Sandcastles!

Staci and I used to spend hours in the sandbox when we were little.  We loved to get the dirt wet and dig tunnels and build castles.  I had a hankering to play in the sand so we had a sandcastle building contest for FHE.  In the end we all worked on the same one so there was no contest but more of a collaboration of talents.  Jack's favorite part was to fill the buckets with water, carry them so carefully and then to dump them in the sandbox.  We were all filthy dirty but it was worth it.

Jack's favorite part was dumping the water.

Here he is doing his baby sign for "more" water to dump.  Funny how that is supposed to only apply to food but to him it applies to anything.

Me and Gracy building.

The finished product!  It is more of a sand village than castle.

Miranda was here too but she took our picture.

H20, Bugs, and Charlie

I can't believe summer is almost over!  Fortunately, I feel we have been making the most of it.  We have been doing lots of swimming at the Manti outdoor pool and I bought Jack a little pool for our yard.  Even though Jack is a year and a half underage, he loved the giant slide at the Manti pool and thanks to Miranda, we got to sneak him down.  Jack has also discovered Popsicles which of are a new favorite of course.  Jack is his father's son because he has also discovered bugs and is in love.  He is quick and does pretty good catching them too.  And our summer has been extra fun because Seidi has been in town with her little boy Charlie and of course we have been forcing them to be friends.  They are funny together.

Me, Jack and Gracy.  Jack loves Gracy and tags along where ever she goes.

Miranda, Gracy and Ryan cool off with Otter Pops.

The giant slide Jack insisted we go down.

Jack loved the mimi pool in our yard.

More Popsicle!

A potato bug.  These are his favorite because they turn into balls.  Notice the giant mosquito bites on his cheek, the first week he was covered.

Charlie and Jack in the playhouse.

Jack is not happy here.  This is HIS car and he does not share it.  Charlie didn't even seem to notice that Jack was furious.

Mathews Reunion

We had our annual Mathews Reunion at Heber Valley Camp.  It is always a treat.  Unfortunately this year, all three of us were sick which hampered our experience a bit.  We still had a good time though.  We went down to the lake to watch those who went out on the lake in canoes.  We were pretty sure Jack would just jump over board so we didn't risk it, but he did find a bunch of mud and water to play in on shore which was probably more fun for him anyway.  We also got to see our cousin Makenna, David and Korina's little girl for the first time and we even got to be there for the blessing.  She was a doll. 

Mairin playing with Jack.

He has become quite the climber.

No matter where we go, Jack finds mud/water.

One Top Pop!

This is a tad late but I had to do a quick tribute to the great dad's in my life.  First of course is Logan.  Right from the get-go, he jumped right in to taking care of, playing with and loving Jack.  He seemed to have more parental instincts than I did at first.  And here we are a year and a half later and he is still amazing at helping out with Jack.  Jack is always sad when Logan leaves in the morning.  He runs to dad to give him a good bye kiss and then cries when Logan goes out the door.  Jack also gets giddy and silly and soon as Logan walks in the door because he knows its play time.  

Then we have Papa Pickett.  So silly and well known for his practical jokes around town.  I think I have a little bit of the practical joker in me that I inherited from him.  He has such a green thumb and his yard/garden always looks amazing.  He loves dry ice rootbeer, shop vacs, and duct tape.   I love my dad despite some of his odd ways.

And last, but not least, Papa Bruce.  He never misses a chance to give a hug and makes the best Bruce Burgers ever (greasy and fattening, yum!).  I don't know if he loves Mountain Dew, but he is always drinking it.  I do know that he loves the mountains though, especially when the whole family goes camping.  We love Grandpa Bruce.

 

I made some pop top cans for the fathers with candy inside.

For dad I made root beer cup cakes.  He literally has my mom make dry ice root beer once  a week.

And for Bruce I made Mountain Dew cup cakes.  He literally goes through packs a week.

Halfy Birthday to you

Logan and I decided that half birthdays are cool and over looked.  So we are going to celebrate them in our home.  They will be simple and a day to make each kid feel loved.  Sometimes it seems that birthdays get out of control with the presents, decor, friends, and stress.  It was Jack's halfy birthday last week.  We celebrated with half a cupcake, sang half of halfy birthday to you, and we said things we love about Jack by one person saying half a statement and another person finishing the other half.  Sweet and simple, no presents and just our little family.  I feel we may add another random half traditions as the years pass.

1 and 1/2.  Half cup cake.

Where did the fire go?

Tadpoles is the winner!

I would like to start this post with a deep thought by Jack Handy:

I can still recall old Mister Barnslow getting out every morning and nailing a fresh load of tadpoles to the old board of his. Then he'd spin it round and round, like a wheel of fortune, and no matter where it stopped he'd yell out, "Tadpoles! Tadpoles is a winner!" We all thought he was crazy. But then we had some growing up to do.

- Jack Handey

Oh how I loved Jack Handey.  That is where it all started for Logan and I.  Quoting Deep thoughts by Jack Handey to each other in Seminary.  If fact, Logan and I just decided that Jack is named after Jack Handey because that is where it all began and because of Jack's deep wisdom.  Anyway, I digress.  Tadpoles!

We love catching/raising tadpoles.  It's so fun to watch them turn into cute mini frogs.  Science!  So we went with Gracy and Miranda to a canal at the farm that is usually fresh with tadpoles this time of year and caught a plethora of poly-wogs.  Jack kept calling them bugs and seemed to have a disgusted shiver reflex each time we tried to get him to touch them.

Jack and Gracy searching for Tadpoles.

Honestly I don't think we would have caught any without Logan's long legs.

Miranda and Jack

Family Vacation

We had our first mini family vacation a couple weeks ago.  We had to go back up to Utah State so Logan could tie up some loose ends so we decided to have some fun and  also go to Bear Lake.  First, we stopped in Salt Lake to go to my BFF's daughter's baby blessing.  Little Mina is a doll and we were so glad to get to see her.  The we headed to Bear Lake and did some camping at the KOA which turned out to be a good choice.  It was cheap and had a pool and playground.  We went to the lake on Monday to play at the beach, but it turned out there was no beach to play on.  The water is so high there aren't many places to play.  We found a park, some sand, and river anyway and I don't think Jack could tell the difference.  

Me and Seidi.  I just realized I didn't even get a picture of Mina.

Jack had fun throwing rocks at with the other kids. 

Charlie and his stick.

We stopped at a park to eat lunch.  

This is at the KOA.  They call it giant pillow.  I better name would be the blob.  Jack thought it was amazing.

Jack usually loves swimming but for some reason the outdoor pool threw him for a loop and he was a little weary.    He constantly made his way from the big pool to the kiddie pool only staying for a few minutes in each at a time.

Doesn't it seem you always forget the matches?  We sure did.  And wood.  No worries, I am married to a mountain man.  He started the fire using jumper cables.  Yes jumper cables.

He also went on a hunt and dug up this piece of wood to cut up.

Jack loved standing in the fire pit.  Safety first.

Jack has suddenly become attached to his blankets.  No matter how hard I tried, he insisted carrying it with him... through the dirt, sticks, mud.

Jack in his tot spot.  This is a chair I bought about 7 years ago when I didn't want to fork out real money for a normal human adult sized camping chair.  I used it thoroughly for a couple years.

The playground.  Jack loved the horse.

Jack pointing at the moon.  But as he called it "banana."  It was just a sliver of the moon and we just couldn't convince him it was the moon and not a banana in the sky.

The "banana"

Raspberry shakes from Bear Lake Pizza.  Oh my, so good!  It's the real reason I go to Bear Lake.

And not to mention the Bacon Chicken Ranch Pizza.

Jack playing at the "beach"