Go UTES!

We found some well priced tickets online and opted to take Ethan and Sydney with us to the first Utah football game of the 2012 season.  They were highly favored to win, so it wasn't necessarily an exhilarating win, but it was so fun to introduce Ethan and Sydney to a live game.  

It did prove to be exciting in the stands that night, however.  There was a fight that broke out a few rows down from us when a fan was angry that another fan was waiving his very large flag in front of his face.  There was a brawl and people were injured--bleeding and all.  It was pretty intense.

Excitement #2: Ethan and Sydney were fighting over their sippy cup in the first quarter and Sydney lost a large chip out of her front tooth in the struggle.  We didn't notice until half time or so.

Waiving the white flag...again

Doug has been oh-so-positive about potty training where I have said, "forget it".  This time, Doug agreed with me after working with Ethan for nearly two weeks and him rarely initiating a visit to the toilet room.  We even bought Pull-ups for when I was out of town and they were mostly used to play with on the floor.  They are now in a box waiting for them to be ready for this adventure.

California bound

After saying my last trip to California already happened...I went again.  My office desperately needed my help and all but begged that I accompany them for a 4-day trip with 4 different events.  This is the first shot I've ever gotten of Marshall Reddick, a real estate investor educator in California.  We've worked with his group for over 10 years.  This was our Saturday morning meeting.

This is my boss, Bill, up in front of a group during the same event.  Funny how much time I've spent with these people, but have never gotten many photos.  We held 4 events about land banking opportunities.

After our Saturday morning event, we had time to kill because our flight didn't depart from Los Angeles until after 6 pm.  We went downtown to the clothing district.  I hadn't used the restroom all morning and it was 1:30 pm, so when we parked our car, we saw signs for bathrooms.  I was shocked to find out that it cost 50 cents!!  There was a line and after I borrowed 50 cents from Bill, I was handed a wad of toilet paper and a paper seat cover.  I sat in line laughing and had to take a photo.

I was so excited to be reunited with my kiddos and Doug.  They were asleep when I got home so I tucked them in and showed them the treasures I brought them when they woke up Sunday. I always bring them my pretzels from the airplane and I also had stopped by Trader Joes and brought home some maple syrup, which Ethan promptly saw and requested pancakes for breakfast.  Love these kids.

Doug looked exhausted, so much so, that I told my boss that if I go again, we can hold Saturday meetings where I can fly in and out the same day.  Hoping he goes for it.

Distractions please

It was a much-needed distraction to have the Kellers here the first week of Doug's internship.  I am adjusting to being a full-time mom again and not working nearly as much let alone potty training messes.

We are big fans of the Kellers and are excited that they are going to be moving here soon.  Sarah and Chris were looking at houses--and I don't blame them one bit for being exhausted of it.  Doug and I put an offer on a town home this past Friday and the seller ended up accepting another offer and we were pretty deflated after only one home option!  

I took Ethan to the doctor Monday morning to find out that he NO LONGER NEEDS TO WEAR HIS BRACE!  There is no celebration adequate enough for me right now.

We came home to the Kellers to play with and they stayed the day.  Sarah met Chris to look at houses late in the afternoon and the kids hung out with us at the neighbor's playset.  They had a great time digging in the rubber stamp pieces (instead of wood chips) and jumping in them.  It gives a little extra 'bounce'.  They buried Kaleb and Ethan thought it was very strange.  

Tuesday we went to Farm County at Thanksgiving Point for $2 Tuesdays.  The kids had a great time and Ethan even used the potty there with no accidents!  They are two cute kids.

Doug had a decent first week of internship at Primary Children's with a little setback coming about his hours.  They have told him he will be working into the evening Monday through Thursday but can leave early on Friday.  He will be getting home after we eat dinner most likely and he is already having a hard time adjusting from being a stay-at-home-dad!  He is excited to work with those who will be supervising him though and for the learning experiences he'll have.  Week one down, 51 to go. 

the Potty + Graduation destination

With Doug starting work Monday, we decided we should try potty training so we'd have one adult per child.  

Step 1: We went to Good Earth and bought some treats.

Step 2: Find a jar to put the treats in at Deseret Industries.  (I cleaned it well)

Step 3: Find some incentive prizes at Deseret Industries.

We had lots of naked moments with no diapers on and we didn't really do anything.

In an effort to not be incredibly boring, we put up the slip and slide Saturday afternoon and washed our cars and played half-naked in the back yard.  We asked our neighbors upstairs before doing this while their kids were also outside playing.

We quickly realized that Sydney wasn't ready and had her in a diaper, but Ethan has been out of a diaper (mostly) for 3 days now and doing pretty well.  I have barely survived this as it has brought out my inner control freak, clean freak, and crazy mother-ness.  

Wish I could be more excited for Doug to start internship.  We've grown accustomed to late morning workouts, eating lunch together, and spontaneously going to the water park as a family.  Our lives are changing tomorrow--after internship, Doug graduates and starts his career.  It has been a fabulous summer.  Doug has been working on his dissertation most days, but still has a fair amount to do as he analyzes his data he collected earlier this year.  Half of his co-hort flew in town for their graduation...Doug didn't make a deadline a few years ago and will graduate one year from this week.  He loved seeing them--they are great friends.

LaRene, James, Doug, Sasha, Arjan, and Steve (well, I guess only Sasha, Arjan, and Steve graduated--everyone else is behind).

Last party days

Doug starts internship Monday of next week and our sole focus this week has been to fit in PARTYING with our busy schedule of me working, Doug working in his dissertation and attempting to potty train.  

We played extra long in the morning and sometimes into the night--when it was time for sleep and E&S both spontaneously were hungry and needed a snack. :-)

Tiffany watched Ethan and Sydney so we could go to Seven Peaks on a date--just the two of us, so we could go on ALL the waterslides and not just hang out in the 18 inches of water.  It was so fun!  We felt like kids again.

I flew down and up Lightening Falls slide that you have to get enough speed in order to make it over the large "hump" on the other side.  Doug struggled and had to hop out in the middle of the slide--the disgrace of the water park.  We ran and got into line over and over again.

Sunday family time

We got ready for church today with Sydney in a new dress and Ethan in a new vest.  They looked so excited to be in their new duds.  

We had Doug's home teaching family for dinner that night and had a great time.  They helped us build an excellent train track for E&S to play with for a few hours...until they dismantle it.

Kayla and Brynlee time

We were so excited that Kayla and Brynlee came into town for several days.  We love their visits.

We invited Kayla and Brynlee to join us for the Disney show at the Deer Valley Music Festival.  This is quickly becoming a tradition for our family.  We thought Ethan, Sydney and Bryn would love it.  We had a picnic of Cafe Rio and brought lots of blankets for when the sun set and the temperature dropped.  So fun.

The next morning, Kayla and Brynlee came over to our driveway for the Highland Fling parade.  Tiffany and her kids came too.  There was so much candy thrown!  We collected it for our Sunday School class.  We bring them a treat every week as incentive for them to behave.

Kayla's grandma bought these cute little crowns for Brynlee, Ethan, and Sydney.  They were thrilled and Ethan especially loved to dance in it.