Warriors at the Owlz Game

Miles' baseball team, Utah County Warriors, got to run out with the Orem Owlz at the beginning of Tues night's game.  Yeah, he was one happy camper...

ok, and maybe a little nervous...

(yes, he is the one biting his nails)

This is one really fun team...

This is one of my favorites...Miles is Number 5.....you know, for Carlos Gonzales (Colorado Rockies player)...We cheer for "Carlos" when Miles gets up to bat in his games...some of the team moms might be confused by that!

Running out with Orem Owlz right fielder...

Man, Miles seems so old in these pictures.  My buddy boy is growing up!  Love that kid.

The only bummer on the evening?  School night so they didn't stay for the whole game! Those games can be ETERNAL! :)

1st Day of School

Very mixed emotions this week.  The kids are back in school.  The boys have had a fun fun summer.  They have spent lots of time together playing...so fun to see them be friends.  But they were starting to pick at each other and I knew it was getting time.  Dad has taken them on some fun adventure hikes, a requirement when a new baby arrives at our house.  We went to Idaho to visit family.  But with baby Ella being born, the boys have done a wonderful job of staying busy right here at home this summer.

I thought I was ready for the change in routine, but then Allen gave the boys Priesthood Blessings for FHE Monday night.  I realized I didn't want Quincy gone all day this year!  So sad!!  As I peaked at his sweet face during the prayer, I realized again what a special boy he is. He is such a tender and passionate person.  It's sometimes hard to be around him because of those characteristics OR it's the best!  Hard to know how to feel.  But he was sure ready...

Miles says he isn't ready but he's been itchy lately!  Can't believe he is in 4th grade.  wow!  He gets taller by the minute it seems....buying church pants again....sigh!

He wouldn't let me take his picture at the classroom door.  :)

It's been fun hanging out with him this summer after the other boys are in bed.  We were Olympic watching buddies!  He gets into it like I do. Some things about Miles remind me of me when I was little...helps me not get irritated! heehee  

My boys are BASEBALL CRAZY!!! Miles has always been our Rockies fan.  Quincy for some reason got into the Phillies, and Porter likes the Pirates (not sure why on that one...maybe the cool mascot and the big P for Porter)

I found lunchboxes with the team logos on them!  That was waiting at their breakfast places this morning.  I am so glad I decided to buy Porter one.  He would've been so sad.  He felt kind of lost without the brothers today...he adores them!

Porter had to carry his lunchbox (snack bag for preschool for him) and the tag and note to the school.  And he was kind enough to "pose" with it for me!

Yes, he is still in his jammies.  

I am hoping to spend some great one on one time with Porter now that school is in session.  He used to be my little buddy and he has felt that slip away with Ella's arrival.  He is getting big so fast and pretty soon I will be tearing up thinking of him gone all day long too!

Truly I can't win...I was ready for them to go back to school...and now that they have been gone one day...I miss them.  They are my buddies, even if they are crazy busy bodies :)

I love you boys!

Raspberry Picking: a new tradition

Those of you who know us, know we have lots of raspberries in our backyard....so why in the world did we go berry picking?? I needed to make more jam this year and we love our berries so much they rarely make it to jam!  The boys had so much fun.  Miles asked if we could go back the next day!!  It's called McBride Briar Patch in Mapleton.  The owners are so nice and make sure the kids know that testing the berries is important to make sure you are getting good ones :)

missing my grandma right about now...

I use her recipe for berry jam and she taught me how to make it.  She always used a fork instead of a blender and so it's just tradition!

Can't wait to enjoy this winter!!!

The Patch doesn't open until August 15, so we have decided to make it a tradition to go yearly right before school starts...doesn't hurt my feelings any!  Love the berries and jam!

Timp Cave: AKA "Batcave"

One of the adventures Allen took the boys on was hiking Timp Cave.  The boys thought it was like the Batcave in Batman.  Super cool!  Maybe I can get Allen to give more detail on here.  Allen was a bit worried about the hike.  It's a long one!  One of Allen's former students went along.  And a student also gave them the tour of the cave.

Catch up Summertime Post

Wow!  I feel like summertime blogging has the title "catch up" or "summertime fun" each time and I only post once in awhile.  We must be enjoying the summer!

Here's what's been going on...

Mom and Ella made a trip to California to visit Aunt Brenda, Uncle Hugh, and cousin Paige!

Hugh loves Ella

And she loves him...she loves when people are willing to get on the floor at her level!

Auntie B and Ella

and I am kicking myself....no picture of Ella and Paige...hopefully at Christmas we can get one!

Daddy kept the boys hopping at home.  He was such a great sport about spending 4 straight days with the boys without mom.  

Here they are at the BYU practice.

I'm going to have to do a separate post of their hike to Timp Cave.  They also had a pancake breakfast at the Salem Days and watched fireworks that night.  They were non stop playing!!  Lucky lucky boys.  Porter is still saying he missed me...but I am not sure.  Mom is definitely not that fun!

Here's what happens when mom comes home from her 5 days in California.  Yeah, my boys do NOT like zucchini!

OTHER HAPPENINGS:

Miles is FINALLY saying goodbye to his favorite sweatshirt.  We have new ones for him this year.  This sweatshirt was worn every day of the school year for 2 years.  yeah, it used to be navy blue.  

and darn it, Ella refuses to stay LITTLE!  I keep telling her to, but she is not obeying!

her new favorite toy...

This has been all of the boys favorite too...easy to hold onto and suck on.

and still lovin those hands and fingers to suck on...

wiggle worm...

She rolled over for the first time on August 15th!

She loves to grab onto her shirt and get it in her mouth!  Here she is at that skill!

 School starts Tuesday.  Can't believe the summer is almost over, but I think we are all ready for a change in routine.  The boys have been buddies this summer, which was fun to see.  Playing at the park (baseball) was a favorite.  But they have also been "at each other" and so it will be good to change it up! Quincy is super excited to have lunch at school!  Porter is excited to start preschool!  Miles is older...and, therefore, not ready to start school :)  Ella isn't going to know what to do without 24/7 attention from her protectors!

Happy Fall?  I count down the days till I can decorate for fall....my favorite of all seasons!

The Nursery is finished!

Yes, she is 3 months old, but today I finished her room!  Yeah, so I am a little behind.  I didn't do it before she was born in case we had a last minute switch of name. 

I am loving how it turned out!  I found the idea on pinterest, of course.  The big E is 2 feet tall.  You can buy the big letters at Joanns.com.  I decorated the E with scrapbook paper that matched the colors of Ella's room.  Mod Podge of course over the top. Then added some 3D ribbon and flowers.

 The "lla" is in white vinyl on the wall!  I love it!

Ella's Favorites Right Now

Ella is getting so big on us...totally unfair.  I want her to stay little.  

She is loving sitting up...she can't do it on her own...but if you hold her up, her face just lights up...that is, right before she "yaks"!

She has also found something else that she really enjoys...

Yes, she is sucking on her fingers like CRAZY! and loving it!

Miles has also taught her a very important skill...

How to arm wrestle!  He is very nice and lets her win most of the time. 

You are getting so big, baby girl!  We love you!

Summer Requirement

Okay, so it's August already...crazy!...

Way back last school year I made the mistake of taking this picture of Porter...

and the other boys TOTALLY freaked out and said it wasn't fair!  So, I told them that this summer I would take them to Krispy Kreme!

Ok, here is the proof...

Yes, they really enjoyed it!

Now, our summer is complete...haha!

Ella at 3 months

Ella is so much fun.  She is our smiley little girl...except when a camera is around.  I was lucky to get this shot of her.  She is moving so much and makes all of the shots blurry.  She loves to sit up (with help) and be BIG.  She has found her hands and loves to suck on them.  She is starting to move in a circle when laying on her back.  I will find her facing a different direction when I come back a few minutes later.  Ella is going to be so sad when school starts because her brothers give her so much attention right now.  They are really good with her...Porter is still trying to learn what "soft" is though.  Ella weighs about 13 pounds.  It's hard to remember what life in our family was like without her.  She is so loved.  

Many people have asked how it is to finally have a girl?? Right now, it's very similar to having a boy.  Baby routine....diapering, okay maybe that is different, feeding, sleeping, holding...you know the baby stuff.  The clothes are fun and different, I guess.  But I did have a moment the other day that really was my first..."oh dear, we have a girl" moment.  I was feeding Ella and I yelled for one of the boys because I wanted to talk to him.  It scared Ella.  I calmed her down and then continued to feed her...but believe me, I heard about it for the rest of the feeding.  Every once in awhile she would stop and cry some more...really? it happened awhile ago Ella.  That kind of girliness will take some getting used to!!!  

Happy 3 months Ella!  We love you tons!