The wheels are turning

Tonight at dinner Ethan had everyone stop talking and listen to him. He said we should take the seed off our hamburger bun and then we could plant it and we could grow our own hamburger buns.

What a thinker!

What a day and Round up Part 2

Warning:

This post has LOTS of pictures.

Today started with my long run beginning at 5:30 AM. I have been pretty nervous about it all week. I am not really sure why. It could have been a number of things; the fact that we were running 14 miles, or b/c I missed a short run this week, or b/c a heard a runner's horror story. Whatever my problem was I just couldn't get it together this morning. I was running with two friends and I couldn't keep up (I am pretty sure my problem was mental). Anyway they ran on a head and I actually walked about a mile and then started running again. While I was walking I was having major doubts about my ability to run. I admit I was a bit dramatic in my head. I kept thinking if I had my cell phone I would call Mark and have him get me. I kept wondering why I even signed up for the marathon. But then I got to a point where I knew I only had a little under 3 miles to go and I was able to boost my confidence and I got running again. Well I am glad that I got that bad run out of the way now hopefully it won't happen on marathon day:)

I got home and stretched for a while and then showered and got ready for the day. My aunt Shauna and my two cousins came over and we walked to the parade (just two blocks). I took Jake and Ethan. Mark met up with us after Ryan and Andrew had finished their breakfast. After the parade I was really worn out and a little tired of being in the sun. I really didn't feel like taking my kids to the park for the big celebration but I felt bad not taking them all at the same time. I ended up going to Target to get a few things and then I had to go to Zupas since its right there.When I got home I was feeling much refreshed. Andrew went down for a nap. I took Ethan, Jake and Ryan to the park. It was so fun. The weather was perfect and since it was later in the afternoon there weren't as many people there.

So here are all my pictures of our fun afternoon at the park. Everything is .25 so I can go with $10 and my kids can do everything and we still have money left over. It is so worth it! Gotta love Lehi. Jake on his first inflatable ride

Ethan and Jake on the wizzard. The worker had to spin them around. They loved it!

Ryan on the swings. This is powered by a fan. He love it.

We got a little tired of waiting in line for the face painting so my kids asked me to take pictures of them. I thought this one was funny.

Ethan's dragon

Jake's penguin

All three boys. Ryan is a pink lion. The face painting was actually .50. I told the lady taking money I was shocked it was so cheap. I have been to free events at the Gallivan center with my kids and the face painting there is around $5.00 The lady told me it normally is but Lehi city was only asking .50 and they were paying the difference. Thank you Lehi City!





Pony Rides = $1.00 and lots of smiles

Petting zoo = free

My boys loved this!

The turtle

the one eyed pony. We got his good side. He could see us.

When we got back we wrapped up a present and headed to another park in Lehi for a birthday party. Mark went to the Rodeo. (his last night--Yeah!) We were at the party from 5:30-7:30. I was too tired to look for Jake's lost shoes. They were only a dollar on Walmart clearance and it was worth it to me to search the entire park for them. We headed to walmart and got some things for dinner tomorrow. I got home and got all the kids bathed and in bed. It was an exhausting last hour. I knew Andrew was tired and I was too worn out to hold him. (Yes we spoil him and hold him every night until he falls asleep) So tonight I put him in his bed and had him cry it out. It was a first for him (I know we are pathetic) and it took him 15 min. to fall asleep. We are all worn out and should sleep good tonight!

Round Up Rodeo Part 1

This week has been Round Up Rodeo in Lehi. It is such a fun week with tons of Free things to do. We have done some. We went to a reptile show at the museum and we went to the all horse parade (my favorite). It sounds a little boring but its about a 30 minute parade of all horses. Every little kids dream. After the parade we came home and got ready for the Rodeo. Ethan calls it the Horse Radio :) It was a lot of walking a little bit of sitting and some fun. Thanks to Janni and her roommie Brittany for coming and helping with the crew.

Andrew got a ride there on my back. I am so happy that I always have my snugli in my car. I can't live with out it.

Here is a picture of the horse event that we witnessed. We also saw a wagon race. It was pretty fun to watch. The winner's back wheels fell off. I was amazed that he still won.

Ethan by the huge bulls!

Our favorite Event the Motorcycles. They were crazy. When Mark has some down time I might have him help me post the video.

My boys couldn't get enough of the motorcycles!

In case you are wondering why Mark didn't come to the Rodeo, well he did:) As part of Mark's church calling he has to go to the Rodeo every night (Thurs-Sat.) from 5-11:30 PM. Yesterday he was actually there around 4. He is working the concessions. So lucky for us we got free hamburgers, nachos, and snow cones. Thanks for your service Mark.

Mini Mark

We have some of Mark's old clothes. Well one outfit. It was out and it fits Ryan so I had to put him in it and take a picture. I wish I had a picture of Mark in this outfit to put side by side but I don't. You will just have to use your imagination. I did find a picture of Mark when he was 1 1/2 and he looks a TON like Ryan or Ryan looks a TON like him. I don't have a scanner at home so it won't be in this post either. Sorry! After the photo shoot of Ryan all my boys wanted their picture taken. How could I refuse?

Ryan then decided to dress himself (maybe I should say undress himself) He then requested more pictures. What a funny little guy.

What do you want to do this summer?

HAVE A PARTY!

That was my kids answer. So we made invitations and took them to some of our friends. We had a summer party. It was pretty low key but fun. We had a sponge relay filling up buckets.

we had a little pool

we had Popsicles
(this is Lucy, Ryan's crush. He talks about her ALL day long! He tells Mark everyday when he gets home from work that he played with Lucy. not always the case)

we had a slip 'n slide

and

WE HAD FUN!

Running Update

On Friday I ran 10 miles. I was pretty tired toward the end but it felt good to run all those miles. This morning I got up and ran a .4 mile hill 5 times. It was a really good run. The only downside is when I got back home and stretched the grass allergies started to kick in. After a little Sudafed I was feeling much better.

We also started potty training Ryan. Although I keep forgetting about it until he tells me he has to go potty and then I remember that we are potty training. So Ryan doesn't really have accidents at home. I have taken him out once each day since Saturday and he has had an accident each time we are out. So I need to remember that we are potty training when we are out. He seems to get distracted easily.

Max Update

For those of you who don't know, my darling little nephew has been diagnosed with apnea. It has been a pretty tough on Emily and Matthew. They are in our prayers. Last Sunday Emily was home and on her bed reading a book and Max was next to her. She looked down and he was blue. She was panicky to say the least. Matthew was at church. She called 911 by the time they had gotten there he had started breathing again. They couldn't find anything wrong with him. My parents went to visit later that night and he started losing color again. Emily and Matthew took him to a pediatric urgent care that night. There wasn't much they could do for them so they sent them to the hospital to be monitored for the night. As they were checking in he stopped breathing again. On Monday they did some testing that lasted 12 hours. When it was all done they concluded that Max has a minor case of reflex and Apnea. He will need to be on oxygen for up to 2 months until he can breathe on his own. Then he will need to be on his little heart and oxygen monitor for 2 months without any mishaps. We are grateful they have good doctors working with them and that he is getting stronger each day. I went for a visit yesterday. Emily just had him in a diaper. I insisted on picking out an outfit and getting him dressed. Isn't he cute?

I love this picture of Emily and Max. I feel like this picture shows how much Emily adores Max. Emily is so fun to watch as a mom. I know we mothers all think our kids are the cutest and its true. We all have the cutest kids in the world. One of my favorite things about Emily as a mom is how verbal she is about how cute Max is to her. She always sounds so surprised at how cute she thinks he is.

I know you are probably thinking enough already, but here are two more pictures. I just couldn't stop. I feel like I have such a cute family. I just love my sister and nephew.

When we found out Ethan was deaf we kept praying and fasting that he would be able to hear. It took me a while to realize that the answer to our prayers was hearing aids (later cochlear implant) and a great audiologists. As a parent I feel you just want your child to be perfect in health and you pray that they can be. I feel like sometimes the answers to our prayers is great technology that can further and enhance life. For little Max it is the oxygen. I feel so blessed that he is being taken care of. We love you Max.