Utah Summer 2013

I had my doubts about the ease of our summer sojourn to Utah.  Our trips have been so easy recently since the kids are big enough to play with their cousins and not be totally thrown off their rockers by the shift in their routine and sleep.

Enter Finn. Now it seemed like we would be starting over in the kid traveling department. So with excited anticipation of seeing family and a fair bit of fear, we made our trip.


This was my very first trip that I didn't bring my camera.  I knew my hands would be full of Finn so my phone was going to have to pick up the slack. And it did.  Not very well, especially indoors, but these will have to do.

Aunt Wendy discovered a Darth Vader head and light saber in her basement.  Thank goodness she thought twice about throwing them out, because they made a certain little boy very happy.

I texted my sister Chandra as we landed in Salt Lake, lamenting the fact that while I was now 1000 miles closer to her in Idaho, it was still too far away.

That night she replied back that she was actually in Utah, too!

Such a happy opportunity had to be seized and we spent a lovely morning at her brother in laws house in Bountiful before they headed home.

Finn made his introductions,

and we gathered all the cousins for a picture.  If I'd had a wide enough angle, you would see Max off to the side, being a toad, arms crossed and back turned.

Kind of, exactly like he is this picture from our trip down to BYU campus.

Ava couldn't be lured away from her cousins, so we took the boys to Provo for our stop at the bookstore for some new shirts and chocolate covered cinnamon bears.

Spending time with the cousins is a highlight.  I know I've said it before but my little girl nieces, on both sides, near Ava's age are some of the sweetest girls on the planet.  How we got such drama-free, sweet hearted girls all in the same family is almost a mystery because I've started to believe they are an endangered species.  Ava can tell the difference because she spends a week totally free to be herself, laughing and playing, and we hardly see her.  Every visit Dan and I say this same thing.

And we had a new cousin to meet! At 6 weeks apart, Finn and John will be running around together in not time!

Charlie was so generous with all of his fantastic toys.  

I tried to talk him into teaching Max how to spell but Max is a stubborn student.  Surprising, I know.

  Max and Greta are especially cute together.  Playing and talking and making up stories.   

Since our visit last Christmas, Grandma Linda and Grandpa Don sold their house in Sandy.  We were all a little melancholy for it, especially Dan since he grew up there, but our stay in Midway was great.  The weather, the grass and the views in the mountains were extra pleasant.  

We went to the neighborhood park one evening and every time I turned around I had to take the same picture, it was so beautiful.

So here is some time lapse photography for you.  Ten minutes apart.

The kids started climbing on this gazebo and as I look back at them, I really want to save this one for them to recreate when they're 30.  Have you seen those? Where adults recreate family photos from their childhoods?  I think this one would be great...

Can't you see the adult version of this?

There are some enjoyments in life that are inversely  proportional to the amount of small children you have to do them with.  Swimming is one of those things for me. 

We went a few times, but must say, I was more than happy to sit on the side lines and take pictures of this little wiggle worm.  

  As the week wore on I felt guiltier and guiltier until I gave in and decided Finn should have his chance.  He liked it alright.  

But after a few minutes we found ourselves back on the lounge chairs smiling and taking pictures, which is pretty much our specialty.

And while we're talking proportions, it is clear after uploading my pictures that there is some major DIS-proportion in the amount of pictures of Finn. I can't help it though. I feel it is my duty. He is so easy on my eyes. 

 

 

We took a trip to South Fork Park in Provo Canyon.  That place holds a special part in our little family's heart because Dan and I were coming there before all these little babies were even a twinkle in our eyes.

And it wouldn't be a trip to Utah without a visit (or three) to Cafe Rio.

The baby slept great, the kids had fun, we loved seeing our family! My expectations were totally exceeded, enough so that we really wished for a few more days.

This is Ava the day after we got home.  Missing her family.

She might have been the only one with tears on her cheeks, but we all knew exactly how she felt.

Colton Kid Comp Chart

Who does Finn look like...

You be the judge.

I vote Luke, but I was surprised at how much they all actually looked alike.

Don't Feel Bad for Me

Today Max knelt in front of the exersaucer, where Finn played happily; a complete contradiction to the past few days in which he had been a feverish, miserable mess.  Finn woke up happy this morning, intent on his mission to make me look like an idiot at his pending doctor's appointment.

 Max can't stay away from that baby. He loves him so much.  So much that he wants me to have another baby. Another baby named Bobo.  And he wants to see what will happen when we put Bobo in Finn's seat.  Max hypothesizes Finn will be happy to share.

Anyway.  Max paused from his conversation with Finn, and straight out of a church movie, looked at me and asked, "Where did we come from?"

  "We came from Heavenly Father." I said.

With a look of complete excitement he said,

"Really?!"

I could see the wheels turning and then, "We came from Heavenly Father!"


And he resumed his goo-ing and gaa-ing.  A minute later he popped his face back over the kitchen counter where I stood at the sink, and said with a happy finality,

"We came from Heavenly Father, Mom! I can't believe it!"


Forty five minutes later, just after she'd diagnosed Finn with an ear infection, Max asked the doctor, "Do you know where we came from?"

She looked at me quizzically and smiled.  I smiled right back knowing what was coming next...


"We came from Heavenly Father! Isn't that awesome?!"



Maybe it's because we are studying the importance of marriage and family with the youth this month, but I have been noticeably more aware of the small moments that are happening around me each day that remind me of the grandeur of God's plan for his children and it fills me up with gratitude that I am a part of it. We are all a part of it. The role I'm filling as a mother is one that is easy to underestimate. But not today!

To the Universe:

I did not have my children by accident.  I do not stay home with them by default.  I don't stay home with them to save money or because it's easier.  I have a college education, which I use nearly everyday even though I am not currently receiving any monetary compensation for it. I don't regret that. I do not feel as though I am missing out. There is no place of employment so awesome, no cause so important, no reward so great, no recognition so validating, that it could ever be more worthy of my time than these children. Please do not misunderstand me, I am in no way saying that I am better than a working woman or mother. I am not. But I am saying that I'm not less.

 I did not settle for this.  I chose it. I recognize my fortune in having that choice. And given it a million times over, I would make this same one every single time.

The One Thing Constant in Life is Change

Like this little buddy. That's what he does every day. Change.

He gets bigger and cuter (if that's even possible).

One day he wakes up and he's ready for the bumbo. (Max calls it the bum bum.)

And then he tries out the exersaucer (thanks Brittney!)

And then he wants to try big people food. (apples > bananas)

 I watch it all happen right before my eyes and I am sad. Because my baby is growing up!

And I am happy. Because my baby is growing up!


Max finally gives up the froggy potty.  With lots of pressure, prayer, and bribery.  The dementor Lego truly deserves the credit.

We ask in our family prayers for the past few weeks that Max would be able to conquer his fear of the big potty before our trip to Utah. (We really had no desire to buy a Utah froggy potty).


And not surprisingly, just two days before our departure, Max does it, just like that! (Heavenly Father answers prayers!)

We have our long anticipated Potty Party and Max is feeling awfully grown up.

 In the space of just five minutes, he lectures Ava on how much ice is appropriate for her drink and even pulled out the old, "you get what you get and you don't have a fit" credo to a whining Luke.  I honestly don't care what he says as long as I don't have to empty out that frog anymore.




 Ava continues being the big "Nanny".

Luke told me he knew how many minutes were in 3 hours yesterday.

"How many?" I asked.

"...180."  I had to count it up myself to check.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"It's easy.  There are 60 minutes in one hour and 60+60+60 equals 180."




Everyday, there is something new. I don't always know what it will be (Scratch that, I never know what it will be).

My kids are growing up! Stuff just keeps changing!  And it makes me happy. And it makes me sad.

This change is the one that's overwhelming me right now.

That's the sign in front of Mom and Dad's house.  When we get back from our trip to Utah this week, they will be just three days away from closing the door to that house forever.  A big chunk of our daily life will be gone.  The kids won't even know what hit them.

And this is a change I knew was coming.  It's been talked about for a long time, but now that it's here I feel like back pedaling.


There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for them.

Growing up, moving frequently, taught me how to be The Mover, The Leaver. I struggle as The Left.

But Mom and Dad are going on a mission.  It makes me happy.  But right now, it mostly just makes me sad.

Position Filled

If I were to place an ad

Seeking:

An enthusiastic, creative, 

loving, Mother's Helper. 



Willing to assist, tolerate,

entertain, and nurture


three good/naughty/fun/ornery/sweet/needy terrifically cute little boys in my home. 

Job requirements include the ability to save my bacon day after day, make life just a little easier to manage, and be of legitimate, bonafide help. Hours and duties vary but candidate will be paid with hugs and kisses and eternal gratitude.

I would have to look no further than the little girl's bedroom down the hall.