And So Dawns the Age of the Cherokee...

Well today we said goodbye to the Jetta. (OOohhhh) Two weeks ago we said goodbye to the Cavalier. (YES!) Yeah, we weren't too sad about getting rid of the Cavalier. But, the Jetta at least was emotional for Ang. (I know it's just a car...)
So now it just the Jeep! (YEA!!!!) See we got a bigger car because eventually our little family will get bigger. (No I'm not making an announcement.) But as most of you know we didn't fit very well as the 3 of us, so it was time to move up to a bigger car. Since car insurance is horrendous down here, and gas is "cha-ching" right now we figured that for now we could survive on one car. Oh, there are no pictures of the Cavalier cause we didn't like it that much.

A Day Full of Firsts

Well yesterday was a pretty exciting day for us Killpack's... (mainly for Jovin really).
Jovin took his first steps, he said his first word, and he signed "milk" and actually wanted to drink milk. You know we really don't want to be the bragging proud parents... But we really are right now. :^) It is just so cool to see your child actually get it. Jovin is breaking all sorts of barriers. Language, mobility, communication. It so fun to experience.
Jovin has been pretty brave lately he will stand at the couch or by the wall and let go and just stand all by himself. But he wouldn't take any steps. Well Cory and I were working with him last night and he took 3 whole steps by himself walking to Cory. He is still doing pretty well. Obviously he isn't walking all over the apartment yet, but he can get a few steps here and there. The funny part is he closes his eyes when his goes to take his first step alone and he will usually fall.
Then we were in Jovin's bedroom playing with his toys when he knocked one over and he said "uh-oh". It was really cute! Then we were doing the walking thing again and she just looked at me and signed "milk". Well actually he kept signing it, and the dense mother I am I thought that he was waving... ha ha ha... No he really wanted a drink of milk.

Another first that we did as a family was eat at a restaurant called Whataburger. Yeah, it wasn't so good. But, everything else for the day was pretty good and exciting. Okay, so I think we are done bragging and being "proud parents".

Snow in Phoenix?? In July??

It must be the end of the world. Yesterday there was snow in Phoenix on the 15th of July!!!


It didn't actually fall from the sky... It came off a truck. The Phoenix Zoo had it brought in for a "Winter in July" day. They had 25 tons of snow brought in. The zoo opened at 8 am and we planed on getting there early so it wouldn't be too hot. We actually got there at 10 am (and it was 113 outside) They had the snow in 3 separate HUGE piles. I know we are crazy to be out in the really hot sun, but it isn't EVERY DAY that there is snow in Phoenix.

I took Jovin to one of the piles and put him on his hands and knees... he didn't like that very much so we touched the snow and I grabbed a handful of the snow and put it on his stroller. In about a minute it was a big puddle on his stroller tray. We then went and walked around some more at the zoo but it was too hot. So we left. (That's the nice thing about having a membership to the zoo. You don't feel obligated to stay a couple of hours and get your moneys worth when you have a membership to come back for free for a year.)



We then decided it was time to venture out and see the IKEA store we have here. We have never been to one or even knew really what they sold there. My friend Holly loves this store and can't wait for the one in Utah to be built and open in 2008. We went and it is a really cool store. Really BIG too.


Anywho, that was pretty much our fun day yesterday. It was so hot (119 degrees) and we sweated so much that we had to take two showers. I know TMI...

Trip

Jovin and I are back in the hot town of Phoenix. I came home a week early. I'm sorry to anyone that I didn't get a chance to visit while I was in Utah.

Isn't it ironic? I came to Utah cause I was homesick. (You know, I miss family, mountains, cooler weather...) well after a couple of days I got homesick!! (You know, husband, and ... well that was pretty much it. I didn't miss the heat so much...) So I cut the trip short. I'm glad I did. I really missed Cory and he was going bonkers without me and Jovin. ;^)
I was glad to be able to spend time with family and to see everyone, but it is SO good to be home!!

Another week with only my Mac

A week of playing around and here is what I have to show for it:


Check out my new...

Website!

I am working on puting more content on there, that will be for next week...

Day 3 of boredom

You would never know that I was here alone in Phoenix with over 3 million in the metropolis, but I am. Ang and Jovin decided last Monday to take a homesickness trip back to Utah for 3 weeks. If you are in Utah and would like to see them, give her a call, that's why they went! Anyway...

I have a list of things that I would like to learn eventually, whether by taking a class or just messing around and figuring things out. This list includes programs such as Final Cut, Live Type, Dream Weaver, Flash, xCode (Cocoa), HTML, Java. With those, I would then be able to do some of the projects that I have in mind (and on a list) such as creating a Deal or No Deal widget, and a DVD/slideshow of gospel things for Jovin.

I love technology, the things that computers can do now are incredible. And I would love to be able to do at least some of it... But finding the time to do it, I have not had. Also, I am enjoying my self chosen career path in Mech Eng, so it's not that I want out of that or anything.

Since I have a little free time on my hands, I have decided to start on my list. Just for fun, I figured out how to make an animated GIF (which was surprisingly simple, I guess I am just a little slow!) Anyway, to change topics, my hair is the longest that it has ever been I think. So lets have a poll:

How long do you think it is by now?

I know the pictures are a little blurry, and the color isn't great. Ang took the camera so I used my video camera and created stills from the video of me spinning on a chair. Sure I could have just posted the video, but I already know how to do that!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY JOVIN!!

Well today is Jovin's 1st birthday.


Jovin opened up his presents this evening. He didn't quite grasp the concept of "opening" presents. I would start to tear the wrapping paper for him but he would just sit and flick the torn wrapping paper.






He was wearing his Elmo party hat, but it started to bug him so he tore it off. Oh well. Actually after he (well I) opened all his presents he didn't go and play with the boxes or wrapping paper. He went for the Elmo party hat.




Well the cake was NOTHING like Lydia's birthday a week ago. He poked at the cake with his finger and we actually had to put little pieces in his mouth. He really wasn't a big fan.


It was a good birthday. I can't believe that it has been a year already. I have spent the past couple of days reminiscing about the past year with Jovin. How much it changes our lives. He is such a blessing to Cory and I. It's amazing to think of how much he has grown and all of the things he has learned to do.
I know I'm bias but he is the cutest baby EVER!!

Bad Boy, Bad Boy Wha'cha Gonna Do...

We've taught Jovin a new trick. When he does something bad he goes up to the wall and he will "spread 'em!" Neat huh?














Just kidding. But he just stood at the wall today like this for a while. He has actually mastered pulling himself up on the wall, couches, kitchen chairs, and bathtub.






Today, Jovin pulled himself up on the kitchen table chairs when they were tucked into the table. So he got stuck. He is just tall enough that his head doesn't reach the top of the table, but he is tall enough that he has to duck to get out from under the table. He hasn't quite figured that part out yet. Silly boy.






He is so proud of himself. He will just stand in the bathtub now while Cory bathes him. There is water for him to splash in and toys to play with, but for now all he wants to do is stand in the bathtub. It's weird.

Rebuttal

Well, congrats and good luck Mr. President of the young men of the Miller Ward. (there isn't any sarcasm in that - good luck really!)
I was just sustained as the first counselor in the Elders Quorum last Sunday as our president was bumped to the Bishop's second counselor and there was a shuffle of the presidency. I am excited, although, since I was the Secretary before I don't have much more to do as counselor...
And work is going well. Things are picking up, and I am learning how to design plumbing systems (which is mainly code driven).
So see, I post stuff that is going on in my life.

Fathers and Sons

Jovin and I went camping this weekend for the Fathers and Sons campout. We went up to Payson ('bout an hour and a half drive north). We had a great time even though Jovin didn't seem to quite grasp the idea of how fun campouts are supposed to be. We had a nice fireside for the young men (so I am told - I didn't get to see it cause it was past Jovin's bedtime and he was NOT going to try to listen). Saturday, we had a nice breakfast provided by the Elders Quorum (which I got out of cooking cause of the kid!) Then we relaxed and played a round or two of Bowling Ball Golf (I wish I had my camera out for that one, it was a fun one). Imagine Frisbee golf, but with actual bowling balls!! Who woulda thought...

Jovin did alright sleeping in his playpen (for three hours) after which he got a little chilly and I decided to keep him warm next to me. Which was great for him cause he slept most the night, but it pinned me on my side between him and the playpen. My arm kept falling asleep. The moon also came out and shined in the tent as if someone turned their car headlights on us. It was awesome.

So I am excited for camping this Summer, I have heard that it is a nice way to get out of the heat! And it is already HOT!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

We just wanted to wish all the Mother's a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!!

I had a really nice first Mother's Day. I got to sleep in. Cory and Jovin made all the meals. Cory took Jovin during Relief Society so I could enjoy the lesson. We've played games and relaxed. It was a great day.


Cory helped Jovin make a plaster of Jovin's hand for Mother's Day. Cory is really sneaky. I was home when he did it and I didn't even know what was going on. (Of course he did it while American Idol was on... so he knew for sure I would be oblivious as to other things happening in the house.) It is really cute though. Cory said it was kind of hard to do since Jovin is so wiggly and wants to squish stuff. It turned out really cute.

Anywho... Happy Mother's Day!

A Little Trip

Well we got back Monday morning from our little trip to Utah. We got there on Wednesday the 3rd. We stayed with my family and we went to the zoo Thursday morning. It was windy and rainy, but it was fun too! Thursday night we went to Angie's graduation. She got her Masters in Occupational Therapy. Friday night was Cory's graduation where he got his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering.


Saturday was Cory's 25th birthday!! We then stayed with Dianne, Tasha and Kip's family. Kip, Kris, William and Anna came down also to spend time with the whole family. It was a lot of fun to be with everyone again. We went and had Killpack Family pictures taken Saturday morning. We can't wait to see how the pictures turn out.

Saturday night we played games and watched a movie. Joe and Caleb were there in the mix too!
Sunday was a wonderful relaxing day. We went to church with mom (Dianne) and had a wonderful birthday dinner for Cory and William.



We really enjoyed our trip and we miss everyone already! Jovin misses his Grandma's and Grandpa and I really think he misses his cousin Anna. I have a slide show of pictures from our trip and he gets really excited when a picture of Anna is on the screen. Oh, and Kris, Jovin is still waking up at night... (thanks Anna!) ;~) Is Anna sleeping through the night now? I'm just curious if they switched sleeping patterns.

What A Weekend!

Well this past weekend we went on an adventure. We headed out to Tempe, Arizona to the Red Bull Flugtag. Red Bull does this every year at different locations across the nation. College students make and design things to fly off of a 30 foot runway and then land in the water. The contest is to see who's contraption will fly the farthest. We parked our car and walked across the bridge to where the event was taking place and where stands were to get a good seat. Well we didn't know that you can't bring a video camera and they wouldn't let us in. So we walked back across the bridge and watched it from across the river. We then pulled out our video camera and we caught a couple of them on tape, and they were hilarious! There were so many people there in the stands, and watching with us across the river. It was really hot too so we didn't stay to watch the whole thing.


We then decided that since we were out that way we would go and walk the grounds at the Mesa Arizona Temple. When we went for the Easter pageant we didn't get to walk around the grounds because we were saving our seats on the grass. (and there were over 10,000 people there at the time too.) The grounds, and the temple are beautiful. They have a couple of fountain/reflection pools and a lot of pretty flowers.











We also gave Jovin the chance to experience grass for the first time. After seeing Mike & Elizabeth's blog with Lydia and the grass experience we thought we'd let Jovin try it too. He really didn't like it all too much. As you can tell from the picture it was all he could do to keep his hands and legs from touching the grass.

Something to Think About...

What does a baby ponder? What are they thinking of?


I really could use a diaper change?
I'm tired of having milk, how about some Nesquik instead.
Why does Mommy hate birds?
I wonder how I can get Daddy really wet during bath time tonight?


When do I get to drive the Jetta?
Why is Mommy NOT a morning person. It's light at 5:30 so it should be time to be up. Come on Mommy!
Why does Daddy like computers so much?
I don't like tissues.


The next time you see a baby... Take time to think about what they are thinking about. I do it EVERY day! It might make you laugh and smile...

Happy Easter!

Yesterday we decorated our Easter eggs. I bought a really lame decoration kit. But it was still fun.
Last night we went to the Easter pageant at the Mesa Arizona Temple. It was a wonderful program. The spirit was so strong. They had seats for 10,000 and there was lawn seating too. It was completely full! The pageant is about Jesus' life, ministry, death and resurrection. We had to get there early if we wanted a seat. We were there at 6pm and it started at 8pm. While we were waiting for the pageant to start they had MOTAB playing over the speakers and the cast was walking around in costume passing out programs. The missionaries were out in force too.


Jovin was really good during the program. It lasted a little longer than an hour. He liked the music and even though we were in the back you could still see the actors pretty well. It did get a little cool once the sun had set. (65 degrees) But it was perfect weather for the pageant.






This morning we woke up and did the Easter Bunny thing. Jovin picked up the eggs that he found and would just sit and shake them to hear the candy inside. He did like the two cars that was left for him in his Easter basket.

Well we hope you all have a wonderful Easter and to please remember Jesus this Easter and think about his life, teachings, and sacrifice. We know he lives!

Dinner Time

Well we've moved on to more "solid" solids for Jovin to eat. At first it was quite interesting to feed him. He would swallow the mushy food and store the chuncks of food (carrots, pasta, rice, ect.) in his cheek's then when you weren't expecting it he would spit them out at you. I don't know who taught him this. I would have taught him the art of wiping your mouth with a napkin and slipping it into the napkin. I think I should ask Cory about this.
Well after about a week Jovin has improved on eating solids. He is getting better at it daily. He also now picks up the cheerios and puts them in his mouth by himself. Oh, and he actually chews and swallows everything.




But, I will say this much, he might be eating it all now but he is getting messier!

Jovin's Many Talents

Well we have learned that Jovin has some new talents. We got new couches last week and I can't get Jovin off them. It is the micro fiber fabric and he will sit on the couch and rub his hands and feet on the couch repeatedly for hours on end. But, his first talent is a slouching couch potato. He's nailed that one really well. He's almost as good as Cory!

He also likes to talk on the phone a lot now too. (Well eat it too I guess.) If I'm on my cell or the home phone he will reach and grab for the phone. It's cute, but can get annoying sometimes. :^)

Oh, and sucking on his toes while sitting up. Now THAT takes talent! :^)

T-I-Double Guh-Er

Here's a little fun with a little friend of Jovins named TIGGER!! Watch out though, he might just get you too!

Down He Goes

Well we took a walk the other day and went to the playground that we have here at our apartments. We put Jovin on the slide and he wasn't too sure at first but once he went down it he didn't want to stop. Of course Cory and I were doing all the work of picking him up and helping him down the slide. I must say that is a great workout for your arms and back!