Memorial Day

Well for Memorial Day we decided to head down to Utah County. We visited my Grandparents grave. It is so strange to think they are both gone and within a year and a half of each other. Cemetery's are so interesting and especially on Memorial Day with all the flowers and trinkets people bring for their loved ones. Ian wanted to know the names off some of the headstones and when we found a little baby that had died named Clarence he decided this was his new favorite name for baby boy #3!

Pinwheel for Grandpa--Ian placed it carefully by the headstone about 5 times before he was happy with where it was.

After visiting the grave we went back to my grandparents house. My dad and his siblings are in the process of trying to clean out the house and get it ready to sell. Now those of you who know my grandparents know that everything they have ever owned was chosen with care and taken care of so well their house has become somewhat of a museum to us grand kids. Grandma had collections of little smoker men from Europe, ceramic Santa Clause's, more clocks than I could count, and not to mention most of the accent furniture was made by Grandpa. We spent the afternoon going through the house deciding where everything should go--Grandma had preassigned something to each of us. I got a grandmother clock grandpa made and a little statue of Mozart from Austria. But even after all the preassigning there was so much stuff!! My Aunt Sharee and my dad kept asking, "do you want this, how about this" so after pilfering Grandma's house we came home with a carload of stuff and get to go back for new furniture for our basement next week. Even if Grandma and Grandpa aren't around to talk to anymore every 15 minutes when I hear Grandpa's clock ding I will be thinking about them.

A Blanket in the Backyard

Yesterday I wanted to take the kids to the park for a little picnic, but feeling my usual tired pregnant self I decided a blanket in the backyard would be just as good and a whole lot easier. So we loaded a plate with sandwiches and apples and out we went for a picnic in the backyard. After we ate I forgot about the blanket-thank goodness the sprinklers didn't come on last night-and this morning the boys decided it would be a great place to look at books. It then became a great place to play transformers, eat Popsicles, and to just hang out! Who would have thought a blanket in the backyard could entertain them for so long--hopefully the novelty won't wear off too soon.

Milestones for a Little Boy

My little Ian is not so little anymore! Honestly I don't see him as a little baby or a toddler anymore--more of a buddy or rambunctious little boy, but with the impending start of kindergarten and the speed at which he rides his new "big" bike I realize he is growing up!

Here are a few pics of his latest milestones. The new two-wheeled bike was a Easter present and watching him ride it that first day reminded me of how great it is to learn to ride a bike. So fast, so fun, and what independence to cruise around not buckled into a car seat! He wears the helmet, the knee pads, and the elbow pads every time he rides--so much for always having skinned knees. He's a little nervous to go over bumps and the curb, but I'm sure that in no time the training wheels will be off and he'll be terrorizing the neighborhood.

Last week Ian graduated from preschool. He has so loved learning and making new friends with Teacher Lici. His class did a great program where they sang "The Star Spangled Banner" complete with actions. It was fun to see Ian concentrating and singing as loud as he could. He is ready for kindergarten and so excited to go to school with all his friends from Primary (they are all a year older). As of right now he has decided to be an astronaut when he grows up so I hope he enjoys school, because I do believe astronauts get their fair share.

Ode to Heatburn (aka "Burning Ring of Fire")

Inspired by Adam Lambert's rock rendition of "Burning Ring of Fire" Dave decided to pull out his Johnny Cash CD and let the kids listen to the original. Ian now has a new favorite CD and will probably grow up to be a cowboy. He can sing the entire song word for word (I don't know if this is the best thing although it is cute) and he and Miles have created a new game centered around this song. One of them wears a cowboy hat the other sits on top of the overturned laundry hamper. They hit play on the CD player and the one in the cowboy hat sings and dances around the one on the laundry hamper. It does look like some kind of child inspired rain dance. They do this over and over and over with the CD player on repeat.

So, the other night when awakened by the acid that the baby likes to kick back up my throat you can guess what song started going through my head..."I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down down down as the flames went higher" I'm not a huge Johnny Cash fan, but at least I can thank him for serenading me through the sleepless nights of pregnancy heartburn!

Making Room for Baby

Well, the nesting has begun and the first item on my list was to get the two boys into the same room. This meant moving Miles into a big boy bed, new bunk beds, possibly new paint, new bedding, etc, etc...

Fortunately our neighbors had some bunk beds they were getting rid of and of course I'm game for anything that someone wants to just give me so that part was easy. The bedding not so much--I decided I did not want to paint again. I painted before we had Miles and when we moved into the house and being pregnant and grouchy I decided painting would just stress me out. I was worried about finding something to match the baby blue paint that wouldn't look to "babyish" because my boys are growing up. Walmart to the rescue--I found these cute striped/beachy looking comforters and was so happy that they matched.

Here are a few pics (out of order of course) of how the room has come together--now to just get Miles to sleep in the bed (I found him curled up on the floor the other night).

Free bunk beds with Walmart comforters.
A little space saving idea.

Digital scrapbooking meets canvas, some paint, and my hot glue gun. Ian wanted superhero's, but fortunately he thinks the digger and dump truck are pretty cool.

Now we must get rid of the pink bink! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We keep telling him it is going bye-bye we just need to make sure mommy is ready first.

The Glowing Hours

Last week I attended a Digital Scrapbook Retreat. One of my favorite classes was a photography class. The class centered around light and how using natural light will yield your best photos. The photographer had a bounce (a foil looking thing that you use to direct the light) he demonstrated how to use the bouce and how to use backlight, sidelight, etc to best light the face of your subject. One of the most interesting things I gained from the class was to remember that you can move all the way around your subject to get the light where you want it.

Now I don't have a bounce, and my photography skills are sub par at best, but I decided to try out what he taught us. A few nights ago the kids were playing outside at about five o'clock. I love evening light--all filtered and golden. Anyway here are a few shots I got.

We're Back (at least for now)

Sorry about the leave of absence. Between feeling fairly ill and trying to chase around two kids, teach piano, and run Primary I just haven't been up to blogging lately. The ickies have seemed to have passed though so maybe I can start journaling a little bit more.

For those of you who haven't seen me in the last few months (because it is apparent). We are expecting baby boy #3! Now don't think "oh no another boy" I know how to play with trucks, I can shoot a few hoops, and summer buzz cuts are my favorite.

Little boy 3 is due September 9th, but Miles was three weeks early so we are aiming for August 23 (my birthday). Miles was born on Dave's birthday and I think it would be a great present for this little guy to show up a little early on my day.

Anyway, that is the big news from the last few months--