Summer Fun

This summer I let Pacen pick out a little pool that they could play in in the backyard. Of course, he picked the one that had like 5 different parts that you had to blow up, but hey, it had a basketball hoop so all was well with the world. This is where I feel like a bad mom--I hate setting it up. So, most of the time I don't suggest playing in it because I hate cleaning it and blowing it up. But when I do, the kids have a great time and love it. So, basically, I need to suck it up and just be a good mom and get their pool ready so they can play and have fun. :)

This is when our friends came to play...this was the best group shot I could get.

Pacen is gotten over any fear of the water he has had this year. He still couldn't swim to save his life, but he'll jump in and hold his breath and kick to you until you pull him out of the water. Next step...coming up for air.

Cam's Nap

Camry gave us a little Sunday treat by just conking out minutes after we got home from church. I put a little show on for the kids while I made lunch and came back downstairs to find her sleeping safe and sound. I knew that she exhausted Than and I during church, but I didn't know that she exhausted herself out, too.

First Soccer Game!

This morning was Pacen's first soccer game. He was pretty excited, but a little lethargic since we went to a Bee's game last night and the kids didn't get in bed until after 11:00pm. I know, I'm a bad parent. :) But there were fireworks...you can't miss that! The first thing Pacen said when he woke up was, "Is it time for my game yet?" as he was rubbing his eyes. That is his little neighbor buddy, Ty. Pacen pretty much followed Ty around the field. He did kick it once or twice but mainly just ran around with the crowd. He's our little sheep, but I'm sure he'll get the hang of it.

He just kept waving to us and saying how sweaty he was and how he could feel his heart beating.


This has got to be my favorite moment when I saw him picking flowers on the field and then run over to us (yes, while everyone was playing) with a very proud look on his face to give Camry a flower. He is a sweet, sweet brother.

And no youth soccer game is complete without a snack and a Capri Sun. But where are the orange slices?!?!? When I bring the treats, you know I will bring those.

BREECH!!! ARGH!!!!!

Here are some more pictures from our little shoot. I thought I'd put those up and then break my frustrating news. I had my Dr.'s appointment today, and my baby is breech. ARGH! My midwife said not to worry and said that there is plenty of room and time for the baby to move in the next couple weeks, and gave me some tricks that work sometime, and said that we'd worry by my next appointment and try to turn the baby. She said that they have a lot of success doing that, and then if the baby does turn, then they would induce me that day so that the baby wouldn't be able to turn back. So, that would mean me having a baby in like 3 weeks. Crazy. Let's just hope that this little one has some desire to move around in there some more and gets in the 'normal' position. It's funny because I've been worried about this baby being breech because the movements have felt completely different this time around, but last time they said that the baby's head was down so I stopped thinking about it. And now, low and behold, we have a breech baby. I shouldn't have been putting those breech thoughts out in the universe like that. So, let's all keep thinking positive turning baby thoughts. :) And I realize that it wouldn't be the end of the world if it decides to stay put, it would just make things a lot harder than I'm used to in my little "perfect pregnancy" world.

Cookie Time!

Yesterday was cookie day with Grandma. Somewhere she finds all this patience and just lets the kids do everything with all the mess included.

Really, I think Pacen & Camry only frosted like 10 cookies but probably consumed an entire container of frosting from licking off their knives! Please note: If I ever give you sugar cookies that my kids made, it's probably safe to not eat them and just admire their beauty.

Mom teaching Cam the art of cookie decorating!

Pacen was so proud! He really did do it all by himself. It's a tiger...can't you tell?!?!

More things we do at Grandma's house.

Every morning we have to feed the birds & squirrels. Grandma takes the kids outside and they set out the peanuts and birdseed and then wait patiently by the window until they see them eat. It's quite fascinating! :)

Ahh...our reward. Getting to see the birds and squirrels have their morning snack. There's nothing like grandma's house!

Horses...finally!

Here are some pictures so that Than doesn't forget what his kids look like. :) Camry has been begging to ride the horses and she finally did! She and mom were very excited to get back on a horse...actually, I think Bill was the most excited to get out of the corral! Grandpa, Pacen & I walked beside them and just enjoyed the outdoors for a bit.



Mom has had two doctor's appointments this week...one with her surgeon and one with the Radiation guy. The surgeon said that she was healing fine but that she would need to see a speech therapist. They did cut a nerve in her tongue during surgery that apparently will be numb forever, but she should get used to it and it shouldn't be too big of a problem. We did have a breakthrough yesterday when mom was able to eat a grilled cheese sandwich in very, tiny bites! She's had nothing but soup and yogurt for the past two weeks and was getting pretty sick of it.
The radiation guy said that she will start her treatment a week from Monday and will go for 7 weeks...scheduled to end on Sept. 11th. The side effects are different for everyone, but he said that typical ones are a feeling of a sunburn in your throat and on the outside, and some people even have a feeding tube since their throat is so sore. But then we talked to this lady who was like, Yeah, radiation was nothing...you're a little tired, but that's all. So, we'll see. He did say that he has some technique that could help save her salivary glands so that is hopeful. What is strange is that they said that there are only 10 cases of this type of cancer in the U.S. every year. 10. That's some bad luck for my mom! :) She's doing great and getting better each day. It's been fun to hang out and do nothing for the past few days, and the kids love mom and Loren so much and are having a great time.

More

So, what is different about this picture? No, we're not blind...just weird. This was our fantastic game of Crazy 8's last night.

And here are some pictures of Cam yesterday trying to use Pacen's tee. Can you see the problem we're having with her?? She thinks she's a lefty! Yikes! She uses a pen and fork in her right hand, but hits left. We'll see if it sticks.

Pacen's Birthday Continues

Here are just a few reasons...or people...why my kids are incredibly spoiled and have way too many toys. For Pacen's birthday, Emily bought him this sweet ESPN batting tee that raises the ball by that little red arm when you push a button, and then sticks to that black arm with this velcro material. Pacen loves it! And I do have to say that both he and Camry's swing has improved already! :)

Then, he opened more presents that night from Mom, Loren, & Erin. We love our ever giving family and are just waiting to go home and try to find a place for all of this stuff!

These are for Emily

So, all Emily wants to see are some pictures of my big, fat, pregnant belly. Carrie has been editing our family photos and this is the most recent group that she sent me. I really do love being pregnant, despite all the pounds I gain. :) This baby, however, seems to want to just get in the most uncomfortable position (for me) and just stay there. Like shoving it's knee or something out of my side and just leaving it there. We are 32 weeks along--only 8 more to go!

As an update on my mom, she has to go through radiation. The doctors had to take out her major salivary gland during surgery, but they still feel like there are cancer cells in a muscle in the back of the floor of her mouth and feel like radiation will do the trick to get rid of those pesky little buggers. The good news is that she had her feeding tube out yesterday and now is on a diet of yogurt and milkshakes. :) She has to wait to completely heal before the radiation can start. So, I'll be heading out there in a few days so that we can see her before her treatment starts and she's feeling more normal. The bottom line is that cancer sucks. The doctors told her to be prepared to take 6 months off of school for this, and also, this treatment will damage other salivary glands and so she'll pretty much have to carry around a bottle of water the rest of her life because her mouth will be dry all the time. It's obviously better than the alternative, but still crappy. We're all in good spirits and really feel like she is getting the best treatment available to her. They've been moving her quickly through this process and we're grateful for all the knowledge and treatment that we have today. It'll be an interesting road ahead for the next few months, but mom is a trooper and will do what it takes to get her well. We love her!

Week O' Fun

The Week O-Fun began when Than's family came to visit us last Thursday. We woke up early--like 5:30 AM--to go to the Hot Air Balloon Extravaganza in Provo, and then went to the parade in which Than got his picture taken in the paper!

Can you tell how early it is by these photos?!?!

The Never-Ending tattoo. It took some serious scrubbing to get that sucker off!

The Parade!

Yes, Pacen was mesmerized by the storm troopers, and yes, that is sunscreen all over Becky's mouth.

We continued celebrating the 4th at our house with a killer BBQ, little fireworks for the kids, and big fireworks that we could see from our deck.

I love Pacen's expression in this one. Fireworks are AMAZING!

A big Thanks to Shauna for inspiring your parent's to give Camry a puzzle. She LOVES them!

THE BEE'S GAME!!!

Than is the man! He caught a ball bouncing off the upper deck with his bare hands!!! It was a great baseball moments--loads of cheers and high fives from complete strangers....oh, how we love baseball. Pacen was pretty proud of his daddy.

Camry got to dance with Bumble and then decided that the game was a little boring...the final score was something like 20-7. Yeah for the bees.

And no trip to Franklin-Covey field would be complete without a little train ride.

Happy Birthday, Pacen!

We took the kids to Kangaroo Zoo since Pacen had been begging me for weeks to go. Scotty could have stayed forever! They had so much fun being wild & crazy kids.

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And this would be random girl taking Camry down a slide....at least Camry didn't mind!

It's Present Time!

All Pacen really wanted for his birthday was a light saber, and he even peeked in his presents in the morning and saw he was getting one. At Kangaroo Zoo I asked him if he was having a good birthday and he said, "Yeah, Thanks for the light saber, Mom!" Mind you he hadn't opened his presents yet! He's a one track mind.

So, now that Pacen's birthday is over, and Than's family has left, it's back to real life. We're so glad they were able to come visit and celebrate with us!