Eleven months old!

Hello, Good-bye

Dan and Jessica had a "Wedding Open House" this weekend. It was held in Canon City (about an hour south of us). We went down Saturday and spent the night; then we drove home Sunday. The event was as beautiful as the reception the week prior because it was again held in a beautiful backyard. Chris took some Hallie/Mommy pictures for us.

On Sunday Hallie became obsessed with the word "Hi." When I took her to the bathroom at church she repeated "Hi!" at least seven times (I think she liked the sound of her echo). When we let her crawl around in Sunday school she started to say "Hi!" again and again! Finally, on our way home I turned around to look at Hallie in the backseat. When she saw me she gave me a big sweet smile and in a slow, soft voice she said "Hi!" That was my favorite "hi" of all. It melted my heart.

Hallie is also getting quite good at "ba-bye." Yesterday when we were leaving Grandma Hinkson's she said it twice. Then, this morning when we were playing in her bedroom she said it in a sweet high-pitched voice when I waved at her.

Vernal

We finally got a chance to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Allen in Vernal. We hadn't been there since before we went to college in 2004! Thankfully, Grandma and Grandpa visited us in Colorado Springs shortly after Hallie was born. So, this was there second time meeting the baby.

Grandma spoiled us with wonderful home-cooked meals (as always). We enjoyed spending time with Grandma, Grandpa, and my cousin Mason. One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting the Maeser cemetery where I looked at the graves of my ancestors.

Hallie's hair turned out particularly funny after one of her baths. She also acted like she was a kid and not a mere ten-month-old when she sat up in the "big-girl" chair in the back room.

Family photos

Another great reason for weddings (besides the joy of a couple marrying) is the excuse to take family pictures when everyone is dressed-up! Here are some photos of the family.

Pretty in pink

I loved the excuse to buy a new fluffy dress for Hallie! Since Jessica selected pink as her wedding color, Laura and I went shopping and found the cutest dress for $16 at Baby Depot. Here she is playing dress-up.

Dan & Jessica's Wedding

Chris' youngest brother, Daniel, and his wife, Jessica, were married in the Salt Lake temple on Friday, August 3. It was a beautiful sealing ceremony with Elder Joe J. Christensen as their sealer. Afterward we attended a beautiful luncheon in their honor. It was catered by our Aunt Melony Hinkson. The food was fabulous and the fresh flowers and pretty linens made for a beautiful atmosphere. To top the day off, an evening reception was held in the gorgeous backyard of the Brinton residence in Provo. The trees were mature and the brook was calm. It was perfect. Chris and I commented that it was the best wedding we had ever been to!

Baby blues

Auntie Laura gave Hallie a beautiful blue dress that matches her eyes so well. Here are some pictures of our happy baby's happenings on a Sunday in the beginning of July.

She rolled around on the floor at great-grandma Skaggs' house. She then had her first of great- Grandma's famous strawberry sherbet (given by Mommy and Grandpa Skaggs).

Later, we traveled to great-grandma and great-grandpa Hinkson's where she played with Daddy and fell asleep in Grandpa Wynn's arms!

First chocolate cake

Uncle Dan gave Hallie her first taste of chocolate cake. She was very content with it!

Burger Queen

Here is our sweet girl adorned with the crown she received at Burger King in Arizona on our way down to California this summer.

Our little shopper

Now that Chris is back at work and we are settling back into our apartment, I have time to catch up on our blog. Here are some pictures of our cheery baby on a shopping excursion at the Los Alamitos Kohl's back in June.