Memory Lane is Open

This sounds like fun and I always love traveling down memory lane so go ahead and read on.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I (or you and Matthew) 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. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Even more Utah pics

Chalise and I took our kids on a walk down to the pond in Parowan to feed the ducks and had a fun time. While we were there we saw a FedEx truck go by and TJ said "GO FedEx!" For those of you who don't know, I am a big FedEx fan and Matthew loves UPS (I know, we're weird)

TJ making chocolate chip cookies with my mom.

TJ with my dad and their new dog Missy. It's a miracle I got this picture because the first week we were there TJ would run screaming bloody murder whenever he saw Missy. Finally 2 days before we were leaving he finally got used to here and would play outside even if she was there.

Parowan had an awesome celebration for the 24th of July (Pioneer day for you non-Utah people). TJ LOVED looking at the cow, even though she was ornery and would charge the fence occasionally.

More Utah pics

My brother Kyle and his wife did face painting at the 4th of July celebration at my brother Denny's house. Of coarse I had a ladybug and TJ had a tractor. He doesn't look too happy in this picture but he had a great time with all his cousins.

My darling niece Haley holdin Cooper. She was so cute with Cooper and carried him around everywhere. It was nice for my arms to have a little break - he's a big boy!

TJ picking peas in the garden with my mom. My parents are the cutest grandparents ever and make so many fun memories with all their grandkids.

TJ swimming at my sister Chalise's house.

Utah trip pictures

Cooper's first time on an airplane. They both did great on the airplane - thank heavens.

The morning of July 4th in their patriotic outfits. TJ has his cousin Seth (who share the same birthday) had the same shirts.

What a little cutie, huh?

Our patriotic family

Having a blast in Utah

TJ, Cooper and I have been in Utah for a week and a half and we are having a blast! The flight out here went better than I thought it would considering I was flying by myself with both kids. We had to change planes in Denver, but TJ did so good and Cooper was able to sleep during most of the first flight, so it went well and I was happy to be on the ground in my wonderful homestate. On the flight, we were on the fourth row back, so pretty close to the restroom. A guy walked by to go to the bathroom and he had the "messy hair" look. When TJ saw him, he said "Mom, David Cook!". I was confused at what he was talking about until I saw the guy and then I just busted up. What a funny kid. For those of you who don't watch American Idol, he was the winner this year. In the middle of the first flight TJ wet through his diaper so the flight attendant had to hold Cooper while I went to take care of TJ, and then after we landed and before we unloaded Cooper wet through his diaper too so I had to change him before we got off the plane so the Baby Bjorn wouldn't squish even more out. :-) But since that was the worst thing I had to deal with then I think it went great!

We spent the first week staying up in Spanish Fork with my two sisters and were able to hang out with almost my entire family (just missing Darla) on the 4th of July. I will post some pictures once I get back home. My brother Denny hosted a big celebration party- probably about 75 people, and it was so fun to be with my family. They had a huge waterslide and my brother Kyle and his wife did face painting. We had a great visit and I was able to have one of my young women from my ward in Chicago who just moved to Utah come and hang out with us. It was a very fun day. Sometimes I forget how much I love and miss my family until I am with them again. TJ has had a blast playing with his cousins and my niece Haley was so cute with Cooper - she just loves babies and caried him around all the time I was there. Last Wednesday we drove down to Parowan to see Grandma and Grandpa and my sis Chalise and her family. We've had so much fun hanging out and feel like 2 and a half weeks just isn't enough time here, but I guess I have to get back to "real life" sometime. And I do miss Matthew a bunch so there are some benefits going home. :-) Once I get home I will get some pictures up of our trip.

A memorable Father's day

I am writing this post a week after the fact and have an ironic update. So as you know last week was Father's day, and it was also Youth Conference in our stake (with church) and Matthew was in charge of a big service project with the Special Olympics for Youth Conference so he was gone from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon. Since we didn't get to see him much on Father's day, I guess TJ did his best to make it a memorable Father's day for Matt. We went over to my in-laws for dinner which is about 30-45 minutes away, and after dinner and right before we were going to open gifts, TJ tripped and hit his chin on the bottom stair and busted it open pretty bad, so we were off to get stitches. He cried pretty hard when he first got hurt and for a few minutes after, but as long as we kept him distracted and talking about other things on the way to the hospital he did great. Once we got in the room he got to eat a red popsicle while the numbing stuff was doing it's job, and then he did awesome while he got stitched up - sat super still and didn't even cry. I was really glad that he did so well, because I had almost decided to go home so I wouldn't have to be there for it, but on my way out to the car I decided that no matter how hard it was for me I just couldn't leave him in his time of need. While he was getting stitched up he would occasionally ask "Dad, what ya doin?" and "Where's mom" (he couldn't see me cause I was sitting behind the doctor who was stitching him up). He ended up getting 8 stitches and was excited to go back to my in-laws and show them his cool "bracelet" which was what they put on his wrist when he was admitted with his info on it. On Friday we went to the doctor to get his stitches out and once again he sat so still and didn't even cry while the doctor took the stitches out. Dr. Mike told me that not too many kids would sit there like TJ did and that he was definitely a keeper - I totally agree. :-)

So today when we were at church I was sitting in the Young Women's room third hour, which happens to be next to the nursery and about 20 minutes before church was over I heard some screaming and thought it sounded like TJ. Sure enough, a minute or two later the nursery leader came and got me. TJ had been playing with another boy and accidentally hit his chin really hard on the kids head, and it busted open again. So as I write this Cooper and I are here at home and Matthew and TJ are at the hospital getting more stitches. I hope my pediatrician doesn't start to question my abilities to take care of my children. I mean, who thinks you're going to need stitches after leaving church?!?

In other news, TJ has been so fun recently and has done some pretty amusing things (when he's not busy splitting his chin open). Yesterday I overheard him putting one of his stuffed animals in time-out because he wasn't listening very well. When he got him out of time-out he talked to him about it and then gave him a hug and kiss. It was pretty cute. He also found the drawer with my hot pads in it yesterday and I have a potholder that's a duck. Recently we have been taking walks over to a pond and feeding the ducks some bread, so when he found my hot pad he told me the duck needed some bread. I wasn't sure what he was

going to do with it, but I thought it would be amusing to find
out so I gave him the heel of the bread. A little while later I walked down the hall and noticed that he had put the duck hot pad in the bathtub and he was standing a few feet back, breaking the bread into little pieces and throwing it in the tub to the duck. It made me chuckle and reminded me again why I absolutely LOVE being a mom. :-)

New pics

TJ and Grandma making him some cool tractor pajamas. My mom is such a cute grandma and makes so many fun memories with the kids. And she actually puts my sewing machine to use.

TJ showing off his new tractor pajamas

TJ teaching Cooper how to play with his toys.

TJ was sharing his stickers with Cooper. :-) He's such a cute big brother.

Brothers?

I was just looking at pictures of TJ when he was Cooper's age and trying to decide if they look somewhat alike, so I thought I would get your oppinion. The top picture is of Cooper, taken a couple weeks ago, and the next picture is of TJ when he was 2 1/2 months old. So what do you think? Look like brothers? TJ's head was bigger and he has those (darling) dimples. I didn't really use to think they looked alike much, but when I put the pictures next to each other I think they at least resemble each other. In any case, I am in love with them both. :-)

Cooper's blessing & a silly picture

Last Sunday (June 1st) we blessed Cooper in church. Matthew gave him a beautiful blessing and it was wonderful to have my parents here from Utah, along with some other family and friends who live in the area. Here are a few pictures that we took afterward at Matthew's parent's house. We didn't really plan to match by all wearing blue, it just kind of happened that way (except Cooper who was wearing white). My mom made the blessing outfit for TJ a few years ago when he was blessed and we were able to use the same one for Cooper.

Cooper is so much fun these days. He is grinning all the time and is making sounds that could almost pass as laughter. He is pretty laid back and puts up with TJ always wanting to hold his hands and smother him with love. TJ is still a great big brother and always wants to be a helper by giving Cooper his binky, showing him how to play with his toys (although he is still way too little) and just giving him lots of love. I count my blessings that he has never seemed jealous at all.

TJ is doing well and sometimes I wonder if he is 2 or 10 by the things he says and does. The other night I was getting his dinner ready and I was just giving him leftovers. I had it on the plate but hadn't warmed it up yet, and he started picking at it. I asked him if he wanted to eat it cold and he said no, and then he proceeded to take his plate over to the microwave, open it up, put his plate in and start it with the right amount of time (30 sec). I just started laughing - he seemed so grown up at that very moment. It is still so fun for me to see how he is growing and learning every day.

The last picture on this post is of TJ with a Pull-up on his head. He apparently thinks that they make better hats then potty-training tools. Matthew and I just started laughing when he did that, so he just kept putting more on his head. What a goof ball. We sure love being parents and count our blessings to have 2 adorable little boys in our lives.

Gotta love that smile

I need to do another post soon, but I just wanted to get this picture up tonight. We blessed Cooper on Sunday and this picture was taken later that afternoon. Isn't he such a cutie? I may be a bit bias, but I just LOVE that smile. He's growing up too fast.