Blue's Clues

Right now, Ethan is totally into Blue's Clues. He freaks out. We will be sitting at lunch or dinner, and he'll start singing the clue song, or the mail song. So, I started looking for the "handy dandy Notebook" to buy... I'm sorry, but this is a phase, and there is no way I am paying $20.00 plus for a notebook that he probably won't want anything to do with in the next 3 months.

So, I made my own. While Ethan was taking a nap. Mind you, it is not proportionate, but it suffices. It was awesome because he woke from his nap and came downstairs. As soon as he saw it, he was excited. Who would've thought a few scraps of paper and a cheap tablet would make such an awesome toy. You may be able to tell - I covered it with packaging tape toe keep him from picking it apart within the first 5 minutes. He has carried it around with him and to bed. He even puts the crayon in the spiral part of the tablet.

Yee haw!

I entered a post a bit ago about a harmonica, Ethan has finally learned how to use it... and it is... oh, so sweet. As you may have guessed, the cats love it! Being sarcastic. But, Ethan seems to think he's Blue's Traveler while playing it.

Nevermind the ridiculous romper, it is convenient and we weren't going anywhere.

...Update...

Just to let y'all know, we are still alive - barely, but still. Larry had his cast removed on Monday. I started my vacation last Friday, but we have all been sick since - all, Me, Ethan, and Larry.

Unfortunately, we have been holed up in our house, and Ethan has been stir crazy. He has been finding ways to keep himself busy... and has learned to tattle on me. If I tell him no, he runs to Dad and rambles on about whatever displeases him.

We went with Larry on Monday to his podiatry appointment and waited for him- just to get out of the house a little bit. All is well, he is healing fantastically. There are no external stitches (only internally), and he can now wear normal shoes. Ethan listened to my MP3 player (from my phone, which is awesome).

And this is also new... Ethan has learned how to make funny faces - I credit this to my sister, Tami, from our conversations on Skype.

New Baby!

Our good friends Steve & Heather Sokasits just welcomed in their first baby,

Lia Sokasits born on July 21 and 4:39AM. 5lbs. 3oz. and 18.5 inches

Happy Happy Birthday Tyler !

I cannot believe that my biggest babiest brother (yes, I meant it exactly how I wrote it - if you took it that way, it is meant that way) is 29 today!

Tyler has always been very sensitive while maintaining logic and serenity. He and Tami have always had a special relationship that when he was very young Tami took him to Hardee's and he asked if people thought they might be a couple... I think he was 7.


As he got older and taller, he and Todd would hang around a lot, but we would go to the mall, and people would always think they were my body guards.

From what we have seen as a husband and father, he is awesome, patient, kind and unconditional.

We love yah, Ty!

Motley Crue Fest...

To say that I am a huge metal fan, would be somewhat of an understatement. I love metal and many genres. I have sort of been stuck in the '80's rock for some time. I never got a chance to see any of my favorite bands in their glory days, but have been attending now whenever I get a chance. Mostly with our good friends, Jeff Duck (see previous post "In Loving Memory"), Chris Gramley, and Steve Sokasits (who were Larry's fraternity brothers and how I immediately bonded with them - the love for metal does that).

So far we've seen Poison ( a few times), Bon Jovi (a couple), Cinderella, White Snake, Billy Idol, Dokken, Faster Pussycat, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Brian Adams, Def Leppard and there are more...

Last night we saw Crue Fest: Trapt, Sixx: AM, Papa Roach, and Motley Crue. Looking around - wow - is all I can say. It's great people watching since there are all kinds...

Larry has had Neuroma for the last couple of years. Today, he had it removed after many sessions of physical therapy and other alternatives managed by his Podiatric surgeon.

This surgery pales in comparison to the MCL surgery on his right knee, or the ACL on his left knee. He is recovering well on the couch with remote in hand.

Like Father...

I came out of the bathroom last night and saw Larry had crashed as soon as he hit the pillow.

I went to check on Ethan before I turned in...

scary?

Cassidi Carter

Can you believe I used to babysit this beautiful not-so-little girl? What happened? I know I am getting older, but when did they?

Shilo (hello - Neil Diamond, Jerri went to this concert with us) and Cassidi Carter were the cutest, sweetest little girls in the

neighborhood. Jerri and Don lived behind us (or we lived behind

them?) in Provo, Utah for years. During those many years, we played a lot and Jerri even worked with us at Dad's company. I was very fortunate to be included in their lives. Shilo and

Tyler were the same age and I think even in the same kindergarten class.

Cassidi was just married last month and Shilo now has 2 children (11 and 7... is that right?)

Neat Idea... I am going to do a few:
Memory Lane...(I got this from Lavinia's blog and thought it was a cute idea.)
Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :)

Family Fun

Ethan and I met our close friends Stacie, Dylan, and Conner at Odyssey Fun World just to hang out.

We had lots of fun - but maybe Stacie had more fun than the kids?

Just kidding. Thanks Gramley's, we had a great time!

A very long time ago, Dad took us to the Sierra Shell Theater for the new Disney Movie release, Newsies. I was already a big fan and in love with Christian Bale since his big movie roll in Empire of the Sun. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched this movie. I love, love, LOVE, L-O-V-E it! I watched it probably 100 times when I was pregnant. It is on TV today, and Ethan is watching it too. This will be his 4th time.

So... I recently started contacting and reaching out to old friends. The blog has been a really awesome tool as well as Facebook. A few friends and I thought it would be fun to start a blog to try to track people down, get caught up, and get reacquainted with some of our old friends. If you went to Orem High, you should post something, or your family picture, and/or update... we really hope this is a fun thing and we hope that we get lots of participants and we find more of our long lost friends.

Gramley's

Yesterday was our good friend Conner Gramley's 2nd birthday. Hanging out with the Gramley's is always so much fun: Chris, Stacie, Dylan and Conner.

Chris and Larry were in the army and college and the fraternity together, so they have been friends for a lOOOOOOng time - you know, cause they're old!

Not to state the obvious, but Conner is only a few months older than Ethan, and we have been putting them together since birth

here they are at just a few months old


And this is just yesterday - High five.


Yes, that is Larry, clapping... I am taking the picture, saying "cheese", so Ethan is pretending to also take a picture. Conner, is like - what the...

Girls Night Out.

Saturday night was a girls night out, for sure. I love these gals and always have so much fun!

Thanks, Debbie & Carla for a great night... and morning... ;)

This is our very gorgeous niece, Allie - she is 16 yrs old and on the cheer squad in HS. We think she is a doll.

Note to Grandma and Nana

Everytime we get on the computer, Ethan thinks he needs to be right in the mix. So, I give him 'projects'. Today, we wrote notes to Grandma and Nana (they're on post-it's because Ethan sits on my lap at the computer desk with me):

Me: Wow, Ethan - what does your note say? Is this one to Grandma?

Ethan: Ma-ma ma ma ma... no, no, no. Beep thwab deedle bop bop, yea! Then some clapping.

Naaaaa-nah - boo's coo's! Maaaaaail... (dancing and humming)

Am I expecting too much? Maybe I am, because Ethan will be 2 in September, and he is showing no interest in the toilet (except to read his Disney magazine on it... uh, what's the saying "like father, like son"?). I feel like he started doing a lot of things early - no bink, no bottles by 1, walking before 10 mos old, coloring since 9-10 mos... why not the toilet training? Argh!

The one thing I am actually looking forward to him doing on his own!

Any tips... anyone?

Splash Country!

Fourth of July fun... and might I just add - Larry has been waiting for Ethan to be old enough to take him to the water park... I think Larry was more excited than Ethan, but we had fun floating down the lazy river. Ethan and I got drenched under the waterfall at the bridge and caught in the sprinklers, Larry laughing all the way. Ethan and I did not find it nearly as hilarious.