One of Each

Some cute pictures just because!

For One of the Best Fathers Around--Mine!

The Hammer


Too small?  Try hitting the "Full Screen" button or just click here to read "The Hammer".  (http://tinyurl.com/thehammerfathersday)

Bye Bye Crib

Last week I decided it was time for Bracken to move out of the crib.  He is getting so BIG; plus the way he jumps around in it, shakes and rattles the poor thing so much I was afraid it might not last for our future babies.  We spent the morning, taking the crib down and rearranging their room.  By naptime things were all ready for Bracken to sleep in his big boy bed.  For several months now, he has napped off and on on the bottom bunk when Nathan decides to nap on the top bunk and he has done really well. Luckily it has been an easy transition, but there has been a few funny moments worth remembering.

For his first official naptime on the day we took the crib down, I tucked him into his bed, gave him a kiss and closed the door.  A few minutes later I heard him making some noises and talking a little bit but it only lasted 5 minutes.  When I figured he had been asleep for a while I went in to check on him and found him asleep on the top bunk.      

A few days later I went into the boys room to put some laundry away and found Bracken asleep on the floor.  He didn't get out of bed to get some toys because they were all still put away.  It looks so deliberate, I guess he wanted to lay right here.

Night time has been less eventful, but we have had a few instances where he wakes up and can't find his blanket or chupi due to the bigger bed and increased amount of blankets.  So he cries and I wake up to see what is the matter, find the necessary goody and put him back to bed.  And then there are the nights when he thinks he isn't tired and we have to put him back to bed 2 or 3 times before it takes. 

They best part is seeing his happy little face when he wakes up in the morning and gets out of bed all by himself.  One morning I was styling my hair (it's always a good day when I am up and at'em before the boys wake up) and in he strolls freshly waken with a giant smile on his face.  A few mornings he has even started playing with his toys first before coming to find me, AMAZING! 

Taking the crib down was a good move!



Nathan's Procedure

This morning Curtis and I took Nathan to the Prescott Outpatient Surgery Center to have a little procedure called a meatoplasty done.  Basically the opening at the end of his little penis was too small, and needed to be enlarged.

About a year ago Curtis noticed that Nathan's urine stream didn't behave in a very normal manner.  It was extremely difficult for Nathan to aim because it naturally shot straight out (from the built up pressure) and it took him forever to empty his bladder.  So at his last check up we mentioned this to his pediatrician and they confirmed our suspicion that something was not normal.  We took him to a specialist and decided to go ahead and do the procedure.  We wanted to avoid complications that come from a restricted urine flow such as UTIs but mostly we wanted him to be able to pee like a normal little boy.  In the doctor's words "pee like a horse." 

The procedure was very simple, just a small cut and 5 stiches, but he had to go completely under for it.  They gave him some medicine to help him be sleepy, and for a bit he seemed a little loopy but it really didn't affect him much.

After we talked with the doctor and the anesthesiologist, we said good bye to Natey and let them take him away.  He was very brave and calm.  I could tell that he felt a little anxious but the staff did a great job putting him at ease.  He loved his koala bear hospital gown, kid sized hospital grip socks, and his new stuffed animal horse they gave him which he named Maximus.

We headed back to the lobby to wait.  After a few minutes the anesthesiologist called us to let us know that he was out and everything went well with getting him prepped.  I guess they have a fishing game of some sort that they have people play to take their mind off of the anesthesia and usually they don't catch any fish.  Nathan caught one on his first try but wasn't sure how he had caught it and couldn't figure out how to catch another one.  Basically it was an accident, but the doctors were all impressed with how well he expressed himself especially when he said "This game is difficult."  They thought it amazing that a 4 year old would use the word difficult. 

After about 30 minutes he was all done and in recovery.  A nurse took us back to him so we could be with him as he came to.  He was already awake, but still a bit dazed.  He had several moments were he just zoned out for a few seconds. 

Everything went well and Nathan is on his way to a full recovery and urine flow.  He is a bit sore today but he has been taking it easy.  The worst part for him is seeing the cut and stiches.  When he needs to pee he holds his shirt over his eyes while I pull his pants down and up.  He keeps asking me if his wee wee will get better some day, and I assure him that it will get better really soon.  We were so proud of him and how brave he was, poor little guy.  But in the end I think he will be glad we did it.

Trek!

Meet the Partridge Family.

Before the trek.

Ma and Pa Partridge

Parker

Patrick

Meaghan

Tim

Mattea

Randy

Amanda

Naomi

Nice and clean.  No axel grease, sweat, dirt or sunburn.

And here we are after the trek; sunburned, tired and in serious need of a shower.

The trek was a great experience, exceedingly memorable. Here are a few highlights:

1.Being run out of Haun's Mill by the singles ward mob.

2. Sleeping in the wide open under the stars.  Cold and hard.

3. Curtis trading his floss for a granola bar at the trading post after saving enough floss to use for the rest of the trip.

4. Practicing our archery skills and Courtney making a better hit than Curtis. Oh yeah!

5. Playing enforcer during the Ho Down by kicking the kids who were trying to escape back onto the dance floor, and holding a teenage boy's brownie hostage so he would complete the square dance. 

6. Waking up after the second night and finding our water had frozen, no wonder my feet were cold.

7. The women's pull, our girls were amazing! Small and mighty.  Those angels came in at exactly the right time, and we were never happier to see our boys come running to our aid.

8.  On our 3rd and final night it finally dawned on us to use all those pine needles for good and make a mattress.  I slept great that night.

9. Walking back into Zion/base camp with friends and family cheering us on.

10. The giant hamburgers waiting for us were awesome too!

But the best part of all was getting to know 9 amazing youth in the Prescott and Prescott Valley Stakes.  Curtis and I were completely exhausted after the whole thing but they were totally worth it.

And just for perspective, that is a dirt line on Curtis's ankle.  He had to scrub it 3 times, once with my pumice stone, to get it cleaned up. 

The BIG 30

We recently celebrated Curti's 30th birthday, much to his dismay.  Curtis is not a big fan of being one year older.  His birthday was the day before we left for the trek, so we kept things simple.  We picked up a couple of pizzas and stuck some candles into a carton of yummy ice cream.  It wasn't until after the trek that we had the opportunity to try out his birthday gift.  Curtis's flagstone patio was part of his backyard dream and it wouldn't be complete without a firepit so that is what the boys and I bought him.

 

For FHE we set up the camping chairs, shared a little lesson, and roasted some marshmellows.  Notice the safe distance, they are keeping?  It lasted for all of 2 mintues.

 

Smores!

Extreme Makeover: Backyard Edition

It is time for the big backyard reveal. 

For 2 crazy months we put all our blood, sweat and tears into transforming our backyard from a decomposed granite waste land into a family friendly paradise.  Last year we finished the patio/sidewalk extension, cut down the dying tree, and constructed the pergola.  Then my sister got engaged, a date was set, and suddenly the rest of our backyard needed some serious attention.

Here are a few before pictures:

 

Not a whole lot of lovely going on back there.

So without further ado, here is our new paradise.

Our freshly updated sunroom.

View out to the flagstone patio.

View out to the pergola.

South side of the yard play area.  Nathan loves to play "tether".

View from play are to pergola patio.

Our grass!

Our flagstone patio.

Our garden plot and hammock, which has become our favorite family hangout. 

So there it is, our own little piece of paradise.