Any given Sunday..

We love Sunday afternoons. We love naps. We love our kids taking naps. We love visiting Grandpa and Grandma. We love when Grandpa makes popcorn. We especially love when cousins come over too. 

A couple of weeks ago, we took a break and had a game afternoon. It was so fun just to play and laugh and talk. We love Cootie. We love the snake game. Logan LOVES the "balls...balls...balls...". This is also known as Hungry Hungry Hippos. We love laughing and seeing this mom lose badly at Cootie. I didn't even get a body and both boys had their bugs built.

I love Sundays. I love doing fun things with our kids. I love spending mostly uninterrupted time with my family. I can't wait for just a few more Sundays when our sweet new baby is here to add even more fun to our family!

Fall soccer comes to an end

We just finished fall soccer and the improvement Carson made since the spring was amazing. I think the last thing I wrote about soccer was that he had made a goal in the wrong net. Well, this fall, he scored a few times (still being one of the youngest on his team) in the right net!

After the season, I went to the coach to thank him. He said how funny Carson was and that he wanted a drink more than any kid on the team. Every time up and down the field he'd ask if it was time for water. He gets this from me...I felt like this during high school basketball. Before the last game I told him if he scored a goal  that he could have a chocolate milk shake from Maverik (Rupert's finest treat stop). Well, he did it. He did such a good job. Then he ran to his coach and said, "Coach, I've gotta go. I 've gotta go get my chocolate milk shake." That cracked me up. He meant right now. Well, he stuck out the rest of the game and did a great job.

 I am proud of the little boy he is growing into. He was always cheering for his team and high-fiving them. He did chase his favorite little girlfriend around quite a bit. Before the last game, I asked if he was sad that soccer was ending. He told me, "NO WAY! All that running makes my legs tired." I agree. It would make mine tired too.

A weekend away...

So back in the early spring, Robbie and I got 4 tickets to the Lion King. We were so excited. We gave 2 to my dad and Marsha for their birthdays. Two days after Logan's tubes, we packed our suit cases and took our kids to Twin Falls to stay with Scott and Heather and their 5 kids. That means for 2 days, they had 8 kids at their house. They were so great to watch them. We hadn't left the kids since before Logan was born. We were LONG over due.

We had a little shopping trip, stayed in the hotel, and the most monumental thing...according to Robbie...ate at the Red Iguana Mexican Restaurant. It was so good. For me, the show was the best part...for him, I really think it was the good Mexican food. It was so fun to be together. I was shocked when I had to go to the bathroom and didn't have to wait for anyone to go, wipe any extra bums, or wash any extra hands. But, I did miss those funny little boys.

The Lion King was amazing. It brought tears to my eyes...again...just like when I saw it in New York. I loved being able to experience it with my husband on one side and my dad on the other. When we gave my dad the tickets, he wasn't too thrilled. Marsha was. He wasn't. After it was over with, they LOVED it and were so thankful that we took them.

 It would have been nice if my dad could have kept his eyes open for one picture...this is one of 5 where his eyes were closed...Thanks dad.

Probably my favorite song from the show is He Lives in You. I love that. I couldn't help but think of my mom and the legacy that she has left behind her. I hope that I never forget who I am and where I came from. There are some people that have sacrifices so much for me to be where I am today. I did not really understand this until I had my own kids and realized that I would give about anything for their happiness. The great circle of life really is a miracle.

Surgery...round 2

This has been a crazy year of sick kids. Nate had his tonsils out in March and after a summer of ear infections, little Logan had to have tubes put in his ears. So on September 15, we took him to the hospital.

 We checked in and had to wait in the waiting room. We'd been to Carson's soccer game the night before and so Logan thought that a soccer game with his bouncy ball would be a good idea.

 Checking his oxygen and pulse. He was very good and cooperative. He is pretty shy, so I was expecting a lot of tears.

 It did help that this car was in the room with us. Logan climbed ALL over this thing. He especially liked being on top. Robbie made the comment that he hoped they wouldn't have to do stitches while he was out. He was being CRAZY!

 Off he went down the hall with the nurse anesthetist. There were not really any tears and in 8 minutes his tubes were done. He had a hard time coming out of anesthesia. He cried. A lot.  I felt bad. There was really no consoling until we got home. Then it was into the bath tub. That cheered him up and ...

 Cheese balls!!! What more does a recovering baby need? He was happy as can be.

 We went back a week later for his post op appointment. His tubes looked good and so far, our problems with his ears have been solved. He is talking a lot more. He says everything now. He has been our slowest talker so I can't help but wonder if he couldn't hear as well. Anyway, at the appointment, our doctor who doesn't say much, went to look in his ears and said, "Oh Logan, you are cute..." Coming from this man of few words, this means a lot. He is cute. We are glad that his funny little personality can shine now and that he is not on antibiotics ALL the time. His new favorite things to say are no way, nice (the exact tone and fluctuation that his dad uses), Susie (the neighbor dog), NATE (for both boys), and Mommy (with they emphasis on the Y...reminds me of Carson at this age). He really is just a little parrot. We love little Logan and are glad to have him feeling good!

I am glad we are done with surgeries for the year...knock on wood. It is a little stressful for this mother when they take my little babies down that hall for anesthesia. All I can think of is the small risk that they might not wake up. It freaks me out. Good thing I have a calm husband who helps keep my mind at ease. Now on to the next big medical thing...welcoming our new baby! That doesn't seem so scary!

Nate's New Trick

So, I went to pick up my kids from preschool the other day. The teacher says, "I am so glad you got out of your car today. I have to tell you what Nate did." Oh...my cute little Nate. This is going to be good. He is a little shy and not the center of attention too much. "He said to me, 'Teacher, want to see my new trick.'" What trick could this be? I was stumped. Then he turned around a shook his cute little bum at his teacher! Good thing that she has a good sense of humor!

What am I going to do with him? And the rest of these boys for that matter? He is my calm one. At the football game, we sat by a teacher that works at the school the kids will go to. Each grade only has 2 classes with about 20 students each. She said to me, "I can't wait to go to school on Monday and tell the kindergarten teacher what we have to look forward to in the next few years. Your little boys are so smart and FUNNY!" I guess I'd rather them have a little personality then sit with their arms folded every day, right?

Oregon Part 2

SO, back to our Oregon trip. After such a fun day at the beach, we headed home for yummy Thai food for Shelley's birthday. Then, the next day was Jeremy's farewell. it was so neat to hear him speak. He did such a good job. I don't remember being that spiritual at age 19...I guess I got my wake up call a year later when my mom got diagnosed. We all have to learn our own way. He is going to do great in Chile.

On Monday, we went back to the coast. I wish we would have had 2 weeks to spent. A few days was definitely not enough. I guess we'll just have to go back. We went down to Lincoln City and another place that I can't remember the name. Some day I might get my memory back. We headed to the aquarium there. The boys really liked it, especially Logan. He was running from tank to tank saying, "Pish. Pish. Pish." They had a neat little touching pool with anemones starfish, sea cucumbers...stuff like that. My big boys are such chickens! They wouldn't touch anything. They are so funny...so rough and rowdy, yet such big chickens. Carson wanted to see the sharks so bad. He almost had a hard time enjoying anything else because he just wanted to see sharks. Sometime that kid is so persistent...aaahhhh!

After the aquarium, we went to lunch at this yummy sea food place called Mo's. I will say that I don't really LOVE seafood. But, the fish and chips I got were do die for! It was yummy. It was so cute. The boys cups came out with sharks on the straws. That was right  up their ally.

After that it was off  to Lincoln City to see the beach there. The beach was pretty. There were sea lions diving all over. It was neat to see, but it was so windy and cold. Kids it seems are immune to that, but we adults were having a hard time enjoying ourselves. It did not help that my sciatic nerve was KILLING me in my back. I almost couldn't walk by the time we got home. Yikes. Here is Carson, Nate, Logan and me walking along the beach. It was kind of a cove so the water wasn't coming in and out like it did at the other one. There was no wave chasing this day.

So, we left the beach tired and a little sad because of the weather. Robbie's parents were riding with us in the suburban and Robbie said, "Too bad we can't find some good chips and salsa..." Well, that was the bait. Keith took it hook, line, and sinker. We found a yummy Mexican restaurant. Nothing like chips and salsa to lift a Wayment's spirits. Robbie was a proud daddy when he found Logan drinking salsa right  from the bowl. Some day our kids may have some manners, but when it comes to Mexican food, they are crazy! They love the spicy salsa sooooo much. This picture Robbie took on his phone cracks me up. Drinking right from the bowl...

Because we weren't stuffed enough, we stopped and bought salt water taffy. YUM! Then on the way home, Keith treated us to Dairy Queen. I was sick. I could only eat about 4 bites of my blizzard. We ended up having such a fun day together.

After a good nights sleep, we headed home. It was a LONG drive. The kids were so good. We had our nephew Jared with us. He was such a good easy going kid. About a hour outside of Portland is this really pretty waterfall. I have no idea what the name of it is. We stopped there to stretch our legs...and so I didn't pee my pants in the car. I RAN to the bathroom. It was a close call. There is no telling when this little baby is going to push on my bladder. Thanks kid!

Anyway, the waterfall is beautiful. It is like 600 feet. Then there is a little hike you can do to make it up to the top. Robbie took the boys and hiked up the the bridge half way up. Carson, of course, ran ahead and was in such a hurry. He is a busy one. Logan and I stayed down at the ground. He had no shoes so we waited for all the others.

There Carson is running ahead...too busy for a picture

The three boys...I think Jared looks like Robbie could be his dad.

My cute hubby on the bridge

Love these brothers

There Logan and I are...the tiny spec with the even smaller spec on my shoulders next to the stroller spec.

The ride home was great. We dropped Jared off in Meridian, had a very nice dinner with their family. Then it was Rupert or bust! About a half an hour outside Rupert, Logan had finally had it. He cried the rest of the way home. He was just acting how I felt. We were ready to be home.

It was such a fun trip. Brent and Shelley were great hosts. It was so neat to be in their home seeing how they live. I tried my first golden raspberry there. MMMMM!!! They have lived there I think about six years. We had never been to see them. Of couse, for a few of those, we lived half way across America. The kids have still been talking about their trip to Oregon. We will have to go back. Soon.

I love the things they say...

Last Sunday for dinner, Carson's request was homemade chicken noodle soup. He LOVES it. As little Logan was eating he looked at me and said "Noodles...a bunch of gibberish...GOOD." He got his point across. I loved it.

Then last night we had a baked ziti for dinner. Logan was in his chair and he said, "Noodles....? I DOOO!" Meaning who likes noodles? I do! It was funny.

Then on Monday Nate made an astounding observation to him..."Mom," he said, "You are just a big girl." Well, yes I am Nate. It cracked me up. He'd been around his cousins all weekend and I think he realized that I was like the girls. I am the ONLY girl in this house, so this was an important discovery.

Just last I took the boys to Pizza Hut. They LOVE Pizza Hut. Robbie was gone helping Justin with LOTOJA, so I was by myself.  Carson noticed across the restaurant that there was an older couple with a coffee pot on their table. He said...in a not very  quiet voice, " Mom. Mom. Those people have a coffee pitcher on their table." I see that, Carson. "Mom. Mom.They are breaking the commandments. It is following Satan if you drink coffee. Mom following Satan is NOT following Heavenly Father." Carson, Maybe they don't know about Heavenly Father. King Benjamin says we should teach those who don't know about Heavenly Father about him. "Then I am going to go tell them right now." No you aren't...sit down. That boy is funny. We've been reading in the scriptures about King Benjamin, so I knew he would relate. I didn't know that he would really want to act. I should be more like him.

I wish that I could remember more. It is the little things like this that make me love being home with these funny little boys. Every day that they grow bigger and bigger makes me sad. Carson and Nate have promised me that they will always sit on my lap and snuggle me. I hope they remember this when they are 15 and I am the dumbest person in the world to them. No matter what they think of me, one thing they will always know is that no one loves them more than their mother!