Noise With Dirt

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Ahhh, Sweet Sleep!

Logan slept for an 8-hr stretch last night. Hurray! That's the best he's ever done, and I felt so refreshed this morning. I was starting to feel like I'd never get some decent shut-eye, since for the previous week he'd been getting up not once, not twice, but THREE times a night, positively screaming each time. I'm sorry, but at 5 months old that's just not acceptable (I know it could be teething or something, but still . . . my grumpiness threshold with my older kids was getting a bit on the low side). Oh, how I hope last night wasn't just a fluke.

Over the past week I've also switched from swaddling him and putting him in the swing during his naps to just laying him in his crib. He rolls all over the place and fusses a little bit, but goes to sleep fairly quickly. I'm liking this, too!

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby! (Logan in June)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Summer Adventures So Far

I had grandiose plans for our summer. Every week we were going to go on at least one outing and explore the rich natural and cultural heritage our area has to offer. To date we have made it on zero of those local outings, and 8 of our 11 weeks of summer break are gone. I feel rather pathetic, but at least the boys don't seem to mind. I learned long ago not to tell them of any potential plans unless it is practically time to load up the van!

We haven't just stayed home, however. We took several trips up to Idaho, the first at the beginning of June, and then again over the 4th of July. My grandma passed away while we were up there (she was 94 and had had a massive stroke a few months before, so in many ways it was really a blessing), so we were up again one week later for her funeral.

The view from my parents' driveway...ahhh, so nice!

Grandpa giving cousins Nikoli, Andrew, and Colin a ride

We also spent a night in Park City, with the idea that Brandon was going to get up early in the morning and go on a huge bike ride as training for some events later this summer. But, taking the family kiboshed the big plans; we played on the Alpine Slide and kiddie rides instead, and Brandon rode a smaller, but still substantial ride that day. (He did get in the originally planned 100 mile route yesterday, which had 3 major mountain climbs in it!)

Liam at the end of a wild ride down the Alpine Slide!

A few weeks ago we had a great time at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City with all of Brandon's family. I got to see all 6 plays this year (loved them!), Brandon saw three of them and got in some golfing and a bike ride, and the kids swam and played hard with their cousins. I left Logan either with Brandon or at the daycare during the plays, and he never once would take a bottle. Darn! Luckily, they said he was really good even without it, though a few times he was very glad to see me.

Last weekend we had a reunion with my mom's family at the Heber Valley Camp, and we had a lot of fun. Marshmallow gun kits were provided for the kids, which of course my boys were all over. They went on some hikes, and went boating at the end of the day.

Colin planning his next marshmallow attack

Out on the lake with Dad (Logan was sleeping with me on shore)

There has also been a lot of jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it, a session of swimming lessons, teaching my piano students, a neighborhood craft class, trips to the library, and plenty of downtime. Oh good, now I don't feel as pathetic as I did when I was only thinking of the things we didn't do!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Entering the Blogging World

Peer pressure! That's why I've started this blog. One person even published a dare on her own blog a while ago for me to start one (it took me a while though, Christy), and I've been absolutely hounded by certain family members (you know who you are). Okay, it really hasn't been that bad. But as I've read and admired everyone else's blogs, I have found myself writing little blog entries in my head. I have also really enjoyed keeping up with people through their blogs, so I'm going to take the plunge. I'm looking forward to journaling our lives and staying in touch or reconnecting with friends and family.