Cabin Fun

We spent the weekend at the cabin--haven't been up there for quite awhile. It was a relaxing weekend spent taking walks with Kason & Abby, reading, napping, building knex, watching movies, etc. Tige went to Panguitch Saturday morning for his first century bike race. It was actually 106 miles, not just 100. He got a flat tire at mile 90, but was able to fix it and finish the race, even with his numb fingers and feet. I think he's nutty, but he swears it's fun. He went and sat in the cold creek behind the cabin after the race to cool down. I snapped several cute pictures of the kids during the weekend. Taylor is getting soooo big. He has his 2 month appointment tomorrow, and I'm curious to find out what he weighs. He's been smiling at us for a week or so, which I just love.

Family walk
Abby loved holding Toffee's leash

Grandma & Taylor

Too cute! Kason's such a great big brother.

Throwing rocks in the creek.

This is Taylor's crooked smile. Sometimes I get a full big-mouthed smile, and other times it's this crooked smile where only one side of his mouth goes up and he squints one eye.

Abby picked out a book and Kason read it to her. It's so fun to have him be able to read. Note the pink blankets by her side. She carries them EVERYWHERE. Imagine the trauma last night when I went to put her to bed and we discovered they are still at the cabin. Oops.

After Tige's bike race and his dip in the creek, he was stiff and sore. So Kason walked on his back. Both kids thought it was great fun. Not sure it helped Tige's back too much.

First Day of First Grade

Kason started First Grade today. He was more than excited! He didn't want me to take him--he just wanted to ride his scooter. He'll eat his first lunch in the cafeteria today. (Hamburger, fries, red apple, cookie). He'll be gone from home for 7 hours each day. It hit me this morning that the school gets him for more hours each day than I do. *Gulp*.

This is how Abby spent her morning. Playing on the stairs near the front door. She occassionally looked through the glass to see if he was coming home. Nope. Such a boring morning without her big brother.

And this is how I spent my morning. Crying. I was fine until Tige called 45 minutes after Kason left and asked if I was still crying. I wasn't, but then I started. We miss our buddy.

Just a little of this and that . . .

We've just had a quiet week at home trying to recoupe from our big weekend last week. Went school shopping yesterday with Kason--can't believe he's starting all-day first grade in only 3 days. What will Abby do without her playmate and buddy? Oh dear.

Anyway, here are a few miscellaneous pictures: Abby after ice cream. She doesn't have much hair, but on Sundays I try to pull it up onto a little pony tail on top. This is how it looks Sunday evenings after she's had a nap (or sometimes it's a rooster tail right on top). She's too cute.

It's always fun to take a bath with cousins! Ryan, 13 months old.

I snapped this picture at about 10:30 a.m. Abby NEVER falls asleep in the mornings, and she almost NEVER falls asleep any place but her crib. I was surprised she fell asleep snuggling with dad. I'd have to agree, he's pretty comfy and fun to snuggle with!

Tige goes on these long runs and bike rides on Saturday mornings and then comes home and takes a cold bath. This is all well and good, but he usually dumps my entire ice container from the freezer into the bath tub. Then we have no ice the rest of the day. I told him to quit stealing all my ice and to go fill up the kid's pool instead. Yesterday after a 16 mile run (his furthest ever), he did just that. We all went out with him and it was great fun. Abby even stripped down to her b-day suit and joined him in the pool.

Yesterday afternoon it rained like crazy! Harder than we've ever seen it rain in St. George. It almost rivaled the hard Virginia rains we frequently saw when we lived there. It was still warm weather though, so the kids went outside and rain around in the rain and got completely soaked. They LOVED it. Tige & I sat under the covered patio and watched it pour.

Fun in the rain. Afterward there was a double rainbow. We were driving to a wedding reception about 20 minutes away, and Kason was so excited to see it over and over. Abby even piped in saying "wainbow." She's talking more and more and says a new word or two each day. Soon I'll have another mimicing parrot on my hands and will have to be doubly careful what I say!

Taylor's Blessing

We blessed Taylor at church this past weekend with every single family member from both sides of our family in attendance. How special it was to have everyone here with us. I was very excited to have my Grandma Bev there too because I finally got my first poem from her! (She writes the most amazing poems of all our family's special days--but she was out of town for my wedding and missed both my other kid's blessings). I cried and cried when I read the beautiful poem she wrote about Taylor's special day. She was able to capture every single thing I remember from the blessing, and I'll treasure it always!

Tige made everybody yummy BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs on Saturday night, and then we had a delicious sandwich spread on Sunday for lunch. We are so grateful that all of our family members were here with us, many of them traveling several hours to get here. We sure are loved!

Our kids before church.
Taylor in his blessing white.

TJ & Daddy

Me and my sweet boy

The boys

Mom, dad, & Taylor

More Blessing Weekend Pics...

More pictures from our busy weekend . . . Tige's sister Teina surprised us 2 weeks ago with a mission call to Columbus, Ohio. We had no idea she was even thinking of going on a mission. She leaves in October, and she went through the temple for the first time this weekend. It was special for us to be there with her. We're so excited for her to be the first real "missionary" that our kids know.

Andy & Ryan

Visiting after lunch. This patio table was a new addition to our backyard just for this event. Tige also installed a bunch of misters to cool us off. He rocks.

Grandma H and Kason can't give Taylor enough kisses

Daddy & Abby

My Grandma Bev visiting with Tige's mom.

Grandpa & Grandma Taylor with Taylor

Taylor 6 weeks, Noah 14 weeks.

(I've decided Taylor is a brick).

Evie, Gavin, & Abby having some fun

Tige's mom, Kirk, Shalisa, Teina, & JaNae with Taylor