The BIG No 2

Well, it's about time! :) Big Mr. James finally turned 2! :) We had a fun time planning and having his little party. We of course had to have a No 2 pencil party for him. It was fun. From his pencil birthday shirt, to banner, to cake, to pictures...it was pretty cute.
We just had a nice time with just us fam, and that was just fine. We had cake, presents, and played with ballons.





James scored a fun magnet game, puzzle, book, pez, Buzz ball, and of course, his first pair of hockey skates! :) We are excited to try those out this week! :)




I am glad that he is finally 2. He is so big and advanced in all that he does that people couldn't believe he wasn't at least 2, so this will be easier to explain! :)

24

Well, we finally did it. I don't even remember what got us started on it, but we finally broke down and watched the seasons of the TV series "24". It was fun. It ended up being a really good thing to do that kept Seth and I "busy" as I have not been up to "doing" a lot with this pregnancy.
We started it in the end of July on our vacation to Bear Lake. We had Netflix up there and that was really convenient. When we got home we didn't have Netflix, but found out that our good friends across the street had most of the seasons.
Needless to say, we breezed through them and got quite the reputation from those who heard about it. We haven't been doing much else, and we've had some pretty late nights, but it was fun.
I am just glad we had a fun time watching it together and it definitely helped these past month(s)- actually just about 7 weeks for the 8 seasons...I don't even want to calculate how many hours that was!- pass a lot faster! :)

Smarty Pants

Seth asked Sam if he would share something with him. He said no. Then Seth asked if he would share with his trains. He said no. Then Seth asked Sam if he would share with Santa and Sam shouted, "yes!"
How do they know so young?! :)

Post Labor Day Relaxation (A last Who-raw before the baby)

We decided to take our Labor Day vacation a week late this year and it was a great decision.
We always love to go up to Bear Lake, but we tend to be the ones who love to go when everyone else isn't there...and what a difference a week makes. Labor Day is usually so packed, and just by waiting one week there was hardly anyone there AND it was fall weather! :) My favorite.
We had a blast doing our usual....Seth getting a fun break to video game it up, the boys getting to play with their "Bear Lake Toys" and swing, and me getting to work on projects I've brought up.
The weather was perfect for me. I am a fall girl. It was raining and cold the first day and then just cool the next. I loved that we had to wear actual shoes and sweatshirts.
One of the best things about this trip to Bear Lake was that the boys really remembered it and got really excited when we told them where we were going. When we asked Sam if he wanted to go, he said, "Oh, can we, can we?!" It was so cute.
While we were there everything was "Bear Lake". From the Bear Lake swings, to the Bear Lake toys, to Bear Lake beds, to Bear Lake park...it was cute.
They love the town park and we had to spend some time there too!






We had a great time watching the deer out back. We had a bunch this year and the boys loved seeing them each morning and evening. Dad taught them how you could chase them and see them run and jump high. The picture is bad because my camera is on it's way out (too many encounters with water, slobber and being dropped), but in it there are about 12 deer sprinting for safety as the boys came running out, excited to see them. (Don't worry, we only did that a few times!)

We are just so grateful that we have a place like the condo to go to. We are so blessed that we can just get in the car and go and feel like we got away without it having to cost us a fortune....especially now since my parents are moving from California and I'm sure our trips there will decrease big time.

Anyone for Hockey?!

Sam started hockey back up this week, and so did Seth, so I guess it's back to our multiple trips to the rink each week.
Sam was VERY excited to start hockey again and we were excited to see that he hasn't lost a step.



James was VERY sad that he couldn't be out there with Sam and Dad on the ice, so we stripped Sam when he was done and tried to dress James. We put the helmet on wrong, scared him, and it was all down hill from there. Also Sam's skates were too small for James, so that didn't help any. I guess next week for James birthday he will be geared up and ready to go! I think he will do better if Sam is actually out there with him at the same time. I am a little nervous about that, but at the same time, I can't wait to see how cute he is out there.



I had to snap a few shots of how the boys entertain themselves during Seth's hockey games! It was SOOOO funny and most of the people around us thought so too...that is MOST. We had to switch sides half way through the game because there were a few people who didn't "appreciate" their energy. We usually don't have a problem with that, but this was the summer league All-Star game and there were tons of people there.




So, here's to a fun season of hockey and that everyone has fun...especially me... the one who has to pack, monitor, wash, and clean up all that fun each week! :)

Go Cougs!

This is our third year having season tickets to BYU football and it has proved to be a lot of fun. It is a great date for Seth and I, even though it seems every other year I am about to pop in my pregnancy! :)
We LOVE LOVE LOVE college football and it is even more fun to have our team close by to cheer for.

At the mall earlier that day I was wearing my BYU shirt and an old man wearing a Notre Dame hat and shirt walked up to me, leaned in my face, and pointed to his hat. It was pretty funny. I love how into it people get!
I'm not sure how many more games I will catch this season, it will most likely be Seth and his dad going to the rest, but I am glad I got at least one in! :)

Like Mother Like Son

I have had really bad restless legs with this pregnancy, so one of the things that really helps is to massage my feet each night for a really long time before I go to bed.
I had to get up during one of my "sessions" and I came back to my spot being taken by this little guy! :)

Cute little Sam had gotten right where I was with his feet on the massager, just like I do.
I love how they just pick things up and mimic everything you do....it's a little scary too at times, but usually, just plain cute! :)

#2

Seth got a fun surprise this last week. Sister Atkins, one of his converts from his mission, was out visiting and we got to spend some time with her. She is a HOOT! Talk about a true southerner at heart. She has the thickest, richest accent and great sayings and phrases! She calls Seth "Shoog" (short for sugar). It is the best. We love to keep the messages she leaves him just to listen to her talk.
She calls Seth "#2". His companion he was with when he found her is "#1". I think she loves Seth the most and just loves to rub it in, it is fun to watch!
There are always those few people who really define your mission and Sister Atkins is that for Seth. It was fun to see her after all these years and see where and who she has become.

The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden.....

I have planted various gardens and not yielded a thing! This year was going to be different...and thankfully it was! Although I lost over half of my plants to our freakish Utah weather, I tried my best with what survived!
My "garden" ended up consisting of 1 tomato plant and 2 peppers. I am kind of glad that was all that made it because with the extreme heat we've been having and being pregnant, I didn't take care of it as well as I would have liked.
....but after all that....I got 2 tomatoes so far! :) I am so happy!

Happy Birthday Mr. Sethery

We had a fun day for Seth on his birthday. The boys and I went and had to get some "party horns" because that is what Sam said you had to have to have a birthday party. We also picked up a small cake that the boys couldn't wait to devour!
Since Seth always just buys whatever it is that he wants, he is a tough one to surprise, let alone shop for. So I thought it would be a cute idea to finally frame our Star Wars pictures from Disney World and give those to him. (Every time we go to Disney World we take a shot of our faces in a Star Wars theme) So I went and got some nice frames, put the pictures in, and wrapped them up.
Well, when Seth opened his present he said, "really?" (He didn't get that I was trying to frame them for him so that we could display them.) Then he asked, "how much did this cost me?" I of course, being pregnant and emotional try to hold back the tears as I realized that my idea backfired.
Well, I had to go upstairs to "collect" myself. Seth went upstairs later, saw the new bedspread I had picked up (which is blue-his FAVORITE color) and said, "now THAT'S a birthday present!"
That figures! :) We had a good laugh about it. Needless to say, I will probably still try to surprise him, and it will still probably backfire every time, but hey, we've got a good streak going, why blow it now?! :)

A Vacation from my PROblems!

One of my favorite all time movies is "What about Bob?" I love his "vacation from his PRO-blems" and so that is exactly what I took.
Seth took the week off of work and we headed up to Bear Lake. It was such a wonderful trip. We just went up and relaxed and recharged. Our boys got sick at the beginning (Bear Lake trips and sickness have seemed to go hand in hand for us), but things got better.
I have had such a difficult time with this pregnancy. Both physical and emotional. I am not one to ever admit I can't do things, or not stay up on things, but that is exactly what has been going on, so it has been very humbling. Before our trip, when my parents were still in town, Seth and my dad gave me a much needed blessing. I am so grateful for the priesthood. I am grateful that I can ask for a blessing, have a worthy husband to do it, AND receive council and comfort from my Heavenly Father.
I am also grateful to have a place to go like our condo to get away from everything, re-evaluate and re-prioritize my life.
Seth and I came back happy and we had some great conversations. He has been the best husband and friend ever. I love him and and thankful for all he does and continues to do for me, especially now when I am not exactly carrying my share.

Happy 24th

Our neighborhood is great. We have a fun parade and party to celebrate the 24th of July, Pioneer Day. The boys loved the idea of being in a parade and even though it was fun, I think that it didn't quite do it for them! It didn't help that it was like 100 degrees and everyone was so grumpy in the sun!
After "parading" down the street we all met up to grill and play. The party gets better and better each year as more money is raised.
We didn't stay long, I was done after walking those few blocks in the heat, but we did have fun and are glad that we have great neighbors to organize such things!

MY Day

It was my birthday and I had a great day. It was very relaxed and I was surrounded by family. We went to McDonald's for lunch, which totally made the day for the boys. That's their idea of a good meal on a birthday.
My parents were in town house hunting so it was a treat to have them be able to be with us. I requested my favorite meal from my Dad, "Guac". And my mom of course whipped together a cute cake for me and had lots of help licking spoons and sampling frosting from Sam and James.

We had a fun time decorating. The boys were way into it, so I just went with it. He had to make birthday Mr. Potato Heads for the occasion and hang fireworks for the party.

I felt lots of love from my friends and neighbors. It was sweet to see all the cards and goodies come in. I didn't know so many people were aware of me and cared. It was very touching. I must admit my favorite was a Lemon Pie from my friend Melanie. SOOOOO sweet!

Kennecott Mine

I was looking through our mail this last week and found a coupon to go see the mine for free this week (by the way, anyone can go, you don't need the coupon). I was so excited. It's only $5, but hey, it just is so much more fun when you know you go in for free. So I was telling Seth about it and he said, you know we can go anytime for free because I work for them?! -Well, no actually, after 4 years I still didn't know! Figures!
So we went. It was so AMAZING. Who knew going and seeing that huge 2 mile wide whole and those trucks that are as big as my house could be so fun?!
The boys loved it too. We toured through the Visitor Center and the Gift Shop too. It is amazing the things I learned.
Clay gazing off into the "pit of despair".

I love this shot. See how tiny that "big" school bus looks next to those trucks!

Sam (and some random guy) by one of those huge tires.

Cutie Sam in an old mining car.

James enjoyed things from the "stroller point of view". (I wish someone would have pushed me around all morning so I didn't have to walk!)

Some of my favorite things that I learned were the following two:
They find so many elements while mining. I loved seeing all the different rocks and how beautiful and colorful they were.

And I learned that all the medals from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake were donated from the metals they found in the mine. That's amazing. Over $100,000worth. And it was "scraps" they found in their copper!

We had such a fun time and the teacher in me could help but think that this was what it was like when my mom was home schooling me and would take me on field trips. You just learn so much more by going and doing. I could see years ahead when my boys are older and we would go and then they would put together little PowerPoint presentations of the things they'd learned. It got me so excited! :)