Easter

 I was not on the ball at all this year and I did not do Easter baskets.  We purchased candy,a  little toy and new church outfit for Dieter, I just did not put it in a basket.  I figured he wouldn't remember and I always have future years to do the basket thing.  So it was a complete surprise when we walked outside on Sunday morning to find that the Easter Bunny did visit after all.  Dieter was really excited to get this cute basket.  We were so appreciative of whoever did this.  After a few minutes of trying to figure out who had done this nice gesture, we realized it was our neighbors a couple of doors down (the guy that often asks Wes "how's your little dude").  We soon found out that our next door neighbor's children also received the same Easter basket.  What sweet neighbors we have!

 After church we gathered forces with our next door neighbors and another family from church for an Easter egg hunt.  Dieter found the egg that looks like a basketball and was finished.  He didn't need anything else.  He felt he had the coolest egg.  I don't think he was quite old enough to realize that he could/should gather as many eggs as he found.  

James is one of Dieter's friends from nursery.  They had a good time hunting eggs together.  

relaxing weekend?

 A few months ago we found a groupon for a hotel in Pismo Beach.  We bought the deal thinking it would be really great to get away for a long weekend...nice and relaxing.  We were fools, fools I tell you!  It is never relaxing traveling with an 18 month old!  Now I know why my parents never really looked forward to family vacations (7 kids-aye, aye, aye!)  To Dieter's credit we did take the long way to get there by driving on Hwy 1.  We found this little rest stop with a very pretty view before we cut over to get to the coast.  It was windy and I just think Dieter's expressions in a windy situation are hilarious!

Above, he is demonstrating the Tomahawk Chop.  He can't get enough of that move!

We also decided to stop at one of the Missions.  There are several throughout California and we haven't visited any yet so we thought this was a good opportunity.  This Mission is in the movie Vertigo with Jimmy Stewart.  

 Dieter's shirt says "Lil Stinker".  He lived up to that shirt during our vacation!

 Beautiful views from Hwy 1.  I just love California!

 Our next stop was Morro Bay, close to San Luis Obispo.  This is where we should have vacationed.  It was so pretty.  Dieter loved the beach and we found a ton of sand dollars.

 Close to Pismo Beach is a little Danish town, Solvang.  It is a very charming town.  We drove there for breakfast (there famous danish pancakes), which was delicious and drove out of town with some danish pastries!

 This shoe is outside a shoe store in Solvang and gets a lot of attention.  

 Dieter would have been happy if we would have just camped on the beach.  He wanted to spend every waking minute on the sand or in the water (which was freezing cold).  He threw many a tantrums when we tried to go back to our hotel room.  He threw one too many tantrums so we decided to go home a day early.  He was pretty much an angel on the ride home.  Apparently, he did not want to go on vacation. 

Dieter turns everything into a baseball game.  Sticks and rocks on the beach make for the perfect baseball props.

ladies and gentlemen we've created a Braves Fan

Wes found this board book for Dieter awhile ago.  Dieter LOVES it.  He knows who Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, and Warren Spahn are.  He knows how to do the Tomahawk Chop.  Recently, he has been directing me to pitch him the ball (he carries his bat with him most of the time) and then runs the bases after it has been hit.  He loves to watch baseball daily (this makes his daddy happy and proud).  In May we are taking him to a Giants vs Braves game in SF.  Maybe we'll get some Braves autographs while we're there!

he really is a Dieter Bug

 We purchased a yearly zoo pass and it has been really fun to take Dieter to see everything the zoo has to offer.  Wes has every other Friday off, so he gets some of the stay at home dads in our ward together for a man date.  A few Fridays ago they went to the zoo with the kiddos.

Dieter and Atticus as cute kangaroos!

more with mr. giraffe

Dieter placed Mr. Giraffe in the rocking chair and promptly cozied himself next to his best friend.  Pretty soon Dieter was in the sleepy zone.  Thank you Mr. Giraffe!

USA!!

Whenever the Olympics roll around we are glued to the T.V.  I had Dieter chanting USA but the letters didn't process once the camera started rolling.    However, he has the arm motion down pat!  Recently, he has learned the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Chop.  One of these days I'll get it recorded and posted on here. 

apple hill

A couple of months ago we went to Apple Hill in search of a good apple pie.   We invited some friends to come along.  We arrived and only one business (of over 50) was opened.  We ended up with an apple fritter and apple donuts instead.  The apple pie would have been nice, but the pastries were a good alternative, plus there was no traffic to contend with.  We walked the orchards and Dieter was happy to find sticks, sticks and more sticks.  He is a typical little boy.  

Mr. Giraffe

Mr. Giraffe has become Dieter's best friend.  When Dieter gets tired so does Mr. Giraffe.  When Dieter wants his pacifer, Mr. Giraffe wants one too.  It is really adorable to watch Dieter cuddle up to Mr. Giraffe or to see him drag him around the house.  The other day, I was trying to change Dieter's disgusting diaper and he threw a fit.  He hates having his diaper changed.  I finally got him to lay down when he started kicking his feet and carrying on.  So I told him Mr. Giraffe probably needed his diaper changed too.  Dieter thought that was hilarious.  Later on that night, Wes walked into Dieter's room to find him changing Mr. Giraffe's diaper.  Oh how we love this kid!

obsessions

 Dieter has several obsessions as of late.  One of them is his bicycle helmet (not to mention bicycles...like father like son!).  The other morning he insisted I put his helmet on only for him to walk around the house.  He finally made it back to our bathroom where he indulged in a couple of his other obsessions:  Making cute faces in the mirror and turning on the water and getting himself completely soaked!

Some of his other obsessions include:  basketball, baseball (watching the Braves every night with Wes, doing the tomahawk chop), spending time out doors and being the cutest kid around!

monkey

This little boy thinks he can climb anywhere and do anything.  He wants to be grown up so badly.  His new favorite chair lately is this step/stool chair that was my Grandma Dixie's chair.  When I was a little girl I loved this chair so it warms my heart that Dieter has taken a liking to it.  However, he like to climb on, over and anything in between.  I just feel lucky that there have been no broken bones or stitches up to this point.  I'm not so sure we are going to have the same luck through out his growing up years.  I love this little boy!

Stake Conference Shenanigans

 First, I am so behind in posting!  The next few posts probably won't be in chronological order, but I thought they would be fun to share nonetheless.  Now that Dieter is a mover and a shaker we have graduated to the "family" room at Stake Conference.  Our neighbors were also in the room and Dieter thought it was a whole lot of fun.  The neighbor kids love Dieter and he loves them.  I don't know what we will do if they ever move.  William is closest to Dieter in age and he likes to pretend he is his big brother and teaches him all sorts of things.  It's a lot of fun to watch!