Winter Wonderland

Snow Days

2012-01-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

We've had snow the last few days and by snow I mean less than an inch that melts by lunchtime. But it has been exciting to see new snow each morning when we wake up. Gunner loves playing in it and throwing snow balls at his Mom.

My back was killing me from rolling up that snow ball later in the day. I guess being 37 weeks pregnant has its' side effects.

Grandma and Papa came up on Monday and Gunner loved playing with them.

Christmas Break

2012-01-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas break but I was terrible at documenting it. Kim took a lot of pictures so I'll have to get more from her. We drove down to Fresno and enjoyed time with the Winter family. We all gained about 5 lbs from eating so many treats. We played games, went to the park a few times, looked at lights on Candy Cane Lane, ate at Inn-n-Out twice, went to the movies, went shopping, and jumped on the trampolines at Skywalk. It was a sunny and relaxing break before the baby arrives in about a month.

Gunner looking dashing in his bow-tie made by Aunt Les.

Gunner loved taking baths in Grandma's big bath tub.

Testing out his new bike that he got from Grandma and Grandpa.

Great Grandpa Winter is the first Santa that Gunner has actually liked. He still talks about Santa grabbing his piggies (as seen below). When we saw Great Grandpa at dinner the next night in his civilian attire, Gunner said, "Hi Santa." It was very funny and we couldn't believe that he recognized him. Can't get anything past this guy.

And of course we took a trip to feed the ducks at Woodward Park.

2 Years Old!

2011-12-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

It was birthday week last week in our family. I turned 25 on the 7th and Gunner turned 2 on the 9th. I was also in charge of our Relief Society Progressive Dinner on the 8th so it was an action packed week. We're very appreciative of all the calls, cards, and presents that were sent our way. I must admit that birthdays and holidays are so much better with kids around! It is easy to get Gunner excited about anything but you can't image how excited he was about balloons, crepe paper, and boxed birthday cake! We just had a little family party for Gunner with a Sesame Street theme. His current favorites are Bert and Ernie. I had everyone wear a bright colored shirt to match a hat with each character. It was a blast and when I asked Brandon what he wanted to do the next day, Gunner chimed in with, "Birthday party!"

Salishan and Story Book Land

2011-12-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed our yearly trip to Salishan with Mom and Dad at the beginning of December. The weather was beautiful while we were there. Gunner loved playing at the beach and swimming in the heated pool at the hotel. He definitely takes after his Dad in his fish-like attributes. I'm pretty sure Gunner can hold his breath longer than me!

Chasing the birds with Grandma.

Running from the waves.

Gunner enjoyed eating breakfast in bed.

We also went to Story Book Land. Gunner sped through it pretty fast but he did enjoy the lights and decor.

Still not ready to sit on Santa's lap. Maybe next year

101 Dalmatians is one of his favorites. He often mentions Cruella and the puppies.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Prep

2011-11-28T21:02:00.001-08:00

How can you not love that luscious hair and cute little grin in the morning?

We had a great Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad. Brandon had to work during the day so we had fun during the day making forts, raking up Papa's leaves, and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After dinner we played Pin the Feathers on the Turkey. Gunner loved it! Well he loved when other people put the blind fold on and spun around.

My matching flannel boys.

On Saturday all of my dreams came true- we got a REAL Christmas tree. We went to a U-Cut place and took quite a bit of time to pick out the perfect tree. In the end it was a 6 foot Nordeman.

Brandon feeling manly after cutting down the tree.

Our beautiful tree and reindeer! I love Christmastime!

Halloween

2011-11-08T20:24:00.001-08:00

Gunner the Lion and Brandon as the NBA lock-out at the Ward Trunk or Treat. Gunner didn't say trick or treat but he was very enthusiastic in holding up his bag to get the candy.

Trick or treating at the Courthouse.

This is Gunner post Trunk or Treat. He got really sweaty in his costume and has some chocolate leftovers on his face :)

It's time for fires and Gunner couldn't be happier. He loves helping wad up newspaper and handing Brandon wood to put in the fire.

And today we helped Grandma celebrate her 60th birthday!

Minnesota Trip

2011-10-28T18:08:00.001-07:00

Gunner and I just got back from a wonderful trip to Minnesota. It was an unofficial sisters' trip with Les and Meredith May joining us as we crashed at the Bjorks. We did a lot and ate a lot! We went to the Apple Orchard, played at an awesome park, went out to dinner at a place with the best cheese fondue ever, saw the new Footloose, went shopping, and just enjoyed each others' company. It was a great week and we're already missing everyone.

Sawyer and Gunner are 5 months apart and I was thrilled that I actually got a good picture of them on our last day there. These 2 boys loved playing outside on the play set.

Gunner loved having a baby around, always wanting to hold, hug, and kiss. Hopefully this phases lasts when his baby brother arrives.

Steve was a real trooper babysitting for us 2 nights in a row.

The Sisters.

The Aquarium at the Mall of America.

We went to the Apple Orchard one day. The best part was definitely the Apple Spice Donuts.

Gunner considers himself a pro now that he has been on a horse twice. I love the one-handed pose on this one.

Very excited to have matching footie pajamas.

Tis the Season for Pumpkins

2011-10-28T15:58:00.001-07:00

We went to a wonderful pumpkin patch on Brandon's day off. They had a great slide, $1 pumpkins, animals, and other fun stuff.

Gunner loves working outside with Papa. Just give him a shovel and he'll stay busy for a long time.

September

2011-09-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

September has been a great month. We've had great weather up here and have been able to enjoy the outdoors. Gunner loves the trampoline and would jump all day every day if he could. We've also had two goats join us so we can officially call it Turner Ranch. We named them Luna and Voldy (yes it is short for Voldemort). Voldy is below and I think the resemblance with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is pretty obvious.

The boys with Luna.

Both Brandon and I are not big animal people but someone in our ward was getting rid of them so we thought we'd try it out. Gunner loves them and it's been a good experience for our family.

Gunner is really into playing with his toys now. It's so cute, especially while he is wearing his new Elmo pajamas.
He is also a very good organizer and stacker. We got out the baby stuff last week and he loved looking at everything and putting his stuffed animals to bed in the blankets.

And here is a picture of the pregnant Blogger. I'm almost 20 weeks! We're excited to have another boy!

Parenting Blogs and Resources

2011-09-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

I love reading the blog 71 Toes. It's an LDS mother writing about parenting and many of the aspects of running a household. She is the daughter of Richard and Linda Eyre, who have been writing about parenting for a long time. I just read an awesome article they had in Deseret News. It's about conducting a monthly review of each child to see how they are doing physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spirituality. Gunner's needs are obviously rather basic right now but I look forward to conducting these reviews with Brandon in years to come. Shawni from 71 Toes also has great tips on photography, organizing, and incorporating spirituality into your children's lives. I enjoy it and thought some others out there might enjoy it too!

Beach Camping Trip

2011-08-26T15:06:00.001-07:00

August

2011-08-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love summer. We were able to join my Mom and Dad at Sunriver for a few days. I seriously love that place. The smell of the pine trees, the houses, the bike trails, the candy store, it's all so wonderful. Gunner loved it as well. He even got to ride a Shetland Pony.

So tired he couldn't even finish chewing his granola bar.

Gunner now fits into this little suit so I had to do a photo shoot before Church.

Wedding Day

2011-08-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

Lyndon and Ashley were sealed in the Newport Beach Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and reminded me of how grateful I am for the eternal nature of families. No matter what happens in this life, we will always be together. I'm very lucky to have these two boys in my life and we're excited to welcome another addition in February 2012.

Beach Day

2011-08-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

Gunner is officially a beach bum. He loved the ocean! He was crying when we had to pull him away from the water.

The Bathing Beauties

Here's the Winter fam singing a song to the Newlyweds at the rehearsal dinner.

Disneyland

2011-08-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a wonderful trip to California for cousin Lyndon's wedding. He and Ashley turned their wedding weekend into an awesome party with Disneyland one day and Huntington Beach another day. Gunner loved going on the rides but wasn't too fond of waiting in line. His favorite was definitely "It's a Small World." We're all wearing yellow shirts that Lyndon and Ashley made since there was over 100 of people from their wedding party at Disneyland that day.

We also met up with Jamie, Rob, and Haws in Portland since they were in town for business. It was fun to see them. I wish these two cute boys lived closer!

Visitors

2011-07-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

Before I start this new post Brandon wants everyone to know that he looks grumpy in the Father's Day post pictures because his allergies were VERY bad that day. His allergies have been BAD here but luckily they have started to fade these last few weeks. Anyway, to the meat of the post now...Just two pics of our visit to the Zoo with Bailey and Kim.

We just had a visit from the C2's and the Winns'. We were all especially excited to meet Miss Meredith May!

Gunner was very excited about the new baby.

Bouncing on the trampoline was definitely a favorite for the boys.

Everyone enjoying baby Mere!

This was hilarious- the boys trying to drink from the sprinkler.

Paddle boats with the C2's. Gunner looks like he could be in, "What About Bob?" in this picture.

Two pics from the 4th of July.

Family Pictures

2011-07-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Julia took our pictures about a month ago and I think they turned out great. It was a struggle for Gunner to hold still and he even poked Brandon in the eye with a stick at one point. But in the end it was worth it. Thanks for sacrificing your eye dear!

Father's Day

2011-06-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

It was a great Father's Day with Bailey, Kim, and Gary visiting from California. We have so many great Father's in our lives!

Had to get a shot with his Mom even though it's Father's Day.

Gunner with his two Grandfathers. See any resemblance?

He particularly enjoyed the smores segment of the evening.

Just checking out the dirt from the ANNOYING mole hills. Gunner is very in-tune with the land.

Seattle Anniversary

2011-06-29T20:38:00.001-07:00

Brandon planned a surprise visit up to Seattle for our 4 year wedding anniversary. We went to Pike's Market, a Mariner's game, the Space Needle, and took in the sights. It was a great get-away, especially for me who had never spent the night away from Gunner. He partied hard at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

I had to take a picture of our wedding flower, the peony, at the the market. We also saw Steve Sarkisian at Pikes. The picture of him and Brandon is on my other camera though.

We were both really excited about taking pictures by ourselves, not.

Eggs Benedict and French Toast= A Great Anniversary

Thanks for the great trip dear and for the best 4 years of my life!

My Own Kind of Paradise

2011-06-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Gunner has been into wearing his cowboy hat lately. I love seeing him walk out of his room at a random time of a day with his hat on.

Showing off his physique.

What's better than than a little boy working outside? He loves helping me water the flowers each day.

This past week I stopped at a Joann's Fabric which was closing and snagged some super cheap fabric (7.5 yards for $6!!!). My Mom came up and helped me sew some drapes for our bedroom. I love how they turned out and it just feels good to make something with your own two hands.

A close-up of the fabric.

I also made this "W" monogram out of buttons thanks to Ellna. She let me go through her awesome button collection and take whatever I wanted. This was a fun and easy craft.

I decided to take some pictures of the property since it's so beautiful. This is our favorite spot on the 4-wheeler path.

The boys checking the mail.

Reading time with Dad. Gunner is learning so many words. It's so fun! His favorites are owl, juice, ball, dog, duck, baby, choo choo, bye, uh-oh, and beep beep.

Devouring our current favorite snack, kettle corn.

Gunner helped me weed and plant a flower garden. I hope it survives!

Grateful for Family

2011-05-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

It has been quite the week for the Carlile family across the country. My sister-in-law Whitney grew up in Joplin, Missouri and knows many people afflicted by the devastating tornadoes. This man is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Joplin and shares his survival stor y during the tornado. We're praying for all of those in need and feel especially grateful that the C2's are safe.

On a happier note Lesley and Trevor welcomed their little girl, Meredith May Winn, to the world on Monday. We're thrilled to have a new little niece and can't wait to meet her!

Falling Asleep on the Lawn Mower

2011-05-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

We went up to Ikea the other day and it threw off Gunner's nap schedule so this is what happened. He fell asleep on the lawn mower with Brandon! It was pretty funny. I can't think of anything better than looking out the window and seeing these two mowing the lawn together.

On a side note, I was tagged by my sister-in-law Lindee awhile ago so here are 7 random things about myself (that I'm sure you're dying to know):

1. I try to take good pictures but my other best friend is Photoshop Elements. I use the free Photoshop actions from the Pioneer Woman blog. The two that I use the most are "Boost" and "Fresh Color."
2. I'm reading the Prelude to Glory series right now by Ron Carter and I'm quite enjoying it.
3. Both Brandon and I love Survior and really want Boston Rob to win it all this season.
4. I've learned that the weather has a strong influence on the sanity of a stay at home Mom. The sun = happiness.
5. I want a huge ottoman just like this (perhaps a different color):
6. I've been cleaning out old papers and I found this speech that I read when I was a freshman at BYU for one of my religion classes. It is a BYU devotional address from 1993 by M. Catherine Thomas. This speech had a profound impact on me. Check it out.
7. I'm going to take a nap now.

Born Country

2011-05-04T13:11:00.001-07:00

We are officially country folk. We are living on 7 acres of beautiful land where my Dad was raised. We definitely have a lot to learn about fixing things and becoming one with the land but we're excited for the adventure. There are lots of projects looming in my head like refinishing furniture, making blinds, and planting a garden. Brandon's plans are a driving range, a frisbee golf course, a paint ball course, a shooting range, and so on. We'll see what actually happens :) Dad fulfilled his dream of purchasing a four-wheeler so we've enjoyed taking family rides around the property.

We've got a lot of organizing to do but it feels like home.

How old does he look!?! We've been sneaking him into nursery the last few weeks and he is loving it. I can't believe how big my baby is getting. I'm also very pleased that he hair is long enough for a faux hawk now.

Brigham and Evan visited us for a few days while on their Northwest trip. It was great to see them and hopefully we can visit them in Chicago and DC sometime soon.

Florida

2011-04-29T12:19:00.001-07:00

Florida was a blast despite the mid-week flu bug that everyone but Gunner caught. The 80 degree weather was much needed for us Oregonians. We went to the zoo, the pool, and then went down to Fort Meyers later in the week. Gunner loved hanging with his cousin Riggs and tickling him whenever possible. Thanks for the fun week Winn family!

Fort Meyers Beach

The beach was very crowded so there was lots of people watching to be done.

The train ride at the zoo was not only a trip highlight for Gunner but probably a life highlight.

The splash pad area at the Zoo. This boy LOVES water!

Tank top buddies checking out the animals.

Cute little Rigsy.

Cuddling with Mom after a water party in the backyard.

The attempted photo shoot.

My happy boy.

The Kung-Fu Master.

Rigdon- 23 months, Gunner- 16 months

One of many backyard pool parties.

I'm very sad to say that this poor quality photo is the only one I have of Les and Trevor. They sure are wonderful hosts though. Here Trevor is giving the boys a pre-Easter Egg Hunt Pep talk.

Actividades

2011-04-28T08:27:00.001-07:00

We got back from Florida this past weekend and we don't have internet yet at our new place so I'm blogging from Grandma's. Here are a few more pictures from the Bjorkman's visit. This is what happened when we tried to do a photo shoot with Gunner and Sawyer. Cracks me up...

Very stoic boys.

We also sent these two love birds off to the Modest Prom.

Children's Museum

2011-04-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

We went to the Portland Children's Museum last week and it was a blast. Gunner would sprint as fast as possible from room to room but there were a few things that really held his interest like...

The jumbo light-bright,

the Curious George Miniature Golf (one might think he'd never seen a ball before with how excited he got over the golf balls),

The Water Room (where he got soaking wet),

and of course the Xylophone. Gunner's three loves are dogs, balls, and xylophones. Who doesn't love a good xylophone? He really loves music and has great rhythm.

We're glad the Bjorkman crew was able to join us. Here is Abby driving the bus.

Grandpa, Sawyer, and Adge.

Abby, G, and Grandma.

I love this picture.

Jocelyn really liked the face paint :)

My cute wiggle worm!

Savannah and Abigail

Party Time

2011-04-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

Gunner is my buddy. We had a surprise party for our friend Joan who turned 94 last week and Gunner tagged along for the fun. Joan is sharp, active, funny and I hope I'm doing as well as her when I'm 94. She is on the far right in this picture.

We're having lots of fun with the Bjorkmans' visiting this week for their spring break. The weather was great so the kiddos headed out to jump on the trampoline. Even Grandpa got in on the action.

Brandon watched the kids while we went to a Relief Society Activity and this is what we came home to. He is striving to be the Cool Uncle so of course he built a fort and gave them ice cream sandwiches. Jocey was exhausted after a long day of traveling and playing :)

Play Dough & Sunshine

2011-03-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

Gunner and I are happy the sunshine is out. He enjoys using his shovel, picking up dirt, feeling the different textures of plants, and walking through the neighbor's yard. He also thinks it is funny to throw balls into the street and watch me run after them.

I made my first batch of home-made play dough the other day. I thought for sure I would ruin it but it turned out great. We both enjoyed the playing with it.

New Hair-Do

2011-03-12T09:41:00.001-08:00

Gunner is a new MAN. Initially I was sad when we cut his hair but now I love it. He looks like a big boy and a real bruiser (even though he is very loving).

Gunner's beautiful art work.

His excited face. He shouts, "OOOhhhh," along with it.

I must admit that everything he has on in this picture is second-hand. Boots and Vest= Goodwill. Pants and Sweatshirt= hand me downs from ward members. It just feels good to get a deal and to look so good doing it.

Very focused on getting the yard work done with Dad. He would live outside if we let him.

Birthday, Snow, and More

2011-03-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

There was some good lighting coming through the window yesterday so I snapped a few quick shots of Gunner. He looks so regal. Good thing I captured his lucious locks because Brandon buzzed his head last night.

Brandon celebrated his Golden birthday-- 26 on the 26th! We went bowling and watched the SDSU game (which was the best thing ever). We also went out to eat at our favorite place in Corvallis, Local Boys. Everyone was required to wear Cougar gear for his party day.

Here's Gunner in his awesome tent that we got at Ikea for $10!

We had a rare snow day last week so we ventured out for a little bit. Gunner enjoyed a short lived ride on the sled.

Decorating/eating Valentine cookies with Grandma.

Dad rented this wood chipper thing so Gunner supervised the workers from his high chair. The boys loved the powerful machinery.

I put Gunner in the porta-crib while I get ready and he loves this old Wee Sing video. It's songs like, "Do Your Ear Hangs Low" and Gunner is glued to it!

Tricks

2011-02-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

Gunner really likes putting on a show before bedtime. He gets very energetic and does whatever it takes to gets claps and laughs from Mom & Dad and Grandma & Grandpa. He is a hoot! I love this age.

Cousins

2011-02-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Cousins are fun, especially when they are so close in age. We're glad Riggs and Jaycee were able to come for a visit with their parents last month. Gunner LOVED the company and was sure to give a spontaneous hug or back rub to show his affection for his cousins. The wagon from G&G Winter was used multiple times a day with the great weather. It was a great week!

The bottom left picture is from a Family Fun Carnival thing we went to. There was a station with colored rice and plastic insects (as you can see). Gunner loved playing with it! Any ideas on how they colored the rice so that it doesn't stain your hands?

Everyday life

2011-01-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

My two favorite buddies. Gunner goes nuts when Brandon gets home from work. He's a "Cool Dad" what can I say...

Gunner had an ear infection and cold last week and this picture sums it all up. No beauty rest for anyone.

He has always loved his owl "Oli" but lately his obsession has stepped up a notch. I hope Costco sells more so I can find a replacement just in case we can't find him one night before bed.

Gunner's hair is getting long and shaggy. It's a love/hate relationship for me because it's awesome but it's usually tangled with food by the end of the day.

I hope you all get a chance to Skype with Trevor sometime because it's a real treat ;)

One of many walks. It rains a lot in Oregon but there is enough of a break so that we are able to get out on a walk at least once a day.

Helping Mom make Peanut Butter Cookies.

Gunner loved helping Dad pull the car into the driveway.

Bath time--- Gunner's favorite!

Christmas Break Continued

2011-01-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

We are all sporting socks MADE by Grandma Donaldson! She is amazing!

Checking out the ducks at Woodward Park.

Eating Dad's Ipod.

We are trying to start fun traditions with our little family so Brandon decided that every New Year's Eve we will make a fort. Brandon promises that he is an expert at making forts although this one collapsed a few times.

An attempt at a family picture on New Year's Eve.

Posing for Mom in his new wagon.

Christmas break thus far...

2010-12-26T21:32:00.001-08:00

After a long car drive we made it to Fresno for Christmas break with Brandon's family. We're glad Brandon was able to get the time off so we could come visit the Winter family. Gunner was also excited to have a new Christmas tree to play with.

Here we are on Christmas Eve before we enjoyed Kim's delicious Potato Cheese Soup!

Gina and Bev

4 Generations of Winter Men- Grandpa Winter, Gunner, Brandon, and Gary

Beau and Lindee

Whitney and Tyler

G and G Winter

Brandon and Kim

Checking out lights on Cindy Lane.

And I'm enjoying my fabulous Christmas present... a digital SLR camera! It really is life changing, especially with such cute models.

Closely observing the man blowing leaves in his yard. Gunner loves machinery.

Just strolling down the sidewalk, chatting with Dad.

Christmas Day pictures coming soon...

Birthday Boy

2010-12-13T20:23:00.001-08:00

Gunner is officially 1! We celebrated his birthday last week, 2 days after mine. We had a little party for him and this is the invitation I made for it. He loved having his little friends over and eating pizza and cookies. He is such a sweetie pie. He loves walking, making new friends, banging on the drums, grabbing ornaments off the tree, taking Tootsie on walks, playing with cars, and eating! We love this little guy and all the joy he brings everyone.

The Birthday Boy checking out his loot! He sure got spoiled.

We took Gunner to Story Book Land and he loved it. There were so many lights, trees, and cute little scenes to look at.

We also had our family pictures taken last month.

Santa, Tree, Aquarium, and Beach Visit

2010-12-05T09:36:00.001-08:00

We had a short trip to the Oregon Coast this week with my parents. It rained when we drove over but it was sunny both days we were there. We had a great time shopping at the outlets, going to the Aquarium, swimming, playing tennis, and relaxing. Gunner was worn out by the end of the trip as you can see from this picture. He loves his little stuffed owl and his new Nikes from Gma.

Brandon enjoyed the game room at the Lodge a little too much. He really got into pin ball and set the new record on the machine.

Just swimming in the pool with Dad.

My cute boy all grown up.

Gunner LOVED the aquarium. He was fascinated by all of the animals. He makes a moaning noise when he is excited about something so there was a lot of moaning going on at the aquarium.

He really liked being inside the fish tank.

Here is my modern Christmas Tree that I made.
The previous weekend we got a REAL Christmas tree with Gpa and Gma. Gunner loves doing manly things like tying the tree to the car...

eating dirt...

and helping Grandpa in the yard in his marshmallow coat.

Gunner's first Thanksgiving!

Here are a few shots from Les and Riggs' visit to Oregon about a month ago. The two cousins in their matching church outfits. We strapped Gunner to the chair with a bungee cord.

More Christmas tree shots...

Gunner was not too happy about sitting on Santa's lap at the Ward Christmas party.

But he was happy about getting a candy cane.

The fam at the Christmas Party.

Gunner turns 1 on Thursday but he got to open one present from the Bjorks early. Thanks for the awesome shirt and slippers!

Dancing in November

2010-11-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Libraries are the best. Being a Mom is my dream job but if I had to take on another job it would probably be working at a library. I think the Library of Congress would be ok :) Maybe I could even make it into the Rare Book and Special Collections section and solve century old riddles with Nicholas Cage and David Baldacci characters. Pictured below is Gunner watching a little kid put on a puppet show at the library. Right now he is more interested in tearing pages and eating books but I know he'll eventually have a love for reading like his Mom. I got a children's book for him yesterday about the Declaration of Independence. I can't wait to teach him about the founding of America and all of the veterans who have sacrificed so much. I love Veteran's day and the sense of patriotism it ignites inside of me. A special thanks to Steve and all of our Grandpas' who served in the Armed Forces! And now for the latest Winter happenings...

I'm pretty sure I need to get Gunner a little rocking chair or recliner. Too cute.

On one of our many walks with Tootsie. Gunner insists on holding the leash.

Enjoying the Veteran's Day Parade

Celebrating Mom's birthday!

Gunner worn out after a shopping trip to Portland. And yes he pretty much wears his Elmer Fudd hat everyday. It's awesome!

A wiggly Hulk with Grandma and Grandpa.

Trick or treating at Grandpa's work.

Gunner as the Incredible Hulk, Riggs as a Pharaoh, and Macey as a duck

The Winns' were very surprised to have a trick or treater all the way from Florida!

The fam before the Ward Halloween Party

Fall Ball

2010-10-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

Well we moved to Oregon this weekend! Brandon got a job with Target Distribution. We're very excited about this new opportunity and being close to my parents. But we're also sad to have moved away from the Winter family. We had so much fun being close to Brandon's parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Bailey. We already miss everyone and hope to visit Fresno often.

This fall season has been wonderful with visits to Yosemite, the pumpkin patch, the Fresno Fair, and preparing for Halloween. Gunner is going to be the Incredible Hulk and it fits his personality perfectly.

Please ignore our messy apartment in the background during the packing process.

Love the bow tie. This tie was my Dads' when he was little!

Going on a train ride at the pumpkin patch.

Great Grandma Winter

Yosemite

Gunner loved playing at little kid area at the mall.

The Big Fresno Fair

SoCal

2010-10-04T19:54:00.001-07:00

We took a quick trip to SoCal two weeks ago and had a lovely time checking out Balboa Island and Dana Point Beach. We stayed with the most wonderful hosts (Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike). Gunner particularly enjoyed going for rides in their red wagon, watching their dogs play fetch, and eating Aunt Mary's homemade bread (best bread EVER).

Balboa Island is a quaint little place with lots of cute shops and delicious ice cream bars. I loved checking out the houses along the beach front. There was even one house with a BYU flag! Gunner really liked the sand and rubbing it between his fingers. He is a man's man and likes to get dirty and eat rocks/dirt whenever possible.

Gunner did enjoy the ferry ride although he looks a little hot and sweaty in this picture :)

Seeking Mom Advice

2010-09-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

I'm up early blogging because Gunner wakes up everyday at 6am on the dot. His internal clock is very accurate and he rarely goes past 6:03 am. This early wake up time moves everything up in his schedule so the first nap is usually before 9am and his afternoon nap starts too early as well. So how do I get him to sleep in longer or at least play in his crib until 7am? Also FYI, no matter what time I put him to bed at night, he wakes up at 6am (6:30pm or 8:30 pm- there is no difference). I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have!

p.s. Don't you love these pictures I did on picnik!? I'm going to print them up for his baby book.

Gunner as of Late

2010-09-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. We went to the Fresno Museum of Art on Saturday for Family Day. They had a few craft tables and I had to make Gunner a crown since we often call him King Tut. Here he is watching a Magic show at the museum. I love FUN FREE events for FAMILIES.

Gunner wasn't too impressed by the Magician.

Here we are in front of the "Fresno Cougar" in the sculpture garden.

Gunner is very strong and one day he did the WHEELBARROW with Brandon holding his legs. It was very impressive but he hasn't done it since.

If only our Provo Cougars could pull it together on the football field... but we shall remain loyal

Eating an apple. He finally got his appetite back after he had Roseola last week. No fun.

He is standing up to everything. He took one step today and I fear that he may be walking very soon! He gives that big smile whenever you walk into a room... that's gotta make you feel good :)

Yosemite

2010-09-25T20:41:00.001-07:00

We went up to Yosemite National Park for the day with Brandon's parents and it was a blast! We rode our bikes around on paved paths and it allowed us to see a lot of the park. The weather was perfect and Gunner loved it. I would highly recommend it.

Sunriver

2010-09-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

Yes Sunriver really was this fun! It was quite the round-up with 17 people now in the Carlile family. We enjoyed swimming, tennis, bike rides, improv acting night, minute to win it games, trips to Goodies, bocce ball, delicious food, golf, and learning about Mom and Dad's younger years. Having such a fun vacation made it very difficult to go back to the real world :)

Mom and Dad with all of the grandkids.

Kayaking down the Deschutes River.

Tennis- and Brandon is still upset over this loss.

The boys playing Bocce ball with their off spring in tow. I just love how huge Gunner looks in his baby bjorn.

Some of my favorite people!

Jaycee and Gunner in the bike trailer. We can't wait for our ibert to arrive this week!

Jocey riding Houdini. Jocey is always full of valuable information. She often reminded me that her Dad's favorite color is yellow and that we can eat sweet cereal any day on vacation (not just on Saturdays)

Gunner and Riggs.

Our little family

The Newlyweds.

Gunner and Jaycee are only a few weeks apart and this was the first time they had met! It was great to see this two interact and it was much easier it was to carry Jaycee :)

Beau and Lindee's Wedding

2010-08-29T13:06:00.001-07:00

On August 20th, Beau and Lindee were married in the Fresno temple. It was a great day and we're so happy for these two. Brandon got penumonia earlier that week but luckily the antibiotics helped him feel better for the day of the wedding. They had a luncheon after the sealing and then the reception at the San Juaquin Country Club. The colors, decorations, and couple were all beautiful!

SR Pump Up Video

2010-08-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ev made this video from our last SR trip to get us all pumped for the reunion and it worked for me! Now just add 4 babies to the mix...

July Events- Narrated by Gunner

2010-08-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

We found a great park in Fresno with all of these cool water features. I love to play in the water as you can tell by my face.

Mom decided that I'm old enough to navigate the pool on my own so I went for a stroll on the floatie.
Me and Mom drove up to the Bay area to hang out with Grandma Carlile for a weekend. We had a great time staying at the Wilsons! We went to the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park where we saw the "Birth of Impressionism" exhibit.

We toured the beautiful Japanese Garden.

We hung out with Uncle Dow since Mariah got home from her mission to Paris.

Of course Mom made me do a photo shoot at every opportunity.

We played at the park.

We went to the Oakland Temple and listened to Mariah's violin concert at the Visitor's Center.

Then back in Fresno I got to hang out with my second cousin McKenzie.

I decided that I like to do the army crawl and I have two teeth coming in on the bottom.

I swam in the pool with Grandma and Grandpa Winter.
I went to the zoo with Mom and Dad. The animals were ok but my favorite part was watching all of the kids at the zoo!

And I went to the Williams family reunion in Utah but Mom didn't take a single picture so you'll have to check out Grandma's blog. Now I'm ready for another month of adventure with Beau's wedding and SUNRIVER! Only 16 days to go!

4th of July & Other Happenings

2010-07-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

Enjoying our 4th of July Pancake Breakfast.

Gunner took part in his first 4th of July bicycle parade. He was very focused through out the entire thing.

He also enjoyed the fireworks display from Great Grandma Winter's lap.

The love birds, Beau and Lindee, watching the fireworks.

Sterling flew out today to enter the MTC for his mission to the Calgary Alberta Mission. Here he is with Gunner at his farewell party.

He is definitely a Momma's boy, which I absolutely love.

Summer Fun

2010-06-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Gunner LOVES swimming in the pool. He even loves it when the water is too cold for his Mom.

Happy 1/2 Birthday Gunner!

2010-06-08T12:45:00.001-07:00

Gunner is 6 months old today!!! He is one smiley and happy little dude. He is definitely the most popular person in our family and attracts attention wherever we go. He loves playing in the water, watching little kids, shoving things in his mouth, listening to his mother sing, going on walks, staring people down, rolling over, drinking from water bottles, flapping his arms like a penguin, laughing at his Daddy, eating solids (peas and sweet potatoes are his favorites), and making his Mom and Dad smile. And yes his cheeks are as kissable as they look!

This shot is for Mom who wanted a peak at our new apartment. I'm still unpacking some boxes but overall it's coming together nicely.

On WE go to vanquish the foe

2010-05-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

Brandon graduated from Brigham Young University at the end of April with a degree in Recreation Management and a Minor in Business Management. We loved our time in Provo and particularly our experiences at BYU. No pressure Gunner but everyone in this family bleeds blue :) Now we're on vanquishing the foe in Fresno, CA as Brandon manages a Satellite Sales Office. We're so grateful to all those who supported us as we finished school.

Isn't he precious? We'll sure miss those beautiful mountains.

We had to get a family portrait on the trusty moped. Even though it topped out at 22 mph, it still served us very well.

Gunner enjoying his new umbrella stroller. I think my son is growing at an exponential rate because as I have been taking him on walks this week I've noticed that his shoulders span the entire width of the seat. whereas they did not 3 weeks ago. 18lbs at 5 months, not bad.

I cringed too many times to count when he got the ball but you gotta love JT.

Mother Dear I Love You So

2010-05-09T12:48:00.001-07:00

How appropriate that my 100th post would be honoring my wonderful Mother! I was lucky enough to get to spend the last few weeks with her in Utah and then vising her and Dad in Oregon. I was reading a friend's blog post in which she explains how she is turning into her Mother. I see the same thing happening to me and thought I'd highlight some of these similarities:

-The urgency and necessity of organizing things- particularly important documents. I think she has passed this on to all of her daughters. You name it (birth certificate, passport, insurance information, etc.) we will go to our travel size file folders and locate that paper for you!
-Keeping a planner/calendar
-Making lists galore
-I've noticed that my cursive handwriting is very similar to both my mother's and grandmother's (Ida) handwriting
-washing out and reusing zip-lock bags
-the glorification of Southwest Airlines and Verizon Wireless
-Reading to my son and trying to teach him a love of learning
-The need to always have home-made jam in the fridge
The list goes on and on! We love you Mom and hope you have a great day with the Bjorkmans!

Giggling Gunner

2010-04-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

Feeling Much Better Today

2010-04-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to all of those who commented on my last post. I received a smorgasbord of information from many smart Moms'. Maybe I should start a blog where I pool all of these ladies' great ideas ...mmm. But Gunner is already doing a lot better! He is particularly happy because of these awesome sunglasses we got him today.

He couldn't stop smiling with these shades on. It's hilarious.

I had to post this picture because this is a bib that I wore when I was a baby. I think he looks a lot like his Mama as you can see in this Easter picture. My birthday is Dec. 7, 1986 and Gunner's is Dec. 9, 2010 so we are about the same age in these pictures (4 months).

We had a fun dinner with Parker, Whitney and Tyler a few weeks ago. Here we are enjoying a Pazookie (I think Tyler enjoyed it a little too much and I couldn't even keep my eyes open). We'll be sad to leave these guys since we'll be moving to Fresno at the end of this month. Brandon was offered a job with Linx Sales and we're very excited for a change!

Here are some of the Wilson cousins at the Romney's for General Conference. Special shout out to Emma who got her mission call to Salt Lake City- Temple Square!!!

And lastly here is Gunner in his awesome new PJs. Target has the greatest clearance racks. Gunner loves playing with/eating his buddy Marvin the Moose. His official title is Dr. Leo Marvin the Moose.

Seeking Motherly Advice

2010-04-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

Gunner and Mom have had a rough time these past 2 weeks. Gunner has been waking up more frequently at night and has decided that 30 minute naps are the best (contrary to his mother's desires). From my research it seems that he may need more food but he refuses to take formula. He gags daily as we try to give him formula bottles. We started giving him rice cereal a few days ago but he doesn't really eat it. He is just trying to figure it out. I've also heard that at 4 months babies go through a growth spurt but is there any truth to these claims? Any tips from experienced mothers, fathers, or caregivers would be greatly appreciated!!!

Our Chubby Boy

2010-03-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

Somedays you just have to relax and let it all hang out. We sure love kissing those cheeks!

His new baby Sperry's that we got at Old Navy for only $4!

Sporting his new shoes.

Watching BYU's first round game against Florida.

He is already a devoted Cougar Fan!

He can now fit into his Beaver sweat pants which is crazy. He is going through clothes so fast!

St. George

2010-03-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

We traveled to St. George last weekend for Jake Probert's wedding (Brandon's cousin). It was Gunner's first real road trip and he did a great job. It was so fun seeing most of the Winter family but I do wish it had been a little warmer while we were there. It rained and hailed like crazy on Saturday. But we had a great time and are very excited for Jake and Megan!

Gunner was not too happy about taking pictures at the temple. He has issues with the wind. He holds his breath when wind blows in his face and it was very windy that day at the temple :)

We were very happy that Grandpa Winter could make the quick trip out.

The Beckman Family

The Hansen Family

Gunner got to meet Great Grandma and Grandpa Winter for the first time.

The boys at our first pit stop.

Mother of the Groom, Judy, with her new granddaughter Rodda.

Cousin Lyndon (i guess they're officially cousins once removed)

Great Grandma Winter

Uncle Beau

Tampa

2010-03-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago Gunner and I were able to go out to Tampa to visit the Winn family. We had a great time going on walks, going to Disney World, going to the beach, playing tennis, eating lots of great food made by Les, and having lots of cousin bonding time. Les also gave me a tutorial on couponing so hopefully I'll be able to play hard ball with all of the other hard core ladies here in Utah.

We got soaked on splash mountain.

Gunner wasn't too impressed :)

But he did fit in nicely with all of the retired folks while wearing his sun hat and cardigan sweater.

I often sat in the back seat with the boys and they would just stare at me waiting for some entertainment.

Yes this is a real alligator that we saw at a Nature Reserve. All that was between us was a flimsy wood bridge as you can see in the picture above.

The boys suffered through the cold so the adults could play some tennis.

Jocey's Having a Birthday-- Shout Hooray!

2010-03-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here' s a little video tribute to the birthday girl Jumpin' Jocey. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Party hard and eat lots of treats :)

Picture Overload

2010-03-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sorry for all of the pictures but this was the fastest way to upload them from Lesley's computer. I'm glad I was able to capture him smiling today.

3 Months Old

2010-03-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow Gunner will be 3 months old. I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. Right now we are in Florida visiting the Winns so I've been able to use their great camera to capture some shots of him. I weighed him on the scale this morning and it says he is about 15 lbs. He does smile quite a bit but he wanted to be very formal for all of these pictures :)

Hanging out with his buddy Riggs. They just love each other.

A Quater of a Century Old

2010-02-26T07:32:00.001-08:00

Today is Brandon Gary Winter's 25th Birthday and I'm so happy I've been able to spend the last 4 years with him. Brandon has an excitement for life that few can compete with and he keeps this family moving full speed ahead. We love him for being such a wonderful Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Grandson, Friend, and Cougar fan. Hope you have a great day dear!

Internet at Last!

2010-02-15T17:14:00.000-08:00

I was without internet for the last few weeks but now it's back and I couldn't be happier! I'll definitely be better about putting pictures up of our little guy. He is a crack up (as you can see from the picture below). Here is the first batch of pictures; more to follow.

Gunner is so cute when we wakes up in the morning or from a good nap. He is all smiles when I come in to rescue him.

Trying to use the self-timer- unfortunately Gunner turned out a little blurry. But we had to capture him in his blue dress shirt and tie.

Gunner Growing

2010-01-26T17:08:00.001-08:00

Our little guy is growing up so fast! Every morning when I get him out of bed I feel like he's changed from the night before. He's smiling, cooing, and just being so dang cute. The pics are in random order but really capture his cute personality.

Not another photo shoot Mom

This picture was taken today and I think it shows how big he is getting!

Love that smile!

At his first BYU basketball game. He is very excited to go to the BYU vs Utah game this Saturday.

Santa's Little Helpers

2010-01-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

Wilson and Carlile fam

Hi Jocey! We hope you made it back to MN safely!

(again photos courtesy of the Winn family)

G-Baby on Christmas Break

2009-12-30T15:56:00.000-08:00

We were able to go to Oregon over Christmas break and Aunt Les snapped some great shots of Gunner. Enjoy our cute little guy!

I just love his face on this one. Clearly he knows something that his parents do not.

Love my two boys

Meeting his cousin Jocey.

The Carlile Cousins with Jaycee joining us very shortly.

Gunner Lewis Winter

2009-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Gunner Lewis Winter was born December 9, 2009 at 9:54 am. Weighing in at 6 lbs 14 ounces and 19 inches long. He is the sweetest and best behaved boy in the whole world! We couldn't be happier to have him here!

Baby Shower Continued

2009-10-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Les, the fabulous photographer, gave me more pictures from the shower so I thought I should put them up. I'm really not wanting to show off my chubby cheeks in all the individual pictures, just wanting to show off the cute stuff we got and the cute guests :)

Wilson First Cousins

the Donaldson Ladies

the fabulous seamstress Charity

our favorite old neighbor Karen

Wilson 2nd cousins (and Emma)

the Moses basket from Kim and Gma D

the super cute Bear suit from the Bjorks

the fabulous bag made by Whitney Hardy

The totally awesome jersey made by Charity. Go Cougs!

And of course a Beaver sweat suit from Mom

Shower and Timp Caves

2009-10-10T01:08:00.001-07:00

Ev and the Portland Winns came into town 2 weeks ago for Rigdon's blessing so we ventured up to the Timp Caves. It was quite a work-out for me but luckily Brandon helped pushed me up the mountain (literally). The beautiful scenery in the American Fork Canyon was well worth it.

Mom and Dad also came into town for a week so Les and Mom threw me a baby shower. It was delightful to see friends and family and we definitely got spoiled by everyone (even out-of-staters). Thank you Mom and Les for hosting such a great party!

Posing like a good girl for all of Mother's shots. The lovely background was done by Les. She copied the pattern from the dust ruffle that will be going on the baby's crib.

Wilson Cousins
Winter Relatives. The boys stopped by after the shower.
Brandon and Grandma Winter
Cute little Rigdon just lovin' his Aunt Mere :)
A quick shot with Dad before the shower began.

Recap

2009-09-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

I've had a few requests for a photo so here is the latest shot of the belly. I'm feeling great and can't wait for this little guy to arrive!

Here we are enjoying our great seats before the Florida State game had begun. There wasn't much smiling from either of us a few hours later.

I forgot to mention that Beau came home from his mission to Honduras in August so here are some shots from our trip to Fresno for his homecoming.

Sweet Summer

2009-07-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

We moved into a new apartment at the beginning of July so since that time we have been going without cable and internet. For those of you thinking about taking the plunge into no-tv-land it's actually quite easy but going without internet is pure insanity and no one should do it! So there is my excuse for not having done a blog post in months. But life has been crazy, busy, and wonderful!
On July 19th we welcomed our first nephew Mr. Rigdon Ray Winn (courtesy Les and Trevor). He is literally the cutest baby boy ever! We're very glad to be giving him a boy cousin to be his little buddy come December 10th.

Hanging out at the hospital.

Then last weekend we headed to Danville, CA for a Wilson Family Reunion. There was lots to enjoy: tennis, basketball, races, family history presentations, food, crafts, a talent show, and much more. I should have taken more pictures but here are a few from the tennis courts, swimming, and the family photo session.

This is a random one of Brandon at the Miller MotorSports Park where he raced go-carts for KSL. He definitely has a need for speed.

And this picture is for all the ladies who learned how to make the hair flowers from Caitlin. I spotted this girl at a soccer game this week and just loved her headband so without her knowledge I took a picture of it. So here's your next project :)

Baby Winter Wonderland

2009-06-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

We'll be getting the Christmas season started off right this year by welcoming a baby Dec. 12th! I'm almost 13 weeks along and we couldn't be happier about the pregnancy! Could it be a brown eyed blonde like Brandon or a blue eyed brunette like Mere? Can't wait to find out :)

Trip to Minnesota

2009-05-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

I got back from my trip to Minnesota last week and it was a blast! It was a fantastic graduation get-away with the Bjorkmans and Mom. We ate lots of good food, went to the zoo, played outside (pulled Jocey in her red wagon and helped her down the slide A LOT), went to Abby and Savy's many musical performances, went shopping, went on a bike ride, went swimming and many other things. I just love my nieces so much and wish I could see them more. We got to visit Abby and Savannah at their school twice and it was awesome to see them in their element. I also got to spend a lot of time with Jocey while Adge and Mom refinished a dining table, but no complaints here! I loved every minute of it and just wish Brandon could have enjoyed the party too!

the ladies before going to church

Jocey enjoying a break from shopping at the outlets.

Zebras at Como Zoo.

Hanging out with my little buddy. We were up every morning eating oatmeal together and watching for bunnies in the yard.

Thanks for taking such good care of your visitors Bjorkman fam!

At Savy and Abby's school.

Graduation

2009-05-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to upload graduation pictures for 2 weeks now and blogger is giving me a very hard time. This is the only one I could upload for the time being. I'll keep trying to post more of them but in the mean time-- thanks to Mom & Dad, Gary & Kim, Adge, Les & Trevor for coming to all the festivities. And I better not forget Brandon! My wonderful hubby (who ran his first 5k yesterday!!!) who worked hard to make sure that I got my degree. love ya!

Adeu to BYU

2009-03-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Senioritis is taking over. I have less than one month left in my undergraduate career and finishing a 12 page history paper has turned out to be one of the most exhausting experiences of my life. The sun's brief appearances followed by snow is also making matters worse. Fortunately there is a light at the end of the tunnel with family coming into town for graduation weekend and my visit in May to MN to visit the Bajorks!!! I was inspired by a friend to do a farewell BYU post or at least reminisce on some of my favorite things about BYU/Provo. I'll still be in Provo for another year while Brandon finishes school but it won't be the same as an alum. So here are some highlights of my BYU/Provo experience:

1. chocolate covered cinnamon bears, mint brownies
2. David John 1100
3. the computer lab in the JFSB. it's clean, quiet, never full, has Macs, and has windows to the outside worlds so you don't feel like a zombie when you exit.
4. Favorite Professors: Kimball, Underwood, Sederholm, Soper, Kearl
5. the Daily Universe- particulary letters to the editor
6. football and basketball, duh.
7. Liberty Square--- no one can hate on the Lib!
8. Costa Vida, Cafe Rio, Smart Cookie, Tucanos, Gloria's Little Italy, J-Dawgs, El Salvadorian Restaurant on center street, Los Hermanos
9. Dollar Theater- I can't even explain my love for the dollar theater. I love it so much that I literally cannot remember the last time I went to a real movie theater.
10. Macey's. not the clothing store for those of you who've never been to Utah. Macey's is the greatest and cheapest grocery store in town. They also have fun events that make me oh-so happy. The Sun Flower Market is a new grocery store that I've also become very fond of.
11. Seeing the Mountains, they're beautiful.
12. the Museum of Art
13. the beautiful landscaping on campus
And a few others with photo explanations...

first ever BYU football game.

first BYU v. Utah football game

girls from frosh year in the dorms

ugly sweater parties

the Y on the mountain

halloween parties and dressing up in general

flag football

Married dances, so awkward.

Zions, need I say more?

dating and marrying a very cute boy

having trusty friends and fam close by

the moped