Happy 2nd Birthday Trevor! Dec.19, 2008.

We celebrated Trevor's 2nd Birthday on Friday night December 19, 2008. His lastest craze is playing with balls. Whether tossing, kicking, throwing or rolling, he could play ball all day. So I decided to take his obsession and make it his theme for his birthday party. Grandma Stout baked the round ball cake, and decorated the green "grass" cake and Sheryl decorated the different ball cakes. We found matching balloons, plates, cups, and napkins, and even small littls soft sports balls to put on the table that became his play toys. We had lots of fun with Patti & Jim and Emily, along with Grandma and Grandpa from Utah (Sheryl's side) that came. (Others were snowed in and couldn't make it -- tis the season!) He got a Curious George stuffed animal and matching book, and dinosaur jammies from Grandma and Papa in Idaho, a firetruck from the Jim&Patti and Emily, a ball and glove from Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shawn, books from Aunt Julie & Fam, a snow saucer from Mom and Dad, and a bowling set, a shake and go truck, and a book from Utah Grandma and Papa. Thank you all!

I just can't believe my baby is 2yrs old!

When he blew out his candle he did it, first try, from quite a little distance. We had to light it again and make him do it twice so we could get the picture.

His vocabulary is increasing daily. He can say "Taint tu" , and "Me?" and "ballie" and "yeah"really clearly. When he first saw his cake he said, "BALLIE! Ballie!! . . ."Me??" I replied, "Yep, the ball cake is for you Trevor", and he got so excited yelling "ballie, Me, ballie ME!" He was very good at smiling for the camera with his presents, especially if you told him not to smile. We sure love our little 2yr old boy!

Trick-or-Treat!

Meet Tinkerbell (Kara), with her friend Peter Pan (Trevor)! Don't get these guys mixed up with the Disney Characters, in this team, Tinker bell is the main feature, with Peter Pan as her side kick! Kara kept saying, "I'm tinkerbell, I'm Peter Pan's friend . . .I'm Trevor's friend!" This year I did something I never had before. I made a Halloween costume! Since the Halloween budget was low, and I couldn't find a Peter pan one in the stores anyway, I made Trevor's costume! Jeff cut out a cardboard sword (which Trevor LOVED! He won't let go of it!), we tied rope around him, and the outfit was complete! He wouldn't wear a hat anyway, so I decided to bypass the trouble of making one! We had fun trick-or-treating this year . . .though Trevor went silent at every door, he new to open his bag up when they opened their door!

Carving Pumpkins!

We had fun with the kids carving pumpkins this year! Kara thought the inside of the pumpkins were "yucky" and didn't want to get her girlie hand messy. Trevor on the otherhand had the opposite opinion, and wasn't affraid to stick his hand right in! Oh his first experience feeling the inside of a pumpkin and gooping up his fingers, he got a big grin and said, "WHOA!" It was pretty hilarious!

Pacific Ocean Boat Tour! Oregon Coast Vacation

Kara and Trevor sitting in the captain seat, drivin' our boat! Watch out for icebergs!
July 29, 2008. Newport, Oregon. Marine Discover Tours.

Hey Trevor, are your fingers froze yet from the Pacific Ocean Wind!? Look at the Newport Bridge! July 29, 2008 - out at sea - Newport Oregon.

"Hey, is this the stearing wheel?" Trevor having fun on the boat tour! (above)

Crabbing in Newport Bay on our boat tour. Jeff thinks it cool, Kara's not so sure.
July 29, 2008. Newport, Oregon.

Pacific Ocean Time!!

Kara and Daddy at Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon.
July 28, 2008 Cold WATER! (above)

By the time we got to the beach, Trevor had had Enough!
Daddy and Trevor, Newport Oregon. (above)

"Can we get on the boat yet?" Kara waiting patiently to get on our Marine Discover tour boat!
Newport, Oregon. July 29, 2008.

Sheryl, Kara and Trevor headed out to sea. Wahoo for the Pacific! Newport, Oregon. (above)

Here's the family out at sea! It's not the same weather as Utah! That's for sure!
Newport, Oregon. July 29, 2008.

The beach was really close to our hotel and we couldn't wait to get there. We had some really fun play time with the kids, creating memories we'll never forget. Like freezing our feet off seconds after walking into the water. That was fun. Trevor slept through half of it, but finally woke up to join the family beach bonding time in the artic waters.
We went on a Marine Discover Tour the next day, to go "whale watching" , and lighthouse viewing. Well, we saw one lighthouse, and no whales. But we caught a couple glimpse of some dolphins! That was quite cool. We also went crabbing while on the boat! We caught and held some pretty cool crabs! It was awesome to sail underneath the beautiful Newport bridge! It was a very windy, and rainy(big surprise) so the Pacific Ocean wasn't showing it's soft side. This upset the stomachs of the girls of the family. The seasick girls sat down at the back of the boat, hoping not to leave the Pacific with a personal souvenir of themselves, while the boys "walked" (or really stubbled the best they could) across the boat laughing all the way. Trevor thought all the rocking was hilarious, he and his daddy were cracking up. Sheryl and Kara didn't think it was so funny. Luckily we made it back to solid ground before either of us tossed our cookies. Next time . . . lots of dramamine!

Oregon Coast HERE WE COME!

For our family vacation this year we took a trip to the Oregon Coast! July 27th - 30th 2008. We had a lot of fun and wore out the kids! (They are now very sick of the car.) We drove across the northern border of Oregon and Sheryl got to look across the Columbia River to her home state! We stopped at an outlook point to have a look at the beautiful Columbia. Our first experience of entering the Northwest was the WIND! Trevor thought it was hilarious! He had a pretty good hair style in the wind!(pictured above). Our next destination was the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, OR. Who knew Newport as so BEAUTIFUL!? It was amazing. Trevor got to speak face to face from one crabby little man to another (pictured)Hee! Hee! They also had an underwater walk through tunnel. The fish, and sharks swim all around you while you walk through their world! We also saw Sea Lions, Otters, Gelly fish, and Sea Horse. There was a touch tank, and Kara touched star fish and sea anemane.(Way to go Kara!) The Auarium also had a play area for kids with animal statues to climb on. This is where Kara had her "Turtle Time" (pictured). By the end the kids were exhausted(the way us parents usually like them), and were completely a wreck - which they are demonstrating in the picture we took with the Oregon Coast Aquarium sign as we were walking out. (Experience has taught us to always get this picture on the way IN . . .when they are still happy.)

Fun Times in IDAHO! July 3rd - 9th 2008

We had lots of fun at with the family in Idaho! We celebrated the 4th picking cherries! We sure had alot of fun with all of you! We hope to come again next year for the cherry pickin' season! The kids loved it too! Fireworks were fun that night with Terri and Dusty! Thank you! Jeff drove home with our dog Sadie on Sunday and the kids and Sheryl flew home Thursday, July 9th. While there Kara and Trevor enjoyed fun times with their cousins! We went to the beach, some fun parks, and Chuck-E-Cheeses. Thank you all for spending so much fun times with us! We miss you already!

The pictures above are of Trevor (18mo.) at a park in Idaho; Trevor (pink bucket) with cousin Sam at the beach, Kara(age 3yrs) picking Cherries on July 4th; Wrapped in towels after swimming - Kara(bottom right) and Trevor (top right) at beach in Idaho with cousins Taylor(bottom left) and Dani (top left).

Happy Birthday JEFF!

Jeff turned 28yrs old on July 8, 2008. On the day of his birthday he came home to an empty house! Sheryl and the kids were still in Idaho enjoying time with the relatives! Not being a big party man anyway, he was just as happy celebrating it the following Saturday (after our return) at the lake with family. The Stouts came too! Jeff got a little fishing time, but spent more time "fishing for birds" with Grandma Stout and Kara! It was lots of fun! Happy Birthday Jeff!

Slip-N-Slide!

This was Kara's first experience with a Slip-N-Slide so she was a little hesitant! Daddy steps in to show her the way! Way to go Daddy! Summer fun!

This was in Idaho at Grandma and Papa's hosue with Kara and her cousin Dani. May 31, 2008.

Cousins Slip-N-Slide FUN!

Here's a video for Stacey and Mark. I thought you might enjoy seeing your girls on their own Slip-N-Slide! They were all a little nervous about running and sliding on their bellies on their own. Thank goodness for buff Uncle Jeff!

Taylor and Dani having fun while their cousin Kara takes a break. Saturday May 31, 2008.

Our little "Prince-esses"

I will probably get in trouble (with Jeff) for posting this . . .but I couldn't resist! Kara was playing with her princess dress-up clothes (from Grandma and Papa Jepson) and Trevor wanted to play too. He got VERY UPSET that she was putting on pretty dress up clothes and he wasn't. He got so mad that he started tugging at her yellow skirt and trying to put his leg into it-- While she was wearing it! To alleviate the outrage and tug of war that was occurring I quickly grabbed another skirt (the Cinderella blue one) and let him put it on. Of course he had to have the matching top to go with it to. After that . . .he was as happy as could be!! He wore it for HOURS, (while Jeff was at work of course . . .Jeff would have never allowed it!) I took advantage of the opportunity and started snapping pictures, and a few videos. So . . .all you viewers out there . . .DON'T TELL JEFF!! (He never checks the blog anyway, so despite the fact that he heard about the incident, he has no idea I actually posted the pictures!) So . . .SSSHHHH! Or I'll be BUSTED!

Cousins

Kara with her cousins, Dani and Taylor having SO MUCH FUN!

I found this video and I thought it was so cute! It was taken during our last visit to Idaho, I think around Christmas time. Kara sure does love her cousins and wishes she could be with them all the time. We hope they are having fun in Florida. We want to hear all the stories when they return! We love and miss all of you!

Summer Is HERE!

Today got hot enough outside for our first swim! The kids were so excited and even the dog was enjoying the party! We miss all of you and wish we could enjoy this Utah summer sun with you! Trevor looked stylin' in his new swim trunks! April 14, 2008.

Jumping Fun - Where's Daddy?

The kids love Jumping on both sides their new "Jump-o-lene" , especially when they can shove "things" underneath it and play King/Queen of the Hill! April 13, 2008

Trevor on our New Swing Set

Depsite this incident, the slide is still Trevor's favorite feature of our new swing set! He can't get enough!

Meet the Newest Member of the Family

Meet Sadie! The the newest member of the Jepson family! We have been looking for the perfect dog for our family for a long time and we have found her! Sadie is a purebred miniture Sheltie (Just like our perfect dog, Amber, of my childhood!). Sadie is absolutely WONDERFUL with the kids, VERY sweet, VERY smart, and a whole lot of fun! We are so blessed to have her as the newest member of our family! We all adore her, especially Kara and Trevor who giggle and squeel as they play with her. Sadie seems to love it too - all the attention she is getting! She is now about 8 months old. She came to us March 4th, the same day as Dad's surgery. So whenever any of you come visit us, you will get to meet her! She's tons of fun!

Bryce Canyon Trip

March 27, 2008. Kara, Trevor and friend Rebekah all pose for a picture at Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah. Thank you Kristin, John and Rebekah for making the drive from WA to stay with us for a week! We loved spending time with you and traveling through Southern Utah! Despite the "up's and down's" we had (literally!) with the kids, we had a blast! What a memorable trip! We will be telling the stories for a long time to come . . .hee, hee!! We hope you will come again as soon as you can! We love you!

Auntie Colleen with Kara and Trevor

We loved having Auntie Colleen come and stay with us in March! All when want to know is . . .when is she coming back!!?? We miss you already Auntie Colleen! Kara (age 3, on her birthday) Trevor (almost 15 months).

Happy 3rd Birthday Kara

Kara had a fun day for her 3rd birthday! (March 12, 2008) Mommy took her and her friends to Jumpin Jacks in Springville, Utah. Trevor stayed home with a babysitter (thank you Kisha!) so we had lots of Mommy-Daughter bonding! Kara love it and was not timid about the huge slides that even her mommy was not so sure about! On this slide we got some serious air! She is very independent and went from one jumping castle, to the next all on her own schedule without a backward glance at mommy! She loves to jump and boy did she get her fill on her birhday! After the jumping fun we returned to our house for cake and ice cream with her friends. Two days later, on Friday night, we had a family party complete with Aunt Julie and Auntie Colleen from WA! Thank you all for coming! Kara has been officially spoiled!~ Mommy and Grandma Stout made Kara a Butterfly cake for the get together. Kara ate the oreo cookie's first! That's my girl! I can't believe my baby girl is THREE!

Our Family

Together . . .is our favorite place to be.

Thank you Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shawn

Thank you to Uncle Shawn and Aunt Colleen For the darling clothes they gave our children for Christmas. You guys are amazing! They are already their favorite clothes! Thank you!

Jan. 2008