Perks

We are so sad the World Cup and Tour de France are over. It was a good summer for early morning television.

One of the perks of my job:

if I suspect a poopy diaper, I get to stick my nose right down in the suspicious area to confirm that it is for sure stinky.

But really, one of my favorite things now-a-days is Avery says "dank doo!" (thank you) any time I give her something. Kids don't realize what that does for a mommy's day. I will pretty much stop whatever I am doing and get Avery what she wants just to hear her say "dank doo".

You're welcome!

Today while I was pushing my handcart full of babies and dogs on an uphill, headwind run, a man passing me on his run exclaimed, "yay mom!"

I agree. Yay for mom.

San Clemente 2010

Sunset on the beach.

Technically Evan has been here before. Last year I was pregnant with him (and sick).

I'm glad he's able to enjoy the view this time.

Avery likes the view from daddy's shoulders. She's not a huge fan of sand/waves just yet. Maybe next year? 

 

chasing a seagull

back at camp...

Got to protect that bald head.

Teach a 2 year old to give a high five and knuckles, and be prepared for a half hour session of high five and knuckles.

The bucket/rope game...

Avery won

Grandma Cook

Can you tell we just woke up from sleeping in a tent?

This is our traditional morning look out spot, watching for dolphins.

None this morning, but we saw some later while at the beach.

My poor kids. I did not bring enough cold weather clothes.

By the time we went home, Avery was wearing my dirty jacket with the sleeves rolled up. I need to learn to check the weather and over pack.

so snugly

See anything missing?

Jimi took off his ring before swimming in the ocean.

It's currently lost. So sad.

We all got sunburned. I blame the clouds.

They are so deceiving. You can't tell if you are in the shade or not, and they lull you in to false security.

The next thing you know, you're burned crispy.

In the words of Avery,

"bye ocean!"

Go Team

Avery loves to hold Evan's hand.

My soccer team gave me this little uniform the year I was pregnant with Avery.

It kind of fits.

All Day

We got an all-day-babysitter for our anniversary,

which means we got to hang out together all day,

including a bike ride at the Green Valley Loop...

I'm just going to say it...Jimi is extra HOT when he rides his bike.

This is my bike, actually. He was seeing whose bike is better.

I think mine is. It's white with pinkish purple letters.

Ok, break's over.

It was about a million degrees.

Going downhill is way more fun than up.

Here is our all day babysitter. (thank you G and G Larsen!)

We also went out to dinner

(Texas Roadhouse. Crazy good),

came home,

put the kids to bed,

and then went to a movie.

(Inception...have you seen it? Crazy good.)

Is it weird that anniversaries are more fun when you have kids? The alone time is so much sweeter.

This year was by far my favorite anniversary.

I love Jimi.

8 Years Later

July 20, 2002

Jimi and Me, 8 years ago...

married in the St. George Temple.

(excuse the picture quality; we dated during that ancient period known as "pre-digi")

We met because our roommates were dating each other (the two snuggled up together in the middle).

It turns out we both had a crush on the other the whole 4 years we were at SUU.

This picture is funny because I showed it to my friend Amber when I was planning on hooking her up with Jimi. He told me later he has always had a theory about wanting to "hook your friend up with someone": that usually means you have a crush on that person too. Very true for me in this case.

When we finally started dating, we spent the majority of the time playing "killer seepa". If you are the looser in killer seepa, you have to stand against the wall with your toosh sticking out so everyone can throw the seepa at you.

And we played it "go hard or go home" style.

And Dana, Chantel, and Jimi all played softball/baseball, so they throw totally hard.

And Robbie is good at everything, so his throws hurt.

But me? I am lucky if I can even hit my target.

So once, I was the looser with my toosh in the air, and Jimi wound up to throw it at me, but just lobbed it softly. Everyone was in uproar..."Heyyyy! Awww c'mon! Lame!"

I thought it was sweet.

But trust me, we all had our fair share of bruises on our backs, legs, etc.

We hung out in Zion NP a lot.

Once, me and Chantel met Jimi and Chad in the visitor's center parking lot before we went on a hike. It was kind of chilly, but the sun was shining. Jimi was wearing a black fleece jacket. He came and hugged me, and I remember he was so warm and the black fleece warmed up my nose, and he smelled good. We had just barely started dating, so it made me all giddy and happy.

Just thinking about it right now I am giggling. That is one of my favorite memories of us dating.

We played a lot of Tetris and listened to a lot of Trigger Locks and Mother Hips in those days.

I am smitten.

Sammy Is Cute

Toes

I love Evan's high pitched screams,

motor-cycle noises that drench his clothes with drool,

and when he reaches for my face while I feed him.

I am so thankful I get to be a mom.

5 Months Today!

5 monther. Cutie pie.

4 months

3 months

2 months

1 month

0 months

Summer Trip to Fallon

Hey Emily, does this look familiar?

Yeah, I lost my children in Raley's for a few minutes. It was beyond scary. I don't recommend it.

Avery insisted on pushing Evan around the store in the stroller. Long story short, suddenly she was missing. With my baby. Both babies missing.

As I was freaking out, I exclaimed, "where's my little girl?"

A nice man with a long white beard asked, "you mean the little girl pushing the baby?"

Yes! The 2 year old walking around by herself with an infant. She is not supposed to be without an adult.

He then directed us to the last place he saw them.

So I ran and retrieved them, almost in the dairy section. She didn't even know she was lost.

tea party with dolly

at the viewing

The funeral was smack dab in the middle of nap time, so Avery was being testy. This is as close to the other cousins as she would get.

Garrett makes a ton of boy noises.

Evan already knows how to make motorcycle noises with his lips and tongue. I am pretty sure it is a boy thing because Avery never made these noises (that I can remember).

Speaking of motorcycles, there was a lot of rides on this baby.

Jimi, Avery, and I took a 4 wheeler ride around the fields. Pretty.

4th of July family BBQ

Lots of food, motorcycles, and going down the slide.

No fireworks. I didn't really miss them actually.

During the Q, inevitably there is a diaper that needs changed. This led us to discussing circumcisions. Baby boys Garrett and Evan were "compared". Then someone suggested we should bring Dallin over to see another comparison. I think it was Jimi who thought that didn't seem like an appropriate thing to do. You see, we have two Dallins in the family. One is a baby, and one is a teenager. He thought we meant bring over Dallin Stevenson. I laughed so hard. Ha ha! Good stuff.

Avery is introduced to barbies

"The Flats"

messy face

Wyatt tried to be Avery's friend. He would look her in the face and say, "I'm Wyatt! I'm Wyatt!"

scraped knees

roasted weenies and marshmallows

This is my best shot of Jimi jumping over the fire on Aaron's bike.

What a stud.

Kim, are you sure you feel comfortable with Avery pushing Dallin around? They could get lost.

throwing a football

My mom said not to get her in the picture, but too bad.

I don't have any pictures of me with my grandparents.