The Thurstons Visit

We only had about 60 hours to play with Nathalie, Emma, Cate and Parker. It wasn't nearly enough time, but we had so much fun!

Another Sleeping Picture

Because really, who sleeps like this?

Amelia and Miles gave each other a big hug in the wagon the other day.
Then, Amelia said, "Ahhh. We love each other like a husband and a mama."

Miles Is A Monkey

Chris almost exclusively calls Miles a monkey....because he is. If Miles can reach it he will open it, grab it, eat it, throw it, get in it, sit on it, pull it out, push it in and empty it out.

His sweet face and willingness to give hugs and kisses upon demand make up for everything else.

Currently he can say...
milk - which either comes out like m, m, m, or ilk, ilk, ilk...he hasn't put the sounds together yet
dog
duck
dada
hello (only when pretending to talk on the phone)
yuck (he learned this word quite quickly after playing in the toilet for the past few weeks)

Miles LOVES his blankie... the same blankie his dad used when he was a baby...made by his great-great grandmother mildred. When I want Miles to go to bed, I just mention his blankie and he sticks his thumb in his mouth and walks to his room.

Miles also loves to read books in his bed while he goes to sleep at night...just like Amelia. It's really cute to peek in their room at night and see them both lying in bed reading.

Miles is a water baby. It's a bit weird for us, because Amelia has always been afraid of the water. Miles pretty much keeps his face under water as much as possible while swimming.

He is such a joy to have in our family...makes our days unpredictable and fun.

Patten Family Reunion

In July Amelia, Miles and I traveled with my parents to Zions National Park for my grandparent's 50th anniversary. We had so much fun playing with the 80+ aunts, uncles, cousins, great uncles and aunts, grandparents, brothers, sisters, etc. And, the infamous Patten Family Flu we all got at the end of the reunion made it a very memorable event.

New Bike

Piano Recital

My piano students did a recital in the spring. My good friend Isa took pictures of the event. All my students did a fantastic job...aren't they so cute?

Concert in the Park

We've really enjoyed going to our neighborhood's concert in the park this year. Amelia loves to dance the entire time...she doesn't care if anyone watches her, she just can't stop moving to the music. She even made friends with another little girl her age and loved seeing her each week.




We've really enjoyed going to our neighborhood's concert in the park this year. Amelia loves to dance the entire time...she doesn't care if anyone watches her, she just can't stop moving to the music. She even made friends with another little girl her age and loved seeing her each week.

Utah Trip

After Chris and I returned to Utah from our mini-vacation to San Francisco, we spent some time with the kids and Grandpa Barry, Grandma Stephanie, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Travis.






We also took a trip to Payson to see Grandpa Mark and Grandma Cleo...and we were delightfully surprised to see Amy and her kids as well.

San Francisco

After Chris graduated, we had the pleasure of taking a vacation to San Francisco. We flew to Utah and left Miles and Amelia with Grandpa Barry and Grandma Stephanie.

It was wonderful to just sit on the airplane without children.

We were only in SF for 48 hours, but we managed to...

Shop in Union Square.
Walk from downtown through the city to Fishermans Wharf and back to our hotel downtown by the way of Chinatown.
Walk to the farmer's market for breakfast.
Visited the Museum of Modern Art to see the Georgia o'Keeffe/Ansel Adams Exhibit.
Took a taxi up to Alamo Square to see the Painted Ladies, eat lunch and shop.
Took another taxi to see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts.
Then another taxi through the city for more shopping.
And, we finished the night with dinner with good friends at a yummy bbq place and then a short walk to a little coffee shop for hot chocolate and croissants.


It was a very quick trip, but so wonderful. I couldn't stop thinking San Francisco for weeks afterward.

Family Photos

We are beyond thrilled with our new family photos. Our good friend Isa took them in June in Balboa Park.