least it was well-documented--there were many more great photos from the day, but this one was the winner!

60/365

Oobleck - found this while blog-hopping (when I should have been blog-posting) & thought we'd try it out for our FHE activity. It's 1 1/2 - 2 cups cornstarch and 1 cup water & food coloring and is pretty wild stuff!