Garrett's First Christmas

Garrett's first Christmas was a good one. We went to G'ma Vicki's on Christmas Eve to have dinner and open gifts. Garrett got all the tools he needs to complete his work bench that's in his room. Those will come in handy when he gets older. Maybe the house will actually get finished then?

We hung out around the house all day on Christmas. Liz put a turkey in the oven. Garrett played with his new toys. Aunti Dawn got him a doll of Snook that dances and talks when you hit the bongo. Garrett will need to be a little older before he can actually make Snook move, but he gets excited when Snook talks to him. G'pa Morris and G'ma Carolyn got Garrett a toy front end loader that will vibrate and move forward when you push a button. Garrett is a little scared of that one. Maybe when he's finally walking he won't be so intimidated.

But Garrett has PLENTY of toys for sure now.

Taken on our back porch Christmas Eve


Trying on his hard hat he got from G'ma Vicki


His new hard hat and tool belt


G'ma Vicki and her new coffee cup with Garrett's hand print on it


Me with a model of an F-15 from G'ma Vicki. When I finish it I'm going to hang it in Garrett's room


Giving G'ma Vicki a kiss


At G'ma Vicki's Christmas Eve


Garrett's first Christmas present on Christmas Day


"Hurry Mommy!"






We knew Garrett would love his new cars


Skyping with Auntie Dawn


Auntie Dawn got Garrett Snook with his bongo. You beat the bongo and Snook dances. Snook is from "It's a Big Big World" on PBS. Garrett loves Snook.


Skyping with Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Morris


Yesterday, Liz went out shopping to spend some Christmas money while Garrett and I worked on the irrigation in the front yard. When we had to run to Home Depot I put the car seat in my truck, facing forward. It was a big day. Now Garrett doesn't seem so far away like he used to.

He also took a step yesterday! When he does something like that we can never duplicate it though. I even wonder if he knows what he did. Since he's gotten so efficient at crawling (Myron helps with that) he's probably in no hurry to walk yet.

Looks like we'll be in Vegas next weekend. Liz's Dad will be flying into Vegas to visit his family, so we're driving up. Most likely leaving New Years Day and spending at least one night. Hopefully Garrett will travel well on roughly a 6 1/2 hour drive (according to Google, but I think less). We'll be stopping by Hoover Dam for sure, so the trip up will be a little longer.

Miscellaneous Stuff 12.15.09

So Liz and Garrett got to see Sarah Palin in Tempe on the 1st of December at her book signing. We bought two books the week before - one for Grandpa Morris and the other for us. Liz was in line forever, then it looked like she wasn't going to get in, then she ended up going in and getting them signed. Notice in the one photo she can't seem to take her eyes off my son? But my favorite is when her son Trig came up to Garrett and wanted to play.





Grandma Toby flew in from Springfield on the 11th. She got a smokin' deal of $80 round trip from Springfield to Mesa, so she was here for the weekend. We drove out to McDowell Mountain Park where we shot a few photos. McDowell Mountain Park is also where we shot our Christmas photos too. Once again, the overcast turned into a really good sunset and I was frantic in trying to get some good shots before the good light faded. Another perfect evening.







Garrett hasn't walked yet. Not in too much of a rush really. He has been teething some more, resulting in congestion and him being frustrated at times because he can't breath. We (mostly Liz) does the best we/she can in keeping those passages clear as much as Garrett hates it.

He's been making noises lately as if they are meant to be words. Liz has also gotten him to go potty in his little potty. Once he decided to stand up, and then pee. Good boy.

I'm seriously toying with creating a website and trying to sell photos and/or due portrait photography. I bought a new 50mm f1.4 lens, which has been working fantastic in isolating subjects (as shown in some of the photos posted). We'll see.

Hieroglyphic Canyon

Since we were sick over Thanksgiving, we decided we needed to get out and do something so we headed up to Hieroglyphic Canyon on the other side of Apache Junction. I've taken Liz up here before a couple of years ago. I've been a few times, taking the Sanfords once.

Trailhead is at 33°23'23.35"N, 111°25'28.72"W



Since we hadn't had any rain, there wasn't any pool of water in the canyon where the petroglyphs are. They say the petroglyphs are anywhere from 700 to 1,100 years old.

Liz and her mom at the trailhead


Liz and her mom on the trail


Flat Olivia got away from us and ended up in the Cholla


Garrett, Liz, and I at the boundary of the Tonto National Forest


Garrett and Daddy


Liz and her mom


Garrett sucking on a strap from his backpack


Garrett watching Mommy and Grandma walk back from checking out the petroglyphs


It was a great hike and can't wait to do it again. We decided it's 6 hours total from the front door of our house, to hiking, and back to our front foor again. Basically an all day event. We almost didn't make it back to the trailhead before it was completely dark. Garrett was soo tired he fell asleep in the backpack again. Liz's mom slipped and fell a few times on the way back to the car, but no injuries.

Thanksgiving '09

Liz and I thought we'd take some video for the family in Texas that we missed due to our being sick. Here is some of Garrett playing while we were watching the Cowboy game.

Garrett and Kylie, Snook, and Halloween

Cute video of Garrett and one of his many girlfriends, Kylie. They are three weeks apart.



Garrett LOVES Snook from "It's a Big World" on PBS. Usually when Snook gets close to the TV, Garrett will smile and laugh. Especially when Snook sings "Try to Touch the Sky."



Garrett as a hobo on Halloween. Liz did a very good job with the costume!

Been awhile

He started to do this not long after crawling.


Happy and clean baby.


Grandpa Morris and Grandma Carolyn's first night in Phoenix.


We went to feed the ducks at Rio Vista Park in Peoria. Garrett tried on the cowboy hat that Grandpa Morris brought him.




Liz and G'ma Carolyn in Sedona, AZ while Grandpa and Clint were taking pictures at Oak Creek Canyon.


G'ma Carolyn and Garrett in Sedona, AZ.


West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon where I like to try and hit near the end of October.



G'pa Morris taking pictures at the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, about halfway from Sedona to Flagstaff off of Hwy. 89.




At Chaparrel Park in Scottsdale, AZ