January 7, 2012

It's been a pretty dry and warm winter.  I'm not complaining.  But every time it does barely snow, the boys go nuts and want to go play.  I told them they had to wait one snowy morning because we needed to run a couple errands.  As soon as we got home, both Samuel and Owen bolted out of the car into the snow.  Once Emmett went down for a nap, I rounded up some snowman supplies and we all got to work.  Samuel tried to name him Sam, then settled on Frosty, even though I suggested Quasimodo.  (He thought that was funny.  Every time he told someone about the snowman, he'd include, "And we named him Frosty but my Mom wanted to call him something else, what was that name, Mom?  Yeah, Quasimodo, hahaha!")  This time, at least, the boys got their fill.  A good 90 minutes later they both came inside freezing, soaked, and screaming, "WE HATE THE STUPID SNOW!!!!"  And later that day, poor Frosty had already fallen over.  Owen found that pretty amusing, and kept running to the front window, pointing and explaining to anyone who would listen (for the fifth and sixth time), "Look, look at dat poor snowman.  He felled over!!!"  It was fun while it lasted.

Never will he miss an opportunity to ride his bike!

The boys don't care that it's cold and 15 degrees outside.  They definitely don't care that it's snowing.  They want out.  And they really like their mittens.  So I say, good riddance, and warn them that no one is allowed back in if they're crying or whining about being cold or wet.  And they never are.  They did find a good place to "protect us and give us shelter."  Sam is always the first one to come in, and if Owen didn't always need a buddy out there, he would stay outside all day.

I've been promising the boys a big leaf pile for a while.  But usually it's hard for me to get outside to do that with the baby.  So the other afternoon I sent them out to the backyard while I put Emmett down.  I sat and watched Samuel and Owen from the window for a few minutes and decided instead of doing the dishes I would go out and play with them.  When I walked out, Sam exclaimed, "Hey look, it's Mom!" and Owen laughed, "Mommy, what are you doing out here?!"  We played until it was cold and dark, and came back inside covered from head to toe in leaves and dirt.   

October 15, 2011

It was Saturday.  It was beautiful.  We needed to get out.  But I'm still really scared to go far from home.  So we took advantage of what Utah has to offer!  We really need to do that more often.  We headed up the Nebo Loop in Payson Canyon.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  It was so fun to see the mountain spotted with red, and watch as we got closer and closer.  Once we were driving through, we could see that it wasn't just red, but several amazing shades of red, orange, and yellow.  So so pretty.  So we went there with the intent of hiking the Grotto Trail.  I've heard lots about it, but never been.  It's a super duper easy hike to a little waterfall and wading pond.  It was low key and very enjoyable.  It was perfect for our afternoon and just what we needed.

With the end of school and anticipating a long summer ahead, I’ve designated one day a week as Park Day.  The idea is we go to a “cool” park, or at least a new one.  (Of course all of this is dependent on the stupid 50 degrees and rainy weather going away!)  We did get a beautiful day last week, though, so after some errands in Orem, we stopped off at Nielsen’s Grove with a picnic.  The boys love to go there to run around, explore, and feed the ducks.  Samuel could not stay away from the pond.  He was so intrigued with the rocks and the fish and who knows what else.  Owen just loves to do anything his big brother is doing.  And chase the ducks.  “Hi Duckie, Hi Duck, Hi Duckie” he would squeal as he ran after them.  It was a wonderful day to be outside in shorts and sunblock.  Here’s hoping we get some more of those days soon!!

Chasing some ducks.

“Hey Mommy, Ownie fowders!  Picture, cheeeeeese!!”

Side by side, playing in the dirt, so so cute, Mom says “Guys look at me!”  So bored with the camera, Samuel snickers and pulls his hat over his head.  “Owen, let’s hide from Mom.”  Both laugh their little pants off.  They think they’re so funny. 

Samuel and I went outside one sunny (but chilly) afternoon while Owen napped.  I decided to move the sandbox off the patio, and we discovered a whole world of worms under there from the last several rains.  Samuel thought it his duty to rescue all of them, and without any reservations, he started picking up handfuls and relocating them to a muddy spot by the fence.  He spent a long time doing this, until all of the worms were rescued and safe in their new home.  Well, all of them but one.  There was a gigantic worm, a good 7 inches at least, that Sam started to pick up, but it squirmed away really fast and startled him.  So Sam concluded, “That’s a super big worm just for grownups to rescue.”

When I first announced I was expecting another boy, I was pretty surprised at the general response.  “Oh dang, maybe next time.”  “Well the most important thing is that you have a healthy baby.”  “That’s too bad, I’m so sorry.”  And it kind of baffled me.  I can honestly say not one bit of me is disappointed in having three mud loving, worm rescuing, ant squishing, rough housing, boy buddies.  I am so in love with these little stinks of mine, and I am thrilled to add another one into the mix.  It’s gonna be a blast.  I wouldn’t want it any other way.

December 21, 2010

The forecast the night before was for cold rain to melt the little bit of snow that was still hanging around from a previous storm.  Ehhh, wrong!  We woke up Tuesday morning to a big ol’ dumping of snow!  Sam was giddy.  Owen was in awe.  The local schools were closed for the first time in 35 years!  (Preschool was only delayed an hour.)  It was beautiful!  Until I had to shovel the whole driveway so we could even get out.  Samuel was dyyyyyying to get out there and play, so after school and lunch, he and I bundled up while Owen napped.  First on Sam’s list was snow angels.  Next was apparently snow balls, but he quickly learned you don’t engage in a snowball fight unless BOTH parties are willing to particpate.  Then it was time for a snow man, and quick stop by from Grandpa W.  (More snowballs!) 

Later that afternoon, Sam wanted to go out again so he asked his neighbor buddy to come play with him.  Both us Moms figured the boys would make it maybe 10 minutes before whines of cold fingers and wet toes.  Ehhh, wrong again!  They played in our backyard for almost an hour and a half!!  They pushed trucks around, trudged through the snow, played in the covered club house, and dug out a fort in the bushes.  It was a very very successful snow day.  I might not be ready to move to CA just yet!

The backyard.  I should’ve taken a picture of Erik’s car completely buried in our driveway that I got to dig out.

Samuel with Samsam the Snowman. 

I gave Sam permission to have a snowball fight with Samsam the Snowman.

So much fun!  He couldn’t stop licking and eating the snow.

I spy a Bubba Lumps watching from the warmth of the window!

. . . Not to be confused with “The” Ranch.  A few weeks ago we went up Hobblecreek Canyon here in Springville to Jolley’s Ranch for a ward party.  It was hot and muggy, but the boys don’t care because there was dirt and rocks.  They like dirt and rocks.  Did you know that?  It was . . . yeah, you guessed it . . . super fun.  I need a bigger vocabulary.  Maybe a word of the day calendar or something.

Becoming a pro at throwing it over one side and watching it float down the other.

Little climbers.  Both easily made it to the top without any help.

“Hey, Sam!”  Owen was laughing so hard.

Dirt, rocks, AND water.  How can it get any better?

Der, with a big stick!

“Hmmm, which rock shall I choose?”

“Eh, this one is kind of crunchy.”

“You think I’m dirty?!”

Seriously, I am so worried about what happens when the summer is over.  What are we going to do?!

Two weekends ago, my mom was in town and staying at my uncle’s ranch up the mountain from Heber City so she invited us up for a day.  The wind and (almost) rain made us a little nervous at first, but it didn’t stop anyone from having a super fun day.  The ranch is huge, and includes lots of gorgeous land to explore, a playground, a teepee, a pond with canoes, 2 huge barns, a few cowboy huts, 4 generations of an Australian cattle dog family, horses and deer, chickens and turkeys, a goat, a peacock, and endless amounts of dirt and rocks.  Could this be heaven for two little boys?!  You bet!  Especially when Mormor has a giant playground ball, a huge bottle of bubbles, a t-ball set, and a delicious dinner of bbq ribs, fresh corn on the cob, and yummy caesar salad.  We totally thought the boys would crash on the way home, but getting stuck in a parade, winding through the canyon, counting waterfalls, and blowing raspberries back and forth until they couldn’t control their laughter kept them awake the whole time.  Such a great day for all of us.

Dirt and rocks.

“What are you looking at, Mom?  I’m just climbing big dangerous rocks!”

Mister Pemberley likes to walk around with his chin tucked, belly poking out, and hands grasped behind his back. 

Shuckin’ carn.

“Ships ahoy!  Ay ay Captain Dad!!”

Owen started small a while ago, (this is from the end of June) but has since moved on to the slides at the park and completely mastered those, so this must be getting old . . .

Which must be why he decided to try something new . . .