Annual Arbon Campout

This year for our family camp out, my dad decided to invite the extended family. We got three large campsites that were next to each other and had a grand old time enjoying great company and the beauty of nature. Those who joined us were the Apelus, the Lindon Arbons (including Felicia), and the Provo Phillips. We were there for three days and two nights. Grandma and Grandpa Arbon came up the second day, but did not stay the night.

Boy, did we have a great time! There was tons of yummy food...a little too much food, probably. We played lots and lots of games, including mafia around the campfire. Some of us read books. Some of us (Jason) went fishing, and tried taking Charlie along in his carrier. But, of course, the highlight is always the airsoft wars!

We were so excited to use Charlie's Cabella's chair from Grandma and Grandpa Gruber

Charlie and Lily getting to know each other better

Time around the fire

 

Reading my present from Amy - Divergent - an awesome book!

We made sure everyone planned ahead of time to bring enough gear so all of the cousins could play airsoft wars. We had a good sized group and had a blast exploring and taking over unused campsites. That is until the camp hosts shut us down! What a bummer! As you know, our family does airsoft wars every year and we have never had a problem or confrontation. This year was probably different because a) we were a much larger group and easier to notice, and b) this was the first year for the new camp hosts and they wanted to strictly follow every rule. So they warned the parents once, and so we stayed within the bounds of our site. But then, they snuck up on us and caught us in the act. They weren’t too happy and threatened to kick us out of the site, but we let them know that we would comply. It was a bummer to put an end to the game, but we still got in a good couple of hours.

Everyone was so great to help us with Charlie. I was really nervous preparing for the trip, not knowing how things would go with him. He was just starting to walk, so I knew I would have to keep a close eye on him and be with him constantly. I was worried about his sleeping since it would be cold and we wouldn’t have a fan for white noise. His napping wasn’t totally awesome, but he was able to sleep, so I’ll take it. We pitched our tent right next to the stream so we would be away from the camp noise and he could have the running stream for white noise. At night he fell asleep pretty easily, I was relieved! He woke up maybe once or twice, but quickly fell back asleep. When I would pick him up to help him back to sleep, he was freezing! Being right next to the stream had it’s drawbacks...it was definitely colder than it would have been! Jason and I were so cold each night, so we bundled Charlie up as best we could. Poor little guy, but he mostly slept through it as if it didn’t bother him. We had a sweet tent setup, though. We have a nice queen aerobed that is double-raised above the ground and even has a blow-up headboard. It requires an outlet to blow up, so we had to put the air mattress inside of the tent, laying next to the car, blow it up, and then carry the tent with the air mattress inside to our camping spot and pitch the tent. The mattress was too big to fit through the tent door once it was blown up. Miraculously, we were able to fit the pack-n-play in there as well, and still have leg room and room for our bags. It felt like we were camping in luxury.

Back to Charlie, my family was so great with him. He loves the outdoors and pushing his stroller around. They walked around with him and took him on many stroller rides. My mom, Erin, and Mandy were especially great! I’m pretty sure one of the stroller rides they went on was close to two hours long! Mandy was genius and figured out that our stroller can hold two kids at once, one facing forward and one facing back. I didn’t know it could do that. Lily didn’t have a stroller to ride in, so they got to ride in it together. It was perfect. During one of their long rides, we got to play volleyball with the cousins. It was really fun! Somehow I always seem to be on the losing team...what is that all about?!? It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with my skills….no way!

Doubling-up in the stroller

We take the naps whenever and wherever we can get them

It was so fun having the extended family with us. I think we just might have to make that a regular part of the Arbon camping tradition!

A Few Fun Things

I realize we are at the end of October, and I am still trying to write about July. Sorry, but it must be done. We had a few fun outings at the end of July:

1. Jason got off work early one day so we hit up Seven Peaks together as a family. Usually I have been going alone with Charlie when it was really hot outside and we had nothing else to do. We would only stay for, at most, two hours, and would spend most of the time walking around the kiddie area and walking around the wave pool. He didn’t so much want to play in the water as much as he wanted to walk on the cement near the water. But it was nice being outside, getting a tan, and letting him stretch his legs. Going alone with Charlie is never as relaxing as one would hope, so it was really nice to have Jason come with us one day. We even treated ourselves to some Dippin’ Dots. We are suckers for those overpriced things! Later that day, we went to go visit Parker and Ali in their brand new townhome. They finally bought a place of their own in Saratoga Springs, and we couldn’t be happier for them. The place is beautiful!

2. During the summer, we like to take advantage of the fun city carnivals. Charlie and I met up with my family for the Draper Days Parade. It was very fun, but extremely hot! I was sweating all over my entire body! Even with the huge umbrellas shading us and frozen water bottles to place on our skin, we were still scorching! Charlie had a pretty good time considering the heat. Later that day, Jason went with us to meet up with the Tadjes (Nate, Sarah, Aaron, Samantha, and kids) for some fun American Fork Steel Days action. We had a fun time people-watching, watching the kiddos go on a few rides, and even taking Charlie on the carousel. Charlie is a little tender-hearted fellow, so I wasn’t sure if he would like it. He doesn’t even like being tossed in the air, swinging on swings, going down slides, or anything thrilling like that. So I chose one of the stationary seats on the carousel and rode with him. He did a lot better than expected. Slowly, but surely, we will increase Charlie’s courage.

Draper Days:

Staying hydrated

AF Steel Days:

Charlie was very concerned and sensitive about all of the noise and people around.

Getting ready for the ride.

Nate, baby Callie, Jason, and Charlie

3. We had another get together with some Tadjes, but this time it was off to Grantsville to see Richard and Kamilla, their new house, and their new baby (Dakota). Apparently Jason and I need to get with the program and get a house. I think we are the only ones out of his friends who don’t own a house. All in good time. Really, at this point, there is no rush. Dakota is just the cutest baby ever! He seriously looks like Mowgli from the Jungle Book. So adorable!

4. While Duke was still staying with Nancy and George, we went on a little outing with them and the Riverton Grubers. I didn’t know this before, but before Pioneer Day, they display/preview all of the floats for the parade and let people come and see them and vote for their favorites. This year it was at the South Towne Expo Center. It was so cool being able to see all of them up close, and not to mention being able to see them in an air-conditioned room! It sure beats seeing them in the blazing heat of the day during a parade. There were so many cool floats, even floats representing different LDS stakes were legit! I can’t imagine being put in charge of doing a float for one of those things. I wouldn’t even know where to start! The talent and expectation for those things are way above my ability. They are way over the top...and I don’t even know why! Why do the stakes make them so cool and grandiose? What is the point? Sure they are cool to look at, but why spend all of that money for something like that? I understand it is advertising for businesses, so I get that...but not the church ones. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Elsa LOVES Charlie and always wants to be touching him

One of the many amazing floats

Cousin bath time! Duke and Charlie!

5. We had a very fun Pioneer Day this year. We started off the morning with a bike ride/donut run. Those are always so great and tasty. Then we spent the rest of the day in Draper. We met up with my family and went to Draper Park. We had a KFC lunch, ate homemade brownies, and had a blast playing volleyball. It was another hot day, but we had a great time. Bryan wasn't feeling all that great and wasn't interested in the volleyball, so he was a good sport and walked Charlie around in his stroller for most of the afternoon. After the outdoor fun, we went back to my parents and watching a video on our ancestor: Charles C. Rich. Very fitting for Pioneer Day. Charlie is named after this great great great great grandfather of mine. He was a faithful and inspiring man, who did so much for the church and endured many hardships.

Relaxing after some serious volleyball playing

6. Here is a look at our garden update at the end of July:

Tomatillos

Hot Pepper

Jalapenos

Green beans and onions

Roses

Tomatoes

Salsa Time!

 So we asked our neighbors to water our garden while we were gone on the cruise, and they did an awesome job! I must have forgotten to mention the flowers on the windowsill, though:

Before the cruise...

...after the cruise...bummer.

And that pretty much sums up the rest of July 2013!

Charlie’s Thirteenth Month

12 months to 13 months

Now we begin to document Charlie’s second year of life! I can’t believe it! I just love our little man so much and am so excited to see him grow. I have loved him at every stage, and I have I loved seeing him love more and more things. His discoveries bring me great joy!

Here are his measurements from his one year checkup:

Weight: 21 lbs - 21%

Height: 30.25 inches - 64%

Head Circ: 47 cm - 67%

At the doctor's office:

Always on the move

We made the switch from formula to whole milk. It went great! He took it just fine. He didn’t really like it cold/straight from the fridge, so what worked best for me was to warm up half of the bottle in the microwave and then fill up the other half of the bottle with the cold milk. That way it was lukewarm without any hot spots. He still does not like to drink from a sippy cup. He can do it, he just won’t. He refuses. I have tried so many times, but he just won’t. It is frustrating, but I just have to remind myself that he will get it in time. He runs on his own schedule, I just need to be patient.

His second upper tooth (his right) started breaking through and by the end of the month, it was totally down. It is so crazy how much older he seems with two top teeth! So precious and heart-breaking!

He no longer says anything that even closely resembles the word “baby”, so apparently that was just a fluke. He does not say any real words yet.

So apparently I am going crazy! I am always waking up in the middle of the night looking for Charlie. I wake up thinking he is going to crawl off the bed or down the stairs! Of course, this is ridiculous since he is in his crib (which he can’t climb out of), behind a closed door. But regardless, I still bolt right up, feel for him with my arms, and sometimes even walk to the door to look at the top of the stairs. Usually within a few seconds I realize I am not thinking clearly, and that he is in his crib. But seriously, it happens almost every night! I have had this problem ever since Charlie was born, but it has really picked up lately.

His assisted-walking skills are definitely improving! He is walking really well with holding on with only one hand. He can walk along the walls. When he was staying with Nancy and George, he actually started taking a couple half steps (like stumbling steps) before falling on his bum or his hands. He doesn’t seem to do it when encouraged though. Once he is given attention for it, he refuses to perform.

He is showing a lot more separation anxiety! He gets upset even if I just walk into the next room. It is just ridiculous! He also cries when I say “no”. Yep, he still definitely understands that word. He is doing so much better with dogs now! He actually LOVES them. He will let Erin’s three adult cocker spaniels come up to him and play with him. When they come to lick him, he just puts his head down but keeps on giggling. That is such progress from him being terrified of the tiny puppies who just laid there.

Ever since returning from the cruise, Charlie has been so easy to put down to sleep. It doesn’t matter if I am putting him down for a nap or down for bed, it is such a breeze! I don’t know what Nancy did or what kind of training routine she put Charlie through, but she is a miracle worker! Now all I do is feed him a bottle, hold him for a couple minutes, and then lay him down. Even if his eyes are open, he just continues to lay there as I walk out of the door. He used to always roll over, crawl to the corner of the crib, stand up, and cry. He doesn’t do any of that anymore! Every time I leave the room, I tip-toe to the door and hold my breath, just waiting for him to cry but he never does! I keep wondering when he is going to revert back to his old ways, but he hasn’t yet! It is absolutely wonderful! His white blanket is still a necessity for every sleep time. He just loves that thing. If he sees it somewhere outside of sleep times, he goes straight for it and buries his face in it. True love!

Picture time:

Dad takes Charlie for a shaved ice run...

...and all Charlie can think of is getting his hands on some of that goodness!

This one is my favorite! He is trying so hard to get some!

The morning after Charlie's birthday party - the first toy he wanted to play with

He still loves watching TV

A Saturday morning donut run - the perfect way to break in the new bike seat and helmet

Things get a little messy nowadays around the dinner table

A fun visit to Wheeler Farm with the Grubers:

Charlie loves animals!

As you can see, it was a VERY hot day!

Fun picnic lunch after seeing the Farm

One of our gifts from the cruise: a Mickey outfit

He loves pushing around the stroller, or anything with wheels

Now that Charlie is one year old, we won’t be getting monthly photo shoots from my friend, Amy. They were always fun and she did an amazing job! I think the next one will probably be our family pictures or when he hits 18 months.