Game in Montana

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to have a football game in Helena, Montana. It was fortunate because I got to see my cousins Annie, Ally and Charlie, as well as my Aunt Star, Uncle Ken and Uncle Dave who all reside in various locations in Montana. It was a blast seeing my family and on top of that we won a very lopsided game 30-0.

My pretty cousins Annie (left) and Ally (right) are sporting my jersey while they watch the game.

In order from left to right is my Uncle Ken, Ally, Annie and my dad who was nice enough to drive me all the way up to Helena. They spelled my name wrong on both my home and away jersey so I now have four jerseys. Two are spelled Yarder and two spelled Yarger.


My dad and Annie are cozy at the game with their long shirts and smiley faces.

Ally and Uncle Ken are also cozy in the frigid Helena weather. I have the best family.


Annie, Ally and I got to hang out for a a while after the game before we had to go our separate ways. If you look to the far left my Aunt Star is pictured trying to escape the likes of the camera. Tis tis...


We stayed in Bozeman the night before the game so everyone got to come hang out for a while which is where this picture was taken.

Also at the hotel, this was the morning of the game. There was tons of foam in the hot tub. Tons. Like a plethera.

California

The weekend of the 18th we were able to go to Santa Clarita, California. We stayed with the very nice Maxsons once again. It was strange to be back in the California atmosphere and not have to work. We were rushed however, so squeezed in as many visits with people as we could. We stayed until Tuesday afternoon and then made a stop at a hotel in Mesquite on the way home. It was really nice to see everyone again and Avril was good for the most part on the drive.

Avril finally meets her extended family. Uncle Adrian, Aunt Arleen and cousin Brittney.


Spending some quality time with her cousin Brittney. Brittney and Avril really clicked as evidenced by Avril's endearing look.

Avril and I were looking at the ceiling fan. We think it is just so cool how it goes around and around and around and around. Truly quality father-daughter time.

Our friend Kandi is pregnant with her first child. She is waiting to find out if she is having a boy or a girl. Also, Avril was really excited to be in this particular picture.

This is Avril and her best friend, Cali. They are only about a week apart, so they feel each other's pain of being misunderstood.

Nathan, Avril, Alicia, and Mason :)

Ali, Avril, Jeremy, Me (Jesse)

Richard and Sandy loved Avril (especially Sandy, aka- grandma #3). Avril loved them as well. We know this because she rarely cried when Sandy held her, even though she has a bad case of stranger anxiety.

Each year on April 16 there are a plethera of birthdays in my new family. Jared, Adrian and Arleen Parkinson all celebrate on this day. We had the privilige of going to dinner for Jared's birthday with Grandma and Grandpa, mom and dad and of course our sweet little baby Avril.



Sizzler offers a free root beer float on your birthday and my bro-in-law cashed in on it!

Avril came along to say happy birthday to her uncle Jared and ate a steak while we were there. Sorta...

Here is the senior gang plus my dad-in-law.

Alicia and Avril during one of Avril's better moments.

"The youth" of the group bundle together here for a picture taken by Avril's grandma. This surprisingly only took one shot to get. A first since I've been a part of this wonderful good-looking family.

Happy Easter!!

Avril got all dressed up for Easter Sunday so of course we pulled out the camera :)


I heard there was an Easter bunny that's supposed to come...


I don't see one so back to sleep...

Our Six Week Old

It's hard to believe we've been parents for six weeks now. It feels like we just received a picture of the ultrasound and were debating whose face shape our squashed little fetus would have. Little Avril is starting to develop a sense of stranger anxiety and definitely knows who her mommy and daddy are. She is starting to make attempts at talking (nothing remotely close to words, turns out we don't have a baby genius). She is a sweet little girl and loves to take walks outside and as well as eat, poop and sleep.


Here is Avril making one of her first attempts at talking. You can tell something is on her mind, but the cat's got her tongue.


And then she starts to say it...


And with that little grin she knows she got the message across with perfect clarity.

But when no actions were taken by those around her, she wonders if everyone around her is stupid or just non-compliant.

Also going on in our lives was a birthday party courtesy of Ina Olsen. Ina turned 27 years old. We had yummy lasagna and salad with bread. Dang good cooking by Ina's mom. Pictured above from left to right are Alicia, myself, Ina and Alex. Everyone (meaning the girls above) was so mean to Alex during this set of pictures. They told him he looked evil, high and blamed him for closing his eyes on countless occasions.

Since the girls decided Alex was no good for pictures, he was replaced by Eric and Alina. I consider him a smart, smart man because he no longer had to sit through pictures...

Great Grandma Parkinson is trying to comfort a wailing baby Avril. Mommy looks over with relief as someone other than herself is stuck with the fussiness.

Stephanie Muncy, Avril's first cousin once removed is pictured above holding the baby.

The Muncy family visited us all the way from Elk Grove, California. I unfortunately was working when they were here, but they are Alicia's first cousins.

Smile Avril!

We didn't catch it on video...

But I was determined to catch her smiling...