Yellowstone 2010

Since last year's Yellowstone trip (in May) was so cold, we decided to go this year in June, hoping it would be warm enough to camp. The days were great, but the nights were cold! Bob figured out how to turn the camper heater on...on the last night! Aw well, it was still fun. We borrowed Bob's brother's camper (Thanks Nate and Meghan!), and my mom and dad rented a motor home, and Jenni, Bailie, and Boston rode/slept with them. Hopefully next year everyone will be able to come!

It was a lot of fun...I always love going to Yellowstone! We even bought binoculars this year, but still didn't see any bear. We did see tons of bicen, elk, and a couple bald eagles. When we went to the Discover Park, we saw the bears and wolves in the cages. It's not the same as seeing 'wild' bears, though. And as we were walking to a store, we saw a mommy elk who had just given birth 45 minutes ago. Her baby had just gotten up and started walking 5 minutes before we saw them. That was cute!!

Since there's so many pictures, I'm going to put them in a slide show...so enjoy!

Where oh where did my little baby go??

Gavin Mark Ballif has now entered 'toddlerhood', and I can't say that I'm too happy about it. Actually, yes, I am happy, but sad at the same time. He's definitely not a little baby anymore! Since he finally figured out how to walk 6 months ago, it's been like BAM! He started talking, getting attitude, growing teeth, you know, the whole 'welcome to toddlerhood' thing.

Yep, 2 years old. Wow. Gus Gus (as we call him, because he stuffs his whole meal in his mouth at once, and over the next few hours, gradually swallows little by little...I'm not kidding. He looks just like the mouse Gus Gus on Cinderella) has been my slow growing/developing child. But seriously, it's probably my fault because I haven't wanted him to grow up! He's in the 5% of height and weight and he only has 6 teeth. But he's completely and perfectly content with life and himself. He's talking more and more, telling us his likes and dislikes, and even where his body parts are (his favorite is butt, thank you big brother Logen for teaching him that!)

He loves Popsicles, ice cream, cheese, gum, chocolate (that's my doing), bath time, brushing his teeth, and his sucking his two fingers while playing with his belly button. He loves being outside, loves playing with his older siblings, loves hugging his dog, and loves chillin' on mom and dad's bed watching TV before bed.

Gavin dislikes nutritious food, in fact he has become such a picky eater that it's starting to stress me out. He doesn't like holding still, or anyone MAKING him do something. He doesn't like going through the car wash, he puts a blanket over his head until we're done. He has taken to coloring with markers, usually on himself or the walls. But for the most part, Gus Gus is a pleasure to

have around and stays content with most anything.

For his birthday, we went to Village Pizza, since pizza is one of the few foods he'll eat, and then went home for cake and ice cream. He got a Littletikes play set, and a fire station truck set. His favorite is the swing on the play set. He'll sit there and eat Popsicles while his big brothers fight over who gets to push him.

I love this little guy so much and couldn't ever imagine our family without him! It's been such a pleasure watching him grow and develop into such a loving, humorous little guy. We love you so much Gavin!!! Happy 2ND birthday!