Some advice please.

If I could have any chore taken from me right at this moment (it changes day to day) it would meal planning and shopping. I don't mind the cooking at all but coming up with the menu just about drives me crazy! Forget the fact that it needs to nutritious and actually TASTE good. Oh, the stress of it all! This is where you come in. All I am asking is for you share with me your secrets. Do you plan meals in advance or is at all last minute see whats in the meager food storage supply type thing? Do you plan something for every night of the week? Do you have a theme for each night? Tell me. I'm desperate and so is my husband!

All good things must come to end...

...and this includes summer. I LOVE summer and there is no doubt that 3 or even 2 1/2 measly months is no where near long enough. Hence, my-

"Ode to Summer":

Sprawled on the grass on our backs, cloud gazing with my Ky-ky, where we see dragons, bunnies, cars, you name it. Watching his imagination come to life.

Popsicles in the shade of our big walnut tree. Tommy gets the leftovers.

Camping, getting away from everyday life with my family to see the beauty that surrounds us.

Noah's pudgy knees in shorts.

The hammock, life chats, swinging, reading, snuggling, more popsicles.

My favorite, warm evenings outside on the porch, where ever.

Sunlight late at night. No more 6pm curfews.

Summer, we shall miss thee.

Noah's Chompers

Ahhhh, chilly relief!

Poor Noah...Poor Me. :) This past week has been extremely rough for my youngest filled with tears, screams, Motrin, popsicles, drool, drool and more drool. Can you guess what Noah's problem was? Two istsy-bitsy tiny teeth. All this drama for two little teeth. With all the drool continually cascading down the front of Noah's shirt it always looked like he had just run a marathon. Neither Noah or Kyle have ever reacted this way to teething so I was a bit at a loss. This is a new week though and Noah is now the proud owner of two sparkling white teeth and is happy and content. Thank goodness! Too bad he still has like 4+ teeth left to some in.... *sigh*

WhAt'S uP wItH tHe ShIfLeTt'S?

The Messmakers

...We had Ellie and Coleman over for two days while their mommy was at girl's camp. I was really worried about how it would go over- two babies!- but it went really well. I enjoyed bonding with my niece and nephew, especially Coleman who liked to get snuggles from me every hour. I think he was missing his mommy. Kyle enjoyed the two day visit most of all though. He ADORES his cousins and these two are no exception. Kyle and Ellie enjoyed trashing Kyle's bedroom and the basement and I was decidedly content to let them. Coleman found a good friend in Tommy who let him ride a top his big, furry back. Coleman was even found laying on top of Tommy happily sucking his bink and giving Tommy snuggles. It was way sweet. Looks like someone needs a dog.

...Adam, unwittingly, backed into our garage door. "Hey, who closed the garage?!" Ugh... it ended being okay though.

...Still doing the finishing touches on the bathroom. Again, ugh. This has been a 5 month project! One day I'll post pics.

...Olympics! Michael Phelps. One-one hundredth. Olympics. 12:00 AM bedtime *yawn*. Michael Phelps. 8 Golds. World records out the wahzoo. Nastia Luikin. Gymnastics. My life for two weeks.

...Noah is still trying to decide if walking is really that cool.

The boys going for a ride.

Flamin' Good Times!

Flaming Gorge! This was my first visit. It was gorgeous leaving me wanting more (and a boat!). It isn't too far away which was nice since we just went for a little weekend visit. My parents, Ethan and Tracey and Dawn's families came as well. We missed the "ditcher's" though. :)


We went on the dam tour, fed the dam fish and had a dam good time. We also went to the Sweat Ranch, fire watch tower -a great honeymoon place, hubba, hubba-, and even got to do a little wave running- my favorite!!




Tommy was totally worn out by the time we got home as was everyone else. It was really fun to see Kyle and his cousin, Samuel become good buddies especially since they live so far apart.

This was possibly our last camping trip of the season and I'm sad. Anyone up for another trip???

WhAt'S uP wItH tHe ShIfLeTt'S?

...Noah has become quite the walker. I hope this is the real thing. We thought he was going to start up a month ago. Yay for cleaner hands!

...We went Flaming Gorge this past weekend with my family and had a rockin' good time. (Don't worry. More details to follow.)

Thump- THUMP (the sound of my heart)

I own it. Its mine. I am excited. I shant talk to anyone about it until I'm DONE! Here's rootin' for you, Edward!

P.S. Thanks Kerr!

Lets Take a Walk....

...down memory lane. One of my friends posted this on her blog and I thought it looked like fun. So everyone, humor me and play along.

RULES
1. Add a comment on this blog post, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember will do.

But Let's definitely follow Thumper's rule, if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all!
2. If the memory happens to involve my husband, please include him.

3. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

I think this will be alot of fun, especially because sometimes we forget things that other people remember! Hopefully no one reminds you of something you want to forget!!!

Noah

I'm just experimenting with this site.

You Likey?

The beautiful new blog update is dedicated to my Kyle. Red is his all time favorite color and the basketball was his choice for the picture. Not sure how long I can live with it though... :)

Kodachrome Part II

We went to Kodachrome for the second time this summer but it was a totally unique experience both times. We had close to 100 degree temps this time around and we were with my family for the Coggle Family Reunion. It was a lot of fun despite the heat. In the middle of the day during the extreme heat we would make sure we were doing a slot canyon or go to Tropic for ice cream and a little AC. Its been years since I had been to Southern Utah in the middle of the summer. Phew!

The Coggle reunion was not the only reunion that occurred. The Kyle and Will reunion was one the highlights of the trip. The two "best friends ever" haven't seen each other since the Schroeder's moved 6 weeks ago. They were so happy to see each other and even sadder to say goodbye. (Will cried while reaching out to Kyle. Isn't that just sad and tender?) They had a blast while it lasted and are anxious for their next visit in September.


I made my very first dutch oven dinner- potatoes with bacon and mushrooms. As you can see Noah thuroughly enjoyed. It turned out pretty well. I think I'll give it another try but not when its 95 degrees outside. The heat and burning charcoals just do not mix. *pant, pant*

Anyone up for coming with me to make it a 3rd trip down to

Kodachrome? It might be some kind of record.

Girly Time for Erin

It was rough leaving my two little boys for 3 days but it was worth it for some time without any diapers, whining, crying....okay, there might have been a little of the last two but it was great anyway. I was in desperate need of some girly time with out my babies. So where do I go? Girls camp, of course! We have wonderful YW in our ward and I am seriously not just saying that. We had NONE of the catty nonsense and lots smiles and fun. I am the Personal Progress advisor in my ward and thoroughly enjoy it. Our camp was held at Granite Flat up American Fork Canyon and let me tell you it is gorgeous and 15-20 degrees cooler. I highly recommend it.

We had a really good time and let me tell you, I left that camp feeling younger (I kept being told I was only one step from being a YW myself. Should I take that as a compliment?:) ), more energetic about mommyhood, with a strengthened testimony and greasy hair (no shower for 3 days'll do that to ya) and just a better person. Think I'm exaggerating? You go to girls camp and decide.

Rock Springs + the 4th = Good Times!

We had a great time up at Tracey and Emily's house this Independence Day. They were great hosts always making sure there was plenty to do. From playing horse shoes to roasting hot dogs to hiking up scary, windy buttes. The fireworks were abundant as was the great company. We went to Flaming Gorge which was a first for me at least in my memory. Emily and I competed against each other in a rock skipping contest where I smashed her although I think she won in the sexiness category. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our quest to find wild horsies but I look forward to our next visit to fulfill this mission. I really wasn't ready to go home but alas... We had a great time!

Noah also had his first haircut during this trip. He was a good boy and didn't even seem to care that we were chopping off his long, luxurious locks which was good. I don't know if I could have gone through with it otherwise especially since I played the barber. He looks dang cute if I do say so myself.

WhAt'S uP wItH tHe ShIfLeTt'S?

...This has been a great week for firsts for my Noah.

-He got his first much needed hair cut and I did it myself. He acted as if he was completely oblivious as to what we were doing to him. It took a lot of convincing on my part but we did it and I'm glad we did. He looks SO sweet but no more Static or Cockatoo boy. I'll sure miss him.

-Noah also took his first steps on Sunday. He's been doing a lot of showing off standing on his own so we weren't too surprised that we got him to take a few steps. I am relieved because I was worried we were going to have another Kyle on our hands. (He didn't walk until 16 months.)

...Adam and Erin saw "Curious Savage" at Hale with Christian and Nichole and thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

...We went to Rock Springs the last half of the week to celebrate the 4th and had a total blast. More info and pics to follow...

ProcrastinaTION!

I have been tagged a bunch of times in the last few weeks and have not taken care of business. SO I now make an effort. I actually don't mind tags too much because they will be a great read years or even days from now.

Here are some QUIRKS and facts about me: (This tag was hard because believe it or not I am not that interesting of a person...)

1: I like cleaning the bathroom. Well, I don't like the thought of doing it but when I finally talk myself into it I enjoy shining, polishing, sanitizing etc. I think I find more satisfaction with the finish product than with any other chore.
2: I can never just dry one wet hand. I have to get BOTH hands wet and then dry both hands even if only one is dirty.
3: I have always been a very shy person. So shy that I once sluffed KINDERGARTEN! I have learned how to deal with my shyness so that many people don't believe me when I tell them I am shy.
4: Adam is the only guy I've ever kissed. Of course he is FAR from saying that about me. :)
5: I love saving money but sometimes I wish I was one of those big spenders who can go out and spend money and not even care. When it comes down to though I guess I'll keep things as they are. I've got too much of my father in me. :)
6: I used to prefer salty over sweet but after having two children I think the sweet is beginning to take over. I get a major sweet tooth when I am pregnant and Adam loves it. We've always been opposites. When he wants a treat he gets cookies. I get (or used to get) chips. Things are a changin'.
7: I've always had a crazy dream of being a motorcycle cop. Ya know. Something that you think would be cool but you'd never really do. There aren't many female cops driving hogs which is where the appeal comes from, I think.


Here's another tag that I thought was fun.

Three Joys
1. Noah
2. Kyle
3. Adam
So obvious, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else that brings me the amount of joy that these three guys do.

Three Fears- this one is easy for me.
1. dying and not being there to raise my children.
2. Anyone in my family dying. It can keep me awake at night.
3. Snakes. The scene in the new Indiana Jones movie with the python *shudder, shudder* just about killed me.

Three Current goals
1. Running and doing it consistently. Adam and I are training for a 10k race but I want to get to the point where I'm not always "training".
2. Ever since Kyle turned three he has added some trying routines to our day and not being used to them I get irritated easily. So I'm trying to be more patient with him. I mean the kid's just 3 for Pete's sake.
3. Saving money and becoming more financially secure.

Three current obsessions/collections/preoccupations
1. Reading but this is nothing new. Current read is "Wild Swans" about early communism in China. Sad but interesting
2. Thinking about taking Kyle and Noah to Disneyland.
3. Getting my yard into shape. It is driving me Crazy and is oh so embarrassing!

Three random surprising facts about me:
(See my tag above)