Small Town Memories

After breakfast with my grandpa, Jasper and I headed over to the park to visit and grab a snow cone. We had a great chat with my PTA softball coach, Elizabeth Yardley. She is from Scotland, and our team was affectionately named the "Sassie Lassies". I played on her team for 3 years, and then played on the "Funshine Gang" during 6th grade. The Funshine Gang won the sportsmanship award, but the Sassie Lassies, well we were Sassy, and played hard and won often.

Jasper finally fell asleep in his stroller, so we just walked back to Bonnie's mom's house, which is across the street from my old house. We had a nostalgic walk.

Past the library. Bonnie's grandma Wanda Roberts was the librarian, so we probably spent more time than most kids at the library. We also had dance, ballet, tap and even clogging in the basement of the library building. I am proud to say that for a few years we were instructed by the one and only Fred Adams.

Next we strolled past the Beaver 1st & 2nd Ward Building where I spent a lot of time growing up. I still remember walking home from school to the church to attend Primary on Wednesday afternoons.

Then we passed "Aunt" Kathleen Smith Farnsworth's home, which has since been renovated my her family members. And we saw the tire swing that we spend many hours in. We used to help Kathleen when it was her turn for water and we would rake her leaves in the fall, and then jump into the huge piles. Kathleen was an amazing woman, and was Mother of the Year in Utah in 1968.

Then onto the Browns' home. Note the pile of wood in the backyard. When I was younger the Brown's sold wood out of their backyard, and their were piles and piles and piles of it.

I also took a photo of our little home that used to be a golden yellow color. So many memories. Too many to post today.

Everyone Loves a Parade

My grandpa was asked to ride in one of the fire trucks that he procured from his old fire station for the city of Beaver. Last year he was one of the Grand Marshals of the parade, but we were unable to attend, as I was in the hospital 32 weeks pregnant with a subclavian blood clot. Those were rough times, and boy am I glad they are over.

Had to snap a shot of the Temple float by one of the Beaver LDS Wards. I really loved the water shooting out of the fire truck. All of the kids went out in the parade route and ended up soaking wet.

After the parade Jasper and I drove out to the fire station for a photo shoot and then my grandpa took us to breakfast at the El Bambi Cafe. In case you don't know, El Bambi is famous for their dinner rolls. People order them by the dozen (usually 4 dozen at a time). And no family party or social event in Beaver is complete without them. In November they publish an article in the Beaver Press about the guidelines on ordering your rolls for the holidays so that there is no confusion and no traumas over not getting your order in on time.

Baby Dog Whisperer on Location: Beaver, Utah

One of Jasper's favorite parts of the 24th of July parade was the dogs that were also watching the parade.

We met a sweet girl named Megan with a tiny little dog named Albert. Turns out that Jasper prefers dogs that are more than 1 pound.

We also met this nice guy in yellow shirt who obliged Jasper's need to play with his dogs every time we saw him today. Thank you kind sir!

24th of July Fireworks

We watched the Beaver city fireworks from Bonnie's backyard, and I snapped a few pictures. Jaden was a little nervous about the sparkler he was holding.

Two Straws Please

I hung out with all 3 boys in the Wal-mart video arcade while Bonnie finished shopping. Brennan & Jaden had fun playing a shoot 'em up game. Jasper was content hanging out in the shopping cart because he had his favorite shopping toys -- straws. As long as Jasper has his straws, he's good to go.

Jasper's 1st bike ride

Bonnie & I went to Cedar City with the boys today and stopped off in Parowan to see her grandparents.

Jaden decided to entertain Jasper by getting a tricycle out. It was too big for tiny Jasper, but Jaden was happy to give him a ride.

No matter how much grass their is, Jasper will make a run for the cement. He's a true Vegas boy.

Stumped in Parowan

An old tree stump was all Jasper needed for entertainment this afternoon.

He played it like a drum, walked around it and used it to pull himself up. He found that he could use it to balance himself as he reached over to grab a nearby leaf or bend down to pluck a blade of grass and examine his shadow.

There's more to come tomorrow about our fun day. For now, enjoy the photos of my little drummer boy.

Back in Beaver

Jasper and I are in Beaver again. We happy to be here and are looking forward to all of the 24th of July activities.

It took us 5 hours to get here, because Jasper kept having a meltdown, so we are REALLY glad to actually be here.

We're staying with my dear friend Bonnie again. We're excited about a BBQ in her backyard on the 24th. The fireworks show is not far from her house and she promised we'll have a great view. I love fireworks, so I can't wait for the show!

Once we FINALLY arrived, we had a nice dinner at Maria's with my grandpa and then went up to my grandpa's house. We hung out on the lawn and were hoping for the nightly visits from the rabbits and tiny bunnies. They love to nibble on grandpa's lawn. No such luck tonight. Grandpa thinks we scared them off. Grandpa even went upstairs on the balcony see if he could see them in his outlying orchard. There is always tomorrow.

My grandpa's lawn is huge, and Jasper really wore himself out chasing me around. Grass is a novelty for Jasper, so he had fun poking it and touching it and crawling through it. The beautiful weather made for a perfect evening.

Any Suggestions???

Jasper is almost 11 months old, which means that he can't go into the Nursery Primary Class for 9 more months. After wrestling with him at Church today, that seems like a long, long way away.

I asked the Primary leaders how early he can come to Nursery, and they said at 16 months if I come with him. That still leaves me 7 more months to try and keep occupied for 3 hours of Church.

We did reach a new milestone today. All 3 of us stayed in our seats for the entire Sacrament meeting. This was a first for me. Usually Jasper has a meltdown, or starts tugging on my blouse so hard that I give in and we go nurse in the Mother's lounge.

I feel like we are a big distraction in Sunday School, Relief Society and Elder's Quorum meetings. I find myself asking, "What are we supposed to do for the next 7 months?" Jasper just wants to climb, cruise, crawl and EXPLORE, not be reverent at Church.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Help, please.

Adventures in Babysitting

Saturday Mike, Jasper & I volunteered to babysit for our friends so they could have a night out.

They have 4 kids, but 2 girls were at grandma's, leaving us with their 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy.






We had our own private pool party in their backyard, and the kids loved having Mike on site to take some action shots of them jumping into the pool.












Jasper loved the wet deck in the pool where he could crawl and splash, and of course try to climb out.


























One of the funnest parts of the evening was giving all 3 kids a bath together in the big tub. Mike was out back grilling our chicken for dinner, so I was solo on this task. I gave each of the kids the spa treatment, complete with scalp massage.

This shot of Jasper was taken while he was in the tub with the big kids...having the time of his life. This is about as big as a smile can get!











So that you don't think our life is all sunshine and lollipops, I am posting a photo I took of all the kids in their PJ's. Jasper was not too thrilled to be in another photo shoot. He just wanted to nurse and go to sleep.

Besides swimming, my favorite part of the evening was story time and singing time. I brought a few of my favorite books to share. We snuggled up in their big sister's big bed and read What Was I Scared Of? , The Sneethces, and finished with Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book which contains A LOT of yawns. Since yawning is very catching, this book really helped get everyone tired and ready for bed. What Was I Scared Of? was such a hit that the kids requested a 2nd read through.
After story time I tucked each of the kids in and sang them a medley of Primary songs that I sing to Jasper at night. Nothing like a good snuggle and a song to send you off to sleep.

All of the kids were really good and we had a great time! Thanks for a fun night!