The greats

It must be quite puzzling to kids to understand family relationships--aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, great-grandparents, etc.  Our kids love visiting Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa when they visit Grandpa and Grandma Beckstrand's house.  Perhaps it's that they love having a captive audience? This past visit, my parents weren't home and they spent some quality time with them.  It was so tender for me as I love them both.  They are aging and it's hard to watch because I love them so much.

We never leave without putting on a brief performance of some kind.

Aunt Jenn came to visit and stayed with us for one night.  Lyla got to meet her for the first time and was quite a fan!

The 'great' sickness where everyone had a cough/cold...not so 'great'.

It makes for some pretty good cuddle time though.

Party people

I joke with my family that I am the "party planning committee" and this is strictly because I love parties!    

We had a party for Aunt Michelle's birthday and invited the Merrills to join us for pie.  Ethan and Sydney were eager to help her blow out her candles.

Ethan and Sydney have waited for a week for their pizza party to practice for the Primary Program at church.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I have waited for this moment for so many years.  I remember anticipating that "someday" I'd be lucky enough to have kids and that they would be up on the stand.  They sing their hearts out and I'm known as "Ethan and Sydney's mom" to the kids at church.  They are so popular and so fun-loving.  They were quite puzzled that we would be leaving them there on a Friday afternoon and not be staying.  Sydney was a little emotional about that.  It was sweet.

The next day came Doug's favorite party--the Utes vs BYU Cougars football rivalry game.  We decided to host his family party with the game start time of 7 pm being Ethan and Sydney's bedtime.  They were so excited to have cousins over.  We let them stay up until half time with us and enjoy snacks and treats.

Monday, Ethan and Sydney threw a little "party" of their own.  The loaded our large Luv Sac with anything and everything.  When I asked what they were doing, they proudly announced that they were "going on a mission" as if it was obvious and were surprised I couldn't tell.

We have a party in the car most of the time and Ethan must have licked this googley-eye and put it on his forehead.  He cracks me up.

Zoo distraction

I thought this Hoogle Zoo was for the kids (and to get Grandma out of her house for a little surprise birthday party).  I was wrong.  We got the treat of seeing the polar bear doing her daily 'exercises'.  The zookeeper told us that she does this everyday--the same thing--for 30 minutes.  It was amazing to watch. 

I think we were parked here for 30 minutes.  It was completely amazing.

We arrived back at Grandma's house to Tonya, Eric, Nikki, and Kyle who had delivered a couch for her 70th birthday.  We had a little pizza party and had a great time.  She was very surprised.

Lately

Doug's temporary license arrived and started back working, this time 30-hours per week.

We've added more layers to our dress up attire.

We've started going to the library again.

Ethan and Sydney have discovered "dev-ories".  As much as I like a good mess, I found Ethan and Sydney using a frying pan still out from our brunch up the canyon on a couch in our garage.  The found a shovel and a small hand shovel in the garage to dig up dirt, grass, leaves, and any other 'treasure' and they turned on the hose to make a mud creation.  They insist that the correct term for this creation is a devorie.  They LOVE it and I am not collecting things so they can make these treasures without my kitchen utensils--many of which have mysteriously gone missing...

Lyla is as smiley as any baby.  Pleasant and happy.  She has her fare share of upset stomach and I have been fond of a homeopathic remedy that seems to help and keep this smile on her face, at least more frequently.

Go Utes!

We love the Utes Football games and have been excited for this season to start.  Doug found some discounted tickets and took Ethan and Sydney to the game with Grandma Marchant.  Lyla and I hung out at home--in Ute attire, of course.  I decided a newborn at a game with screaming fans wouldn't go well.  Aunt Michelle came over for a brief visit while they were gone.  

Doug had a great time with the kids.  The only bummer: Ethan was hot so Doug took off his shirt = sunburn.

Go Utes!!

Labor Day week

Doug and I experienced holidays so different as children.  My family would often use it as an extra "work" day to get things done around the house.  I'm sure we did fun things, but I don't really remember it.  Doug's family spent most holidays in the mountains.  This has been a difficult 'blend' for us.  I always want to get things done and Doug wants to play!  We end up with a healthy balance of both most of the time.  We had a great time up the canyon for a brunch.  It was difficult getting there on time with 3 littles and had to stop at the base of the canyon for a bathroom break.  Everyone patiently waited for us.  Lyla had lots of volunteers to hold her and keep her warm!  It was pretty chilly.

We took a walk around the lake and Ethan and Sydney thought it would be fun to climb this rockface with cousins and Aunt Tonya and Uncle Eric.  I could barely watch!  It was a little terrifying.

On Tuesday, while burping Lyla, I had two "mad guys" (aka bad guys) tie me up with a scarf because I am "a witch". I asked them to make a "mad face" and I couldn't help but capture a photo so I don't ever forget how funny they are. They are so terrifying, right?

Wednesday, we went up to swim with grandma Marchant.  We had a fabulous time.

Friday, Grandma Marchant came to watch Ethan and Sydney so Doug and I could join my family in seeing James Taylor in concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We were so excited.  We laughed that my dad thought he had to tell me who James Taylor was--we are big fans of his music.  In preparation for the concert, my family was texting back and forth about what time we should leave and carpool.  Doug and I had a good laugh about his phone displaying a red envelope because of the excessive incoming texts.  He cannot wait to upgrade to a new phone.

The concert was fantastic!  We had a great time.