Royce is 2!!!!!!!!!!!!! & San Diego post

this is our new table! Reyn's dad made it for us! We got to bring it back from San Diego this last trip! We love it! Dad Doug did a wonderful job with this! I think it is his finest work so far!


On our drive back to the condo from Coronado Island Royce sat in his car seat and read all about the car toys haha. The drive was like 15 or 20 mins and he was like this pretty much the entire time.

Royce loves to play in the water

So this picture is so funny! royce spilled some of his water on the table and Reyn was watching him and Royce lifted up his shirt to try to clean the water spill haha! So we handed him a napkin and he cleaned the spill and then some haha. He is such a funny boy!

Royce in San Diego on the bed sporting his new spongebob jammies! He also loves Bob bob (Spongebob)

the bday cake, my mom got it for Royce! He LOVES CARS! He was so so so excited for his little cake!

Royce's new tent

Pizza for the 2nd bday party with my family!

Reyn and Royce checking out all the new toys.

the kids helping Royce open his presents.

The sub we got for the bday party with Reyn's family.

* Well Royce is 2 years old! I can't believe it has already been 2 years! He is so fun and energetic! He has such a wonderful spirit about him. We are so grateful for our little man! We had a swim party with Reyn's sisters and their kids the night before his bday. We had subs and snores. YUM! I didn't do good at taking many pictures and the ones i posted are all blurry sorry.

* Then on his birthday Aug 24th my family was here to celebrate! He is such a loved little boy! He got so many presents. And he does a great job at being excited about all of them haha. He is so expressive! We had a lot of fun watching him open his presents and then bringing them to uncle Donny haha. He got the dinosaur Rex from the movie Toy Story and at first he yelled "dinosaur!" Then once he discovered it makes a noise he was terrified of it. And now he will look at it and say "dinosaur" but if i ask if he wants it he shakes his head no. so maybe he will warm up to it eventually haha.

* We took him to the doc he is 24 lbs. The doc said I need to bring him back in 6 months for a weight check. He said he isn't at failure to thrive but he is barely on the charts. Then the doc said that we aren't very big people so Royce is just going to be on the smaller end. He said Royce looks great and looks healthy just small. So I just need to keep doing what I am doing and try to get him to eat. (which has been an ongoing battle since he turned 18 months) He does however drink lots and lots of milk. So at least he is getting something. Royce is such a great kid. He has his wild fits. but over all he is a lot of fun. He is learning so fast. He probably says about 50 different words. But only when he wants to say them haha. He has started to put together 3 word sentences. He will grab his and my shoes and say "momma shoes outside" He loves to go outside and take walks. We go out every night before bed and let him run the neighborhood. He says more 3 word sentences but I can't think of any right now. I know real good mom haha. Lately though he has been tattling on me to Reyn. If I tell Royce it is bed time and try to get him to relax and get ready for bed he runs to Reyn and points at me and says "dadda, momma..... jabber jabber jabber." But he does it whenever Reyn is home now. If I tell him what to do or what not to do I get tattled on. Oh well haha.

* We took one last summer trip to San diego on Aug 26th. We came back on Sunday. It was a great little vacation. Reyn's aunt Lynn and Uncle Joe came down from Stockton to visit us. And we had a great time visiting with them. We really enjoyed Reyn's 3 week break from school.

Now he is in full swing with school again. And Royce and I are back to just hanging out. On Monday I will start watching a little girl from our ward. I will have her 2 days a week. Then on Wed I start the first day of Joy school here at our house. I am kind of nervous for it. But very excited at the same time. I think it will be great for Royce to interact with other kids. And get some learning time in as well. It will be a busy couple of months. But I am excited for it all. Whatever helps make time go by faster with Reyn is school.

And that is what has been going on with us. :)

Catch up, I'm always playing catch up haha

church in Felicity, Ca

Stairs from the Eiffel Tower in Felicity, Ca

Center of the World Plaza

looking down at Felicity from the Church hill. All those are huge granite slabs with etching of the histories of Az and California.

The Pyramid. If you are standing inside this pyramid you are in the "Center of the world" We didn't get to go on the tour. Because we went on a Sunday on our way home from San Diego.

Royce is obsessed with pushing this stroller around. But rarely sits in it. which makes walks *sigh* fun? haha. NOT!

The 3 of us in the pier :)

Reyn and I got to go on a bike ride! It was beautiful!

I was taking pictures like a crazy woman with my cell phone and later that day i went through them. And came across this picture! I love it! It is so neat how it turned out. Not even on purpose. :)

Royce kept throwing sand at papa doug.

Royce loved this Tractor! He carried it all over!

So Royce saw these guys playing with this football. And when they went into the water to play in the waves Royce decided to take it!

And decided he should bury it! haha! it was funny

Well Reyn has been on a break from school the last few weeks. He goes back August 30th. So we spent a weekend up in Lakeside with my family. For Aubrey's bridal shower. Which was fun :) The weather was gorgeous! Then on that following Monday we went to San Diego. It was our longest stay yet! We were there for 6 days! We had so much fun! We love the beach so much! Royce was so fun this trip. He is fearless in the water. Which scares the heck out of me. He just runs out into the waves and then gets knocked over. And gets right back up and runs further in the water! Reyn had to stay close by him because he was so crazy out there haha! We really enjoyed our time there. So much that we are going back this Thurs before Reyn starts school. We've had a great little vacation with Reyn home. This week will be busy busy! Tonight we are celebrating Royce's Bday with Reyn's sisters and their kids. Then tomorrow is our big boy's BIRTHDAY! he is going to be 2! I can't believe it! My family is coming down for the 3 bdays we celebrate Royce's, Aubrey's and Amanda's. SO tomorrow night we party with the Borrego's! Then Wed Aubs is going through the temple! SO excited for her! Thurs we pack up and head back to San Diego til Sunday! Busy busy! But we are so very blessed! We have wonderful families that take good care of us :)

Tomorrow I hope to have pictures of Royce's bday! Can't believe it has been 2 years already!

To be that person

On Monday of this week I drove up to the mtn with out Reyn. :( Royce and I loaded up we picked up Aubrey drove to Globe and picked up Grannie then arrived in Lakeside. I have such a hard time being away from Reyn over night. But I felt that I had to go to the mtn. A dear friend of mine passed away and his funeral was on Tuesday. I felt that I needed to pay my respects to him and his family. He wasn't my close friend probably ever, but Hans was one of those people that if you know him you will always be his friend. I had piano with him when I was younger. He was always good at it and always did what he was told by the piano teacher. I on the other hand never practiced and never progressed. My mom just said I had to do piano for 2 years. So I eeked my way by. Which I thoroughly regret. I wish so badly that I paid attention. I regret that I don't have any idea how to play the piano. :( Anyway this isn't about piano haha. So back to Hans. This man lead a full beautiful life. Although he died young, he had lived more than some that die old. That statement was said at his funeral. And it is the truth. He did ever thing and anything to serve others. Hans had a very sure strong grasp on the gospel. He just had it together. Even though he was a convert you would of thought he was a member his whole life. I really enjoyed hearing stories of his life. The fun he had and the service he gave. He had a beautiful little family that he left behind. Which my heart still aches at the thought of them. But we are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives. To know that Hans is just on another "mission" and that he will be with his family again someday. After going to his funeral and hearing only great things of Hans and knowing that there isn't a person in this world that could say anything bad about him. After that I have realized that I hope to have that same legacy. I hope that someday I can be known as a great friend to everyone I meet. I hope that I can say I lived a full beautiful life. And that I had an impact on somebody. After his funeral I feel like it has really put things into perspective. The important things in life. And it isn't the popularity or the fancy things. It is my family and the gospel and living as Christ like as I can. Just as Hans did. There is a quote "Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you" -unknown- This quote reminds me of Hans. And reading this quote makes me want to try harder to be a better person. To be a better friend and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I want to be a better wife and mom and sister and daughter. Thank you Hans for being such a wonderful example to so many. At his funeral his brother said that their dad always said "it isn't good bye, it's see ya later" I love that. So see ya later Hans. Thanks for your wonderful legacy you left behind.

busy busy

I LOVE this face haha! He cracks me up! We went with a friend to the art center for youth.

Uncle Donny and Royce in their fort

Royce's chocolate mustache and goatee

Hanging out in his pool in the backyard.

The last few weeks have been crazy! The last week of June I watched my niece and nephew. I drove out to their house and we swam and hung out. My niece Landis and I went to see Eclipse on that Friday. And I loved it! :) Royce enjoyed the company of his older cousins and seemed to enjoy their dog Casper. He was calling Casper, Basket. Haha. If the kids would yell out to Casper to be quiet Royce would be right behind them yelling "BASKET!" It was really cute. haha. For the 4th of July my family came down. Except my mom wasn't able to she had to work :(. We hung out and had fun. We didn't go to any of the festivities. We avoid keeping Royce out passed his bed time. We regret it every time. So we just came home and put him to bed. Donny stayed with us that week. And Royce LOVED IT! They played with cars and went swimming and they built blanket forts. We enjoyed having Donny here with us for the week. Then my mom and Hannah came down and on Saturday we went dress shopping with Aubrey! It was really fun. We spent a long time searching but came out with the perfect dress in the end. It really is such a gorgeous wedding dress! Aubs look STUNNING! Grannie was down here with mom and Hannah and we went to our cousins reception. That was fun. Good to see the family that we never get to see. Everyone went home that weekend. Hannah was supposed to stay with us for the next week. But she was excited to get home because dad finished her bed. And she really wanted to work on her room. We were sad she didn't stay but we understand. So July 12th Royce started swim lessons. He goes Mon thru Thurs for 10 mins each day. We are now on his 7th lesson tomorrow. He is doing pretty good. He screams nonstop the whole time haha. Well this week he has been doing better. Not screaming so much. He floats really well. And he can monkey walk. And he holds his breath pretty well. Miss Jennifer will have him swim to the wall and grab on and monkey walk. He doesn't like being on his back at all. So when she has him on his back "night night" he screams. Then she has him wake up and he is fine. He just has 2 more days of swim lessons. Then it is up to me to keep his memory fresh of all the things he has learned. It is recommended to go through another session but I don't think I have the energy to go 2 more weeks. It has been such a hectic summer for me. I am just happy that I got Royce the 2 weeks of swim lessons. Last night Reyn had a White coat ceremony for P.A school. They give the 2012 P.A's their white coats that they will be wearing during their clinical rotations. It was pretty neat watching Reyn go through it. Because even though he still has 2 years til he is done at least he is that much closer than he was before. We had dinner with his family and enjoyed our time together. :) Reyn has 3 more weeks of stressful classes. Then he gets a 3 week break. In that 3 weeks time we hope to be in San Diego and Lakeside. Getting out of the heat. ;) I started working out again. I really want to lose another 10 to 15 pounds before Aubs wedding. Which is Sept 3rd! So actually reasonably I will prob get 6 or 7 lbs off by her wedding. And then keep on working the pounds off from there. So there you have it. The busy summer with the Gunnells :) This is really more just for my journaling purposes haha. But there is our update.

My bday post

A wonderful friend called me up on Monday and asked if i had a vase she could borrow. I said "yes come on over, what size do you need?" She said when she gets here she will see which one will fit. Well when she came she had 18 pink roses in her hand, and said "i was just making sure you would have a vase for these." So sweet! I love them! I am very blessed to have such a fabulous friend!

Amanda came over early on Sunday and had these beautiful flowers for me and cupcakes. I love flowers! Glad I ended up with 2 sets for my birthday!

While in San Diego in April I saw a necklace I really liked. But didn't get it when I first saw it. Well when I went back for it IT was gone! The lady said she didn't have anymore in stock. Well my sis in law was in San Diego a few weeks ago and she saw a necklace she loved and had her mom go in and look at it. And her mom, mom Ellen , started laughing and said "that is the necklace Heidi wanted!" So on Sunday when i opened my birthday gift from the family it was this necklace! I LOVE IT! Thanks Paula for letting me have it. :)

Aubrey made this beautiful little "flower garden" and filled it with these flower clips she made! I love them! Thank you Aubs! And Patrick :)

This picture was taken Way back on Mother's day. My dear friend took it and I finally got it to post :) too bad Royce isn't looking. The other pictures he was but the pictures were sideways and i don't know how to flip them.

I made my first lemon berry fruit tart. It was amazing! I just wanted to post how pretty it was. :)

Well another year has come! I am officially a quarter of a century old! 25!!!!! I don't feel 25 in fact i still feel 18 some days! But I guess it is good to still feel young haha. I had a wonderful weekend birthday celebration. On Thurs we took dinner to our friends house and I brought my fruit tart for dessert. It was a hit! I came home with only 1 piece left! :) On Fri we got to hang out with Reyn's mission buddy and his family. We ate at 5 Guys! ;) And we just enjoyed visiting with them. They are moving to New Mexico and they've lived in Payson for the last 3 years. So we saw them when we could. But now they aren't in Payson for us to visit. :( We really enjoyed our time with them. Sat We had Pei Wei for lunch and Fire house sub for dinner! SO good! I know lots of eating out, but we rarely get to. And now with Reyn in school eating out will happen less and less. On Sunday was my actual birthday. Amanda came over and stayed with Royce while Reyn and I went to church. Royce was sleeping cuz church starts right at his nap time! And so he misses the first 2 hours. And since we have sacrament last Reyn brings him to that. Yes he is inactive, but he isn't worth fighting when he is tired. Anyway so Amanda had to do laundry so she was here while Royce slept. WE had wonderful speakers in sacrament and it was great to sit and listen to them! :) After church we prepared dinner. I had chicken in the crock pot and we made enchiladas :) And the whole family came over, well 2 of Reyn's sisters and their families. Then Aubs and Patrick came and Amanda was here. To top it off Reyn had Paula pick up Sprinkles cupcakes! SOOO GOOD! I had a wonderful birthday! I am so grateful for my family and the love the show me! Reyn did a wonderful job at making me feel so special and being the best husband i could ever ask for! I am so thankful for Reyn! So after all the partying and eating out and good stuff. Reyn started school on Monday! It is so weird to think it is here! And he has finally started the P.A program! I am very proud of Reyn and his many accomplishments over the last 5 years of our marriage! Good job baby! ;)

Sorry post overload!

I tried to get another picture of us

this is the entryway - so pretty

Here we are at the Fairmont!

getting a picture with all my siblings and royce with grannie. :) we had 3 cameras to look at, so some of us aren't looking.

Here we are with grannie before taking her to my cousins house.

Grannie switched the candles haha, and was showing me that she did. lol

Grannie B-day is June 9th so we got her a cake on Sunday and celebrated early. She isn't here at my house anymore. My cousin is taking care of her this week.

Grannie taught me how to make red chili too! Also delicious!

the finished product! AMAZING!

the green chili without the tomato

grannie peeling the tomato

We peeled them. and cut them up.

Grannie and I roasted peppers! For green chili!

He loved playing with the water and using the hose.

We got a little pool for Royce. We've only played in it a few times, we've been so busy!

Every night we took a walk with grannie. This night Royce decided he wanted to take his barn with him. He carried it the whole walk.

close up of his mustache

Royce's chocolate strawberry mustache.

Alright I a lot to catch up on. On May 27th I had my grannie come and stay here with us. She had open heart surgery and needed to stay down here for doc visits and she needed to have somebody with her at all times. So I was blessed with her in our home. We had such a wonderful time! But before grannie came over I was cleaning the house and Royce got a hold of the baby powder. It was EVERYWHERE! I like to sprinkle baking soda mixed with carpet stuff onto the carpet when I vacuum and he seems me do that. And so he decided to sprinkle the flagstone with baby powder to "help" clean. So when he got quiet I came in and noticed this powder all over Royce and the floor and the door and in his room all over. I just laughed, because what else can I do. he was just doing what he sees me do.

Reyn also surprised me with an evening at the Fairmont in Scottsdale! My mom and Donny and Hannah came down on Friday. My mom and I went to a reception Friday night. Then Saturday Reyn and I did a session at the temple, which was much needed. Then we went to the Fairmont. While my mom and siblings babysat Royce! We had a good time away, I missed Royce so much though! It was our first night away from the little guy. But it was a great surprise. We ate so much! We ate at Bourbon Steak, a restaurant in the hotel. It was so good! I did get pictures of all our food. But I have so many pictures in this post already.

I had Grannie here for 10 days. We had a wonderful time! I am so grateful that I was able to spend time with her. And have her teach me her secret recipes! :) Now that she isn't here I don't know what to do with myself. haha, it feels weird to have her gone. She was good company. Between grannie and Royce I kept very busy. Making her meals and cleaning up after each meal and keeping up with Royce. And trying to keep up with house work. It was a wonderful 10 days though! I'm very blessed to of had the time with grannie. Royce, I think, also enjoyed having grannie here.

Well I think so far that is all that has been going on over the last few weeks. It's already been a busy summer and it doesn't look like it will slow down. But that is ok with me! The busier the summer is the quicker it goes by and the quicker we get out this heat! haha!

Oh ya, Reyn had an orientation today for school. Tomorrow is his last day of work. June 14th is his official start day for school! It is crazy to know he is finally starting school! We are so excited and so scared. Lots of changes coming our way!