All Boy...For Sure

Allen was working on his truck tonight. Big J loves the truck too, it's rather adorable. Allen being the totally awesome guy he is let J help him with the work. These are just a few pictures during that experience.

He kept sticking the extension on the bolt and saying, "Fix it."

He watched everything Allen was doing very carefully.

Then did his best to imitate.

It was so stinkin' cute watching him fix the truck with upside down pliers.

Allen got up and left to go get something. When he came back the mini-mechanic was trading tools. Allen patiently waited for him to pick the tool that was just right for the job.

But it wasn't all fun and games. There was work to be done and the mini-mechanic got to help.

I couldn't help myself...the pudgy little mini-mechanic's hands were so cute...it just had to be documented.

I love both my boys right to death! And watching them work on the truck together tonight is hopefully a preview of years to come.

Too Funny

Big J has learned how to "smile" for the camera.

 

There are one of two smiles.

 

Funny thing is when I tell him to smile he has to sit up. 

When I took this one he was laying down until I told him to smile.

What a freakin' cutie!

Goofy Dogs

This is not an unusual thing to see at our house.

 

Tank has become the heater for Skunk and Rio.

Skunk curls up on him.

 

 Rio climbs in behind him.

When Tank isn't available though, Rio can always find another source of heat.

I just love my little dogs! Don't know what I would do without them.

Weeked Fun

Over the weekend we took Jer and went to Cedar City to spend time with Keith and Karena. This trip we took Skunk with us...mistake...won't happen again.

First we went to the Discovery park. Jer LOVED it!

Climbing

 

Sliding

 

Allen enjoyed the slides too

 

more sliding

 

and swinging

He had so much fun! At one point Allen was standing in between Jer's swing and Aiden's swing pushing them both.

Monday when Keith wasn't working we went and found some dirt roads so the boys could go "wheelin". They had a blast it's been sooo long since they have been able to go "wheelin" together.

This how we do take out. Pack some food and take it out, usually in the mountains or hills, to eat it.

Aiden is such a sharer. Here he is trying to feed Karena.

 

It's hard for kids to go wheelin' having to stay buckled in and everything. So when lunch time came around Allen took Jer for a hike up the road we had just come down. And over to throw some rocks into the old iron mine that was right there.

 

Skunk didn't want to get left out of the eating. What a beggar.

Then it was off to find rocks to climb.

 

Who do you think has the better rig for this? lol

After the climbing had been done it was time for the big boys to catch a lizard or two so the little boys could see it and touch it.

I think it was more fun for the big boys to chase them than the little boys to see them.

 

Actually, while the big boys were chasing Jer got bored and found a mini-sand box and was content playing in the sand.

By the time we were done playing here Skunk was telling me it was time to go sittin' in Jer's seat.

I'm kind of thinking he was tired of getting bounced around and wanted to be strapped in.

I'm a bit of a geek. But while out "wheelin" I got a lot of pictures of pretty flowers.

My favorite find was the Sego Lily. How pretty!

There was so much Indian Paintbrush! I loved it! It was everywhere. This picture just doesn't do it justice.

Some of the cactus were starting to bloom. One of the prettiest desert flowers. Another few days and the yellow ones would've been in bloom. Too bad I have to miss it.

 

All in all it was a very fun trip! I think my favorite part though was seeing Allen so happy. Wheelin' with Keith is one thing that recharges him. He didn't know it until after but that was his birthday present...but I think he liked it better than anything I could buy. I love that man!

What IF? A Portrait of Infertility from Keiko Zoll on Vimeo.

Feild Trip to the Zoo

We went to the zoo last weekend with Keith and Karena and had a lot of fun! Man, the zoo sure has changed in the last 10 yrs or so...last time I was there. 

Jer loves to go for rides in the wagon so we took the wagon and it worked out great! It was easy to get him in and out to see the animals and he got his daily wagon ride in.

It was so cute when he would put his sunglasses on with the hat! He didn't usually have one or the other on. It was all or nothin', but that's kind of how he is with everything.

We saw lots of animals and Jer got to "ride" a rhino.

He seemed to really like the elephants, maybe because there was a baby one.

The Kangaroo was modeling.

This Giraffe seemed to be more than willing to make it easy to fit him in our picture.

Actually he was just working on laying down...what a process.

After the animals had been seen it was potty stop time.

 I think the adults were ready to go.

But yet carousel and train rides had been paid for sooo it was fun time! 

Jer loved the carousel!

He had the same expression the entire time! It was freakin' funny!

Jayson seemed to think it was...alright. And Keith seemed to be more interested in the mechanical workings, all the pics but this one he's looking up. I'm just assuming checking out how everything works. lol

Karena could only get him to turn around to face forward for one round. Look at the terror on his face. lol

Then it was off to the train! Jer's most favorite thing in the world...a train!

In this picture I'm not sure if he's falling asleep or just blinking. The wait for our turn on the train seemed to be an eternity!

I would believe falling asleep because he was asleep before we even made it out of the parking lot.

Cutest Pictures Ever

Looking through pictures I found some pictures of Big Jer.

This was the first weekend we had him. Might even be the first day, think we got him the night before at about 11 pm.

He LOVE climbing in things. Or just in places he doesn't really fit.

He loves sunglasses, he insists on wearing them anytime we are driving somewhere.

 He has discovered books and loves having books "read" to him. His favorite books are books with animals.

"Grandma Sherri" owns a book he always gets excited about reading, it's about kittens. He absolutely adores "Grandma Sherri".

He loves cats, especially "Aunt Brandy's" cat Cleo.

I will be so sad when he goes to live with his mom. :(

Just a Brief Thought

Strange I would find a link to this on a PCOS forum. But reading through the letter this paragraph just caught my eye and my thoughts. It's beautiful. I just couldn't resist sharing.


We learned an important lesson: our preparation helped us to avoid panic and fear, but the Lord, in His wisdom, allowed us to experience enough discomfort to know that He has all power. He is in charge. We are nothing without Him. We are dependent upon Him for every breath we take. Only He can save us from death and destruction. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our perfect example. If we follow Him, we will be saved through obedience to the laws and ordinances of His Gospel.
Sister Lisa Laycock, (part of a letter sent to her family following the 8.8 earthquake), Santiago Chile East Mission

It's Been a While

It's been a very long time it seems since I have updated here. Since last time (I think) my aunt moved in with Allen and I! I am pretty excited about that! I just love her. She is so much like my mom, it's kind of like I'm living with my mom. The adjustment hasn't even been too hard. She helps around the house and makes yummy cream cheese lemony cheesecake type pie with cherries on top. Mmmmm. Sooo good.
Big J is still hangin' out with us. He's a lot of fun. It's fun to watch him learn everyday. He is getting so good at talking! He learns...I don't know how many new words everyday. He's an amazing kid. Him and Allen are buddies. He loves the crap out of Allen, and I think Allen is pretty fond of him too. It'll be a sad day when his mom gets settled and takes him permanently. The house will seem so empty. :-( Oh well, we'll just love the crap out him while he's here and enjoy it.
Sure would be nice if we could adopt one of our own and never have to give him/her back.

Let it Snow

Friday when it snowed Big J was so excited about the snow so I bundled him up and took him out to play in the snow. It's a good thing it was a warm snow because his poor little hands wouldn't have handled cold. He kept having me hold his hands to warm them back up...what a cutie.

It didn't take long for him to figure out if he threw a snowball Tank would chase it.

And of course if the dogs eat the snow...it's okay for him too. I think he ate as much as he threw for the dogs. 

Don't worry though, I made sure he didn't eat any yellow snow. lol