So Grampa Chip (super techy-haha) taught me how to talk to my phone to text or in this case blog -Grama's tried a hundred times but it took me watching Chip to realize I was pushing the button and holding it instead of just tapping then talking- this could change my blogging life! Posts could get so much longer...or faster for me-that would be great. (Most of this was chicken pecked out the old regular phone way though.)

It's been a crazy busy week but oh SO good. Saturday was our stake service day and while the project was 2 1/2 hours away we felt like it was important to go (we had some friends in Mississippi that really set a good example for us because I think before them and watching their commitment I wouldn't have been game) but anyway we had planned to go. We had heard there was a convert baptism that day which we were kind of like oh that stinks that it's the same day but oh well but then the Sunday before Bro Lemke asked Isaac to baptize him! So we bailed on the service project but it was definitely a very cool experience for my boys (and for me) to watch and listen and feel the spirit while Isaac performed that sacred ordinance for him! Wow! Then Isaac is just good guy, we were all loaded up in the van about to pull out of the church and Isaac noticed the tire on the van of the new converts was a donut and said "Oh they never got that fixed." And of course he sprung into action! He went back in talked to them invited them over ordered pizza for lunch and fixed the tire. It turns out they had the tire but they just didn't have a jack so it was an easy fix but no question I married the Good Samaritan. I had to clarify that no I was not ok with him just sending them in our house before we got there and when he's trying to be quick he is soooo indecisive he wanted the fastest option (Hot n Ready is not an option in Kirksville) and he wanted the best deal and should he take us home first and holy cow I was going crazy--while he was saving the world. But when he saw that donut tire on (and it looked a little rough) he saw the potential for that to put a damper on a good day and a good experience so he decided to be proactive!

Sunday was my sweet counselor Sara's last Sunday. Oh we love the Jacobs.

Cannon said "But we haven't had enough play dates with Jason!" True, but we did sneak in one last trip to the park before we left town! They are Kirksville natives though so they'll be back to visit :)
The thing I love about living in the midwest is being right in the thick of so much church history stuff and the love my boys have developed for the Doctrine and Covenants, the stories, doctrines, and characters! So Sunday night the boys were outside and Cannon came running in and headed to the bathroom. A few minutes (or seconds) later Colt stuck his head in the door and said "Where's Joseph Smith?" I looked at him and said "he died bud, he lives with Heavenly Father, remember?" Cuz we've been the Carthage, and read the story at least a hundred times. Then Cannon yells from the bathroom "No mom, we're just pretending!" So then I looked at Colt and said "Oooooh, Who are you? Hyrum?" and he got a big smile on his face and said "Ya!" That's the extent of what I know but how stink'n cute right?

Monday Cannon and Tanner had well checks at the Dr. They let me schedule them together-never again if it's going to take 3 times as long! That afternoon Cannon went to day camp at Noah and Zach's church. Unfortunately they were in different age groups but it was still a good experience, well, Cannon was a wreck at first but in promised him I wouldn't leave until he was comfortable holy cow tears and crying and "I want to go home" but when he finally turned the corner it was like ya mom I'm fine what are you worried about. But he had a good time, he loved the obstacle course, I just think it was a good interfaith thing for him to participate and share in. Mrs Hardee let me take Colt to her (she had the preschool age group) he love telling us what he learned during FHE (he volunteered to do the lesson)

Tanner and I made it to the grocery store by ourselves for some road trip snacks but that was about it. I stayed up late Monday finishing packing and cleaning the house then Tuesday morning we stayed at the park ALL morning. One last trip with Noah and Zach (if my week when they were out of town is any indication Cassie is going to have a long couple weeks while we're gone) then they had to leave but Jason and friends from church came and after that we hit the road!! Dang that's a long drive! So thankful for the van though!!! (I confess to changing a few diapers while we went...poor little Tanner had his first round of shots the day before-poor little toad-but I'm just saying if we'd stopped for every diaper we might STILL be on the road) And the most important part is we made it to Emery County Wednesday mid morning-let the good times roll!

Thursday morning Colton, Tanner, and I headed south while Isaac and Cannon stayed in Huntington they did a couple hikes, and had a great time (no pics even though I left a specific request-oh well) 

We have had a great time here too, first of all and foremost Grampa got to meet Tanner!! This picture makes me so happy. Two plus months was waaaay to long to have to wait!

Colton had some squirt gun fun and cashed in on being the only helper at feed yard time.

Tanner also got to meet Uncle Klint (who didnt' want his face to end up on the blog-sorry Bro I've been antagonizing you my whole life-you didn't really think I'd stop did you? I just told him look-we haven't been here in 6 months, you better believe I'm documenting everything!)

And Poppa Great! Man to not seen him for 6 months the decline is obvious but we told him we loved him and held his hand for a few minutes. The picture shows him staring off pretty good--the veil has got to be getting pretty thin. 

Today we went shopping just for fun (because there is more than two stores in town) and Colt busted out the kiddie pool and bathed in it-he thought that was pretty cool. Grandma's sand pile is pretty rock'n right now-plus she bought enough sand toys for an entire beach! 

Grampa went riding today so he had the horse all saddled and when get called Colt even went up without me (sometimes he's pretty clingy) but little Mr. Tuckered out fell asleep on the drive and there was no waking him up so he didn't get to ride the horse-yet- 

Good times abound though! 

Tonight (notice the time)  Isaac called then it cut out then the following text:

Cannon refuse to take a picture with the raccoon but I guess they got one. I posted the screen shot instead of just the pic to get the dialogue. Then a few minutes after I put the pic on he sent another text with a picture of the dang dog (just standing in the yard) that said "I forgot to tell you. Belle was only interested in rolling in cow crap while I treed the coon." Haha, nice hound dog Isaac.

Up next week, a post about Tanner's blessing. Stay tuned ;)

Doggone Dog Drama

Seriously (and unfortunately) the title is perfect. UG! We'll get there! 

First just to be clear about who we cheer for around here! Haha, but it's June and they're in 1st place--this never happens--maybe next year might be now?!?!?! This would not be a good time to turn my back on the Cubbies ;)

What's with the hand to the chin? No clue, but it's cute. Shortly after Tanner was born Isaac took Colton and Cannon to see the new Jungle Book movie, well I think that is where it came from (not 100% sure) but Isaac comes in the other day picks Tanner up and says "Hello man child!" Well he better watch out unless he wants that nickname to stick. Colton's prayer that night was hilarious it super cute when he goes through the family and thanks Heavenly Father for each person but that day it was "and (and and and) tank you man child" OH Brother!

Saturday I took off with my friend Natalie and went to the Dutchman's store in Iowa. So much fun (and good deals to boot) I came back rejuvenated (and to a spotless living room!!!) Isaac not so much! Besides cleaning up the living room he took the boys to the river but super dad was looking a little far spent by time Tanner and I got back :) HAha

Sunday's drama was dog drama! So When Cannon plays with the dog he is always unsupervised-with rare exception when Isaac is with him. And I know he's always teasing it! I even got the tablet down the other day and asked if he wanted to watch then pulled it away to kind of tease him and show him what it's like. So Sunday our backyard neighbor knocks on the door introduces himself apologizes for getting involved then

tells me (Isaac is napping and I assure you he doesn't jump right up for such things!!) Anyway Cannon was choking the dog and he was afraid he was going to kill it. And then told me all the other mean stuff he's watched Cannon do to it. He was super apologetic and didn't want to get involved but it just got to the point he'd seen enough. Later I found out (cuz ultimately Isaac and Cannon did go talk to him) that the guys wife finally got him to stop but then he told her "My mom doesn't like dogs, so it's okay if I hurt her" or something like that. So he really was hurting her-including one day whacking her upside the head with a board but he really wasn't owning up to anything. So Isaac was like well you can't be hurting her and your not being honest so we have to get rid of her. So sad  for my little boy but ya gotta learn consequences right? And if you read this blog at all, you know that even though it was really sad for Cannon, I was like sweet back to life without a dog, I'm in. And I did feel bad because nobody ever taught him how to have, play with, whatever a dog just last week I was telling our friends how the dog came and that I'd never forgiven Isaac, and that was true but I now see how unfair that was to Cannon as the little boy with the dog, I mean plus when he was mean to Colton I'd send him out to play with the dog, poor dog. Anyway so I recognize the error or my ways, and I wonder what I would have done differently if I'd known how it ended I mean, we've really only had the dog 5 months, if I knew that going in...??? So Sunday I have really really quiet (and I think that means sad but I know) husband and a little boy that is essentially oblivious to the fact he's going to lose his dog and its on account of the way he's treated it. That night I say to Isaac "I'm sorry Honey" to which he replies "It it was it is." No emotion, no sadness, just quiet. Its just how he deals with things. So that night we do our routine where we say prayers together before bed, then say our personal prayers. Isaac, I'm not kidding you if time was any indicator he was totally pouring his heart out to the Lord, I don't know when I've seen him stay on his knees that long! Sooo....Monday when I saw that he was totally caving, I just have to shrug and thing well, at least I know he made it a matter of prayer. He did talk to the neighbor directly behind us and she had never seen Cannon be mean to it and the cord that was supposedly around the dogs neck was hooked to the house and only 4 ft long so Isaac said I just don't think that dog is stupid enough to put her head clear down there and let him wrap that around her neck. Cannon never fessed up (but we know he teases her and is mean sometimes) but he also never changed his story about not putting around her neck sooooo....we still have a dog. But its dad's dog, and Cannon can only play with her when we are there to supervise and no screaming. Oh he has a certain squeal that's a dead give away he's teasing it. Anyway it seems like there was something else but I'm drawing a blank. Now the question for me is am I willing to really have learned (meaning do something different) what I say I learned ug. We'll see.
Monday the Jarvis' invited Cannon to go to Soccer with their son, oh boy, what a disaster I could post of picture of Cannon at least 50 yard from everyone refusing to try. I was so annoyed, he wanted our whole family to come then wouldn't do anything, threw a fit and whined. Come on. Man up. Finally we just left. The next day we went out to the Lake, it was rainy so empty and a great time. I visited with Dennise the whole time so I didn't take pictures but the kids had fun. And their neglectful mother let them get sunburnt :( I always end up doing sunscreen when the other moms do, I never remember myself, but the Jarvis' are super "earthy" shall we say??? They don't really do sunscreen, anyway, bottom line we ended up toasted. We also got to hit up bowling this week and took our good buddy Jason with us. They are moving next week so we had to sneak in some fun while we could! Look at them sizing up Cannon's roll. Ha

We had a great time but bowled terrible. How does an adult throw so many gutter balls with bumpers??? I managed.

Wednesday we got the happy news the Tilton's were back. Thank Heaven! Even though we've only got to play once! We also went to play at Mrs. Hardee's. But it wasn't the same with out Noah and Zach, and when mom stays! Oh well I had a great visit with Dorothy and she gave us LOADS of children's books. So nice, we love books.

Anyway, who knows what else.
Tanner flex'n...then Colt wanting to get in on it too.

 

 

The boys have figured out how to send Grama audio messages on the iphone, those are always interesting and fun. A pictures worth a thousand words but I think Grama hearing their little voices is worth a thousand too. We are all getting super excited to go! 

Tanner smiles, and scowls and oh boy has this little man found his fist!

 

 And project with dad, after Belle chewed up the internet cord, again, Isaac built a gate to keep her off the porch. He has quite the helpers.

 

Next post--FROM UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy it's Friday again, so let's see what have we been up to? Last Saturday Isaac and Cannon headed out to a guy in our wards farm but I'm pretty sure Tanner, Colton, and I had more fun because we went to a "baby party" it was great! Sit around, eat yummy stuff, visit, Corinne knew that what babies need most is happy mom's so they had chocolate for party favors-

The babies might not remember Corinne (and her parents) after they move but the moms sure will! We love the Orton's! 

Sunday Isaac made rice-a-roni for dinner then set up a little picnic. Who can make rice-a-roni fun? Isaac! 

 

 

As I look through the pics this week nothin too exciting-just normal for us, we had some friends over for dinner and that was fun. We do a lot of things like this blurriness: (thanks for sharing your sunglasses with me boys)

 

 

Oh and we love to "play Smiles" with  Tan Tan and try to get him to smile back at us. 

 

 

(I feel like I post pretty much the same picture of Cannon and Tanner every week but its so dang cute every time I see it!) 

And speaking of so dang cute...I kinda like this little guy! ~and all the faces he pulls~ (The Cardinals gear is courtesy of my friend/counselor at church...I mean if the kids going to have a Missouri birth certificate...it kind of makes the Cards the home team)

 

Colts my little monkey man but Cannon's getting pretty darn good at the Monkey bars. Colt wanted my help which is a little tricky with Tanner in my arms, but we did it a few times. 

 

We did get to go to the park with Noah and Zach once this week but after they left town I really had to force the boys to go, they just think if we are going to the park then their friends should be there. So we busted out the USA puzzle and had a little geography lesson to learn where Wisconsin is :) Oh and one of the days I asked Colt what park he wanted to go to and he said "Preschool" we might have to see what Mrs Hardee is up to next week ;)

Today at the park though we made some new friends, actually they were there for a while and I didn't talk to them at first but then I crossed paths with the mom and said "Hey can I ask you about your baby carrier?"  Because it was one of the sweet ones and I just had Tanner in my arms, so it looked really REALLY good.  (I told Isaac that little conversation is going to cost him about a hundred bucks! lol- we've managed without one for two kids but my rationale is yeah but now I really DO need a good one cuz I don't have a 3rd arm. We'll see.) Anyway, it turns out her husband is a professor at Truman too-they are super SUPER nice. They actually invited us over for dinner tonight and we went and had a great time. The kids had a blast playing in the rain then coming into the screened in porch and doing "the dry off dance" it was fun. They are a good little family. We're happy to know them, I guess Isaac kind-of knew him, or at least of him but still...
I think that's pretty much it has far as the weekly happenings. In other good news Tanner's goopy eye seems to have cleared up, YAY! Weird, it was seriously just overnight, but we'll take it.

My boys love the Kratt Bothers-or I guess the show is called Wild Kratts or whatever anyway they are always "activating" their "cheetah powers" and such Cannon usually plays like he's whatever animal they've learned about (resulted in a biting yesterday-that was bad news)  but the other day he and Colt were "Chris" and "Martin" it was hilarious when they'd call each other those names and then they fight (cuz they always fight-UG) but over whose turn it was to talk ~like they are talking to a camera~ I assured them I've never heard the Kratt Bros fight, which only slowed them down long enough for Cannon to think up his argument that he HAD heard them fight. He is soooo sassy and talks back lately, not my favorite quality. But let's talk about that favorite for a minute or at least one of them, he is So Smart and he really just has a knack for memorizing things~so I have to keep his little brain working in a positive direction-or. Else! Ya know? Anyway so he's got the 13 articles of faith down so we've started the Living Christ document, he's doing pretty darn good. I mean, at the end of the day-he's still only 5!

https://youtu.be/2pQWGizVZig

He gets better at it everyday (ok with the tablet time bribe, but still) and we add a sentence or two. Sometimes its hard to keep up with him! 

Colt, oh man just last night Colt came in our room in the middle of the night and asked for milk "Me tan have some milk?" Oh it was AWESOME!!! Because normal for him is to just wake up screaming, sometimes whining, but usually screaming. Oh it was just such a nice peaceful question. Sure buddy! I'm hoping it is the new normal, then I'll hope he just sleeps (which he does sometimes already). The other thing he's been up to is coasting (aka "Toasting") on his little blue bike. He's going to be ready to pedal soon!

https://youtu.be/Ns2mDN4lDuU

Now Tanner and I, we just have this rough life, we'll take it, we love it!

In other drama the dog came in the house. I was in the other room feeding Tanner and I don't know what Cannon did to coax her in but she knows not to come in (and will stand by the open door-so we know it was on his invitation) So, we did some lame consequence like took away a couple of his toys but told him if it happened again she wasn't going to get to go to Utah with us. Well, once again I don't know what happened but and I don't even know if she was clear in, but I was in feeding Tanner and I heard him telling her to get out. But the first thing Cannon told Isaac when he walked in the door  was that she was in the house again. So time will tell if the consequence holds? I told him (Isaac) I didn't care but whatever-his dog- his problem. Unless it comes back in the house, I guess its my problem then... He said "what a pain" (as in to find a dog sitter for 2 weeks) but then said "but it was going to be a pain to take her too" It was nice to hear him admit that! I don't know what will happen. 

Until next time...

Isaac has the patience of Job-we know that. Me, not so much, we know that too. Its not my favorite thing when I see my weaknesses in my boys :(! Tanner will fuss a few times when he's hungry or unhappy in the car seat or whatever but then after those initial little efforts to communicate-it is GAME OVER. He's screams his head off, (and when he starts to sound more and more like a duck it breaks my heart) but I thought of myself with the older boys, I ask nice once, maybe two or three times but then I get cross. Hmm too bad Tanner couldn't have gotten Isaac's patience.
Tanner's definitely holding favorite brother status in Cannon's world these days. Cannon will get so excited and say "He smiled at me!" And then Colt will get right in Tanners's face and say "Div me a burp Tan-nore." I'm not sure why a burp is preferable over a smile??? They both are always wanting to hold him. They were lifting his whole little vibrator chair playing "Space Ship" umm NO. Mom always ruins all the fun but--too bad!

Super dad was at it again last Saturday morning, making breakfast for the boys and the whole nine yards and boy was I grateful! Then they decided they needed a project so they took on the garage--sweet and thanks guys! You can't really tell in the pic how much of an angle but-if you park on an angle the van fits :)

The bad news was we totally forgot I'd signed us up to help clean the church that morning so we stood up the other family--whoops! Oh and the other bad news was well into that garage project even Job ran out of patience. At first I was feeling totally vindicated, like,  I'm not so bad after all, I deal with these antics all day every day. But then it became somewhat of a learning experience, I listened to Isaac after his patience was far spent I kept thinking "oh that sounds just like me" like when I told him he was being really impatient with them and maybe he should just take a break -umm total role reversal- but he snapped (ok, as much as Isaac can snap) "no I'm not! It's fine" haha yeah right,  but from the outside it was easy to recognize. So it was good to be on that side of things, and know what I sound like to him.

Solution? No clue! But we can work on figuring it out together! 

Sunday we had the Thatcher's over for a little impromptu BBQ. I was a little panicked after Isaac and Cannon took the dog for a walk while I did some damage control on the messiness of the house then Isaac comes in and tells me he invited some random neighbors I've never met "oh they're really nice you'll love'm" he said, classic Isaac right? But he was right, they are a great little family and it's good to know people in the neighborhood but sometimes I sweat those situations because Isaac just has a knack for recognizing we are all God's children and only seeing the good in people! It's really one of his best qualities and maybe I should be a little more grateful, maybe it's why he married me! I'm just saying you never know what's coming when Isaac says "they're real nice you'll love'm" but-it all worked out, they were great and we had a great time. 

A few pics from Sunday morning-I come out of the bedroom Cannon's got Tanner while Isaac was reading something...umm...ok? Maybe?

No to be outdone of course Colt wanted to hold Tanner too-I let him later that evening but hey Colt, not quite what I had in mind when I said "make sure you hold his neck" obviously he was fine enough I dared snap a picture but easy buddy! Then the next one, so loving and cute of Colt. Tanner however-his face says it all! "Why does he STILL have me?!?!?!" 

Tanner is starting to make cute baby noises and give real smiles :) The best way to not have your mom frustrated with you when everything is quiet as a mouse the rest of the house (and world) are asleep and you really should be sleeping too: smile at her! 

Totally forgiven for keeping me awake ;) although I will say I wrote not long ago about loving the newborn phase-true! But the charm of the up all night is wearing off! Little buddy has been so stuffy lately it's awful, he can hardly breathe through his nose-which also makes eating a bit of a circus, last night we slept in the chair because it was game over if I set him down-UG, he slept in my arms I tried to sleep in the chair. I was pretty darn tired today! 
Wednesday was a great day! Miss Dorothy had the boys over for a play date!!! Could we possibly love her any more??? They had so much fun and just played and played, they read stories, the did the rhythm things, played ninja turtles, tried to fly a kite, turned "the park" (indoor playground) into a haunted house by decorating it with fish? oh their little imaginations run wild. She had them ALL day too, we packed a little lunch. I had a blast getting the reports back when I text her to check in, it turned out perfect because I actually had a Dr. appt that day and I got to brave walmart with just Tanner-so nice! And it just made my heart so happy because yes preschool is over but we still have (and get to see) our dear friend, we win.  Oh and she told me she LOVED the songbook and has learned a lot about our faith from it. She loves the songs and the "truths in those melodies" it was neat. The rest of the week we've cashed in on some good times with the Tilton's, we are so grateful for good friends! The Lord is mindful of all of us and knows what we need. Our boys are just best friends and wake up asking for each other, both Cassie and I are kind of like whoa every single day isn't really sustainable but we figured they are going on vacation then we are so they will have some separation soooo let the good times roll, it's good for everyone! :)

 

Colton LOVES monkey's. Monkey jama's monkey noises and especially climbing all over everything and everyone like a monkey. I tried to take a picture of him grinning from ear to ear hanging around Isaac's neck but it was right into the light and didn't turn out but the one of him over my shoulder I was just talking on the phone-and that was his idea of a good time, he's crazy.  

I don't know where this really fits in the blog post so I'll just throw it on the end here but one of my favorite things right now is just chatting with (and learning from) other people. The gals in my ward on a variety of subjects, Cassie at the park~we fight a lot of similar battles~ and she's just a really good mom. The Tilton's are our Missouri version of the Belk's :) I think just adult conversation is really a nice thing for me at this stage of life!