Last night, we took the boys to the BYU Women's Soccer game against ASU. It was an exhibition game, and school hasn't started yet, so we thought it would be pretty empty. Let's just say it was a good thing we got there early, because it was crowded!
We ended up with fantastic front row seats--which was good, because our Little Brute didn't really have any interest in watching the game. Oh, he watched here and there, ("that ball fly Daddy!") but mostly he wanted to play with the rocks under the bleachers, "run on grass with Mommy," "drink from fountain," and "get an-udder drink." It's ok, though, because we had a lot of fun and Derek and I actually got to watch a good portion of the game, as we took turns. And the grass is right by the pitch, so we could watch Henry run around with the other kids and still see the game. :)
Johnny was a champ and loved being at the game. He ate right at the beginning, then spent the next hour and 15 minutes grinning, talking, and kicking his legs. He even watched the game a little! At the end, I wrapped him up, gave him a binky, and he went right to sleep. He even slept through 3 corner kicks, which, at BYU, means everyone stomping on the bleachers and making a terrific noise. I was impressed.
While we were there, we got to see Cosmo! Poor Henry, though! I asked him if he wanted to go talk to Cosmo and give him a high 5, and he said yes. So we walked over to Cosmo, Henry said, "Mommy do it?" and so I gave him a high 5. But Cosmo, trying to get Henry to laugh, grabbed his hat. Henry started crying. Cosmo put it back on his head, backwards. "Hat on wrong Mommy!" Needless to say, Henry's shyness was not helped by Cosmo's teasing. Luckily, though, a few minutes later Henry was back to talking about how cool Cosmo was and wanted to go get a picture with him. :) Ahh, the mood swings of a two year old!
And we did get a picture with Cosmo! At least the boys did. Henry kept looking at Cosmo and not at the camera, so our photos aren't necessarily picture perfect, but that's ok. I'm still glad I have one of my 3 boys with my favorite cougar!
We spent the weekend out at Grandpa and Grandma's house so we could go to the fair! It was so much fun. The first night, we went to the rodeo. We rode on a little bus from Grandpa's car to the fair grounds, and we even got to go over the bridge! Right after we got there, Grandma said we should get some food. I had a HUGE order of fries and some root beer for dinner, which I thought was awesome. We watched the guys ride on the bulls and on the horses, then Grandpa took me and Ian to ride on some of the rides!
Ian and I got to ride on the boats and on a roller coaster all by ourselves! We sat together, which was a lot of fun. I liked riding in the boats the best. It was getting late though, and Mommy said we'd better get home.
The next day, Saturday, we went down to the fair again. We watched the horse pulls for a while. They were REALLY BIG horses, but I really wanted to go and DO something. So, we went over to the petting zoo. My favorite part was definitely the cool snakes they had there (Mommy was not very happy about that, though). I also liked the little hedgehog. Mommy got to hold it and I pet it. It was spiky. There was also a man there carrying a really big lizard. He let me touch it! I told Mommy later that we should get a lizard and she said "I don't think so."
After the petting zoo, we went to a little area where we could pretend to be farmers. I carried around my basket and picked apples from a tree, planted a seed and dug up a potato, and even collected some eggs from a hen house. Johnny didn't really do very much. Mostly, Grandpa carried him around so he could see things. I think that's because he's just a little baby. Mommy says that when he gets bigger he can run around and play with me.
After the farmer area, we went on some rides again. Ian, Luke, and I went on the boats together, which was fun. Then Mommy really wanted to go on the carousel. I did NOT want to go on it. I tried everything I could think of to get out of it, but she said I had to go. I cried, and yelled, and even tried to throw myself off the horse, but she made me stay on it. I was pretty mad the first few times we went around, but then I realized it was pretty fun. But the end, I liked it. I even got to yell "Hi Daddy!" and "Hi Grandpa!" and "Hi Grandma!" While we were on it. I guess I'm glad Mom made me go on the carousel.
After a fun morning and early afternoon, we went back to Grandpa and Grandma's house for nap
time and play time. The rodeo was so much fun, I kept asking Mommy if we could go back. She said maybe next year when we come to the fair we can watch more of the horses, but I don't think so: I just want to go on the rides!
We went adventuring today! We drove up to Salt Lake City today and explored a little bit.
A few weeks ago, Mommy bought me a picture of the Salt Lake Temple that I can keep in my bed. My other picture of the Temple is in a frame with glass, so she said I can't have that one in my bed because it might break. This Temple picture also has the Capitol on it. I've been asking to go see the Capitol since she got it for me, and we finally got to go today!
We left home after nap time, so we went straight to the Capitol. The inside was closed, but Mommy and Daddy said we could walk around the outside for a while. I really liked that! Daddy and I went up all the stairs in the front. Then, we walked around the whole building. I liked walking on the little step that was right next to the walls. I also had lots of fun running around the gardens in the front. Daddy had to keep chasing me to keep me out of the flowers! They were just so much fun to hide in, I couldn't help it.
Little Johnny was getting tired and hungry, and Mommy had to feed him. So, we got our stuff and drove down to City Creek. Inside, Mommy sat on a big chair and fed Little John while Daddy and I looked at the water and the fish.
While we were driving in, I saw a train! I wanted to to ride on it "right now." I really miss riding the train all the time like we did when we lived in England. Mommy and Daddy and Little John came with me, and we rode on the train just a little bit (Mommy's Note: we rode down two stops, then rode back up to Temple Square. :) ) After that, we went and saw the Temple!
I really liked walking around the Temple. There was a really fun water fountain that Daddy helped me with--you use your foot to make the water come out! We also went in to one of the buildings and looked at the inside of the Temple. I also looked at some of the tools they used to build the Temple. They had to use a lot of rocks to build it!
After going in the building, we went and walked right up next to the Temple! Mommy showed me the sun, moon, and star rocks that are on the Temple. Then, I climbed up all the stairs to the door. "Go inside?" I said. "Go inside right now?" But Daddy said I have to wait until I'm a lot bigger before I can go in the Temple. I was pretty sad about that. I liked the door a lot, so I think the inside is also pretty cool.
It was getting late, and Mommy said we needed to get home and go to bed. So, we went back to City Creek, went down the lift (I pushed the button!) and then got in my car and drove home. I liked seeing the Capitol and the Temple. Mommy and Daddy said we could go back again some time and go inside the Capitol. I hope so!
Did you know Grandpa turns on waterfalls? He can. It's is superpower, Daddy says. (Daddy's super power is turning off beep alarms (Mommy calls them smoke alarms), Mommy's super power is turning on sprinklers, and Grandpa's is turning on waterfalls. Well, today, we went and saw a really big waterfall that he turned on for me!
Grandpa told me it's called Stillwater Dam. It's up in the mountains, kind of where Grandpa's house is. He said it's a special waterfall that they only turn on sometimes. While we were visiting this weekend, we went with Grandpa and Grandma to see it! It's really noisy and really big.
My favorite part was throwing sticks in at the bottom of the waterfall. Daddy even helped me pick up some really big sticks to throw in! I also filled up the pockets on his shorts with rocks. After we looked at the waterfall for a while, we went and threw the rocks in the river. We got to stand on the bridge and throw them through the fence!
Even though we didn't stay very long, I really liked seeing the waterfall. I think Baby John liked it, too. I told Mommy I wanted to see it every day. She said all I have to do is ask Grandpa and he can make it turn on again!
We took little brother adventuring today! Mommy and Daddy really wanted to take us to go see an old airplane at "Daddy's Airport" in Heber. Daddy said it's called a "B-17" and its nickname is a "Flying Fortress." I talked it over with John, and we decided we should go.
So, as soon as we were all dressed and ready, and Mommy had fed John one more time (he eats a lot, by the way), we got into our car and drove through the mountains to Heber.
Mommy and Daddy were so excited, because as soon as we pulled into Heber, the plane flew right over our car! Daddy unrolled all the windows so we could hear the engines. It was pretty noisy, but really cool. Mommy said she got goosebumps and said she might even cry. I don't know why the plane flying over us made her sad; I thought it was exciting.
It was pretty hot at the airport today. We took nice cool water and Mommy covered John up with a blankie so he wouldn't get sunburned. It was nice though, because there weren't a lot of people there. We looked at a couple of other planes while we waited for the B-17 to land. There was a big yellow airplane that Daddy said was a Boeing Stearman. It had just one engine, but it was really noisy, too!
Finally, we saw the B-17 coming in to land. It was noisy again and kind of windy. While we watched it land, Mommy turned to the man next to us and asked him if he was excited to go for a ride in it (he was wearing a badge that said he would get to be a passenger). He said, "they're letting me go free!" "Oh?" Mommy said. "I was a pilot during WWII, I flew a B-17. I'm 93 years old."
I knew that was pretty cool, because Mommy got really excited. She talked to him for a few more minutes, and found out that he flew a plane called Passion Wagon and flew over Holland during the war. After he left to get on the plane, Mommy said she bets that he comes every day while the B-17 is in Heber. I think she's right.
Oh! Guess what? While we were waiting, Mommy bought some postcards for our collections and she also got me my very own B-17 to play with! It is just the right size for me to play with and Daddy showed me how to make it fly. He makes the sound just like the B-17 made when it landed--except not as loud.
After the plane landed and everyone got out, we got to go walk around it and look at the wings, the engines, and the big white star on the side. We also looked at the big wheels and the chocks (the things that keep the wheels still). Daddy showed me the ball turret and explained that a man usually sat there and fired guns at the bad guys! I don't think I would like that spot at all. We were sad that we couldn't go in, because they were giving rides to people today. Luckily, Mommy asked one of the ladies in charge and she said if we came back after 2:00 we could go inside!
The plane took off again while we were there. Daddy held me up and we watched the man on the ground wave to the pilot and tell him when to turn each engine on. Daddy said they start with number 4, then do number 3, then 2, then 1. As each engine started, it got louder and louder. Finally, it went down the runway and was flying in the sky!
We went and got some lunch (I had french fries) and visited Daddy's office. Mommy fed John, again, while I colored with Daddy's markers and he checked his work email. I like going to Daddy's office. Amelia always gives me treats and I get to sit in a chair that spins around!
I was pretty tired, and Mommy and Daddy talked about just taking us home. But I said "see plane again?" And Mommy said, "Ok, let's go and see it one more time." "One more time," I confirmed.
We loaded up in the car again, went across the street, and went to see the plane. I held on tight to my plane as we walked back in. The lady at the gate remembered us, so we got to go right on through.
There was a bit of a line to get on the plane, so Daddy and I walked around the plane again and looked at everything while Mommy and John held our place in line. It was really hot still. Luckily, they had umbrellas for people to hold to keep the sun off. That helped a lot!
Finally, it was our turn. Mommy and John climbed up first. We went through what Daddy called the "forward hatch," which is right by where the navigator and the bombardier sit. It was pretty crowded, and I got kind of scared. I asked Daddy if we could get out, but he promised me there would be more room in a minute and some cool things to see. He was right!
We stopped and took a look at where the pilot and co-pilot sit, and then where the radio man sat. But my favorite part was definitely seeing the bombs! That was so cool. Mommy said they wouldn't explode, so I could touch one. I liked seeing them all lined up inside the plane.
After that, we went back to where the waist gunners sit. There was lots more room back there, and I felt a lot better exploring a bit. We looked at the guns and out the windows at the people below us. That plane is really big!
It was getting past nap time and John was getting pretty hot, so Mommy said it was time to go. We clambered out of the airplane (a nice man helped Mommy and John get down), took one last look at the B-17 and the Boeing Stearman before we said good bye.
We had a great time today! Even though it was hot, I loved going to see the cool airplanes. Daddy says we can go to another airport again sometime!
As we get closer to Brute 2 joining our family, I'm shocked at how grown up Henry is getting. I know it will be even worse once Little Brother actually joins the family, but in the mean time--holy cow, where did my baby go?
Henry is talking SO much. Full sentences, changing tenses, and he's learning how to use first person. Which kills me, because sometimes he gets it totally wrong but it's adorable.
One of my favorite things, is when he asks to be held. "Mommy hold you?" he says. I love it. Derek asked him to say "Mommy hold me" the other day and I quickly shot him down--he'll learn soon enough! I don't need him to grow up that fast!
Henry, as usual, is totally in to helping with everything. He likes to help Daddy get dressed, especially for church on Sunday. This week, he helped Daddy tie his tie. He likes to help cook, and his favorite thing to do is make pancakes or french toast with Derek. There are many a Saturday morning (when Derek gets up with Henry so I can sleep in) when I get woken up by my happy little boy saying "Henry, Daddy make Mommy Break-ast!" Love it. Derek let's him mix, turn the pancakes, and carry them to the table. Also, he actually eats pancakes and french toast, which is a bonus. :)
I love their bed heads. :)
We went to the library this last week, where Henry helped me pick out some new books to bring home. A lot of the ones he insisted we check out have a lot of words on each page--too many for his patience right now, but it was still fun to let him help choose. If there were books with multiple copies, he pulled them all off the shelf and asked me to get them all. We didn't, of course, as I explained that we only need one of those books and other kids might want to take them home. He was mostly ok with that.
He's still really in to playing choo choo, tools, cars, and with his dinosaurs. Lately, he and Derek build dinosaur houses out of the Duplos. It's great fun, and they sit on the hearth for a day or two while as Henry plays with them each morning.
We've been helping Nana and Papa in the yard a lot lately, as their yard is in a Secret Garden tour on the 5th and 6th of June. The biggest project has been the play house, which is a reconstructed old barn that they tore down last summer. It's gorgeous and still a work in progress (more pictures later) but Henry absolutely loves helping build it. He brings out a handful of his tools and assists in any way he is allowed. Like measuring the floor boards, using his "whack whack" to hit the walls (over and over again!), and using his saw to help cut the cardboard tubes for the footings. I love that he likes to help, and even more important, I love that Nana and Papa include him in everything they can.
using his saw to help with the footings for the playhouse
whack whack!
helping at the green dump. Nana yelled "hiya!" and he yelled "owie ya!" every time he threw a piece of wood out of the truck.
Speaking of which, Henry is quite obsessed with watering the "flowies" in Nana's garden. I think we've about drowned a few of them because he wants to water them several times a day. I've tried to find dry patches in the yard, but with the incredibly unusual amount of rain lately, the mushrooms in the grass indicate there just isn't a dry patch to be found. But Henry loves it! He likes to hold the hose and the last week or so he's been sticking his hand in it and licking the water off, "get a drink, Mommy?" he'll say. He likes to help me get a drink by sticking his wet hand up to my mouth for me to suck off the water. Very helpful. :)
We've also been battling a lot of sickness around our house. Henry and I both were sick a couple weeks ago, and now I am just about all the way better and Henry developed a cough this week accompanied by a terrible fever today. Ugh. The worst. But at the same time, I've had more snuggles from him in the last 24 hours than in the last year and half. Seriously. Like, actual lay his head on my shoulder snuggles! It's been awesome, but so sad because I know he just doesn't feel well at all. Poor dude.
Oh, another thing we do just about every day, which I may have written about before, is waiting for Daddy to come home. After Henry's nap, we take blank (his blanket) and a story (usually Harry Potter) out to the swing and "watch-a-Daddy." Sometimes it's his blank and his tools, like yesterday. It's my favorite when Derek pulls up in his red truck, as Henry immediately yells "Daddy!" and hurries up the stairs and across the driveway to give his Daddy a big hug. He loves it when Daddy gets home, and usually has a long list of things for them to do. I love watching those two together. They're the best.
Anyway, that's what we're up to lately. Derek's working hard, so am I, and we're getting more and more excited for this baby to come. Ok, mostly I am excited to not be pregnant anymore, Henry is excited to have his Mama back to crawling on the floor and picking him up whenever he wants, and Derek is excited to have me not be miserable and hurting all the time. But either way--we're looking forward to our Brute 2 coming in the next few weeks! YAY!
One of the things Henry loves the most are the bells. The BYU Carillon Bells, to be exact. Most days, he says "Go a walk, see a bells?" And so after dinner, just before bedtime usually, we load him, his "blank," some juice, some goldfish, and a water bottle for us up on the buggy and head down to campus to visit the bells. We try to plan our excursion so we arrive at the base of the bells just a few minutes before they go off. Which means, most of the time, we hear the bells toll for 8 o'clock. We go rain, snow, sunshine--whenever we feel like going for a walk, we just go.
Some time, a few years ago, Derek and I decided to name the largest bell on the tower. I'm sure the actual bell ringer people have a name for it, but we chose the name Phineas. Why that name, you ask? Well, if you know anything about Brigham Young, you know that his brother's name was Phineas. And that Phineas was pretty instrumental in getting Brigham to read the Book of Mormon and join the Church. We decided Brigham would be pretty happy about us naming such an important piece of BYU property after his brother. So there you go.
Over the last month or so, Henry has picked up on the name. He asks to go hear Phineas quite a bit, and gets really excited when he can hear him. "Phin-eee-as!" he says, as though it were three short words. Sometimes, instead of asking to go walk by the bells, he will ask if we can go hear Phineas. It makes us smile, every time.
Once, we were walking by the base of the bells before dinner. I was really hungry (surprise surprise) but Henry just didn't want to leave. We were trying to convince him to go with us to get food from the Creamery, but he was not about to leave the bells and the ducklings that live there. Suddenly, the bells went off "Oh," Derek said, "Phineas said it's time for Mommy to go eat! We better go."
"Ok," Henry said, "Phin-ee-as, said, Mommy eat. Time a go." And he was happy with that.
Now, if you ask Henry what Phineas said, he will usually say "Time Mommy to eat." It makes me laugh, because about every hour, it is time for Mommy to eat.
With all the baby ducklings at the waterfall/pond at the base of the bell tower, Henry has an added measure of excitement when we arrive. He loves to chase them around, clutching his blanket and speaking to them in the sweetest little baby voice. He gets very excited when they go in to the water, as they always "take a bath" when we are there. He has chased a mother and her ducklings from one side of the lawn all the way to the other, hoping he could catch them just for a second! Derek and I have to keep pretty close tabs on him, because sometimes the mama ducks get a bit defensive of their babies. Luckily no duck bites yet!
Most evenings, we make the trek down to campus and walk by the bells. It's so relaxing, Henry loves it, and we love spending time just the three of us. We sometimes take food for the ducklings, which Henry ends up eating and not feeding them, but usually we just go and wander around until the bells ring. I love how big his smile gets when the bells go off and how he always says "Bye bells! See ya later!" whenever we leave. I love that when he hears the bells from our house that he gets excited and almost immediately asks to go for a walk to see them. They've become part of our family, really, and I'm grateful we live close enough to make these memories with him.
I can't wait for him to show Little Brother the bells--something we've been talking about lately. I'm sure it will continue to be a fun family walk for us for months to come.
**these photos are from a few weeks ago, taken with my phone.
