A Happy Place

I have been talking with Mike a lot recently about how I am in a happy place. I love more and more the home we live in, the neighborhood we live in, the state of our family, our callings in the ward, our strong relationship as husband and wife, our family and friends, and just life. We are happy and smiling each day. It is wonderful.

Water Boy

This morning while I was taking my shower, Donovan decided to pay me a visit. Since he was dressed I didn't want him coming in. He poked his head in smiled at me then quickly shut the door. I figured he was just going to play peek-a-boo until I was done. He opened the door again just as I was starting to rinse out the conditioner. This time he came in though. I was covering all the water spray so he was standing there dry, but in case he walked toward me, I tried to rinse quickly so I could grab him and get out. When I was done and had turned off the water, I was glad he didn't end up in the stream line all wet, but then I looked at him and he had decided to sit in the leftover puddle. Ahhh. It was frustrating but funny at the same time.

Later the kids and I ran errands. When we came home it was time for lunch. I quickly grabbed the mail and called Laneah to follow me in so we could eat. She was moseying in and my patience was wearing thin. When she finally came in, I noticed she was walking all funny because she had wet her pants. All down the leg and in the shoe was wet. I figured it best she have a bath. I filled the tub just a little for her clean up bath. Donovan was playing in the other room so I helped Laneah get undressed and in the tub. While she played, I went to do some lunch preparations. I went back to check on Laneah and found that Donovan had joined her. He was was sitting beside her, fully clothed, (including shoes) in the bath water. Some days I feel like I can't win...but I can smile.

Preschool

I have been thinking a lot about preschool for Laneah. I didn't sign her up this year because the curriculum was stuff she already knew, and it was more than I was willing to pay. I signed her up for dance instead. The price was much more reasonable, and I am getting something I can't teach her at home. (I don't dance). I still wish she had some preschool experience though. I feel she responds well to the structure of nursery and her dance class, and would benefit from some dedicated preschool time. I am researching the different avenues available to take with this. I plan to research and prepare the next few months, and then start up officially in January. We will see what I end up deciding on.

Ferguson Campout

This August we had our annual Ferguson Campout. We stayed in a lovely groupsite at Timpooneke Campground. We enjoyed relaxing at our beautiful campsite, hiking up and touring through Timpanogos Caves, walking around Cascade Springs, driving the Alpine Loop, and being together as a family. Here are some of the pictures we took.

View on the way down from the caves.

Laneah found a nook just her size on the way up to the caves.

We wouldn't have made it without this carrier. (Big thanks to our neighbors for letting us borrow it).

This is a bridge at Cascade Springs.

Again, the carrier was awesome. Not only was it easier to carry Donovan, but it kept him contained.

All the food was delicious. The homegrown tomatoes, the breakfast sweetrolls, and the dutch oven dinners. Yummy!

Toothpaste Trouble

This picture doesn't need much explaining. Donovan got to the toothpaste before I got to him. On the positive side, he smelled minty fresh. On the negative side, toothpaste is a pain to get out. The harder you try to get it out the more it bubbles up and spreads.

My Little Churro

I stepped away from the kids temporarily to fold a load of laundry. When I thought I heard some noises in the kitchen, I quickly put down the rags and ran in to see who was up to what. I found Donovan emptying the cinnamon/sugar shaker all over the counter. It was pretty much empty by now. Laneah was enjoying a little of the action by dipping her finger in and licking it, but Donovan was covered. He had face planted into the pile and was licking the counter directly. Because he was adding wet saliva to the mixture, it all started sticking to him. He smiled at me and with his face, hands, arms, legs, and feet covered with sticky, gritty, sugary sweetness, he looked like one, cute little churro.

If only it was this simple

Laneah: "Mommy, I want to go to Lagoon because I got one penny."