My Baby Daddy

My kids have the best dad! He does so many things for our family including making yummy dinners and finding new and innovative ways to dust mop the floor...just to name a few! Happy Father's Day Christian!

Picture Proof

Here's the latest and greatest pictures of Piggy Honk. I was thrilled and grateful to see two arms, two hands, two feet, a nose bone, a healthy spine, two tiny kidneys, and two legs {well three if you count the you-know-whatter}. The ultrasound tech took several measurements and determined that the baby weighs 11 oz. Which, coincidentally, is the exact amount of weight I've gained thus far...in my finger.

She was also kind enough to suggest moving my due date from November 11th to November 3rd. It's not much, but I know around mid October I'll be very grateful for this adjustment. Christian, however, thinks I should "hold this one in longer and make it the biggest one". I am just hedging my bets so I don't have a baby somewhere between here and Salt Lake, I've heard Evanston is nice, but not for delivering a baby on I80! I'm crossing my fingers for a Halloween baby! Wouldn't that be fun?

Indoor Summer Actvities

So, did we move to Wyoming or Washington? I'm confused, apparently it NEVER {check with the locals} rains this much in Wyoming. I really don't mind the rain so much, but it has forced us to be a little creative with indoor activities. Last week we made pudding pops. I would like to take credit for this idea, however, I will admit to stealing it from my friend Jenny's blog. I LOVE her food blog, she always has great recipes and ideas.

We also made another visit to the dinosaur display at the college. And no trip to the college would be complete without stopping for lunch at the T Rex Cafe. We've {and by we've I mean I've} had our fair share of afternoon naps as well. For some reason a combination of rainy weather and growing a baby causes me to fall asleep in the afternoon!

Cali was also invited to attend Vacation Bible School with her friend Rylee. They had the best time playing games, singing songs, making crafts, and eating treats. Hopefully we'll be able to participate in some outdoor activities this summer too!

It's A.....

Boy!

Christian couldn't quit smiling. Carter giggled like a maniac and held his hand in the air in victory. Cali's exact words, "If I could cry the rest of my life...I would."

Since the ultrasound extravaganza on Thursday I think Cali and Carter have both forgotten about it, and have now moved onto bigger and better things....like playing!

Split Personality

Which one of these darling adorable children would you trust with your newborn?

This one?

Or this one?

Happy Birthday Melissa

Happy birthday to my oldest sister in law Melissa! Not only is she older {and possibly wiser} than me in age, she is also the member of my extended family I have know the longest. I have countless pictures and memories of her that date back to our Emery/Carbon rivalry days. Thankfully for everyone involved, these priceless photographs are packed up in a random box somewhere between our garage and basement. Nonetheless, happy birthday Melissa, I hope all your birthday dreams come true!

Happy Birthday Nykelle

Yesterday was my sister in law Nykelle's birthday. Christian eagerly volunteered to watch Mia while she and Carson went to dinner. While they were gone we fed her, burped her, changed her, and basically mauled her all night and refused to put her down. She may or may not have been pounced by Carter as well.

Happy birthday Nykelle!

I See London I See France....

"I see my underpants!" Screams Carter

I thought that I was going to have a hard time entertaining two kids all summer. I was wrong. As long as the washer keeps Carter this occupied, I can do laundry all day long! No joke, look at the pile on the floor!

Splash Park Adventures

On Your Mark...

Get Set...

Go...

Get Warm...

Repeat...

Contemplating Summer

Finishing Up

Cali's last day of gymnastics camp was on Friday. She had such a great time and learned so much. Her coaches, Amber and Matt {would you love to be gymnast and have the name Matt? How perfect!} were very patient and helpful with the little girls!

Carter also got into the action by perfecting this move...not sure what it is...but it's perfected! He was a very good boy to entertain himself with cars, other kids, and bleachers while we spent many hours in the gym last week. I think I am going to sign him up this fall, with moves like this...how could I not?

Flashback Friday {Surviving Summer Edition}

We made it through our first week with no school. I'm not going to lie, I was a little terrified about how this was going to go....but we made it! Having Cali home is really fun, but Carter has had a little bit of an adjustment with his sister back in his business all day long. Cali would be as happy as a clam if I could entertain her with friends, parties, ponies, and other exciting things all day every day. Unfortunately for us all, we just have to do our best. We've been spending our mornings at the Rec Center. I tend my friends' daughter while she works out, and she watches Cali and Carter while I work out. Then it's off to scrounge up some lunch, birthday parties, gymnastics, store, mall, errands, and downstairs for some painting in the evenings. By about 8:30 p.m. we're all ready for bed!

This summer is shaping up to be pretty busy! We are looking forward to a trip to SLC next week, Reading Camp, Princess Camp, Song and Dance Camp, some more gymnastics, trips to Castle Dale, trips to Price, birthdays galore, going goo goo gaga over baby Mia, and HOPEFULLY we can top off the whole summer with a trip to Disneyland in August!

Gymnastics Summer Camp

This week Cali has been attending a gymnastics summer camp presented by RSG and Ray Corn, former coach of the USU gymnastic team. She has had a wonderful time making new friends and learning new skills. I think her overall technique has improved more in this one week, than in the entire year combined.

During each session Ray takes a second and talks to the parents about what the kids are doing, and things he notices as a coach. On Tuesday he told us that gymnasts only need to have five things to be successful...strength, flexibility, rhythm, speed, and determination. He then gave us some examples of champion gymnasts who only had a few of the five. He sighted Sean Johnson as an Olympic gymnast who lacks flexibility, but over came this deficit by improving her strength and speed. He finished up by telling us that girls of this age {referring to Cali's class} only need to have one of five to be successful. I thought about Cali, and which one of these characteristics she had, and I came to the conclusion that determination is her strength!

To Do? Or Not To Do?

I stole this great "To Do" list from my friend Natalie's blog. She can find the best stuff on the Internet, AND post it to her blog in a snap! I quickly printed out the free printable version of the "Freakin Never Ending To Do List". Check out more free printables here.

Vale Design has a great blog! Via Design Crush

Flashback Friday {Making Progress Edition}

Here's some flashback photos of what our basement used to look like!


Framed, Electrical, Insulated...Check, Check, and Check!

Drywall hung, Taped, Mudded, Sanded...Check, Check, Check, and Check!

Sanded again, Textured, Primed...Check, Check, and Check!

We are now onto the painting phase. Christian finished all the ceilings last night, maybe if he has some touch up work to do I'll snap a few photos. It really is a sight to see him standing flat footed on the ground rolling out the ceiling. Hopefully we'll have the wall color up this weekend and finish up the trim next week. Then onto tile and carpet!

A Simple Question...

Yesterday I was laying on the couch by Carter when he asked me this,

"Mom, when you go to the hospital to get Piggy Honk, can I come and watch him
come down from heaven?"

Some Firsts and Lasts

Today is officially Cali's last day of school. She was so sad when she left this morning, and she prayed last night that she wouldn't cry when she left her teacher. This girl loves her some school, and it's a good thing too, she's been going to one school or another since August 8, 2008. She had a short track break in Herriman during October, and few days off for us to move, then she was right back at it!

Last night we bought a card {Cali picked a Cinderella princesses card} for her teacher, and she wanted to write her a thank you note. After a few minutes of writing Cali asked me to read what she had written. Here is what it said...

Dear Miss Mosbey, Thank you for being my teacher. I know I was only here for
half of the year, but I am doing fine. Thank you for saying that I was a special
student. I know how much you loved being my teacher. Love, Cali!

Here are some firsts and lasts! It is amazing how she and Carter have grown over the last ten months.

First day of school August 8, 2008 Herriman, Utah.

Cali and Carter before we walked to the elementary together August 8, 2008.

The last day of school June 4, 2009 Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Cali and Carter before she got on the bus for her last day of school June 4, 2009.

Sisters on a Swing

While my family was in town, this past weekend, we took a scenic tour of Rock Springs and the surrounding areas. On Friday evening we ended up at Expedition Island Park in Green River. Actually, to be totally truthful, Carter cried for about a half hour as we drove around Rock Springs because he thought we were going to the park and, "THIS IS NOT THE PARK!" It is a really fun park {maybe not worth crying for a half hour about, but still fun} there is a slash park, playground, swings, and a walking bridge overlooking the mighty Green River. There are also historical markers along the way which tell about the expeditioners who first explored the Green River.

We couldn't pass up an opportunity to swing on this ridiculous, yet fun, swing. I'm not sure where my kids were at this point. I think you can see Cali swinging away in the background....Carter, on the other hand, must have been with grandpa.

You can tell by the look on our faces that we are both genuinely worried about the weight limit of this crazy circle swing.

Phewww...Good news...It held up. We were very happy not to have been responsible for any broken swings! And please note Bethany in her completely park appropriate shoes. Love it!

Well, since it held both of us...Dory jumped onto!

There's really no use in sitting on a swing, it was made for swinging. So Dory got to work pumping and pushing the whole thing. You may notice Bethany is pulling a particularly disturbing face in this picture. We don't know why or how for that matter. But, I must say, I have seen this girl pull some faces...and this is a new one. I just hope it can be duplicated! So hilarious!

Start Spreadin' the News....The Remix

This is a little movie of the final song performed at Cali's Kindergarten program. I didn't catch all the words, but I do know that in place of singing, "New York New York!" they sang, "First Grade First Grade!" It was our favorite part of the program, and the cutest little song.

Goodbye Kindergarten

Last Friday was Cali's Kindergarten program. She has been practicing the songs and little poems for several weeks. She was more than excited on Friday morning, but was a little shy when she saw the mamarazzi and all the camera flashes. Christian was able to get off work early and pick up Vicki who was helping out with Mia Bella in Green River. My mom, dad, Bethany, and Dory were also able to make the trek to Wyoming.

After the program refreshments were served in the lunchroom and Cali was given the "Great Reader" award by her teacher Miss Mosbey. We were all very proud of her and her achievements this year. However, Cali felt a little bit bad because she wanted to be given the "Friendliest" or the "Sunshine" award. I tried to explain that everyone can only have one award, even if they are good at many things. Oh, to be young and talented!

Thanks to all our family who made the journey to support Cali!