Sunday Drives

Quick post:
Love Sunday Drives
Hate mosquito's

Keeping Busy

Cole has been keeping extra busy with his current semester and has not had much free time. I have been bored and so I've been making a bigger effort to get myself and the kids out to play and do fun things together. We've been having a blast... but miss our daddy immensely! We went up to Mt. Timp. Park the other day to walk around. Tate played in the little creek and rode his scooter around while Ella did what babies do best - ate and lied happily on the blanket.

Back On The Bike!

I am now an official Tuesday Night Rider - or so I wish! I guess I'm an honorary Tuesday Night Rider - now that I've made it out two times with them! whoo whoo! I went out on a ride with them last week, but unfortunately we didn't have a camera with us. It turned out to be a good thing though because it made me want to ride the trail again just to take pictures of how beautiful it was. I don't know that I would have wanted to surrender my body to that much agony again if it were not for the relentless voice in the back of my head wanting pictures. Yes, I tend to be OCD about a few things and this is one. So, we headed back up this weekend for a nice joy ride, stopping to take pictures all along the way. I am hooked! It's been two long years since my bike last left the pavement, and it felt great to be riding on the dirt. For more info & pictures check out Tuesday Night Rides Blog. (I had to leave pictures for them to post, so I had to be selective on the ones I could use)

Heading up the trail.
I don't know that these pictures even do justice.
It's one of those things you just have to be there to see and fully appreciate.

My Kind of Camping

We had a camp out in our backyard over the weekend. It was a blast! I love camping in the mountains but I have to admit I lay in the tent at night and worry about what is around me that I can't see. Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Ok, maybe not tigers, but you never know! I'm thinking I'm converted to the backyard from now on. Not only is it convenient, we can go in the house if wanted or needed. That is exactly what happend. After enjoying the stars, and promising Tate a gazzilion times that the tent WOULD NOT BLOW AWAY, we fell fast asleep. Only to be woken up by what felt like 40 MPH winds that would have blown the tent away had we not been in it. I layed there hoping Tate wouldn't wake up. Cole came out and saw the tent basically blown over with us inside and staked it down. Later after becoming too cold, we went inside and slept great for the rest of the night. Thanks Cole for rescueing us!

Notice little El in the blanket. She and Cole slept inside.

Of course the next morning was spent playing in the tent.
Clean up didn't take too long considering He had all of his friends (stuffed animals) in there with us!

MMM

I've said this before, but I absolutely love summer evenings
and with a Chocolate Drumstick - it does not get much better

For Fun

My blog may be boring to some the majority of the time because it tends to be more about my family with a strong emphasis on my wee ones. This post is one of those. Okay most of them are, cut me some slack! =) But hey if you don't like, it don't read it. It won't hurt my feelings. I do it so I remember these moments... and if you do like it - read away!

Tate is coming up on his three year mark and is as busy as ever. He keeps me going from the moment he wakes up, till the moment he goes to bed. Here is my day so far: This morning he woke up and immediately wanted a shake. I think he must have been dreaming. He has a very active imagination. I went to work. Came home and he was out back playing in an outfit he so obviously dressed himself in. Ran errands. I didn't get a block away before he said he wanted a drink. I don't know why I even leave the house without a sippy for him because he throws a massive fit if he is thirsty and doesn't get a drink asap. So we had to stop at Grandmas on the way to grab a drink. His face was stained orange from the pop he drank. I feel like I can't keep up on keeping him clean. Then we got home and he unloaded the groceries for me carring more than his little hands could and smashed the cereal box. He is always holding the screen door open for me though. He'll wait however long it takes me to get to the door just to hold it open. What a little gentleman! Then he took off his pants - like he does anytime we are home. Ran around with underware on his head and decorated the house with all of my scrapbooking paper. I don't think there was a bare spot on the carpet. He even slipped papers in the blinds in our front window. Quickly moving from one project to the next, He is now outside yelling for me to come look at him. I found him sitting on the porch with a garbage can over his head. Now he needs the dust pan... who knows what little project the kid is wanting to work on next. I'm sure it will be something entertaining. And that has been my day so far. Gotta love it! Constant "Mom, come look. Mom, I need this. Mom, Mom, Mom!" He is the best. Right now he's singing "Baby it's cold outside." Some Christmas song? Love him, love him, love him!

As for this little sweet heart: Eat, Sleep, Cry, Smile, & be as stiff as possible.
Even when she sits she trying to straighten out. Certainly not a cuddler!

...and now I need to go make a chocolate milk, shaken, not stirred!

Problem

We had a nice family get together the other night at Ashley and Alans to celebrate Fathers Day with Cole's Dad. They also turned the heat off in the hot tub and the kids waded around in it with toys.

The kids had fun running in the sprinkler, drinking from it, and if your Tate, standing next to it! The heat was off in the hot tub and the they waded around in it with toys.

Cole thought it would be fun to take our three month old for a run through the sprinkler. I don't think he realized just how wet they would get. She screamed! I took her clothes off and she calmed down. She was in a diaper the rest of the night.
Then Tate got done playing in the water. Another quirk of Tates is he hates anything wet on him. Anytime we run through the sprinkler it doesn't last long because he won't leave his suit on. He would rather stop playing than wear a wet swim suit. I turned around and he was naked in the backyard. I made him wrap up in a towel and he went in the house. Cole came out to inform me that he was playing with the toy kitchen and food stark naked! Livy let him borrow princess underware and he proudly wore them for the evening.
Funny that both my kids ended up naked that night.

Thought of the day: Steer Clear!

About Time

The last time we had family pictures taken was when Tate was 2 months old. I was so excited to have these taken. I've been scoping the spot for the last month to make sure we went when the wild flowers were in full bloom. As I said in the previous post, our friends Brad and Gina took the pictures for us. They did a great job! Thanks again!

Different Styles

Our good friends Gina & Brad took our family pictures the other night and they turned out great. I love them. They are each so talented in oh so many ways! G decided that it would be fun to each take a picture and Photoshop it to our liking.

The idea: to show different ways you can take the same picture and make it look so different.

Straight from the camera:


My photoshop recipe:

To see what Gina did with her picture check it out here.

I'm loving what she did with it!

More pictures to come

Summer Fest Baby!

I love everything about Summer Fest. I love the carnies, the crazy people that race you to get a blanket laid down first, the rude people that throw your blanket under the tree and replace it with their own, the crowds, the parade, the fireworks. Love it all!

This year we ran the Firemans 5k. This is the second time we've done this, and it won't be the last. It's fun because the course passes our house and Tate waits outside to watch us pass by. This year that is the only thing that kept me from walking.

We had some friends over for our second annual Summer Fest BBQ.

1. My baby girl
2. My CUTE nephew
3. My big boy
4. Sarah & Ryans baby girl
5. Emily and Jeffs big boy
6. Ahs & Als little guy

Cute kids at the parade

1. El was SO good all day long. I was pleasantly shocked
2. Tate supporting his Dad's school UVU - yea baby!
3. Just two crazies I wanted a picture of =)
4. Every little girl should be like this one, she is SO sweet
5. Better view from up here
6. Too much noise

The kids had their ears covered for the majority of the parade. Some couldn't handle it, and one by one we headed back to the house for some more quality lounging time & the BIG fireworks show!
Thanks everyone for coming, and especially Cole & Alan for all your help. Until next year! (Although I'm quite sure we'll be seeing you before then.)

Gardens

This is what we have been up to, building planter boxes for my moms gardening desires.

First we had to pick up tear out the massive strawberry garden, and lawn. This picture is the closest thing to a before photo that I have.

Of course we had to have a little fun while working. Tate loved that we were outside every morning, and then again until it got too dark to work.

Much better to haul around than just plain old dirt!

At last it was time to plant. Cole did this as immaculate as he possibly could. He also fixed the sprinkler system so that she could get better coverage, and put a faucet in the garden to make watering easier.

Hard work always pays off. I could sit and look at these boxes all evening. In the center is a bean pole that still needs to be strung and planted. I personally can't wait for it to start producing!

Thanks to everyone for your help in getting this project done. It looks great. Now for phase two, the sand box.

Someone Had a Birthday

We called Olivia yesterday to wish her a happy birthday. When we got off the phone I was informed that it was Randall Scotch's birthday. Randall is Tate's imaginary friend. (Don't say that to him though, apparently he is not pretend. He lives in the mountains and wants us to go camping by his house!)It's pretty funny and makes us laugh. We made cupcakes and had a little b-day celebration for his buddy... what a name to make up - Randall Scotch. We'll say "do you mean SCOTT?" and he is very adamant that it is SCOTCH. Cole bought a present and Tate opened it and played with it. Later Uncle Jamison said something about it being "Tates toy" and Tate quickly corrected him, "No, it's Randall's toy!"
I wonder how long he'll be around?

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Cole!!!
Oh wait, it isn't fathers day today?
I asked Cole if it was Fathers Day tomorrow and he said it was. So I got up this morning and cooked him breakfast with Tate, and had a nice morning praising Cole. Then we went to church with my mom. Come to find out Fathers day isn't today. Way to get two Fathers Day in one year sweet heart! You sure know how to work it! =)
Next year I'll get a calendar that actually has Fathers day written into it!
I actually thought: funny that there were so many blog posts about Mothers Day, and not a single one about Fathers. Mom's really are just SO special! =)

SOO HOT!

I took pictures of Whitney yesterday.
To see more of this beautiful model (She really should be)
Look here: Jessie O'Neal Photography

Changes And A Little Terd

Tate's lawn mower officially bit the dust. I'm sure it got a few good miles on it. It serves as his lawn mower outside, and his vacuum inside. Anytime either is being done, he is by our side with his trusty mower. This is his new bubble lawn mower. Not so great when the lawn mower is vacuuming the carpet. Or should I say blowing bubbles on it. Next new toy, (beside an edger/weed eater - the kid is going to work for JJ's one day!) is a vacuum.

This weather is killing me, and my plants! My poor little basil plant is just not making it. Hot, Cold, Rain... I hate it. Mostly because we are getting used to being able to play outside all day, so to stay inside is brutal. My kids are driving me insane! I'm wondering how I ever made it through the winter months, and if I will be able to survive the next! =)

I finally cracked in and let him go outside. Shorts and t-shirts one day, to jackets and winter hats the next. Again, killing me!

I wanted a picture of Ellas pants because I LOVE them! Tate was bothering me so much and wouldn't stay out of the pictures. None of them turned out, but I had to post this one because even when he drives me insane, he makes me laugh. (Notice him in the picture?)

Smile Anyone?

Anyone else need a little reason to smile today?