Brock's Family Party

We had mine and Jason's family over for Brock's birthday. I always think I am taking pictures then when I go to upload them I realize I didn't get any of the guests - I need to be better at that!

I made our dessert sports theme - since he is basically an athlete :). I did a chocolate ice cream cake soccer ball, with cookies and cream ice cream, and white cupcake baseballs and basket balls. Brock was thrilled - he had to eat one of everything.

Most notable in this picture is Brock's stitches (click on it to see it good). Just when I had rescheduled his two year old photo shoot - we had another accident. On Friday we were at the Curren's graduation party - we had only been there 5 minutes when Brock decided to jump off the bed and smack his head on the bed post - we decided to take him into the doctors - we are sure glad we did - It cut all the way to the bone!! He had to get stitches - it was SO SAD - they had to put him into a straight-jacket to hold him down. He cried the whole time and was yelling, "momma hold you" (which means hold me) and "momma, scaries" (which just means scary). I felt so helpless - can't they knock him out for stitches??... seriously.

Kangaroo Zoo for Brock's Birthday

We went to Kangaroo Zoo for Brock's second birthday. Almost all of his friends came - it was great. We had almost the whole place to ourselves - only one other family was there with just 2 little kids and they were only there for a little bit. The kids had seriously so much fun. My camera sucks so I didn't get any great action pictures.

This was right before we left - After about an hour and a half of being there the kids get SO TIRED - its hard to get them to smile.

My sweet mom and sister came down. They got to play with Noah so I could go play with Brock.

Corinne Myers and Heather and Shane Braley

Brock with the Bell children - Payton and Brooklyn.

Corinne and her 3 week old baby, Brooke.

These are my wonderful mom friends from our BYU ward (or at least what is left of them). Left to right: Me - Brock and Noah, Jess - Andrew and Rachel Curren, Heather - Shane and Corinne Braley, Jessica - Preston Richens, Corinne - Brooke Myers.

Noah got to jump a little too - he liked it as you can see.

Happiest baby

Commencement Ceremonies

One of the worst days/weeks to be living in Provo is during finals and graduation week. It is insane - there is so much traffic, parties, moving trucks, carpet cleaners, ambulances, fire trucks, no parking anywhere (including your own complex) and just chaos as every one's family comes in from all over the country to attend graduation and move their students back home. There has been accidents out in front of our apartment almost everyday this week right at noon - just in time to wake both my kids up from their naps with the sirens. But I digress - the purpose of this post was not to complain about Provo, although they make it very easy :)

Since today was the actual commencement ceremonies up on campus I knew it would not be a good idea to go anywhere for our morning activity, so we went on a walk. We saw graduates in their caps and gowns walking around with their families taking pictures and discussing where they should go to lunch; and it allowed me to reflect on Jason and I's anti-climactic graduations. Jason does not make a big deal about things and REFUSES to take any part in any type of graduation ceremony. So we did not do anything for his graduation, no ceremony, no pictures, no lunch, no cap and gown, no announcement, no anything, I was a little annoyed at the time because I tried to do some sort of celebration - but he utterly refused. And now I am just sad. Sad that we/I missed out on that celebration, that bookend, if you will. I never really feel like I got a chance to tell Jason how proud I am of him and how grateful I was for all the hard work he put into college. He always took a full load and went straight through the spring and summer semesters too. He always worked, often full time, graveyards, or 3 am shifts, so he didn't have to take time away from me or Brock. He always did his homework at night, after we had spent the evening together and had dinner. He worked so hard at school, got good grades, but still always put the family first. Thank you sweetheart for everything that you did.

It has been almost a year and a half since he graduated, so I guess there is no need or purpose in a celebration now - I think I will always feel sad that we didn't get to really celebrate with family and friends.

Nap - not soon enough

This afternoon we came home from an outing - I put Brock in his high chair to eat lunch while I fed Noah. This happens everyday. When I came back into the kitchen this is what I saw.

So cute and sad at the same time. He has never done this before. He never even woke up while I cleaned him off and put him in bed.

Yesterday Jason got off work early and we went on a family walk to the duck pond.

Porch Sitters

This is what Jason hopes to do for the rest of his life - except he will be on a real porch, on a rocking chair, and back east. Brock and Noah sit out here with him - they just watch the cars.

Project Towels

I don't consider myself a crafty person - but I do like to fake it and often list crafts, scrapbooking, and sewing as hobbies. I don't really know what I am doing and am not perfectionistic enough to really do it right (I am sure that is not a word - but it worked). I guess I must fake it pretty good because I have been called twice to serve as the Enrichment Counselor in the Relief Society Presidencyand both times we made hooded towels for baby gifts - and both times I wanted to make them, but didn't have the time (when you are the Enrichment Counselor you never get to do any of the crafts). For years I have been meaning to figure out how and make a bunch - and last week I finally did it.

Aren't these towels so cute! They are baby shower presents for some friends I have who are having girls. Check out those pleats - I did those all by myself - I really have never sewn anything but a straight line before!

Then of coarse I had to make matching hooded towels for my boys - This is the first picture EVER when both of them have big smiles.

Easter egg hunt at Great's

We are at my grandma's house for an Easter egg hunt with all my cousins. In our family we call our great-grandmothers "Great". It started about 3 generations ago and has just stuck.




Brad and Noah (my sister Katie's little boy - they are 23 days apart)

They have this wonderful fruit orchard they hide all the eggs in.

Easter Eggs

Here we are dying Easter eggs on Saturday night - We did this last year and obviously Brock was not into it yet - and I still thought he would be too young. I assumed he would watch me put the first few eggs in, want to throw the eggs, and be too impatient to see that they had turned colors. I was quite wrong. He sat on my lap very patiently the whole 15 or 20 minutes and enjoyed the whole process - he was gentle with the eggs and only cracked one on accident.

This was they boys' "joint" Easter basket. This is actually the same Easter basket I had as a little girl. It comes with a little bit of drama. Me and my sisters all had matching wood Easter baskets like this one. Katie's was pink, mine was blue (seen above) and Ashley's was yellow. Later my mom got a light blue on for one of the boys and I guess she thought that one of the boys should have my darker blue one (because blue is for boys), so one Easter she used a different basket for me and used mine for Michael - I was very upset. In my mom's defense I think I was like 13 and should have been mature enough to handle it - but I was not and threw a big fit (this is embarrassing to write about) - so every Easter it has been a big deal to make sure I got my right Easter basket. Then the year I got married she gave it to me for my first Easter.

Finding eggs. Brock got really into it - he would say, "oo - found it".

Noah with his turtle

A few of our favorite things

When we need to get outside - but we don't have a real activity planned, our favorite places to go our the temple and the duck pond. We are probably to both of these places at least once or twice a week.

Two year old photo shoot - cancelled

Brock fell last night in our parking lot while we were playing soccer. The lesson: maybe children should live in houses with yards and not have a concrete parking lot to play on.

We fed him a few Popsicles trying to trick him into keeping something cold on his lip so it wouldn't swell. Dad got in on the action too. We are going to have to reschedule that two year old photo shoot.

Kangaroo Zoo vs. Jumping Jacks

In the last two weeks we have been to both Kangaroo Zoo and Jumping Jacks. They are both warehouses filled with the giant balloon-type jumping houses. We went to Kangaroo Zoo with some old friends from Provo - Brock had a blast. It was the first time that he could really do all of the things by himself - he was just running around screaming - he was so excited.

Doesn't he just look so sublimely happy? Sometime I wish I could have as much fun as he has - little kids just seem to have pure joy.

Then on Friday we went to Jumping Jacks - Jason had the day off so he got to come with us! This place is in Springville (also West Jordan and St. George). Brock had a lot of fun because Jason was there and could throw him around a lot better than I can.

For those of you looking for a comparison, they both have their pro's and con's. Jumping Jacks is a lot smaller (only about 5 blow up toys) but it is only 5 dollars for 3 and under (instead of 2 and under at KZ). KZ has a new rule that you have to be under 150 lbs to play on their things - so Jason could not have played with Brock - JJ has no such rule. KZ is maintained a little better and has more variety - JJ is all pretty much ladders and slides. Both were really fun - the big plus for JJ is the weight limit - otherwise I recommend KZ.

Jason would flip Brock on this - like a sling shot - Brock could not get enough!

Odd that Brock is wearing the same outfit at both places - they were like two weeks apart - I did not notice that until now.