Sleeping positions

In this house the boys are now sharing a room. Its been an interesting transition. They have been waking up an hour earlier and they go to bed later. This has been new territory for us and at times frustrating.

We got them bunk beds and when I go in to close the window and blinds in the middle of the night they are almost always in different positions. Its pretty funny, and I can figure out how they get so backward sometimes!

Zac is at the bottom of the bed.

Haha, these are great!

When Zac first saw this picture, he gasped and said "Eww!" in a giggly tone and covered his mouth. It was so funny. He was a little embarrassed, but still thought it was funny. 

The last 3 days they have actually been waking up at their normal time around 8:30a. And it has been sooo nice for me!

Random

In an attempt to do something fun with the boys we made rainbow jello. Rachel had brought some to a family dinner and I thought it was so cool! It took a really long time and it was hard to get the portions exactly right for the dish I was using. But it was a good fresh treat in the heat of August.

Taking a nap after swimming

I gave all our freezer jam away to those who helped us move. So I decided to make some more this year.

I also got the boys stuff to paint birdhouses and put them on sticks in the planter...but drilling the hole is as far as we have gotten...

While I was out drilling holes, there was a hawk circling over head.

The boys go hair cuts too. But unfortunately I did not take after pictures. I have not been on the ball with that lately.

New Cousin - Halle Jane

The day after we went to we swam at the pool at Grandma and Poppa's hotel near Jordanelle. Jon was able to get work off early and join us. That was a lot of fun. Then we went for a drive up the mountains behind Midway. They were beautiful, thick and green!  Then Jason and Kari came into town and we finally got to see their new baby, Halle.

Max adores babies. Its the cutest thing. The first time he saw a baby close up with Callie's baby, Ellie. She was crying and Max just had the right instincts of what to do to help her stop crying. It was so cute.

We went to the Baby Blessing on Saturday, Aug, 14, in Sandy. We got to see the whole family, minus Dave who's in Brazil.

August 12: Zoo and more Bday

I'm still behind and trying to catch up. Lots of back posts to come!

Jon's parents came into town for Jason and Kari's baby blessing and we decided to go to the zoo! This was the first time we had been to the Hogle Zoo. The weather was perfect and we had a great time.

They had a cool display with nature's scariest animals. They had a huge bird eating spider-YUCK! and bats, and piranhas, and scorpions and some other things too.

These are the bats and if you had eaten fruit that morning you needed to wash your hands because they ate fruit...

This was one of Max's favorite things to do. Climb. He also liked to hang on the stroller handle.

I have a picture like this from a couple years ago with my parents at Thanksgiving Point

Everyone has to get a pic climbing on the animal statues

Max is so cute!

We all had tickets for the carousel but Papa and Grandma let the boys have their tickets so they got to ride two times that day.

This was an amazing carousel.  Every "seat" was a different animal and they were all beautifully constructed. I think it was so funny they had a lady bug included.

I ended up switching Max halfway through the ride so he could be on the outside row so he could say Hi to Grandma and Poppa

The famous drinking fountian in the lions mouth. I think these are a staple at zoos. I remember being a kid at the zoo drinking from one just like this. And, Haha, I love Zac's expression in this pic as he has to wait his turn.

The boys loved the giraffes. But it was sad to see them caged up like this, in such a small place that wasn't very pretty.

I was so tired with the busy week that we had, I wanted to so much to lay in the shade just like this tiger. He looks so comfortable!

We were able to make it to the bird show in time so we watched over the fence. It was pretty fun to watch even though the boys got bored.

The second ride on the carousel. I got sick of standing so I decided to take a rhino.

The boys loved riding the carousel

We went to a habitat show and the boys got to touch a snake

and an armadillo. It was a pretty cool armadillo!

Eww! Even this pic grosses me out!

Playing in the egg

After the Zoo, Maryanne came over and made dinner for my birthday and they got me a really delicious chocolate cake!

Twenty-Eight years . . . young :)

A Better Day

Today was a MUCH better day; night and day difference in fact with my emotions at least. I should be getting used to this whiplash by now with one day good and the next bad, and vice versa.

I woke up when Zac got up at 7:45a. When I was half way ready for the day I started to get Zac ready. Max was sleeping in (because he fell asleep right before dinner and I couldn't wake him, so I put him to bed, unfortunately without dinner...he woke up at 10:30p and was ready to eat dinner. He didn't go back to bed til around 11:30 or 12.) Zac helped me pick up the house, I got both boys breakfast, and then we ran errands.

Change address and register the car (Emissions check in not required in Wasatch county!)- not check, the office's are closed Friday-duh! I guess we'll have to wait til Tues.
Pick up pinewood derbys - not check, closed til Noon
Get some dryer sheets - check
Go to the bank - check
Go to the library - check

I made waffles for lunch. Then vacuumed and mopped the floors. Then we had a playdate with a new neighbor. We went back to the Scout Office to get pinewood derbys, and then home.

The boys have been very loud lately. And Zac has been having trouble making good choices and controlling his emotions. He totally had melt down, screaming and crying-on the ground half in the bathroom and half in the hall-kicking the bathroom door at the Scout Office. Sometimes I feel like he is still 2. He lost the privilege of watching a movie when we got home, because of consistent disobedience and purposely antagonizing me and Max, which makes me feel like he's more like a teenager...

Anyway, I was able to keep my cool and follow through with the consequences with low emotion even though he screamed in the car all the way home.  After a calm talk and a long time out, we colored and made pizza. I think the best homemade pizza we've ever had. The boys did all the chores

My house is clean, the kids are in bed, and I am feeling good about life today . . . 

The Good and The Bad

Today, I am reluctantly trying to be more honest on my blog...the good and the bad as another blogger expressed.  In hopes to see where I can improve myself.  So here is "Just Me" today. It was a bad day. It started the night before not getting to bed before 2:00a.

I got a very late start on the day, due to my current tiredness, laziness and apathy.  I got pulled over for speeding...a lot. But I didn't get a ticket-what a blessing! But I even felt guilty about that. I let a good friend down. And the overall struggle of not being able to get in the groove here in my new life is continually a challenge. I've said it before, I have good days and I have bad. Today, I dragged (emotionally) all day. But I am so lucky to have close family members to help me rise above it to still make the day a success.

We went to a dr. appt and then to the Honda dealership to get something small fixed on the car. I made a picnic and took the boys to the park, called a relative and got to know her so much better. I made chore charts for the boys, and made dinner. I still don't feel like today was a success, but lately I feel like the adage, "fake it, til you make it", is all that I have.

I also decided I am going to wake up when my kids do; not just wake up, but get out of bed and be with them. Make them breakfast and officially start the day. As opposed to my staying in bed as long as I can, trying to squeeze every last bit of sleep in that I can.

So, to get myself on track I will start with that one thing: Get out of bed when my kids wake up (or if I am ambitious I'll get ready for the day before they get up).

Here's to a better tomorrow!

Aug 11: Happy Birthday to Me-28

So I am not yet to the point where I want to hide my age...actually its quite the opposite. I want everyone to know my age, to be sure there is no confusion-I am not a teenager!  I should be grateful for this misconception, I suppose...but I'm not yet. Everyone always said I'd appreciate it when I'm older, what "older" exactly...perhaps 30?

Wednesday we went back to Provo. Zac had a dr appt. He has been showing signs of anxiety so we have been to a therapist a couple times. This day I went in first to give updates since it had been a month and the conversation moved to me and how I want to get a Masters in Psychology and the doctor asked what specialty and was so excited because he did the same. And we talked about that for almost 20 mins! Basically, I got all excited and nervous about going back to school (in a few years most likely). So that was fun and the receptionist watched the kids the whole time!

Then I went to the temple while my brother, Adam watched the kids at my moms. The temple was a great experience with peace and answers and just perfection.

Then I checked in at my moms, put an agenda together for a PEIP meeting I was running later that day.

Then I decided to get a pedicure and glitter toes while my brother watched the kids again. (Thanks sooo much Adam!! Your help really made my day!)
 

Then I came back made the boys mac and cheese for dinner and went to my meeting. The meeting went great. I missed the last one with our move and was concerned about jumping back in. But it was smooth and went well and we had 2 new families attend which was great!! Things are moving along with some of our objectives.
Then I headed home about 7:30p. Max fell asleep in the car and went to bed right when we got home. We ordered pizza for dinner and Zac was so sweet and kind that night. No fighting, No whining. It was great! Then jon put him to bed and I got to share the successes of the day with Jon and we watched a chic flick.

It was a good day :)