The Big BOOM!!!

So we finally got our playroom cleaned up enough that we could inflate the bouncy balls and the Rody horse.  The boys literally love bouncing off the walls for a good chunk of every day.  Clark even inflated mine.  In my current state I didn't feel it would be wise for me to do much bouncing so Clark took it on the maiden voyage.
I was putting clothes away in the boys' room when I heard the giant BOOM, and then a yelp from Clark.  I thought for sure one of the boys had bounced through a wall, it was that loud, I came running and found this:

Clark had taken a big bounce and popped my ball!!!  It was a little under-inflated and the needle that plugs the hole must have bent and poked through when he jumped.  It literally split in half.  Such a sad day in Mudville, my favorite Christmas present gone!  Reminds me of when my little brother pulled my new Christmas doll's head right off...I guess we'll be bouncing a little less around here now.

Underwear Logic

So today Ethan had a hard time pulling off his pants to go to the bathroom, when Clark went to help him he realized it was because he had 3 pairs of underwear on.  Diego underwear so he could have an adventure, Thomas underwear so he could be a train, and Lightning McQueen underwear so he could run really fast.  Makes perfect sense to me.

Then later that night as we were getting out of the car he slipped and fell and hurt his behind.  With tears streaming down his face he said, "I don't think I'll ever be able to poop again."  Luckily he had on 3 pairs of underwear to give a little extra cushion.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Flaming Gorge

Last week my little travel buddies and I drove over the beautiful Rocky Mountains to meet my parents at Flaming Gorge.  Caden was so excited to go in "Gappa's boat."  We actually met up with up with my Grandpa and Nada, all of my mom's sisters and their families and had a great family reunion at the lake.  

The first day we got some playing in before the wind blew us home.  The little kids loved just playing in the dirt and the water.

The next day was perfect.  We found a beautiful beach, and had lots of playing on the lake.  Ethan and Caden both wanted to get their little Star Wars' fishing poles out to fish from the docks while we were waiting for everyone to get loaded.

Grandpa helped them actually put some bait on.

Even though it was a little scary Ethan tried the tube.

Caden on the other hand, was not scared at all and just jumped on when it was his turn!

I had to put these on for my Aunt Tonya's family...proof that she was a wild tuber with her grandchildren Brandlee and Jefferey. 

Flaming Gorge has some beautiful scenery, we even spotted a herd of big horn sheep on our way out.

The boys played so hard, they are still recuperating from all the fun, this is Caden getting a little rest on his ball one afternoon.

On Saturday the rest of the family went rafting and we put the boat in and did a little fishing.  Caden's little Star Wars' fishing pole caught a trout!  Grandpa's fishing pole caught a bass that was smaller than the lure.  That night we traveled to Vernal for a family gathering at my Grandma's house.  It was such a fun party!

 The next day I was so excited to see my friend Sora Sarah!  She was one of my mission companions in Romania and one of my best friends.  I haven't seen her since Ethan was a baby, and she just happens to be in Vernal this summer while her husband does an internship.  We had so much fun catching up.  We both have 2 boys the same ages so it was so fun to see our boys play.

Fun, fun little boys!  

And now I need a week to recover from my vacation!  It was such a great time!

4 and 2

I am loving the dynamic of ages 4 and 2.  I think it is so fun to watch my boys play together so well.  Caden is verbal enough now that even if he can't understand all of the pretend worlds that Ethan creates he knows enough to say the right things.  We were a little shocked the other day when he came and told us I'm the "witch," unfortunately his "w" sounds come out as "b's."

On Saturday morning I woke up and heard Caden talking in his crib.  A few minutes later I heard Ethan talking to him.  After about 10 minutes it was full blown laughter, screaming, and playing.  I just left them alone and laid in my bed reading and smiling listening to them play.  I finally went down and found this scene:

Ethan was pretending to be his newest imaginary hero, Huggy, the super hero skunk without a stink as he says.  At 4 and 2 I'm glad they love each other and that they have so much fun together.  I'm glad we will have a 4 and 2 dynamic again in 2 more years!

It's A...

So today I had my ultrasound to see our new little one.  Clark was unable to come with me, so when I got home I made a baby cake with either a blue or pink middle for Clark and the boys to find out the gender.  The boys were so excited for the cake...at one point Ethan sneaked a lick and then came over to me and said, "mom is it a boy, because that frosting tastes like boy."

And the results...(Ethan's reaction is priceless)!

Let's just say I was grateful to have the cake to help dry Ethan's tears.  He's been referring to this baby as his sister now for a few months and was slightly distraught.

So stop all plans of making giant head sized hair bows immediately!

I'm pretty excited to be a mom of 3 boys, a lot of great guys have come in groups of 3:

We are so excited!  I was telling the ultrasound tech that on my first two boys their personalities came out a little during the ultrasound.  She decided then that this baby will be my stubborn one.  He was wiggly and moving all over so she couldn't get a good picture of the heart.  She sent me on a walk, and when I came back he had moved but still she couldn't get the heart.  He also had his feet in front of his face for the first part, trying to chew on his little toes.  So cute!  Seeing the baby moving made this pregnancy so real, and so  excited to meet this little boy (toe chewing and all)!

4th of July (according to my phone)

A hot parade!

Festive Treats!

A fun night of swimming, eating, and playing with cousins!

Firework watching on the way home!

A great day!

Mutton Bustin' (Greeley Style)

So if you read my blog last September you may have remembered my post here about Ethan's first experience mutton bustin' in Seattle.  Since it was such an entertaining and exciting experience for our household we decided to sign him up again at the Greeley Stampede!

In September Ethan and I trained beforehand, I was the sheep...this time the pregnant momma was not willing to be the sheep so Ethan prepared in his own way.  The day of the rodeo the boys were so tired, so I put them both down for naps and fell asleep myself.  Ethan was way too excited to sleep so he was playing around, going through unpacked boxes downstairs.  He found his first Halloween costume from when he was 7 months old and put it on.  I woke up from my little siesta to find him in his baby chicken suit.  I couldn't stop laughing.  He wore it the rest of the afternoon...I suppose he was just getting in touch with his inner barnyard animal to prepare for the rodeo.  I took this video of the new and improved "chicken dance:"

When we got to the Stampede we realized quickly we were not in Seattle anymore!  I didn't know Greeley was so intense about their mutton bustin.'  When I signed Ethan up I was surrounded by Dads in cowboy boots and hats that were questioning the lady about the rules, regulations, what made a winner, etc.  They were intense giving their little cowboys last minute pointers, one Dad even took his son out to do wind sprints beforehand to warm up.  There were little busters that had their own chaps, spurs, boots and hats.  One little guy announced he will be the future bull riding champion of the world, he had his own vest and helmet.  Instead of holding on with both hands he tied one hand on like a bull rider.  It was crazy!  I never guessed Greeley to be such a rodeo town, I should have figured being only an hour away from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Well poor Ethan had to watch pretty much everyone go in front of him, because he had to wait for a helmet that was big enough to fit his head!  He was clutching on to his Daddy pretty tight, but still wanted to ride when it was finally his turn.  It was a quick ride, if you ask him he says he "went about 2 minutes."

So fun, he thought it was "great."  Next year we will have to get some official western wear!

After the main mutton event we enjoyed the rest of the Stampede.

We saw a real knight joust.

Caden found a cool place under the bleachers.

We loved the rodeo.  Caden especially loved the cows and the neighs.  I think he's my little country boy.

And we saw a bear shoot a basketball.  How can you beat that?

The best part was that the whole night was free!  There are so many perks to having an employer!!!  Now I need to figure out where I can buy a sheep so Ethan can really train for next year!