Swimming Stunts

Mariachi Nate

3 Days in SLC

On our way home to Arizona, we stopped for a few days in Salt Lake City to visit Great-Grandma King.

First up, we wanted to see the sites down town and to make the experience more memorable we hopped on the TRAX for our ride.  Nathan and Bracken were beyond thrilled.  At the end of the day when we rode the TRAX back home we had a little mishap with getting on the wrong train, figuring it out quickly and getting on  the right train, but we unknowingly left behind Bracky's little back pack filled with his favorite toys.  I was sick to my stomach as I mentally added up the sum of how much it would cost to replace those toys.  Amazingly enough, when Grandma King went to the lost and found office the next morning, our little back pack was there waiting for us!  Bracky was one happy kid.

Our first stop was the Church History Museum.  This year they have a special exhibit for children all about the Book of Mormon and it's people.  My favorite station was the Mariachi dancing.  Nathan looked muy guapo in his mariachi vest stomping his feet and shaking his booty.

After we toured the Book of Mormon exhibit, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on Temple Square.  The boys enjoyed the open space to roam and play with their monster trucks and I soaked in all the beautiful flowers.

The next afternoon the boys and I headed down to Great-Grandmas pool and Nathan perfected his front flip.

Later in the afternoon we went to an aquarium in Sandy, UT.  It was just the right size for my kids.  They loved the penguins, sharks and the sting rays.  We walked past the sting rays several times and it took Nathan about 5 passes to work up the nerve to try touching one.  Bracken loved every second of the aquarium.  At each tank and exhibit he would stop, look and absorb every little detail.  Grandma King and I loved seeing him so enthralled.  His most favorite fish was the chocolate chip cookie star fish, it is tan with black nodules along it's legs making it look like a chocolate chip cookie.

4 Months Old

Oh goodness, our little Marco is growing up so quickly!

4 Month Stats:

16 lbs 9 oz.

26 1/4" long

Marco is still all smiles!  He is truly my angel baby.  He goes with the flow, loves his brothers even when they pound on his belly and try to poke his eyes, sleeps great and adores his Mommy!  He is still a big boy and is wearing 9 months size clothes now.  He has mastered his chupi, but he only wants it when he is sleepy and the second he is deep asleep that sucker pops right out.  He has started rolling from side to side and the drool factory is beginning to work over time.  He is obsessed with sucking and chewing on his fists and any ones willing fingers.  I think teeth are on our horizon.

All the way up north to the land of Idaho.

After the Bluth Reunion in July, the boys and I drove with Grandpa and Grandma King back to Idaho.  Curtis was at the peak of his busy summer and even though he missed us terribly while we were gone, it allowed him to focus 100% on his studies without feeling guilty that he was abandoning his family.  So while he slaved away and lived practically 24/7 sitting in front of his laptop, the boys and I had ourselves a grand adventure.

We took the drive from New Mexico to Idaho in 2 days and had fun swimming in the hotel pool during our pit stop.  It was Marco's first swim and really enjoyed it.

We enjoyed laid back evenings together sitting on the porch and eating Creamies, several afternoon walks into town to visit Grandpa at the bank and grab a sucker or 2 from his treat bowl, and a few delicious dinners out on the driveway.

One morning we headed into Logan, Utah with Grandma King to do some shopping and enjoy some play time on the beautiful Logan Temple grounds.

The boys love the Malad City Park that's across the street from Grandma and Grandpa.  The park is right next to the library where we checked out several movies including all the Narnia videos.  Nathan loves the Narnia movies and he was even allowed to stay up late and watch thee with Mommy and Tia Aubrey while we snacked on cookies and consumed an entire carton of ice cream.

Marco snoozing in the bed next to me after his early morning feeding.

One evening after Grandpa came home from work we loaded up and drove to Lave Hot Springs.  The water is naturally heated and the facility is large and very family friendly.  They have several different water slides for all ages.  At first Nathan and Bracken were cautious and enjoyed watching other kids attempt the kiddie slides, but after some smooth talking on my part they decided to give'em a try and what do you know?  They loved it!  After his 10th slide Nathan, who didn't even need me to catch him at the end of the slide, popped out of the water and yelled "This is the best place EVER!"

Grandma and Grandpa's yard is beautiful and very fun to play in.  One afternoon we took a walk through town and picked up some rubber band launch planes at the quaint drug store on Main Street.  The boys spent the next 2 days playing with them.

On our last evening in Idaho we celebrated with woof'ems (roasted biscuit bowls filled with pie filling), a fun and yummy alternative to smores.  Nathan downed at least 8 of these bad boys.  Before heading into the house for bed we all laid on the trampoline, gazed at the stars, and a perfect ending to a perfect visit to Idaho.

Bluth Reunion 2012

Gayle & Ora Bluth Family Reunion 2012

July 5-7

Sacramento Mountain Retreat

Cloudcroft, NM

This summer the boys and I were able to attend the Bluth Family Reunion, thanks to Grandpa King who generously flew to Phoenix to help me drive to New Mexico with my brood.  Curtis was up to his ears in his 2 phd classes and summer course for Yavapai College and he couldn't afford to take time off so we had to leave him behind.

This is the 4th Bluth reunion we have held at this camping retreat and we love it!  The first evening after dinner, we all gathered for a little family trivia game played Jeopardy style.  They originally wanted the oldest represented child from each sibling to play, but since I was nursing Marco at the time that left Aubrey, the youngest of all the cousins, to play for our family.  It was a fun game and Aubrey held her own well.

Nathan know his way around this camp.  He was self sufficient the whole time.  I rarely had to worry about where he was.  The little kids pretty much stick to the long sidewalk that runs the length of the camp, riding their plasma cars and scooters.  And if you don't find them there, they can be found in the assembly hall or game room playing foosball and air hockey.  When I would enter the cafeteria for meals, I would find Nathan already seated with his tray of food chowing down with the other big boys.  I was fun to see him enjoying all his second cousins.

Bracky had a great time too, but he stuck with me more than Nate did.  A few time he ventured off to hang with the big kid crowd and he even managed to claim one of the plasma cars from time to time.  But he mostly stayed close to me, Grandma, or Grandpa.  One afternoon, the whole gang gathered at the b-ball courts to watch some Bluth family ball games.  After about 10-15 minutes I noticed that Bracken wasn't with the mess of kids playing on the back half of the court.  Grandpa offered to look for Brack and he found him sitting on the stoop of our cabin all by himself, poor guy.  Brack didn't seem too worried yet, he figured someone would find him eventually.

Marco was as cute as ever.  Grandma, Grandpa and Aubrey especially enjoyed getting to know him a little better.  Marco also got to meet Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Bluth which was really special.

All day long kids rode the cars gone this sidewalk.  There were 6 plasma cars and at least 20 kids that wanted turns which meant constant traffic starting at 7am and going till dark.

The kids didn't even mind the long trek back up the hill.  Every child slept well because they were worn out from all their playing.

Every afternoon around 2 pm the clouds would gather and start to pour out rain.  On one of the days the boys and I shared our love of balloon swords with the other kids to help pass the time in doors.  They were of course a big hit.  Mom and I worked as a team to meet the high demand, she pumped them and I shaped them.  I'm not sure how many we made in total but I do know my fingers were SORE!

Nathan's favorite buddy that he practically stalked, was Max.  Max is a year older than Nate and he seemed to really enjoy Nathan as well.  Nathan wanted to do everything with Max. He even wanted to eat the same foods as Max.  At breakfast one morning, I asked Nate what he wanted on his tray to which he replied "I want to eat the same stuff Max has."  So we glanced at Max's tray, put the same combo of food on Nate's tray, and he snarfed his food down so he could be done and ready to play with Max.

Every reunion we get a giant group picture to document who was there and how the family has changed.  This year we all had matching shirts with the family crest on them.

The biggest change this reunion from the last one 2 years ago, is all the babies that have been born, 8 in total.

I'm not sure how much longer my grandparents will be around but I am very grateful I was able to attend this latest reunion to savor the family and legacy these two people have established. I sure do love them.  Here's hoping they will still be around to enjoy the next reunion in 2014!

Boot Races

Every year after the Frontier Days Parade, Prescott holds their annual Boot Races.  Nathan was bound and determined to join the masses and make his mark on the event.

We paid the $10 registration fee and he received his t-shirt and number (#120).  Nathan was super pumped and felt very official!

We opted to keep Brack out of the race this year even though they do have a 3 and under heat.  We weren't sure if he would perform when it came down to the wire.  He tends to space out and get really clingy in those kind of situations.  He seemed content enough just to be there wearing his own boots (on the wrong feet) and cheer on his brother and cousins.

We waited in the hot sun for about 30 minutes before it was Nathan's turn.  There are so many people there watching and participating, it was INSANE!  Each of the children's age divisions had 3 heats.  Nathan, Jaxon, and Konrad all raced in the second heat of the 4-5 year olds. 

When it was finally their turn, Nathan immediately positioned himself in his "ready" pose.  He seriously held this pose for 10 minutes before they blew the starting horn.

 This being our first year to participate we realized that we came under prepared.  If you really want to win you need to spice up your boots with several layers of duck tape.  The tape helps keep your boots on so you can run without abandon and lesson your chance of tripping.  Before the race we gave Nathan a little pep talk reminding him to look forward and not get distracted by others around him and give to give it his all.  And we reminded him several time that winning was not his goal, doing his best was his goal.  We knew he wasn't going to win, Kleinmans are not known for their speed, we just didn't want him to come in last.  

When the horn blew, Nathan took off running with all his might and luckily he finished in the middle of the pack.  And the best part, he was completely thrilled with the experience even though he didn't even come close to winning.  He's super proud of his boot race running and next year we'll remember the duct tape.