So I have a ton of pics from Colts birthday-but none with my good camera. I had good intentions but I couldn't find it, I don't use it much so I know I packed it up early. I just haven't found where yet. I was laying in bed thinking about it and I have an idea-it might be in the extra towel bin...I'll have to check! But... About that birthday update! I better get going :) Colts becoming a chatter box more and more he says "oh tay" or sometimes "I day" or some combination of the two with perfect voice inflections for "ok" and it's so dang cute. When he pieces together 2 or 3 word sentences (if we can call them that) it makes me think of the missionaries we know trying to piece together other languages. For example I was pushing him on his trike the other day ~because it was uphill~ but of course little Mr. Independent thought he could do it himself so he said "No! Own! No! Own!" Not correct but he got his point across. He also manages to get his point across when he says "I want" the noise is not those two words at all-but the message it always clear. Hmm.

Here they are getting ready to for a birthday trip to Nauvoo. 

 

That temple was incredible. Isaac and I were rushing to make the session, we had a hard time getting in though. Don't ask me why we didn't think you would just go in the front door? But we walked right past it. (We were trying to stay out of the way of people taking pictures but still.) Finally we asked some guy sitting out on lawn reading scriptures. He said "Ya go in the front door." haha. You don't in Salt Lake, you don't in St. George but Baton Rouge is our most recent temple and you do there whatever-we made it. But as we were wandering around the sign that said "originally built 1846, rebuilt 2002" totally stood out to me.  Just to be the there and think of the sacrifices the early saints made to build it, only only to be driven out and have it destroyed. But to have it there, it was just really neat!

oh wait-later this week we had the missionaries over and they showed us the "new"?? website I'm not sure if its really new or just different or what but the beta.mormon.org (instead of just mormon.org)  But they asked us to share it I thought here would the perfect place. I thought I would put the little video about temples we watched with them on here but...I can't figure out how to embed it :( oh well here's the link https://beta.mormon.org/beliefs/temples.php not exactly what I had in mind but~Challenge met :) 

While Isaac and I rushed to the session, the boys were with my folks-with a few hours to kill they lagged behind, stopped for a Pepsi and stuff. After our session, I always have to wait for Isaac coming out but he was seriously forever! But turns our he'd run into the dad of an inactive guy that is in our ward here, and into Dale Barlow, my old middle school principal who's serving a mission in the temple-that was cool. He had recognized him from the temple in St. George. And seriously that whole temple, I know I already said it once but just the experience of being there. It was awesome!

When we got out we found my parents and kids at a nearby park with some lunch (a whole 'nuther story-not to be ungrateful but worst sandwich EVER we'll be packing a cooler for future temple trips) but they had missed the carriage rides, they ended at noon, because they had time to kill they but had gone over to Carthage first. Colt~happy birthday but totally indifferent, he's 2. Cannon however had a very meaningful experience. Since finding out we were going to move here we've read the children's version of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith several times. And in is 4 year old little boy way he's fascinated. We get thousands of questions: They shot him? How come?  Did he die? He lives with Heavenly Father now? What are mobs? How come they're mean? and so on. But he told us about going to the jail, and going to the room where the prophet was shot. And then he said the blessing on those (disgusting) sandwiches, and it was the sweetest little prayer as he thanked the Lord for the Prophet and that he got to go to the jail where they shot the prophet and that he was thankful that we have a prophet today who's not shot. It was just a very tender experience hear him pray!

Back to Colt's birthday, the missionaries put on a little play (which we haven't actually scene yet) nightly in Nauvoo called Rendezvous at old Nauvoo! I guess we had our own little Rendezvous at old Nauvoo for Colt's birthday. We played and jumped at trees...

 

Colt got a present from Grama and Grampa along the way to keep him happy :)

 

We played pioneer games and learned about bricks

 

 

I don't know why but I LOVE this picture! Its just so Colt!

 

We finally headed back, grabbed some pizza as we got back into town and the birthday fun continued. 

Not the best pic but I had to include he's was as excited about the fruit snacks as anything!!

So it was a pretty fun day! We love our little Colt man and we're so thankful he's in our family!!

But he's a stinker too last week when I blogged I thought he was warming up to Grampa-not so! He was just stubborn about it. He NEVER did give him a hug, he'd start to play with him and be having fun then realize -oh wait it's Grampa never mind I don't want to play I'm just going to duck my head pretend I'm shy! UG so annoying! He was a happy recipient of fruit snacks from Grampa though... (and how bout those undies and rain boots-such a fashion statement-and we're still hit and miss with the old potty training)

 

One day Grama and I were lobbying for the first hug of the morning from the little Colt man (who we often call Sleeping Beauty because he sleeps in so awesome) Cannon won out. And boy is that kid a goof!

 

"Cannon you have to have shoes on to go play baseball."..."I'll just wear dad's." 

 

Cannon is doing awesome on his bike! Being able to ride further than around and around inside the church gym sure helps. Isaac talked him into taking his training wheels off..yeah right, that only lasted about 30 seconds~he wouldn't even try. I don't know, hopefully Colt figures things out with his little balance bike~then maybe they'll end up taking off at the same time. Isaac usually rides around with them for a few minutes when he gets home. This picture was when he was still pro helmet, yesterday he wouldn't wear it "dad doesn't" soooo maybe Isaac's going to have to start wearing his.

 

We had a good time and enjoyed our Grama and Grampa time...then they left. That's always SO HARD ON ME! We're happy to be here, we feel good about it, but I HATE living so far from family! It just never gets easier for me. I tear up EVERY TIME! Isaac asked this time "are you sad?" It's like it's a novel concept to him EVERY TIME that I would be sad. Oh brother, oh well. I did read President Uchtdorf's talk Grateful in any Circumstance this week-it was an awesome uplifting read and I loved how he reminded us we resist (or hate) endings because we are in fact eternal beings! That made me feel better and lucky for me families are forever! And hopefully distance doesn't really exist in the eternities!!....

Then for the rest of the week we just kind of did our thing. These boys are good helpers making cupcakes!

The weathers beautiful here-but my enjoying it is inhibited by my fear of the fact I'm going to freeze to death this winter! Yikes, it makes me nervous. Our neighbors have a tree that's changing colors-its still August! 

Colt's 2 so I decided it was time~see ya later bink! And I was starting to get nervous about his little teeth, it was a rough nap the day I cut it off (Oh and he was such punk when Grampa was here I told him Grampa must have taken the binkies to feed them to his cows cuz I couldn't find them anywhere;) It worked he just said "Oohhh" ...so next time if Grampa still can't talk the little stinker out of a hug--probably my fault.) But the transition has been smooth. It was a rough nap, and rough night that first day but other than than he's been fine. Now, if Colton isn't having a binky there's no reason for Cannon-at 4- to still have a silky that transition has been a little bit tougher but oh I am SO GLAD to have it gone. Well, mostly gone. Sometimes I give in at naps cuz he's Mr. "Well, what will my reward be if I do what I'm supposed to?" drives me crazy but I do it anyway, reward him with tablet time and he's silky free. But when he's watched too much tablet and subsequently a stinker-chew on the dang silk. Those things get so gross but I never worried about it messing up his teeth so I just let it go... too long. It was definitely a crisis the first few days for him "I just need it on my tongue Mom!" but we're making progress so hopefully I can wean that tablet bribe next.

Anyway...

The grocery store here is called HyVee, Colt loves it. Loves to say it. Oh and they have little kid carts. Holy Circus! Two of them and I don't even have a picture to show for it, I forgot my phone and have miss placed my little camera. The icing on the cake was the worker lady telling me "Did you know we offer online shopping--in case you don't want to bring the kids." HAHA point taken, but they had so much fun... I actually think that online shopping thing sounds awesome though.

Last night our Bishopric came over. Cannon was referring to them as "The First Presidency" today. That's a pretty big jump but I think in his mind the Bishopric is Bishop Shields, Brother Blalock, and dad. But it was good to meet our bishop and visit with him and his counselors (He has been out of town for 6 weeks~so the whole time we've been here). And Brother Speaks was so cute playing with the boys while we visited. We all had a great time.

Our neighbor totally keeps to himself but he was out mowing his lawn and found baby bunny and brought it over to show the boys. That was progress, maybe he doesn't hate us! (really I don't think he does I think he's just a keep to himself kind of guy) But we even found out his name. Darren-so that was cool.

 

And because its turning cold on us I made the boys wear pants today, when Cannon came out with floods on I was like "Oh Boy, time to go through your clothes." I had bought some pants on sale off season that I wanted him to try on. Colt was all about it. Eventually we got into the hand me down box and got him some "new" pants out too.  

 

Isaac's busy busy busy and working his little tail off. I'm grateful he's such a hard worker. He's also dreaming of boats (and pulling them with little green) and buying property and who knows what else (probably businesses though)  I'm trying not to smoother his fun too much. Kind~of trying, somebody has to be the voice of reason around here! I heard him ask his dad on the phone if he thought he could pull a boat with little Green and I heard Ralph say "NO" and now its documented here! Isaac's sure I'm just embarrassed and that's why I don't want him too. Never mind the fact its CRAZY! Can you imagine backing little green down a boat ramp? With that image in mind I think its a good stopping place ;)

-until next week!

Happy Birthday Colton!

We Love You!!

More pics and an update to come!

Mostly the week was waiting on the internet! No, of course we had more fun than that especially with Grama here! But finally getting back connected was HUGE.  And Wednesday we drove into Kansas City and picked up Grampa!! He came for Colts birthday (today!!!!) then they will drive back together. Saturday night we went to a BBQ with Isaac's new coworkers. One of the gals has two little boys ages 2 and 7 so my boys had fun. She had a little blow up bounce house thing, they loved that, and the the guy who hosted it  had some green beans in his garden the boys were picking. They had a great time then they'd show'm to the grown ups like it was an amazing discovery-it was really cute. Sundays with Isaac on the bench with us are an adjustment. I'm just saying- Cannon knew he couldn't get away  with some of that nonsense with me! Isaac has so much fun with him but then tries to explain to the 4 year old that he's getting them both in trouble. Oh brother! Anyway, Cannon's doing well in his new class, Colt's 50/50 with nursery, and I think we're slowly adjusting to the new ward. Tuesday we had dinner over at the Lingwall's and celebrated Jeff's birthday with them. They are nice, Isaac and Jeff carpool in everyday. Wednesday night they ran out of gas on the way home. I left the boys with my folks to drive the rescue mission. It all worked out:) Colt had been SO excited for Grampa to come but then he was SO shy and really a stinker, wouldn't even give him a hug! But I think he finally worked through that when he got some spoiled birthday shopping time with just him and Grama and Grampa while I took Cannon to his preschool assessment. (Which he did great on) I came home and Colt was rock'n some pretty cute rain boots. Grampa helped us pick out Cannon a t-ball bat too. Then he became the pitching machine :)

Today we're headed to Nauvoo! We thought it would be fun for Colt's birthday and then Grama and Grampa get a days break before their really long travel days, it's really great to have them here though-we're loving it! 

I think Nauvoo and Colts birthday warrant  a seperate post though-so I'll call it good for now!!

Photo dump!!

Well, here's at least some of the pictures I know I wanted to put on here. When I went to open the computer I haven't touched in 3 weeks I realized I don't have a power cord-hoping Isaac has it at school-but for now it means no pics off of my little camera. (And that I'll wait yet another day to pay the bills I usually pay online oh well) 

Fun with Cousins at the Daley family reunion. (apparently there is a state law that you have to be at least 6 to get in the hot tub -who knew we've been such negligent parents, my kids love the "hot pool"- but they were stuck on the outside of this one, the rule was strictly enforced) but the cousins made it fun for my boys anyway! Thanks guys!

 

Back in Kirksville. 

Welcome Grama, these goofy boys are happy to see you!!

 

Colt got a big boy bed, it has a cute bedspread and Cannon has one that matches but somehow this is the only picture I have of it. Whoops. I'll work on that.

Grampa came for Colt man's birthday. He was so excited. We saw a plane land and he ran to the window and yelled "Poppa!" But it wasn't Poppa's plane and then we waited, and finally we found Poppa in the hall-it was not what Colt had dreamt up and he wasn't going for it. Little Stinker!

 

We had to celebrate Grampa's arrival with a little ice cream from McDonalds ;)

 

 Grama likes a Pepsi every once in a while but somehow when Grampa got here Colt talked him into his "own pepee" (root beer) it was pretty hilarious. He figured he outta get one every time he got in he car with them. Check him out smack'n his little lips in this video. 

 

Ole Cann man, he'd just get a water.

And one last pic of Grampa the pitching machine.  With Colt rock'n the diap and rain boots. yikes.

Oh man, we had a great time in Utah but holy cow that turn around time was WAY TO QUICK for how AWFUL that DRIVE is. It was death! We thoroughly enjoyed the Daley family reunion Saturday and took off Sat night. (With Grandpa Ison in the hospital they canceled their homecoming talks so we took off a little sooner than originally planned because that gave us a little cushion as far as the meetings Isaac he had to be here for Monday) The drive totally sucked-I mean twice in less than a week, yuck! I'm the one that got pulled over this time, whoops! As we were pulling back on to the road Isaac said "good job Honey" I don't know what I said but I'm sure it wasn't nice and was probably along the lines of "What is wrong with you? I just got pulled over there's nothing good about it!" Anyway his response was "No, good job on just getting a warning." I smiled and said "Oh, I guess I've learned something from you." It was just at the start of I 70 headed back I got up over that mountain pass then Quick Silver ran away with me going down the other side. Whoops. Anyway-no ticket but I was good and awake after that to drive for another few hours-if we're looking for silver lining...
We had good intentions of going to church somewhere along the way but once we drove past Denver our chances of that we're pretty much shot. We usually try not to travel on Sunday so it was pretty weird. I'm glad that's not typical for us. There's just something special about the Sabbath day--that we miss when we are stopping at McDonalds and such, UG actually just typing McD's makes me want to gag at this point...Yuck.
Monday Isaac was off to work and the boys and I were on a mission to get two essentials: some groceries and the internet! Well, and least we ended up with some food...
I purposely hadn't called on the internet the one day we were in town before our trip because I knew we'd be gone a week and wouldn't need it. Turns out I should have called. We're signed up for service, I even paid the first months bill on Monday and I still have to wait until next Thursday for them to come hook it up. I think my throat has been cut! Limping along on limited data here-keep getting the text updates about it being mostly used. Crud. So no pics this week-hopefully next week!!
Tuesday Grama came! YAY! Welcome to the land of no internet Grama! But we're glad she's here! And she had her car loaded up! Not "prizes" for the kids, they were for me :) she'd given me new pots and pans for Christmas, she had new bedspreads a new (old) sewing machine. All kinda of good stuff.  I'm telling ya I hit the jackpot. And she had this silly heart rate monitor watch IHC had given her but she didn't want, I keep telling her it's my favorite prize. I love it. But then she's just kinda done her thing, worked her magic, and turned our new little house into a home :) pictures up-decorated-all that kinda fun. It's look'n and feel'n good around here :)
I think all the craziness caught up with my poor little Colt Man, that or those darn eye teeth, or maybe both but he's sure felt crummy-poor little toad. Then Cannon might being catching whatever Colt had. Isaac's been busy busy busy with meetings and getting ready for the semester, the last couple nights he's come home for dinner and played with the boys for a minute then gone back to work and stayed long past when I'm in bed. Hopefully it will get a little less crazy for him soon!
I think that's about it. They did let Grampa Ison out of the hospital so that was good, but I haven't really heard anything more.

So Kirksville really only lasted a couple hours last Friday! We unloaded then Isaac was ready to take the truck back...wait, there's no budget place in Kirksville! Crud! How'd that little detail slip by us? So we were off to Ottumwa Iowa. This time we pulled quick silver on the dolly and Cannon and I shared his copilot seat. Finding the truck return place-and even a gas station proved to be a bit of a circus but oh well we survived and then headed to Nauvoo!

It was the last night of the British pagent. It started at 8:30-we pulled up about 8:40 but we heard the national anthem as we walked up and found a couple seats. It was good, the George Cannon family was part of the story line, that was cool. But it was a little rough to take an almost 2 and a 4 year old to and think they were going to sit still. We got home so late! That little two hour drive felt like forever! And the worst part was when I realized we didn't feed our kids. Serious! I mean sure they'd eat'n enough pretzels and fruit snacks to keep them content and we stopped and got milk which they both prefer to food anyway but...what the heck? We really didn't even try feed our kids real food! Horrible! Can I find solace in the fact those starving pioneer kids would have just been happy to have pretzels? Probably not huh? 

When we finally we're getting back to a Kirksville Colt was back awake and screaming his head off. I swear milk and pretzels have a coke and mentos type reaction in that kids tummy. I knew I was in trouble and I know he gets car sick so I grabbed some childrens motion sickness medicine (it said reliefs symptoms immediately so I went for it) got him to eat it and miraculously we avoided disaster. 

At one point we had talked about going back to Nauvoo for the Nauvoo pagent Saturday but Friday really did us in-we can go next year! 

Saturday was fun and busy! When Isaac told Cannon they were going to wash the cars the first thing he did was come in the house with the bucket (aka garbage can) to get some water out of the shower--no buddy! We have an outside tap now!!! Little things ;) the poor kid as been deprived!

There are little rabbits all over up there so Cannon named the first one they saw Carroter and the second one was Colt's-he named his Blue (I totally thought we should have celebrated that with Blue Bunny ice cream but we didn't...yet) anyway so Cannon and Isaac decided we needed to plant some carrots for the new pets.

Sunday we went to church, (Isaac signed up to feed the missionaries that day...I had never even been to the grocery store I had just picked up a few minimal things at walmart but...we made it work and I promised to feed them a better meal another time!) Monday Isaac had meetings for work and that evening it was on the road-again. About 2 hours into our drive Isaac said "we've gotta be close to adam-ondi-ahmen" and within about 5 minutes he had seen a sign for it and we had a detour!

The drive was LONG but the boys did great, we rolled in to the Ison family reunion/vacation Tuesday afternoon. One unforeseen event that's a bummer (but definitely seems to be a blessing too) they had taken Grandpa Ison to the hospital. They drained a ton of fluid off him and his heart rate was getting better so hopefully he gets out soon. So we went to see him a few times but mostly we've just played played played!

Colton hiked through "the crack" or "little squeeze" as the cousins call it with Grandma and dad! 

Cannon did it the 2nd time we went up there! He gets so scared of things but man once he clears that fear hurdle there is no stopping him! I was very proud of him! (Pics coming)

It was a rainy wet mess the second time so I went camera instead of phone. I went too the second time and I'll tell ya "little squeeze" is getting to be kindof a big squeeze in my old age! Ha ha! Wait! Not funny!

Cannon's got an abundance of screen time (Stacey's parents home where we're staying has a big theater room and the cousins have a movie on most of the time) 

Isaac and his siblings went on a bike ride.  We hiked Kanarraville falls with Grandma, Uncle Shawn, and his girlfriend Lauren (pictures pending-again water was involved so they're on my camera instead of my phone)

Oh and we survived family pictures minus  Grandpa (we left a spot for photo shop) every buddy was super happy... Ok maybe not me. Isaac is totally hiding Nathan and I needed to stand up straight and suck in! Oh well! It's not my favorite, I was fine-maybe even happy-with being the last ones positioned but I'll know for next time I don't like where that leads. The colors turned out really cute though ;)

Today we when repelling with uncle Bryan. After I ended up upside down????? I didn't push for the boys to go-call me crazy. But I did make it and Isaac went and had fun.

The good...and the bad

A few more pics :)