Sam and Ollie were not able to make it to the Father and Son's campout this year so they opted for the next best thing. They spent the evening up Little Cottonwood canyon roasting hot dogs and marshmellows and then camped out together on the living room floor. Oliver was thrilled, especially since he got to use a flashlight and sleep in his sleeping bag, life pretty much doesn't get any better than that.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Father and Son
Sam and Ollie were not able to make it to the Father and Son's campout this year so they opted for the next best thing. They spent the evening up Little Cottonwood canyon roasting hot dogs and marshmellows and then camped out together on the living room floor. Oliver was thrilled, especially since he got to use a flashlight and sleep in his sleeping bag, life pretty much doesn't get any better than that.
Happy Birthday Oliver
I can't believe we have a three-year-old, but it is true. Ollie wanted a barbeque for his birthday so we had the grandparents over for hamburgers and cake. Since Oliver is currently obsessed with tractors - he can name every kind of tractor, what their parts are and what they do - we had a tractor themed party.
He helped make the cake and all he can talk about now is turning four so he can have another birthday. It could be a long year...
He helped make the cake and all he can talk about now is turning four so he can have another birthday. It could be a long year...
The Backyard Makeover
In a brief moment of insanity we decided to put sod in our backyard/patio area. I took the initiative the next day of ripping out all of the plants and raking off all of the wood chips. Then we sat and stared at the mess for a couple of weeks wondering if we really wanted to do it. In the end we hauled out two trailers-full of gravel, brought it two more trailers-full of fill dirt, moved an entire retaining wall, built a new set of stairs, and finally laid sod. We are so happy with the results and I am kicking myself for not having taken a "before picture". We love to play on our little patch of grass and it makes me happy to look out the window and see green
Here is our work crew, we definitely would never have gotten all those boulders moved without the help of our awesome neighbors.
Who's the man! We have a rule at our house, I can tell Sam what I want done, or how to do it, but I cannot tell him both. In this case I said I wanted sod, he took care of all the rest and he did a beautiful job (much better than if he had listened to all of my suggestions, which obviously he didn't because I wasn't supposed to be making any;)
The front retaining wall in this picture used to be placed about three feet further back, we moved it to get the biggest patch of grass possible.
Of course, daddy had lots of helpers. I am surprised that he got anything done with Oliver's tractors always being in the way.
Ruby June didn't miss out on any of the fun either.
Here is our work crew, we definitely would never have gotten all those boulders moved without the help of our awesome neighbors.
Who's the man! We have a rule at our house, I can tell Sam what I want done, or how to do it, but I cannot tell him both. In this case I said I wanted sod, he took care of all the rest and he did a beautiful job (much better than if he had listened to all of my suggestions, which obviously he didn't because I wasn't supposed to be making any;)
The front retaining wall in this picture used to be placed about three feet further back, we moved it to get the biggest patch of grass possible.
Of course, daddy had lots of helpers. I am surprised that he got anything done with Oliver's tractors always being in the way.
Ruby June didn't miss out on any of the fun either.
Our very loved librarian
My sister made a whirlwind visit to Utah this summer (she lives in Little Rock Arkansas) and as part of the celebration all of the girls - and Ollie - hiked up to a waterfall in Alpine that you can slide down. It was lots of fun, and pretty refreshing!
My Little Helpers
I was teaching my neighbor how to make homemade bread (yes Megan, I remembered the salt this time!) and our boys decided that they needed to make some too. They were so serious about their playdough bread, rolling it and shaping it just right.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Priceless
Cost of the car: $3.00 at a garage sale
Cost of the one hour "drive" around the block in which we stopped to pick up every rock and carefully examine all the storm drains: Both priceless and torturous (it is impossible to walk that slow)
Bestest Friends
This was one of those good moments. Ruby is starting to actually care when toys get ripped out of her hands so we are enjoying the peaceful happy moments while they last! Oliver loves to tease his sister - but at least he won't let anyone else tease her. The other day at the splash park he spent the majority of the time guarding the puddle that Ruby was playing in so that no one else touched his sister's water.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Kapachuch no more. . . and other random thoughts
I decided to post something today, mostly because I needed a break from playing "Parade" (Oliver's new favorite game in which Ruby and I have to sit on the ground and cheer at him as he crawls by and throws pretend candy to us. We then have to gather the candy, remove the wrapper- yes he checks- and eat it).
At the moment I am a bit backlogged on my blogging. My problem is that I have videos that need to upload but I can't get them on here. Nor can I figure out how to take still shots from the film, so this is a picture-less post that will seem out of place once I get my technological troubles resolved. Oh well, there were some things I wanted to write down and if I waited for all that I would have forgotten to ever do to. So, in no specific order, here we go:
1. I noticed the other day that Oliver no longer calls ketchup "kapachuch" it made me really sad. He seems to speak in paragraphs these days, it is fun but sometimes I kind of miss the mixed-up toddler talk.
2. Ruby hit a milestone. Forget the crawling and the new teeth, this is even better . . . . her hair fits into a very teeny-tiny ponytail on the top of her head! So fun!
3. I just want to say that I am grateful for our country. I promised myself when I left Venezuela that I would be forever thankful for the freedoms and luxuries we enjoy here. I even swore I would be happy to pay my taxes because of all the things we get from it. I just want you to know that I still feel the same way. God Bless America!
4. Has anybody else realized that the summer is almost half over, where did it go?
5. It is Tour time at our house. We still haven't purchased a TV since moving to our new place, but we subscribed to Versus online and have not missed a pedal stroke. Go Lance!
6. (Just in case you read my previous post) I found a garbage truck "with hands" (i.e. one that picks up the garbage and dumps it) and Ollie has not been apart from it in three days. I swore I would never use threats and bribery as a parent, but that went out the window a long time ago along with a whole lot of other parenting morals and standards. Some days it is just about survival and if we are all still standing and breathing at the end of the day than it was obviously a successful day and one to be proud of! And if you are reading this and don't agree, have a two-year-old and then we will talk.
At the moment I am a bit backlogged on my blogging. My problem is that I have videos that need to upload but I can't get them on here. Nor can I figure out how to take still shots from the film, so this is a picture-less post that will seem out of place once I get my technological troubles resolved. Oh well, there were some things I wanted to write down and if I waited for all that I would have forgotten to ever do to. So, in no specific order, here we go:
1. I noticed the other day that Oliver no longer calls ketchup "kapachuch" it made me really sad. He seems to speak in paragraphs these days, it is fun but sometimes I kind of miss the mixed-up toddler talk.
2. Ruby hit a milestone. Forget the crawling and the new teeth, this is even better . . . . her hair fits into a very teeny-tiny ponytail on the top of her head! So fun!
3. I just want to say that I am grateful for our country. I promised myself when I left Venezuela that I would be forever thankful for the freedoms and luxuries we enjoy here. I even swore I would be happy to pay my taxes because of all the things we get from it. I just want you to know that I still feel the same way. God Bless America!
4. Has anybody else realized that the summer is almost half over, where did it go?
5. It is Tour time at our house. We still haven't purchased a TV since moving to our new place, but we subscribed to Versus online and have not missed a pedal stroke. Go Lance!
6. (Just in case you read my previous post) I found a garbage truck "with hands" (i.e. one that picks up the garbage and dumps it) and Ollie has not been apart from it in three days. I swore I would never use threats and bribery as a parent, but that went out the window a long time ago along with a whole lot of other parenting morals and standards. Some days it is just about survival and if we are all still standing and breathing at the end of the day than it was obviously a successful day and one to be proud of! And if you are reading this and don't agree, have a two-year-old and then we will talk.
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