Just in Case

Just in case amid all the busyness, fighting, opinions, time outs, and I'm sorrys, I forget that these two are really very sweet!

And the Winner Is...

Two Monday's ago I posted some of the names Carter would like to name our baby. Thank you all for your input and votes regarding such an important matter. It looks like the only one of Carter's suggested names that has really stuck is, Piggy Honk. I was kind of hoping for Pony Clink, but it looks like for now our baby's name is Piggy Honk. Carter has already promised to, "Change Piggy Honk's diaper and hold him {I don't know why it has to be a him?} while he eats mommy's tummy....." Oh boy, I think naming this child will be the least of our discussions!

An Eventful Day for a Big Girl

On the very same day that Cali voluntarily swiffed the blinds in her room {and Carter's room}....

And the very same day that she proclaimed at 7pm, "It's time for my shower!" And voluntarily took herself to the shower, washed herself, her hair, dried off, got dressed, and combed her hair...

Was the very same day that her daddy tied this to her tooth...

And tugged real hard...

After a long day of acting and helping like a big girl, she now looks like a big girl...

She couldn't wait to get to school this morning to show her bus driver, teacher, and friends!

Spring Has Sprung

It is Time

I think it's time I invested in a larger stroller. What do you think?

Now that the weather is getting warmer Carter and I have instituted 4 mile Friday. It's a scaled down {way down} version of my 5 mile Monday {back this time last year when I could actually run...even up hill}. Four mile Friday is a fast paced walk and a good way to see some of scenic Rock Springs. Plus pushing a 30+ lb kid adds to the resistance, as does random gusts of wind!

So, Rock Springers.....If you would like to join me we leave at 10am and are back a little after 11am. Also, if you have any suggestions of good strollers, let me know!

Flashback Friday: Memorial Day Edition

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer, the first really great excuse each year to get out and do something fun! However, it's also a time to remember those who have gone before us. As a child I spent many Memorial Day's visiting graves around Carbon and Emery County, placing flowers on graves, and even pulling weeds and raking dirt around graves in obscure cemeteries {apparently I have distant relatives buried in Molen Utah}

We also spent the weekend pick nicking at the park in Fountain Green and walking through the beautiful old cemetery overlooking my grandpa's farm. Last year we were in Fountain Green for Memorial Day {see family picture on the side bar...it was taken then}. To place flowers on the graves of the people who taught me how to place flowers on graves. It made the word "Memorial" seem so much more.

Due to distance, time, and home improvement projects; we are staying home this year. However, that doesn't mean I can't remember those ancestors who have passed on. In fact, for the ones I've known in my lifetime, I prefer to remember them as they were. The height of my memorial glory. Which is why I picked this picture of my Grandpa Cook giving my Grandma Cook bunny ears at a wedding reception. The picture is so typical and so "them". My grandma, intently, sincerely, and lovingly listening to a friend or neighbor. My grandpa, sees a camera and can't pass up an opportunity to pose. My dad took this picture at my cousin Doug's wedding reception in December 1999, talk about memorial!

To: Me From: Cali

A collection of pictures Cali made for me last night. She wrote the text of her notes in pencil, and it doesn't scan well, so check the captions for clarification!

"Your fresh your cool your good your speshl and that is y we love you for what you do"

"Dear little mom thack you for helping me"

"Hip hip horay you have a baby"

"Vilits are red snow flacks are blue hoo are you. What do you know it is you!"

In Awe

There are not many things in my life that are small. I, for one, have never been a small person {that job is already filled in our family by my sweet sissy Bethany}. I don't have a small butt {actually kinda proud of that one}. If you've ever seen me pregnant {6+ months} you know that you would never use the word small to describe such a sight. Not to mention when the babies finally do come out, they are not small either. Cali was 9 lbs 4 oz and Carter was 8 lbs 3 oz. And finally, my dear adorable husband, you only have to see him {even from a distance} to know that he is no small person either. The bottom line....we are just not all that familiar with small.

That is why I am completely obsessed, amazed, and in awe of my new tiny niece Mia Bella. I got to hold her tiny little body yesterday, and all I could do was giggle. Carter tried to give her a little rub on the head, and his little hand moving toward her head looked like a giant picking a pumpkin. As I was holding her and talking to Carson she kept turning her tiny head to hear his voice, it was so sweet. Her mouth is tiny and she let out a tiny little sneeze, to which Carter said..."Bless you!"

Here she is laying on the couch, four and a half days old, wearing a tiny New Born sized t-shirt {a t-shirt made for 5-8 lb babies} that's not a night gown...that's a t-shirt. That's also Carson's fist next to her head...just for some additional perspective.

Here's my Cali at three days old, right before we got her ready to take home from the hospital.

Here's my smallest baby Carter, he was almost three days old, right before we got in the car to take him home from the hospital.

Double B's

Some people wish to have double D's, I'm more than thrilled with with my double B's. That is, Bethany and Brittany. I have to tell them thank you for all of the kid tending they do for me. They are both happy and willing to help me out with kids at my house,at grandma's houses, or even at their own apartments. Most recently I went to SLC for a dr.'s appointment and they both pitched in to help me so I could get my business checked without kids running around! Thank you both so much!

The Look

How young {or old} should your kids be before they start giving you disapproving looks? I'm just wondering?

According to Carter

According to Carter we should name our baby any or all of the following names:
1. Piggy Honk
2. Pony Clink
3. Buck Mutuky
4. Snowman Bin

According to Carter all meals should consist of the following foods:
1. Girled {grilled} cheese sandwich
2. Celery
3. Apple Slices
4. Grapes
5. Strawberries
I am not complaining that my child is obsessed with fruit, however, we do have to limit his intake based on the "poop squirts" he gets when he eats more than 4 servings before 11am.

According to Carter all sentences should include some of the following phrases:
1. "Mom, just say yes before I ask you this....."
2. "No!"
3. "Let's fight"
4. "Why?"

My First Niece Ever

Early on Saturday morning my sister-in-law Nykelle gave birth to a healthy little girl. She was not supposed to be induced until Sunday, so her water breaking on it's own late Monday night was quite a shock to both she and Carson. Late on Saturday afternoon we were able to visit her for a few minutes. We sanitized our hands, folded our arms, and tried not to get up in her face {Carter!!!}. I have never seen such a tiny baby or such a perfectly round little-tiny face! She is very sweet, and even though she never woke up while we were there, she flinched at the flash every time I tried to her picture. As an oldest child, she's just going to have to get used to that type of attention! Here are her stats:

Name: Mia Bella
Weight: 6 lbs 12 oz: I love her teeny-tininess! Length: 19 inches
Born: Approx 4:00 a.m. Saturday May 16
Feet: Super long for how tiny she is
Cousins: Crazy about her, and sad they couldn't take her home from the hospital. Ready to pounce/babysit at any moment.

Click on the photo to collage to enlarge!

Growing in Wyoming

On Tuesday I was able to take Carter and go with Cali on her last field trip of the year. We went to the Riverside Nursery in Green River to learn about plants. I was surprised to find that there are many beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers that grow well here. You would not be able to tell it by looking at the dirt, but apparently with enough top soil....anything is possible.

The kids had a great time looking around and listening to their gardening tour guide. After the tour we went to Expedition Island Park to have lunch. I had a crazy morning so I had to buy Cali a Happy Meal from McDonalds for her lunch instead of packing her a nutritious one. She was slightly disappointed, but she ate it up and ran off to play with friends.

The wind kicked up in true Wyoming fashion and about blew us into the Green River. I was freezing and developing a wind headache {I think this is a legitimate condition} but the kids seemed unaffected and kept right on playing. Carter was sad when it was time to leave. He thought he could sneak on the bus and go to school with Cali, and Cali thought that she could come home with me....We finally got it straightened out and off we went!

Gardening with Grandpa

Last week when we went on our whirlwind tour de Utah we stopped in Helper to pick up our kids who had been playing at Carl and Vicki's all day. When we arrived, Cali informed me that, "Grandpa made me stay outside ALL DAY LONG for HOURS and HOURS!" When I asked Carl about this accusation, he confessed...They had played outside for several hours, but they had a great time around the yard and riding the four wheeler.

We then took our travels 30 miles down the road to my hometown of Castle Dale. When we arrived, Grandpa Neal was planing his garden, Cali and Carter were quick to get in on the action. Carter "helped" with the potatoes and squash....he was less helpful with the tomatoes. Cali planted a row of M&M's....we'll see what happens!

No trip to Castle Dale would be complete without a visit to Frankie the goat. Frankie has gotten quite a bit bigger and has grown some pretty ferocious horns. Carter thinks his horns make him a "mountain goat".

Cali also got her feet dirty with a visit to the sandbox. Most of the time we were there the kids kept saying, "we are sooooooooo hot!" These cold weather kids were getting scorched in the 65 degree heat! PHEWWWWW!

Our Anniversary

On Friday May 8th Christian and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe that 10 years have come and gone. I had grand plans on Friday to do an elaborate "Flashback Friday" complete with all of the family pictures we've had taken over 10 years, including our very cute {an 18 year old marrying a 22 year old is so adorable} wedding photos. However, our basement is in construction mode, which means that all of our pictures and albums are packed up in storage. That's how you know you've been married a long time...when your love dates back to BEFORE digital photos! Hopefully in the upcoming weeks I will have the time and space to better organize these priceless treasures.

{This is us on our two year anniversary...I just happened to have this one scanned}

I also ran out of time altogether on Friday because we were in a hurry to get to Utah for a romantic anniversary get away. It all started with Christian getting off early from work {it really happened!} and Cali leaving school early for a trip to the big city. We got to SLC early enough to have our Honda serviced and to get Cali a quick doctor's appointment with our favorite pediatrician {no worries, she just has a cute little non-contagious skin rash}.

After taking care of our errands we dropped the kids off with Christian's dad Carl and sister Brittany who whisked them away for a fun sleep over in Helper. We checked into our room at the Anniversary Inn in SLC, and then headed out to do some shopping. We found the perfect bedroom set, and hope to actually purchase it in the near future as a 10 year anniversary gift to ourselves.

Side note: In all of our years together we have NEVER owned a bedrooms set. We are still sleeping on a queen sized mattress and box springs that was purchased at the University Surplus and Salvage for $25.00 when we were first married. We still have one nightstand which was part of a set we "borrowed" from Carl and Vicki when we first moved to SLC in 1999. We also have the dresser that matches the "borrowed" nightstand. All in all it's a hodgepodge of college furniture.

After shopping we went to Rodizio Grill and ate ourselves silly. The salad bar there is still amazing, and Christian can still eat his weight in meat. Some things never change. After our delicious meal we went back to the Anniversary Inn to settle in for the night. We both laughed our heads off when we saw a very fancy message posted on a very fancy gold stand on the bed that read, "Before settling in for the night, please remove the bed spread." Maybe we're not mature enough for such a romantic setting?

The next morning we were pleased to have breakfast in bed and finish up our shopping. Where upon we headed to Helper to pick up our kids and spend the rest of the weekend in Castle Dale and Helper.

It was really fun for us to have a little get away, if you know me, you know that I'm not overly romantic or very sappy at all. If you know Christian, you know that he is even less...However, be both love each other very much and couldn't imagine the past 10 years without each other!

We Go Together

There are a lot of sayings that include the phrase, "go together like...." then you fill in the blank. For example, ...peanut butter and jelly...ham and eggs...heels and jeans...Karl Malone and John Stockton {in the good old days of course}. You get the idea. After living in Wyoming for five months and hoping that warm weather is just around the corner, we've come up with one of our own!

We go together like coats and Popsicles. Usually you wouldn't think of these two things has been synonymous, however, in Wyoming they are! There's nothing like the joys of eating a nice cold popsicle on a nice {almost} warmish day!

Fundamentally Wrong

Carter is a little confused about where babies come from. I, myself, am nowhere near ready to explain the details to either of my children. However, because mommy has a "fat tummy" Carter thinks he needs one too. He shoved a baby doll up his shirt and rode his scooter up and down the driveway for about a half hour before he would hold still long enough for me to get this picture with my cell phone. Please notice the baby's binky on a string hanging out under his shirt.

Also, if you are pregnant Carter, it's not the best idea to slam a three day old Mountain Dew left in the car...I'm just sayin'...

Happy Birthday & Cinco de Mayo to Grandma Vicki

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. Lucky for her she gets to share her day with Mexican Independence Day. Having Cinco de Mayo for a birthday, she has been able to enjoy her share of sombreros, pinatas, and Mexican food birthday dinners. This year was no exception. Last Saturday we ate at Fiesta Guadalajara for her birthday and then opened presents at our house.

The picture featured above is a picture of her and the kids from Christmas 2005. The picture below is from this past weekend. Have a great birthday Vicki!