I Love Summer

I think the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. And one of my favorite parts is getting to sing the patriotic songs. I don't know how many times we have sung, "Grand Ol' Flag" and "America, the Beautiful" with Logan.

There are lyrics in "America, The Beautiful" that I love:

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!

I'm so thankful that there are men and women who love their country more than themselves, enough to give their lives to protect me, what I love and my freedoms. Thank you.

This year we just did our normal things, but they were still as fun as ever.

But first I have to show off pictures of my two fire crackers... Ok, so Lincoln hasn't lived long enough to become quite the fire cracker that Logan is, but I'm sure it won't be long. :-)

Chowing on a funnel cake and listening to live music at Freedom Days in Provo



Watching fire works with Grandma Kaye. For some reason Logan was scared, but sitting with Grandma Kaye made it all better.


Lincoln was there too.... barely.


Sunday night Ben and Logan camped int he back yard. I think this is the first time Logan's camped in the backyard and he LOVED it. He even had his own little tiny lantern (thanks D.I.!).

Here's Logan "helping' to set up


We even got the campfire going and roasted s'mores with some friends


Sparklers. Not realizing it was hot, Logan branded Ben's leg with the tip of his sparkler. :-)


Finally going to bed. Logan crashed hard.


We woke up at 5 am the next morning to go see the hot air balloon festival. We go to this festival every year and love it. I counted 21 balloons this year.

Smokey the Bear made an appearance with his hot air balloon and Logan was obsessed with him.

The other day Logan asked if he could go inside a fire truck that we passed on the road. I explained that only firefighters get to go in the trucks. Then he said, "I'll get my fire boots and fire hat on and then I can go in the truck."

So when we were at the festival we took Logan over to the fire truck and they actually let some of the kids get in the driver's seat - Logan's dream come true.


After the hot air balloons we met up with some friends at the parade.
Meet Alex Lanier.
A VERY patient 9 year old who loves kids. Logan adores him and got to sit with all the Lanier kids at the parade. He had a blast hanging out with the older kids.


Me, Lincoln and Angela


The kiddos

Happy Independence Day! Hope you all had a great and tiring weekend too. Now it's time to recover.

Late Night

I got a lot done today. Wahoo!

I LOVE that feeling of freedom at the end of the day when you know you've checked so many things off of your to-do list that have been hovering for way too long. It's a blissful feeling, isn't it?

That's why I stay up late ( most nights)... so I can be uber productive and check things off my list. Then I can actually play with Logan during the day instead of trying to get things done and being 50% effective. It feels great.

The best part about today is that it was balanced. There was time for exercise, time for playing with Logan, time for snuggling and feeding Linc, time for meals, time for cleaning, time for Primary calls and errands, time for family, time for scripture study, time for Ben and even time for snow cones. Oh and time for So You Think You Can Dance. I love that show.

Balanced days are even better than productive days. Now if only every day could be this great...

Now I'm off to have toast with freezer strawberry jam. Is it in keeping with my current diet? No. Do I care? Slightly. But I just can't stand the temptation any longer. :-)

There's a Snake in My Boot

Anyone who knows Logan knows he is a cowboy at heart and is obsessed with Woody. I can tell Logan is running through the house when I hear the high-pitched "clank, clank-clank, clankity-clank" of Woody's boots hitting together as Logan carries him by his head.

So last Friday we took Logan to his first movie to see...

First we ate dinner at the mall.

Here's Logan before the movie dressed as, of course, a cowboy.

Woody had to come along too.

We loved the movie (did anyone else find the ending heart-wrenching?) and Logan did SO good in the theater (phew)! He sat the entire time, completely entertained by the movie. Yeehaw.

New Miscellaneous Photos...

...are appearing on my camera.


Any idea who's responsible?

Someone needs to tell Logan that rule #1 of sneakiness is to leave no evidence (i.e. Woody socks). Nice try, pardner.

Thomas

At the end of May, Thomas the Tank engine came to the Heber Valley Railroad for "A Day Out with Thomas." We took Logan because he LOVES Thomas and it was like Christmas morning all over again! I'll admit, though, even I was a little giddy and excited.

Before the ride

Life-sized Thomas. What could be better?


Lincoln and I tagged along too.
Apparently the girl taking the photo didn't realize that we actually wanted ALL of Thomas (the main attraction) in the picture too :-) Oh well.


Ben, why didn't you get a Thomas tattoo on your cheek too? You know you wanted one...

They had all sorts of games and activities for the kids to do before and after the train ride, like tattoos, picture taking with Sir Topham Hat, movies, miniature golf, coloring, stamping, puzzles, and (of course) train building. Dad and Logan on the train. Linc and I stayed behind for the 20 minute train ride.


More train (they're in the second window).


Anxiously waiting.

Worn out after 2 hours of pure joy and excitement.

Linc n' Beans

...the endearing name that Logan has given to Lincoln. Almost like pork n' beans, but not quite.

Ben: "What's your brother's name?"
Logan: "Lincoln."
Ben: "What's his full name?"
Logan: "Lincoln Beans."
Alrighty.

Here is some catch up of Lincoln's life at home so far:

*He's already 6 weeks old!
*He's been a good baby thus far and pretty content.
*His eating isn't the greatest, but doesn't take nearly as long as Logan, so I'll take it.
*He likes bath time and doesn't cry during diaper or clothes changes.
*He is a grunt factory. He is always grunting and moaning and is a noisy eater.
*He's been sleeping about 6 hours most nights for a couple weeks now (horray!). I can function on that so I'm a happy Mama.
*He has started cooing more and more.

Life with 2 has definitely been an adjustment but I absolutely love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. And I think I'm finally getting the hang of it nowa days. Getting around town takes more time, but I still manage it. My memory is worse than ever before, but oh well. Please take no offense if all of a sudden I can't remember your name. :-)

His first bath at 1 week old

Our first family walk at 1 1/2 weeks). Complete with Woody (who must be strapped in, of course) and furry Abby (in the background). It was bright so Logan was trying to keep his eyes open.


Lots of Nana time



and lots of Marmie time.



Soaking up the snuggle time. Next time I blink he will be off and running, refusing anything close to a snuggle.



Linc started smiling a couple weeks ago at 4 weeks. Finally a little reward. He smiles most right after a feeding when he's content and ready for play time. I have yet to get a great pic of his smile, but these will work for now.



His neck is getting strong and he holds up his head pretty well now. He's already out of the floppy, new born, sack-o-beans stage. :-(



Story time with Logan. He loves to read to his baby brother and sing him songs (I am a Child of God) when he's crying. So sweet.



Naked hugs. Logan loves to give naked hugs at night when he's changing into jammies, and Lincoln, of course, needs them too.



Holding hands. You can see how happy Linc is about it.



Everyone needs a monkey. Monk is Logan's most prized possession and I'm so proud of him for sharing it with his brother.

I heart boys...

...especially MY boys.

Yep, these boys.

NOT these boys...

I love my boys, especially when they have a bad case of fuzzy head.
(See any resemblance?)

...and when they have no fear of getting wet.

...and when they eat cookies, but leave some to share with others.

(this is what you get when you leave pink cookies with sprinkles on the table over night and your toddler wakes up at 5:30 am)

...and when they love to snuggle with Mom

...and especially when Logan's proud to be a big brother

...and even when they work on each other with wrenches (and an assortment of other mini tools)

I love them when they ride awesome bikes

...and when they get their diapers changed together (hopefully that will change soon)

...and when the most exciting part of their day consists of eating a huge doughnut


...and especially when they know how to automatically pose for a super hero shot.
(Thanks for the awesome costume Marmie.)

Who needs bows, lace and ruffles when you have Superman? ;-)