The 24th of July

Computers are so dumb. For days I haven't even been able to put pictures on my blog, send any to costco etc. and then today it magically works. I will never understand...anyway above is a slideshow of "Foam Day" which everyone loved, well except Katy who was all hot and teenagery. The girls had the time of their lives along with Cami's kids and then it was off to "The Property" in American Fork for a Graham family picnic. Jordan and Todd finally got home from their campout to hike Kings' Peak and made it in time for dinner, except Jordan had to get straight to a surprise party for his neighborhood friend, so he could not grace us with his presense this holiday. After dinner, Lili and Jeff brought over some fireworks and Cami brought some sparklers for one last hurrah. Jordan came home just before the fireworks and got Brady right out of bed because he missed him so much. 4 days IS a long time to go without kissing those cheeks. So, everyone is home safe and sound and the fun times were had.

Conversations with Allyson

Earlier today...

While eating a hardboiled egg "Mom, this yellow part is the oak. The oak is the best part, but only when it is cooked and hard. When it isn't cooked, the oak is gross."

While at our garden...
We looked at our zucchini plant and surprise--It was ready to harvest! "This is the best day! Well, maybe not the BEST day, but this is so fun that we got to pick this--let's eat it!" She was amazed that our plants had things growing on them, and frankly so was I!

While walking home from the garden...
"Mom, otter pops are just snow and flavor. Cause I sucked out all the flavor and it tasted like snow!"
Holding up the zucchini with one hand "I'm the statue of zucchini!

Ally and I found ourselves home alone with the baby tonight while everyone else is out camping or having sleepovers, so we decided to get a brown topper from Arctic Circle. "I can't wait to tell Jillian what we did, she will be SO jealous!" Yikes, I think someone was a little jealous that they weren't having a sleepover...

Later on...

"Mommy, thank you for the ice cream. When I be a Mom, I'm going to take my kids to get ice cream-chocolate dipped!"

Anyway, It's fun to have one on one time with the kids sometimes. I feel like it's hard to make sure I spend enough time individually with each of the kids. I took a cute picture of Ally with the zucchini, but it won't upload or whatever. Maybe when Todd gets home from scout camp he can have a look see.

The 4th Fun!

I'm finally getting around to posting about our Fourth of July fun times. Saturday Todd had to work on the tile job he's doing, so I took Katy and Brady to the mall for a little shopping. We also stopped by the pool store and Walmart to get some chlorine/filters for the 3' deep pool our neighbors gave us. They used it for a couple years, but have planted grass where they had it set up so they were going to take it to D.I. if we didn't want it. So, Jordan and I got everything put together and the little girls swam for a couple hours that night while I did 700 loads of laundry at Mom's house (luckily Todd bought me a washing machine that day because I was on the verge of losing my mind....) Of course our kids are so excited to have something awesome in our backyard that is all weeds since we tilled up the grass. (Our water kept flooding the neighbors yard because of our slope or whatever so we are building up the yard and putting a retaining thing eventually....) Anyway, for the time being, we have plenty of space for a pool! Thanks to the Mattsons our kids are in backyard heaven. If fact, on Sunday night I got out the cool anti gravtiy chairs that my parents gave us for Christmas to use during our hotdog roast. Todd decided it would be fun to roast hotdogs and marshmalloes and have an "around the world" basketball tourny. So at dark time, we got the fire going and Jillian and Ally relaxed in the new chairs and commented enthusiastically that this is the most awesome backyard ever! Thank goodness for low expectations!!!! Anyway, since we set it up, the kids have played in the pool every single day for hours and in Jillian's words they are "having the time of their lives!". Also, the ladder comes out really easily, so I just put it in when they want to swim and I don't even have to worry about neighbor kids drowning and such. It was a good thing we had fun family times Sunday night because Todd and Jordan had to tile again on Monday all day so they could get done and leave for their Snow College football camp on Tuesday. So the girls and I (and Brady-I guess I can't say "the girls and I" anymore) were left to come up with fun things to do on the third 4th of July day. We recruited Cami and fam to go the the Lehi pool with us. Jill and Ally went home with the cousins to play afterward and Katy and I made Muddy Buddies. Then it was off to the annual Pie Bake Off Bonanza at Jensen's/Grandmother's house. Oh, funny thing, while I was cleaning etc., Jordan and Katy secretly set me up on The Face. They even went so far as to make comments to some friends. I guess they think their mom needs to join this century. I only found out about it because I was talking to Emily and she said she couldn't believe I joined. It was pretty funny, but I had Katy change my profile pic. immediately. Seriously, a picture of me 5 days post pardum for all the world to see-Idon't think so. Anywho, we had a fun time at the bonanza catching up with Aunts and cousins, and then back to the house to swim in the pool some more with our friend Kenzi! Luckily the Hoggans next door invited us to thier firework show in the road so I didn't have to run out last minute to get some. Brady fell asleep on a blanket and the girls enjoyed the show while I practiced taking firework pictures with slow shutter speed for photography group. Jordan and Todd never made it home until way late, but at least they had a chance to party with us on Sunday. I'm sure Jordan was less than excited to work all day, but he will never know how much his Dad appreciated it-Thanks buddy. What a wierd holiday weekend. I could never figure out which day we should wear our patriotic outfits etc., but I do love a drawn out party and any chance to celebrate freedom and liberty! So here, of course, is a slide show of the haps!

6 months already?

Lucky for Brady, the 4th of July is his 1/2 birthday, so happy 6 months baby brother! I really can't believe that he is already that old. We have loved every minute of his little life. I love to rub his tiny bald head, and kiss his squishy cheeks right off. He makes everyone in our house happy the second they see him. He sucks, chews, and drools on everything he can get his scrupmtious hands and mouth on, and we just can't get enough of his goofy, toothless smile. Here are a few pics to see how he has grown over the months...

Brand new Brady

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

We love you Brodell!

I never thought I'd see this!

Yesterday I walked out of the kitchen to see Jordan and Brady's hats lined up like this next to the stairs...

I'm sure one of the girls put them there as part of some game or something, but I thought they looked so cute just sitting there. I never thought I would say things like "the boys hats". It has been Jordan and "the girls" for so long. Finally Jordan can be grouped together with someone too! Hopefully they can be good friends when they are older, I mean I love to hang with Lili and we are 13 years apart! Already Jordan is the best big bro a baby could have. He snuggles him, plays with him, kisses his face off, and I'm not sure if I have previously bloggerd this, but he even changes diapers during church (I'm sure there are "getting out of sacrament meeting" motives, but I will never complain!) It really is so cute to see my BIG teenage boy carrying his baby brother out during church. A cute older man in our ward pulled me aside after church last week and said how impressed he was that Jordan would go out to change his brothers britches without any complaint. He said he never would have done that when he was a kid. Anyway, I somethimes have cute visions of Jordan and Todd coaching Brady's little league teams together and some b-ball in the yard. But whatever happens, I'm sure that Jordan and his long awaited brother with have awesome times together! All I need to know for now is how to get my hands on a tiny purple pioneers hat so Brady can cheer Jordan on at his football games in the fall! That would just be too scrumptious

Our first 5K together.....sort of!

Ok, so Brady and I didn't actually run the whole thing...Papa, baby and I ran/walked for about half of the "there and back" alleged Strawberry Days race. I am not a huge fan of races that aren't a loop. When Jonny and Drew passed us we decided to turn around so everyone wasn't waiting for us at the end (especially since we didn't actually have numbers or anything). My personal trainer (Ok, it's just Todd, but he is awesome!!!) has me doing a weights situation, but I am slow getting back into the running. This being in the mid 30's and having a baby is taking its toll..... Anyway, it was weird that the firemen and policemen messed with our longest tradition race. It was still fun to be there all together, but I don't know if the Guns and Hoses race will be one of our standards. I was wondering if any of our community helpers that planned that race have ever run one. If they had, they would never have changed our route with the downhill first mile, they would have known to put mile markers and they definately would have known that we want a banana and some bread or such at the end instead of a donut. They did know to start early before it gets too hot, and luckilyI had time to make it home by 9:00 to race Jillian to her soccer game and then right over to the swim meet. Anyway, here are some pics of the fun times!

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New Tricks!!!

I can't get my videos to load so you will have to wait to see bipolar baby and rice eating baby! Here are a few new tricks that Brady learned yesterday. Also, I am working on using the M setting on my camera so no making fun of blurry or wierd eye focusing...

Brady eats rice (some of these made me laugh out loud!)



Brady plays with toys!