Last Weekend of Summer Vacation

I can't believe the boys start school tomorrow.  Trae will be getting on the bus and riding off to his first day of  jr high and Jamison will be walking on to be a 4th grader.  Kindergarten is delayed for some reason, and that means Mason will be starting next week.  We need to run tonight, get the last minute school supplies, new shoes for the boys, and they will be set.  I'm so nervous for them, okay, so mainly Trae, but I know he is going to love it.  He will meet so many new friends.  I guess my nervousness stems from the fact that he is getting so big and soon will pull away a little bit more because he will think himself too big.  Seriously, has someone found the no grow potion yet??

We had a great weekend, lounged on the beach, caught some sun, caught some frogs, and dug big sand holes/ "hot tubs".  In the evening we would sit around the campfire with our friends and roast marshmallows.  What could be better than that?   I'm not sure there is anything better than that.  The weekend makes me sad that summer is ending and there will be so little time to do more of these camping trips... not saying we won't because we already have 2 more planned next month, but I suppose I will have to cherish those moments all the more.

Trae, Jamison, Trayson, Mason working in the sand














Mom and Mason building a sand castle

Mason and Jamison next to their big sand tunnel/ person













Mason and a frog that he captured













Wakie, wakie Trae

Daddy burying Mason in the sand.

Summer is coming to an end

I can't believe this summer is coming to an end.  It feels like it should just be beginning.  So much has happened and I'm thinking not enough fun.  I want a do-over!  Yep, we should just do it all over... without my morning sickness of course and without loosing Ellie.  I could not do a do-over on either of those things.  Instead, I suppose we will keep looking forward, as well as just enjoying the present.

Trae on the 1st Roy Lacrosse float in the parade

Mason & Jamison floating around in Nana's pool

Mason learned how to ride a two-wheeler!!  He refused
to learn on his new bike, but instead wanted to learn on
Jamison's old bike... I guess whatever works!  Yayee!

And lastly, here is the newest scan of our little guy...
YES, GUY!
So much for our hopes for a little girl, but we'll take him.

The loss of Ellie

Little Ellie El:  December 14th, 2008 - July 27th, 2010
The loss of my little puppy girl Ellie has been so great.  I never knew you could have this kind of love for a pet.  Yes, I've lost cats, but nothing this painful.   I wonder if it is my pregnancy hormones that are making the loss of Ellie so much more, but I'll never know.
There are so many what-if's and why's surrounding her death, I want to be angry, but know deep down that that isn't really fair, so instead I just want to crawl into bed and find her scratching at the bedside waiting for me to invite her up to cuddle close to me.  I listen for her in the mornings, she was always the first one up and I would hear her little paws clicking across the kitchen floor waiting for you to let her out.  She was always the last one to come in at night.  I would get the boys and our other dogs settled for the night and then go retrieve her.  She would always meet me halfway across the yard, where I would pick her up and carry her inside.  I look for her when I come home from an errand and miss how she would get so excited, jumping up and crying to be held.  I miss how she would howl when she was tickled on her tummy.  She was just so happy to be alive and loved.  Her death was just so useless.  I know, I know, she was just a dog, but please tell that to my heart so that it may finally heal.
I am just so thankful that we have had so much support and love shown to us.  Mary and Wess were so wonderful.  They had a little funeral for Ellie and read the boys the Dog Heaven book.  The boys tell me that is where she is, playing with all the angel children and eating cat biscuits.

Another week of summer gone by.  Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my cousin Stacey's death and ironically, the due date of her little sister Jana's baby.  She's still holding that baby girl in though or maybe it's that baby girl is being stubborn and has decided she wants to stay in there for awhile longer.  I feel for her though, Trae was 8 days late!  Anyway, it's sad to reflect on all that Stacey has missed sharing with her family this year, but I just have to believe that she has been watching all of it and guiding her family as best she could.  I still watch for her at family functions; waiting for her to burst through the door with a huge smile on her face, dragging along her little ones and husband.  She left us all with so many memories and I'm so thankful for that.  Miss you still Stacey! 
The boys have wasted a few days in front of the tv; playing video games or just plain old vegging.  I'm afraid I'm not a good motivator this summer.  They have been getting in our little pool almost every day, so at least they are getting some exercise and fresh air.  Mason's locks are turning the summer blond, so I must be getting them out just enough.
I have had a few great days and was able to finally get my house in decent condition and clean my carpets, but sadly, it was short lived.  I guess if I can keep up with at least the dishes and laundry then, eh, everything else will have to wait.  There's always the next time I'm feeling better to get things back into shape.  I just hate wasting those days on cleaning when there are so many other fun things to do.  Oh well, this too shall pass.  I should just be thankful that I have the good days mixed with the bad after my pregnancies with the boys, which were filled with sick, after sick, after sick days.

Hope everyone had a great 4th weekend!  We stuck with tradition and went to the Murray parade.  It was perfect weather for a parade this year, not too hot, not too cold.  Baby Isaac slept through the entire thing!  The boys stocked up on candy, but I'm sure it's all been eaten by now. 
After the parade, we headed down to the park for the little fair that they hold to let the boys play a few games.  Trae and Jamison did a tug of war and it was hilarious!  Spry little Jamison won with the most points that round, but Trae came back to defeat him in the 2nd.  Trae realized that if he pulled the rope all the way to his side that Jamison would be stuck against the center divide and not be able to move anywhere.  Little stinker. 
That night Brett and Cynthia took Trae and Jamison to the rodeo.  Sounds like they had a lot of fun.  Mason and Grandpa got a box of fireworks and worked on setting those off for their own little entertainment. 
Oh and did I mention we went to Leatherby's??  My most favorite ice cream place on earth.  Yum!  I'm so thankful my family put up with us for 3 days because it would have been a long week with Jamie gone otherwise.  I'm afraid I have hardly any pictures this week, but looks like the boys took a few that I'll post.  I'm either sick or I'm just so drained that lifting my arms is strenuous. 

Baby Isaac tuckered out from tummy time

Not sure what Trae is doing...

Typical Jamison look...

Mom and Dad surprised by Mason.  Can you tell we are all worn out??

Mason playing on the elliptical

Baby's ultrasound from 6/29/10 
Baby was moving around a ton!  It's so strange to watch their little arms and legs moving around and not being able to feel all that movement going on in there.  Baby is growing well, even said a little big.  He checked for the sex, but didn't dare say.  We'll be able to tell at our next appt.  Keep thinking pink!

Cousin Day at the Park

So, I'm way behind, but that seems to be the norm lately.  I just uploaded the pictures from the cousin day we had a few weeks ago and was looking through them.  Oh my, we had fun!  And how can I not enjoy an afternoon when the kids were entertained by one another and us adults could actually sit and have a visit... okay, maybe not so much for Holly, but her child sure entertained us.  Gotta love it when you realize the naked child you are pointing and laughing at turns out to be a child that belongs to us!  Muwhahaha! 

Thank you so much Jana for putting this together!  You are awesome, even at 8 months pregnant!  Thank you Pam for making time for a catch up while you were visiting in Utah!  And thank you to all those that came.  We had a great time!

Here's are a few of pictures from our day at the park.  I thought I took a lot more, but I must have been too involved running my mouth instead. 

Devin, Chase, and Trae pushing Jamison in the tire swing

Jamison being cheesy, and Morgan and Jesicca resting on a turtle

Revenge... Devin getting revenge on Trae for hiding his flipflops

Little Man Mason (he was told only to get a little wet)

Devin trying to get revenge on Chase for his role in the flipflop
hide, but Trae is trying to save him.

Devin giving loves to his mommy, Pam, what a sweet picture it
would be if only he was trying to soak her at the same time.

Tai, Mason, and Trae running through the splash park

Jamison, Devin, Trae, Chase, Tai, and Aaron

Jamison, Trae, Devin, Chase, Tai, and Aaron... Again....
These boys were a riot!

Aunt Susan playing with Sienna

Fishing and Camping and Lots of Rain

Jamie headed to Las Vegas this past weekend and I begged and begged to go camping with the boys while he was gone.  After hearing that 2 of our neighbors would be up there already, he finally relented.  I was so excited to spend time with friends, but I'm afraid I failed in the social department.  Let me also tell you that throwing up into a tiny trailer toilet is no fun.  Talk about stomach cramping.. Okay, too much information, but I'm afraid I have no sensor right now. 
The boys drove me nuts with their "Can we go swimming?" questions for 3 straight days and I finally told them to move their fannies because they were going swimming.  Yes, it was 45* and I figured it was safe enough because there was a break in the rain, frankly I just wanted the whining to stop.  So, they excitedly got their swimming suits on, towels ready, and we hiked on over to the swimming pool.  Once there, they jumped right in and pretended to enjoy themselves for about 10 minutes.  I, on the other hand, sat under the eaves, wearing my jeans and sweatshirt.  They finally surrendered and spent the next 20 minutes in the bathrooms trying to warm up under the showers.  I can say, that they didn't ask me even once more if they could go swimming that weekend!  Hehe!  Yes, I'm an evil Mom. 
Jamie finally came home and we had a great time with him.  We had missed him so much.  We spent the rest of the weekend doing fun activities like going for a muddy, exciting drive over the mountain and took the boys fishing in the rain. 

Mason's 5th Birthday

Once again I find myself behind on my blog.  This pregnancy is making my old procrastinating ways look good.  Didn't think that was possible, but it really is.  I just mailed out my brother's birthday card... his birthday was May 28th and Lacey if you are reading this, I just mailed out your money (so, so, so very sorry).  I'm only a few weeks behind schedule for everything, including my house cleaning.  Eek! 
So little man Mason celebrated his birthday June 2nd.  He wanted to go to the zoo and so that is where we headed.  We had an amazing time.  Wasn't sick at all there, but I did pay for it that evening and the entire next day.  All that matters is that he had an awesome birthday and he said that he did, but when I tucked him in, he was asking why we didn't make it to the dinosaur park, too... uhm... yeah, how about that wasn't even in the plans.  Stinker kid! 

The melted ice cream cake.  I'll do better next time,
but at least it was still yummy!

Thank you Uncle Brandon, Aunt Shannon, Cassidy,
and Conner for the candy!  This is what was left of it by
the end of the day!

Our big surprise...

I keep wondering if I want to share my news or keep it inside for a bit longer.  This was such a big shock to us and I think I'm still getting used to the idea that our family is about to grow. 
Of course, maybe you caught the words on my t-shirt in the previous post and already figured it out... You'll have to go back and look for it now...  I'll give you a minute...

The baby is due January 23rd, 2011.  I can't even put my mind around this yet.  I'm just getting all of my kids into school, have disposed of all baby products, and will be now starting over.  I know I had hinted that I wanted this, but now that it's all happening, wow, I'm a little in shock.  Jamie had anxiety attacks for the first week straight before I announced to him that it was time to face the fact that we are having a baby in 8 months and to get over it.  He's much better now.
So here SHE is in her first picture.  She is only 1/2 an inch in size right now.  All perfect beating heart of her.

Welcome to the world baby Isaac

I have so much to post about and I guess I deserve it for not posting all of my exciting news last week and now having more this week.
First of all, we welcomed into the world baby Isaac on May 20th; my brother and sis-in-law's first baby.  It is so amazing to have a new baby in the family.  I am already so in love with him.  He's just perfect and so tiny with all of this dark hair.

The new little family

 Grandma holding her new grandbaby

 Me and baby Isaac

 Onto other news....

Jamison won the privilege of competing in the district wide Math/ Science Olympiad.  He and his little friend won 2nd place in the rain gutter regatta.  We are so proud of him.  He is such a hard worker and one smart kid. 

















The boys and their 2nd place medals.

More news...

My little man Mason graduated preschool!  He is so excited to be going to the big school in the fall with his big brother.  He is ready.  His class did a little performance.  Mason knew all the words and actions, but made them all so small because he was so shy in front of all those strangers.  The boy next to him, not so much.  It was too funny. 

Mason with his preschool diploma and prizes