belated birthday and imagine dragons.

Last Friday was one of the best date nights we've had in a long time.  Branson's tradition for my birthday is to take me to a nice steakhouse.  Last year he took me to Morton's steakhouse in LA which you can read about HERE.  This year we tried Ruth's Chris in Salt Lake.  It did not disappoint, although Morton's is still number one on our list.  The week around my birthday was crazy busy, so we were a little late celebrating, but it made for one fun night!

Pure excitement!

Juicy goodness right there!^

After dinner we went to see Imagine Dragons at Energy Solutions arena.  Vivint rented out the entire place and paid for everyone to go.  We also got vouchers for food and drinks.  It was such a blast and they were awesome live! Thanks Vivint!

After dinner we went to Dodo restaurant in Sugarhouse for... MORE dessert.  It was such a cute little place with amazing food.  All you Utahns should definitely try it!

alchemy year-end party.

This past week was filled with tons of fun all thanks to Vivint, the company Branson works for.  His region had a big party up in Heber City that was filled with tons of exciting things.  Branson got to race mini bikes and go-karts, Parker got to play around on the blow-up jumpers and go down slides with mom.  Vivint definitely knows how to throw a fun party!

One more month...

...until we officially have a ONE YEAR OLD! Can't even believe it.

Parker is now 11 months old and it is officially his birthday month.  You bet your bottom dollar i'll be spoiling him all 31 days...you only turn ONE once, right?!

My friend Amber shot a few pictures of us...the top two were taken by her!

Here we go...

*Parker likes to close doors.  He will crawl into a room, shut the door and then start playing with the door stop.  He does it every time.

*He still isn't walking but is getting closer. This kid sure is a speed crawler, though.  He is lightening fast.  He has a new walker that he has mastered, so I'm thinking that will get the ball rolling.  He also loves to push around his high chair as if it is a walker.

*LOVES to give open mouth kisses.  Even to strangers..yikes.
*This little boy is finally starting to cuddle.  When he is sleepy he will rest his head on your shoulder.  We sing him a song every night before bed and he loves to cuddle up into your chest. Heaven I tell ya.

*When he is hungry/eating/sees someone else eating, he smacks his tongue. 

*He has a slight rasp to his voice.  I melt every time he talks or laughs. Can you tell I am obsessed with my kid?

*Still says HI! all day long.  The other day Branson got home from work and Parker crawls over to him and says "Hi dad!" clear as day! It was the cutest thing.  I can't get him to say mama though...I think tries and it comes out baba. I'll keep working on him.

*Loves when we do animal sounds.  They get him to sit still and concentrate every time. The only sound he makes so far is snake, but he learns so quickly.  By the third time we asked what a snake says he made the sound.  I love how something so small makes us so excited. Oh and when we say "What does Parker say!?" He says Hi! Of course. haha

*New favorite food is Lara bars.

*He turns the pages in his books when we ask him to.

*Loves to drink out of glasses or water bottles.  Doesn't quite get the straw thing yet.

*He mimics just about everything we do.  Any sound we make he tries to copy us.

*He loves attention and is so good at making us laugh!

*When music comes on, he automatically starts dancing and moving his head and hips.

*Every time we say good job, he claps and grins so big!  Even if he is drinking a bottle he will drop it just so he can clap his hands.

*When he is finished with his bottle he will throw it as hard as he can.  When I say "all done" he knows that is his cue to chuck it.  haha. I should probably be teaching him some better manners. ;)
*Parker has always done great in the car and used to take naps while we drove around, but now he will only nap in his crib.  Kind of a bummer but makes sense since he sleeps on his tummy.
*Started to point at things.
*Loves loves LOVES little kids.  We will be in a store and if he sees any kid or smaller person walk by, he giggles and smiles so big. We are working on being soft...when he plays with kids he tends to get rough because he just loves them and wants to smother them.
*Loves bath time and hates when it has to end.

Every day gets more and more fun with this little man.  He is learning so much every day and it is so fun to just watch him play and explore.  We think he is a pretty rad kid.  

Happy Birthday month Parker boy! 

holla games.

A bunch of Branson's buddies put together a big event called Holla Games.  There were 16 guys total that participated forming four teams of four.  This event had been in the makings for about a year, so it was pretty legit.  The teams competed in different sports and activities including football, bowling, golf. sand volleyball, and basketball.  Each event was worth different points and whichever team had the most in the end took the championship. We rented out a big house in Vegas that had tons of space to accompany all of us.  It was really fun!  My only request was that more wives come in the future and that the single guys get hitched before next year!  Only three wives were there so I felt pretty outnumbered.  But we had a great time and are looking forward to next years event.

I only captured a few pictures of the week and let's be honest most of them include Parker. ;)

All the boys.

Congrats to team Big Stix for taking the win!

Sister Harmony Rosemary Hadfield.

Branson's sister Harmony left on her mission last Wednesday, September 11.  She is in the MTC for about 12 days and then heads off to Nashville, TN. Branson and I went to a wedding in Tennessee when we were dating and LOVED it! So we know Harm will, too!  Luckily she was able to come stay with us for about a week before her mission so we had a lot of time together.

The night before she left, we all went out to dinner to celebrate. 

We, of course, had to take gobs of pictures!

P-man is definitely going to miss his auntie Harm.  She was the best babysitter ever :)

 The best family shot we got. ^ haha Parker was giving Grammy kisses.

Someone was ready to eat...

The next day went by way too quick.  Harm had to be at the MTC by one, so we ran some last minute errands, got lunch at Cafe Rio, and said our goodbyes.  

We had about three minutes once we pulled up to the curb. It was definitely bittersweet saying bye to Harm.  We will miss her SO much, but we know she is where she needs to be and she will change so many lives out there.  

We love and miss you Harm!

ten months.

Parker is officially in the double digits...10 months OLD!

His latest and greatest achievements are...

*Took his first steps!  He can stand pretty well and will take up to about seven steps on his own.  He is getting better every day. We will have a walker in no time!

*Two top teeth have popped through with a third one on it's way.  His first two teeth didn't even phase him, but he's been much for fussy with these top ones.  Poor guy.

*He loves when the light shines in on the carpet.  He tries to grab it and swat at it.  He also loves to play with his shadow.

*Loves to dance!  He moves his whole body side to side and nods his head.  

*We think he might be a lefty...he hold his bottle one- handed almost always with his left.  He usually picks his food up with his left hand, or sometimes will pick it up with his right and transfer it to his left before putting it in his mouth.

*Plays with door stoppers all. day. long.  Never seems to get old.

*Still obsessed with avocados.  Also loves most green smoothies, raspberries, and bread.

*He almost always prefers veggies over fruit.

*Extremely ticklish on his upper back and legs.  

*Loves to throw things.  I walked in to get him from a nap the other day and his socks that were on him when i put him down were next to the door.  The kids got an arm! 

*Laughs when we say NO or try to discipline.  We aren't very good at being stern.. he makes us laugh so dang easy!

Parks is such a happy boy that loves everyone.  He giggles constantly and says HI all day long.  He is truly the most precious boy we could ever imagine having.  We love him more and more every single day!