Documenting Memories

These are not artistic photos....at all, but they have things in them that are precious to me, things I want to remember.

I want to remember that Soren is a fantastic sleeper (I hesitate to even write that because I know it could all change tomorrow). Soren chose this blankie when he was only a few months old. We have a large stash of cute, soft, cuddly blankets, but he chose this one (a gift from Fiona) to be his favorite comfort. The secret to get him to sleep is: 1. lay him down 2. throw this blanket on his face.

He pulls the tassels across his nose and lips, making sweet sucking noises with his mouth and drifts off. It is the cutest, sweetest habit, and if you hold him a bit before laying him down he will offer up some fleece fringe for your enjoyment. He may be a brute during the day, but he is sweet as they come at bedtime.

I want to remember the quilt he is laying on. It was made by my Grandma. She was a fair-award winning quilter, and this particular quilt is in her signature colors. I miss her now that I am a Mom more than ever before. I have lots of questions and she had lots of time. Hardly anyone has lots of time these days.

Bub took the above photo. As I went to delete the 25 photos he had taken I decided to keep this one. I want to remember Mom and Dad's family room just as my brain always thinks of it....broken horse rocker, and toys scattered all over the fireplace. Right now it's Littlest Pet Shops, but just a few years back it was Madison's collection of Schleich animals, or Marcus's transformers.

And then....there is Soren with his beloved Pooh blankie, I definitely want to remember that face!

Summer 2011

It's so cliche, but this summer seriously flew right by.

A friend gave a motivational talk to the Young Women a week or so ago where she shared this quote: "You're writing the story of your life one minute at a time".

The big events, vacations and birthdays, are easy to remember, but when I think of day to day life it's hard to account for all those minutes.

Luckily, I could dig up a few pictures to document the last 3 months of our lives.

Bub attended 2 sessions of Iddy Biddy Ball (soccer, t-ball, and basketball).

We rode the Madsen and took lunch when we could, so there went most of our mornings MW&F. Bub's summer goal was to participate in every activity and listen to his teacher.

He did it!

Miriam took "Cheer Prep" which was basically tumbling. She achieved her summer goal of perfecting her cartwheel, and even learned to do them one-handed!

The gym had a room full of toys and movies, so every Tuesday from 9-10 the boys played.

Miriam also had ballet those days.

There was a park full of burning hot sand where I would take the boys while we waited for ballet to end.

We would run underneath the playground where the sand was cool, and a bit damp, and dig our way through 45 min. (I was usually on the phone with Jamie, Julia, or Mirissa)

Then off to piano (all M's activities fell on Tuesday) where we would play with Ivy, Simon, William and baby James before, during and after Mimi's piano lesson next door. Fiona usually had their huge water slide up and M would go to piano wet.

Don't even THINK all we did was play all summer.

Heaven's no, 11-3ish was/is Soren's nap time so it was/is go time.

Piano practice, workbooks, 20 min of reading, and chores. I would love to say we didn't watch any TV all summer, but after all work was done, if Soren was still asleep they could watch Netflix (which happened almost every day).

From the time Soren woke up to the time Darin got home was general chaos. It was hot by that time, Soren wanted to be OUT and into everything. I think he was covered in mud everyday, he has an uncanny way of finding water. I had dinner to make while kids were in and out and into everything.

Everyone says I will miss the chaos; the yelling voices, the muddy footprints, the play dates, getting snacks. I am sure they are right, but man alive those 3 hours could kill a woman.

Then, right near the very end of the summer, Miriam had a week long climbing camp in Ogden.

This camp was intense, Miriam came out in tears the first day. I was proud of her for facing her insecurities (too hard, too strict, no friends, no food) as she went back the next day.

She ended up loving it, and doing really well. So well, in fact, that she traversed a wall, and did a climb that not many in the class could do. One of the instructors pulled me aside to tell me Miriam had a natural climbing instinct. Which isn't saying that she is the toughest climber, or the bravest, more that she climbs smart and conserves her energy.

Miriam was just excited she made some friends!!

The boys and I (or Darin) explored Ogden for a week.

It's really beautiful up there, with lots to do.

We did the Eccles Dinosaur park twice, Newgate Mall, and Lorin Farr Park.

It was fun to have Bub take the lead for a while. He loves science-bones, bugs, rocks-the boy was in heaven, and so happy to share it all with Soren.

Lagoon, one weekend in Scofield, one long weekend in Zion, Girls Camp, River rafting in Moab (youth conference).......

SHAZAM the summer was gone!

It's waaay gone, tonight was back to school night.

Oh My Handsome!

This picture made me do a double take.

Bub has always been cute as a buttermilk biscuit, but in this picture I see a handsome little boy he has turned into.

I took the 2 older kids to a city park viewing of Tangled one evening during the summer.

This is something we hope to do again next summer. Although, we would bring a picnic, pillows, and playing cards to pass the time till the movie starts.

Sweet Times with Anna

We had a few chances to get Miriam and Anna together during the summer.

Once for a grown up girls luncheon, which lead to a darling french bakery.

For creme glacee, and macaroons.

So easy to pretend we were in France, really easy since M and I have never been there.

Then.....

to a Fairy Doll Tea Party at Gardner Village

This time with the boys, who didn't mind all the glitter and flowers because they got shiny airplanes.

And then.....

A sleepover, complete with another tea party at Anna's house.

How perfect to be 7 with a 7 year old cousin so close by.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Our last meeting of the summer book club and I forgot my camera.

It was a bummer because we had the quintessential summer party.

Penguin art, ice cube relay, lots of otter pops at a local park.

It was a fun book, the kids loved it (Miriam is reading it for a second time by herself), but it didn't really compare to the other Newbury honor books I have read. Not much emotion or deep thinking evoked. Just easy reading and very fun, which I guess is best for the varied ages of our group. We are all intrigued to see the movie because the trailers didn't look at like what we read. We'll have to see what Jim Carrey has to offer.

Soren is getting a hang of the whole picture taking stuff.

What a cheese-ball he is.

Back in the Saddle again!

Here is our 2nd grader

Sending her off was virtually painless.

It really helps that she is so darn excited to go.

There was a tug at my heart string when a friend mentioned that she remembered Miriam's backpack looking so huge on her. Now, starting her 3rd year of school, it fits perfectly.

There goes that heart tugging again.....

Back To School Eve

Luckily, Darin forced me to take a nap after church.

I have a cold, and cried too much at church (just released from Young Women's) so I was dead to the bone tired. I was so tired and ornery I was determined NOT to take a nap, but luckily I was forced.

The nap made it possible for the back to school dinner and events to go on.

Brain food menu:

Veggies (our first tomatoes!)

Panko crusted cauliflower

Fish sticks

and Paula Deans chess-man pudding only, as pictured above, I used alphabet cookies to spell out a hidden message. Can you find it??

We read a "Value Tale" about Louis Pasteur and believing in your-self.

Mid story Soren threw a horrendous fit.

I took him away while Darin gave the kids back to school blessings.

I think they went well because when I finally had Soren taken care of I came down to find them like this:

Happy, sweet and ready to start a new school year!

Miriam's Wonderful Week

Miriam got to stay with Aunt Sarah for the week which means she was spoiled rotten!

She also got to go to dance class with Aunt Julia, which means she is very lucky!!

and....she got to sleep on the trampoline at Grandma and Grandpa's house which means she can't wait to do it again!

The boys and I went to pick her up and attend International Days

(fondly referred to as Intertrashional Days, only because a lot of people tend to wear the smallest amount of clothing possible to the events).

Cousins in the Encore colors

Miriam is in a borrowed uniform, Julia is always making sure she feels apart of everything Encore. It's so sweet of her, one of M's greatest sadness is that she can't take dance from Julia.

Celebrating National Dance Day with Encore Studio plus Carbon High and Emery High Drill Teams.

The boys were sick of the entertainment BEFORE Encore entered the stage.

I don't blame them since it was 6 demonstrations of aerobics.

(Jab Cross Upper Upper okay okay we get it already)

The Parade

(outside of JC Penny where we could feel the air conditioning on the street!)

Soon after this picture, Soren face planted into the gutter and had a bruised forehead for the rest of the trip.

The Park

Grandma's House

It was flippin' awesome!

Sunscreen Hair Gel

The other thing Miriam missed was our neighborhood sprinkler party.

(Don't feel too bad for her, she was at carnival camp AND going to dance classes with Aunt Julia.)

Last year we were out almost every afternoon till dusk but this year it seems everyone has been too busy (I know we have been). I guess the kids are just growing up and getting more involved with other things. It was good to get together. I live by some wonderful, hilarious, insightful women. I will miss the era of getting through afternoons of entertaining babies and toddlers together.

Soren's hair seriously stayed that way the entire time.

He is just as wild as his hair, and completely attached to me at this time. He is either falling off something, tearing something apart, or in my arms, BUT that's another post entirely.

My favorite Bub idiosyncrasy at the moment is his raising eyebrows. He will tell you something like...."I can jump weally high like a ninja" or "did you know my shoes make me wun weally fast as a cheeta" and then move his eye brows up and down for emphasis.

They have my heart that is for sure.

Indian in The Cupboard

Miriam was gone for our Indian in the Cupboard book discussion, so the boys had to represent!

My Dad's childhood Tonto costume turned Bub into Chief Little Bear.

I tried to make Soren wear a loin cloth like a little Indian baby but he wouldn't have it so we settled on a white onesie and shorts.

Our host family built a Tee Pee for the occasion. Their backyard is a little boys wonderland anyway....so might as well add an amazing Tee Pee.

They went above and beyond, grillin' hot dogs and hamburgers. The kids ran around like wild cowboys and Indians while the mothers sat and talked.

gotta love the Woody Walrus

The girls were there too, I just missed the photo op.

The kids LOOOVED this book. Darin loved this book as a child. I enjoyed it, I was entertained by the book but not captivated. Although the idea is fascinating, I guess its not written in the style that grabs me. I did love reading the unfamiliar British phrases and names.

This is one of the cute crafts the kids put together.

Did I mention our hostess is 8 1/2 months pregnant in August?

It's nice to have such productive friends.