Oh my goodness we had such a fun 4th of July weekend! We have really great friends here-that part of leaving sucks.

Friday night we went over to the Marchants-we had a great time! I cut the fun off before dark and before fireworks in the name of bedtime (such a mean mom, but really we've seen fireworks at the braves games twice and we need SOME structure) but still-a great time was had by all! Some of the adults were laughing guessing which adult would be in the pool first, not Isaac-he just counts as the biggest kid. They really got a good chuckle when I told them he and the boys were all in their swim trunks waiting for me to get home so we could go :) 

He is the biggest kid-and I love him!

Saturday we were spoiled by the Turners again and made another trip out on the reservoir :) :) :) so so fun. I was hesitant but I even got on the tube -WITH ISAAC-now that's brave! But it was so fun, I would have had someone take a picture but I'd tucked my camera away didn't want to miss out on enjoying the moment because I was trying to document the enjoyable moment (I'm terrible about that.) I also really wished I had a picture of both our kids on Katie's lap while we were in the tube-she's darling with them and if course they started bawling when we got in (probably mostly because they thought they were going to have to go-such chickens, -but it won't last, I'm sure they'll be dare devils before I'm ready- But anyway Isaac had said "I'll just take Colt it'll be fine." Colt started freaking out screaming "no" and Isaac said "Oh, I guess he understands more than I thought." ...classic. When they were confident they didn't have to get in they were all smile on the boat!

Anyway Isaac got his ski run in, we had some fun, then we got rained on, but it didn't last long, and then we went a little ways up the reservoir and found some pretty sweet Lilly pads and flowers.

  

 

AND -drumroll please...A ROPE SWING! I'm telling you Isaac was in H E A V E N!!! And no lie-we all had a good time watching him! After his first Tarzan jump then we requested a flip!

We got caught in a little more rain and rough water as we headed back, Kylie and a Cannon hid in a cubbie hole on the boat but when water sprayed over the edge of the boat and got us wet Colt cracked up and asked for more! It was just a really great time and Isaac is even more convinced we need to live on a lake in Missouri because we won't be there forever and in Utah its not really possible as the lakes are all public lands, state parks, or whatever. Time will tell on that one. 

After all our fun we rushed home for naps  before heading to the fish fry which I didn't document nearly as well :( but we had a good time. The missionaries had challenged us to invite someone to it. We all did but only Isaac's invite (Dr. Porterfield-that he gives a ride into school everyday) came. It was awesome that she came but I also felt a little pressure to make sure she didn't get abandoned. She said she enjoyed it and took a few pass along cards so that was cool. They had fried fish, hush puppies, fried pickles and okra and all kinds of artery clogging stuff but I think it was a success and the kids had a little water fight to top it off.

Once again we passed on fireworks! Such a lame mom-I'm over it.
Sunday last minute Isaac invited the missionaries over (that was fine they are not picky) but I did tell him later in the week that if he invites anyone else to dinner he's dead meat (then I thought of a family we really should probably have over--of course, poetic justice) Its always fun when they are here but its just a high stress thing for me and life is high stress enough, I really really want to move ~differently~ than we have in the past. As in-organized! Its overwhelming. My wishes are mine alone but I am determined! And there is no such thing has having this place look presentable with the move pending, I  have cardboard boxes stacked in every spare corner. Oh well. Anyway, after dinner Sunday I even went out tracting with the missionaries-its been a while but we met one really nice gal that let us in so that was cool.

Monday it was back to the Rez for FHE and the washer broke! Which then led to the mirror on the bifold doors broke as Isaac was shoving the washer back in. Sigh. Oh well. Tuesday we met up with the Crowders and went swimming, they're a cute family. Isaac said "They'd be great people to come visit us in Missouri." I said "Yeah and we'd love to have them but remember it is a 10 hour drive." We'll see I made sure they knew they were welcome when we were swimming Tuesday. That night we had friends over for dinner and it was really SO FUN I feel bad for ever complaining, I would do it again in heartbeat. They are so nice and fun.  He is doing a pediatric dentistry residency here, it was good to visit with them about moving here-its kind of hard-it kind of refreshed our memories a bit.  They moved from Ohio but he is originally from St. Louis and his dad was just recently called as an area authority up there and Kirksville is in his area-pretty cool. Maybe this big ole world is kind of small.
Wednesday I got up early threw the boys in the car and headed south to Biloxi to meet up with Jenna and her kids one last time before they head to Canada for a few weeks and then we move. It was a blast. So fun, such good friends.
Little Mr. Donut face-this a common little smirk I get...

Just Playing! So much sand, so much room to run, so much fun! And yes that water is just as nasty as it looks-muddy Mississippi! So gross but OH SO FUN! Two hours further east there are beautiful beaches...not worth the extra driving. And we loved having the place to ourselves!

 

The kids were beyond thrilled to learn that the gulls like goldfish crackers too, Cannon was leading the way with squeals of delight and chasing them.  The pictures don't do it justice but I'm sure you can imagine the swarms of beach scavenging birds.

 

I have seen the Lord's had his hand in our lives in finding such great friends, and I trust that His hand will let our paths cross again. (Right now though its hard to be able to see when-you know me, I like a plan-Guess I'll just have to learn to trust His) Cannon however was ready to go back down the next day! Jenna said "I knew I should have talked you into just staying over." But it was a good thing we came back because Isaac took our car yesterday when he took off with the Youth to Youth Conference. (He's swears he has Little Green running better but still!) Isaac won't get back until tomorrow evening UGG! Its not like we're never away from him but usually when we are we're in Utah and the kids have plenty to do. We've been hitting up the apt pool mixed in with doing laundry at the apt laundry mat but that's about it as far as getting out and about. Sooo....we're ready to have our dad back but there ya have it!

In other excitement: Colt has figured out how to climb out if his crib~great~he gasps for air between squeals of delight as he comes running into our room so proud of himself. Its so cute, I have to force the smile off my face and tell him its not ok as I pile him back into bed. We've been holding out until the move for a big boy bed, but I think its about time... I also can't ask Colt if he wants a snack unless I have and am willing to give him fruit snacks! If its anything else I have to say "Do you want ______."  Because "Snack" means one thing to little Mr. Determined and he loves those things! He'll request (or demand)  "nack nack nack" when he wants fruit snacks. Sometimes I have to lie and say I don't have any. On a happy note: they fix pretty much anything that's wrong in his world. That's nice. And one more quirky Colt thing, he loves silkies on his feet! I can't tell you how many times I've picked him up out of his crib and he's had a silky clenched between his toes. I just barely (I'm kinda slow) realized its totally on purpose. So Cannon loves silkies in his mouth and Colton loves them on his feet. So weird. Crazy boys.
Cannon's been watching the leap frog learning videos when he gets tablet time. (JD has a little toy computer he was playing with down in Biloxi, I think that might be what started it) but anyway he calls them the "Letter Dogs" Its so cute. We were driving home yesterday though and he counted to 100 mostly by himself! Maybe the letter dogs are pretty cool. And he's getting SO CLOSE on his Articles of Faith. We are going to speak in church the last week we are here and I asked him if he would do the Articles of Faith but he wasn't going for it...hmmm I might have to think of a bribe! Here he is writing his name. Once the N didn't look good he just kept going to try to fix it, then moved on down but whatever-he's getting pretty good.

 

This day Cannon got himself dressed and didn't match...So I got Colt dressed in matching miss matched close. haha I'm a dork! They love to play buck'n bronc...

 

And the above pic...UG they LOVE to get down from the table before they are done eating. It drives me CRAZY.  But sometimes I don't fight it, tonight I just told them they have to come get bites. So this is how they were coming over to the table crawling and rubbing their heads along the floor, well Cannon was and then its monkey see monkey do of course. So I might be the worst mom-or wife- ever but I told them to "Stop it, that's why Dad doesn't have very much hair on top!"  Of course it backfired because then Cannon did it more asking if his hair was gone like dad's yet. HAHA these boys! This crazy life!

I wish I had a picture of them sitting watching Pres Packers funeral, it was so cute. They didn't last but still.  

Its been a crazy, busy, fun week!  

July is here!

I find the most ridiculous errors when I read back through my posts-way back in the beginning of the blog my mom used to tell me what I'd screwed up but...I didn't like hearing it so she stopped, maybe I should have her start up again-I'm not an English major (as is apparent) Oh well. Anyway I apologize to those of you who get emailed-your basically getting the rough draft...and sometimes only draft.
So this isn't the best picture but you're just going to have to trust me that this guy is a stud on a water ski-I love watching him.

Isaac went home teaching yesterday after his first stop he called Katie to make sure he could still come but she had forgotten and they were out on the boat. She invited him along and he said "Can I go get Cannon?" -Cannon loves to go home teaching with him (anywhere) but especially at the Turners because he gets to play with Kylie.- Anyway they said "You bet, go get everybody." So we all went and Isaac's home teaching companion too.  We didn't have much light by time we got up there but Isaac got to ski a couple times, McCrory tried a couple times and we went for a little boat ride. The boys both got really nervous and cried and wanted to go home after Isaac got done. I think it kind of freaked them out the McCrory was out in the lake-he wasn't up and we just kept driving by him shouting instructions. They both settled back down when everyone was back in and when we were riding around just touring on the boat.
Isaac vote?...Best Home Teaching Ever! He was seriously giddy and dreams of living on a lake. There was talk of doing it again sometime soon-we'll see.

Yesterday morning we hung out with Sister Brough-we went to the farmers market in town then let the boys play by the lake. It was fun, we always enjoy her company.
So that was yesterday, it turned into quite a late night. Oh because I almost forgot the best part. After the lake when it was dark we just turned the lights on and went swimming in their pool. It was awesome. They have a little piece of heaven back there-I'm fairly certain if we lived there NOTHING productive would get done. Cannon loved the "Hot Pool" as usual. We all had a great time.
And the rest of the week??? What else could have happened....
Oh yeah-Isaac sold Cefes' car, so that was good. Then the next day he had 2 more bites on it. Its good to have it gone though because he didn't really want it, I was fine with that, and now we don't have it to have to worry about selling before we move ourselves. And speaking of the Fernandes, one of the things we scored in our loot from them was a bathroom scale. My opinion on those darn things is eh...well anyway...here's the story: Cannon stood on it and asked "How big am I?" and I told him, then I stood on it and he said "How big are you mom?" I answered and he said "Whoa!!!! That's a TON!!" Hmmm thanks a lot, maybe we DON'T need a bathroom scale!

Isaac is working his tail off. We are praying our guts out, and we feel pretty good about things. Somehow or another we think things are going to work out with his dissertation and hopefully getting it defended. We'll see. 

Isaac is so funny, he was grumbling about the "Problem with America and all the consumerism..." And I listened him and agreed as I browsed different shops online. HAHA. Whoops. I thought it was pretty funny/ironic though.  My consumer problems flare up the most when I think I'm getting a good deal, like when I go into walmart and they have those darn $1 clearance apparel sales. Yeah, I buy all kind of crud we don't really need...totally happened this week and I love it! Plus at the end of the day I'm still only out $10 bucks so I guess I won't lose any sleep over it ;) and we are definitely outfitted with jackets and hoodies for this winter -that we have to move-but still!!
Lets see what else the pictures can remind me of... Oh Saturday morning we went down to the temple. Probably our last strip to the Baton Rouge temple. It was nice. I did a session and then Isaac got to help the youth with baptisms. Its a long day, we're not moving much closer to a temple...but that 40 minutes would mean being on the road by 6:30 in the morning instead of 5:50. Every little bit will help! The boys and Isaac did the ferry thing then found a park. When I got out Colt was asleep in the car seat. I assured Isaac that it was still child abuse even if the windows were down! Is was miserably hot and humid. There was water dripping off the outside doors of the temple. Humidity is just gross. -says the desert girl- Anyway the boys and I hid from the heat in the air conditioned mall nearby.

  

The boys built a cardboard boat for some of their equipment one day when they were going to the pool. Always an adventure of some sort around here...and Colt got roped into trying some random goggles they found. I wouldn't want something that had been smashed up against and unknown face smashed up against mine but it didn't slow Isaac down. And least he tried them too if he was going to talk Colt into it. Look at Colt's little clenched jaw....

Colt might have been a little too tired for tennis the night we tried that adventure. Bummer.
And please don't tell my kids that if you actually feed those dumb machines quarters they move! Haha just kidding they know, but they also know I won't go for it-but they beg to climb on them anyway...Ok...have fun.
We had a fun play date at the church with a bunch of friends and I think that's about it. Just living the life!
Oh and its July! I think that means I should get serious about packing. AHHHH

Oh and how could I not post these guys beloved Little Green time? 

When we were talking about buying Cefes' car Isaac came in the house and said "I told Little Green this was probably the last time..." I asked if she was ok with it, he said was but then this week they were back at it, I'm sure both of them were relieved :)

Because I held out last week I better remember to write that my new calling is Young Women adviser. YW wasn't my favorite experience, I turned 18 and never went back, but...I think this will be a good opportunity to have a great experience :)

Saturday Elder Zwick was in town to do a Hastening the Work fireside for the youth so because of my new calling and Isaac's involvement with the youth we decided to both go and take turns getting to be there and tending. Isaac went first and I took the boys Father's Day shopping. We were just wandering around Walmart when Isaac called and said basically: "Sorry Honey, Elder Zwick's part is over, do you want to come for the movie?" Umm No so we went back home. 

Father's day was really fun! I got the boys some little presents too because they get excited! It was kind of a blast. Colt got some new shoes (I can't figure out what happened to Cannon's old ones that were that size but whatever...) and Lincoln Logs (that were hand me downs from a friend I'd stashed and never got out.) Cannon got a new belt for his baseball pants and his sweet new Cubs jersey. And Isaac got a new tie (Purple! Because its Cannon's favorite and Truman's color) and a new baseball glove -that might be too small :( -but it was a good little glove and a good price and his other one is A: a piece of junk and B: turns his hand black every time he puts it in it. But when I mentioned getting rid of it -gasp! Why would I ever???....oh brother. Oh well. It was fun though.

 

 

Cannon loves to get presents and proudly showed off his jersey saying "I got it for fathers day!" ....but you're 4... it was funny though. And really he was just showing it off to his Grandparents on Skype and Facetime. This week he's dying to test it out "and get to slide in it" at Shiloh park, but it just too hot/humid.  Back to Sunday though, at one point when Cannon was thinking he should get whatever he wanted -typical- Isaac did have to tell him "Cannon its not Son day." But all I heard was "Cannon its not Sunday." I was a little confused  but then Isaac spelled it out for me :) Oh. Right.

Because we were in Utah for Mother's day Sunday would have been Cannon's first time going up and singing in sacrament meeting with the primary kids. But, I forgot to prep him (hey in my defense I'd been released) but it caught him off guard and there was NO WAY he was going up there. I said "Go see daddy!" though and Colt took off running. Isaac just stood him up right in front and it was actually really cute him standing there "singing" with the primary kids. One of my friends in the ward teased me "You sent the wrong kid."  Maybe next time for Cann Man.
Speaking of Cann Man and how he's a little timid though-we've totally passed that hurdle in the swimming pool! Hallelujah! He's still doesn't want to jump in, or really get his head wet at all. But in the last week he has taken off! As long has he has his life jacket on-he goes wherever he wants and does his own thing. Its great. He just had to figure out for himself that he was just fine. He got a little better Saturday with Isaac, then we had friends over a couple times this week  he didn't have time to worry about clinging to the steps he was trying to keep up with his friends. (Especially when it was Aurianna and Lincoln. He was in charge of yelling "fire" and they'd blast off into the pool doing cannon balls! Cute.)

We had some sickness run through this week :( Colt had a rotten fever-poor little guy was burning up. But I had a Well Check for Cannon that day so I just drug my sick child along with my well child and away we went. Dr. Outz told us a ton of junk was going around and gave me a time frame of when to worry and checked his little ears for me. He was really nice. He's been a great pediatrician for us...and we'll be on to the next one of those too! Poor Cannon though he had to get shots but he's supposed to be done now until he's 11. Thank Goodness!! That little finger prick thing they do to get his blood to check the iron-or whatever, its worse than the shots. Here let me poke ya then squeeze it 35 times~it was torture~ He did have some fun that day too though, Isaac finally got them a tour of the military base, Awesome!!!!! Colt was to young to get to go, and they got in by tagging onto another groups scheduled tour. ...One of these kids does not look like the others. Hahaha.... They had a blast though!

 

Colt did kick his fever quick! That was good!

And as of this week our cute friend Courtney is officially a missionary! Hopefully we'll be home for Christmas in 18 months when she reports! Colt had a great time loading her picture up and hauling it around. He loves to point at it and say "Bumple" when translated is temple.

We went up to the "beach" at the Rez last night but I didn't take a single picture. I left my camera and my phone in the car. One of my young women and her parents ended up being there so I mostly visited with them while the boys played-she said to me "Umm Sister Ison, they are way outside of the swimming area." I shrugged and said "I know, they don't really follow the rules." Isaac and Colt were trying to catch the geese or something, Cannon only went a little way then came back. Isaac and Colt's next crazy/dumb adventure was to jump off the dock. Well, Colt didn't really know what he was getting into but when he figured it out he wasn't game! So Isaac leaned over, got him pretty close to the water, then just dropped him (with his life jacket one but still!!! he went in over his head until it popped him up and he was not a happy guy) and then Isaac jumped in himself. Well basically then you had a upset kid-and an upset mom. Its probably for the best I didn't have a camera!
We've started packing up just a few things, but every time I try to do that, the boys just want to "help" and load their toys up. But I'm really not dumb enough to want to try to live without those for a month!

And I think that's the wrap! Isaac's supposed to come home early today. YAY-we'll probably head straight for the pool :)

My guys with their missionary pals (I couldn't leave it off, we have a picture from last April with Elder Gray in it, it was serving in the Jackson branch at the time and came on splits with the zone leaders, now he is one of the zone leaders. Kinda fun.) And we love Elder Clyde cuz Grampa has a horse named Clyde :) Then there's just my kids doing the their Sunday thing.

I was glad we got a picture of Cannon's little Primary class since it was Julie's last Sunday. (Oh and speaking of Sunday I have a new calling -for 6 weeks- but I'll wait until its official to say what it is.) 

Before Sunday though we had a great Saturday with dad, complete with the CAT dealership, a little time up to the rez, and dairy day at the Braves game, plus fireworks! AWESOME-It was a great day! Sometimes when I put long shorts on Colton we call them them Shants--how bout when dad dresses him in Cannon's clothes? Gives a hole new meaning to shants!

 

Monday and Tuesday I went up to Paula and Cefes' and just said "What can I do-what can I wipe down, or haul to the goodwill?" and so on, I had the boys with me but they were awesome to sit and watch Curious George and I felt like I was able to help. Paula gave me her clock (I love it-she totally should have sold it at their yard but I'm sure she just didn't think to pull it off the wall.) But I think of her and having to leave everything and have to start over every time I look at it. :( And Cefes offered Isaac his tools, Isaac was like "Na..." But my inner hoarder came out and I am now the proud owner of Cefes' tools and I'm so excited about them! They're in two cute little clear sterlite totes and I just figure as long as we can keep our tools separate-all will be well. :) We also have their car they didn't sell yet that Isaac is going to try to sell. I wanted to just buy it complete with the reasoning, little green is STUGGLING (and hasn't that been the case since before I met Isaac??? Yes it has! I know it left him stranded in Cedar one night when we were dating. We had four cars between us when we got married, how is that one the lone Survivor??? ) Anyway replace little green and help our friends out. 2 good reasons. But Isaac is more logical and cautious and concerned about making a wise purchase, with the number of miles, and we'd never even driven it, and when he did drive it he was just like eh-Not bad but not overly impressed, oh and the back passenger door something was wrong with, and the windshield had a crack and the paint is bad. Oh and it is Navy blue you can put that on my go for it list-I love blue. So he's not sold but...time will tell. He's pondering on it,  Bishop drives pretty much the same car and has 40 thousand or so more miles on it, so after they were chatting cars before their meeting Wed night he seemed more interested--again who knows? He told me "If I felt inspired to I could just give them the money for it." Ummm... inspired? Ya, I couldn't do it, I'd rather wait and make a decision together. Its really for him to drive anyway. Moving on.

Wednesday morning I was going to meet some gals from church and go pick blueberries so I woke my troops up early and was on the freeway en route when my phone started going off right and left with people backing out. I was a little discouraged but as soon as we got there I was so glad we went (and Stacey came-so it was all good) the boys had a good time, and so did I!

We had one of those ice cream buckets about 2/3 of the way full. The nice man there Ed (Ok and the whole southern thing where you call people Mr. and Miss and then the first name. Seriously-how was I supposed to keep a straight face calling this guy "Mr. Ed" it was hard and I kept thinking of the theme song "No one can talk to a horse-of course unless its Mr Ed!") Anyway about our nice-not a horse-Mr. Ed guy he said "Oh you didn't even get a full bucket, you can just take'm." I said "No way!" He said "Ok then $2." I said "Great, and we'll tip you $3." And gave him $5 and still felt like I got a scream'n deal. (He usually sells them for $7 dollars a gallon. Isn't that awesome?!) We froze some right away when we got home, snacked on some, and have made some really yummy blueberry waffles and muffins. 
Our apartment pool is has been struggling. Today it was a little better they finally got someone in to fix the pump but it has looked like a stink'n swamp so gross, but my guys still got in. (I went to the fitness center) Colton loves it and his happy as can be stepping fearlessly off the steps and floating aground. I thought the pictures were a whole lot cuter when that was all I'd seen. As we were packing up to leave and he did it again withOUT his life jacket...I don't think the pictures are near so cute now! Cannon's happy as can be as long as his feet are on the steps! Is that so much to ask? When Isaac does get him to go out a little bit his little legs go a hundred miles an hour, he's so nervous-its quite exhausting to even watch. Tonight when we went he got off the step quite a bit though-he's getting better, I'm proud of him for his willingness to keep trying.

Jenna and her kids came to town Thursday on their way to Meridian so we met up at the little mini splash pad, it was so SO good to see them!! I had told Isaac just the day  or so before how much I was missing her. We were just sitting there visiting watching the kids play and catching up and she said "We're just living the mommy dream." So true-it was awesome. 

And then they found the mud. That is pure delight on Cannon's face. Mom dream turned mom reality real quick...we decided it was probably time to be done. We need to go down to Biloxi and go to the beach with them. Hopefully soon before they go to Canada and then we move. Cannon has a Dr. appt and shots next week and I'm thinking maybe that could be the bribe for IF we survive that trip to the Dr. little does Cannon know I'm probably dreading it as much as he is...ok not as much, but a lot.

Today I took'm up to the mall to play in the indoor play place. Life with this heat and humidity is unbearable without either air conditioning or water. They had a blast! And we even slipped over to Chuck E Cheese and used up the rest of the tokens we'd had floating around. 

It was a good fun busy morning, but after such high levels of entertainment they were kind of bored after naps. Thankfully the pool was looking better so we hit it up this evening after Isaac got home.
In other news...Cannon's got another article of faith memorized :) he's awesome. And last week I might have let you to believe Colt was potty trained, well turns out I'm the one trained, if I get him to the bathroom he's good. If I get distracted folding laundry...NOT SO GOOD. But mostly I just can't slack off because he does so well-then I think we'll be fine. Also Colt's vocabulary has EXPLODED the last week or so especially "Noooooo." It was really cute hearing his little voice say it the first few hundred times but...-I'm already tired of hearing "no" he says its a lot! "Me" is another one of his favorites-its pretty cute. He's really finding his voice and its willing to try to parrot most things.
I think that's about it...until next week!

Look how cute these three are! I'm a lucky mom! If Isaac puts on a blue tie-Cannon wants to wear his blue one too. He said to me last week, "Mom, when its my birthday can I get a suit like dads?" I said yes but really I was going to try and hold off on until he was 8...we'll see.

 

They say "terrible twos" (which Colt is embarking on shortly) then ya always hear "Yeah but 3's are worse." We're only a month into the 4's but its no walk in the park! Cannon has had a sassy streak lately and I'm not a fan! Sometimes he's just super hard but I know he's also a  great kid, he does a lot of good things too. Pretty much every morning he comes in and says "Hey mom, how'd you sleep?" I think its so cute. He loves LOVE LOVES to help-he struggles to mind of you tell him helping isn't an option-but I think all of the helpfulness is well intended. I'm so proud of him for how hard he works to memorize the articles of faith, (of course we have a little bribe built in but that's ok too)-he's kick'n tail!

We went to Shiloh park to play baseball this week-and of course we had to look the part!

I bought that jersey Colt's wearing for a couple bucks at a yard sale in St. George when I was still pregnant with Cannon. He never wore it,  "But now I would." he says as he tries it on-its way too small....ummm so I confess I ordered one that was on clearance for Cannon. The name of the guy on the back is SORIANO he used to play for the Cubs. I was just pumped because I picked right up on the fact that there's an I-S-O and N in his name. Sweet, I'll be unpicking and rearranging, I'm pretty excited. 

And other than that just have'n a great time with friends.  The pics are of the kids playing with the Dewitt kids last weekend we had a really good time. Then with the Gaspard's at the pool. Jake got sent to timeout on a chair and it turned into everyone suntanning and rolling over on Mary Lucille's command. Hilarious.

I didn't get a picture of the Fernades' that's a bummer. But we got to have them over tonight and it was so fun. Such good friends. We are sad to see them go, they are headed back to Brazil. (They denied his visa??? It doesn't make sense but the way everything has played out I think the Lord might just need them in Brazil) As we were sitting there visiting Isaac was talking  about spending a summer in Brasil...I was like what? Am I going? To which he said "I don't know." A whole summer, I omitted "are you crazy?" but it was implied, but after we sat there and visited it somehow didn't sound like such a crazy idea--now that's crazy! But Paula's mom is here and she doesn't speak English but she loves coming. Actually, speaking of her mom, as she left she gave me a hug and it was just a cool, neat, sisterhood kind of thing. We just enjoyed each others company-even if we couldn't understand a word each other said.

In other news this week-Colt has done awesome with Potty training. Ohhh the difference a week makes. Knock on wood but we've had pretty good week! I was even at walmart today and diapers were kind of on the list but I just decided its such a waste. I still have a few and accidents are getting fewer and farther  between  which I'm grateful for so I decided to be brave and not buy more diapers. We'll see if that holds true through the weekend...

And for the first time since before the marathon in '09 I got a new pair of decent running shoes. Wahoo, my feet are so grateful! I'm really excited about them. And they make a difference-maybe its the placebo effect, but I'll take it! I'm trying really hard to be healthy. (It's my good friend Emily's fault, I read her blog post about how she got her pre-prego body back and I was like WHAT? My babies almost 2 and its soooo not back...so I'm trying!) It's so stink'n hard. I dream about treats bla bla enough about that.

Oh my goodness, it was so fun to have Blake and Annie here I can't even describe it! It was just awesome, the first night we didn't hardly get to visit because we were trying to get kids to bed (and it was a challenge) but the second night their kids sacked right out and I figured what the heck and let ours stay up...until they finally -and willingly- crashed. And we just visited and visited it. Well, Annie and I did, Blake pitched in once in a while and Isaac mostly just sat there, maybe he was too tire to participate much, but we all had fun. But just having Annie sit on our couch, it felt SOOO good, we weren't close before we moved here but we became very close! She was so good to take me under her wing here! Cannon and I tried to talk them into staying one more day but it didn't work.
I got one cute picture of the SeaHawk adventure before the truth played out...

I should have cropped the picture in closer on Cannon's face to give you a better idea of how traumatic it was. He's not exactly a brave kid, especially when it comes to the water...much to Isaac's chagrin. Ayla however was fearless. Colt and Eden were smart enough to steer clear of their crazy dads and eat snacks. Good Move. (Eden was so mad at Blake she even came to me! And we went and found goldfish snacks-they seem to fix a lot of things when your a toddler.)

 

Saturday night and Sunday we had excellent stake conference meetings! The closing hymn Sunday was "Each life that touches ours for good" I don't know, we are the ones departing but we will definitely hold forever in our hearts the friends we have made here. Its become a pretty special little place for us! It was just kind of fun to sing that song when we know that we're leaving at the end of the summer.
Monday we hit up the Braves game for FHE (ok minus the 'home' part) but I was super pumped when I realized Marcus Littlewood (a St. George kid who I taught in 8th grade) was playing for the opposing team. I don't even know who won because bedtime won with our troops but it was way fun. He had a sac fly, RBI. Isaac was annoyed he didn't smile and wave when we made so much noise for him-I said "he did smile, he's trying to focus." Isaac said "I'm going back to cheering for the Braves." Ha ha. Funny guy. Cannon would sit and watch almost a whole game...Colt? Not so much-too much room to run. Selfies only contain him for so long. (We took about a million selfies at stake conference too) Oh well.

Cann still play'n around the house! Colt...just doesn't get as many cuts in. 

So on the minor league baseball note...the Iowa Cubs are only 2 1/2 hours from Kirksville. giddy up! -So maybe we're moving to the Cardinal nation...but maybe we can hang in as Cubs fans too ;)

Tuesday my cute friend Kristy invited us over to play in the water. My boys were in HEAVEN! It was so fun. 

Wednesday we hit up the trusty old Ag Museum where we smelled the magnolia flowers held chickens and did our thing driving tractors and such. (should've made a collage)

 

Colt tells me EVERY time he uses the bathroom -afterward- well I guess he doesn't actually USE it, that's the whole idea though so.... Thursday I thought ok lets go for it and make a big potty training push...FAIL. Oh well! Lets go back to getting success when its almost a guarantee-like when he wakes up dry.
Isaac got a couple days off of taking the associate dean (who he gives a ride) into school. whew. It was a nice little break for him to get to come and go when he pleased. He's working hard and feels pretty good about things. Blake didn't know we were pretty tight lipped about our move and let the cat out of the bag a little, I feel like its a relief to be able to tell people if it comes up. Thanks Blake! Today I watched Elder Perry's funeral, he was such a cool guy! And this evening we're going over to some friends house just for fun. Fun busy weeks-just how we like them!

Cann can (pretty much) do articles of faith 1-7!!! Is so awesome, I need to get a video of it!

Oh and the other thing I've wanted to document is the "test drug" it happened a while ago, but it keeps coming up. Isaac worked for a construction company in Mesquite part of the time we dating-well he was the drug test guy so if there was an accident they would drug test the equipment operators -I'm sure it had to do with insurance- but anyway so Cannon was driving his equipment around like a wild man and "crashed" and along with telling him that's not how we treat equipment, and if he's that kind of operator he'll never get to run equipment and so on  Isaac said "If there's a wreck we'll have to drug test ya." So of course fast fwd a few days and Colton is the one driving the equipment around like a maniac and running into things and Cannon says "No Colt! No!!!! Dad's going to have to test drug you." It was hilarious and its kind of a running joke now.

And I think that's it.