Another Visit, Another Ride....

This weekend, we managed to continue the exotic car visits with Jon's folks' neighbor Alex. He is so gracious to let Jon come drool all over his cars and is now comfortable letting him take them for a spin.

If you know Jon at all, you know his passion for cars. you can ask him horsepower and torque for almost any vehicle on the road, and he'll tell you anything you want to know and more. Since the early 90's his favorite for some reason, has been the Dodge Viper. He was like a fat kid in a candy store when he found out that's what Alex brought home this weekend.

Luke even knew what car this was....he came running out of the house saying, "Mom, that's a Viper!" Daddy trained him early and he and Harry were both excited to sit in Dad's favorite car. (Thanks to Grandpa for having his camera - I actually left mine at home for a change.)

We went for a little ride, and although the more exotics like the Lambo, and the Ferrari have a unique and amazing sound, high-end power, and cost twice as much, the rudimentary American muscle was pretty dang fun.

Me.....sewing???

Here's my progress from this week with my baby quilt. It's very simple for my lack of sewing skills, but it's fun to be creating and "picking a spot and beautifying it," as President Uchdorf suggested to the women of the Church in September. I sewed all the squares into rows, now I need to sew the rows, and then get some serious help from mom for the rest. I am SO not a quilter! I even borrowed the machine for this little project!

And a HUGE thanks to my dear friend Martha who so generously donated the adorable bumper for the crib. This nursery WILL come together....somehow.

Not being so good at blogging lately....

Just a quick apology that I have been a bad blogger - mostly to myself to be quite honest, since I began this as a way to fulfill my goal of writing in my journal three times a week. I have lots of pictures and a few fun events I need to post about and I'm just not getting around to it.

I've been enjoying my "good month" pregnant, and have actually been getting some things done, fun things, like laundry, weeding the yard (some of it anyway), cleaning out the pantry. It all needs to get done and I am getting ready to attack the bigger projects like the nursery, making blankets for baby boy #3 and cleaning up the basement before my one good month is over.

Stay tuned for posts about the cornmaze, my birthday, and halloween at my house....I'll do better, I promise.

zoo with the Gibbons

Did you know the fastest monkey in the world is the Gibbon? Yeah, I didn't know that either, but my friend Amy shared that little factoid on the way to see the monkeys at the zoo yesterday.

We had a ball at the zoo and I love that my mom used me as the other adult for her grandparents pass so I get to go whenever I feel like taking the boys and my ever-growing, ginormous belly to the zoo! Thanks, Mom!

Amy and her cute boys Cole and Noah
The giraffes are always a highlight.
Me and my almost three boys...
Stopped for a little photoshoot in the Asian Highlands. I couldn't resist!

Ferrari....

We always enjoy visiting family and if we get to see, sit in, or drive an exotic car every time we go up to Jon's folks' house, how can we complain? Their neighbor had a Ferrari this weekend and he let Jon take me for a little drive in it. There is a very unique sound to that engine and it was pretty awesome - and luckily, we didn't cross paths with any law enforcement. With a hubby like Jon, I can't help but be somewhat of a car gal myself, so I had fun. Happy early brithday to me!

Karate Belt Advancement

It's that time again...this time Luke got a white belt with an orange stripe. He is so proud and I am impressed with all he's learning at Karate. A funny sidenote - when we were done on Friday night with the little ceremony, we asked Luke what he wanted for dinner on his special night, thinking we were all in for Wendy's or McD's. Instead, he said, "I really want a hard boiled egg." So we went straight home and all had hard boiled eggs for dinner!

A Call to the Ladies....

Just saw this on my friend Laura's blog and I needed to share before hitting the sack.

"If anyone can change the dismal situation into which we are sliding, it is you. Rise up, O women of Zion, rise to the great challenge which faces you." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Enjoy Women's conference tomorrow and remember what amazing ladies you are.

Impromptu Photoshoot

Harrison decided to cooperate with the camera today so this little shoot happened...

starting to nest...

Got our new carseat yesterday....a huge thanks to Jon's folks. I got this fabric to make a little carseat canopy - who knew it would be a perfect match?! It might end up being a blanket, the flannels are so comfy and sewing is no strength of mine...we'll see what becomes of it.

Sugar Cookie Saturday

Last Saturday we had a little sugar cookie party at Aunt Amy's. I have been meaning to post these for over a week and apologize for my slack in blogging lately. The kids had a fantastic time and we cute as always. My battery died, so check out more photos here. It's a good thing my sis always keeps her camera at the ready.

And please, pay special attention to Harry's little slideshow...it's a great documentation of our tender-hearted sensitive, overdramatic little guy.

First Grade.....

While he thoroughly enjoys kindergarten, Luke really looks forward to next year~

"Mom, you know the coolest thing about first grade? You get to go to the cafeteria."

Yes, that is the coolest part, for sure.

Happy Birthday Dax!

Today is my oldest nephew's 16th birthday and he was supposed to be flying in for the Rancid concert tonight, until a bandmember got sick and the concert was cancelled. We'll miss our little time with him and the little bit of Rockband we would have played (all night long) but we send him our happiest birthday wishes, love you awesome nephew.

Homeless

Last Tuesday while I was getting ready to go to Young Womens, Luke came running upstairs and declared, "I need to know how to spell house." I told him and he ran back downstairs repeating the letters so he wouldn't forget. About three minutes later, he arrived back in my bedroom, plopped himself down by the fireplace, harmonica in hand, and up against the fireplace, he had leaned a notebook open to a page where he had written, "I do not have a house." He then started to play the harmonica as a little homeless kid. I laughed and he was very proud of himself for being so clever. But mom doesn't just stop there, we had to go outside to document the whole story. Harry joined him with a kazoo. All that's missing is a little tin cup to collect money!

Grandma's Aprons

My mom made these fantastic aprons for the boys - she had them draw on the pockets pre-sewn, with fabric markers and then she put it all together for a great grandkid suprise. The boys were so excited to see the finished product and they both danced around FHE last night in them. Thanks Mom for such a fun treasure - I'm not sure I want to let them get the aprons dirty though!

Luke's is the Mr. Men characters - Mr. Bump, Mr. Happy, Mr. Messy and Mr. Rude. Harry's features a spider, a sun, and his "octerpus" tank top among lots of other designs.

What We did Today While Big Brother was at School

Teaching Moment

I have recently been working really hard to get the boys better at doing more around the house and I wish I could report more success, but it honestly hasn't gone that well. We did, however, have somewhat of a breakthrough last week. The playroom was probably the worst it has been in the year we've lived here and it was the perfect time for a teaching moment. The four of us all spent an hour in there, and Jon and I taught the boys how to organize and put things in their place, frequently reminding them to stick to the task at hand. They do need constant reminders and I think sometimes I forget that they are just little people who don't remember, listen, or understand everything we tell them to do. We are determined to teach our children the value of work in their lives and this was a nice step in the right direction.

My Sick Little Guy

Luke came home from school sad and tired yesterday and developed a little fever within an hour of coming home. He ended up spending the remainder of the day on the loveseat under a blanket with the remote in hand - true to his gender. It was a pretty pitiful day for the poor little man, but he did get some rest and should be back to his energetic self in no time.

Today he is taking his first sick day home from school and although I probably could have sent him, I don't ever want to risk being "that mom" who sends her kids to school to share their germs with the class. His fever seems to have mostly broken and the energy is definitely on its way back.

I did get the "your child has an unexcused absense" call from his school, however. I'm new at this whole school kid thing. Oops. We're just concentrating on getting through the day today.

Bear Lake

So I haven't been the best blogger the last few weeks, but it can only get better, right? The weekend before school started, Jon's sister Meri invited us to Bear Lake with her husband's family. They have a little beachfront cabin and we camped on the sand outside. The boys had so much fun they want to do it "a hundred more times, mom." (Luke)

Thanks to Meri and Nate and Nate's awesome family for the invite and hospitality - not to mention entertaining our boys. Luke is still completely infatuated with Son Le (Nate's dad) and wants to know when he can go to his house and play again.

Please forgive me for not getting any pictures of the day on the beach. It was super sandy and we had too much fun to stop and take pictures!

This is the view from just outside the cabin. We had a campfire and yummy s'mores and banana boats.

The boys with Uncle Nate Couldn't resist posting this face...
Luke painted paper...
Harry painted rocks...
All finished! And so proud. Another irresistable face.
We went to a yummy burger joint for lunch.
Meri and Nate - yes, Nate, you look just like the bear. I couldn't get over the color of the lake Saturday. This picture doesn't even do it justice.