July

July has been busy, busy and so fun. The boys have definitely been living their best lives this month. We had a Delta trip to celebrate Independence Day with Dillon's family, a trip to Loveland Living Planet Aquarium and Hogle Zoo thanks to Grandma Paula and Grandpa Dale, a visit to Cedar's July Jamboree, Girl's Camp (for me), and plenty of smaller activities between all of those.  

Sawyer

Sawyer has gotten better about trying to sing during primary, but it's still mostly just singing noises without actual words. I decided to start practicing some songs with him before bedtime, most of the time it's this one. It's been really good for both of us. He's been learning the words and gets really excited when they pick that one to sing in primary and it's been a peaceful way for me to end my typically not so peaceful days.

While we visited in Delta over the 4th of July holiday, Kim shared some gummy bears with the boys and Sawyer was totally won over and frequently asks if we can go buy some "candy teddy bears." He also went to his first demolition derby and was way more interested in the clouds than the cars (unless it's really action packed, I'd usually be the same way). 

For a few weeks Sawyer would always tell me, "Thanks for all your help, Mom.", after every little thing I'd help him with. It was really endearing but, sadly, seems to have already passed. Sawyer chose binoculars as his prize from the gift shop when we all went to the aquarium and he LOVES them. He hauls them around everywhere and tells me, "My loculars like a snake-a-lace." (Because they go around his neck.. his binoculars are like a necklace. Just translating for those that don't speak three-year-old.) I was reading a book to Sawyer the other night and was having him name all of the animals on the pages. One of them was a warthog and when I pointed to it and asked Sawyer what it was he cocked his head, pondered, and then said, "It's a sharp pig!" Not wrong, buddy.

Dawson

This last trip to Delta, Dawson started calling Dillon's dad, "Steezze!" and it is the best. He's still pretty entrenched in this whole, "Hey! Bop it!" phase. That one is full of righteous toddler indignation. He's started to roll his arms one over the other while singing, "Round and round. Round and round." I'm glad to know he's picking up songs from singing time in nursery. He definitely didn't learn it from me or Dillon. I wish I could say I'm a singing mom who busts out kid rhymes and songs...but I'm just not. I never really think about it. So thanks nursery for checking that box in my kid's life.

Dawson has developed a really intense love for pistachios. They seem to be a soft enough nut that he doesn't have a problem with them (not the case with peanuts still, gag city with those). I keep a bag of already shelled pistachios in our pantry and if I open it, Dawson comes running no matter where he happens to be in the house. He prances over to me with his hands outstretched and asks (screeches), "More! More!" 

Dillon

Dillon's been working hard like he always does. He got asked by a coworker to write up the plans/instructions for a sign that her son wanted made to advertise his business. So he worked on that a little bit outside of his regular work hours and earned some extra money. Bridgette and her girls stopped in Cedar on their way to California to eat lunch with us. It worked out that Dillon had just enough time to meet up with us, wolf down some food, and then peace out back to work. It was a short visit but fun to catch up for a minute. Sawyer was so excited so see Bridgette that he kept squeezing her face and giggling so hard. He could hardly compose his little self.

The vocabulary in this story probably isn't for everybody so if you're not a fan of anatomically correct phrases...go ahead and skip this one. Sawyer was rough housing with Dillon and it was going well until he accidentally walloped Dillon right in the sweet spot. Dillon doubled over and squealed, "Aaaah! My penis!" (which he doesn't usually say when accidents like this happen which is how I know Sawyer got him good). Sawyer was overcome with remorse and told Dillon, "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." then gave Dillon's member a gentle little poke and said, "Sorry your penis." Maybe you had to be there, but I was dying laughing.

Dillon was left all by himself with the boys overnight while I was at Girl's Camp and they all survived. In fact, when I came home the boys were excited for about a minute flat and then went right back to wanting Dillon for everything. He's a good dad and definitely the more fun one of the two of us so I don't blame them. 

DaNae

I had my annual checkup with my ob/gyn at the beginning of July and while he was listening to my heart he said, "Uh...you have a heart murmur. Has your primary doctor mentioned it?" I told him I've been fortunate and have only needed to go to the doctor about three times in the past 10 years (besides for when I've been pregnant) but that it had never been mentioned to me before. He listened again and said, "Well, that's definitely a heart murmur so I want you to make a follow up appointment with your primary doctor." He said sometimes they come and go and can be affected by hydration and other things so I might go to the other doctor and he wouldn't hear a thing.

When I went to my primary care doctor the following week, I was totally expecting to hear that it was all fine because I'm so used to being fine but he listened for a while in a few different spots and confirmed that he could hear a murmur and wanted me to get an echocardiogram. We talked for a minute and he said he couldn't give me for sure answers until after the echo but the sound of it made him think that aortic stenosis was probable which would most likely mean surgery down the road. But he also said it might not be that so... get the echo. So that news sucked, more because of the unknown. It could be kind of serious, or not. Might need to change some future plans, or not. 

After getting the echo done, they were able to see that my murmur is actually from three mildly leaky heart valves. Which definitely sounds like a problem, but apparently really, really is not. According to the internet, most of the general population has a valve or two that leak a little. And according to the doctor, my heart is fine and I have nothing to be worried about. So that is (expensive) good news. 

Girl's Camp happened in the middle of all that heart excitement. I only went for half of the week instead of the whole time and let me tell you, getting there was an adventure. I had the boys in the van ready to go to my parents house for the day and had to stop at another leader's house to pick up some stuff to take up the mountain to her girls. When I got out of the van, Sawyer freaked and threw up all over his car seat (even though I told him what I was doing, never went in the house, and he could see me on the porch..which was 10 ft away from the van). I drove to my parents, got Sawyer out, and my mom helped me strip him down and get him changed. Then I stopped back at our house to throw the car seat cover in the washer. 

I went to Dillon's work to switch vehicles since the Escape would most likely do better on the mountain roads. I forgot that there were Igloos of water in the back of the Escape and took a corner too fast on my way to pick up some girls that needed a ride to camp. Water. Everywhere. So... I headed back home, cleaned out the back of the car, refilled the igloos, and finally picked up the girls.

All seemed well, we were on our way up the mountain when I got to the part that is all up hill for a long time, the Escape freaked out and overheated, then powered down. We still had another thirty minutes out of our forty-five minute drive to go so I made the decision to drive back down the mountain and switch vehicles again. Back to Dillon's work, unloaded all the crap, reloaded it in the van, uninstalled the car seats, reinstalled them in the Escape. At this point we were late enough that I was able to pick up another girl who needed a ride later in the day. I was really and sincerely thinking that I wasn't meant to be there after all that but decided to power through. 

We successfully made it up the mountain, got everyone dropped off where they needed to be, and jumped into the activities. I'm so glad I made it there. I really love the girls in our ward. They are so easy going, helpful, low-drama, and fun. It was such a good experience and had me literally pining for a YW calling.

Dawson being over our Costco trip.

A quick Sunday shoot with my cute boys.

Went to the bathroom, came back to this mischievous thing.

Sparklers!

  

Delta parade.

Allie and Sawyer.

One of the best parade prizes.

Zonked.

Just a video of Dawson scorpion-ing it on the trampoline.

Sawyer has hit this phase of either giving me a really fake, forced smile or using his hand to push his lips to create a smile.

Have to hit up the dime horse ride at the grocery store.

Being a helper, carrying the milk into the house.

Their first derby.

Borrowing Allie's headband. 

Visiting Papa Steve and his fire crew. 

Dawson was so into the derby. He would watch the cars and then yell, "Go! Go! Go!" over and over.

These lucky boys got these swords from Kim and Papa Steve during an intermission. 

Dawson was particularly into Mason this trip and pretty much wanted to be wherever Mason was.

We visited the sand dunes with all the kids and lasted about five minutes because it was so hot. 

Definitely my kid, went right to the the shade. 

We did have a small adventure waiting for help because Dillon accidentally pulled too far into the sand and got the van wheels stuck. 

"Smile!" -Dawson

At the rez.

I don't know where he picked this up, but he loves having a watering can and watering his garden.

While we were there, Mason trained Dawson to relax back into his hand/lap. He would tell Dawson, "Relax" and Dawson would slump over. Then he'd say, "Up" and Dawson would pop right back up. So funny.

S'mores!

Sawyer held Dawson's hand to help protect him from the dogs on the farm (that are all friendly and sweet) which I think actually helped Sawyer not freak out about them.

Playing with a farm kitty.

This boy fell asleep on the way to lunch and did not wake up the whole time we were there.

It's been a long time since I've one handed a meal with a sleeping child in my arms.

Swimming in Aunt Kristin's pool. Dawson was clearly a fan.

Sawyer rocked it with his puddle jumper.

This kid stole a sip of Papa Steve's drink. And then decided to trade breathing for drinking and didn't stop for a good five minutes straight.

Helping dad relocate his pack n play for nap time.

Splash pad.

Poor Dawson came home from Delta with a pretty high fever. It lasted for a couple days but then broke on it's own. He had zero other symptoms of anything. So sad and bizarre. It did make for more frequent and longer nap times though. 

Playing in the rain.

Just a small glimpse into a pretty frequent occurrence at our house these days.

At the aquarium. Sawyer was so excited to see the sharks and fish again. 

Dawson called every single fish there Dory and made sure to say, "Hi, Dory!" to all of them. 

Giving those sharks a kiss.

A better view courtesy of Uncle Devan.

Lunch break.

This was a really proud mom moment for me. Last time we were here, Sawyer had a complete meltdown at the suggestion of crossing this bridge. But this time, after watching G do it, he decided he wanted to give it a try. I was seriously tearing up at my brave boy. Progress.

  

Look at that face! So proud of himself.

Picking out souvenirs thanks to Grandma and Grandpa. Dawson was won over by this rubber shark puppet.

Cracker Barrel dinner.

Swimming at the hotel pool.

At the zoo (notice his hand holding his smile for him again).

Super enthralled with this lion's constant tail flick.

Working on that water fountain etiquette...

Helping Dawson.

"El-phant!"

Brothers 💙

  

Devan and G-money.

Riding the train! Definitely a highlight for the kids.

Carousel.

Someone was hangry.

Thought about riding on the peacock bench.

But decided the elephant was where it's at.

Splash pad! In the rain ha.

And since I'm a sucker, souvenir Icee drinks.

How both boys looked before we even left the parking lot.

Big brother helping little brother color while mom and the other camp director did some major shopping for Girl's Camp.

The whipped cream game dominated a good portion of our time at camp.

Finally busted out the slip n' slide from Aunt Andee. (Dawson's face)

Popsicle break.

Dawson's got the parade wave down.

Pioneer Day parade.

Not a big fan of swimming, loves to play in the rain.

Sweetly bringing me flowers at the playground.

Sawyer likes to practice his balancing skills on pretty much anything, but especially curbs. Dawson likes to do everything Sawyer does.

Newly mowed grass and a super red faced baby. Definitely got that from his mama (who got it from her mama, so Grandma's fault Daws).

At the lake in Cedar. 

  

This was one of the most successful water activities to date for Dawson. There was minimal whining and he voluntarily played in the large body of water. It was so nice.

Proof we were there too.

  

Dawson just getting a little dumbbell row workout in.