A Special Visitor

Well, my folks went out of town for the weekend, I hope it will be great weather for them since they will be on my Dad's Harley. My Mom got everything ready for their trip and took extra care to see about her newest edition. She is six months old, and my Mom is so in love with her. She a great little baby, you hardly know she's around...never makes a peep. My boys have really enjoyed her, Maxton even shares his "Banty" with her (Banty-is a purple fleece blanket that Max likes to snuggle with and take to bed). My Mom helps him get her all wrapped up and then Max will carry her around the house or just hold her while he watches a show. Anyways, back to the story...so she called me yesterday to make arrangements for us to babysit her while she was on her trip...you can't take a baby on a motorcycle weekend! We made the exchanged at a McDonald's half way between our houses and Mom gave me all of her necessities and specific instructions...the boys were so happy to see their little Aunt.

We've had her now for 24 hours and so far so good. This will be a great chance for me to see if I can juggle 3 little ones. I just wish that I could have all my sisters with me this weekend...We sure do miss Aunt Ali! I hope this will be the first of many visits from my little sis, Butter Bean.


Oh...yes, she does resemble a 5 pound Chihuahua, but don't let that confuse you...she is definitely part of the family, and thinks my Mom is her Mom too!

Maxton with Butter Bean wrapped up in Banty! (A big Thanks to Mama H for Banty!)

A Hidden Talent

My good friend and I serve in YW's together...last night for mutual we had Temple Night, focusing on Temple Marriage. So of course we had to have WeDdInG cAkE! To hear, or read rather, all about it...click HeRe!

50 Posts in 9 Months

I started blogging right after bringing Seth home from the hospital last August, so I thought it fitting to celebrate my 50th post by highlighting our newest edition. It's the 23rd, exactly 9 months since Seth was born, and what a great baby he's been. Even Max has been loving the little guy...he loves to run around laughing and jumping just to get Seth smiling and laughing at him. Max is learning how to share and trade Seth when he has a toy that he wants. He loves to feed Seth and help get him out of the crib when he wakes up. If Seth is not around, Max always asks, "Where Baby?!?"
At the ripe old age of 9 months, here are some of Seth's major accomplishments...in no particular order...okay, maybe the first one I list is my favorite...you'll understand why in just a bit:

1-He sleeps through the night, something Ben and I have enjoyed for the last 6 months. A big thanks and round of applause for Seth! We can put him down by 7pm and he gets up between 6 and 7am...not bad!

2-He has a mouth full of teeth...6 to be exact...he can eat the heck out of crackers and baby puffs...there's a lot to be said for doing a little independent eating.

(This is obviously not his best angle, but it was a perfect mouth and teeth shot)

3-He can pull up on furniture and climb the stairs...there's no stopping him now.

4-remember a few months ago, I posted about this...he still loves it!

5-He doesn't just play with toys, he really gets in there and has a blast!

We haven't been to our 9 month well check (that appt. is next week), so I don't have any current stats...I can say that I think he's a smaller baby than Max...he was 3 lbs lighter than Maxton at 6 months...so we'll see what he tops the scales at next week. We all love him to pieces...he is so happy and content...happy birthday little guy...and to me a big congrats on my 50th!

OBX

So, I'm finally getting around to blogging about our FaMiLy SuMmEr VaCaTiOn...finally...I know...what has taken so long! We had so much fun...a ton of driving, but well worth it. We started by driving down to GA for a family reunion. We took two days to make it down south...we stayed the night in Charlotte on Thursday, and then made it to my grandma's on Friday. Had a fun time reuniting with the family on Saturday, and right after lunch, we left and started our journey to the OBX...we made that a two day trip of course, stopping in Florence, SC and pulling into Nags Head, NC Sunday afternoon. We had a great condo right on the beach, with a pool and hot tub...we were set.
Ben and I broke down and bought a Wii for some fun good times at night...even my grandparents got into the fun...that was pretty cool to see my children's great grandparents swinging around the Wii controllers...they were great! (Side note: I hate video games and have promised myself a long time ago that I would not allow them into my house, but the Wii is totally different...you have to stand up and you can totally break a sweat if you're way into it...like the boxing...I was definitely burning some calories...unless something comes out that is better than the Wii, as far as keeping you from being a couch potato like traditional video games...this is as far as I will stretch....sorry kids!)
It was so great, my grandparents didn't like to be out in the sun during the day, so they were happy to watch Seth, while we played on the beach with Maxton. Not only would they watch the baby for me, but Grandma would lay down with Max during nap time and let him sleep with her at night...Max is no fun to wrestle down to bed...it was a nice break...I dread getting Max to sleep these days.
We did leave the condo for some site seeing, we took the boys to the Aquarium...which was awesome. They had an aquarium as big as a baseball infield with sharks and the whole bit. We got to touch star fish and sting rays, and see some amazing fish and turtles...Maxton was in heaven.
We also headed up to Kitty Hawk to thank our brothers...the Wright Brothers that is...for figuring out how to fly...thanks boys...I'm thankful for air travel...it helps us see your great family in UT.
The worst part of the trip was running my Daddy to the ER on Wednesday. We were all out body surfing in the waves and one took my dad straight down into the shore...lets just say his nose hit first...he broke it and had to have a few stitches on top...the good news is that it was a clean break, so it's healing nicely...you can't even tell. It sure was scary at the time...there was blood everywhere.
We left on Friday, and we took two days to get home...hence the good excuse to stop at our friends house in Richmond, VA. For more details on that click here. We rolled into our neighborhood at lunch time on Saturday. We had a great time and are lovers of the OBX...we recommend this vacation spot to all of our friends & family...a must see for all!

"Favorites" Tag

Four Places I go over and over:
1-to the changing table, which is really just on the floor in our family room. I constantly change dipes and wipe bums.
2-the kitchen...at least three times a day, not including all the snacks and sippy cups I put together.
3-to the computer...I love to check my email and look through blogs (I would say to post on my own blog, but I've kinda let things slip in that department, I hope this helps to get me back on track!)
4-the laundry room...not only does it take me days to work/finish our own laundry, but I've gotta slip in all the office scrubs on the weekend for Ben and his staff.

Four People that email me the most:
1-my RS president with reminders and also because she's my visiting teacher
2-my Aunt G...she keeps everyone in the family connected with the ends and outs of our big and growing family...thanks!
3-Performance Bike...a store Ben frequents often.
4-Pottery Barn...a store I wish I could frequent and afford.

Four of my Favorite Foods:
1-Diet Coke
2-Chocolate
3-Mexican
4-Chocolate and Diet Coke

For places I would rather be right now:
1-on a beach somewhere soaking up some rays.
2-on a cruise ship somewhere soaking up some rays.
3-on a vacation somewhere soaking up some rays.
4-some place warm (not here where it is in the 50s) soaking up some rays

Four people I'm tagging:
1-Marissa
2-Shelby
3-Aramie
4-Aunt Gigi

Four movies I would watch over and over: (I'm changing this one slightly to...four movies I do watch over and over:)
1-Cars
2-Finding Nemo
3-Happy Feet
4-Over the Hedge

Good Food & Great Friends

On the way home from our family vacation (more on that to come), we stopped in Richmond, VA to see some old friends. They use to live near us, and moved almost two years ago, I think of them often and miss our time together. After seeing them last Friday, I'm so happy for them and their family. Their kids have grown so much and are so cute...Max and Seth fit right in and they all played so well together. They have such a wonderful home and great back yard...I loved it! We all talked and laughed as if nothing had changed...a true sign of good friends. They cooked us a FaBuLoUs dinner that we enjoyed outside on their deck. Thanks so much...can't wait to see you again!