I am going to have to do the world's longest post to catch up. I do not have the energy to break them down in to the separate posts they deserve. These pictures show what a fun and busy July we have had.
We started out with 2 weeks in Burley with my parents and sister and her kids.
Mitchell and Carter both started riding "big boy" bikes at the end of last summer and this summer they got to enjoy them together. They were good at sharing the bike that was too small for both of them but lived for the moment they got the big bike.
Carter tried his hand, or foot(?) at Mitchell's scooter and realized he did not like the vibrations of the gravel road. Once was enough for him.
We spent an afternoon at the park. For such a small town, this park is really impressive. It gives any park in Logan a run for it's money.
This is Grandma with about 2/3 of her grandkids. She put up with all of us for 2 weeks and was so great to cook and clean for all of us.
We spent an afternoon at Harris Pond where there was swimming and canoe rides. Carter kept asking me if there were sharks in this river. I guess letting him watch "Shark Week" with me on the Discovery Channel was not a smart move.
Jax was spoiled rotten these 2 weeks. He desperately wants to walk, but is afraid of walking without holding someone's hands. I know he could walk if he really wanted to but chooses not too. Everyone was so great in taking their turn at keeping him happy. My back had just about had it!
Great Grandma D is the best grandma a kid could ask for. I know this from first hand experience. Even at 92 years young she is involved with each child and loves to entertain and play with them. Jax was smitten with her and had her wrapped around his little finger.
The 3 little boys, all 4 years old, played pretty well together. The only problem is that we only had 2 Ipads. But they learned to share them.
Grandma D taking her turn at walking Jax.
Mitchell was very interested in Jackson. As the only boy in his family he was drawn to the thought of having a brother. I joked that I would willing send Jax home with him. He started to believe me and then I had to break it to him that we would probably keep Jax. He then came up with a sweet plan to babysit Jax if we wanted to go on vacation. Be careful what you offer.......I may take you up on it Mitch!
There was even a hot dog roast in 95 degree weather. 2 things I really dislike....hot dogs and hot weather.
We hit a parade and while I am not a big parade fan, I realized that we may have to frequent them more often for the boys. They were so well behaved and loved watching things go by.
The 3 of us enjoying the parade. Carter and I stayed cool in the shade while Jax soaked up the sun. This is actually Dr.'s orders. Jax is a little low on his Vit D and so in addition to an oral supplement he is required to get 20-30 min a day of sun. No sunscreen for those 30 min. Hopefully this helps. No sunburns yet!
There was lots of time spent outdoors in the pool, on the trampoline, the slip n slides, etc.
Jax enjoyed visiting the neighbors horses but would get a little freaked out when they got too close.
The 2 little boys played so well together. Unless they were fighting. There was only 1 bloody nose in 2 weeks so we consider this a success.
Coming home meant we had to find ways to entertain ourselves. Carter takes his job of watering the garden and flowerbeds very seriously. He lets nothing get in the way of it, including his clothes. I guess his Vit D levels will always be healthy.
After getting use to sleeping in a room with multiple cousins, Carter's private room at home has become torture. He cries every night for someone to "just lay by him." Breaks my heart. And he now needs the door to be wide open with the hall light on. He would even be happy with Jackson sharing a bed with him. Hopefully this phase goes quickly.
We hit up the local splash pad and poor Carter(in blue Hawaiian swimsuit) couldn't keep his trunks up. He was sporting a nice plumber's crack most of the day.
Carter and Neil established a fun little game they call "Soda" time. We rarely have pop at our house but when we did they would set aside plenty of time to sit on the front porch and drink cold Root Beer. Cheers!
We have spent a lot of time biking this summer and if it weren't for the awful heat I would be tempted to do it all day, every day. The boys both love it and are so happy during our rides. Except for when I put them in the trailer together. The whole 45 minute ride I heard "Mom, Jax is touching me....."
Carter loves to ride his bike and call his new, bigger bike his Mountain Bike.
Towards the end of July we went to Park City with Neil's family. We started off the weekend by spending an entire day at the Alpine Slide and Coaster. Someone please tell me why a day pass there is as much as Disneyland????
Aunt Linsey made us all Matching "E" shirts. I thought we all looked stunning in the them! Me and Jax in line at the ticket booth.
He was very happy to be there!
Neil, Carter and Aunt Linsey in line for the Alpine Slide.
Carter loved this ride and squealed each and every time down. Often yelling "let's go faster!"
Poor Jax wasn't old enough to go on any rides but he was the BEST baby in the world that day. He patiently laid in his stroller or was content to crawl around the picnic area. We did learn that Jax will only nap about 20 minutes in his stroller. But we also learned that he can go all day with out a nap and be quite pleasant.
The next day we hit up the Olympic Park to get our Olympic Fever started.
Jax and Grandma
Our last adventure was the Bike Park. Carter got a new Camelback for his birthday and he was sure excited to wear it during his "mountain Bike ride." He had to stop every 30 seconds for a swig of cold water!
Riding the bumpies! I can't believe he can ride a pedal bike already. I was probably 8 before I could ride one myself!
After the bike park we went to the skate park when Me and Aunt Linsey took turns playing on the jumps with Carter.
The down ramps were perfect slides.
The last weekend in July brought our first(and hopefully not last) camping trip of the year.
Jax loved crawling in the dirt and playing with rocks. He would take an occasional lick of the rocks to see how each one tasted.
Here he is one night during dinner. I had his tray loaded with food and the next time I looked down he had scooped up tons of dirt and rocks onto his tray. Whatever keeps em happy!
Carter loved helping Neil make fires and would gather all kinds and sizes of sticks he thought would make the best flame.
We spent one day at Tony Grove Lake and it was so much fun.
Jax's first time in the backpack and my last time carrying him. I must have really weak back muscles because I only lasted about 20 minutes.
My little Canoe-Boy. This was his second experience in a canoe and he was a lot less jumpy than the first time. He got a little more accustomed to how tippy canoes can feel.
Going on a quick ride with Neil and Dave.
Poor Jax loves the water and wants nothing more than to swim around in it. We've taken him swimming in public, chlorinated pools before. It's a pain to try and waterproof his central line but we do it occasionally. Sadly for him, swimming in dirty, yucky lakes is not an option. Who knows what germs and gross things live there. Luckily we could satisfy his need for water with a few walks in the shallow area. What I wouldn't give for my baby to have no central line and be able to be "normal." :(
2 rounds of swimming lessons has really helped Carter and he practiced a lot of his swimming moves out in the middle with Neil.
The best part of the trip for Carter was the fact that we borrowed a friend's tent trailer. He would have been happy to spend the 2 days completely in the trailer. The first evening he kept telling us he was "very tired and just needed to go lay down for a bit." So he'd hop in the trailer for about 5 minutes and then pop right back out.
Amazingly both boys slept wonderfully both nights. This means we can attempt another camping trip with them.
The last night camping we were joined for a bit by Neil's brothers family. The 3 oldest kids had a great time roasting marshmallows over the first. Carter's goal was to eat as many marshmallows as humanly possible while Kayla and Tyler's goal was to see how many marshmallows could catch on fire!
We had a great July and hope for an even better August. Who wants to go camping with us?!
