Fourth of July

For the fourth we had a BBQ with our awesome friends, and lit some fantastic fireworks.

Damon loves helping and doing whatever Kyle does, so he loved being able to help with the fireworks.

One of the fireworks let out these parachute guys-Damon loved it!

And our little bug was already sleeping and did not get to enjoy the fireworks. Crazy that we were just out front but he slept through it all. Can't get enough of this face...

Sadly, we had a little accident during the BBQ. We had two grills that we placed away from where we were sitting to cook everything. We had six adults there to help ward off four kids. We were doing great, when with super kid speed little Jo weaseled his way undetected to the grill and took hold of a loop on one of the grill grates with both hands. Poor little one. We got him off fast, and doctored his hands. These blisters did not show up for a few hours. His hands have healed perfectly, and miraculously within 15-20 minutes after his accident he was up smiling and playing.

4 years old...

Damon turned 4 years old on July 3rd. Since his birthday was on Sunday we celebrated on Saturday. We had a little water balloon fight and some popsicles with friends. So happy to have Damon in our family! He brings so much happiness and laughter into our home.

Lincoln gave him an awesome drum shirt...needless to say Damon loved it. He wants to grow up and play the drums just like his daddy.

We LOVE you Damon!

And this is Jo's new thing...when Da falls asleep he pats him on the head. Sometimes he pulls his hair. Just a friendly love gesture between brothers :) He does it a lot when Damon falls asleep in the car. So funny!

On Sunday we had cake. I have been really tied up with stuff so instead of me making him a cake we just let him pick one from the store. He loved this one because it had four airplanes that you put the candles in.

Da was very excited to get this wonderful birthday package in the mail. Thanks grandma!

How we love our boy. So grateful for amazing friends and family! Thanks for making Da's birthday special :)

Visit

Brian, Alisha, Jayce, and Halli were able to stop by for a day on their way from D.C. to Utah, then to California. We had a blast, I am so glad it worked out for them to come. We of course always wish we could be together longer...
The boys loved wrestling and pushing each other with the couch cushions. (I think you can tell the older boys had as much fun as the younger, and maybe more :)

Then Jayce whipped out his awesome superhero capes. Damon was in heaven...

Just love little Hal!

Jo likes to prop himself up on the front of the couch like this when we watch a show or listen to music. It is funny to see him go back to the same spot every time.

Two little angels :)

Jayce was so sweet to let Damon borrow his stuff. They took turns wearing the whole get-up. Damon really thought he had turned into superman. Look at his sweet flying skills!

Oh, all worn out from playing. LOVE these four wonderful kiddos.

We had dessert and put 2 candles on the top so Da and Jayce could each blow one out. Since they won't get to celebrate their birthdays together, we thought they would have fun celebrating their early birthdays!

It all ends way too fast. We really loved having them visit. Hope to be together again soon! Love you all!

The Children's Museum

During the summer Kyle's school schedule has been much more flexible. It so nice. We have made many more trips to the children's museum with Kyle which has made both boys happy, as well as me!

Da really loved the Vet station...he is a natural!

And of course Jo just wanted to snuggle...

Kyle and Damon really love this one...where you use your shadow to change the picture in front of you. They spend lots of time in there.

We just love the children's museum. Took us a year to finally get a pass there but we have definitely used it up!

And a sweet foody face...nothin better!

Little Boys

My little guys love being outside, finding bugs, and getting dirty. So fun to see their faces light up when they see or learn something new.

Behind our apartment there is a little playground. It is nice to have a place to go and play so close. They had it redone recently as well and we are so happy with it! No more broken slide!

I have to really watch Jo now cause he gets up the ladder and climbs up the slide. Even at the bigger playgrounds with the winding slides he does it with all the kids coming down. Both my boys love being active and are little dare devils.

Catching up

Feels like life is speeding by at a million miles an hour...can't keep up. Time to play catch up for a bit. We are having a wonderful summer together! It has been pretty brutal here weather wise. There are endless heat advisories that last for days...temps from 100-120's and with the humidity it just makes for a miserable experience when we have to even step outside for a bit. Crazy that both summers and winters here are wicked extreme. But we have really grown to love living here. Hard to imagine that we will graduate in April and most likely be on to some place new. It is amazing to me how much my boys seem to have grown. It seems as if it happens overnight. They are such good friends, and with that come battles as well...but they sure love each other.

Kyle's birthday was May 7th...So happy to be married to my perfect man! He is 27. OLD!

And some funnies...

Kyle has been working hard at the Law School Clinic all summer. He has gotten great experience and has loved doing it. It is fun to see him be excited about what he is doing especially when the school year can really bring your spirits down. Law School is not the most pleasant thing to endure I am told. He is truly an amazing dad. The boys love him to death and get so hyped up when he can be home to play with them. He also has been having really bad migranes...one lasted more than a week and we ended up going to the ER. He got some drugs that knocked him out, but when they wore off he felt about the same. We ended up taking him to a chiropractor that not only did adjustments but acupuncture. It has really helped. He still gets headaches but they go away and are not as bad. Kyle has also been getting his security clearances and everything worked out for the externship coming up this fall. We are looking forward to moving to D.C. for a few months. And lucky for us Kyle's sweet aunt lives there and has generously offered for us to stay with her. What a relief.
(I think it was Kyle's first trip to the ER, and definitely first IV ever. Better for a bit after some drugs :)

I have been busy helping out with things for my sister's wedding, (My sweet gorgeous wonderful sister Aubrey is getting married to an equally wonderful guy-Landon. We can't wait!!!!) sewing/crafting projects, learning new recipes, preschool with Damon, baby proofing for Jonas, reading, teaching primary and activity days, and who knows what else. I feel like I am going non-stop but when I sit down to see what I have accomplished it never seems like that much.

Damon loves learning. We read, write, play games, get together with friends, occasionally go outside (IT IS TOO HOT!!!!), and just have tons of fun together. He is a great big brother and definitely is already looking out for Jonas. I am so grateful for his sweet tender spirit and that even though he loves to tease and provoke, he truly loves his family and those around him. Both Damon and Jonas got the croup this week so we have kept to ourselves for a bit but are ready to get out and do more things now! So stupid that they got it in the summer...who would have thought.

Jonas is growing like a weed. He sure thinks he is a big boy like those around him now! He has even managed to climb up on our big bar stool/dining room chairs. It is crazy to think my baby is that big already. He is a snuggler, and loves his stuffed animals. He tries to mimic everything he sees Kyle and Damon do. He is just a happy smiley boy and we can't get enough of him.