A Few of Our Summer Faves

There are too many things we love to do in the summer to list them all, but here are some recent pics:

Water + Bikes = smiles and soaked clothes

One of the things on my pre-baby list was to finish this toy room for the boys. CHALKBOARD PAINT ROCKS!!! 

The boys will turn anything in to a ride for each other. Since they weigh the same, it's easy to push the other. They have been "breaking in" the infant car seat since we unpacked it. It's ready for anything now!

1) The boys love the animals at the fair.

2) Both boys love their friend, Lucy.

movies & popcorn & blankets

Kid Cam

What do the troublesome two do while mom is in the shower?...

...find the camera, though it's in a different spot every day, and snap some shots!

These are totally random and boring, but not when you visualize Josh using the camera, it's funny.

And now for the grand finale: the second time Josh got a hold of the camera, it had been left on record mode. Here is REALLY what goes on! I challenge you not to laugh out loud along with Josh.

A Total Blag!

   I have to admit that I am so proud of Josh. He has been able to count objects one-to-one for quite a while, as well as count to 10. (sometimes he forgets 7!) But today I observed him sorting his gummy bears first, then counting and labeling each pile.

   Let me tell you why this both makes me happy and, yet, leaves me confused. I have been teaching kindergarten for a few years now, and all of those skills that I just mentioned are included in the state's curriculum, but tested for at the first of the year. I am confused because I would still have a couple of kids every year enter K with no knowledge of colors, or being able to count objects. With all that is even just in cartoons these days, I find it odd to know that 5 year olds are not being exposed to those simple things. I am not saying that Josh is any smarter than any other child his age, but I guess I am just proud that Josh, without having any of those math skills shoved down his throat, was able to learn how to do them through his own play.

This is just one reason why Josh won't be starting 3-year-old pre-school this fall. I believe that kids should be kids before they are in school and are every day until they are adults. And just look at the knowledge they can gain if left to do their own investigating and play!!

I really get to brag about these next 2 accomplishments... since they are my own. (and I usually only blog about the boys) This top quilt is one that I made for our arriving baby girl. I started it a few weeks ago, and finished it last week... finally! 

This quilt is for my sister's soon-to-come baby girl. We pregnant women just get really ambitious when we don't find anything we like!  This quilt only took me a few days to complete, since Jamie did all the cutting and pinning before she went home. (our girls will be about 6 weeks apart!)

And, finally, even with my crazy nesting and drill sergeant attitude with Dan, he still brings home my favorite flowers. I love him. Thank you, babe, for putting up with these last few weeks of insanity!!

In Spite of...

...the almost synchronized vomiting that occurred with the boys this afternoon, I found myself in a mood of gratitude.  I think it's easy to feel that way when 2 very busy, rough, loud boys are forced to lay out so their stomachs stay calm, and are laying on each side of my lap.  

(oh, and of course my hormones...)

- I love looking at their little feet and hands when they are relaxed.

- I love that when asked what friends to invite to Josh's b-day party (not until Jan), he listed Jack very first!

- I am grateful for the concern I feel for something as small as threadbare patches in Josh's 3 1/2 year old favorite blanket, and what do I do for him when it finally dies.

- I am glad to be home this year from teaching. 

- I love that when I take Jack out of the tub, wrapped in a towel, he still lays his head on my shoulder until we get to his room.

- I love when I hear Josh singing (loudly) "wash, wash, wash" as he washes his hands after using the bathroom.

- I can still love both boys at the end of a really long day, when all of our tempers were short and we end up spent.

- I must love them enough, and enjoy being a mom more than I thought, to even have considered having 1 more!

So Long Nanas Dotes

Thomas Goates is:
*the baby bro of my family
*an uncle that will drop plans to come help with my boys
*incredibly mature, kind, honest, spiritual... I could keep going
*a great, dedicated athlete, student, employee, and friend
*an amazing example of how I want my boys to live
*very ready for this mission
*leaving on Wednesday to serve an LDS mission in Argentina

We Will Miss You Thomas

Josh Says...

This week Josh is being screened for his speech, since I think it's delayed enough to qualify for some therapy. (free through your local school district)  In the past few months, he really has made some amazing progress, but he still struggles with leaving consonants out of words, switching letter-sounds, and some other issues.

Here are some of the phrases he says now that we LOVE that probably won't be around once his speech is "fixed."

"I luf that." (for anything he loves and wants)

"One moy, please." (one more please)

"I haf to nee-nee."  (I have to pee pee)

"I luf orns." ( I love orange) - his favorite color ever

"Dust keep tying."  (Just keep trying)

"Not want to." (I don't want to)

"Woosy" (Lucy)

Winzy (Lindsey/Lynsie)

Wevi (Levi)

Nanas Dotes (Thomas Goates)

Montague Camp-Out

Mirror Lake

Our family spent the last couple of days up at Mirror Lake with "Boppa Yuss, Aunt Winsey, and NaNa Wevi."  (g-pa Russ, Aunt Lynsie & Uncle Levi)  It was beautiful, but pretty darn cold.  If only I had known it is one of Utah's highest elevated spots...

The cold never stops our boys from having a good time. Jack, who we know loves water, would get so excited whenever we walked down by the lake, and would yell out "ya-ya." (water)

Everyone in our little camp tried and tried to catch some fish. We did eat one small one that Dan caught, but couldn't return to the lake. Mmm. Super fresh.

Josh was allowed to bring up his outside cars and trucks, yet somehow all of his Cars characters found their way in to his things. They were lined up, buried, raced, and filled with dirt. A boy's dream!

Jack just loved being outside for 3 straight days! He collected rocks, watched the birds, walked along the tops of logs, and at one point even lost a shoe and just kept going without mentioning it to anyone. He was completely content.

 

Josh also had a great time!

What's the other best part about camping? The yummy food!! Thanks Lynsie for all the help and extra snacks from your garden. I owe everyone a lunch since we left early on Tuesday.

"Pa-bo!"

(peek-a-boo)

Like I said, everyone tried and tried to make the big catch.  Josh and Jack spent a few minutes with their pole and each caught some little fish. Josh knows that the secret is saying, "Here fishy, fishy!" Try it next time.

Little Jack was glued to uncle Levi our last night.

I love this picture!!

Here are my silly boys causing trouble while the rest of us were cleaning and packing up. Between the two of them pulling on it, I was sure the sign post was going to snap right off! They really were good campers.  

Thanks Montagues. (Todd, we missed you) We had tons of fun!!