Back from Hiatus

For those of you who had any doubt about my being the most inconsistent blogger on the planet, I think I have officially taken the cake. So it's been way too long since I've posted. I have no excuses, no clever lines, just my apologies to Viv whose "journal" this blog is supposed to be.

So I'll be doing LOTS of backposting (I'm going to date everything according to when it actually happened, not when I got around to writing about it) as I have a lot to catch up on. First and foremost, our recent mini-vacation to Utah and San Diego....

Upon arriving in Utah, Viv quickly discovered what have become her two new passions: "Pop" & "Kancy" (Grandpa and Grandma Maynes) and horses. Not coincidentally, she talks about Pop, Kancy, and horsies at least a trillion times a day. Every morning when we get up we have to get the Maynes family picture down from the entertainment center so Viv can carefully identify first Pop and Kancy (this is how she says Grandma Nancy) and then every other member of the family: Day (Dave), Stina (Christina), Teve (Steve), Men (Ben), Wawa (Lara), Wee (Will), and most uninterestingly Mama and Daddy. Inevitably, the picture eventually has be be taken away as Viv tries to step into or sit upon the picture trying to somehow transplant herself back to Oakley (think Mary Poppins).

Viv LOVED all of the open space


She also LOVED this picture of Dave (Rob's brother) as a baby that she is holding in the photo below--she carried it around and kissed Dave's picture constantly.

Pop made the mistake of introducing Viv to the 4-wheeler (which she eagerly refers to as the "RIDE"), and was kind enough to spend inordinate amounts of time driving her around the property as a consequence.



Viv also got to try her very first popsicle...



with her cousins Will and Isabelle. Baby Joey was also a favorite, though too young for frozen treats.


Grandma Nancy also taught Viv how to water the flowers, which became a favorite daily activity.

Grandma also taught Viv how to navigate the stairs by sitting down BEFORE she steps down ;)

There was also the pool (which Pop and Kancy were kind enough to drag out of the barn and clean out for Viv)...



and catching some rays.

Then came the big day--4th of July. Viv excitedly rode the four-wheeler down to the parade in the morning...

Viv didn't seem to notice the parade as much, but was really into all the attention that was poured on her.


Daddy showing Viv the parade


One of the rare moments during the parade where Viv sat down


I got to see Amber!



Viv got to hang out with Carly during the 4th of July program



After the excitement in Utah (which Viv didn't want to leave), we were off to San Diego (this is Viv walking independently down the very long terminal to our plane)

TO BE CONTINUED....