Jesse's Top 10

Here is a list of some of the funny words and sayings that Jesse comes up with. I wanted to write them down, so that I would not forget:

1. Bullzozer (said with a french accent): Jesse's way of saying Bulldozer

2. What da Heck!

3. Monstow Twuck

4. "You're gonna get fat and fat!" (Jesse referring to the fact that his mom is pregnant.)

5. "Bear it is!" ( Jesse's version of "There it is!")

6. Stweet Weeper (Jesse wants to drive a "Street Sweeper" when he's big!)

7. Stape and George (Jesse loves to visit "St. George" in southern Utah.)

8. "Dats my baby gool!" (Jesse calls our Bearded dragon Lizzy his "Baby Girl")

9. "My Butt crack!" (Jesse pulls this one out just to get a reaction. I think he just likes to say it.)

10. "Good night! No talking! SHHHHH!!! I'm twyin' to sweep!" (What we hear everynight at bedtime!)

Good News!

I am officially out of my first trimester of pregnancy and feeling much relief! Today I had my second appointment with my doctor and listened to the heart beat again. I can't tell you how reassuring it is to hear that little swish-swish. I wish I had my own Doppler machine at home where I could listen to it anytime I wanted to! Four weeks ago, I had an Ultrasound and watched our little Peanut's heart beating. Peanut is the nickname that the boys have bestowed on the baby.
Being pregnant in my 30's is a lot different than in my 2o's. Although physically, I definitely feel older and I get tired easier, emotionally for both Danny and I, we are so excited and are feeling a bit more sentimental about this pregnancy. Probably because it will be our last, and we want to enjoy every minute of it. Except for the vomiting.
Our baby is due on March 10th and we will find out the gender in October. So, I will be posting updates! But, please send us all of your positive energy and prayers for a happy, healthy safe pregnancy and baby!

A Busy, Fun Saturday! Did I mention we met Floyd Landis?

On Saturday, Danny and I loaded up the kids to go watch Stage 5 of the Tour of Utah. We cheered at the finish line as all the riders came in and then we decided to take a walk up by where all the team cars were sitting. We look over, and we both see Floyd Landis standing by his team car talking to people. Danny and I have been fans of Floyd for years, and it was hard to keep our emotions subdued...we didn't want to seem like the crazy out-of-control fans. Danny walked up to him and said, "Do you mind getting a picture with me and my son?" So, I took their picture and then said, "Can I have my picture taken with you too? I love you too!" and Floyd laughed and said, "Sure." So I pass my camera to Danny and I put my arm around Mr. Landis and he says to me, "Sorry I'm all wet." and I look at him and reply, "It's all good!" and he laughs again and says, "Yes it is!" It was one of those experiences that you get more excited about the more time goes by. He was very nice and I'm so happy we had the opportunity to meet him! After we finished at the Tour of Utah, we headed up to Sandy for the Monster Jam Monster Truck show, featuring "Grave Digger"!

The boys were so amped up. They were cheering and dancing to the extremely loud music...

Look at Jesse's face....he just cracks me up! He kept making his monster truck sound effects, but it makes him look a little constipated or like he has a case of really bad road rage...As you can see, there is no lack of testosterone at our house! Anyhoo, that was our Saturday...it was a great day, but boy, I was exhausted by the time it was over. And hot. And very sticky...

Kickin' It Ranch Style

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to go up to our sister in law Candice's family ranch. So, we borrowed my cousin's trailer (thanks Jason!) and headed down to Fountain Green, Utah to spend the weekend with our family. It only took us about an hour and fifteen minutes to get there, but it was so QUIET and so beautiful it felt like we had gone miles away from the city. Candice's parents Sue and Russ welcomed us with a delicious dutch oven dinner (and Candice made a yummy peach cobbler!) and they showed us around the ranch. Sue has a horse named Andy who performs tricks. We couldn't stop laughing as Andy smiled, bowed and blew raspberries for us! There were also several farm dogs to dote over.

The next day we got up, and we rode a sweet horse named Bow (or Beau). He was very gentle and good to the kids, and we had Uncle TJ to show us around. James kept telling everyone that this was the best camping trip he had ever been on!

Candice's Dad Russ was awesome! He saddled up this little miniature horse named Trouble and took all the kids on a carriage ride. Trouble looks like a slow sausage with short legs, but her looks are very deceiving. She can run! And Fast! Plus, Trouble was aptly named...she had quite an attitude! You could see in her eyes that she thought she was the biggest horse in the corral.

Up the road from the ranch was a Fish Hatchery, so we took the kids over there to check out the rainbow and albino trout. The kids found fish food, and when they threw the food in with the fish, they created a feeding frenzy and the fish would jump and splash around.



The ranch had a great play area for the kids. They especially LOVED the tire swing, and anyone who had the opportunity to be the "pusher" got a full body workout!

It was so fun to spend time getting to know our family better and just hanging out and relaxing with everyone! Thanks for inviting us! We had a blast!

Cecret Lake

One of my favorite places to go in August, is up to Albion basin to see all the wild flowers in bloom. My mom and I took the kids up to Cecret lake for a picnic. It's a great hike for kids because it's long enough that you actually feel like it was a real hike, but it's not so long or steep that it's difficult for them to finish. The only problem is, is that it has become a fairly popular hike, so when we pulled up to the guard station at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, we were not surprised to hear that the parking lot was full. But my mom and I decided that we would drive up there anyway, and that we would use all of our positive thinking and will a parking space to be open just for us. Well, the positive thinking worked, because we got the LAST spot at the trail head parking, and there was a line of 3 cars behind us! We started up the trail and we were so excited to be up there. It smells so good, and the wildflowers did not disappoint. We had timed it just perfect and almost everything was in bloom. As we got up the trail to where you can see the small mountain you climb up and over to get to the lake, a new waterfall was cascading down the rocks. Jesse loves waterfalls, so he was so excited about the "surprise waterfall". We ate lunch at the lake and watched all the tadpoles swimming and the pot guts begging food off of hikers. On our way down the trail, James and my sister Carly got a little bit ahead of us, and James, who is my little rock climber, scaled this huge boulder and was perched on top like he was the king of the mountain. I yelled down the trail to him and said, "James, you wait till I get there to help you!" And my mom, who was in close proximity to James, heard him reply under his breath with a great big eye roll, "Oh, for the love of God!" It's so nice to know that I am turning into the voice of reason that he so completely respects!!! But, he waited until I got there to get him down...not that he needed my help....it was more for my own peace of mind. We managed to get everyone down to the car safely and decided that it was a perfect day for snow cones, so we headed down the canyon for a sweet treat. It was a great afternoon!

34 Random Thoughts for Tuesday

1. I am apparently "on one" today.
2. I really, really, really hate the phone.
3. It's not that I don't want to talk to anyone, it's just that lately I'm suspicious of what people want from me...is that terrible?
4. It is 91 degrees.
5. I love the heat, but the heat doesn't mix well with nausea.
6. Apollo Burgers has the best fry sauce.
7. Whole almonds are a good snack.
8. Have you ever thrown up watermelon? It's not so good in reverse.
9. I loved the new Harry Potter movie.
10. If it had not been a gazillion degrees outside, I would have worn my Griffindor sweater and tie to the movie...
11. But I saw a woman at the movie theatre wearing a Griffindor sweater and my first thought was, "What a nerd...isn't she too old for that?"
12. Aren't I too old for that?
13. I am surrounded by little boys who love to burp.
14. They are both really great burpers. Should I be proud?
15. I need to feed Lizzy.
16. I need to water my Garden.
17. I actually have 4 tomatoes growing on my tomato plant.
18. Hopefully, they will all ripen to a beautiful red before it freezes this year!
19. If so, it'll be the first time that we will get to eat home grown tomatoes in the summer.
20. Green tomatoes are great battered and fried.
21. I love the smell of popcorn. It makes me want to go see Harry Potter again.
22. Wendi and I ran into a man who had been struck by lightening while we were hiking.
23. I've been leery of our afternoon thunderstorms ever since.
24. I want to paint my toenails a brilliant red.
25. I would love to have painted fingernails, I just never have time for them to dry.
26. I've decided ungrateful people piss me off.
27. And people who can't talk about anything but their "stuff".
28. I've decided I'm grateful I have any stuff at all.
29. Did you know only 1% of the world owns a home?
30. I LOVE my bed. It's so cozy and warm...and the PILLOWS!
31. I'm trying really hard not to take a nap, so that I will be able to fall asleep tonight!
32. Ah! The garage door! A lovely sound at the end of the afternoon...it means my guy is home!
33. I sometimes feel like a puppy when he comes through the door..."Did you miss me? Huh? Huh? I missed you!!! (lick, lick).
34. What the hell am I going to make for dinner? It seems that is always the question!

The Summer Hustle...

The first month of summer is officially gone! Where does it go? We have been enjoying the freedom from a schedule that the summer brings. James has started baseball and it is so fun to go and watch his games. He's having a great time, and he keeps reminding me that he's not out there to win but to just have fun. It's nice to see that he has a good attitude about it...At his first game he got an awesome hit out into center field and he got a batter out on first base. Going to baseball games brings out a new language in me...I find myself saying things like, "Nice hustle!" I almost laughed out loud when that slipped out of my mouth and I realized that that is what my Dad used to say to us when we played ball as kids. What can I say, I learned from the best...

The boys talked me into going and getting this fun slip and slide called, "Shark Bite". I'm a sucker, I know. But it really is fun. And let me tell you, slip and sliding is a great abdominal work out. I have never been so soar. I'm sure it was a very funny sight for my neighbors to see a 32 year old slip and sliding. Jesse was cracking me up because he wouldn't slide through the water, he would run on the grass next to the slide and then jump in the sharks mouth at the end. Then he would give me a double thumbs up everytime! James likes to be thrown in the water, which I will never turn down a chance to soak my child. It'll be interesting to see how long the slip and slide holds up. Hopefully, we can get at least two summers out of it?