Linkin's New Tricks

Here is what Linkin is up to at 20 months!

-He is completely obsessed with forks. I have no idea what brought this on or how to get rid of it, but he feels the need to constantly have a fork in his hand and run around with it. Not so much safe. He knows where every silverware drawer is at every house we go to and goes straight for it and asks for a fork. You can't get him to forget about it and do something else either. He is very stubborn and wants what he wants. (I have no idea who he gets that from :)
- He is starting to say a lot of words. (or at least try them out) He says, popa, grandpa, (kinda nana), mommy (but not when prompted. If I ask him to say it he says daddy), spoon, bee (for his brobee doll), hi (his first word of course), gabba (for his favorite show Yo Gabba Gabba). HIs favorite phrases are: I want a bite, I want to play, I want to go outside. Apparently I'm the only one who understands these phrases! =) Other people just say how did you know that?
-He is starting to be a big helper. I ask him to go and get a diaper and he runs and gets one for me. After we change his diaper he will go throw the dirty diaper in the trash can. (He loves to throw anything and everything in the trash can. I have to check it for toys a couple of times a day because he slips them in all sneaky like when I'm not looking)
- He is very aware of the big kids and what they are doing and thinks he can do it too. Even if he may need mommies help to do it!
-The bath tub is the funnest place in the house. It's more fun with daddy though. Mommy is more in and out kinda girl and daddy plays fun games. Linkin has learned all sorts of fun tricks in the tub. He likes to lay on his belly and roll around. Crazy boy!
-His favorite game is to run and tackle mom or dad who is laying on the ground. It is especially fun for him when he catches us off guard and we get the wind knocked out of ourselves.
-He is learning to feed himself. This is a messy process, but he refuses help a lot of the time or at least must be doing it too. He's getting pretty good but mostly dumps it on the floor.

New Ward

(He looks like a little man now not a baby anymore! Sooo big!)

We went to our new ward on Sunday. I swear this is the quietest ward I have ever been to. All of the other children were so well behaved and not making any noise and than there was my little man screaming "basketball" at the top of his lungs and pointing to the hoop in the over flow. We lasted about ten minutes and than were in the hall the rest of the time. The problem was even in the hall he was so loud that people could hear him in the chapel. All the doors were open to the chapel so as he's running around the hall every one could still hear him. I thought we made quite the first impression. haha. Everyone was like who's the new family. jk.

Linkin went to nursery but got kicked out after Sunday school. They said he was crying, but I don't know why he was so sad. He usually loves nursery. It might take a few times to get use to all of the changes he's been through with the move and everything.

Everyone seemed really nice and I'm very excited to get to know everybody. I already know a few people in the ward and can't wait to meet the other moms. We miss you Desert Hills ward, but we are excited for our new adventures in the Larkspur ward!

(I jumped in for a quick pictures and Doug was like Hillary let's go to church. :)

Zoo

Today we got up way early to take our little kiddos to the zoo. Link is sleeping soundly now from his great adventure! The libraries have been doing these things called culture passes. You go check them out and than you can go to places all around town and get yourself and 3 others in for free!!! Our friends have been taking full advantage of these passes. We have gone to the Children's museum, the Science Center, and of course the Phoenix Zoo! We have had way to much fun, and all for free! Here are some pictures of our fun trip.

Dude! This is a freakin baboon!!! This thing was a little creepy for me, but Link just gave him the crazy eye stare. :)

Just a random FYI, that is not me talking and laughing. That is the little girls mom who is standing next to me. The laugh is kinda creepy. lol. Linkin was so good playing with that little girl though. I was so proud! He didn't smack her or push her once!!!!!!! That is huge. We've been working on that. Yeah Linkin! You also gotta check out Linkin's "happy feet" as Tiffany likes to call them. The boy just kinda bounces around instead of walking or running. It's hilarious.

This picture cracks me up because Dani and Jackson were posing and than Jackson just took off running so it ended up being a picture of Dani posing. She's gonna kill me but I had to post it! Too funny to pass up. Love you Dani! :)

I don't know why I had my glasses still on in the cave, but oh well. This was really cool, but Link wasn't really a fan. He liked playing outside better. He had me in the death grip and wouldn't let me put him down. It is kinda scary with the lights, fog, and pretend animals in there. Jackson loved it though. After this I took Linkin outside and got soaking wet! I was more drenched than he was. It felt good though since it was 100 and something outside. Good thing I wore my bathing suit!

And that was "the end" of our zoo trip! hahaha I really crack myself up! :) (Doug doesn't understand why I think this pic is funny and I don't either but it cracks me up!)

Been a While

(taken earlier in the summer when you could still do the park and splash pad activity. Now it's waaaay to hot!)

I know it's been a while since I blogged, so I will do my best to catch up! Doug and I just moved into a new apartment! We are still in Scottsdale, but we moved like 4 blocks down the street. We are way excited because we got a super sweet deal on rent and can hopefully save a bunch of money so we can eventually get a house. Don't get me wrong, I love apartment life with all of it's noisy neighbors, parking lots, crappy appliances, and disgusting carpet, but one day a house will be nice! :) The bummer part about moving was that we had to switch wards. :( I had to get released from my calling as secretary in Young Women's and Doug had to keep his calling as Stake Athletic Director. (seriously the hardest job. No joke. Who knew Mormons could get all grouchy and fight so much over a basketball game!) We go to our new ward tomorrow, and I have heard awesome things about it. The coolest thing about moving is I can see an amazing park from my front door. Right now it's taunting me because it's a million degrees outside, but once the weather cools down Linkin and I will seriously live at that park. Everyday he stands by the door and says "outside." I try to tell him it's to hot, but than he just brings me his swim suit. The kid is a serious genius, I swear! So that's enough about out moving.

(This is Linkin helping me unpack! I just want this picture to show him when he is 16!)

Everyone has been asking about Doug's new job. He has a job already set up starting this month, but he also has 2 other jobs in the works. Monster called and they want him to come back to work for them so he is in talks with them, and Cox is starting a new division and he is interviewing with them. We will see what happens with all of those jobs. Right now we are just waiting to see what happens. I say go where ever makes him happy to go to work everyday. (and bring home the bacon! jk)

(This picture was taken in April when we went up to go visit over Conference weekend)

Last week Doug, Linkin, and I also drove up to Utah. Doug's grandma passed away last week and we went up there for her funeral. It was a great celebration of her life and the services were especially great. She was such a wonderful woman who impacted so many peoples lives for the better. Listening to all of the speakers made Doug and I think how we could be more like Grandma Christlieb and serve other more. We love you grandma!

Doug and I stayed in Bountiful at my aunt and uncles house. One of the nights my cousin Dana gave Linkin the best haircut ever! Seriously! I have had his hair cut here, but nobody did such a good job. If you're ever in Salt Lake and your kid needs a hair cut, go to Cookie Cutters and ask for Dana! She's amazing!!!! We were all cracking up laughing watching him get his hair cut because it took 2 suckers and Yo Gabba Gabba to get him to sit still. We threw him in the tub and cleaned him all up after that! (the day before he pooped in their tub and completely horrified me! He had never done that before and chose that exact moment to do it. SOOO embarrassing!)

Gotta double fist those suckers! One red, one green. Sounds tasty!

Final product!!!! Look how big he looks with it all spiky! Cute little man!~

I think that's pretty much all that's happened, but I'll try to do better blogging!