Herriman Days, Bees Game & Blackridge!

Last Friday we headed over to Butterfield Park to enjoy Herriman Days.  Owen loved looking at all of the cars at the car show, and then the fire trucks/tractors/trash trucks/etc. at "Touch a Truck".  We ended the night by keeping the boys up waaaay past bed time (11:30!) and staying for the outdoor movie that they showed.  I was nervous because the movie didn't even start until 9:30 and bedtime is 7:00 (Porter) and 8:00 (Owen) but they both did great!  Owen loved the movie, which we knew he would.  It was "Despicable Me", one of his favorites.  He calls it the "Funny Movie".   He also loved the popcorn and drink and snacks... living the dream!  Porter loved the huge screen and kept his eyes on the movie almost the whole time.  He got a little fussy the last 20 minutes or so, but that's not bad considering how late it was!

Owen loved fire trucks, but apparently only from a distance.  He wasn't too sure about sitting in this kid-sized one.  He was afraid the siren was going to go off.  (This kid has the most sensitive ears of anyone I know.  Fireworks, sirens, radio...even the max A/C is too loud for him sometimes!)

Someone is happy to be up past bedtime!

 

Porter sporting his jammies for the evening. 

Apparently sucking on a zipper is more exciting that taking a picture with Mom.

 

 

 

On Tuesday, Brad's parents watched the boys and we enjoyed a Bees baseball game with Chris & Angie.  It was fun to spend time with them without the little guys in tow.  We got to have adult conversation!  And I got to have peanut butter M&M's!  (Owen is allergic to peanuts & almonds... so I can only break out the goods when he's not around.) The game was fun, the Bees won, and I snuck in a weekday date with my man!  I'd call that a good night. 

 

Brad, Chris & Angie

Cute couple!

 

 

 

Saturday was the Grand Re-opening of Blackridge Reservoir, which is just a couple miles from our house.  We loaded up and boys and decided to brave potential crowds and enjoy the "beach" (as Owen calls it) for a few hours.  Surprisingly, it wasn't very crowded!  We enjoyed free hotdogs, drinks, music, games, giveaway prizes, and some beautiful weather.  The boys had fun playing in the water (Owen) & eating the sand (Porter).  I forget how hard this age is for babies at the beach.  All they want to do is eat sand!  Blackridge looks amazing!  The city has been working on it during the off-season and they paved the parking lot, added a concession stand, bathrooms, a playground for kids, and put in pavilions, picnic tables & grass.  It was fun and I know we'll be headed there many more times this summer.

Such a good dad. 

Porter loving the water! 

We took about 10 pictures of this shot and this was the best it got with a baby & a toddler.  Oh well!

Porter's runny nose & allergies starting acting up towards the end.  He's looking sort of miserable in this picture, but he was actually really happy the whole time.

Owen wasn't a fan of his life jacket, but with a little distracting he finally relented.  He is too quick to go without it!

Not the best picture of P-man, but proof that I was there too. 

 

I love family days like this!  Here's to hoping we can squeeze in a lot more before Brad goes back to school in July. (Aah!)

Silver Lake

Summer has finally arrive here in Utah, and I'm not ready for it!  After a week of 90 degree weather, I wanted a break.  Luckily for me, Brad is always up for a trip up the canyon-- so that is what we did last night!  We packed up the boys, grabbed some dinner, and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake.  It's a great place for kids, because there is a boardwalk that goes around most of the lake, and a dirt trail around the rest.  It's flat enough for a stroller and a 2 year old.

We did this last year at about the same time, but this year the water was a lot higher and the trees weren't quite as green.  We even ran into a few patches of snow as we walked around the lake!  The weather was about 20 degrees cooler up there and it was perfect.

 Owen was excited to explore the mountains & the water.  He kept telling us that he was going to see Nemo & Dory in the lake... but surprisingly they were a no-show. :)

 Porter was ready to go!

Mommy-fail: Owen's new shoes were a little too big and kept rubbing the back of his foot, starting to give him a blister.

Daddy-fix: Brad gave Owen his socks.

Problem solved!

Owen sporting his new look.

We stopped for some pictures at the half-way point.

 

As we drove home, Brad and I agreed that there isn't much better than a summer night in the mountains.  We are excited to head back to the canyon in a few weeks for some camping with Brad's family!

Hogle Zoo

A few weeks ago we made our first visit to the zoo this season.  I am happy to report it went much better than last summer!  I think we may visit again before the summer's over!  I went with 2 friends from my neighborhood and we had 5 boys age 3 and under between the 3 of us.  Crazy!  The boys had fun, the weather was perfect, and we called it a day before noon (the beauty of friends with season passes).  Great morning all around!

Owen (2 1/2), Lincoln (2), Kaden (3)

A rare moment of sitting! 

Hey Wes, you're missing something!

 How cute is Lincoln in these pictures! 

 Wes & Porter enjoyed a relaxing morning!

Owen & Kaden

Saying goodbye to the elephants, our last stop of the morning, before heading home.

O & P

While Brad was in India, I took some pictures of the boys to send to him.  They turned out pretty cute!  I can't believe how fast these two are growing.  They are both so fun, full of personality, and add their own special tone to our family.  Owen is busy, smart, clever, and determined.  He's a singer, a great helper, and an awesome big brother.  Porter is easy going, sensitive, sweet, and attentive.  His sensitive nature keeps us in check with the tone & volume of our voices (a little bit challenging with Owen), and that has been a great blessing to our home.

Porter-- 8 months

Owen-- 2 1/2 years

Sunny St. George

Over Mother's Day weekend I was able to drive to St. George with my cousin and meet up with my mom & my aunt for a Girl's Weekend.  We had a little party crasher in the form of a 7 month old baby boy-- but he was so good, he hardly slowed us down!  And I think he may have had the best time of all:

1.  Bathing in the sink

2.  First taste of ice cream

3.  Undivided attention of 4 ladies

5.  Catching up on all the latest Hollywood gossip

6.  First time in a pool

Yeah, he had fun!

We shopped, ate yummy food, swam, read, watched movies, explored downtown & the farmer's market, chatted, relaxed, and enjoyed the time together!   

None of us were ready to head home come Sunday.   While I drove back to Salt Lake, Brad got on a plane to India for a 12 day business trip.  Yikes!  That was a long time to be on my own with the little guys, but we survived and I'm glad I got a little "Mommy Time" to give me a needed boost right of energy for those two weeks!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven!  

Good to the last crumb!  Yum!

Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival

We love getting together with Marla & her boys.  Marla and I are walking buddies, and try to walk almost every morning together with our double strollers, toys, snacks, drinks, blankets and/or hats, in tow.  It's quite the spectacle I'm sure, but we do it!  The boys usually do great, and enjoy "sharing" toys back and forth, talking, looking for trucks/tractors/buses, and eating/drinking.  We usually walk about 3 miles-- go us!  I really enjoy our walks & our talks.

Now that the weather has warmed up, I've ventured out on a few excursions with Marla & her boys.  In April we ventured over to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival.  The boys always have such a great time together.  And luckily Owen is starting to be less of a runner, so I don't dread taking him out to big, crowded areas as much as I used to.  (Oh man, last summer.  Pregnant mom + Running toddler= Awful.  So glad we are over that.)

It was a fun afternoon!

Porter just enjoying the ride. He is always so good when we're out and about.

Owen & Kaden loved feeding the koi fish.   

 

This picture reminded me a lot of the picture below when Owen was 1.  Can't believe that was almost 2 years ago.

Can't end an afternoon with friends without rolling down the hill.  Maybe the highlight of the afternoon for Owen!