Another Utah Summer Vacay!

Our summer trip to Provo was eventful as usual. We left for Provo on Thursday, June 28, and had the longest ride ever to get there! I had to stop in Mesquite at Walmart and at McDonald's for breakfast because we left so early, in St. George at Target and to get gas, then we stopped in Beaver to see my friend Amy.  We went to the Beaver Park and the kids played and ran around while Amy and I chatted.  Kyle got to swing in a big swing for the first time.  He wasn't sure that he liked it that much and it was so bright outside. We were there for probably 45 minutes and then we headed out again.  We made it as far as Filmore.  In Filmore we had to get the tire fixed. From Beaver to Filmore the car was rattling like we were driving on the worst gravel road ever to the point that I was getting a huge headache and it was making me nuts! So we pulled over at the Maverick and called dad and asked him about the shocks or brakes or whatever we could think of that would be causing the noise and the shaking. After inspecting the tires we decided that it would be a good idea to have a tire place check the tires just in case. It's a good thing we did because when we pulled into the shop, the tire was sitting just right to see that the right passenger tire looked wavy. The tire guy looked at it and said it was a bad tire and that we should not try to make it to Provo on it. He did not have a new one like ours nor did the other reliable place in town so he checked our spare and said that it would be fine to get to Provo. Actually when I asked him what we should do he said and I quote "If it were me, I would put on the spare and get the he** out of Fillmore." Connor thought that was quite funny. He also told us that there was another garage off the freeway but that they just absolutely prey on people coming off the freeway and he wouldn't send us over there if he could help it.  We pulled into his garage and unloaded ourselves and the stroller for Kyle and went inside their shop to wait. It only took about 20 minutes and he nicely wrapped the tire in plastic and wedged it into the back with all our crap and only charged us $10. I gave him $20 for being so kind. It was such a tender mercy in many ways.  1. That we didn't have a blow out on the freeway.  2.  That the tire just happened to be in the right position for me to see that it looked odd when we stopped at the tire shop.  3.  That we stopped at that man's shop and he was honest and helpful.  4.  That the spare got us to Provo.    After that stop in Fillmore we got on the road AGAIN.  We made it as far as Scipio when Connor needed a drink or the bathroom or something.  That gas station was totally packed with people because just behind it on the mountains was a huge fire and tons of smoke and people were pulling over to take pictures.

At the park in Beaver with Bryson Marshall on the swing.

Kyle swinging.

Pitstop in Fillmore.  Kyle was not amused.

Smoke from the Oak City fire just after Scipio

After that stop in Scipio, thankfully we made it all the way to Provo without stopping again. That was an 8 hour drive!  Kyle did surprising well although I think that he still didn't feel 100% after the stomach flu.  After we got there and got unloaded Connor was chopping at the bit to get started on all of the work Grandma Penny had for him.  He spent that evening helping move rocks and mulch and then most of the next few days getting Grandma's yard all ready for the party.  He and Jim mowed the lawn Friday night.  Don had been in Atlanta all week and he got in Friday afternoon.   He rented a car and drove down from the airport so thankfully I did not have to go and get him.  Early Saturday morning Don drove out to Payson to meet Caleb's scout troop coming off the mountain and to bring Caleb with us. We spent Friday and Saturday getting ready for the party.  Everyone helped by cleaning and cooking and shopping and we finally pulled it all together for Saturday's big event.  We were all exhausted afterward but it turned out nice.  Sunday we were all too pooped for church and I went and got some thyme oil and some vapor rub for poor Cameron who was super sick. We had plans to go to the Zoo Monday morning but poor Brady woke up barfing his guts out so those plans got cancelled.  We spent that day trying to quarantine him and lysoling every where else

 Tuesday we went to lunch at JCW's and then bowling at Fat Cats.  Wednesday was the 4th of July and we went to the Scera Pool as tradition dictates and then to Suzanna's for the Cul De Sac of Fire.  More on that later.  When the plan was go to to Provo on Monday, June 25 we had planned on coming home on July 5 but since we got up there so late we stayed longer.  Thursday Don and Caleb went to SLC with Larry, Jim, Jesse Brady and Chris to see the new Spideman movie at the Imax theatre.  We ordered pizza from Papa Johns and then we took some down to Cody so that we could see where he worked.  I don't remember Friday other than Laurel left for home.  I think we took Don's rental car back to SLC and then we went to Golden Corral and met Mawmaw, Mary and Gary and Aunt Pam there for dinner.  Saturday, Don took the boys to a trampoline place called Hang Time.  They had a blast jumping on all the trampolines.  Sunday after a family fast for Larry and his possible health issues,  we had a family dinner again and had Mawmaw ans Mary and Gary over to eat.  Connor and the little kids helped Grandma make her Fairy Garden.  We went out to Lehi Monday morning for family pictures and while we waited for the disc we ate lunch at Zupa's.  Don took the boys back to the trampoline place Monday night but this time he came home with a really bad pulled muscle in his thigh.  There was a family get together over at Jeanne Bates house that night but with Don's leg hurt and Kyle being sick we didn't go.  We had planned on going home Tuesday or Wednesday but Don didn't think he could ride or drive too well so we stayed longer.  Kyle started getting sick on the weekend and by Tuesday he was pulling at his ears so we went to the Urgent Care.  He had a double ear infection so he was not a happy boy.  We got him an antibiotic and he was doing much better by Thursday.  Tuesday afternoon we met Don's mom by the Walmart because we needed her to bring up some more medicine and inslin.  Luckily for us she was going to SLC for fmaily history so it worked out really well.  Tuesday night I took the boys to the Nickelcade and then Wednesday Connor went and did some work for Chris and Anne.  Thursday we started our Letterboxing fun and Friday after 16 days being there we went home.  There were many many trips to Sonic for drinks, and a few trips to Winco for groceries.  We tried to eat at a few new places like Kneaders, and Zupas, and the crepe place.  We also cooked some different things like chicken kabobs and Grandpa Don's pasta.  We stayed busy doing new things and making crafts.  Grandma took the kids to Michael's the afternoon of the movie and I took the boys to Hobby Lobby one night. We love going to Utah in the summer but we always love coming home to our house too.  Thank you Grandma and Granddaddy for putting up with us for 16 days!  One of those nights we had a big dinner at Mawmaw's house.  I think it was Tuesday July 3.  It is so nice to spend time together and let the kids play and get to know each other,  I love my family!

Caleb's Scout Camp

Caleb went to Maple Dell Scout Camp above Payson June 25-June 30.  He left at 3am Monday morning and travelled with his quorum up to the camp and then we picked him up Saturday morning in Payson as they were leaving for home because we were up in Provo for our vacation.  He had a great time swimming, eating and earning merit badges.  He earned 6 badges with the swimming merit badge being the hardest and most important because that one you have to have for your eagle.  He came home so filthy!  I have never seen my child so dirty in my life!  He had a great time and said it was the best camp ever!  He came back pretty wiped out though and fell asleep before the party.

We Love Grandma Penny

After the June Flu Fiasco we needed to hurry and get to Provo to get ready for Grandma Penny's 60th birthday party. I was supposed to leave to go up to Provo on Monday June 25 but I got the stomach flu the night before and it totally kicked my fanny! I was super sick for 24 hours but then I was absolutely wiped out for 2 more days after that. It took everything I had and 12 solid hours to get us ready to go on Wednesday so we could get up early Thursday and go. Don had to leave for Atlanta Monday night and he felt really bad about leaving but that's what happens when you work for the man. I packed and cleaned and did laundry all day Wednesday and we were able to leave around 8am on Thursday. It took us 8 hours to get to Provo but that is a story for another day. Caleb had left for Scout Camp on Monday morning while I was in the midst of my misery but thank goodness Connor was here to help or I would have never made it! ANYWAY---The party had been in the works since the beginning of the year. We had a lot of really big ideas at first but realized that we are not party planners, made of money and that there were 3 new babies in the family that take a lot of time! We ended up having a nice party though and we were all really glad because we love our mom so much! We held a family dinner before the actual party where we had pulled pork and chicken and salads. Then we had a dessert bar open house for mom's friends and neighbors. It was alot of work but it turned out really nice. My kids were a lot of help and I only had one small meltdown when a whole huge pile of cups tipped over and fell on the floor as I was trying to move them. Lots of our idea came from Pinterest which is fabulous because we have and make great stuff but don't have to come up with the ideas. The color scheme was blue, yellow and green. We ordered tables and chairs from a rental company which was great and then we used mason jars and flowers to decorate. Suzanna made some crafty pom pom flowers and the adorable banner. We all pitched in to make food for the dinner and then we ordered a bunch of cookies and brownies from BYU. We had a cream puff bar, a fruit pizza bar and lemonade and fruit water for the open house. There was a nice turnout and even the Veenker's from Lindon came who I had not seen in a long long time! It was a long night and lots of work but it turned out really well. Jessie took alot of pictures but I forgot to get them before I left Provo so these few will have to do.

The banner Suzanna made.

The cake.

Super cute watermelon on sticks-thank you Pinterest!

We needed a funny haha moment after the party.

Caleb is 14!

Caleb turned 14 on June 21. He has been asking for a Kindle forever so we finally got it for him. We sort of celebrated a few different times for him.  Don took him and Connor Waite and Cayden to Jump For It, a trampoline place in Vegas and to Five Guys for lunch on Tuesday, June 19 because Don was leaving for High Adventure on Caleb's actual birthday.  We gave him his present that morning though right before Don left after singing to him and making him wear the traditional birthday hat.  Then we were supposed to do his ordination on Sunday June 24 but Grandma Penny called Friday morning and said that they would not be coming down because Granddaddy had been up all night sick and he actually had to go to the ER because he was having chest pains.  Then Kyle came down with the stomach flu on Saturday and the rest of the family up north got it later on the weekend too.  Long story short-we had to postpone his ordination.  I had already ordered him a cake from Lin's so we did eat that Sunday night.  We left for Provo later that week after mom and Kyle were better so we didn't have his ordination until Sunday July 15.  It was a small group with just dad, grandpa, DJ and the Bishop but we wanted to get it done so he could participate in his new quorum.  We love you Caleb Mitchell and are so amazed that you are 14!

Letterboxing

We have been in Provo now for 15 days and although we haven't run out of things to do we are running out of energy and money.  So today we needed something cheap and fun.  Suzanna had heard about an activity called Letterboxing that she had put on her bucket list and it was perfect for today.  Letterboxing is like Geocaching but without the GPS.  There are websites and blogs dedicated to Letterboxing that we checked out to find places to go.  We first had to go and buy a family notebook, a family stamp and a stamppad.  We went to Michael's for those things and then we headed to our first spot.  Basically there are directions or clues online to various places to go .  Our fist spot was at the Utah Water Conservancy District.  We parked in the parking lot and walked down the sidewalk to a lightpole where the letterbox was hidden on the ground under a rock.  Caleb was the first to find the box.  Inside is a notebook we stamped with our stamp and a stamp that we used to stamp in our own notebooks.  We also signed and dated our books and their's.  Then we put everything back in the box and hid it back under the rock.  There were 3 more places that we had clues for.  It is amazing how handy an Iphone is to have when we needed to look up more clues!  We found a box at Sunflower Market, Riverwoods and the Provo River Trail.  We wanted to find the one at the temple but the temple was closed for some reason so we will have to use that one another day.  There are tons of letterboxes all over Utah and even the United States so that should make for some fun hunting.  The boys had been asking for a scavenger hunt since that was on our summer bucket list and this was just perfect!  We each had to pick out family names and we decided to go with a Princess Bride theme.  Our family is the Dread Pirate Adams,  Suzanna's family is the Pitts of Despair and Chris' family is the G.O.U.S (Gessel's of Unusual Size).  Our stamp is an anchor, Suzanna's is a geometric design and Chris used a big G.  After our last stop at the Provo River Trail we needed a rest and a treat-starting Letterboxing in July during the hottest week of the year is not the best timing but it was fun anyway.  Thank goodness there was a Snowie place at the end of our last stop.  The Provo River Trail clue was actually found after a little hike and it was pretty darn hot.  We were all pretty exhausted by the time we were done but it was so much fun.  We found some other clues in Fillmore and other places so we can do this on the drive home and other times we drive up to Utah plus we can do this when we go to St. George or Vegas or Mesquite.  Connor did not join us on our adventures today because he worked at Mawmaw's knocking down apples off her tree and talking to her about Pawpaw.  Good call Suzanna! 

Family Pictures

July 9,2012

Kyle Brandt is 10 Months Old

Wowee zowee!  This baby is growing so fast we can't hardly believe it!  This month has been a busy one for him. 

He got to go to the doctor twice for being sick-once with and ear infection and once for the stomach flu because I was worried he was getting dehydrated. Those were his first sick visits.

He got his first antibiotic for the ear infection.

He is taking medicine so much better and doesn't spit it out.

He weighed about 19lbs 7ounces at the doctor when he had the flu.

He is eating practically everything we are eating and is so done with baby food. 

He loves cheerios still and toast and he likes all kinds of crackers and goldfish now too. 

There hasn't been anything that I have fed him that he has not liked.

He really likes to feed himself too so I give him lots of finger foods. 

He started holding his bottle all by himself this past week and holds it the whole time.

He pulls himself up on everything and is reaching up for things and standing on his tip toes. 

He is balancing one handed on the furniture and takes a few steps while holding on.

He crawls pretty darn fast and pulls himself up on my legs when he wants to be held.

 He has 2 top teeth that have come in this month making 4 total-2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.

He wrinkles his nose and shows us a "cheesy" grin. 

He got his first hair cut and looks like a big boy. 

He started with the clingy baby behavior this week up at Grandma Penny's with Grandma, Mawmaw, Calley and Cody. 

He lays his head down on my shoulder when he is tired or upset. 

He was doing pretty good getting used to his room and even stayed in there for a few naps until we came up to Provo. 

He did sleep 2 nights in the crib at Grandma Penny's but then he got really sick again with a fever and a cough so he is back in the bed with me. 

He went swimming for the first time and loved it.

He loves dogs!  We point them out to him whenever we see them and he smiles and follows them with his eyes.

He gives kisses sometimes when I ask him too.

He almost waves bye bye.

He knows his name and knows the names of his brothers and mom and dad.

He says mama and dada.

He knows what bottle means and smiles when we ask him if he wants one.

He loves to look at other babies and plays near them-not necessarily with them but near them.

He sleeps most nights from about 11pm to 7-8am and still takes his 30-40 minute nap in the morning and long nap in the afternoon.  I am trying to get him away from the power nap in the evening so he will go to bed earlier.

He loves his Grandpa Don and his Grandpa Don loves him!

He's been hiking, bowling, and swimming this month.

He loves Patty Cake and Itsy Bitsy Spider.

He does not like covers and gets hot really easily.

He still has that vein around his eye that makes it look like he has a black eye alot.

He likes to go on walks in the stroller.

Playing with his rock friend.

Stomach Flu Baby

Wrinkle puppy grin.

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