Totally impossible to describe how much I love these little characters and how lucky I am to be their mom.

 

I'd say it's been a mostly uneventful week. I mean, adventure abounds but that's on account of Isaac, and somehow I still think I can call life uneventful. We survived the ward shindig last Saturday, (phew) it was fun, a success, whatever. And starting when it ended I feel like I got really lazy. I really have a hard time getting up the nerve to get out and do anything.  Isaac's around though so we do plenty! (3 trips trips to the lake/beach -I finally skipped out on tonight's- and one to the river) but the boys and I haven't done too much on our own this week. Today I invited some friends for lunch, it was fun, I told the boys it was my play date. Ha! And I guess yesterday we went to some of the boys friends from preschools house. We were going to go to a birthday party there Saturday but we eagerly scratched that because we are going to get to see Uncle Bryan in Nauvoo (or maybe Quincy) tomorrow, it will be extra good since we missed him while we were in Utah. So we did the  play date instead of party. The boys loved playing with their toys but hardly played with the other boys. An age thing? Maybe, oh well I had a good visit with their mom. 

So lets get to the pics on this uneventful post. 

Little britches his getting his hands on the o-ball. Look at that concentration. And I may have another silky sucker. Oh great.

 

 

Somehow these two talked me into making cupcakes. It was actually a fun little project we took some and a primary shirt over to our home teacher who turned 85 on Wednesday. He's cool guy! Cannon let me know I never made him cupcakes on his birthday and could we please light a candle...sure...Colt of course wanted in on it too. (Oh and Colt put in his birthday request this week, he wants a phone that has a camera on it. He's turning 3! Keeping dreaming little buddy--he likes to dream big I guess-He gets that from Isaac)

We also roasted a few mini marshmallows on a candle. That was a fun trick--and TOTALLY slowed them down as far as eating them. (They never made it into mini-smores but I had graham cracker and chocolate chip ready just in case.)

 

Such concentration!

After I burned myself with that project (making sure they didn't burn themselves) and burned myself cooking dinner the next night Isaac told me we were going to start having family safety briefings. (Not the first time he's said that-funny guy) Maybe I should take him up on it. But maybe I just requested he not fix the boys too small $1 flip flops with sharp objects (an old nail) because flip flops get left in the middle of the floor and then tripped on by me. Not fun. We might have to split the load of these safety meetings.
On to the dad man adventures. At the river: Their "Boat"

Tanner and I totally should have stayed home, the poor little toad was SO sweaty, home would have been a much more comfortable snooze...but then we wouldn't have any picture evidence--so lets say TanO and I sweat it out for the sake of documentation.

Apparently they always climb out on tree limbs like this and at their normal spot Dad can get on too and even Belle-but she fell off once into the river and it was pretty funny. (See, the documentation is important. But I  still couldn't hack the 3rd trip to the lake in one week--even though they took the Seahawk--maybe next time.)

I'd need a whole other blog to document the projects Isaac is dreaming up. Last week it was a bus that had been converted into a blood donation station-or some dang thing. And whatever else he finds on the Richie Brothers Auction site (Oh the boys were playing downstairs and I hear Cannon say "Noooo Colton you can't use that one I sold it at the auction!"....pretty sure this type of imaginary play dialogue ONLY happens at our house.) Anyway this week it is a house that's listed for 14K...pretty sure he's going to get what he pays for. He drove me by it today-he loves the idea of a project. I'm not sure we need THAT scale of a project. Maybe I should remind him how much time the doghouse took before he bites off a real house project. He would really love for me to find joy in fixing it up with him. I can't even keep a straight face typing that. I'm not for it, but I just shrug and tell him to do whatever he wants. Next week, could be something entirely different. 

Significant things this week.
Cann's been trying to be a little more brave and swim a little without a life jacket.
Colt says "Got it mom?" or else "Right mom?" about 400 times a day, not sure its significant but it does sum up the week.
Tanner's finding his little voice and its pretty dang cute, when he gets making all kinds a squeaky  noises Cannon tells him he sounds like "a dead cat"...pretty sure he means a dying cat--they have a story book where Ernie describes Big Bird's violin playing as a dying cat-so that's where it comes from but at any rate its pretty funny.
On Shad's (Elder Rosaschi) recommendation I reread my patriarchal blessing this week. That was awesome and I should do it more regularly. It was a perfect dose of  feeling the Lord's love in my life mixed with  knowing I can do better and in specific areas! Yike! But in a good way.

Nauvoo & More Summer Adventures

Oh what a week. I cannot even begin to describe how much fun we had Nauvoo. We stopped for a little picnic lunch and saw kids from primary at the park, then I got to go in the temple and the first person I saw in there was Sis Gilchrists from our ward. Then we met up with the Sheilds family! It was so good to see them and visit we had so so so much fun. We didn't get there in time for carriage rides but the boys still walked over and checked out the oxen and then they rode the carriage when it was on its way back to the barn and they got to make a human fence when they were moving some horses -the boys thought it was pretty cool, and Liz and I got to catch up. A little while later the Marchant's got there which just made it more fun! Such a great little reunion! The kids were so happy to see each other they would have been content to just stay right on that one little piece of grass and race and play! But we did hit some of the historical sites and probably did more of them than we ever have-everything's better with friends!! We weren't going to stay for the pageant just because the boys were tired and they wouldn't enjoy it but...we did! And they did enjoy it. No Way we're we bail'n out on that party early-it was too much fun! And we're so glad we stayed, the pageant was great!

 

Now the bad news is that we didn't get home till 1 o'clock in the morning. So Sunday morning and Sunday at church were a little rough...ok completely disastrous-but hey we survived it and it was totally worth it. 

Monday we had the missionaries over and they said "Hey are you busy Thursday?" which I wasn't so I could take them to there transfers which is what they needed but...yikes! I'll get to that. Tuesday and Wednesday we went visiting teaching. Wednesday we also went to some people in our ward's farm my boys were in heaven! Me? well, we know I'm not an animal person but it was OK. I told Isaac if I die he should totally marry a farm girl!

 

Thursday was a disaster, where to start? Oh yeah at 4:45 in the morning so I could pump for Tanner. Then I get over to the missionaries to pick them up and I can't get their suitcases to fit in the back of the van. Crud. Wait backing up. I'd agreed to take the missionaries but then we found out another lady in our ward was going to have to go too. Isaac intervened, having had to take them before when not all of them need to go, they just want to go. I get it, its fun for them to see old friends/companions and so on but not at the point your going to make extra people drive 6 hours! So basically Isaac has been in that situation before so when it was me he stepped in and talked to them about being reasonable and even if the other person could do it, it would be better to have that sister available next time so the 3 that need to go, go with me (cuz with all 3 kids I didn't have room for 4) anyway and the other sister could just go on a split with sisters here. Ok. Cool. I totally agreed with Isaac so that morning I get there and we (correction I-they seriously just stood there and watched while I loaded reloaded and tried to arrange all of their junk, I wasn't amused) We interact with a LOT of missionaries, we love the missionaries...these ones struggle... anyway finally we just threw one of the big suitcases in the front of the van and headed back to pick up the boys. While driving I have an epiphany-we can just use the dog carrier. SO I wake Isaac up and ask him to put it on. Well he gets dressed and goes out there and starts lecturing the missionaries about not having so much stuff. "We talked about being reasonable, it is not reasonable to have this much stuff." He says to the one that's staying! So at that point I get uncomfortable because even if he's right I don't feel like its his place to tell them and I still have to ride 3 hours with these kids. (And there would have been plenty of room if the other lady would have driving too but it was our fault she wasn't...anyway) I did have him put the dog carrier on. We put one of the HUGE suitcases on it. And away we went-I'm telling you though they just weren't firing on all cylinders, big broad shouldered missionary sits in the back between the boys car seats, little tiny missionary sits shotgun??? Oh and did I mention Colt was screaming cuz he got woke up (and oh he is a screamer-I hate it but I haven't cured it yet) So we get there I didn't think about the fact that we had to take the dog carrier off to get to the trunk but we did and we left it with the missionaries at the church and headed for the Marchant's. We get back on the freeway and Colt says "I need to Puuuuu" I was like "What? You need to poop? Oh we were just at the church hang on we're almost to the Marchants" bla bla He says "No, I need to Puuuuu." I think he had to tell me "throw up" before I realized he was saying "Puke" So I frantically empty a box that had snacks in it and throw it back to him with instructions "If you puke, your head better be in that box I'm looking for an exit!" Then Cannon's giving me a play by play. Oh man. He did puke. In the box. We survived it. And had a great time at the Marchant's. Totally great to get to see the Marchants twice in one week that was awesome! I had taken the Shields boys some primary shirts but I didn't know in time that the Marchant's were coming to Nauvoo but I took them some this trip and they loved them. Hunter kept saying "This is my new shirt!!" That was fun. The boys said "next time can we come and NOT bring the missionaries?" haha ya, no kidding.

 

But we enjoyed our visit, it went by quick and the missionaries text and said they were ready-so we headed back. This time the new one's stuff fit easily in the back of the van, but then we had to put the dog carrier back on to bring it home. So I'm holding Tanner thinking one of the Elder's was going to help me? Nope. So I'm carrying it across the parking lot in one hand and baby in the other-Cannon was trying to help so then the Elder who was supposed to be helping sees me and comes to help-well he gets a buddy to help. So it takes 2 of them to do what I was doing with one arm while I had a baby in the other arm-- intermission in my story: Isaac just wants me to be happy in whatever situation or circumstance that happens. So when he asked how it went I said "Good" I wonder how he feels about liars? So this is so long because its really my chance to vent. Sorry readers. But okay Time in. Two Elders carry it to behind the van (I had parked in a different spot because the Sisters I was taking were in the different spot all standing by their luggage) anyway they take it behind the van and set it down. Ummmm thanks. So I get a blanket out and set Tanner down in the shade and I put the dumb thing on including crawling under the van to do the stupid little pin thing-I forget how handy Isaac's long arms are. BUT I forget and its totally my fault but if I haven't painted a picture of myself being frazzled I assure you, I was! So forgot the little piece of foam that he puts under the lip of the dog carrier so it won't scratch the van. I remembered when we were about 1/2 way home. Too late. So yeah all of this fun and I totally scratched the crud out of the bumper of the van by taking the dog carrier which we didn't even need on the way back. (Along with "Good" I did tell him this part) But yikes. He wasn't mad, he just said "bummer" ya bummer! And he was right, unreasonable for them to have such dang big suitcases. And...I'm still going-of course I am- we got home and Cannon said "My tummy hurts" So it wasn't until later that night but we topped off the day with Cannon puking all over the carpet-no effort to get to the bathroom or the garbage. I know he's only 5 but I was so frustrated! Both boys were one puke and fine afterward, thankfully it wasn't worse, but I don't know what got into them? Tanner got in on it too-he puked all over me! At 3 1/2 months he still gets a pass though. SOOOO I wasn't sad to have yesterday end! Today we bought stuff for the little ward activity primary got thrown under the bus on being in charge of. Depending on how tomorrow goes I just might end up on the inactive list! 

And tonight the Kaden's had the Lingwall's and us over for hot dogs and a little slip'nslide fun. HOLY COW, such a great time! I told Isaac it was the funnest date we've been on-maybe not ever but in a long time! Cannon was timid but then ended up having a good time. Colt only went down twice and only then because Isaac told him he had to if he wanted an Otter Pop. I don't know what his deal was but he missed out. (I was chasing Cannon -then I'd push him and make him go way faster, it was so fun- but I ended up totally taking out their 3 yr old. He didn't get hurt-well yes he did-but not a lasting hurt but I felt so bad and stupid that it kind of put a damper on it. But except for that it was a blast!)

 

Oh and Isaac and I raced-I tried to cheat but he still won.

https://youtu.be/4DH027FkFWs

And the weekly random pics:
I've been pretty homesick this week maybe just because we went ONE time and I HATE the idea of being twice a year people, I'm still hoping for October but Cannon will have school sooo....-these pics of Colt eating watermelon didn't help, they just made me wish he got to eat watermelon like that with Grampa... But I got to talk to my dad a couple times so that did help.

These two-they're buds! But Cannon is hard right now, its worse when he's tired I've noticed. But I keep telling Tanner not to get any sassy ideas!

 

 

Oh man Friday snuck (Why isn't that a word? I use it all the time! But it gets underlined in red every time I type it? Listen to me, bragging about my illiteracy. Fine. Sneaked. Whatever.) Back to the point, Friday came quick this week!
Ok seriously, getting to go back to Mississippi for a couple of days was AWESOME. We loved it! The Turner's are the sweetest! And they spoil us so dang much they bout can't get rid of us! Laurie is the hostess of hostesses and Layne is just a hoot! He says they are seen-agers (instead of teenagers).

So Saturday of course the boys had to hit the pool but that was good because I could pack up the hotel room. I can't remember what the boys ate but I know Isaac was just about a dead man before he fed this beast! Haha. As a general rule if I'm tired or hungry...watch out! What kind of Hotel doesn't have breakfast-oh yeah the one that lets ya check in at 5am I'll quit complaining. We ended up taking the scenic route from Alabama to MS...it was 7 minutes faster according to google maps... But they don't account for the seven missed turns, hmmm. Isaac of course enjoyed the scenic route~more adventure. We got to the Turners that afternoon and the boys headed right for the pool! It was SO fun to see them and visit.

Sunday we went to church-it was just neat to see so many great friends that hold such a special place in our hearts. (Not having any responsibilities was pretty dang nice too) but was surreal-it felt like just yesterday. So many friends, so many too short of visits. We loved it. We did a little extra visiting Sunday afternoon. And even drove up to the old apt just for fun. It was kinda weird, I noticed things I wouldn't have before, like the chains to hang plants from were still there and the hook on the door where we hung a Santa at Christmas time (both Grama's touches) no sandbox though-the lattice was still bent from the boys climbing on it though.  After visiting, much to Cannon's delight, we thought a little enjoying nature via a boat ride was an acceptable Sabbath day activity. 😉 So Bro Turner took us up River to goat island and the kids threw the goats some carrots and Cheetos. 

Tanner's first boat ride!

We got caught in a little storm coming back! It made it more adventurous so I took pictures-it's what I do. 

We visited, we learned a fun new card game, it was just a great time. Oh how we love the Turners.

Monday we knew we didn't have to hurry out of town (and it was sooo tempting to just stay) but we ended up leaving that afternoon. We headed north thinking we might stop and see Buck and Channy on the way but Isaac hadn't really gotten a hold of them. (On our way down we drove right by their place -ok with twenty minutes because they don't live RIGHT on the freeway. But because we were a little further east to go to Alabama we were right there-but they were in Utah!) Anyway it was maybe Buck's maybe not headed back. He ended up talking to Buck and we went for it--but but we didn't get there until 10:30! Whoops, we'll know next time to leave earlier if we're going to the Parrish's. Isaac got up early to chat with Buck before he went to work and it was really fun to see and visit with Channy-she's great, and she totally made us a big ole breakfast-Isaac was going to make breakfast for Buck and we got stuff when we stopped for gas but he thought better banging around in an unfamiliar kitchen at 5:00 am with 5 sleeping little boys in the house. Good choice. Colt and Brady are only about two weeks apart and the boys had a BLAST. Lots of equipment and similar interests. It was such a fun little stop.

We took off a little before noon and headed-drumroll please...back to the zoo. UGH I really don't enjoy the zoo-I mean sure the animals are impressive but the smell and the crowds of people, I'm out. Oh the smell, Isaac says "Just do what you do changing diapers, or whatever." So hold my breath? Or breath only through my mouth (We call it turning my nose off) Pretty sure I can change ANY diaper in a minute or two the zoo is HOURS. He's funny though trying to teach the boys "Come on guys you know mom likes pictures, make sure to cooperate so she'll be happy and we get to stay at the zoo longer." Should I feel manipulated? Or just happy I got my pictures? The latter is probably the higher road huh? They were so enamored with the bald eagle they could bother to turn their heads 

And then back home and digging through the piles of laundry and back to the routine! Grandma Ison bought them these guns and I'm telling you what, we're having a heck of a time with the we don't point guns at people we don't shoot people thing. Here they were supposedly deer hunting. Then Cannon says "Shoot" and Colt says in his whisper yell voice "I see a bad guy and I shoot him." I got a tip from Cassie today though they just "trap" bad guys or put them in jail. Hopefully we can make some progress.  The pic of Colt sighting it in is too good though right?

This Tan Man, he just wants both fists in him mouth. When stopped to pick Belle up, (an extra bonus that made our trip so great-thank you Brother Waddle for dog sitting) anyway Belle was barking her head off and Tanner did an honest to goodness deep belly laugh. They'd get the dog quiet for a minute then she'd start up again and he'd laugh again. It was really really cute, and you know in the back of my mind I'm going "Oh no...another dog loving little boy." (Shrug) It is what it is. He's also getting pretty darn close to rolling over, and boy is he finding his voice! Super cute. Super fun.

And may the record clearly state Colt ate corn on cob! A vegetable, without being forced, it was a great day! I wanted to take a picture but by time I found my phone the moment had passed. Little Mr OCD eats it right in a row, if he messes it up--he's the one that does it- but he wants a new piece. He wears me out sometimes. (I didn't cater to that just FYI)

We have a big day planned for tomorrow, we're going to meet up with the Shields in Nauvoo--so excited especially since we missed them in Mississippi. But I better wrap it up so I can get some sleep. Oh wait that's the other new thing this week, I bought one of those fitness band things from a friends friend who was getting rid of it. I love it. Ya so far (2 days) it helps me be more active cuz I'm trying to get all my steps and all but I LOVE that it tracks my sleep-or lack there of. When Isaac saw it he said "You were up that much last night?" YES I was. Why is there so much validation in those pink lines? Maybe just cuz its visual? I don't know but I LOVE IT.

Just for the record I was dead on about Colt and sleep'n on the lions last week! 

I am so thankful for this little grin that makes me smile back EVERY time--I'm especially thankful for it on hard days! Thanks TanTan I love you buddy

I remember writing one time when Cannon was little that sometimes I held him, and sometimes he holds me-it's true the TanO too! 

For the 4th we had Corinne and Marie over one last time before they move

Somebody's 3 months old now!!

Stretch and grow Mr Big Shot! 

It was a busy week with the 4th then Tuesday we had dinner with Isaac's work friends/colleagues the guy who hired him has since retired and is moving to NY so it was one last hurrah with him. Wednesday was a long awaited trip to the pool with dad AND the Tilton boys! Actually they did a little service project first and went and borrowed a trailer and picked up a gal that Isaac home teaches riding lawn mower for her. There's sometimes it's good I'm not around. I guess they tipped it over on themselves backing it off the trailer. Isaac had a little road rash from the event. Apparently it went over backwards so he hit first, the the boys landed on him-and he was able to just stick his arms up to catch it and keep it from smashing them. And they still begged and begged him to mow so they mowed her yard. I said "oh that was nice of you I'm sure she appreciates it." He said "I dunno, we were going pretty darn fast-it's uneven, it doesn't look very good." Sooo at least they think they did a service project????

Here we are just kindof doing our thing!

Thursday we went to STL...its a pretty cool city. The zoo it's free so we love that-well the boys love the animals. Colts my little monkey we had to go there first. We can't possibly cover ground at that zoo as fast as Cannon can think of the next animal he wants to see, especially when we only got there 45 minutes before it closed. But we tried!

The tiger is under the tree in the shade-you'll just have to believe me though😉

Then we went to city museum-it was awesome! Outside. Free. Water. --game on--

The famous arch-we didn't go up in it (not free so we figure we might as well wait until they're more likely to remember it)

And by 6:00 the next morning back in a pool...

We've been through parts of Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee (a full hour at the rest stop with Tanner thankfully everyone else slept) and into Alabama. And somehow Mr Charm talked them into letting us check in to our room for tonight about 5:00 this morning. Sweet! (I love his charm too) Naps!! Of course the boys had been to the pool twice by noon but then we all got good naps!

A little ChuckECheese

And we headed to Robyn and Patrick's wedding! It was so fun to see them! We loved that we could be there! When the boys saw Patrick they picked up right where they left off--asking to look at pictures of his dog on his phone. He is SO cute with them!!

Trying to convince Cannon it wasn't like a birthday and they didn't have to open their present right away was a disaster and didn't work (but ole Cann man gets a pass because he was the one that got'm to have a dog race little doggy date in the first place----oh and if I'm really telling the truth we got in the car after Cannon set that up and Isaac asked if I could see Patrick dating Robyn and I said I'd never really thought it but right there just then I could totally see it. And now the rest is history so Cann for the win😊) 

Bottom  line-it was so good see them we're very happy for them!