Wedding Snippets (a.k.a. Another Event Where the Christmas Sweatsuit Would Have Impressed Kristen)



Remember when I was babysitting when I was 11, and I came home to find out that my mom had a baby? Cindy and I were so excited we did Toyota jumps down the stairs. So, I did what any girl would do, I put on my black Christmas sweatsuit (jingle bells attached), so I would look really nice the first time I met her. (If I ever get ahold of that picture, I will need to post it here. I look GOOD.) Then when she was two or three she liked to climb and play, on people even, so I called her my monkey. So I gave her a stuffed monkey for Christmas and she loved it to pieces until it was literally in pieces years later, and she was officially my monkey. But really officially her name is Kristen, and really offiically she got MARRIED.

I know for sure this is true, because I was there in the Logan temple in the very room, and shed some tears because it was so awesome and she was so happy. And also Shane was so happy too. He's the boy involved in this. Kristen's friends asked me afterward how it was. I said it was really nice. They said people always say that. They are right, they always do. But it really was true! President Kimball said, "Any of you would go around the world for the sealing ordinance if you knew its importance, if you realized how great it is." (Read more here.) (Or get a little background on the topic here.) I love being in the temple and feeling the closeness of heaven on earth, and having a moment to really feel what's important. And seeing Kristen happy. I don't have a whole chronicle of the event with my little camera, just what a mom like me would take in a hurry, but it's proof, anyway, right?

I told the kids to go touch the temple so I could take their picture. They did it, and then kept looking in the door to try to see Kristen. I told them they wouldn't see Kristen, but seconds later, there she was making faces through the door at them. They were SO excited.

Here they are, all married . . . with children. The kids LOVE these guys, so had to be the first to get a photo opportunity. Andrew was totally upset about life until Shane picked him up.

It's our little family in front of the temple. Couldn't get an all-smiling picture, but what do you do?

May be odd to take a picture of Josh eating, but I thought it was so cute how much he loved the food. He got seconds of pork tenderloin. Who knew he was so fancy? (Yes, his hand is in his mouth. :) )

Gary may hate me for posting this picture. But it's too funny! Andrew was really enjoying himself, and this was the "perfect" moment to capture.

I did not take a picture of Noah while eating. I told him to smile and he struck this as his pose. I also love Andrew cheesing it up in the background because I had the camera out.

Andrew became a dancin' machine this weekend. His moves at the wedding were some of the most entertaining.

Posting a lot of pictures of my kids dancing . . . but how do I choose? They were having a blast. The favorite move was swing under mom's legs, which I did a few more times than my body wanted to. But they loved it.

Josh is king of inventing unique maneuvers.

Andrew with my gorgeous sister Hannah.

This was the highlight for Noah, by FAR. He didn't want to go near Kristen for a while because it seems he was so smitten by her beauty in her wedding dress. He told me the only girl he would dance with was grandma. Finally near the end he worked up the courage to have me ask Kristen to dance with him, and that's what he talked about constantly afterwards. He loved when, "Kristen was a princess, and he got to dance with her in her dress." Incidentally, when he was playing with Mrs. Potato Head last week, he had her marry Shane.

Tate and Noah get their moment.

And finally, these funny babies. Katie couldn't find Lily at all, but I kept seeing Andrew run behind a wall, stay there for a minute, and then peek back into the main room. Turns out this fireplace was behind the wall, and they were playing back there. His pose cracks me up.

Before the Wedding, There Was the Parade

I like the idea of there being a parade for my sister's wedding. Except she did not attend, so either she shafted us all, or the parade was actually for Rodeo Days. We spent a long weekend in Idaho for the many festivities, and kicked the whole thing off by going to this parade Josh had been anticipating all year. Why, you ask? The tractors? The cloggers? Perhaps, but most likely because they give out more treats than any parade I have ever been to. Not just candy. Otter pops, water, chocolate milk . . . yeah.

Waiting with anticipation . . .

We started out the treat fest with ice cream sandwich hours d vours. Andrew enjoyed his.

Josh and Tate were loving life. My sister Cindy taught them that if instead of holding out their candy bags, they should smile and wave at each float. It worked beautifully.

Add chocolate milk to the equation and all is well . . .

 The best part of the weekend is that we got to spend time with everyone. Gary delighted everyone with the various foods I volunteered him to make (it was simple stuff we make often, but it's always nice to delight), and the kids played really well with their cousins. They always love it, but this time there was no bloodshed. Awesome.

Andrew loves new cousin Violet. Prying her away from him was quite the task.

Attempted an artistic shot. Only Josh looked, but I still like the view.

Lilly, Madeline, Josh, Andrew and Noah.

These babies really have the moves! If you look at the TV you will see the song was "I'm Too Sexy." They both chose props for this number. Well chosen, children. They were hilarious. This weekend was really fun for the 3 toddlers that are close in age, they really got to love eachother. Andrew could plow Lily over, but they became good friends, so now she has a protector. Also, Andrew now says "Beckett." An honor from a boy who says little.

Up All Night . . .

Just that phrase reminds me of USA UP All Night bit that used to play when we'd watch MacGuyver or Quantum Leap way back in the day . . .

This is my first time (with this baby) being up for several hours in the night due to horrific acid reflux. Due to pregnancy. Or how my body reacts to it. This must stop . . . With Andrew Braxton Hicks also kept me up in the night, from 33 weeks on. Sigh. At times like these I think about all of the people who would love to be in the situation where there was a pregnancy to keep them up. Really, I am glad to have this as my situation. We'll see if the gladness extends to tomorrow when I deal with things such as toddlers . . .

Speaking of, Andrew started acting like a toddler this week. Yes, he has been toddling for 11 months, but not until this week did he demand that he put on his own shorts and buckle his own carseat and have the milk on his cereal on his time and in his way. And screaming about all of it. Of course these are things all toddlers do. Josh and Noah did them earlier. But my sweet, sweet Andrew, who knew it could happen? He's still so sweet Gary and I actually think it's funny.

BEST part of today, I got to go to Provo and see my sister Hannah pass through on her way to Texas for grad school. And have a Farewell-Birthday-Brunch. She is fantastic, I love her, my kids love her . . .(most heard phrase, "Hey Hannah, guess what?). Cruddy thing about life, when you grow up you see your siblings less and less. Cool thing about life, having them in the first place. Love you, Hannah, getting teary . . .  (Also seeing mom and dad and Sarah and Dave and Madeline and Violet was awesome, too.)

When I walk up my stairs I am struck by an awful smell. Just scrubbed my bathroom yesterday, walls and all. Oh, boys . . . have been meaning to borrow a friend's steam cleaner for the carpets and mattresses. If I use that with some special pet odor remover, will it be enough? What mess will I have to concede to in order for the steam cleaning to happen?

Just hit me that I may finally be able to sleep. I'll try hard, gotta get ready for my morning hugs . . .they are the best.

UPDATE (The next day): Andrew can officially get himself out of his own crib. Which we discovered at naptime. Trying not to panic, this is what always happens . . .

From the Big Belly to the Root Bag . . .

Andrew suddenly seems annoyed with my belly. (As of a month ago when I wrote this.) Every time we sit down to read book together, he readjusts himself 5 or 6 times before throwing his head backward to try to make up for the bump.The other day he actually tried to punch it down a little. He doesn't want to sit to the side, though, he still wants to be right on my lap.

Josh drew a picture on the driveway of some type of robot. He said, "Look, he has lasers in the middle of him, and peas in each hand that he stole from Africa!" No, he has not watched any shows with anything like this. I love his little brain.

Overheard: "We dipped our cars in the whipped cream, then, yummy!" (Seriously, boys?)

Noah: Don't tell me you don't have money to buy that, you have credit cards, lots! (This from a boy who just turned 3. I think he assumes every card in my wallet is a credit card.)

I taught the boys that when pulling weeds, you have to pull them up by the root. Since there are plenty of weeds in our back porch (yes, lovely), they have opportunity to practice. Noah gets very excited when he gets the roots, and wants to save them. So, he puts them all in a bag, and calls it his "root bag." Why does it seem wrong for a kid to have a root bag?

Splash!

What is the most awesome thing we could possibly do this summer? Swim lessons! I thought they would like it, but I didn't know they would LOVE it. Good thing, because we went every day for two weeks. Lessons weren't until 11:00, but they would want to put on their swim suits the second they woke up. It was kind of nice, I got some good work out of them when hanging the lessons over their heads . . .

Josh did his first actual Red Cross certification level, level 1. He learned quite a bit, and was very concerned about passing. On the last day when he got his certificate, he wanted to tape it on the front door for dad to see when he came home. We settled on sticking it in the front door from the inside (along with Noah and Andrew's papers, of course). Josh said, "When dad comes home, the paper will fall to him, and he will say, 'What a heck! Josh passed!' " Thanks to a wee bit of coaching from me, that is exactly what happened, much to his delight.

Noah did his first preschool swimming class. I worried that he would be a little chicken, but he thought it was awesome. His favorite part was when they got to get in life jackets and get in the big pool, because then he was big like Josh. I found it amusing that he had his teachers take him to the bathroom so often. How many kids really take the admonition to not pee in the pool to heart? Noah, for sure. He loved the games, especially playing Red Light/Green Light, and he is quick to tell you there is a yellow light, too.

I did mom/tot swimming with Andrew. I loved having a chance to spend some one on one time with my youngest boy, seems like something he doesn't get a lot of. He was a little scared of the water, but once we started singing Wheels on the Bus and Five Little Monkeys, he was all smiles. He actually showed a lot of progress in the two weeks, from totally scared to pretty comfortable. I was loving hugging him while weightless, and soaking in the giggles.

So excited for the day's lesson . . .

Noah with his class. He felt VERY awesome when he got to put on a life jacket and get in the big pool.

Josh with his class. Friend Ben is in the back, and the lifejackets are only for the diving board.

The bathing beauty . . .why do I think Andrew's desire to lounge like this is so funny?

Andrew, my love, posting this picture is painful, but I want you to know we did mommy and me swimming together and had a blast. This is proof.

Noah jumped off the diving board without being lowered - a huge feat for his class.

Joshua doing his IG-88 spin. That's a Star Wars droid we learned about in a book. Also what he chose to name this move. Also he typed his own name in this caption and had to add the "ua" to make his glorious moment last longer.

More of the jump-pro (Josh).

We actually took lessons with some of our good friends, which was the icing on the cake. We stayed after lessons one day to swim, and Josh and his friend Ben jumped off the diving board over and over for the entire two hours . . . I really wonder how long they would have gone if we hadn't gone home. They couldn't get enough of the jumping.

So, there you go, what took over our lives the end of July. Not a bad thing.