Aiden's big night!

Well, he did it. I wanted to put this night off for many more months, however, I know how much this kid wants to grow up, so we tried out a big boy bed last night. I was grumpy to start off with, which didn't help, but Scott was patient and made sure that he stayed in his bed. Twenty minutes later, he was in snooze mode and stayed there until 6:30 this morning. I guess I can't be too upset over the fact that he was up that early compared to his usual 8 am. I guess the excitement needs to wear off a little bit. So, another one down (or on the way) and now we can start working on Camden's room. We will have to see how nap time goes today....

 

Ethan was really happy to have his brother in his room. (For how long, I am not sure, but we will only encourage the positive, right?) When Ethan woke up this morning and Aiden was gone, he had a minute of worry. He really tries to look out for his brother most of the time. I can't ask for that all the time...that's not normal!

 

I think we are going for a new style of shirt wearing in this picture. Actually, I think this is his attempt to take off his shirt...nice try!

 

 

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And, it always makes it easier when you use your head to get into bed. It took Ethan forever to figure out how to get in and out...Aiden five seconds!

Another week of fun...

Another week has flown by, and I can't believe that the 24th of July has come and gone. It always seems like summer is really coming to an end when the 24th is here. We had a great time watching fireworks and having bbq's with both sides of the family. I love living by my family and having the chance to have good memories. Scott also had a long weekend, and it comes with a bittersweet ending. This was his last long weekend because he no longer has every other Friday off. Stupid economy! We took Cam to Cherry Hill for the first time on Friday (no he didn't get in the water, and I didn't dare show up in a bathing suit!) It felt so nice to be out and enjoying the things that I love to do in the summer. It has been hard having a summer baby because I don't want to stay inside. Plus I feel bad for my two oldest who are used to doing at least one fun activity a week. Oh well, I know it's temporary! On Saturday, Ethan and Scott got to go up to the Uintah's to my parent's cabin property and help dig out huge logs from the pond. Ethan was a great little helper and loved spending time in the rhino with his Dad and Fammie and Bomps. They saw three moose and one deer. I love that my kids will have the chance to enjoy the outdoors with my family and Scott's. Here are some pictures of their adventure:















E really loved telling me about his Bompa driving through the water and almost "skunking" it. (dunking it) He thought it was soooo cool that the water came in and almost got his feet wet.

As for me and the other two boys, we didn't do much. I realized that Aiden really does love Ethan and they do play well together, although in the middle of the day when I am breaking up another fight, it doesn't seem that way. Aiden really missed his buddy and had to make do with me. He was bored.

Cam is doing really well...he sort of got his days and nights mixed up but I think we are back on track. He slept from 11 until 3:45 last night. Not too shabby for a 3 week old! We love him so much and can't believe that he wasn't supposed to come into this world until tomorrow, and really can't imagine life without him--boy parts and all. I love my little family and sometimes can't believe how blessed I have been. Really, does it get much better that this?




By the way, I wish I could capture more pictures of Aiden. The kid won't sit still or won't quit doing things that I have to get after him for. I will do better to capture his cute face too!

Babokanush!

So, if any of you have seen Kung Fu Panda, that might sound familiar. Since my boys have seen it, we have heard a lot of hi yas and babokanushes around our house. Ethan got the chance to go to a birthday party tonight for his buddy Bentley, and when I went to pick him up he announced to me that he had punched Bentley. After investigating, I found out that (according to Ethan) Bentley hit him first. So, when Ethan told the story to his dad, he said, "Dad, I did the Kung Fu Panda, cuz that's my move." Where do they come up with the stuff they say???

What we've been up to

So, this week has been interesting and challenging and fun. I don't know how I would have made it through the changes without my mom and sister. They have been lifesavers for me and my kids. I am so lucky to have such great family! Overall, I have to say that the older boys have adjusted pretty well...but that could still change. The only thing that I have noticed is that they are bored here now because we were doing so much up until the end of my pregnancy and now things have come to a standstill for them. But they have been troopers and great kids overall. The baby has been awesome...sleeping for almost 5 hours at night some nights. I got really lucky! We have spent a lot of time in the backyard swimming pool to cure our cravings for a float in the lazy river at Cherry Hill. Ethan got to go to the hill on Saturday with his aunts and uncles and cousins and had a blast. He always loves it when he can spend time with bigger kids. Saturday night our ward had a neighborhood kids parade around the block in celebration of the 24h of July this next week. It was fun to see the police department out to help us by starting off the parade with their sirens and lights. Ethan rode his bike the whole way and had fun ( I think) Once again, my sister came to my rescue and helped me with that because Scott was out of town. Aiden was mad because he didn't get to go, and was really mad when they rounded the corner and he still wasn't able to go. However, my sister threw him on her hip and away he went to finish the parade with everyone. Poor kid...I am sure he feels really left out of a lot of things. We are looking forward to another week of challenges and fun. But I am glad that Scott only has to work 3 days this week!

Road trip!

I have been thinking about how to put into words something that has really hit home to me. My family has been so blessed in so many ways that sometimes I think that those blessings are easy to take for granted. I may not have the perfect home, or the perfect body, but I have a beautiful family blessed with health and love. I have realized over the past few days that this is truly the most important thing in my life and I need to focus only on that--the other things are merely a perk. Scott had the opportunity to go on a little guys trip this weekend with a couple of good buddies from high school. It was planned at the last minute that they would drive over to Denver and see a baseball game, and return the next day. The one catch in the whole thing is that one of the friends has cancer and has been given a sketchy outcome. They ended up having to take their friend to the emergency room because he couldn't stop bleeding, and I am sure that is a real wake up call for him and everyone around him. I can't imagine what he has been feeling or thinking or worrying about. I can't imagine going through what he has gone through. This person is amazing...he has the greatest laugh. I love when Scott is with him and they start cracking the jokes or quoting movie lines together and laughing because only they know what they are laughing about. (Both of them are really quick with movie trivia and if you are smart, you never want to play a movie game with them!) I know that this person has been through a lot in his life and has overcome and fought through many hard things. He is an amazing father to his little girl--dedicated to her and her well being. He is a genuine person...easy to like, easier to love, and a person that you just want to be around. I hope that he knows that he has touched my life and made me want to be a better person. The other thing that Scott learned this weekend is that Craig collects aromatherapy shampoo and conditioner for his travel bag. :)

"But I was in the yard...."

 

This picture was captured a few minutes too late, but I can't let this one not be documented. Earlier tonight we had family over to visit us and Ethan wanted to be outside. We said we were fine with that as long as he stayed in the yard where we could see him. He played out there for a while, and then some of our family left. My sister happened to look out the window and see that Ethan was standing in our front yard with his pants and underwear down around his ankles. She casually mentioned that to me, and I looked out the window to see Ethan peeing in the grass right there for everyone to see. As you can see, he isn't too far away from the sidewalk. We couldn't help but laugh hysterically, and Scott went to the door and said, "why were you outside with no pants on?" "Did you pee in the grass? we don't pee anywhere but in a toilet inside. Peeing outside is only for when we go camping." Ethan's response was, "But Dad, I stayed in the yard!" Love him!

The torture chamber

By that I mean torture on my heart. Cam has had to be under these dumb lights since Friday night because of jaundice and let me tell you, it has not been fun. It means that he has to be under constant supervision 24/7 because if the goggles fall off, he runs a risk of burning his eyes with these lights. Scott has been amazing and has stayed up most of the nights and then I have taken the early shift. We thought we were in the clear on Saturday when the doctor called and told us his count was down and to keep him under the lights for one more night and then he should be good. Well, at about 4 today the doctor called again and for some reason they ran his blood again and the count from yesterday was actually wrong--it was a 15. So, Cam is back under the lights for another night and off to the doctor for another blood draw in the morning. Scott also has to go back to work Monday, so I get to see how it is with 3 kids around. I am feeling pretty confident. My older boys have been great so far. But then again, Scott has been around to distract them. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we get a good blood draw tomorrow, and that we can be done with these lights. I have learned that the more kids I have, the softer I become. I think it is supposed to be the other way around. As you can tell from the pictures, this hasn't been so bad for Camden, just me!