Mom and Me

I totally stole this idea from a friend of mine. So Sarah, if you're reading, thanks for the idea.
I had been thinking of something that I could do with each of my kids individually before our baby comes. Just kind of a special one on one time with each of them before our household completely changes. Cause lets face it, babies get all the priority, all the new gifts, all the attention for the first little while.
So after stealing this idea from my friend's blog, we went for it. I had each kid write down something that they wanted that started with each letter of their name. The rules were: only one candy item and one of the items had to be a healthy snack. So one at a time, I took the kids to the store and let them choose to their little heart's content. I did put a price limit on the adventure and steered them away from completely ridiculous things that I wouldn't even get them for Christmas. It was a fun time with each kid and they were confused, but thrilled, that Mom was letting them pick out stuff at the store like it was a free for all. Yes, I basically wrote David's for him, but he's not complaining with the results.


DAVID - Dart Gun, Animal, Vegetable, Ice Cream, and DVD rental from red box.


NATHAN - Neccos (candies) Animal, T-Shirt, Hat, Apples, Nerf Gun

ANDREW - Animal, Nerf Gun, DVD, Ring Pop, Eye Wear (sunglasses) and Watermelon.

Happy Birthday, Bean!

Greg has nicknamed each of our children minutes after they arrive into the world and six years ago he took one look at Nathan and he became our little Bean. Beanie, Bean Bag, Beaners, etc. Fortunately he still allows me to call him that, though I am making a conscious effort to not do it in public. I have vivid memories of my own painfully embarrassing nick name being called out to me as a child in which I consequently felt like I wanted to sink through the floor. Anyway, our NATHAN ASHBY WILDING turned six yesterday and here's the rundown:


New Lego Star Wars kits and a slip n' slide were his most repeated requests for birthday gifts. And since slip n slides never last more than one summer in our family, we were happy to oblige. They always tear or spring an unrepairable leak. Boys to rough on them?

And lunch at Pirate Island Pizza with a friend of choice, Spencer!






Try as I might, David would not spare one second from his arcade pleasures to grace me with a smile at Pirate Island.


Despite there being only 5 candles on the cake, he did turn 6 this year. And now it's off to first grade in just a few short weeks!

We set up the slip n slide later in the afternoon while we watched big black clouds roll in. We ended up getting rained on while we enjoyed the slip n slide. Oh well. Wet is wet...

And we rounded off the day by doing left over Fourth of July sparklers in pajamas in the driveway.


Happy Birthday, Nathan! We love you so much!

It's Great to be 8!

I don't know if all parents have a little freak out moment when their oldest child turns 8 and is ready for baptism, but I did. Andrew turned 8 on Saturday and was able to be baptized on his actual birthday. With him being our oldest and being the first one baptized, it really made me stop and reflect a lot. We have been having lots of home evening lessons and family talks the last few months about the Baptismal Covenant and this important step. It was a great reminder for me to stop and reflect about the importance of the Gospel in my life. I often feel so inadequate as a parent. I really do. I feel like I'm not doing enough to prepare my kids for this very challenging life. But Andrew's baptism was so beautiful and special, I was just overcome with a very peaceful feeling. And Greg's blessing during his confirmation was so touching to me, even though I wasn't the one receiving it. Anyway, it was a great day and Andrew was so happy all day long.

Signing his baptism certificate.

Brand new suit he was confirmed in.


We got his birthday celebrations rolling the day before. This is an "off year" for friend parties, but I did allow him to choose one buddy to take to the movies. He chose his pal, Brevin, and we went and saw Cars 2. I am the BIGGEST Pixar fan. I have loved everything they've ever done. That being said, I was a little disappointed in Cars 2. The plot was too complicated for my kids. Nathan kept asking me when it would be over and being super fidgety. David had absolutely ZERO interest after the first 20 minutes. Dialogue was too "adult." Plot was too "adult." It was fun and flashy and exciting, but overall, I didn't care for it as much as the first Cars. But I hope Andrew had fun bringing a friend to the show. Treats were good, anyway.
After the show, we went shopping and got things ready for the birthday the next day. Greg's family was having a family reunion up Spanish Fork canyon and he took the boys up to the campsite to visit while I stayed home. My parents came into town and we went out to dinner with my brother.
After Andrew's baptism we had lunch back at our house catered by Jimmy Johns (a family favorite). We then had presents and cake. My friend Amber is a super talented cake maker and I had asked her a few months ago if she could come up with something for Andrew's birthday. And since Andrew is a Star Wars freak, she made the coolest Star Wars cake for him. David got to it and bit off some important parts while we were not looking, but not before we snapped some pictures. So no real harm done. Andrew got a new bike from Greg and me. He has outgrown his old one so we got him a bigger size. I'll be honest, he doesn't love it. It's a lot bigger and heavier than his old bike and it's hard to ride it up our street on the hill. But he'll get used to it and grow into it, we hope. My parents got him his own set of scriptures with his name embossed on the books and a carrying case with his name on the front. He was pretty excited about those, even more than the bike. He loves carrying them around and I've found him several times by himself looking through them and reading them by himself already. Warms my heart.





After birthday celebrations my parents entertained themselves while Greg, the boys, and I went up to the family reunion still going on up the mountain. All three kids succeeded in getting the filthiest I have ever seen them. But that's the joy of tromping around in the mountains when you're a young boy, right? I couldn't even stand to touch any of them, they were so gross.

We went to a Salt Lake Bees game on the Fourth of July. Mom, Dad and Uncle Paul came with us and we had a nice time. Bees narrowly won, and there was an amazing fireworks show after the game. It was very impressive and the boys were subdued into silence as they watched the show. So loud! with patriotic songs choreographed to go along with the fireworks. Pretty fun night.
But I'm exhausted and trying to play catch up with sleep now.

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime?

When all the world is HOT? And your mom is really pregnant and doesn't want to do anything?

You read endless library books. Even better when the boys read them to each other.

You camp out in the backyard in the new tent with your dad because mom had to go in around midnight cause it was just too miserable, even with an air mattress. Really blurry photo...

You sell lemonade to the neighbor girls who first charged you to buy a stuffed animal off their table. Then you make more than what you spent on the stuffed animal because those girls were just so thirsty. Capitalism at its best..


You wash the car in your underwear.

You invite your best buds over and get soaking wet in the sprinkler. (Cheap thrills)






HAPPY SUMMER!!

Just some pictures...

We've had a busy past few days.

We attended the sealing of Greg's beautiful cousin, Michelle, in the Salt Lake Temple. She is the last of her siblings to get married. Aren't they all so gorgeous?

9 years ago Greg and I stood under this very tree for our own wedding pictures. Just try and look past the enormous belly and pretend I have a lovely wedding dress on, too.

Later that same day, Greg and I (and my bro Paul) went to Les Miserables at Capitol Theater in Salt Lake. Again, try and forget about the enormous belly. Thanks Mom and Dad for doing baby sitting duty ALL day.

Greg recently had to work a really long day at work, a double shift, so the boys and I were looking for something to do. We headed up to Salt Lake and spent a couple hours at Liberty Park. They have a small little amusement park area and we took a couple rides.




Liberty park also has this GREAT little water wading area. There are little streams of flowing water running down this little hill converging at a bigger pool at the bottom. It's mostly just meant to walk around and get your feet wet, but that rarely happens. My boys love it so much.




Then we went over to the Hogle Zoo. I didn't take many pictures. But here's a nice one with the mama Elephant and her baby. And the boys.

This morning we went to the Grand Parade in Springville celebrating "Art City Days."

Waving at the Firemen.

David and this nice elderly gentlemen became fast friends and he spent the whole parade talking to him and discussing every thing that came by. No idea who the man was, but he was friendly and really got a kick out of David.

And we were thrilled to see our pal Cosmo do a back flip on top of the van. Go Cougs!