Let the Fall being

Well September is right around the corner! And we couldn't be more ready for a break from the heat. Ok, I'll be honest, I never thought I'd say this, but August wasn't so bad here in the ole AZ. We actually had a lot of fun as we found ourselves on several different adventures. We were a busy family which made August (and the heat) go by faster. The best thing that happened to us this August came to us last week when Kim got offered a promotion at work ! We were so happy to have this come around. No, Liz has not been offered any type of promotion, yes Kim's job is better than mine. Thank you to all of our families and friends who have been praying for us and helping us out. We are so blessed to have this small but important promotion for Kim. The first of many as Kim and I say.

This past weekend, Gavin had his first playdate. This is his buddy Elijah, from school. Eli and Gavin had a couple hours of playtime while Eli's mommy and older brothers got to go watch a movie without a toddler. Eli and Gavin were so cute together and we had a lot of fun that day.

We ended our August with Gavin getting a double ear infection. Poor guy. This month he also got all 4 of his 1st molars in. After a bottle and a half of baby tylenol later, we got through August. Due to his double ear infection and his medicine, he had a hard time keeping down food for a couple of days. So this day he got to spend the day at home with mommy, where we played hide-and-go-seek and fried up some baby.

Last weekend, we were invited to go to Lake Pleasant, a nearby lake here in Arizona. We were invited by Kelsey and her bf Carl and his parents. They have a boat out on the lake that we were able to spend the day on. Because of Gavin's ear infections, we didn't want him to go out on the water, so he spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton, while Mommy and Daddy had a blast on their day at the lake.

So the weekend before the lake adventures, it was a quiet weekend, so Gavin and Liz decided to get crazy. At work, we got a new dryer, and I was able to take the box home. After 6 hours of cutting, taping, and measuring, Gavin had an amazing new camo box fort to enjoy until it is destroyed. That was it for that weekend.

The highlight of our August came the first weekend of the month. We started our August with an amazing and much needed vacation to Lake Tahoe. We went because Liz's cousin, Matt was married to his long childhood sweetheart, Amy. We had so much fun at their wedding catching up with other Kirks and dancing our hearts out. We ended up staying 3 more days in Tahoe where we went whitewater rafting, swimming in the Lake, and up the tram at Squaw Valley. Gavin had his first run in with a pinecone. He survived :)

All in all, August wasn't so bad. The temperatures are still terrible but its almost fall and we are looking forward to it. Kim started school last week. Gavin turned 16 months. We'll keep you posted as we get into the holidays. Keep in touch with us.

whitewater rafting pics

Its a hot one!

Liz's all korean-ed out :)

Gavin and Liz all dressed up.

I still can't figure out how to tie that bow.

Look at the little man.

gavin in his korean get-up.

Riding the train at the Chandler Mall. No I will not sit down and put my seat belt on. Are you kidding me?

So I make my Mommy hold me and look out the window at all the kids who didn't get to ride the train.

My Auntie C and I pullin into the train station.

My first black eye/shiner underneath my left eye.

Its Ok, I'm still very tough.

I am so stylish trying on all the different hats at Old Navy.

Lady Killer

Who said you can't ride on a dump truck?

Well summer is upon us here in Arizona. uck! We are hitting those 115 degrees days and 95 degrees nights. Its terrible. Is it September yet?

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. And I apoloize for not blogging sooner. Our computer took a turn for the worse and we ended up taking it to geek squad at best buy. They diagnosed it with a virus and we need a new operating system put in and the computer wiped clean. So I'm at Brent and Christina's house blogging. So what's going on with the Hamiltons?

Memorial Day weekend Liz was diagnosed with Valley Fever. #1-because she hates Arizona and #2-it actually is a real fungal infection that people get when they live in the a)Phoenix valley and b)San Joaquin Valley of California. THree weeks later, Crash was diagnosed with Valley Fever. So Crash and Liz are on their antifungal medicines for the next couple months as we get over our Valley Fever. Its terrible :(

Kim's mom went to Korea for a couple of weeks and came back with traditional ceremonial outfits for Gavin and Liz. Check out the pics to see us getting in touch with Korean roots.

Gavin is getting so big. He's getting words like "doggy" and "more" and "nana" for banana. He's growing up so fast is seems like. His favorite food this week is strawberries and he's starting to get the idea of "running". Well see the next story to see how the running is going.

Last weekend Gavin got his first black eye. He got into this bar fight at school, and all I can say is....you should see what the other guy looks like. Ok, just kidding, he was actually attempting to run and his feet weren't moving as fast as his mind wanted them to. He got tangled up in his feet, feel, and on the way down his face hit the corner of the table at school. So black eye it is.

Anyways, we're surviving our 2nd hotter than the pits of hell summer here in Phoenix. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as the temperatures only heat up. have a great 4th of July everyone!

Playground Fun

Watching the world go by!

The tube is the best. I like to crawl through and play peek a boo!

I'm on top of the world (or the slide).

But the swing is by far the best!

So one of our favorite things to do on a Saturday and Sunday morning, is head out to the playground in the nearby neighborhoods. We (Gavin and Mommy) walk Crash to the playground and make a whole morning out of playing and swinging. Granted we are outta the house at 7am and we are back by 9am because after 9am you're gonna hit those 3-digit temps! (Yes, Another disasterous summer in 'ole Arizona outback has begun).

This morning, just like most Sat and Sun mornings, we headed out to the playground. Me and the boys. And we're walking, and we're get to the playground, Gavin squeals with joy as I pull him out of the stroller and he runs towards the playground structure. This time however, he stops and plops himself in the sand instead of starting to go up the stairs. He starts grasping sand in his fists and looking at it, playing with it. I'm thinking to myself, "odd, but ok, we're experimenting with touch of sand." He starts laughing and getting more bold as he starts throwing the sand he picks up in each fist. Then as if in slow motion, a fist goes up, full of sand...he stares at it a moment, and looks at me. Then as if his eyes were the window to the thoughts in his brain, I lunge toward him......but I do not make it there in time as that fist full of sand........goes straight into his mouth.

Baby's 1st Luau Pics

In the pool with Uncle Taco....and my trusty Honu.

Daddy did a cannon ball that splashed me right out of the pool!

In the pool with my Mommy and all the big kids. I'm so old now!

Eating my favorite fruit, watermelon with my Auntie Daydee.

Me and My Uncle Fatty, we're the coolest ever!

Mamas and Dadas enjoying a Mai Tai, and with all the family that was there, we didn't have to change Gavin's diaper once!

All the Food and decorations of the Luau Party, was perfect! We had Ono's Hawaiian BBQ catering the BBQ Chix and Kalau pork. Kim's mom made the Kalbi and Mike made our rice and veggies. It was the perfect Hawaiian Luau because we had SO-O much food left over.

Cake Eating Time

Eating Cake with my favorite Uncle Taco!

What Happy Birthday to me???

Let's Eat!

Gavin's 1st Birthday Cake