July Misc.

Is July really over?

When you're playing outside, it's nice to be able to pick some peas, strawberries, and raspberries out of the garden for a little snack...
And then get a drink out of the hose...
We've spent a lot of time with our family. In July we celebrated Dawna's birthday. Max remembered that we also went to El Matador for Tony's birthday and asked me if this is the restaurant we go to for all the birthdays. I said YES!
Max and Jack helped Grandma wash the car.

We spent a lot of time in the backyard swinging and then falling asleep in the swing

We've had fun playing with friends...

and just hanging out
See you next year, July!

Last Day of Swim Lessons

For the past four weeks, swim lessons have ruled our lives. I'm not a good scheduled person. It's hard having to be somewhere every day. I think I'm in trouble when school starts.

Jack Report:
Jack was one of the oldest kids in his class and became quite the class clown. After he'd blow his bubbles, he'd say, "Plah! Plah! Water in my mouth! Plah!" and then shake his head while spitting water to make the other kids laugh. He also liked to pretend there was an alligator chasing him so he'd kick his legs harder to swim faster and get away. Except one little girl heard him yell, "Watch out! An alligator!" and she started crying. He liked throwing his animal in the water and jumping in after it and also balancing his animal on his chest while floating on his back and kicking. He refused to climb up the ladder out of the pool on the day they learned about "safety" saying, "No way! It is too cold!" Jack is such a silly boy and I loved getting in the water and playing with him.

Max Report:
Max did two sessions of swim lessons during the four weeks. He loved his first session, which was more of an introductory to water. Since he thought he already knew how to swim he spent a lot of time showing off his skills by going under water every chance he got. He always had to wear his goggles just like his cousins and he really loved all the games the class played. On the days Jack didn't have lessons I'd let him climb the rock wall after his class. That was a special treat.

During the second session, Max's class was a little more rowdy. One kid got out and ran around the pool, another kept drifting into the deep end, and there was always splash fights that broke out. Max told me he didn't like his second teacher as much because she didn't play games and she was a girl. :) During this session Max got pretty good at swimming by himself and floating on his back. He still has quite a ways to go until he can swim like he thinks he can, but it's a start.

6 Months

At six months (HALF A YEAR!), Baby Gus
--chews on his paci hard, but has no sign of teeth
--is often confused for a girl
--screams when anyone (cough, JACK!) takes away his toys
--likes being in his exersaurcer (even though half the toys have been pulled off it, courtesy of Max and Jack) more than his bumbo (I think it's because his sensitive belly isn't being smooshed), but likes being in his bouncer best
--loves being outside in the swing, stroller, bouncer, being held, whatever!
--loudly babbles like it's nobody's business
--thinks his brothers splashing in the bathtub is pretty funny
--found the solution to breaking left arm out of his swaddle is to cuddle with his little blanket instead of pulling out his paci
--wakes up at least every three hours during the night to let out a big burp or gassy then usually needs to be fed before going back to sleep, which is probably the cause of the next burp or gassy (a vicious cycle)
--eats bananas, avocados, rice cereal and oatmeal
--still has his constant companion, Jack, pulling on is leg and smashing his stomach at every turn
--is always being held by someone. Everyone in Utah loves him so much. He's going to be in trouble when it's back to just Mommy.
--has a favorite toy that's not a toy, it's his paci. Seriously, if there are a gazillion toys around him, he still manages to single out his paci, reach for it, grab it, then hold it up and look at it before trying to put it in his mouth, which he can do pretty well, by the way.
--is really ticklish under his arms and on his feet, but doesn't think raspberries are very funny
--can roll, but hardly does. His big brothers are always helping him get what he wants (or taking what he wants) before he can get to it
--gives really nice kisses or maybe he's just trying to eat my face
--reaches and grabs for everything. It's impossible to hold this boy while trying to eat unless you want your plate dumped all over your lap.
--is still a little peanut but has gotten so big. How can it be?
Oh, I love this little baby so much. I love that he smiles real big whenever he sees me and I love that I've kind of gotten to pretend he is my only baby while Grandma is busy playing with the other two stinkers. He is such a sweet boy. I really, really love you, Gus.

Sleepy!

Oh how nice it is to walk into a room and see this--Or to be playing with Gus on the couch and turn my head for one second, then look back and see this--
Or to look all over the house for Max and finally find him back in his room like this--
And the one to thank for having so much fun with these boys that they're dead tired, is also a little tired too. Max and Jack were so happy when Grandpa went away on business earlier this month because then, instead of having Grandma sleep with them in their room, they got to sleep with Grandma in her room!

Solids

While Blake was here we decided to give Gus his first taste of solid foods. Gus never made a nasty face or a smiley face, but he did eat the entire bowl of yummy rice cereal. Success? I don't know--I think the jury is still out for my baby with a very sensitive, very gassy belly. Maybe we'll know tomorrow.Have I mentioned I hate this stage? Not only do I have to take more time to prepare and clean up meals and sit and make yummy eating noises at Gus to try to convince him this stuff is actually good, but I have to say goodbye to those yummy smelling diapers. Don't worry, I've been taking in as much as allowably possible while I still can. :)

Pioneer Day

Daddy Blake is here to help us celebrate Pioneer Day! First on the agenda--canoeing and Gage and Janay joined us. Max was so excited to show Blake how to use the squirt gun, so a water fight quickly broke out. Even Max turned on his own boat to get Blake wet. Jack had enough of being in the canoe that always had to retreat and hopped on over to join Blake and Max. But the best battle was between Blake's and Gage's canoes when Gage paddled poor Janay right into the line of fire. So much fun.
Next up was the carnival. Max was so excited to see more blow up slides like at the 4th of July party in Mesa and Jack just wanted to ride on the swings. This boy loves swings. (Side note: See that big shark blow up slide behind Jack? One time, right after Max went down it, the whole back end collapsed and kids were stuck down in it. Pretty scary)

After a fun family bbq and some fabulous entertainment (Jack choosing different adults to go down the slide with him and Max reading books with Blake) it was finally time for the big fireworks show. Sparklers were first.
Then Max and Blake put on a pretty awesome fireworks show. All the spectators were pretty impressed. Even Jack, who was happy as long as Grandma's hands were over his ears.
Oh, and Gus was there, too! :) Happy Pioneer Day!

Pre Pioneer Day

It just may be possible that the day before Pioneer Day is as fun as the REAL Pioneer Day. We went to Bountiful's Hand Cart Days Parade and while some people started reserving their spot at 5:00 this morning, we showed up 15 minutes late and still got prime seats in the shade. This was the boys' first parade and they quickly became pros at yelling "OVER HERE!" so the parade participants would throw us candy. Jack has never ate so much candy and Max loved seeing all the bands. He told me his favorite instruments are a trumpet, drum, and harp (although none of the marching bands actually had harps).

Then we went up to Mueller Park to watch the fireworks. Grandma had gone early this morning to lay out a blanket and reserve a spot for this. I love being so close to the front and feeling the big boom of the fireworks. But poor Jack doesn't love it. When a neighboring house shot off a firework he remembered how loud they get and covered his ears until the fireworks really started; then I got to cover his ears while he covered his eyes! Soon he got used to it and was yelling out all the colors and Max made a big improvement by actually staying awake. They were some of the best fireworks I've ever seen. Seriously--so good!

An extra big thank you goes to Grandma who stayed home from the fireworks to watch Gus and pick up Blake from the airport. Seriously--who books a flight in the middle of fireworks? But Blake did get to see some of the fireworks while his plane was coming in. I guess that's pretty cool too.