National Parks

Michael:

had to go back to work on Monday but I'm glad he had a good solid vacation! I knew he felt rested when he started vacuuming under the fridge and stove on Saturday. These are not things he does during a residency week. But a week off in Hawaii followed by a weekend at home? Michael's a new man. Mostly I'm kidding because I'm actually always so grateful and impressed with how much he helps out with even with residency hours. But I mean, under-the-fridge cleaning was next level. On Saturday he came to Yosemite with us and it was so fun to have that day off with him. Hiking with dad is significantly better than hiking without him :) #shoulderrides

Maddie:

loved having my sister here this week. She leaves tomorrow and I'm going to be so sad to see her go. On Monday we took her to Sequoia since she hadn't been there yet, with Yosemite plans for Saturday. Last time she was here she did Monterey, so we're slowly fitting in all my favorite day trips during her visits. We saw the General Sherman tree and walked around the Big Trees Trail. The drive was longer than either of the boys anticipated when we loaded them up, but it was still a good day. On Wednesday we ate all the random free things from my birthday emails and the random spread made us laugh. Thursday was my favorite day this week. We woke up, worked out, Ali fed the boys while I got ready and ran to my scripture class in the morning instead of at night, then we took the boys to get their first professional haircuts. That night we went to a movie for a friend's birthday and it was just fun to have a girls night while my sister was in town. I love her so much! 

Westin:

loves his new "homework" responsibilities. His preschool sends home little activities that they rotate between the kids for homework, and my favorite Westins right now are homework Westin and walking or hiking Westin. He had a hard time with swimming lessons for the first time this week, and I'm hoping that kind of resolves itself tomorrow or I will have to figure something out. We went to lessons after our full day in Sequoia so it was just a lot. He was so happy on our Yosemite hike and loved sitting next to dad on our drive since we were a full car. My favorite quote from Westin this week was when we were driving to Yosemite and his ears must have popped and he said, "Hey, I yawned and it made the song louder!" Kids make the simplest things so funny. On Friday Michael and I took Westin on a little date to get frozen yogurt and he felt so big going by himself. He even whispered to Bennett's door, who was already in bed, "You can't come Bennett, this is a date." I learned that Westin has the same taste in frozen yogurt toppings as Michael -- all things colorful, fruity, and candy. Then he loved sitting at our table and trying all three of our concoctions and then making one to take home to Ali. I had to guard hers from huge scoops of Nerds :)

Bennett:

gives so many hugs and kisses right now and has started repeating back "love you", "night night", and "thank you" and all of those combined are just the best. He is just SO LOVING. Putting him to bed for naps and nights are my favorite moments with him. He also loves books and loves turtles. He's pretty good at heading out to the backyard and finding Mr. T or Marcel the Shell. Marci hardly moves much but Mr. T is all over the place. He almost escaped during one of my piano lessons this week but luckily my student's dad saw the attempt and he's safely secured in the backyard again with his exit blocked. Bennett slept in the Ergo during our Yosemite exploring so on the way home he was wide awake and chatty while Westin and Michael fell asleep in the backseat. It cracked me up because he was still just so happy and laughing even though everyone else was sleeping through his party.

Mini nap

"Mirror Lake" which has no water right now :)

The deer are obviously not bothered by humans!

Frozen Yogurt Date

His, his, and hers

We took Bennett on a little date while Westin was at preschool with his friends Friday morning.
He was very into the first pumpkin baked good of the season.

Palmer the Cocker Spaniel Puppy. He was a cutie with looots of energy.

Westin's pumpkin! He has been faithfully watering this (on top of the pumpkin) for months (don't worry, I watered the vine).
It didn't quite make it to Halloween but he's still really excited about it. He wanted to open it up and bake the pumpkin seeds ASAP but we talked him into keeping it around as a decoration for a little bit.

Crazy Rich Asians was a cute movie

13 apples tall at preschool!

Music class

Donuts for Mrs. Beard's birthday

Haircut success! They've never gone somewhere before but a cute place opened near us and did half price haircuts that week.
So we decided to go and I wrote down everything they did so we can go back to backyard haircut life. Boys need haircuts so often!

Westin wasn't too thrilled about it but when he got to choose which vehicle to sit in, he came around.

Bennett was super calm and sweet the whole time and I thought he was going to hate it. His little head poking out of his little capes made me laugh so much. He was just super calm and blew a kiss to his hairdresser after and went on his well-groomed way.

Before... so needed.

Westin's before.

Bennett likes to be a monkey randomly and hangs on so tight with arms and legs.

Reading his turtle book and he points out EVERY "tur-tull" on each page. 

Library story time is back on and both boys love it.

The glamorous side of day trips and hikes with little boys.

Home from Sequoia

General Sherman