Taven Learned How to Crawl!!!

So we were all pumped thinking that Taven was going to make his big move over Christmas so that our family could see... well, I think it was like the first day that we got home from visiting both the Duffeys and the Hoers, and Taven picked up and crawled! He is all over the place now, getting into everything. His favorite toys are balls (which seem to be every guy's favorite toy) and he spends hours throwing things all over the house then chasing after them, picking them up and throwing them again. I wish I was that easily amused:)

Hoer Family Reunion 2008 - Yucca Valley, CA

Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs Air Museum

"Rock Climbing"

Pioneer Town

Cabot's Indian Museum

Each year my parents host a Stan Hoer Family Reunion right after Christmas over the new year. My parents planned the first one a few years back and decided to let each kid take a turn planning the reunion. This year was Me and Trent's year... We chose Yucca Valley, CA. It was tons of fun. We rented an amazing million dollar house for incredibly cheap, went to the palm springs air museum, met up with my grandpa Hawkey (who just happened to be traveling nearby), played lots of basketball, went antiquing and thrift shopping, visited Joshua Tree National park, Pioneer Town, Cabot's Indian Museum and Trading Post, and had a phenomenal new years bash where everyone was dressed to kill, literally:) (See Brandy's Blog for pictures of that) Taven decided he was done nursing during our vacation, I tried and tried, but he would have none of it. It was kind of hard for me at first, but once I realized that someone else could watch him for more than an hour and daddy could get up with him and give him a bottle while I slept in... it got a little easier to handle:)

Christmas....

Taven and the horrible rendition of Santa from Hilmar Cheese Factory

Taven and his girlfriend Addie Belo

I have been a bit of a slacker here with the blogging and all, which will explain why I am just now doing a post for Christmas.... Sorry:) Better late than never, right?

So, Christmas was wonderful! Trent had three weeks off school, so we enjoyed a really long, nice break! We left the first weekend for Utah to celebrate Christmas with the Duffeys then met up with my family for new years and the Hoer Family Reunion (Yucca Vally- see next post) then spent the last week at home. Taven hated his car seat even back then, so we drove mostly in the evenings and at night. That kid rules our world:)

Once in Utah, we had a few days to just hand out with family, shop, and enjoy the cool weather before all the Christmas festivities really began. Stephen took some awesome pictures of Taven as you can see (more pics at: http://phungphotography.com/clients/duffey_tt/taven/) , and we all (especially you know who) got showered with gifts. Taven now has tons of Toys! Thank you EVERYONE!!!

Taven's First Trip to the Zoo

Taven just loved seeing all the animals and being outside. He live outdoors if I let him.

here's a video of taven's new sounds...

Taven started doing this razzing thing a little while ago... but now he doesn't

anymore- That's how slow I am at updating our blog! His new thing now is popping

his jaw- It totally weirds me out!! Maybe later I will get a video clip of that?

We'll see... by then, he'll probably be on to something new.

just like dad...

Taven just hates his nebulizer...

Super Dad holding Robbie and Taven

Taven after Trent feeds him...

Taven seems to remind me more and more of Trent each day. They have so much fun playing together.He is nothing but smiles.... oh and messes:) He got pretty sick mid month and so we had to do this breathing treatment thing on him to loosen his congestion- he hates it as I am sure you can see from the pictures. Luckily, we only had to do it a few times. Aside of that, not much is new. Taven is sitting really well, still puts everything in his mouth, loves to eat "real" foods and has started to do this new thing lately where he buzzes his lips and spits at the same time- it is surprisingly entertaining....

happy halloween!

Frankenstein after washing off half his face paint


Pest Control, Pest, Witch, Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion




Boooo!!!!

Parents..Pest Control....Same thing right?

Halloween was really fun this year. Trent was Frankenstein for school and he and I dressed up like pest control people and Taven was our little pest (a bee) for our ward party. He did awesome staying up late and was surprisingly willing to wear that annoying costume. Our ward party was out at one of the member's farms- it had a chili cook off, haunted house, bon fire, and trunk-or-treat. After the ward party, the Davidson's (dressed as Dorothy and crew from the Wizard of Oz) and us split a babysitter and went out to a friend's halloween party. We stayed up way too late and way too much fun... I'm still paying for it!!!!! Weird how you have a kid and suddenly 2:00 am is a lot later than it used to be. I am still tired:)