#8

Unfortunately since Marley can't talk well and doesn't really know what is going on most of the things I'll post about will be about Garrick.

The new Elders Quorum came over to visit with the family the other day. Garrick went up to each one of and whispered a 'secret' in their ear. Two of them got a 'Polar Express" and the other got a 'Rudolf'. Now if you know kids you know they don't know how to properly tell a secret. So he did his extra breathy secrets in their ears. He loved the attention and the Elders Quorum laughed and were really good sports about it.

#9

After weeks of begging for us to put up the Christmas tree, I caved and told Garrick that if he took a nap after church the week before Thanksgiving we would put up the tree. I brought up the tree and put it in the middle of the family room. I came back to find both Garrick and Marley on top of the box.

We got the tree up and Garrick disappeared. We heard grunting. He had hauled the lodge-pole tree from his room to decorate.

I love my kids.

Count Down to Christmas #10

I thought I'd post something each day to count down to Christmas. I always think I'll remember, but I usually don't so hopefully this will be a great reminder of the Christmas 2009.

Not the first memory of the season, but definitely one of the funniest.

Garrick and Marley got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. I got them off his lap and he reached in his bag and gave Garrick a book. Icky looked up at him and said, "Where's my yo-yo?"

I just assumed that he knew that Santa would bring it to him on Christmas. But to Garrick, Christmas is everyday.

More Sleep

This is my poor baby pooped at Thanksgiving. I've been meaning to post it for a while. It is just so darn cute. Happy Holidays.

Carl. . . the builder.

Carl poured some cement a couple of weeks ago with the plan to build a shed over the winter. Well, the winter came really quickly. He build the rafters in the basement the week before last, then he built the walls in the garage last week.


We put up the walls on Thursday. Andrew came on friday and helped Carl put up the rafters and the plywood on the walls. Icky, Marley, and Tucker had a good time playing. Marley loved Tu-ter.


My Dad and Andrew came back on Saturday and finished up putting the plywood on the roof and got it all tarred in.

There is still a lot of work to be done but Carl has done a great job, and he couldn't have done it without Andrew and my Dad. Thanks so much. Sooner than later we'll have a place to put all our stuff.

OCTober

October was full of fall fun. It began with my birthday, on which the kids were sick so we only took a little four-wheeler ride up Farmington Canyon. Four people on one four-wheeler was a bit of a joke and the ride only lasted about 15 minutes. (It was freezing that day.)

Then Carl and I took a trip to Seattle to spend the weekend with my brother Josh and his wife Erin. It was really good to visit, we've always been really close to Josh and we had a great time. (We carved some great pumpkins and ate; pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread and a ton of great cheese.)
Carl and I at the top of the space needle, which was cool, thanks Josh-head. Josh and Carl Rockin out at the EMP museum.Josh at Pike Market, Garrick always says that the crabs pinch him in Seattle, so we took this pic.


Then of course Halloween, the kids loved Trunk-or-Treating and Trick-or-Treating. Their Peter and Tink costumes turned out really cute, I made them both from patterns I made, I'm pretty proud. Marley figured out really quick that if you say treat they give you treats and she had her bucket in one hand and a piece of candy in the other at all times.Garrick sword fighting with his friend Aiden, he was a knight and his sister was a princess, they were very cute. Trick or Treating with Tucker at Grandma's.

Loathing

I have a ton to post about from October, a Seattle trip, yard projects, and of course Halloween. But for the time I will post another priceless moment brought to you by our little Icky. Garrick loves music and singing and always has. He walks around humming the "Mosters vs. Aliens" song. (the piano song the president plays for the robot) So I was excited when I discovered Pandora has a Disney station and we listen to it on my iPhone all the time (in lieu of tv, it is great). Well the other day the Loathing song from Wicked came on and I was singing, and having a good time. Garrick piped in and asked what "loaving" was, and what the song was about. So I told him. Now he walks around singing "Loaving, unadulterated loaving." He'll tell you it means you don't like anybody. He never forgets a thing, I love it.

H1N1

No! (I just want to reassure everyone that we don't have it, yet.) I went with my sister Annita yesterday to get our little one's H1N1 shots. The Davis Convention Center was a joke that wasn't funny, so Annita looked up another place. We drove to Salt Lake, since I had the day off I figured no biggy. I tried not to tell Icky that he was getting a shot, but I finally did. He didn't care until the nurse was ready to take us back. I am holding Marley, who has no clue what is going on, and dragging Garrick, who is already crying and saying he doesn't want a shot. We get to the room and he freaks out. I have to shut the door and the nurse finally says that we should give Marley hers first. She cried for a minute and then I put her down and she was fine. I then wrestle (literally) Garrick's pants down, and pin him to the table. He cries and screams and fights and we are done. But. . . he continues to cry and won't let me put him down. So I walk out of the office carrying my 40 lb 3 year old, hysterically crying, and holding my 1 year old's hand. It was a pain but hilarious. I was just really glad that Annita and Tony were around to give a helping hand. And yes my 3 year old is suddenly a wimp.

Maybe Fall

I love all things fall, not as much this year as in years past since we did a little detour to winter for a couple of days, but I love fall. I have had new additions to my fall agenda since I've been married and then again when we had kids. Carl hunts in the fall and it is a little harder to get out in the great outdoors as much. But it is still great. I love wearing jackets and letting the sun warm me instead of the air. I love raking leaves and getting the garden winterized. DO not get me wrong, this is not an anticipation for winter just a great fall. So here is to my favorite season of the year!!

We haven't been super busy this fall but we've had a good time. We went on a play date to Layton park with my friend Heidi and her kids who are the same exact ages as Icky and Mo.


Marley got some new shoes. Which she wanted to wear EVERYWHERE!!


The kids were excited to get the Halloween stuff out. My cute Bucketheads.








And of course we spent last weekend watching Conference.

Lets Get Together . . .

(Andrew, Kerry, Blancas & Paige, Dan & Laura, Curt & Jodi, Carl & Megann, and Bobby & Mechelle)

(Andrew, Kerry, Blancas, Dan, Curt, Carl, and Bobby)






On Labor Day we had a get together with a group of our friends. We, Carl and I, are transplants to this group. They consist mostly of my brother's friends from high school. I remember in high school thinking that they were always making fun of me. I was the awkward sophomore and they were the mighty seniors. Well, they went on missions, to college, and got married and so did I. They started inviting us to their get togethers when we moved up from Ephraim, and they just keep inviting us. Everyone who knows this group knows two things; that they have for the most part continued to stay close, and that the organizers are Curt and Jodi.

So, when Curt and Jodi announced that they were moving to Indiana, we were all very sad and shocked. Most everyone talked of how the group wouldn't do as many get togethers since Curt and Jodi always planned. Carl and I were particularly bummed since we would hang out with them twice a month or more, and they were always around when we needed them. They came to the hospital to see our babies, they helped us with carpet, with the yard, and needless to say we've really missed them. Of course they come into town to bless Kara, their new baby, for the first time in months; and they planned a get together. They asked us to host since they don't have a house here anymore and we agreed.

We had a great time. We played volleyball at the park near our house, ate a lot of good food, played the washer game, and caught up. We really have missed Curt and Jodi, along with everyone else since we haven't gotten together since they moved. Thanks guys for adopting the little sis and her farmer man, we love you guys.


(The kids, minus Blancas and Paiges' since they are a little old for ring around the rosie.)
(Bobby and Kara, who are both very cute. I didn't want to leave you out Bobby)

10 Year Reunion

This last weekend we had our Roy High Class of 1999 Reunion. We really had a great time and it was really good to see everyone. With that in mind I am really glad it is over. After a year of tracking people down and planning I am burned out and am glad that since the reunion I haven't dreamt of high school once. Thanks so much to those who came; but especially, to the Officers, Lesley, Lana, Dan, and Lindsey, they really were a life saver and put a ton of effort into making sure this whole thing was a success. Carl was also a trooper and took money at alumni night and was my IT guy for the dinner at the Timbermine. Yeah!! I don't have to worry about this again for another 9 years, oh the mistakes of youth. I thought it would be cool to be an officer, and it was until a year ago. Love you guys.

Listening

We've really been talking to Garrick a lot about listening and doing what we ask. I double check that he understands what we're asking of him but that doesn't mean it always happens. This last weekend we went with Carl down on the mountain to go hunting, Icky has been so excited about it. So we went down and stayed in the trailer while Carl was hunting. We stayed in the trailer Thursday night and Friday night and were headed to Carl's parents Saturday.

While we were up there we decided to go to Electric Lake, since we bought the property Icky has wanted to go throw rocks in it. Saturday we packed our stuff and a lunch since we were coming off the mountain and stopped at the lake. Garrick had a ball throwing rocks and trying to skip them, and Marley loved the dirt. We were headed to go eat our lunch at the car when I decided to go to the boat ramp and wash their hands off. I thought to myself that I should just wash them at the car, but reasoned out of it and went to wash their hands. When hands were washed they started splashing. Again, I thought I should just go to the car, but reasoned that they were just going to splash for a minute. I told both of the kids that they could play as long as they stayed on the cement. After a few minutes Marley kept trying to go deeper, and they both ventured off the ramp a step or two. I kept Marley on the ramp and didn't let her go, but I gave Icky a little more freedom. Well Icky stepped off again and lost his balance, I told him to come back to the ramp and to come towards me. He tripped and fell, when he reached down to push himself up he couldn't reach and kicked off with his legs further into the lake. He did that again and I could tell that if he got his feet down he could reach but he had panicked. I headed into the water as he kicked off one more time. With Marley dangling from my left hand I reached down and grabbed Garrick by the collar of his shirt. I got out and was wet up past mid-thigh. I don't know what I would have done because right about where his head was the water had started getting really dark and deep. I was shaking and I will never forget the terror in his eyes as I reached for him in the water.

I talked to him about how he needed to listen to me and do what I say. As I thought about it later I feel even worse because I didn't listen. Two times I ignored promptings to get out of the situation. It was a real eye opener to me about how well I listen and how important my kids are to me. If my back had been turned I really could have lost him that day in the lake and it breaks my heart. I am truly blessed to have such great and beautiful kids, I love you Garrick.

Door

This happened to Garrick yesterday on our way to swimming lessons. He was watching a girl on the eliptical (he told Carl she was cute, so we're in trouble already). And smacked right into the bar between the double doors. I tried really hard not to laugh, but it was pretty funny. I love you Icky.

What kind of parent are you?

Garrick is a bit of a klutz, and he definitely gets it from me. He hurts himself when he is running around all the time. He'll land funny and hurt his foot. Well at Carl's parents over the 24th he was playing with his cousins and smacked his foot on a couch or the coffee table or something and hurt it. He has been limping on it for a whole week and we figured it was bruised. Then Monday he was running around and fell, started crying and wouldn't put any weight on his foot. We decided we should figure out what was going on so we took him to the after hours clinic. They took an x-ray and his foot is fractured. So my little man is running around in a splint now and then maybe a cast for 4-6 weeks. Funny thing is when he wanted a sucker at the Dr. office he ran right over and asked. So he isn't too bad but we did feel bad that we didn't get him in sooner. (He is pretending to be sad here.)
He keeps telling me that it is all better and that I can take the splint off. Fun.

Fun in the Sun

If any of you know us very well you know that many a weekend is spent with Carl's parents in Fairview. The 24th of July is the big holiday and it is fun because in a small town there is always a lot to do. Also Carl's brother comes in to town so we all get together. We had a great time with the family, but for Garrick the highlights were the parades. He got to ride in the kids parade on his trike and the horse parade with his dad. (Carl and Garrick in the horse parade on Lucky, yes Garrick has a cape and a wand)
(Marley LOVED the horse parade.)

We also went to the pool a couple of times last week, once with a couple of my sisters and once with some friends. We had a great time. I finally am doing something with Marley's hair and it turns out pretty cute, Thanks AMY!!

Tricks

Marley is getting so big. Here are a couple of her new tricks.

She started being brave and taking more than one or two steps on Friday. Yeah!!

Marley is mastering the both up and down on the stairs and while she was practicing during our power outage today she was shakin' it. She loves to shake it whenever there is music, but today on the stairs it was hilarious and I missed the best one, no camera in reach.

Here is #1(as he started calling himself today) trying to get some attention away from #2. He doesn't quite have the rhythm that Marley has, but he is cute none the less.

Family Reunion

The annual Evans'(my mom's family) family reunion was a week ago and the highlight was the 'wiggle car.' I think they are called plasma cars but regardless of what they were called they are definitely the best part. We go to Daniels Canyon and the campground has a huge hill. Now usually the little kids are crusing down the hill on their bikes and the adults are freaking out because it isn't safe. This year a couple of my cousins brought their wiggle cars and my family being the rebels that we are go on them and we raced them down the hill. I think they are supposed to be just for kids, and my cousins weren't happy, but they didn't put them away so. . .
Garrick and my cousin Conrad, his new best friend. Conrad always brings cool contraptions that shoot things into the air. Icky loved it.
If you look close it is Garrick and Carl racing Kevin and Carter. My boys won.
Kevin, Carl, and Andrew racing down the hill. I think Kevin won.

Pictures

I took the kids to Target to get their pictures done. They turned out pretty cute considering I was outnumbered and they were crazy.

Camping, 1, swimming, and the 4th

We have had a busy couple of weeks but they've been great.

First, since we have a 4-wheeler, we had to test it out. Weekend before last we went up to the Gatherum family property at Causey and stayed the night. Camping in a tent was a little rough on us but we had a great time. Garrick is such a boy and his favorite part was throwing rocks in the streams. Marley was terrified of Jade (the dog) she kept popping up when Marley least expected it. I felt bad but it was hilarious.









Marley's first birthday was last week and we had such a good day. We did some shopping, and then the kids played in the sprinklers in the back yard, Marley loved the mud. My parents came over for dinner, presents, and cake. Garrick liked opening presents and Marley loved to watch him, he now has a hard time understanding why they aren't his. She loved her cake and crushed it into tiny bits. Happy Birthday Baby!!













We were going to go swimming on Marley's birthday but I didn't have anyone to go with me so we went on Wednesday when Aunt Chann could come. Thanks Chann for helping out. We had such a good time. Both the kids loved the water and the slides. Icky remembered to blow out when he went under the water, which was great considering he hasn't had lessons for 2 years. We had a hard time getting him out of the water and are definitely planning another pool trip soon.









The 4th we went down to Carl's parents. We had such a good time. We helped his neice watched his sister's 6 kids for them (it was a great reminder why we aren't in a rush for more than we have)they were good though, we'd do it again. We did a lot of 4 wheeling, hanging out with the family and the parade. Carl also helped heard some sheep on the mountain, we met them at the top and Garrick and I got to help for a little while. We don't use the horses enough. Marley finally started using a sippy cup, let the weaning begin!! She also started taking a few steps, yeah for toddling. We're having a great summer.