Making the Most

Time is speeding faster than I can keep up with, and summer's starting to feel like it is winding down. I cannot BELIEVE how short this summer has felt! Does anyone else feel this way? And now - already - there is that hint of Fall. Unbelievable, but exciting!

Got the boys packed up - apple slices, toys, and all - to head out in our "double stroller" but couldn't get the tires pumped for anything. Notice Jig's eyebrow, which has a mind of its own.



Gulp. Cam, Auds, and Fam. I try to avoid thinking and talking about the fact that they are moving in less than 2 weeks. This is not gon' be pretty. I might as well not wear mascara for the next week and a half.



While Cam's been gone, Auds and I have tried to do lots together, though we are both separately quite busy. We definitely have managed to fit in fun times. We hauled everyone to Park City on Friday and made some memories for sure! Digging for one possible quarter to let all four kids ride one ride together. Yes, buy the green coat, but RUN back to the van fast. You know why. Mickey D's on a very steep hill. Chocolate hamburgers on Nan's porch and don't anyone mess with a woman who knows how to work a hammer stapler! I love you Auds and I will DIE to not have you 3 minutes away. Don't even go there with Croz to not have his cousins around... oh nooooooooo



The kids had a grand time at Thanksgiving Point, where we visited the farm. It's a great petting zoo type of experience if you're looking for one. The kids get nice and up close/personal with the animals if they want to... I couldn't believe how Lennox was reaching for the cows and horses! Croz & Claire take their milkjug jobs very seriously.



Waiting for the pony ride... love midget Jig



Everyone's gotta ride a pony some time







Our Jigga has been a crawlin' fool these days



Dressing room at Gap, wish I could've gotten a better shot. We were laughing SOOOOO hard at the mirror morphings!!



Surprise surprise, what has D been doing? He had a bunch of tile pictures he had to take for a school project, so I thought I'd show one of his own



Luckily though the jobs are wrapped up for the present time. I live for D's breaks in between semesters. I think he does too. That is how life should be anyway... it is chill time at our household for sure.



It is heavenly to have D be able to hang out with us all the time! In case you couldn't tell, that's him and his mini-me in the lazy river.



Our boys love their dad, no doubt. I sure love him too. He's a wrestler, go for walks guy, silly, diaper changer, baby food mixer, take 'em to Munga's kind of dad.



Mirjeta's day finally came! Just over a week ago she was able to take Baby Tayt home! After 5 months in the NICU it was about time. In true Mirjeta fashion, Tayt was not allowed to leave the hospital without a GRAND farewell. She wanted signs, people, balloons, cheering, and glitter. There were other signs and lots of balloons, but this was the one we made.



I cannot even imagine the glory of that day... well, I definitely saw it on her face. And I'll never forget it! Their little family packed up and ready to go.



I had to put this picture, even though I should be kissing her! I feel like it says a lot. She had just found out she could take Tayt home in a matter of days. I love Mirjeta so much and will forever be grateful for our friendship!



Well, Red Butte Garden has been our spot recently. Having a membership there is primo wonderful.

It offers a whole lot, especially photo shoot ops!



Mystery Men



I get to look at these impossibly cute faces all day long. Lucky me.





Notice anything about Jig's eyebrow again?!



Jigga loves it when D does drums with him



All pictured out



D & I stopped to talk to people from his work and so Crosby was pouting. He was making it very clear.



Stool fit for a Jig



One day we went to Red Butte in our grubs strictly to play in the huge pot of red sand. I think Crosby had the time of his life.



And so did Lennox.



Such soft sand



BYO diggers, shovels, and trucks and you're good to go.



Spent some time at Red Butte with the gals one morning. Amy just had her baby girl Melina about a week ago!



Aimee's little girl Charlotte was making the cutest faces and was showing off her sign language skills



What a doll!



I took dinner one night in May to an old lady around the corner. We visited for a while and found a lot of common ground/connections. She invited me back to come check out her hobby... quilting. Oh my gosh! She was showing me her drawerfuls of beautiful fabrics. Showed me some projects she's been working on. She said, "Oh I've got so many fabric scraps that I was going to give away... I would love for you to make a quilt."

I never had touched a sewing machine previous to this... she has given of her time and energy over the last couple months and I have brought fabric home to make combinations, measure and cut, then take them over to her place to sew. Seems simple enough but it has taken hours upon hours upon hours!

Marian is an artist and I love her. We have enjoyed visiting, getting to know each other, laughing. She is 90 years old and has truly become my friend. Just this afternoon I was over there for FOUR hours! D was able to watch the boys while I stole away for a while. She made me a ham sandwich on rye bread and then some lime jello with grapes in it! It has been so cool to see some of the things she's done with her creativity and hear her stories. Here are some of the color combinations for the quilt that we're starting to lay out and block together:





As we were laying pieces out tonight she asked me, "Do you think it's too gaudy?" I told her no way! I feel like this quilt is ME... all over the place.



When this is done (October maybe??) it will be a king-sized quilt for mine & D's bed. I will have to take a picture of it when it's finished! I am so looking forward to completing it.

Over the weekend I saw the movie 'Crazy Stupid Love' and I liked it. What I LOVED though was the song at the end of the movie. I just now looked it up and have fallen madly in love with not only the music but the masterpiece of a "music video" that has been created. If ever there was art, this is it for me. Please enjoy!



Ta Ta for now!

Feeling Patriotic

Lots of summer fun been going on. Munga wanted us to go to her neighborhood's bike parade back on the Fourth, and so we did. Croz got to decorate his bike and afterwards a neighbor had homemade yogurt-type popsicles for everyone. They were amazing... raspberry, kind of creamy. Sabita fed one to Lennox and kept giving him red and blue fringe decorations to "eat," so his face was a sticky metallic mess. Crosby remembers what he wore that day because every morning when he's looking for what clothes to wear, he wants to wear "Munga's bike parade shorts and shirt."

We are missing Cam! He is in Rhode Island training with the Navy and I can't believe it. I can't believe Cam, Auds, and kids are going to be gone soon. It is hard to stomach some days :( With them living at my parents' though, we are happy to spend as much time with them as we can before the dreaded day comes; try to not think about it too hard yet. I think Cam is going to be awesome in this new turn his life/career has taken. And San Diego... TEN HOURS!



Summer's all about...

Talking on your cell phone on the porch



Concerts outdoors (D & I finally got to see Blues Traveler LIVE! Harmonica virtuosos rock.)



Wrestling sandwiches on the lawn



Making long shadows in the sun



Homemade raspberry ice cream. By Beth, no less... who's going to continue this tradition?! I need to learn.



It's the time of the season for... s'moring



We all met up at a park and had those enormous marshmallows... Auds ended up with a genuine pig snout s'more!



Sporting their patriotic tattoos



These guys were doing snap-its on the sidewalk when a poor innocent little caterpillar decided to creep past and immediately became a victim



Grant was loving the photoshoots this night, I was in shock! We found this cool den and he wanted to pose everyone like army guys. Except he handed Croz a plastic knife and a stick and told him to make a fire



Jared & Jigga



We tracked a moose mama and baby for a while



D & I tried so hard to resist the pull this year. But there we went, ended up at Sugarhouse again this year with the whole gang. I can't believe how Sabita hauls her tail down and back like she does! Davis was covered up throughout the whole fireworks show and Croz was loving every bit. Licorice, Catch Phrase, and Lorna Doones.



Need an example of true love? Here you go! We were gushing over this sweet couple in front of us at the fireworks. The kind, quiet things you do for each other when "no one's watching."



I love how Lennox crosses his baby ankles. It's the coziest little move. Croz did this too; oh how I love my sweet boys. Trying to flash to the future when they're older, realizing I have to remember how important these young years are. How tender these moments will be in my heart down the road.



The Ute sweatshirt almost escaped a Lennox photoshoot!



It was busting at the seams in the arms



Love my Mo' Jig!

The Jig Turns Nine Months!

Lennox, it is unbelievable that I find myself writing up your little 9 month review. Days fly by and no matter what we do, Dad & I still can't get enough of you!



Your two bottom teeth are all situated but your top ones are still coming in... we can barely stand it when you smile. It is EXTREMELY cute. You smile and then we smile 80 watts brighter! Part of it is because it can sometimes take a while for your smile to spread across your face. You'll keep a straight face for a little bit like you're playing a trick. Then you break. You do a good job trying to act serious.

You chew on anything that surrounds you! Sometimes you'll be in this mood where you want to be snuggled while you chew, kind of like right here with Nan. I love how it squishes your eyes and you're just chewing away as I kiss and smoosh your cheeks.



You really love baths. You don't even notice I'm washing you because you're usually too fascinated with the water! I love nothing more than to bathe you, wrap you in your cozy towel, smooth that baby-smelling lotion on your fat legs, arms, and cheeks, and comb your hair to the side. You are so handsome, Jigga!





Which one of these is you?! Munga loves to wheel you around her house in this stroller, just how she did with Croz. She wanted a picture of you in her stroller to match Crosby's. Hint: you are our baby koala.



It took a while for you to get anywhere near liking the jumper. I would set you in it and you would hang there like "Why would you put me in this thing?" But just the other day I put you in it once again thinking you'd hate it again. I was washing dishes, heard a noise, saw the spring bouncing, and voila! You figured out how to jump :) Now you love jumping.



You are such a trooper. I feel daily washes of guilt because I feel like too many days go by where you get neglected. Seems like there is always a LOT to do around here, not to mention Crosby's needs too! But you are incredibly patient. Sometimes you play by yourself for the longest time without making a peep. You love to examine objects so I've tried to make sure I rotate new "toys" in your baskets to keep that intelligent mind guessing! Thanks for being so patient with me. I do like to think that I make up for you being neglected here and there. When Crosby goes down for his nap or is occupied in another room I EAT up every second I have with you alone!! We sometimes dance together, lie on the floor and look at your toys, or I just hug you really tight and kiss those cheeks right off. You are just my Boogaloo.



When you are tired you seem to amp things up a bit. You'll get a wild shot of energy, sometimes twirling your hands and feet at mach speed! Dad & I get a real kick out of your punchy times. Your laugh is hilarious.



Speaking of Dad, as hard as it is to admit this, I do believe that you two are the best of friends. He comes home and you smile brighter than I've seen all day long. I can run around like a crazy woman trying to make you laugh or smile and then Dad comes around and makes one silly noise and there you go busting a gut!



It is fun to see your relationship with your dad; the two of you can always be found in some kind of relaxation mode or position. No joke! Chill + Chill = EXXXTRAA chilled out! And yes you still suck those fingers when you're ready for sleep.



All of our love to you, sweet Lennox. Can't wait for what this next month holds in store for you!

Love,

Mom & Dad