Birthday, T Ball, and Hike

I seem to be having trouble posting. Here comes another long one.

Birthday

On June 5 we celebrate Carson's 4th birthday. It doesn't seem fair that he is 4. I am VERY glad that we are done with the 3's. The only thing he wanted for his birthday was a soccer ball cake, so that is what he got (along with a few other things). He is sure growing into a fun little boy. He is fun loving, very smart, and loving to his brothers. He has some new knowledge. He informed me that when he goes under the water in the bath tub that it is called immersion, that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by a man named John, and that beetles are just nice spiders. He hates red ants and flies. He loves to weed the garden. We love him so much. When Nate talks about him, he calls him "my Carson".

There are no pictures of Carson with his cake because while I was getting ready, him and Nate licked a lot of the frosting off the cake...That is what I get for being so unreasonable and wearing make up.

T-Ball

It is official...we have started our running. Carson played t-ball this year. I would not say that he loved it. By the last game he liked it. He did not like playing in the field. In fact, I got to stand by him a lot and when I wasn't standing by him, his coach was carrying his glove. He did like hitting. Running the bases...what to say about that...he passed the kids in front of him, ran more than one base, and my moment of glory...I got to run around them with him a time or two...the things I get to do as a mother...As much as I had to coax Carson, Nate was on the sideline crying because he wanted a turn. Next year...The best part of the season for Carson was being on a team with a team shirt, having a coach (who he still sees and calls coach), and earning a medal.

Our Annual Hike

My hiking husband and our little family started doing this little hike when Carson was just barely 2 and Nate was a tiny baby in a front pack. We drive our car to the mountains where the road is closed and hike about 3 miles (on the road) back to a lake called Lake Cleveland. It is a small mountain lake, but early in the spring there is still snow and some run off roaring down the mountain. The kids love the hike in. It is full of drinks and snacks, but the way out is not so fun. They are always tired a need naps. Carson walked the whole 6 mile loop this year. Plus he was our little snow explorer. Nate did the whole way in, but Robbie put him in the back pack on the way out. We had to hurry because a storm was coming. Logan was in the front pack. The kids loved throwing rocks into the water, putting food out for the chipmunks, and exploring around the lake. On the way out, we had to do a little distraction method. Carson was getting tired so we were counting to 100 and singing "the ants go marching" the whole way out. The kids are still talking about it. I am hoping that next year I won't be pregnant or carrying a baby in the front pack...so far I am yet to be with out either of those things...We'll see!

Easter, Move, and Baby Blessing...

Easter

Well, it seems like the Easter updates have long since passed, but not for this blogger. Our life has be nothing short of crazy latetly. Our Easter was spent with 2 little boys throwing up. It started Friday night and went on until Saturday at noon. We did make it to Grandpa Bob's famous easter egg hunt just in time. Then it began again as soon as we got home and lasted half of Easter Sunday. No fun parties for us. Being the procrastinator that I am, we stopped at Walmart on our way out of IF and got some easter goodies. We colored eggs on Sunday night. Good thing that our bunny doesn't hide the dyed easter eggs.

Their Easter clothes worn not on Easter sunday...actually this was taken last sunday. Cute boys!A normal moment of love for Logan. One pulling on his arm, one on his head, both yelling "Cheese"

The Move

We moved into our new house the last weekend in April. Who knew we had accumulated so much stuff...not important things...stuff! AHH! We love our new house, and it is seeming more like home the longer we are here. It is nice to know that we will probably never move again! YEA!!! We all love it here...Robbie loves the BIG jetted tub, I love the kitchen with a keyed lock on the pantry...YEA! (where I spend most of my time...good food is very important to us), and Carson and Nate love the dirt yard. The dislikes are...none from Robbie, Nathan, or me, but Carson says that he likes the other house better because this house just has white toilets...he likes the blue, green, and yellow ones we used to have.

The first night we stayed here, we got the boys in bed. Then we heard little feet coming to our room. It was Carson, of course. He just wanted to know if our bath tub had hot water. We told him it did. Yesssss he said and went back to bed. Then we heard his little feet again. This time he wanted to know if we had to move back to Arlene's house. We told him no. Yessss again. It was cute.

The Blessing

We blessed little Logan on the Sunday after we moved in...April 30th. All of our family was here that is relatively close by. I think that we counted a little over 50 people. Thank heavens for Robbie's parents' archery range/family gathering spot. It was nice to have everyone together. The parents visited and the kids made forts out of the targets and a few sword fights with arows took place...a little scary. Robbie did such a great job with the blessing.

As my dad was getting ready to leave...we'd only been in our house 2 nights, Nathan said, "Grandpa, you build this house for me?" My dad said yes. Nathan said, "Thank you! Thank you!" It was so cute. You could tell he really was thankful. I am thankful too. I am a lucky girl to have such a selfless dad and brother to take a good 9 months away from their families and build us this home.

We are finally getting life back to normal (what ever that is) just in time for the summer to begin. We can't wait. We will have lots of hiking, camping, and visiting friends and family! Yea!Carson is starting T-ball. That should be fun. So there is a lot to look forward to!

Please notice the measuring tape Carson had to hold.

Logan has a cute little curl on top of his head. It is so cute. I hope that this is a sign of curley hair to come. I loved this hat that came with his outfit. It made his cute little face stand out. He also wore booties and used a blanket that my Grandma Johnson made.

Here Logan is 3 months old. He is so bright eyed and good natured. We are getting lots of sleep these days (at least a good 7-8 hours). A friend told me that Heavenly Father is no dummy. He knows he has to send you a good baby on your third. If he sends you a bad one, he knows you're done. If it is a good one, there is a possibility for a fourth. Well, he is my best so far. It they all come this good, there will be a fourth, fifith, sixth...the possibilities are endless!

2 hours in the life of a mother...

Yesterday, Logan was 6 weeks old. That was the fastest 6 weeks ever. I always have said that the crazies of adjusting to a new baby hit rock bottom at 6 weeks. When I had Nate, Carson hit him all over his face with a metal spatula leaving about 15 welts, so I should have expected this.

Robbie did not think he had to be to church as early as normal since it was the 5th Sunday. When the kids woke up, I was still so tired, so Robbie got up with them. He realized that he did have to be to church at the normal time, so he got in the shower. I woke up to him, in a towel, telling the big boys that they were in big trouble and taking there jammies off for a bath. This is not a good combo...They had got out my bucket of flour and a bunch of cooking stuff and spread half a bucket of flour all over my kitchen. They "were just playing 'tasty treats'". Spilled flour just grows. It is still not all cleaned up.

So, while I was cleaning up flour, Robbie left for church. Then I got all the boys clothes ready. All except for Carson's shirt. It was nowhere to be found. I looked for 45 min. Robbie went to meetings and came home. He couldn't find it either. I ended up thinking liked my 3 year old and found it in the back corner of our lazy susan cupboard. Ahhh. At this point it was 1 hour till church.

Robbie had to leave in 30 min, so I decided to get myself bathed and ready while he dressed the boys. I am enjoying 5 minutes of peace when Robbie comes in with Nate. His new shirt and tie are covered in black. Robbie said it was marker. Turned out be waterproof mascara. He got my old one out of the garbage. I jumped out and got dressed and used half of my eye makeup remover to clean his shirt and tie.

Logan needed a bath too. It had been a few days. I got him bathed and was dressing him when Robbie asked me a question. I looked up for a split second before fastening his diaper, when I felt a warmth all over my arm and my stomach. Pee. Yep. Pee. Then Robbie left.

I now had 2 boys with shoes on that thought they needed to go outside every second, had to get myself ready, comb 2 boys hair and get the church bag ready. I gathered my big boys in the house, gave them a snack, did my things I had to get done and thought I'd be on time. Nope. Logan did a giant poop just as we were ready to go to church. AAHHH!

We made it to church about 7 minutes late. It was a miracle we made it at all. We had minimal meltdowns there, except that Carson wanted to "talk in that big microphone and give a prayer". That was not going to happen. I was not feeling like sharing my testimony yesterday. Maybe I should have to help me realize that I am blessed.

My cute grandma told me that some day I will be older, my kids will be gone, and I will have a clean house to sit in (I am sure some peace and quiet too), and that I will sit and dream of yesteryear when I had these busy little people to look after and messes to clean. Maybe she is right. No, I know she is right. It is a good thing that tomorrow comes to help me appreciate the crazy and funny things of yesterday. I think we hit rock bottom for 2 hours...we should be on our way up from here!

Nate is 2...

Nate turned to about 3 weeks ago on March 4. I am just getting around to posting his pictures. A new baby will do that to you. I am such a procrastinator...I had to take a CPR class to be able to renew my dental hygiene lisence before April 1, and the only class offered was, of course, March 4. SO, Nate got to play in the dirt all afternoon. What more could a boy want? Then on March 5, we had a party. Some cousins came over and grandpa's and grandma's for supper. Then we had cake. All Nate wanted was a "BYU football game" cake, so that is what he got. Can you say brainwashed? Having 2 boys so close together is fun because when one has a birthday, they both are so excited. Carson was so funny as Nate opened his presents. He realized that he got to play with everything that Nate got.

He is such a sweet little boy. He is so gentle and kind by nature. He is very loving. Being 2 has brought a few changes in him. He now stands up to Carson when he takes things and is mean. He is scared of dinosaurs, but wants to be one and gobble everyone up. He has definately found his voice...sining jingle bells during the sacrament, telling Carson to "go to time out right now" (wonder where he heard that), playing with Grandpa Bob. He still is sucking his thumb and carrying his blankey everywhere. He is our little Linus. I really have a hard time remembering life before he came along. He is such a good natured little boy. He is so easy to love, and we do love him so much!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, Thank you!

Carson pooped his screw out today. He was very excited. Right after I found it, he said, "I have to call my dad and tell him! (looking up) Thank you, Heavenly Father, thank you!" I am glad he had this experience to teach him about having prayers answered, but I am afraid of the situations that he will want to share it in...like primary and testimony meeting...but, we really are so thankful!

What goes in must come out...

I was going to post the pictures from Nathan's birthday, but something a bit more interesting happened yesterday...I was trying to be a good mommy and make a cd of all the songs for the primary program so that we could listen to them and remember them. Nate and Carson were downstairs playing when Carson came running up the stairs screaming like I have never heard him scream.

Carson: AAAHHHH!!! My mouth! That sharp screw is hurting my mouth!
Me: What sharp screw? Spit it out.
Carson: That sharp screw is poking my mouth! That sharp screw that Grandpa used to put my train table together...it is poking my mouth!
Me: (I do not see a sharp screw in his mouth) Where is the sharp screw? Did you swallow it?
Carson: (hysterical) No.
Me. Did you swallow it?
Carson: NO
Me: Carson, tell the truth...DID YOU SWALLOW THE SHARP SCREW?
Carson: (still hysterical and now having a complete melt down/freak out) YES, it is scratching my throat and going into my tummy!
Me: (semi worried) I will call Grandpa Wayment...

Conclusion: Keith said that it should pass just fine. He's seen pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, nails, open safety pins, and yes, screws pass just fine. There is a risk of it sticking in his appendix and then he'd need that removed. In the mean time, it is my job to make sure it comes out. SO, I am so lucky to get to sort through his poo every time he goes. I did have Robbie bring home some gloves from the office so that I don't have to use my bare hands. Sick. Plus, have you ever heard someone pray for someone else to poop a screw out. It is pretty funny. I am sure that this is not the last foreign object injested that we will deal with...for heaven's sake, we have 3 boys. I am sure it is bound to happen again. His little throat is scratchy and sore. I hope it doesn't hurt as bad coming out as it did going in!

2 weeks old and still adjusting

Logan is 2 weeks old now. He is such a sweet little baby. I love having a new baby in our home. It helps me to realize that heaven is close by. The first week was a little rough with our whole family being sick, but we have bounced back and things are getting back to normal.


We have had a lot of visitors. The most unexpected was my Grandma Johnson (my mom's mom). My uncle Jack brought her over. It was so neat to hear her perspective on raising boys and to see her loving mine. If I can be half the mother that she is, I will consider myself a very successful mother.
A new baby has not come with out any hick ups in our little family. Nathan has sucked his thumb more in the last 2 weeks than he has in a long time. Carson has been a little naughty. The other day Robbie was gone home teaching. Carson had taken one of my dad's construction pencils and colored all over one of our tables. We had already talked about doing this the day before (it happened then too). I was not happy about this. I told him since he wasn't nice to my things that I wouldn't be nice to his. I gathered up all is cars from the movie Cars and put them in a garbage sack. Then I took them to the garbage (actually put them in a bag on the front step). He cried and cried. I might be a mean mom, but I got my point across. He did get them back the next day. We've had a few little things like that happen, but for them most part it has been fine.
A look at the little bath tub buddies. My favorite part of the day is in the morning. I wake up to 3 little boys in bed with me...all wanting to snuggle. Then after Robbie heads for work, it is bath time. Nothing is cuter than clean kids wrapped in towels.

This is what rolls on a 9+lbs baby look like at 2 weeks. So cute!