The Reschkes

Gearing up for Halloween

2011-10-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. This year we had many festivities to help us get kicked into gear for the big night. It all started with pumpkin carving. This year's pumpkins turned out pretty "smashing" and this was the first time Cutler really got in on the fun.

For some reason I never took a final picture of our work but, take my word for it, they were pretty special.

To keep the Halloween spirit alive, Stephanie and I took Cutler (with his friend Mason) and Keilani to the barnyard boo Halloween Carnival that was done at Thanksgiving Point. We started out with a little face painting.

Then we spent some time playing all of the fair games. They were really fun and just perfect for the kids' age. They had a blast....

And they won some fun prizes!

Next it was off to story time

We ended the day with a Halloween hay ride

We had such a great time! I love Thanksgiving Point. It is seriously the best place in the world.

Our last activity (before our big annual party, which I will blog about next) was a pumpkin/cookie decorating day. This was extra special because Mindi's family was here visiting at the time.

Oh man....I love this Holiday. Bring it on!

Big Day

2011-10-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a BIG day. Today was Cutler's very FIRST day of school. He has been excited to start for months as he carries his "pack pack" around with him wherever he goes. On his first day of school Cutler couldn't have looked cuter.

We met a few of his classmates as we arrived and snapped some adorable pictures.

Cristina was the first up to teach and she took a few shots of them during their first big day. Pretty much the cutest thing I've ever seen.

I'm so excited that Cutler is starting school but even more excited that he has the most ADORABLE friends to start school with. Its going to be a fun year!

(Cutler Reschke, Mason Smith, Ian Turner, Kassidy Naylor)

Our Adventure "Down Under"

2011-09-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

After our magical day in Disneyland, we left the park and drove straight to the airport where Cutler and I took off on our adventure "Down Under." We had a 17 hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand....a five hour lay over (where sadly, the inside of the airport was all we saw)...

and then we had a four hour flight to Melbourne, Australia. I truly was dreading this looooong flight with my adorable 2 year old but I have to say....HE DID AWESOME. He watched movies, slept, colored, played games, ate snacks, read books and was the best little guy any mother could ask for. He was an awesome travel buddy and can fly with me anywhere.

After our long long trip, I almost forgot that it was my birthday...but my family didn't. Kylie had made a birthday cake that was waiting for me when I arrived.

It was really special and truly made my day. THANKS KYLIE!

I couldn't get over how BEAUTIFUL Australia is. Its dominated by victorian architecture with amazing landscaping and lush green trees....it was breath taking.

On our first day we decided to take a stroll down Maling Road which was right by Kenzie's house. This was a beautiful victorian street with a bunch of vintage shops and restaurants.

Australian phrases are awesome (trolley = shopping cart, Lift = elevator) but my favorite phrase is Lollies - the Australian word for CANDY. So during our trip down Maling road we stopped in at the cutest little candy shop called "Pocket of Lollies"

Everyone was able to pick a few of their favorite "lollies" and then we were on our way.

Our next adventure was a trip to see these beautiful maze gardens. It was quite a drive but we took some time to see the beautiful view on our way up.

The Gardens were AMAZING. They were just beautiful. I was taken back by how pretty they were.

They had a really pretty children's garden that had a life size candy land game and life sized animals. It was really cool.

After the children's garden we headed over to the tube slides. I have to say they were pretty crazy, but super fun. On my first ride down I was a little terrified but I got used to it. Cutler loved every minute! 

After the slide we spent some time doing some really fun brain teaser puzzles that were scattered throughout the garden. A few of them were pretty tough and we never figured them out....but they were still really fun.

After the the puzzles we strolled around these really cool tree stumps that were hand carved into really cool figurines. They were really amazing. I could never imagine being that talented.

We ended the day at the maze garden by actually walking through a maze garden.

It had a fun twist where you also had to find 4 buddah dolls which proved to be pretty difficult. After a long time searching we were only able to find 3, but the 3 we saw were pretty cool.

We had a great time at the garden. It is something I will remember forever.

Our next outing was one of my FAVORITES. We went down to Philip Island to watch the penguins come out of the ocean to meet their "mates." It was the neatest thing I have ever seen.

Right around sun down you start seeing small groups of penguins emerge out of the ocean and waddle up the beach. There were at least a hundred penguins that came out that night. We walked around the hills and watched all of the happy reunions. It was such a cool experience.

That night was FREEZING cold, and the wind was just raging and blowing straight in our faces.

Cutler wasn't a huge fan of the wind but he was a trooper. I kept him barricaded from the wind in his stroller until it was time to watch the penguins. Such a cool night.

On my last day there we spent some time at the animal sanctuary where we got to see a bunch of authentic Australian animals. I was surprised at how many animals I had never seen before.

Our trip really was a blast. I loved spending time with Mckenzie. We spent most of our time together laughing until we cried. I also will never forget how well Cutler and Will played together. I mean those two played...

and played...

and played!

I will also remember how great Kylie and Megan were with Cutler. They helped him get dressed and played with him all the time. They were so great.

Our trip was amazing in so many ways....but the main reason we made the trek out to Australia was to see the newest member of the Genetti family....Braeden.

He is the cutest little boy and Cutler just LOVED him (as he loves all little babies).

I was very blessed to be able to be there for Braeden's blessing.

Our trip was absolutely AMAZING in every way. I was so happy to be able to spend time with my sister and her family that live so far away. Our time together is precious and I think we made the most of it.

We LOVE you guys! Hopefully we can come see you in Norway for another fun adventure.

The Happiest Place on Earth

2011-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

This September the Reschke family had quite the adventure. My cousin Brian was getting married in California (Congratulations Brian and Christina!) so we decided...hey, why not visit Disneyland while we're there. So....that's exactly what we did.

Cutler didn't really know what we meant when we said we were going to Disneyland but as soon as he saw that we got to ride a tram over to the park, he was ALL over it!

This was a perfect time to go the Disneyland because it was all decked out for Halloween...my FAVORITE time of the year.

As we entered the park we posed for pictures all the way back to our first stop....Fantasy Land.

Once we made it to fantasy land we lived it up

After Fantasy Land we headed over the Toon Town to see Mickey and Minnie. I wasn't sure what to expect but....oh my goodness....Cutler was adorable. He LOVED seeing the characters. He was even excited as we waited in line.

Both Mickey and Minnie got hugs AND kisses. It was the most precious thing I have ever seen.

We rode the toon coaster (which Cutler loved and cried afterwards because he wanted to ride it again) and had a quick drive in the toon car before we headed over to Autopia to drive the "real" cars.

After autopia Daren and I took Cutler over to the Matter Horn. We couldn't believe he was big enough to ride it. We were even more surprised when he was BRAVE enough to ride it. He was a little scared at first but he LOVED it. After that we raced through the park to make it to the parade. It was magical as always.
By this time of the day Cutler was getting a little tired, sitting in his stroller watching the parade
But he perked right up when I told him Peter Pan was coming around the corner.

After the parade we took a quick stop at the hat shop to get Cutler a souvenire.

We ended the day at the Haunted Mansion and the Winnie the Pooh Ride. Which brings me to the reason why this trip was EXTRA special. We had the chance to experience Disneyland with Cutler's Great Grandma Gray, his Grandma Miller, and my Aunt Coralee and Uncle Kent. It was so special to be able to spend the day with family. Everyone was just as excited as me and Daren to help Cutler have his very first experience in the Happiest Place on Earth. It was really neat.

We had such a great time. Cutler was pretty tuckered out but quite content as we were leaving the park.
Cutler only had one last request, which was to ride the Disneyland train around the park. I'm so glad we did...it was a really nice way to remember all of the fun we were able to squeeze into one very special day. It also gave me time to prepare for the 16 hour flight Cutler and I were about to board to visit my sister McKenzie and her family in Melbourne Australia. I told you we had an adventurous September.

Cabin Trip July 2011

2011-07-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

The annual Miller family cabin trip is my all time favorite event of the year. This year I actually got teary eyed as we were driving away. We always have such a fun relaxing time its really hard to get back to real life.

This year Lacey and I headed down a bit early with my parents who brought cute little TJ and Taylee with them. The first day was mostly setting up and hanging out, and a pretty intense game of kick the can, but we ended the night by the fire.

This year Cutler even roasted his own marshmallows

I'm not quite sure how Cutler got so grown up. But he sure is cute. Even with a dirty face

The next day Brett and Daren arrived and we played a few mean games of horseshoe.

Daren and I nearly made a killer comeback after being down 19 to 1 to my dad and Brett in a game that goes to 20. It was pretty sweet seeing as how my dad has a pretty mean release.

We did have a pretty good cheering section that was routing us on, so I give the credit for our near win to them.

That day we also broke out the 4 wheelers.

Cutler was completely OBSESSED with the 4 wheelers last year. If we weren't going on a ride he was climbing on the parked 4 wheeler. He had to be in contact with it one way or the other. This year he loved the 4 wheelers but he wasn't magnetized to them which was pretty nice. He also had a rockin' helmet this year which he grew to love

The next 3 days at the cabin we spent a large portion of the time out on the lake fishing. I have so many cute pictures I just have to post them all. So here goes.

Cutler was pretty excited about the whole thing for about 10 minutes. It took many rounds of "Little Bunny Foo Foo" to keep him entertained. But I have to say he looked pretty adorable in his life jacket holding his fishing pole.

Believe it or not we actually caught a fish with his tiny little Cars fishing pole. We were all pretty excited.

All of the kids really had a blast on the boat. There's really nothing better than being out on Panguitch Lake.

The girls got pretty excited about the whole fishing thing, especially when they found out there was PINK bait involved.

Now sit back and relax because I have to tell the all time BEST fishing story EVER. So, we are out on the lake and everyone has their poles in the water. We are just hanging out singing songs and having a good time when all of a sudden TJ drops his pole in the water. Now this was really upsetting to cute little TJ. It was his FAVORITE fishing pole and it really broke his heart. Eventually TJ felt better and we set him up with another pole and we kept on fishing. The day was starting to wrap up and the fishing was getting slow but right before we were about to call it, Drew had a bite. So he excitedly reeled his pole in but to his dismay, there was only bait on the end of his line.....no fish. It was really bizarre because the pole was tugging and pulling just like there was a fish on the line. As we examined the bait closer we saw another fishing line was tangled in his bait. We untangled the line which.....was TUGGING LIKE A FISH. So Mitch pulls the line in with his hands and low and behold, there is a fish! We, however, could not figure out for the life of us who's fishing pole it was attached to. Mitch cuts the fish off and I hold onto the phantom line. I decide to pull it up to figure out what is going on. I could hardly believe my eyes when I see TJ'S FISHING POLE coming out of the water. SO CRAZY! I could not believe we found his fishing pole. We are guessing the fish pulled the pole in the water and then swam around the boat tangling up all of our lines. TJ was so so excited to see his pole again, it was great. It's a pretty cool story. Definitely one for the grandkids.

So all of the fish made for some pretty good eats. Daren fired up some pretty scrumptious tinfoil trout that the kids actually LOVED.

The fish was actually so good that the kids finished off every last bite.

Some of my favorite times at the cabin are when we are just sitting around hanging out. That's when all the memories are made.

On Saturday we all hopped on the 4 wheelers and motorcycles and took a drive up to the beaver ponds.

The beaver ponds are so beautiful. We all love going up there.....even Cooper.

The trip ended with quite possibly my favorite part.....the annual Miller family treasure hunt. Always a good time. The kids are getting pretty good at it now though. I'm going to have to make it a little tougher next year. I absolutely LOVE watching the kids running around finding clues. They really do such a good job.

As always the kids were super excited to find the treasure!

We had such a magical time at the cabin. But this picture really says it best. The cabin is truly my Dad's heaven and he couldn't be more thrilled to teach his grandchildren what it's all about.

Jackson Family Reunion

2011-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

I think ever since I married Daren, one of my favorite traditions has become the Jackson Family Reunion. It is held every other year in St. George and is always such a good time. This year did not disappoint.

We headed down Friday morning, caravan style, with Alisa, Chaz, and "Baby Ava" (as Cutler would say). Traveling with a potty trained 2 1/2 year old means you have to make a lot of pit stops. As serendipity would have it, we stumbled upon a little petting farm on one of our many stops.

We stayed in a great hotel where the pool was just around the corner from our room. Cutler LOVED it!! He has taken a few swim lessons and has really gotten comfortable with the water. I'm loving every minute of it. In our 2 1/2 days there I think we spent 80% of it soaking up the sun and playing at the pool. Such a good time.

There was LOTS of jumping.....

Lots of tossing.......

and LOTS of lounging.....

I know it looks like Cutler was being raised by his Aunts and Uncles at the pool but I swear I was there every minute, I'm just the one taking the pictures. I was so excited to see Cutler loving the water. He has definitely gone from being timid to fearless (well, fearless might be a little strong)....not quite sure which is better when water is involved.

So in case I haven't made it clear.......we had a really good time at the pool.

When we weren't at the pool we were pretty much at the park. We had the family picnic there on Friday night and then we went again after dinner on Saturday night.

Cutler tried desperately to play football with the big kids but he couldn't quite keep up.

So....his dad played with him.

We had such a good time and we couldn't think of a better way to end the trip than with a stop and In n' Out on our way home......so that's exactly what we did.

So long St. George.....see you in 2013.

For The "Gill" Of It

2011-06-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today, Cutler and I took a trip to the Aquarium with his cute cousins Drew, Sidney and Bridger

We had a really good time and the Aquarium had added a new exhibit with some really cool sea creatures with their own version of "Super Powers." It was pretty darn cool.

Cutler was fascinated! I absolutely loved seeing him run from tank to tank shouting out...Fish, Shark, Turtle, Snake! I could barely keep up with him.

After we went through the exhibits we took some time to pet the sting ray's. This is the first time Cutler really got the concept and actually reached in the water. It was really cute.

After the sting ray adventure, we happened to be right on time for story time.

We had such a good time. They weather was kind of stormy, the aquarium wasn't crowded, and our season passes just happened to expire the next day so we couldn't have made a better choice. Thank you Aquarium for really stepping up today!

Broncos vs Chargers

2011-01-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas I surprised Daren with tickets to see a Denver Broncos game. My husband has to be one of the biggest football fans on the planet and he has never been to an NFL game...so it was a no brainer.

Whenever we go to BYU games we have to be in at the stadium actually sitting in our seats exactly an hour before kick off. So, you can imagine what the plan was for this game. As soon as we arrived in Denver we headed out on our quest to find transportation to the game. It was a little tricky to figure out but together we were able to piece it together.

Here we are waiting for the bus

It was really fun to ride on the bus with all the other Bronco's fans. We were so excited knowing we were only a few minutes from Invesco field. When we actually saw the stadium from the bus I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Once we got off the bus we bundled up, proudly displaying our jerseys!

We had to take a picture in front of the Bronco but we couldn't find anyone to take it for us (let's be honest, we didn't really try that hard). I think our self portrait came out ok though.

As I mentioned earlier, we were REALLY early so we got to spend alot of time watching the players warm up, which was probably the best part. It was pretty surreal seeing all of these famous football players up close.

I know it's a little cliche but Tim Tebow warming up was my favorite part.

Then finally it was Game On!

The game was pretty ugly, let's face it, the Broncos didn't have the best season. The Broncos did come back though and the game actually ended with Tebow throwing a hail Mary pass to the end zone for the win.....but the receiver dropped it. Oh well, bring on the 2011 season!

As we were leaving I was a little sad that the adventure was over. We had such a great time and it truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

See you next season Broncos....on TV that is.

Let it Snow

2011-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

This winter we have spent alot of time out in the snow.

Here he is watching the diggers again.......
and again.

With all of our adventures in the snow it was nice to pretend, for just a moment, that it's summer.

But summer can wait for a bit because Cutler sure loves the snow.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

This year we spent Christmas at our home with the Reschke family. It was really nice. I actually had to work Christmas day so Daren and I arranged with Santa to come a day early. It was really fun to have a small little Christmas morning with just our little family.

I grabbed a few pictures of the toys Santa left before Cutler woke up.

Because of my serious lack of picture taking during Thanksgiving I tried to more than make up for it during Christmas. I did a real bang up job of taking video but got so preoccupied with that I didn't really take any still shots. Pretty lame I know. BUT, I was able to take some still shots out of the many videos which makes up for that somewhat.

Cute Little Cutler on Christmas Morning

Cutler was so excited all morning! I was so glad that Santa could be flexible so that I could be there to see his adorable face.

2010-12-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Reschke Family Winter Lodge Trip

2010-12-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

This Christmas the Reschke family decided to take an overnight trip to a lodge in Park City. Getting there was quite a trick. It has just dumped snow so we had to wait for a snow cat to come pick us up and drop us off on top. It was a little scary but actually really fun. Cutler loved the "tractor" and was pretty sad when it was time to get off.

When we got there the kids just ran around like crazy. They were pretty excited about the future sledding and wanted to get an early start.

We were finally able to wrangle them together to watch a movie.

The next morning we got all geared up to hit the sledding slopes.....

Then we all headed out

Sledding was so much fun!

It was a bit of a work out though having to lug Cutler back up the hill. But very much worth it.

Cutler loved the sledding but he got a little distracted by eating snow...no big deal. It was all fresh right?

When we were ready to go the snow cat came right back up to help us get down. We had a really really good time. I'm so glad we were able to go.

Gray Family Christmas Party

2010-12-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

This year the annual Gray Family Christmas party was a blast as always. It was really fun this year because we were actually able to have the Genetti's here which was really special. They brought some Australian Christmas traditions with them to share with the family. It was really neat.

Santa was also able to take a break from making toys to come and pay us a visit.

After Santa went back to the North Pole we had a gift exchange between cousins and then the annual white elephant gift exchange. As always it was a hoot!

The Christmas party was a very fun and relaxing time for everyone.

"Banks on Tops"

2010-12-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

So for some weird reason, Cutler has this fascination with draping his blankets over the top of his crib rails. When he wakes up and you go in to get him it takes about 30-45 minutes for him to let you take him out because he has to be sure all his "banks" are on "tops".

I thought it was just a crib thing but no..... same thing goes for the pack and play.

Now all the crib rails in our house are warm and toasty.....thanks to Cutler.

Go Cougars

2010-12-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

We have been taking Cutler to BYU basketball games since he was a baby. He never really watched the games and we spent most of the time walking up and down the stairs. This year, however, Cutler has become quite a fan of the game. I love to watch him watch the game because he is so curious and focused.

He gets pretty into it with lots of "Go Cougars" and he even does the whole "whoosh" thing with the free throws. He has certainly become a BYU fan which is a good thing. I don't think his dad would have it any other way.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

I am really disappointed and I'm not sure why I let this happen, but for some reason I didn't take any pictures at Thanksgiving this year. I don't know if I was preoccupied with pie making or what but alas....no pictures. I thought I would at least write a short blib about what we did. This year we had a fabulous dinner at my parent's house full of turkey, stuffing, sweet potato souffle, potatoes, and all of the classic yet very delicious thanksgiving foods!

My favorite part of the day was having the kids make the cutest craft to get them geared up for Christmas. My sister Avery came up with the best idea, advent calendars made with bubble wrap. Pop a bubble every day until the big day arrives.....genius. Cutler was ALL OVER IT! We had to have several discussions about how you only pop 1 bubble a day but eventually he got it.

As I have reflected on the year I have a long list of things I am grateful for:

1. First and foremost I am thankful for my loving husband and adorable son. My husband brings me endless amounts of joy and is truly my best friend in the world. I am so grateful for the chance to be a mother and that I have been given a healthy and happy little boy. He is my whole world. I swell with love and pride every time I even think of him.

2. I am extremely grateful for my family and family in law who provided tremendous help for me as I worked towards graduation and began my new job. They cared for Cutler countless times so that I could feel at ease knowing that Cutler was in their loving care. I will forever be in debt to them for the most incredible blessing I have ever been given

3. I am grateful for my loyal and loving friends who have given me so many laughs and so much love! I don't know where I would be without them and their sharing in my trials and accomplishments.

4. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and the power of prayer

It has been an amazing year!

Sugar Dipper

2010-11-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

One morning I thought it would be fun to make cookies with Cutler, and it really was. He stood at the table and helped put all the measured ingredients into the bowl.

I had to turn my back for a bit to tend to some baking deeds and this is what I returned to. Just watch the progression.

I guess pretty much anything can be turned into a sugar slick. Needless to say we did not hand these cookies out to the neighbors and had to change out the sugar bowl but we had a blast in the process.

"Diggers"

2010-11-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

So in our neighborhood when you have a mud slide.......you get a park. Our new park is currently under construction and Cutler couldn't be more excited. From the minute he wakes up and hears the trucks he yells "digger" and runs to the window. Then he insists on going outside to get a better view.

He could sit there all day. It takes alot of coaxing and a few bribes to finally get him to come in. I'm hoping he will love the actual park that much.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

For Halloween this year we dressed Cutler up as one of my favorite food items......the hamburger. He was pretty dang cute. We started off the evening at our ward Halloween party where Cutler ran around in the gym with all the other ghosts and goblins in the ward.

We did some trick or treating around the church which I was very grateful for because as we left the building it started to POUR rain. It dumped and dumped and dumped for a few hours. We decided to tough it out at the tail end of the rain storm and try to fit in a few doors. The streets were pretty deserted so apparently we were the only ones who decided to tough it out.

Although it was quiet, we still had a fun time. Cutler was a little scared at the first and I'm not sure why. It might have been the rain or the cold, or maybe it was the scary decorations.

Once he got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing and we successfully hit FIVE doors. Quite an accomplishment for a cute little 2 year old.

A few days later we had a little Halloween get together at Stephanie's house. Cutler was very excited to play with is cute cousin Keilani, or should I say, little red riding hood.

We had a WONDERFUL Halloween. Now I just hope I can't wait a whole year for it to come again.

BOO!

2010-10-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Annual Miller Family Halloween Party 2010

After Christmas, Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday!. I have done my best to instill this love for such a kooky creepy holiday in Cutler. I hope it's having the right effect. So this year we kicked off our celebration with the Annual Miller Family Halloween Party. And this year we decided ALL the adults would dress up. Turns out.....that was my favorite part.

And of course.....my mom the trash talker.

The kids were pretty dang cute too!

Once all of the guests arrived it was time to eat all of our creepy Halloween themed foods which were fabulous.

Once we were well fed we started our annual door to door trick-or-treat which was really fun this year since all of the adults were dressed in costume.

Cutler was pretty stoked about the idea of ending up with a bucket full of candy just for knocking on a few doors

He liked it so much that he figured why not knock again.....pretty smart kid!

After the kids had bags full of candies we figured why not give them a belly full of decorated cookies.

Cutler did a really good job decorating his cookies.

But then I guess he felt the surface area of his cookie wasn't quite big enough and thought his belly would make a much better canvas. What did I tell ya....smart kid.

That is one CUTE cookie!

We had a fabulous time at quite possibly my favorite party of the year

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Birthday Cutler

2010-10-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

I absolutely cannot believe that Cutler is 2! The time has flown by; it seems like yesterday he was learning to crawl and now here he is running, jumping, talking, singing. I love it. I have to say this is my favorite age. I think Cutler is honestly the cutest 2 year old in the world.

After the guests arrived we ate sloppy joes and then watched Charlie Brown and the great pumpkin. I'm excited for the Halloween themed birthday parties. Hopefully Cutler is too.

After the movie we opened presents. A very fun, yet chaotic, time.

Cutler was excited about all of his gifts.

But once he opened the Mr. Potato head we hard a hard time getting his attention again.

After presents it was time for cake

Cutler loved being the center of attention during the birthday song. He had a little trouble blowing out the candles, his little 2 year old breath wasn't quite strong enough, but he understood the concept.

Happy Birthday Cutler Gray. We love you very much!

Cornbelly's October 2009

2010-10-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

It's pretty sad when you have to include the date on your blog title because it actually happened a long time before you blogged it. Oh well. Better late than never

So this year to celebrate the Halloween season my family went to Cornbelly's. Such a fun fun place with so many activities you start to get a little overwhelmed. It all started out at the jumping pillows. Cutler saw these when we first walked in and we couldn't get him off.

We spent alot of time on the giant slide. Cutler was so brave climbing up the rope ladder but once standing at the top of the slide he got a little nervous. He didn't really want to go down by himself so Daren and I would go with him. Even then Cutler wasn't real confident so he would flip over on his belly half way down. So cute.

There was so much to do at corn belly's we were there for hours

They even had a house full of corn, sort of like the ball pit at McDonald's but a little dustier. You can tell in the picture there is a faint layer of corn dust all around.

One of my favorite activities was the duck races. Cutler thought it was pretty cool too.

After the duck races it was off to the corn maze. Cutler looked so cute walking down the trail. He was just so casual about it. Almost like he was saying "I know which way to go guys, don't worry"

Cutler was asking all night to ride the "choo choo" so that is how we capped of the evening.

Thanks for the fun times Cornbelly's! You really came through this year!

Chicago Conference

2010-10-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

This October I had the awesome privilege of attending the Fetus and Newborn Conference in Chicago. I was able to go with a group of work colleagues and we had a fabulous time. The first evening after the conference we went to the Sears tower.

Here we are crowded onto the elevator on our way up to the top of the tower.

Here we our sitting out on the pexi-glass ledge. Pretty terrifying. I will never forget Suzanne walking like a baby deer as she tried to make her way out. Pretty dang funny

Here are me and Ashlee having our Ferris Bueller moment "I think I see my dad"

After the tower we ate some dinner and then walked around the beautiful city of Chicago. It really is a gorgeous place!

The next night we hit the town for some shopping and then had a fabulous steak dinner.

We had a really fun time.......oh ya, and the conference was pretty good too.

Independence Day!!

2010-09-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it has been a really really long time since I have blogged and so I wasn't sure where to start. So I figured, how about the good old 4th of July.

As I kid I used to really hate it when the Holiday fell on a Sunday. It just didn't feel right to celebrate the 4th on a different day than the 4th. Now that I am older and wiser I have realized that having the Holiday on a Sunday is really pretty great because you can celebrate it ALL weekend long....which is exactly what we did this year.

It all started with our ward 4th of July breakfast on Saturday morning. Cutler enjoyed it quite a bit but we forgot to bring him his bike so we spent most of the time trying to keep him off of all the other kids bikes. We came home and spent the rest of the morning letting him ride his own bike to make up for our forgetfulness. That evening we had a Reschke Family Barbeque and then hit the Sugarhouse fireworks in the perfect location that was actually pretty far from Sugarhouse park.

Cutler loved loved loved the fireworks. He basically ran around keeping everyone in our family....and other families, pretty entertained.

Cutler was pretty amazed with the fireworks and enjoyed them thoroughly.....for the amount of time a toddler usually enjoys a single activity.

We had a wonderful time!

On Sunday night Daren, Cutler, and I went on an impromptu 4th of July camping trip with Bryson and Loryn. It was a great time filled with good food and fun games. Cutler actually slept really well but I was stressed the whole time that he would get too cold so I didn't sleep very well but it was definitely a great time.

Monday afternoon we got to have a swimming play date with our dear friends Chris and Aimee's adorable kids Oakley and Aiden. After that it was off to Avery and Mitch's for a dessert and firework celebration. This get together was especially fun because we got to have our grandma Miller there with us. It was wonderful

This Independence Day we really lived it up right! And thanks to the Sunday holiday we had 3 great days to do it.

Oregon August 2010

2010-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well slowly but surely I am catching up on my blogging. I don't know why the task always seems so daunting but I have set some personal goals so hopefully it won't be long before I am all caught up.

This August the Reschke family held a reunion in beautiful Lincoln City Oregon. I have never been to Oregon before and was in complete awe of it's beauty. I was pretty nervous to have my 2 year old on an airplane but with enough snacks, the perfect movie, and the complete fascination he had with earphones we were in really good shape.

From the airport, Cutler and I received first class service from our Uncle Steve and were dropped right off at the front door of the hotel while Daren and the rest of the crew brave the Oregon public transportation system. The first night in beautiful Portland we had dinner at this great little restaurant on the pier. There were a few ducks who gathered by our table and Cutler had a great time feeding them. He thought throwing crackers in the water was so much fun that he would try to throw other things in the water as well. We very nearly lost one of Cutler's shoes to the ducks.

Our hotel was in a really great location right by the river

The next day we took the train to the rose gardens. Cutler became very familiar with all modes of public transportation on this trip and was very excited to ride either a plane, train, or bus and shouted out their name every time he saw one. The rose garden was really beautiful

I was glad that Cutler learned the important life lesson of slowing down to smell the roses

That night we had a really fun dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Cutler was all over the macaroni and cheese which, I have to agree, was quite tasty.

He was having so much fun that I even got a little bit of dancing out of him. Its pretty dang cute!

The next day we started the long drive from Portland to Lincoln City. Cutler was pretty excited to be able to ride in the same car as Keilani. They had a pretty good time together sharing books and treats and watching movies.

They were pretty goofy together the whole trip

When we finally arrived at the coast we spent the next few days relaxing on the beach and playing games. It was the perfect combination of relaxing and entertaining.

The guys even braved the frigid Oregon ocean water and did a little body boarding

Apparently the Oregon ocean is a little rough so it wasn't long before they were out of the water without really ever getting very far out. They rented some fins the next day and had a little more success but at least this day they looked good trying.

This beach is also pretty special because this is where Chaz and Alisa announced that they are expecting their first baby this February. Congratulations you guys! We can't wait to meet her.

During our time in Lincoln city we also went to the Aquarium. It was really neat. It has a combination of indoor and outdoor attractions.

On our way home we visited the Tillamook cheese factory. By the time we got there my camera's battery was dead and I was a little worn out from the screamin wheemies and rocking bum rash of 2010 that Cutler battled for the whole trip that I didn't get any pictures.

All in all Oregon was a fabulous time. It was great to have the whole Reschke family together.

Cutler the Pitcher

2010-08-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

The other day we were outside playing catch. (When I say the other day I really mean the other month....October to be exact). Cutler was so cute. He couldn't catch the ball in his mitt but he knew it was supposed to be in there so he would catch the ball with his hand, put it in his mitt, and then throw the ball. Absolutely adorable

Brooke and Scott

2010-07-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Scott were married on June 22nd. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful wedding, and everyone have a wonderful time. The temple grounds are so gorgeous so Cutler had a great time exploring

Cutler and Daren started to get a little anxious waiting for the newlyweds to get ready so they decided to rest their feet

When Cutler saw his Aunt Brooke walk out of the temple he was so excited he ran right up to her, possibly disrupting the professional photographer's shots, but no one could of stopped him. It was pretty cute.

The reception that evening was beautiful. Cutler was thrilled to be able to run around and play in all the fountains and smell all the flowers.

The kids were pretty entertained, wether it was a movie or the swing, they all had a pretty good time.

It was a wonderful day. Congratulations Brooke and Scott! We are so happy for you!

Family Cabin Trip July 2010

2010-07-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Our annual Miller family cabin trip is always an incredibly wonderful time and this year was NO exception! Cutler and I had a few days there by ourselves until Daren was able to get there and we spent pretty much all day, every day, on the 4 wheelers. I couldn't believe how much Cutler loved them. I would plan a short ride because I didn't want him to get tired of it when we were in the middle of nowhere but once I got back he wanted to go again. If we weren't driving them he was climbing on top of them. He would work so hard to climb onto the seat. He would get all adjusted and ready and then say "k....let's go" Who can say no to that? So go we did.....over and over again.

Since Daren wasn't there for the first couple days everyone stepped in to help take Cutler on rides because I was starting to get pretty tired of being on a 4 wheeler. It took quite a while to finally wear Cutler out.

This year, once again, the annual Miller family treasure hunt was a real success. The kids had a really great time and did a really good job deciphering some pretty tough clues.

Even Cutler got in on the action.

The kids were so excited to find the treasure at the end.

This year we decided to go on a group 4 wheeler ride up to the beaver ponds. I have been to the cabin my whole life and have never been to the beaver ponds before. I can't explain it. Anyhow.....it was gorgeous! Cooper was so excited to see the water he jumped right in without any hesitation

We had a great time. We did get caught in a light rain storm but it all worked out just fine.

One of my favorite things about the cabin this year was watching Cutler run around with his older cousins. He seemed so grown up. You could tell he wanted to be doing what the older kids were doing. It was cute.

I've said it before but the Cabin really is such a magical place.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

2010-07-01T13:15:00.001-07:00

This Spring my friend Jodi and I took our kiddos to a mom and tot gymnastics class that was an absolute blast! Cutler really loved it and I loved seeing him progress each week. A few weeks ago we had our "recital", if you will, and Cutler was a shining star!

We were able to show our friends and family a typical day at gymnastics which always starts with a warm up were we run, jump and tumble.....well usually I run, jump, and tumble while Cutler explores the gym but sometimes he comes over and joins in on the fun.

After the warm up the kids go and explore the gym which usually means Cutler ends up at the rings or on the balance beam.

After exploration we do a group activity which, today, was the parachute. Cutler loves the parachute. As soon as it comes out he runs in circles on top of it like a crazy person. It takes some coaxing to get him to settle down enough to actually participate in the activity.

After the group activity we learned our skill of the day. Today the skill was a pullover on the bar which Cutler mastered with the help of his amazing teacher Mrs. Kim.

He also performed a forward roll back hand spring which was quite tricky!

Good job Cutler!!

Next its time for BUBBLES!

At the end of the day Mrs. Kim handed out awards. It was so cute to see Cutler walk up to get his certificate. He looked so grown up!

Cutler and I had so much fun at gymnastics this Spring.

Thanks Little Gym!

Under the Sea

2010-06-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my sisters and I decided to take our kids the aquarium. We had a fabulous time!

I think Cutler's favorite part was the drive there

Once we were inside TJ got Cutler all pumped up about all of the things we were going to see

But Cutler was definitely more fascinated with the toys than the animals....

However, he did LOVE the frog

What a great time!

Awwww......the beach!

2010-06-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

For Daren's birthday this year we decided to take a somewhat impromptu weekend trip to beautiful Newport Beach California. My biggest fear about the whole thing was surviving 10 hours in the car with a 19 month old. But it turns out with enough snacks and DVDs toddlers can be pretty distracted! Yee Haw. We had the brilliant idea to drive through the night to see if Cutler would, dare we say, "sleep through the whole trip." That most certainly did not happen but he did really good so he deserves a first class pat on the back for that. So after driving all night we checked into our hotel and we all took a great nap. After waking up somewhat refreshed we headed to the beach.... Daren's most favorite place in the world. I was worried Cutler may not like it much but I was wrong. He stood on the shore and screamed and laughed every time the waves came in. We had to stop him from running straight out into the ocean to catch the waves that were starting to get away.

After our long drive, a trip to the beach was about all we could take that day. We grabbed dinner to go, ate in the hotel room, and hit the sack early. The next day we planned for a full day of fun in the sun. Unfortunately the sun didn't show up so it became fun in the cloudy and slightly cool weather.

It was pretty cold on the beach so Cutler spent alot of time wrapped in a blanket watching the waves....which he loved.

Part of Daren's birthday trip included tickets to see the Braves play the Dodgers so after Cutler's nap we headed off to Dodger stadium. We had a great time but lets just say that taking a toddler to a baseball game that STARTS at 7 PM and lasts 4 hours in a crowded stadium with middle of the row seating......not the best idea. But was it worth it for this guy?

ABSOLUTELY!

Cutler was pretty thrilled to be sitting in his very own seat eating his very own dodger dog

I tried endlessly to get a good picture of Cutler at his first professional baseball game but this was all I could get.

Oh well, you win some you lose some.

The next day was Daren's birthday so we got some birthday breakfast and then went to see some really cool tide pools.

Cutler was pretty fascinated with the whole thing!

After Cutler's nap we hit the beach one last time and then celebrated Daren's birthday with a great seafood dinner.

I'm so grateful to say that the drive home the next day was just as good as the drive down and I couldn't have been more relieved. What a great vacation!

Happy Birthday Daren. We love you!!

Choo Choo!!

2010-06-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today Cutler took all of his friends on train rides.

I had to take a picture.... it was so so cute!

Paramore Paradise

2010-06-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

As a graduation gift my best friend in the world gave me tickets to see my FAVORITE band in the world

PARAMORE

Thank you so much Ashlee and Tye! It was amazing.

Bryson and Loryn's Wedding

2010-05-31T06:44:00.000-07:00

On May 15th, 2010 Bryson married his adorable bride Loryn. Everything was so beautiful! It was a wonderful day. Cutler loved walking around on the temple grounds. I couldn't get over how cute he looked in his little suit.

Bryson and Loryn were such a cute bride and groom.

We had a great time!

By the time the reception came, however, Cutler had about had it. Thankfully Mindi brought her DVD player which kept the kids entertained for a while.

Even Keilani joined in for a minute

The movie kept him entertained for a while, however, Cutler's grouchiness finally hit breaking point...

So Cutler and I had to take off a little early.

Congratulations Bryson and Loryn. We are so excited for you!

I DID IT!!!!!

2010-05-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to FINALLY be able to say......I DID IT!! On May 6, 2010 I graduated from my masters nursing program at the University of Utah and I couldn't be more relived or have a greater feeling of accomplishment.

When I think about finishing my degree I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all of my friends and family who gave up so much of their time and energy helping care for Cutler while I was away. When I think of the long list of people who played a hand in helping me finish school I feel incredibly blessed to have a life full of loving caring friends and family.

Thank you Mom, Linda, Avery, Lacey, Mckenzie, Stephanie, Bryson, Loryn, Ashlee, and Jen for watching Cutler for me while I was in school. I can't tell you how comforting it was to know that Cutler was in your loving care when I couldn't be there. I never had to worry if he was getting the attention and love he needed because I knew he was. I will never be able to thank you enough.

I also have to give a huge shout out to Simon and Cami who stayed up far too late helping me edit and perfect my synthesis presentation. Thanks to you it was a huge success! I will be forever grateful!

I also have to give a loving hug to my fellow classmates Tawny, Brenda, and Ashlee. We started the program together, however, I finished a year late due to my unexpected but very welcomed fetus. I will never forget our all day study sessions which were mostly filled with laughing, dancing, chatting, and of course, ketchup chips. For example, here is a lovely photo of Ashlee and I doing a pre-study warm up dance outside of Brenda's house....giant pregnant belly and all.

I received continual love and support from my girls as I finished my last year of school. They helped talk me off the ledge several times. They even came to support me at graduation.

I love you guys!

My completion of the program would absolutely not have been possible if it wasn't for these two incredible women.

Sandy and Jeannine went above and beyond to help me finish the program. I will always be so grateful to Sandy for tailoring the program in a way that would allow me to finish as a lone student. It took a lot of work on her part and she did a fabulous job. I will also be forever grateful to Sandy and Jeannine for taking special consideration of my son and meeting with me via online conferences as much as possible so that I could stay home with Cutler. They allowed me to be a successful student AND a good mom and I cannot thank them enough.

I also have to give a big thank you to Julieanne who put a great deal of effort into changing her class curriculum to work for a single student. I am so grateful for her and am excited to start working with her in July.

And last, but most certainly not least.....

My incredible husband Daren. Thank you for your love and patience. Thank you for your encouragement and your constant words of praise. Thank you for cleaning the house, cooking countless meals, doing the laundry, and never once complaining. Thank you for listening to me cry and always saying the right thing to make me feel better. Thank you for believing in me! I love you so much.

I can't believe I DID IT!!! YEE HAW!

Welcome Bridger

2010-05-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

I have a brand new adorable nephew named Bridger! He was born on April 26, 2010 in the early afternoon and he was 7 pounds and 3 ounces of perfection! I'm so excited!

Thank you Simon and Cami for watching Cutler for me so I could be there! I can't thank you enough.

Bring On The Sun

2010-04-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

I couldn't be more excited for the sunshine!! Cutler has discovered the outside world, and since that time it's the only world he wants to be a part of..... no matter the weather.

Oh I'm so happy to now be outside without 22 layers of warm clothing! Bring on the sun!

What a lovely Easter!

2010-04-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

This year we had several Easter soirees that were all a blast.

The week before Easter we went to my parents for our annual Easter egg hunt. This hunt is especially exciting because each egg offers the prospect of yummy treats or cold hard cash!! This was Cutler's FIRST Easter egg hunt. He did really good until he realized the eggs actually had something inside. After that realization it was all I could do to have him set the egg down in his basket and look for another. On Easter morning at our house, we had a few practice rounds and before I knew it, Cutler had the concept of an Easter egg hunt down pat!

Although he truly mastered the HUNT aspect of an Easter egg hunt this time, he was still pretty fascinated by the fact that each egg was stuffed full with delicious candy.

That afternoon the Reschke Family came over for a fabulous Easter dinner.

We had such a great time. We're planning on putting Cutler through some rigorous Easter egg hunt training so he will be all geared up for the city hunt next year. Watch out Cedar Hills!!

Oh how I long for Summer

2010-03-03T13:25:00.000-08:00

So I walk outside today and its pretty dreary, a little cold, and the grass is soaking wet......but it's not FREEZING so outside we went. Cutler needed a change in activity and Cooper was pretty anxious to go out so I decided to take them both outside to throw balls. Both had a blast.

It didn't take Cutler long to figure out the whole concept of the "chuck it".

It was so much fun and completely worth the soaking pants and shoes.

So that was out outdoor activity, but as far as inside goes..... here's his newest hobby

Not as fun as going outside but it will have to do for now. Oh how I long for Summer.

Where has my baby gone?

2010-02-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, Cutler is 16 months!!!! I simply cannot believe it. I'm sad to see him grow up but he is so much fun. He has to be the cutest thing to ever walk on two feet (finally). He has become quite the jabberer and walks around telling Cooper to sit. He has lots of new words that probably only I can understand but he says bye, shoes, mom, dad, uh oh, shut, cheese, hello, more, yes, no, up and many more. He also knows quite a few animal sounds. Here is a short clip of him exhibiting his favorites......shut and cheese. Odd I know but what do you do.

Cutler is finally walking and now walks all over the world. Hallelujah. Now I can stop telling Cutler everyday "today is the day your going to learn how to walk." He never listened anyway.

Although he can walk, his favorite thing to do is to crawl around pushing a car. Back and forth, over and over........he loves it.

Cutler is super silly and gets a kick out of himself (kind of like his mom). He likes to play hide and seek and he loves to tickle his mom and dad. He still loves books and songs. One of his favorite things is hanging out on the couch with his dad. He walks back and forth and drops things on the floor, says "uh oh", crawls down to get whatever he dropped and then begs to be lifted back up, only to drop the item once again and say "uh oh". It's pretty entertaining.

Here is is giving his blanket "loves." He will give Cooper quite a few loves as well.

He is my absolute joy and I cannot believe he is growing up so fast. I can hardly stand it.

This laugh never gets old!

2010-01-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

Kangaroo Zoo

2010-01-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

Last week my sisters and I took our kids to kangaroo zoo. I wasn't sure if Cutler would like it. Turns out.......he did. I was surprised how willing he was to go off and explore amidst several rambunctious kids he didn't know. He was too excited about the Kangaroo Zoo madness for me to get a good picture of his face but I'll post a few of the pictures I did get.

I have to post this picture too because I think it's so cute. Cutler truly knows the meaning of the words "say cheese"

What a cutie!

Our 2009 Holiday Run Down

2010-01-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

As most of you can already tell, I have lost my ambition for blogging. Because of this I haven't documented any of our Holiday Soiree's, so today I decided I would mesh all of the Holidays together in one good old fashioned Holiday Run Down blog post! So, here we go.

Thanksgiving 2009

For Thanksgiving Daren and I had the ideal job of hosting the dinner without doing any of the cooking. It was great. We got to have all the family here without the major stress of cooking the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. It was so fun to have Cutler and Keilani together to play.

Cutler and Keilani sitting side by side at Thanksgiving dinner was the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Cutler didn't last long after this picture was taken, however, an after dinner nap is usually what the doctor orders for everyone after Thanksgiving dinner.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day full of great family and delicious food.

Christmas 2009

To start our Christmas celebration we had our annual family Christmas party at my parent's house. This year it was as fun as ever. The festivities always start with a great dinner while we wait for Santa to arrive. It was so fun to watch Cutler with Santa. He was a little nervous at first so he sat on my lap.

Soon he started feeling a little more comfortable so he went and sat with the other kids.

But it wasn't long until Cutler had crept closer to get a look at this curious bearded man in a red suit.

Daren had a great time at the party too but he did get a mild scolding from Santa for not participating in the carols. Daren will now know better for next year.

This year we spent Christmas at my mom's house. Cutler and I went a few days early since Daren went with his dad and brother to see the bowl game in Vegas (GO COUGARS!!). On Christmas Eve the dad's went out with the kids to play in the snow. We figured the kids would be cold in ten minutes and right back inside. When the hours had started to tick by and still no kids were coming inside in search of warmth we decided to see what was going on. Come to find out the dad's had worked together to build a sledding trail that curved down the front yard and down the side walk. It was a HIT for the kids and the adults.

Once everyone came in and thawed out we at dinner and then had our first annual family Nativity reenactment.

Cutler was playing the role of baby Jesus, but he was a little distracted. He was very proud of his performance however.......

Soon after this picture was taken, Cutler started feeling a little grouchy and a little warm. He came down with a pretty high Christmas Eve fever which turned into a very high Christmas day fever. He was pretty dazed all day with a persistent fever that would not break with tylenol and ibuprofen so he wasn't very interested in his Christmas toys. I was able to snap a shot of what Santa brought before Cutler woke up.

Cutler loved ripping the wrapping paper but with his fever he didn't really feel up to playing with anything.

The one thing he would play with was the Winnie the Pooh airplane he got from his Grandma and Grandpa Miller. This little gadget is still his favorite thing to play with.

We had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! Next year will be even more fun if the Christmas fever doesn't come back for an encore.

After Christmas we got to spend a few days with Mindi and Ernie and our adorable nephews Caleb and Aiden. We had such a good time and I am so so sad I don't have any pictures. Mindi and Ernie took alot of good pictures so hopefully I can get a copy and will post them then.

New Years 2009

This year for New Year's we went to our favorite place in the world, the Hale Family Ranch. The Hale Ranch offers ease and relaxation with good food and friends. We had a great time with shooting ranges, late night games, rabbit hunting, and fascinating conversations! It was certainly one of my favorite ranch trips ever!

Cutler spent most of his time staring out the big front window of the ranch which he seemed to find fascinating.

After our busy holiday season, Cutler finally crashed.

Right next to his best pal Cooper

Happy Holidays everyone! Here's to a wonderful 2010!

Every Little Moment

2009-11-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Cutler is already one! He has to be the cutest little one year old on the planet.

I have to give a big shout out to "Every Little Moment Photography." Two amazing girls, Aubrey and Samantha, who can create amazing photos of my little Cutler no matter the weather or the mood of the subject! Check them out at www.everylittlemomentphotography.com

Happy Halloween! (Its never too late right?)

2009-11-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

I know I know, this is an incredibly late post. I have to go with the philosophy that has always helped me trudge through this thing called life......... "Better Late than Never"

So this Halloween we had a little monkey on our hands

Not too different from every other day of the year.

This year we started our Halloween celebration with a party at Stephanie's house, where Cutler, and his cute lady bug cousin Keilani, had a little wrestling match.

Uh...... I think Keilani won. I wasn't able to go to this party but I have to say that Keilani is the cutest little lady bug to ever flitter around on Halloween. (P.S. Cutler was just fine)

In the next few days I tried to get Cutler into the Halloween spirit by having a family pumpkin carving night. Cutler loved it!

For about 5 minutes

The pumpkins turned out pretty cute, even without his help.

The next Halloween festivity we attended was the annual Miller family Halloween party. The event that gives me my fix for creepy, cooky, Halloween themed foods. This year was no disappointment!

Lacey whipped up a delicious dinner in a pumpkin

Which was complimented by some bone and witch finger breadsticks I threw together.

And dessert consisted of a creepy graveyard cake which was a masterpiece of Avery's

After our delicious and eery dinner, the kids and a few adults put on their costumes......

and we trick-or-treated door to door around Lacey's house which is a treat for the kids.... and the parents.

On Halloween, Cutler had a very busy day of trick-or-treating......... to Grandma's house. I thought it was so cute to see that little monkey knock on his first door on Halloween

Grandma and Grandpa were pretty excited too!

This year the Reschke's did Halloween up right! Happy Halloween everyone!

Look Who's One and Lots of Fun!!!

2009-10-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

I feel like I just blinked my eyes and now Cutler is one. Where did the time go. It seems like just yesterday that I first held my new born baby in my arms. Now I wrestle a wiggling, squirming, giggling little one year old and I love every minute of it. Last Sunday (the 25th) we celebrated Cutler's first birthday. Once the house was decorated and and the table was set it was time for the guests to arrive.

The festivities started out with every donning their party hats

Even Cooper got in on the fun!

Once everyone arrived I sat Cutler in his birthday throne and everyone enjoyed some delicious pizza a fruit.

Cutler was done with his pizza before everyone else and he couldn't wait to rip into his presents.

He found the first toy that made noise and danced and danced. Then Cutler's one year old attention span kicked in and after the second present Cutler was done. That left plenty of presents for the cousins to open

After all the presents were opened it was time for Cutler's FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!!

Cutler loved the Happy Birthday song! He just smiled at everyone that was gathered around him singing.

He was timid with his cake at first.....

But it wasn't too long before we were at this point!

We had cake on the floor and on the wall and all over Cutler. This was a perfect first birthday smash cake experience!

Thank you to everyone who made Cutler's first birthday and first year of life so magical!
What would we do without him.

Discoveries

2009-10-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Cutler has made alot of discoveries in the first year of his life. His latest discovery.......

The kitchen

These pictures are a little old so his fascination with the kitchen has minimized since then. During the height of his kitchen frenzy the contents of almost all of the drawers and cupboards were spread out on the floor. This daunting task could keep him occupied all day.

This last month Cutler also discovered football (with a little help from his parents). We took Cutler to his first football game on Sat. Sep 25th when BYU played Colorado State.

Cutler was such a good boy and he made it through the entire game without one tantrum!! Daren took this as a sign that he will grow up to love football. I think he is going to have to love football since his parents are both pretty big super fans.

Cutler loved the fight song and even clapped along with the fans a few times.

I can't believe Cutler is almost a year old! Where does the time go? I can't imagine my life without him.

Labor Day

2009-09-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

This Labor Day we decided we needed to get OUT of the house. We thought Cutler might like to go to the aquarium. We had a really good time and Cutler was completely intrigued with all of the colorful fish.

I still can't bring myself to touch a stingray, but Daren and Cutler had no problem.

The aquarium was a hit (although unbearably crowded). We may have to try it again and see what it's like when you can move 6 inches without bumping into someone. Cutler didn't seem to mind.