Clowning Around

Squeezo

I am in desperate need of a lazy moment or two, so here I am. Not that I don't have plenty to do, because I really, really do. For instance, my bathrooms haven't seen the business end of a mop in probably three weeks. But that's cuz my mop broke so all of my floors have been just disgusting. And sticky. But let me back up. It is canning season, which means that all of my keeping-the-house-in-a-at-least-somewhat-decent-state-of-cleanliness efforts go into picking, chopping, preparing, boiling, sanitizing jars, etc, etc, etc. So my house has been filthy, and I do mean filthy. Yesterday Wes walked around barefoot for a few hours in the morning and the bottoms of his tiny feet were BLACK. Gross, I know.

But that brings me back to the mop. I have had no mop and no time to mop. This weekend I canned (with some assistance) four batches of grape jam and two batches of applesauce. (This is after a month of canning jar after jar of marinara sauce and salsa). By Sunday the floor was so disgusting that even the dogs wouldn't walk on it. It was so absolutely awful that my sweet husband waited until after midnight to go to the store to get me a new mop.

Why didn't I just get down on my hands and knees and scrub it the old fashioned way, you ask? Well, I had actually done that shortly after the mop broke, and it hurt. My knees, my back, my neck, you name it, and it hurt after scrubbing that much floor on my hands and knees. So when it was that disgusting, I needed a mop.

So that is what I have been doing all day today after a weekend of canning. Mopping. Don't you wish you had my life?

I am very happy that some family were able to put to use the abundance of Concord grapes that grow in my backyard. I am also very, deeply grateful to everyone who helped with the new shed we have been building. I now have hope it might actually, just maybe, be done in time for winter. I have the very best family in the whole wide world.

Some of you may even know that we went on vacation in September. I have, several times, sat down to blog all about it in great detail with a zillion pictures and all. The tasks was so overwhelming that I never got very far with it. And then it dawned on me: no one really cares that much. So I will post some of our favorite photos from one of our favorite vacations. Oh, we went to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in case you were wondering. And yes, it is beautiful, and lush, and warm, and wonderful. Put it on your list of places to visit sometime in your life. You won't be disappointed.


We didn't go on our trip alone! Grant's sister, Jessica, her husband, Shane, and her two utterly adorable girls Jada and Chloe, drove over from Tennessee to play with us! It wouldn't not have been even remotely as fun without them. It was wonderful to spend so much time together, especially since we don't see them very often.
This photo makes the list of favorites because it always makes me chuckle. Grant's brother-in-law, Shane, has these remote control airplanes that are kind of interesting to me but are fascinating to males in a way I will never quite understand. Even these random old men on the beach loved them. What really makes me laugh, is that the old guy's black swim suit looks like a black censor block over his bum Don't worry. I promise we were not taking any pictures of naked bums. ESPECIALLY not old man naked bums.



This was the neat pattern in the sand left when the tide went out.

Bike riding is a must in Hilton Head. There are miles and miles of scenic bike trails, as well as bike rental places right on the resort properties. To rent a bike for a week: $25. The fun and the memories created: priceless.

I love how happy Grant looks in this picture. I also love how he is not pedaling at all. Poor Shane may never recover. I guess he needed to work off all of those packages of Double Stuf Golden Oreos. Seriously. We went through six packages of them while on this vacation. (Okay, okay, FIVE packages of Double Stuf Golden Oreos and ONE package of disgusting, gag inducing normal Stuf Golden Oreos that I bought. Sorry, Shane.)

Aren't my boys handsome?

We went on a pretty-cool dolphin tour while in Hilton Head. It was a beautiful day for it, and we did, indeed, actually see some dolphins!

Wes and water... nothing makes him happier than playing in the bathtub, the swimming pool, the ocean, you name it. He and Grant had some good times together in the water.

I love, love, love this picture. It is Jada dancing in the waves at sunset. It is so free and uninhibited. It makes me wish I was five again.

This is one of my favorite sunset pictures of all time. I love the way the wet sand is reflecting the colors of the sky.

Another beautiful photo by Grant. It is just so beautiful! It makes me wish I was back there. The weather was so beautiful and the water was so nice and warm.... Ahhhh.

Jada has to be one of the cutest, smartest, sweetest kids I have ever met. Evidently she's a little silly, too!

I wish I was sitting in one of those chairs right now.

Wesley the Magnificent!

Here you will see in my hands a washcloth. But this is not just any ordinary washcloth. It is a very special, magical washcloth from India.

Pay very close attention as I, Wesley the Magnificent, will make the washcloth disappear right before your very eyes. I will just place the magic washcloth in the magic photo album....

Then I will wave my hand over it like so

Then I will say the magic words

And then, so quickly that the naked eye can't see it, I will close the cover on the magic photo album....

And, VOILA! the magic-washcloth-from-India has disappeared!

But that's not all. Oh no, that's not nearly all.

If I open the photo album just like so....

wait for it, wait for it.......

SHAZAM! The washcloth REAPPEARS!

It doesn't get any more amazing than that, folks.

Yes, I am truly Magnificent.

Thank you, thank you-- I'll be here all week.

New Camera

Well, as you might have guessed from the title, we got a new camera. Sadly, our last point-and-shoot was lost while camping at Rockport about a month ago. After a long search, we finally accepted the idea that our camera and (even worse) our pictures were gone forever. We went to pick out a new camera, and here it is....

Isn't it pretty?

We figured we should learn how to use it, so I downloaded a series of online photography lessons and we started learning stuff.

We went for a walk in the park and tried our hand at photography. The first lesson was on aperture.

We used Wes as a model quite a bit. Couldn't have a cuter one, if I do say so myself.

Don't you wanna just lie in that sunny spot and take a nap?

Practicing shutter speed: the photo is a little dark, but I thought the splash was cool.
We used Scooter as a model a lot, too. He likes to pose, so it seems. Oscar just runs away.

This picture just cracks me up...

This looks like it could be a Zoolander pose or something.

Wes's new favorite pastime is to help me cook. He loves to hold a "poon" and a "bol" and stir. We made bananna bread and he was so excited about it. He kept running over to the oven to check on it.

The final product. It was delish.

We are taking pictures of EVERYTHING with our new fancy, shmancy camera. (I was trying out the different lighting features for this picture.) It is kinda fun to have pictures of stuff you might not usually think of. Like this:

These were a hand-me-down from my nephews. They are Wes's favorite thing in the whole wide world.

I think this is one of the first pictures taken with our new camera. Grant took this. It looks so good. He has a knack for photography.

Offically Old

I am sure everyone has this experience sometime. This just happened to be my first and I didn't like it.
Grant and I were watching some of my nieces and nephews and they thought it would be fun to look through some of our old photo albums. Of course, my neices thought our old high school dance pictures were especially entertaining. Grant asked the innocent question, " Are you girls excited to go to dances when you get older so you can have cool pictures?" My eight year old niece said, "Yes, but ours will look better 'cause our dresses won't be so old-fashioned." The way she said would make you think I was a pioneer or something-- prairie dress, bonnet and all.

In that moment I felt officially old for the first time.

Some Fun Times

Well, it's been awhile since I have posted anything so I thought I might catch up. We have been busy, what can I say? This summer Grant and I made a pact that we would do anything and everything that came our way. That we would party hardy because last summer we didn't do a darn thing. Zip. Zero. Nada. We had a newborn, that's what we did. The world revolved around feedings every three hours and naps three times a day and even leaving the house was a three-ring circus. I am glad that is over (for the time being, anyway.) Now that we have a toddler on our hands, we said LET THE SUMMER FUN BEGIN! So here's what we have been up to....

This isn't a big event or anything... I just thought it was cool. I spent a few days in early June pruning back our enormous, overgrown lilac bushes. (So enormous and so overgrown that pruning them was like cutting down several trees... and that was just a little pruning!) Anyway, while I was pruning away, I found a robin's nest with three beautiful blue eggs in it. The next day I wanted a picture, and this is what I found:

One beautiful blue egg and two tiny baby birds! Mama bird was not happy about the picture taking. I was a little worried she might peck my eyes out.

Happy Birthday To Me

I turned the big 2-8 this year. In my mind I am still 23. I don't know where the last five years has gone. Anyone know?

Anyway, I wanted to have a nice, baby-free evening out for my birthday, so Grant called my nephew to baby sit. This is the best gig we have found yet: My nephew likes to sleep over at our house, so we put Wes down for bed at 8, then set up my nephew with the video baby monitor and let him watch a movie or play video games while he listened for the baby then we went out. Seeing as Wes sleeps like a log and doesn't wake up until 8 the next morning (knock on wood) we were able to enjoy a late dinner and a movie. We went to Famous Dave's (I can't resist their bread pudding) and then saw UP! in 3D. It was such a fun, birthday-ish movie to see (maybe it was all those balloons...) The picture is of me wearing the 3D glasses, in case you were wondering. It was an awesome evening out. Thank you to Andrew for babysitting!

Fathers Day

Wes giving his daddy a Fathers Day smooch.

For Fathers Day/ June birthdays, we had a big party over at my parents house. It was especially special because every single one of my siblings and their spouses and kids were there. With Scott and Lara in Arizona, and Sam's kids in Washington most of the time, it is a rare and wonderful treat to have everyone together.

Grant decided to organize a little friendly competition. He got a bunch of random supplies together and divided the family up into teams of kids and adults. Then everyone was allotted certain supplies and a raw egg, and had to construct a protective contraption for the egg. Each team then dropped their contraption off the top of a ladder, and the person whose contraption best protected their egg won! It took several drops, but finally the last egg broke and we had a winner! It was the NASA Rejects by an egg crack! Above, Sarah is showing off her team's egg contraption. Sadly, it wasn't the one that won.

Speaking of fathers, Wes is getting at a stage where he is really into his dad. He loves to watch (and participate, whether Grant likes it or not) in whatever Grant is doing. Grant was putting something together in the yard a few weeks ago, and Wes wanted to be a part of it. It was very sweet.

Sadly, Wes also had his official initiation into toddlerhood: scraped knees. He is still a little unsteady on his feet, and ended up scuffing both knees. Poor thing. He felt better with his Sponge Bob bandaids, however.

The Lehi Roundup Rodeo

Wes being helped along by his cousins Tim and Sean.

Wes and his Grandma enjoying the Rodeo.

Wes liked the rodeo more than I thought he would. He loved the horses, and would "moo" when the cows went by. The whole thing was fascinating to him... especially the treats his big cousins were munching on. He has learned the fine art of being cute so that people will share some of their candy.

Earlier that same day, I had the exhausting pleasure of watching six of my nieces and nephews for the day!! Above: Karli, Robbie, Tim, Heidi, Jadon, and Sean enjoying ice cream and the Burger Stop.

The most valuable lesson I learned from the day: never ask six different kids what they want to do.

Wes lookin' cool in some shades... but not liking it very much.

Sean and Tim feeding ducks at the park.

Garage Sale!

Only two days after the rodeo, our family had a great big, combined garage sale. Steve and Jen were paring down their belongings as they were preparing to move. My parents are thinking of moving as well, and in their retirement years have found that they just don't want or need so much stuff! Some of the rest of us simply found ourselves with too much extra junk. It was a lot of work (mostly on Steve and Jen's part) but it was pretty lucrative, and-- dare I say-- fun!

Wes and his grandpa playing with a bear that was waiting to be sold.

Check out all of that stuff! Thank heavens we got rid of it all! What didn't get sold went to D.I.

Wes found this old, beat-up rocking horse that belonged to my brother's kids. Wes liked it so much that they gave it to us for free! My next project is to refinish it. Wish me luck.

The Ward Pool Party

After the garage sale, we needed to cool off! We headed over to the ward pool party. We have lived within walking distance of the Layton Surf n' Swim for three years now, and had never been! It was so much fun! We will definitely be back.

Grant and Wes getting ready to slide!

Wes is a sucker for anything musical.

Just enjoying the playground before it's time to swim!

I love the next series of pictures. It says it all as far as how Wes acclimated to the pool.

"Mom, are you sure about this?"

"Mmmm... it's not so bad, I guess."

"This is more fun than the bath!"

It didn't take long for it to take all of my strength to keep Wes from diving into the water on his own.

FIVE Years of Bliss

On July 2nd, Grant and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. Five years later, and I still can't get enough of that husband of mine.

We celebrated by sending Wes to the neighbors and treating ourselves to a couples massage at a nearby spa. Eighty minutes of pure heaven that left us both feeling like a wet noodle. Ahhhh....

The Fourth of July

This was possibly the busiest day of my life. We live near a park that has amazing 4th festivities. So we invite all of our family over to enjoy it with us! Like I mentioned before, we wanted to do it all this year so we spent days beforehand preparing. My cute cousin even came all the way from BYU- Idaho to attend! We started the day bright and early with the 5k. I was able to look up the route a month ahead of time and run it several times (seeing as it was right in my neighborhood) before the race. It didn't make me any faster, that is for sure, but it helped me to know what to expect.

Approaching the finish line. You can see me waaaaay back there in the red shirt, blue hat and white legs. (I am so patriotic, I know.)

So happy to finally come across the finish line! I was actually still fuming over the fact that the last water stop RAN OUT OF WATER! So the last 50 or so runners (that included me) didn't get any water! I blame my slowness on being so dehydrated.

Grant and Wes and I at the finish line. Grant walked the route with Wes. They left 15 minutes before the runners, and I was hoping to catch up with them so we could finish together. Alas, I was too slow. I still feel pretty good about it: I only trained for a month, and I ran the whole way. SLOWLY... it took 36 minutes. Let's face it, people can walk it faster than that! But by golly gosh darn it, I ran and I finished and that's all that matters!

Feeling tough after the race.

After the race, we went right over to the amphitheater for the flag raising ceremony. I enjoyed the flag raising and the music, but the speeches contained a little too much politics and not enough patriotism for my taste.

Above: Mom, Michelle, Dad, and Wes and I.

My cute nephew Erik had spent the night at our house. Steve and Jen were moving on the 4th, and so we kept him with us so he wouldn't be into trouble while they were busy with other things. He is such a fun, high-energy, high-curiosity kind of kid who told us all about how he loved to see the horses and bulls at the "radio" and how his mom also has a scale in her bathroom so he can see how tall he is. Life is never dull with Erik around.

After a hearty (but quick) breakfast with our neighbors, we walked to the parade that was just at the end of the street. We missed part of it, so I didn't get many pictures. This is after Erik cleaned up on the candy that the cheerleaders tossed into the crowd!!

There was a carnival after the parade, but we were all so exhaused that we all went home and took a nap!!

The fam came over that evening for a fantastic BBQ and some games. Did I mention that the weather couldn't have been better? Overcast and cool most of the day. I don't think it ever even hit 90! Most years it seems like the 4th is around 100 degrees.

Grant is checking on his awesome raspberry chocolate cobbler.

Sam and Brittany brought over their three-man, super-cool slip n' slide for the kids to play on.

Erik thought it was a little cold.

Not Wes! He LOVED this thing. We couldn't get him off of it! It was freezing water, and all of the other kids were too cold to play very long, but Wes just kept on going and going..... much like an energizer bunny.

And what would a 4th of July celebration be without fireworks? This is Karli with her sparkler. We had some fireworks at home, but then we headed down the street to the park to watch the big, awesome fireworks show. Again, I forgot to take pictures of that, but it was incredible. Wes had gone to bed around 8 more exhaused than I had ever seen him before. I couldn't bear to wake him, so my sweet parents opted to stay at the house and listen for him. They said they could see the fireworks show just dandy from our front porch without the walk to the park in the crowds!

What a crazy, busy, fun day it was!