Two Months Already!

Since today is Pepper's two month birthday, I thought I would reflect on how far she has come. I spent some time looking back through all our pictures and remembering that first tough month. All I can say is that I am glad that we are now past that and into the fun stuff, like getting smiles and coos...and sleeping some at night! We are so amazed by our beautiful daughter and feel so blessed to have her in our lives. Happy  two month birthday Sweet P!

Day 1

2 months!

Daddy is the Best!

Auntie Jamie Visits

Since Jamie has a slacker teacher's schedule and gets summers off, she was able to bust over here for a couple of days to visit Pepper. We had a lot of fun having a girls day, going to Costco, eating at Olive Garden, and shopping at the mall with Grandma Em. Jamie was so much help and it was great to see her. If I knew that all it took to get friends and family to visit was to have a baby...I would have done it years ago!!

The Pink Pirate strikes again.

Hanging out with Auntie Jamie in the Costco parking lot is a blast!

Until it isn't....

"If only I could get both fists in my mouth."

Nikki's Shower aka Epic Road Trip with a Baby

Last weekend Mom, Gumby, Pepper, and I set off on a road trip adventure. We were headed to Lacey, WA to Nikki's brother and sis-in-law's place where her shower was held. Pepper did amazing considering she spent 12 hours strapped in her seat. On the way over she slept the whole way. She was not quite so accommodating on the way back, though her screaming was always for a specific reason. During this part of the trip she also had the most incredible blow out she has ever had. I am pretty sure there was more poo outside the diaper than inside it. I have learned that my sense of humor has changed since becoming a parent...in the past I don't think I would have laughed that hard about poo.
Amanda did a great job on the shower. We had a great time getting to know Nikki's family better and meeting some of her friends. It was fun seeing Allison and Heather also!

Hangin' with Gumby

Yay, Allison is back from NC!

Beautiful Bride-to-be and P

Nikki's Cousin and Sis-in-law

The Grandmas

A bit of resemblance.

Mini me.

Blow out.

Bubbles

So glad I do not have to have a 5 point seat belt harness.

Getting tired...

Not wanting to be tired...

Ahhh, peace and quiet.

Checking out the sunset during a diaper change.

Jo is 35!

Jo's first birthday as a dad was a lot of fun. We ate at some of his favorite places and then enjoyed strawberry shortcake with family. It is hard to believe that he is 35, since he definitely does not act his age. Love that about him!  

At Jo's favorite restaurant, Taquiera Yungapeti

Crazy Pepper eyes.

Affegato at Patisserie- AMAZING!

g

Proof that Jo will continue to age well.

Wait a second...

Jo loves to share.

Gumby

Zeke

Helping Pepper swing.

John "cooking".  Momentous.

The special ingredient.

Always fun with G & G.

Storey Time at the Grimaldo Ranch

Fran showing us how it's done.

Shawn's new toy.

Mike and Christina

Cowgirl Mom

Keith on Harley

Tenessa and Karlea

Grandma and Helen supervising with style.

Yeeehaaaaa!

Nancy loving the horses!

Sweet P

Surprise Shower

Caleb, Josey, Tenessa,and Tyler thought Christina was a rockstar!

This cake was amazing. Thanks Brenda!

Enjoying family and food!

Caleb helped decorate the cake.

Samuel

Amy and Olivia

Frank always busy.

Jo's cowboy contribution.

Take a long look, Dad on a horse may not happen for another 15 years!

Love Harley's blue eyes!

Cindy is so amazing with the horses.

Showing us how well trained this one is, since SHE trained him!

The Storey sisters and Linda helping to hold the horses. Fran, Darlene, Freda, Dorothy and Helen.

My amazing Grandma D!

A cowgirl and her boys.

For the 4th of July weekend we went on the first road trip since Pepper's arrival. We headed down to Ontario, OR to Frank and Cindy Grimaldo's place for the Storey Family Reunion. We have not had a big Storey reunion for about 5 years so it was definitely time. Originally Cindy planned for it to be at Anthony Lakes which would have been an interesting camping adventure with a 6 week old. The huge amounts of snow everywhere changed those plans and thankfully Frank and Cindy opened their home/ranch/resort to all of us. The weekend was very fun, full of horse back riding, four wheeling, swimming, and, in my case, serious relaxing. Jo and I got more sleep than we have in 6 weeks, mostly due to the  light blocking window shades that helped us trick Pepper into thinking the night was quite long! It was so fun to see Grandma and her sisters on horses. Grandma and Helen even went for a ride on the four wheeler! The food was great, of course, and it was so nice to get to know family better. We also were blessed with a "surprise" shower, a nicely decorated lemon/raspberry cake and a generous gift which we are going to use to buy an ergo carrier. Thank you all!
We all are hoping that the family reunion happens again soon, at the Grimaldo Ranch. Thank you very much to Cindy and Frank for the HUGE amount of work that it took to make the weekend so awesome! 

A little Storey family history: When my Grandma Dorothy was young, Great Grandpa and Grandma Storey had a logging business in Idaho. They also had six daughters and no sons, so my grandmother and her sisters learned to log. Initially they logged using horses before they had machines. The Storey girls later all became nurses. They are amazing women, full of life and fun, always showing us the love of the Savior by their example. I am so proud to be a part of the Storey family!