Utah Time

Between traveling and a few unfortunate events, I am behind over here. But here's a quick catch up.

Michael:

Strapped his kayak to our Corolla for the first time, and took us on an adventure to Shaver Lake at the end of July. His little sister Rachel was visiting us that weekend, so it was fun to have her join us. Next time we see her she will have a sweet newborn! We're so excited for her. Michael also got us back into the dog-sitting business, which we're all excited about. We had two dogs come for that same weekend, so Westin kept calling them "Rachel's puppies". They were the best dogs we've ever watched and we didn't want them to go home. Now Michael is living the bachelor life while the boys and I are visiting family.

Maddie:

lost my phone. So dumb, guys. It was a huge bummer and I keep going through the same cycle of emotions about it. Thanks to KonMari, I am 99% positive that phone is no where in my house, and I've searched my car multiple times. I went swimming with two kids and a phone, came home with just the kids. When you look at it that way, I have nothing to complain about. But I think I dropped it at the pool and someone snagged it. So, I'm using a super old Droid from 5 years ago, and all the pictures of our time lately are either poor quality or bummed from a family member's phone. The only bonus is that it's the phone I used when Michael and I got engaged, and there are still texts on it, so we got to take a mushy trip down memory lane. Still figuring out the fix to the situation, phones and plans are so annoying to me. I left at 4 a.m. last Monday to drive to Utah with my boys and it was far and away our smoothest trip yet. I was so grateful. We came out for a family reunion with my mom's family, and I'm really glad we made the drive for it. I love seeing those people.

Westin:

misses his daddy, but cousin time is always fun. He was so great on our drive out. He loved having dogs at our house, loved seeing Rachel, loves being around cousins, hates not having daddy with us. He keeps talking about how "Daddy's alone, that's sad" and it really is. We miss him. He just started using the regular potty this week instead of a little one, and I have no idea what made him make the change but I'm thrilled about it. Every time I laugh hard lately he asks me why I'm sad, and I think it's because he's seen my cry hard lately and the two maybe sound a little similar. So now he's really confused. Friends that move and phones that disappear have had me in a rough state lately, and he senses the fragile moments around here. But I recently found a really fun curriculum for an at-home preschool/playschool and I'm excited to start it with him. It's going to be great for us both. We went on a date to Cars 3 while we're in Cedar City and he really loved it. I loved watching him love it.

Bennett:

is fussier than I've ever known him to be lately (teething?) and I am not good at being patient with that because I'm used to such an easygoing baby. But I need to cut him some slack, just because he's given me 95% happiness in his life doesn't mean I should expect that from him always. He slept terribly in our tent at our reunion -- he never fell back asleep after a 3:30 wake up one night, then tried to play the same game the next night but my mom was able to get him back to sleep. He has a soft spot for her. He has also started hitting his head into people as a way of showing affection and it's strange and sometimes painful, but also cute when it's more of a nuzzle instead of violent. He loves food and I think he'll be done nursing sooner than Westin was. I'm very much ok with that. I've been nursing and/or pregnant for so long and I'm starting to feel claustrophobic about it. But I'm trying to not wish it away and soak up these last couple months before he's done.

We made such good time on our road trip that we ended up meeting my dad for lunch in St. George while he was doing some work there, then I took my boys to Nielsen's Frozen Custard and to the temple grounds. Westin always comments about Moroni playing the "trombone" when he sees temples and I love it.

Sweet baby. Sitting between my boys while my parents drove us to our family reunion was not the most relaxing of drives... but this view was a perk.

Westin loves FaceTiming daddy while we're apart, and he noticed me taking a picture of him. So he said, "Say cheese, daddy!" and this is what we got.

I've taken Westin to the Green Show at the Shakespeare Festival multiple times this trip and I really love sharing that with him. I used to come to this show so much during the summers growing up.

And, those tarts. are a big reason why. He's a fan.

Lexi the Golden Doodle. We loved her so much. But Kitty did not. Oh, she did not.

Selfies with Bennett while Michael, Westin, and Rachel were tipping over in the kayak. I didn't witness it, but Rachel had to hang onto the kayak for the whole ride back since it was hard to get back in, and Westin keeps talking about the whole ordeal.

Usually we throw the kayak in the back of our truck, so this was a fun change and not as hard as we expected.

Tyson, the cockapoo. He was a good dog too, and Westin definitely liked him more than the big dog.

"Let's hide together, daddy!" Even states away, they have fun.