Nana and Papa to the Rescue!

About a week after we got back from Bear Lake, Scott had to move out to California to start working. We found out on our trip that we no longer had renters lined up and despite our diligent efforts, realized we still had tons of last minute packing we had to do. We also still didn't have a clue where we were going to live since we hadn't even been out to find a place. It was possibly the most emotional and stressful time in my life. I would be left behind to handle whatever didn't get done before Scott left and to be a single mom for 2 weeks before Scott came back out to move us to California. Long story short, we got renters, found a place to live, and I survived thanks to my parents coming all the way out from Oklahoma to help me take care of the boys, pack, and most importantly keep my sanity.

My amazing parents also decided to drive on out to Huntington Beach to help with the boys on the drive and help with the move in. I can't express how much they helped out and how impossible it would've been without them. I really couldn't have done it without them and can't tell them how grateful I am. Anyway, it wasn't all work. We got to go to Knottsberry Farm and the beach while they were here. We all had a blast.

The night dad finally came home...

Hopkinson Family Reunion

Surprise! I bet y'all thought I'd never blog again. Well I wondered myself if I'd ever get the motivation to catch up but we've seriously had such a fun and eventful year I just can't let it go undocumented.

So... here goes.

This summer we went to Bear Lake for Scott's family reunion. It was the perfect escape from the AZ heat and we couldn't believe how perfect the weather was...in July! This is everyone and I mean everyone. It was such a blessing that every person from that side of the family could make it. We got to see people that we haven't seen in years and I got to see people I'd never even met before.

We all took family pictures. This is one just of the cousins.

Except for a few people who stayed in a nearby cabin, this is where we all stayed. Pictures really don't do it justice. It is absolutely gorgeous and ginormous. It was so cool that we could all stay there because it gave us a chance to hang out all the time and get to know each other better. This is Scott's Aunt Royce and Uncle Scott's cabin in bear lake. They live here during the summers and were kind enough to accept Scott's invitation to host the whole family for a reunion. We seriously had the best time all thanks to them.

One of the many fun things to do at the cabin was zip lining. There was a more mellow line that even the kids could go down which was fun but then there was a much faster, adventurous one. One ride down the little one, I knew I had to do the big one. No one bothered to tell me that it still had some kinks to work out before I rode it but I'm not sure I would have listened. I was too excited. This picture is me when I took off...before I hit the end, banged my head, and sliced my ankle. It actually was really fun and fast and I would've done it tons of times had there not been multiple injuries on that thing. Now I have an awesome scar across my ankle to remind me how tough and adventurous I am. One day we went to the lake and just hung out.

We also went to some caves, which were pretty cool, but would've been a lot cooler had we not had to listen to the tour guides tell ridiculous stories about stalagmites look like the Grinch or the seven dwarfs when really there was just a green light shining on it or seven all in a row. But obviously I'm over it now and I just remember how cool it looked. I'm pretty sure this formation was called strawberry cause it's red, of course :)

We also got to go rafting the Snake River. It was probably the funnest and scariest thing I've done in a long time, or ever, maybe. I rafted the snake river when I was a teenager but I don't remember it being all that crazy. Apparently they had had a lot of rain so the water was really high which also means it's very fast with big rapids. Before we started we learned that LOTS of rafts had flipped already that morning. We weren't going with guides because Scott's uncle and cousin are experienced but I have to admit some of us were a little nervous about it. The raft in front of us, which had a guide, flipped on pretty much the first big rapid and I thought we were done for, but I was wrong. Our rafts were literally vertical and people were thrown on top of each other but despite the class V rapids and the fact that most of us were obviously inexperienced, neither raft flipped and no one fell out. We really could've used a GoPro (a video camera specifically made for capturing events just like that). We came back feeling like we could take on Godzilla himself...or someone big, mean, and scary anyway. Although we were pretty adventurous that day, I have to say the ones back at the cabin with all the kids had to be the bravest of us all. Here we are before we headed out.

Saturday was the "official family reunion." We played all sorts of games like donut on a string, 3-legged race, water balloon volleyball, who's that baby?, tug-o-war, water relay, and much more. It was a blast! I can't wait til we do it again someday.

It was brought to my attention that I forgot to mention a big part of the trip...the nightly game playing. We stayed up playing games every night and Mafia was pretty much the game of choice. I'm not certain who was pushing it multiple times EVERY SINGLE NIGHT or why we all agreed to it, but it always ended up being a good time. We learned a lot about each other playing that game :)

Some recent pictures

Umm...I guess I started a post and never finished. Here's some pictures.

Where the heck has the time gone?

WARNING! THIS IS A LONG ONE!

Ok so I'm 3 months behind on blogging and every time I would think about it, I'd get less motivated and put it off...one of my favorite things to do. Today is the day I actually begin the process of catching up! Last night as I was talking about how much Grayson has changed and how guilty I was feeling about not documenting it, I decided enough is enough.

Well...where do I start? We have been moved into our apartment in Huntington Beach for over a month now. We've already given talks in our new ward and have met lots of new friends. Life here is fun and exciting and very busy. The beach and downtown Huntington Beach is like 2 miles away, we have tons of parks within walking distance, an awesome library, lots of people to have play group with, and probably 10 toddler age kids right in our little complex for Logan to play with. Oh and did I mention they're also in our ward? The weather is perfect pretty much every second of the day. Scott's really liking his job and the people he works with. I've had to adjust to the crazy life, Scott getting home later than 4:30 every day, and a little apartment but I really can't complain.

The boys have really grown up in the past few months.

Here's a Grayson update...I know this is ridiculous but I need to give a summary of the past 3 months for him. Lot's of changes with this guy.

At 4 months he weighed 14.9 lbs (50%) and was 25.25 in (75%)

He's now 16.5 lbs and 30 in long

He started eating cereal at 4 months and loved it so much he didn't even make a face.

He started scooting at 4 months (I think I already posted he could roll over at 2)

He laughed and cooed and squealed

At 5 months he was getting up on his knees and rocking. He also would get up on all fours and try to move which always resulted in a nose dive.

At about 5 and a half months he started going from his back/stomach to a sitting position.

At 6 months he was crawling and about a week later he started standing up by pulling himself up on the toy box...yep I'm in serious trouble.

He has started taking steps while we hold his hands.

He reaches out to us when he wants us to hold him.

He just cut his 2 bottom teeth but I'm happy to report he didn't have near the trouble Logan had when he was teething. Just a few wake ups in the middle of the night and that's it.

He has eaten squash, avocado, teething buiscuts (his favorite), and cheerios. Real food wasn't as easy with Grayson. He gagged to the point of puking the first few times I gave him squash and avocado until I toned them down with cereal. Now he handle's them like a champ.

I recently started giving him pieces of avocado and cheerios to see if he could pick them up to eat and he does pretty well.

He is a mama's boy and will look right at me and make loud squaking noises to get my attention.

He's already very particular and will do everything in his power to get the specific toy he is after.

He is definitely a pacifier baby. It's like magic how that thing just calms him right down and puts him to sleep.

He has a laugh that sounds like he's crying and the only way you know which on he's doing is by looking as his smiling face.

Everyone comments on how happy he is and how much personality he has.

Okay now it's time for a Logan update...

Logan is talking in sentences now and is a little parrot. Everything he hears, he says. Some of his favorite phrases stolen from mom are "Oh man! Shoot!" "Oh my gosh!" "Crap!" and "Dangit!" I really have to watch what I say. I'm pretty sure he's heard me say those phrases once but that's all it took.

He got put back in his crib with the move and mom getting little sleep but he learned very quickly how to climb out of it. He also climbs into the pack n play to wrestle with Grayson and pretty much climbs up onto anythng possible. He's our little monkey and nothing is out of his reach.

Logan can open all the front and back doors/screen doors AND unlock them. The only one he doesn't usually attempt is the deadbolt. It's been quite a challenge to keep this boy detained.

He LOVES the beach and loudly announces to everyone when we're going to the BIT** as he pronounces it

We started a "pre" preschool with 5 other boys and their moms. 2 days a week we take turns hosting and Logan absolutely loves it. He proudly carries his "letter book" and repeats "A" for alligator "A" for apple.

One of his new favorite activities is jumping off things. For Logan, the more dangerous the better.

His absolute favorite song is "wheels on the bus" which he could do for hours and never get sick of it.