Projects, Eco Week, and Quickest Utah Trip

We have started project mode in the boys rooms this week before we change carpet upstairs. All of this is dominos from our bathroom remodel -- all I started doing was prepping to change the carpet. Then I realized we would probably change the floor plan of our closet when we redid our bathroom eventually, so we should do that before doing carpet. Then the thought of the boys bedrooms being totally empty before carpet just meant I should redo those walls and make their rooms feel more finished. So my whole summer and early fall has been filled with upstairs projects whenever I can fit a little in. For sure our slowest moving house changes -- we've lived with half-done rooms for a long time and haven't slept in our own bedroom since late April! :) But Asher likes helping and loves a good paint store run.

Westin has been looking forward to Eco Week since he started elementary school -- the annual 5th grade trip up the canyon for two nights. He seemed so big just heading off on an adventure like that! No parents go, and it was pretty fun to see how excited he was to have a solo adventure with his friends. He has some good buddies. I can't believe this kid is heading to middle school next year.

Westin came home Friday, and I left with the boys first thing Saturday morning to do a quick 48 hours in Utah. We wanted to hear Jaren speak in church and see him set apart as a missionary. I'm going to miss that kid so much! I just love that oldest nephew of mine. The trip was smooth and quick, and I decided to take the longer way home along I-70 (added 2 hours) to see some pretty fall colors and go through the temple open house in Grand Junction. I love showing my kids the temple. The drive was rainy all through the last half and isn't as mindless as the I-80 across Wyoming, but we made it home and felt happy we went.

Added to the album in my phone called "signs of little boys."
I particularly like that the t-rex area is separate from the crocodile area.

Asher and I have been doing a lot of paint store trips now that I've started redoing the boys rooms before we switch out carpet.
He likes to pick a few colors each time, and treats them like they're Pokemon cards.
"How much damage does this one do?"
Haha errands are so much better with three-year-olds.

He was just back there being cool and I didn't know until I checked my blind spot.

I told Michael it was funny that I was stressing about redoing these rooms before carpet gets changed since I never spill paint. Right then he pulled a baseboard off the wall, fell backward, and knocked over an entire can. Right as the words had just left my mouth. Haha so now we feel justified.

Westin is all ready for Eco Week! Two nights away with all the 5th graders at the CSU camp.
He's really been looking forward to this. When I first learned 5th graders do this in Fort Collins I thought it sounded so crazy. Then you get a 5th grader and it doesn't seem so crazy... they're big and cute and ready and sweet.

High energy bus loading!

A rainy walk home with this cute guy.

Stage one of Camden and Asher's room!
painted their window grids black, their trim white, the bottom of the wall green.
This is... not going to go as quickly as I'd hoped :)

All the dandelion fuzzies on our walks. I love that he always wants me to blow them and then "throw them in the grass when you're done!"

Starting some trim!

Pause on projects for a 48-hour Utah road trip. 

Michael and his buddies watching the last four minutes of the BYU game like this when Ryan's TV stopped working. I love this picture so much :)

Slept with Asher for two nights at Ali's house. Loved it.
Who am I?
My sleep could just never afford this with the other three.

My biggest nephew with my littlest guy.

I love Jaren so much. 
I'm really going to miss him!
I just admire and love him and I'm so grateful for him.

The Miner grandkids.

It was a quick trip but I'm glad my boys got to say goodbye to Jaren and see his farewell.

Took the longer drive home so we could see the Grand Junction temple open house.
Thank you, Chick-Fil-A, for making solo road trip stops a little easier.

The open house was such a good stop. No lines on a Monday and so happy to be inside with my kids.

Their favorite part was probably the golf cart ride from the parking lot.

Annnnnd we're out.

I LOVED the fall colors on our drive from Utah to Grand Junction. But Grand Junction to Fort Collins was some slipper rain and low visibility for most of the way. The I-80 and the I-70 each have their pros and cons... I'm grateful I can drive to Utah and it's still not nothing.

Camden is SIX

 We spent the final few days of Miner time playing games, going to the Aquarium, seeing Tanya and Gracie, and just having fun watching the cousins be all together. I was getting nostalgic looking at big sweet Jaren and tiny Isaac and Annie and just thinking how crazy it is to see little babies become big, wonderful people. These cousins are lucky to have the examples they have and what I really love about family is that age has now impact on the friendships and connections. The big cousins are so sweet to the little cousins. I just love them all so much.

 We made it home in time to get settled back in, and go to Coyote Ridge for a fun ranger talk about wolves. The city volunteers that run those talks are always so sweet and the boys love them. Especially when s'mores are involved!

On Saturday, we woke up with a SIX-YEAR-OLD Camden! How can it be! He has been SO excited for his birthday. And the day was the most birthday-filled day he could have, with it landing on a summer Saturday.

French toast and sausage on the Blackstone for breakfast. Games and playing. Steamed mussels and crab legs for lunch (his request). A trip downtown with mom and dad to spend some birthday money at the toy store. Pizza at the pool with the Baileys, Schmidts, Behunins, and Gregorys. A lemon cake made by Westin.

Just a good, good day.

We love Camden so much. He says the FUNNIEST things that catch us off guard all the time. He brings the good time to our good times. He remembers everyone's name and is so people-focused. He's super smart and teaching him to read has been really fun -- he's just kind of a textbook learner, where Westin and Bennett both learned to read very differently in their own way. He has been the sweetest big brother to Asher and he loves babies and toddlers. He lives to be outside on the street with the neighborhood crew and cannot wait until it's time for him to go to Shepardson with the big bros for Kindergarten.

Camden is a wonderful soul, and I'm beyond grateful he's ours.

Sweet little Isaac!
Babies change way too fast. I just soak up my visits with them.

The crew at the aquarium.

Camden loves Annie's age, he's so cute with toddlers.
He's always telling me how cute they are and funny things they say or do.

Penguins foreeeever.

Like I said, big cousins little cousins -- so cute.

Hungry Hungry Hippos, a classic.

Twin sunglasses!
My dad had been admiring Michael's sunglasses for a while and we all went in on a pair for him for Christmas. He feels pretty cool in them and he should :) haha such a cute guy.

Adults made it out for dinner one night and that was a highlight.

Oreos and milk after family pictures -- we're not above bribing the children.

We tried some skipping trend that supposedly gives you good candid photos but we'll never know if that's true because we failed at it and laughed sooooo much instead.

In his road trip element.

We did a ranger talk and s'mores night out at coyote ridge where we learned all about wolves.
It made me extra motivated to get out to Yellowstone soon and try to see some!

Ready for that birthday morning!

Camden is SIX, how!?

A summer Saturday birthday is a pretty good deal.
Fly High was first on his list.

Steamed mussels and crab legs for lunch,
because our boys are so funny and for some reason they think that's a birthday meal.

They totally love it. Well, 3/4... Westin was grateful for the side of parmesan pasta :) 

Camden got some birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa and wanted to go downtown to pick out a new stuffed animal. Initially he thought he wanted a horse, but then he saw...

...this guy! Wolfie had to come home with us and he's very loved.

Then we headed to the pool for a party and quite a few friends were able to come by and eat pizza and cake with us.

Such a sweet guy. Goofy, thoughtful, compassionate.
Fun, considerate, smart. Helpful, discerning, turning a little stubborn.
He's just so great.

Watching Anthon's farewell talk!
We were all wishing we were in La Canada that day. We love him so much.

Westin memorized all the summer scriptures for Doctrine and Covenants and earned his BIG cookie.
He's such a pro at memorization.