Bridal Veil Falls

We trying to live it up here in Utah while Matt's work schedule is more relaxed than his school schedule. We went on a mini hike the other day to the Lehi hot springs thinking that would be fun- it was not. We couldn't find the trail head and asked a police officer. He said, "its right over there, but not worth the 5 minute walk. It's just a hot mud puddle."

(Buzz Lightyear shooting the camera with his laser during the hike)

We didn't take his word for it, but when we got there that's exactly what we found. So, in our swim suits we walked back to the car and came home to play in our back yard.

The next day we had better success with a small hike up to Bridal Veil Falls. It was gorgeous up there and while the sun was hot the water was cool. I took WAY too many pictures and yes, I'm going to post a lot of them!

We're going to have to work on our hiking form.

Brayden was content to throw rocks into the water for almost two hours.

Fish

One of the first things Matt wanted to do this summer was get the boys set up with a fish. While at DI (thrift store in Utah) the second day we were back here he found a fish tank. Once we got approval from our landlords we set out to find a fish. Matt and Taylor spent about 10 minutes watching the fish in the WalMart tank for the perfect one, well, two so both boys could have one.

Brayden's, named Silver, lasted 13 hours at home.

Taylor's, named Taylor, lasted 2 1/2 days.

We are now on fish number three, also named Taylor. So far he's doing well. I'd think he was lonely, but he actually bit the tail off of Taylor I- so we're thinking he may be an only child/fish for a while. I guess I need to take a few more pictures of the fish because the only one I have is Silver going for a swim in the toilet to fish heaven, I'll get on that!

The Pet Store

Brayden's love of animals inspired his birthday trip with just Matt and I. We took him to PetsMart AND PetCo (since they were right across the street from one another.)

***Also, a side note, Matt is trying to convince me to get an indoors dog which I am extremely against. (Not right now but after school) He thought if we could go and play with some dogs and see how much Brayden enjoyed it, it would change my mind. Little did he know these big pet shops don't "stock" puppies and encourage adoption so he wasn't able to brainwash me!***

Braydo LOVED it and was running from animal to animal making all the noises.

Oklahoma

While we were at my parent's house in Colorado, they left to go on a 2-week cruise to Spain, so we got a little bored. We decided (meaning I persuaded Matt to drive more) to drive the 10-hrs to Amy and Alek's house in Enid, OK. They live on an Air Force base there and that weekend they had to move to another house- just two doors down. We got to hang out with them and help them move. We got to go see the planes Aleks is learning to fly and Matt even got to try out the plane simulator and landed a T-6 perfectly... on a computer. They have a bowling alley on the base that is really cheap so we took the boys there twice. Taylor loved it, Brayden did not.

Life... Lately

So our life has been crazy lately- but I wouldn't have it any other way! (this is long- but good documentation for me...)

Matt finished his first or two years at BYU for his MBA. He worked so hard this year and his grades reflected that hard work! He's been searching and interviewing for a summer internship and we have been praying and fasting, along with our family, that he would get an opportunity that would help him build his marketing experience. We figured the internship would be out of Utah so we put our place up on the Internet to sublet but didn't have any interest, until May 1st. On Saturday a guy came and saw our place and wanted it, then and he was staying in a hotel until we moved out... so we did. We packed up and left 48 hours later and drove to Colorado to stay with my parents.

At the time Matt had one internship offer with a company in Ohio that we thought we would take but he was waiting to hear back from 4 other companies. Well, over the next week and a half he had a few more phone interviews and received an offer from JetBlue in SLC. The next Friday Matt had these two offers expiring, and at 4:00 other offers started coming in. He had to make his decision by 5:00 on Friday and between 4:00 and 5:00 he got two more offers from great companies. In the end he decided that the offer and opportunity available at JetBlue would give him the best experience, so here we are... back in Utah. We are really excited about this job experience for Matt and we are going to try and live it up here while we can. We rented our place out in Provo furnished so we needed to find somewhere else to live- with stuff already in it. Gratefully some friends in the MBA program were leaving their house in Lehi furnished, so we've moved in there. Matt will start with JetBlue on June 7th and will spend a day in NYC for orientation and then start his work here. We are so grateful for this internship and feel really blessed! Come visit if you're in Lehi!

Traveling Pictures:

Taylor requested an eye mask to take his nap. A MBA spouse makes these- SO CUTE! Brayden was happy as long as he had some junk food to eat.

Brayden turns 2!!

Some things I want to remember about this little boy:

- He LOVES animals

- He makes animal sounds all the time

- He does not talk much

- He understands everything you say or ask

- He'll try to say any word you ask him to

- He has the best belly laugh

- He hates going to bed every night, but goes down for naps easily

- He LOVES Dora the Explorer, yes, Dora is one of the few words he'll say on his own

- He tells a "knock-knock" joke

- He's recently debuted his new laugh, which is more like a scream

- He waits for Taylor to drop a toy and then he runs and takes it and hides so Taylor can't find it

- He will play in water all day if I let him

- He LOVES watermelon

- He LOVES Chocolate

We sure LOVE him!

For his birthday we were visiting my parents in Colorado so he had his birthday there. He loves chocolate cake and I found a great chocolate Texas sheet cake I wanted to make. Well, it fell apart a lot more than I thought it would, so when I tried to stack it on top and then ice it there were crumbs everywhere. I finally gave up and let the boys take over. Matt, Taylor and Brayden decorated the cake. (Notice Matt's touch of "natural selection" with the dead goat)

Lehi Water Park

We went on a field trip with other MBA spouses to the Lehi indoor water park. The boys had a BLAST! It's been so long since they've been in the water. It was a great day to go. I've been itching for some warmer weather and as soon as we got inside it started snowing. The wind was blowing really hard outside and it was nice to pretend it was warm and summery in the pool. The snow kindly stopped when we were done too so we didn't have to make a run for it to the car.

Brayden winding up to splash himself- he loved this!

Blowing Bubbles

Oops, my lens fogged up! Taylor running to the slide.

Time Consumer

This has been what has taken me away from blogging...

Actually, I'd like to use this as my excuse, but it hasn't been that stressful, I just don't feel like blogging much lately. I'm trying to force myself because I know ya'll are all dying to know what it's like to be me! :)

A group of women from the MBA Spouse Association have created a quiet book group. Most of them already went through one round and each made 14 duplicate pages of a quiet book and then swapped them. I jumped in on round 2 and I;m making 19 train pages and then will trade for the other 18 pages. It's going to be AWESOME because they're all better sewers than me! (Jes- you know how bad I am. I still haven't hemmed my baby wrap because I'm too scared to sew a straight line!) This has been a great learning experience and I have to say my sewing skills are getting better each day! I can't wait for the final products!

I'm a fan of country music- much to Matt's horror and dismay.

There's a song by Sugarland and a line it it says,

"Now there's toys in the backyard
Daddy's boys, yeah, you know how they like to fight
When they sleep, he swears they're angels
He wouldn't trade a day for all those Friday nights"...

We have had one of those days where it's lucky that we're all alive by bedtime! But when I went it to see them tonight- my heart just melted and I forgot all about the craziness of the day and I just wanted to kiss those cheeks and stroke the hair of my little angels. Man I love those boys!

Park Days

The weather in Provo has been so crazy lately. I'm not going to complain that much because it's been a lot of sun and mid 50's, but then we'll get snow three hours later! So weird! We've been enjoying the parks lately. Oh- and Taylor got a haircut! FINALLY!!!!

Growing Up

Brayden has been growing up so much lately- at least in my eyes. When Taylor was Brayden's age, we had a one- month old. Out of necessity and excitement for things to come we encouraged Taylor to grow up. With Brayden- he's our baby. The rush to do new things hasn't been as hurried with him. He still doesn't talk much and has about 6 words in his vocabulary BUT he's trying!

We bought a little potty from Ikea a while ago just to be ready when potty training came upon us again. Well, it looks like it might be here! The last two days Brayden has made himself pee in the potty if I ask him to. YEAH! (kinda) I;m not sure if I'm totally ready to do it, but if he is then we better get going!

Last night we took the side rail off his crib. That was a huge step for me! He looks so little- but I had to remind myself Taylor had already been sleeping in a twin size bed for two months at this point! Brayden did pretty good. He knocked on his door to get out at 2:00 am and wanted to play downstairs. It took him 3 hours to go back to bed, which meant not a lot of sleep for me, but over all it went well!

Bowling

Matt's sister Stephanie came into town two weekends ago. We planned lots of fun things to do while she was here. First on our list was bowling. The boys have never been bowling so we hit up BYU's bowling lanes. Brayden liked it for a little while. Taylor wanted to bowl every one else's frames and the rest of us were terrible! BUT we still had fun!

This kids has been cracking me up. Today on the radio someone said something about being a disgrace to all humanity. I didn't totally hear it but Taylor piped up from his seat and ask, " Humanity, what is all humanity?" I tried to explain what it was, but he decided we're all boys, mommys or daddys- "there's no humanity silly mommy."



At dinner he asked for some more water and when I handed it to him he drank some and said "Now that's what I'm talking about."

As we sat down for dinner I was putting food on their plates and he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, you'll always be in my heart." (Anyone know which movie that is? Spirit. He watched part of it this morning.)


Brayden still doesn't talk much, but we can understand the different inflection in his squeals and screams to get his point. He LOVES animals and any food that is NOT good for you! (notice the pasta sauce and oreo look he's sporting above)He has an obsession with play dough and wants to play with it all day long.


Both boys cannot be deterred by the weather when there's a sand table right back your back door. They bundle up and play until it gets too cold. For the most part they play well together, but every once in a while someone will come in with sand in their hair from a sand fight.

The other day after his nap Taylor came into my room and laid down on the floor underneath my desk. I was trying to send off some emails so he was down there, quiet, for about 5 minutes. After ALL that time to think he says this:

"You have a BIG butt."

I looked down at him, perplexed (because I don't think it's THAT big).

"Yeah, me, I said that to you!" he says emphatically.

I haven't missed a day at the gym since that afternoon!

WWJD?

Taylor can get pretty rough with Brayden sometimes. The other day he kept on pushing him down. I finally pulled him aside after asking nicely for him to stop it a million times. The conversation went like this:

Mom: Taylor, is that a nice thing to do?

T: No

Mom: We want to be like Jesus right and be nice?

T: Jesus isn't nice mom, he knocked overs the guys tables!

And there you go-what was working so well is now shot. Of all the stories he's been told, that's the one he wants to pattern his live after... AHHHH!