Pioneer Weekend

We had the funniest weekend celebrating Pioneer Day. I took Friday and Saturday off and Jesse's 6 day break was over that weekend so we were all able to be together as a family. Gotta love when that happens.

 

We certainly kept ourselves busy. So prepare for a long post.

 

Thursday; July 23

We thought about going to the Bountiful parade that night after I got off work. But now that we aren't living right off of Main Street, it's not as convenient to just walk up to Main Street and watch it. We would have to be like every other person in Bountiful and park far away and stake out our spot. And since Jesse and I aren't too into parading we both weren't too willing to go  to all that effort. The heat and the crowds were just not sounding all the enticing.

 

Instead, we went to dinner as a family and then went to the Bountiful Carnival. I thought we would beat the crowds, but we didn't. The lines to buy tickets were insane. And some of the lines for the activities and rides were very slow moving. Luckily the rides for the kids weren't quite as along so the boys were able to ride a few rides before it got dark.

 

This picture makes me laugh because it's sometimes impossible to get a good selfie picture of our whole family. And Cy's face is just killing me. What a goof.

 

Ready to ride.

 Cy has been known to get motion sick. Countless times he has thrown up in a car ride (and not just my car). So when I was watching him on these spinning rides I was SURE he was going to lose his dinner. He'd go from laughing so hard, to this sick look on his face. But then once the ride would stop he'd be all smiles again. No dinner lost. Phew. Maybe he has grown out of it?

 As it got darker the park started to get less crowded because everyone was headed up to Mueller Park to watch the fireworks. Again we didn't feel like getting ourselves stuck in a traffic jam late at night so we didn't go. But the boys still had a few more tickets to spend. So we went to the fishing pond.  This brings back so many memories of when I was a kid. This was my favorite thing,

After the boys fished for their prizes we headed to the truck. On the drive home Jesse decided to go up 1800 South to see if we could see some of the fireworks when they started because it was almost 10pm. We were able to watch a few as we sat in the truck on the side of the road. But then we decided not to stay too long and to get home.

Friday; July 24

We all slept in that morning and once we woke up and had breakfast we started to pack all our belongings for what we would need for the weekend. We were sticking with the tradition of camping out in the Smith's backyard.

Also Heidi's brother, Matt was here from Kansas visiting with his family because his son is very interested in attending BYU and wanted to check it out. While they were here they stayed with Mike and Heidi which happened to land over our holiday weekend. So we got to spend it with them.

Those that could went on a hike that afternoon up in Big Cottonwood Canyon to Cecret Lake. It was about a mile and a half round trip hike, so perfect for the littlest and preggers.

 The Lake was so calm and beautiful. And because we don't get to see the Bohm very often we had to get a group shot of all of us by it.

 I LOVE this picture of my family. It turned out so perfect. And to imagine that in 4 weeks there will be a 3rd boy among us. So weird and awesome at the same time. 4 weeks is nothing. He's going to be here before we know it. This pregnancy has gone by way too fast so I feel like I should have more time. But we don't. I can't keep putting off what needs to be done. I am almost done with the nursery. Just need to get all the clothes and personal items ready. Oh and I should probably pack a hospital bag.

 The hike back down I caught sight of these wild flower fields and thought they were just so pretty.

Once we made it back home we all started cooking dinner and setting up our tents for the night. The boys were SOOO excited. They just love to sleep in the tent. I personally was worried about sleeping well on a blow up mattress. But thankfully I was able to get comfortable. 



Once it got dark we roasted marshmallows to make some s'mores. Funny thing was Dad threw away the fire pit they had so we roasted marshmallows over the grill with coals. Which actually worked out really well. I had to laugh at the boys when they were covered in melted marshmallows. The picture doesn't show it very well, but they had a ring around their mouths. 

Then it was firework time. Jesse figured out how to do long exposure on his new phone and he got some really cool pictures.

Especially with the sparklers.

Then the whole gang wanted to play ghost in the graveyard. But my pregnant boring self was not feeling it. For one I didn't want to run and I was just exhausted and wanted to go to bed. I felt like I was being such a party pooper. But I'm blaming it on the belly. All I could think about was getting in my bed and sleeping.

Saturday; July 25
I think one of my favorite parts of this tradition is all of us waiting up together and making the best breakfast together. It's a buffet feast of the yummiest breakfast foods everyone has contributed. It's just the best.

We cleaned up and hung out just talking. The Bohms actually left for home once breakfast was over. So with them gone it seemed so quiet. Then Tyson and Tayler left to go hang out with her family. Those of us left sat in the backyard talking while the three boys ran around.

Before we knew it we were hungry for lunch. So we warmed up left over breakfast and had round 2 of breakfast. Haha. I think I could eat breakfast food for all three meals.

Once we ate we all got ready to go swimming. We planned on going to the same pool we went on the 4th of July. Mike had asked Cy the day before if he was going to jump off the high dive. Cy said No.

But as we were about to leave for the pool, Cy said to me "I'm gonna jump off the high dive". Not really believing him I just encouraged him and played along.

Well we got to the pool and I couldn't put his sunscreen on fast enough or get my camera out because he was dying to go get on the high dive.

He promptly walked over there (actually ran and we had to remind him to walk) and climbed up the ladder and walked out onto the edge of the board. My heart started pumping but still expected him to take one look down at the water and turn around and climb back down. Well he stood up there for several seconds bouncing. By this point he's caught several people's attention and now had an audience. Well before I know it... he JUMPS!  Haha.

What a brave little kid. I love this about him but also worry what it'll bring in the future. Hopefully we can direct it in a positive manner.

He did it 2 or 3 more times later that day. Along with jumping off the low dive numberless times. It's kinda awesome that my 4 year old can swim in the deep end. It's quite reassuring,  

Jesse and his dad spent a good majority of the time we were there flipping the boys in the air. Ryker and Cyrus just LOVED it.

We spent about 2 hours there and then Andrew and Emily had to head to her family's that night. So my little family made it back to the house and we ordered a pizza for dinner. We then had to clean up our own stuff and head home. Well almost home.

Jesse's friend from work apparently was turning 40 that day and a few guys from the fire station were throwing him a party. So Jesse wanted to make an appearance and show some support. So we dropped our stuff off at home. Basically Jesse unloaded everything while the boys slept in the truck and I showered and got ready.

We then headed up to Layton to wrap up our weekend.

4th of July {2015}

It's middle of summer and it is hot, hot, HOT! Just in time for the 4th of July. And being 33 weeks pregnant. The boys really wanted to go to the fireworks at Englewood Golf Course Friday the 3rd. Then I had plans of going to the Centerville Parade, swimming and the drive-in movie on the 4th. But when it came down to it I couldn't stay up late for the fireworks and get up early for the parade. So I told the boys they had to choose either the fireworks or the parade. They both chose the parade. Which in the end I was happy about.

 

Biggest bummer about the 4th this year was Jesse was scheduled to work that day. Boo! But thankfully he's off on the 24th.

 

The boys and I met up with my friend Harmoni and walked over the to the beginning of the parade. And man was it hot. I think I had a nice layer of sweat on me by the time we made it to the start of the parade. Then by that time we got to sit in the sun and jut melt. I laugh because thousands and thousands of people are there for the parade voluntarily torturing themselves in such heat.

 

Of course the boys done seem to mind at all. They were happy to gather up all the candy being thrown at them.  

They also got free sunglasses. Which I'm not even sure where they ended up by the end of the day. But they were useful while we were at the parade.

 I love this picture of us together, I just wish Jesse could have been there with us. But we should be grateful that he was off saving lives. And putting out fires that people had started from fireworks.

After the parade was over I headed to the grocery store to pick up some stuff for the day. My friend Harmonic actually invited us over to her parents house for breakfast, but I had to decline because I had other plans with the Smith's. If there would have been more time in the day I totally would have stayed.

Once I got home with the groceries, I packed up the truck with everything we would need for the rest of the day. Snacks, water, food, swimming suits, towels, change of clothes and bedding for the bed of the truck during the drive-in.

And then we were off. We arrived at Mike and Heidi's around noon and we all ate lunch. Then we headed off to the Crestwood pool near their house.

Once we were settled, I had to get a picture with Emily and her baby bump. These babies are due a day apart. Crazy huh? Its going to be fun watching these cousins grow up together. Especially since she is having a girl. It'll be interesting to see how she interacts with all these boys around.

 At this pool they blow the whistle every hour-ish to make everyone get out for about 5 minutes. Dad caught this picture as we were all sitting on the edge waiting to get back in.

 K, really proud of Ryker for this. Last year he was super nervous to jump off the high dive. He wouldn't even do it. Not even if we bribed him with money. But this year he did it without any hesitation. Again and again and again. Its so great to see him progress and gain my confidence in himself.

 And Cy is just fearless. I don't now very many 4 year olds that'll jump off the diving board into deep water and swim to the side. He's better when he rolls onto his back, but he seems to insist on doing it on his belly.

 After 3 hours of play we got kicked out. Not because we were in trouble, but because the pool was closing early. It was so nice to play in the water to get cooled down from the 100 degree weather.

 Back at home we ate dinner and watched the weather start to turn. It got windy and cloudy. We started to worry that it was going to rain. So we started second guessing if we should go to the drive-in.  So as the night went on we watched to see if we should chance it.

In the meantime, Heidi got some Sparklers out for the boys to play with. Not as exciting if it were dark out, but they didn't care.

 The wind seemed to calm down and I decided to take the chance and go to the movie. I popped 6 bags of popcorn for us all to share and we took off.

We got all set up and ready for the movie.  I love having the truck, for this reason. I brought a blow up mattress, a sheet a bunch of blankets and pillows. We were really cozy,

 Sterling and Cyrus are such buddies. They were all cozy together.

 Our whole gang. Photo credit goes to Heidi though. It's too bad she couldn't be in the picture with us.

 

After the movie was over we all headed home. We were all too tired to stay for the second one. The boys fell asleep within minutes of the drive home. I would have too if I wasn't the driver.

 

I made it home safely and got the truck unloaded and the boys in their beds. As I got myself into bed I couldn't help but feel like we had the best day. Oh and grateful we had 1;00pm church the next day.

 

Also, I feel blessed to call America my home. It's truly a blessed nation.

Desk Dilemma

Moving in we were without a desk. Reason being was because Jesse had built the desk to be a part of the kitchen. It was removable, but with a concrete countertop on it there was NO moving it without an entire crew. So we left it.

 

In this new house we want to do a similar thing with the kitchen. So knowing that we were going to building a desk at some point, we didn't want to spend alot of money on a brand new one. So we started to look on ksl.com. After awhile we got distracted from it by talking about the master bedroom/bathroom remodel.

 

Well one day I came home from work to this desk.....

 

 ...Eek. Jesse bought it because it was cheap($40) and we needed a desk. Which I understand. But as it sat there the more and more I grew to loath this desk. I didn't even know how to make it cute. So I did something that I was scared he would kill me for.

While he was working on Tuesday I searched on ksl.com for another desk. And I put the ugly one on there to sell for $25. I got now bites from it. So I put it on there for free, hoping someone would come and pick it up for me so I wouldn't have to worry about hauling it out of the house myself. Still no luck. It was THAT ugly. Nobody wanted it for FREE.

So I took matters into my own hands and I got the desk onto the dolley and outside to the truck. Then I asked our next door neighbor, Steve to get it on the truck for me. And he graciously did. YAY!!! Then off to the DI I went.

Such a relief when that thing was gone.

That night I went out to Draper to pick up this desk...

So much better right?

Mike and Heidi met me there and helped get it onto the truck and into my house.

Here's the kicker though.... This desk and bookshelf are practically brand new. The seller, Pete (who was such a nice guy) said they hardly used it and they just needed to get it out of their house because they were moving. So get this I got both of these for $50!!!! Yup. That's right. I did good.

After getting in the house I stayed up to get everything unpacked and into it's place. So when Jesse got home he could see it all set up.

I actually ended up sending him a picture and talking about it with him on the phone that night. I thought he would be so mad. BUT he wasn't. Especially when I told him how much I got both the desk and bookshelf for. He was a little annoyed by it, but said he was happy because I was happy. Phew, I was relieved. I felt bad going behind his back and doing such a sneaky thing. But in the end it all worked out so great. I'm very happy with the desk.

Now our little breakfast nook table is in the large dining area. We put the desk in the area where the table was. So our next thing we'll need to get is a big dining table.

I'll have to post pictures of our bedroom too. It's coming along. Slower than I'd hoped. But the rough in has been so much work for Jesse. I'm hoping once all of that is done we can make some large leaps in progress. I so badly want it done before this baby comes.

This last week we decided to move our stuff out of the bedroom and into the basement. Still living out of boxes. Suitcases and/or clean laundry baskets. It'll be nice to have a closet.