Labor Day Weekend

We had a fun labor day weekend.  Steve took Nyles up to the cabin Friday night to Saturday while Carter and I did some things at home.  Here are some highlights.

Carter jumping off the bed to another mattress below.

Peaches from our tree.  Steve said we had 100-150 peaches this year from our little tree!  They were super yummy.  We had too many for the 4 of us, so we shared w/ our neighbors too.

Steve got his boats ready w/ new seats.

Saturday morning Steve and Rob helped Dave w/ his pontoon boat trying to figure out why it wasn't working. That afternoon Steve and Rob took their boats out for a spin and to scout ducks for duck season coming up in October.  They are trying to find the perfect spot for the duck opener.

Dave and Joann offered to watch Nyles over the weekend.  Stacie and Phill and their kids were coming up that afternoon as well.  We knew he'd have fun playing w/ London and Conor, so we let him stay.  After scouting for ducks Steve came home.  Nyles went w/ Dave and Joann down to Heber and met up w/ Stacie and Phill.  Phill and Dave then went to get some parts for the boat and Stacie and Joann drove back to the cabin.  Nyles thought it was pretty fun to ride in the care with his cousins

London and Nyles playing in Wal-Mart and riding in the car.

 

London, Nyles and Conor being silly kids.

It sure was easy having only 1 kid instead of 2, but we definitely missed Nyles.  

Carter sure loves to make silly faces w/ Steve's phone.

  

Or just take pictures.  Silly boy.

Sunday after church we decided to go on a short hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  There was an event going on up the canyon, but luckily we kept going a little further up and not many people were up there.  It felt like we were the only ones there hiking the mountain.  It was actually really quiet and peaceful; like it should be in the mountains.  It was really incredible!   

Carter put on sunglasses and played w/ his puppy on the way up.

We had perfect weather up the canyon, cooler than down in the valley.  

Carter was a happy little trooper getting a ride from Steve.

Family picture (minus Nyles).

Cute Carter.  He still loves to hold up his finger like #1, but it comes from Nyles being in first grade.

Steve took a picture while I was taking a picture :)

Cheese!

Beautiful scenery!

Silly boys!

 

Walking back.  I love it when my boys let me hold their hands.  It melts my heart :)

Boys being boys!

There were some big construction vehicles near where we were hiking, so we had to take a picture next to them.  Carter didn't want to leave them of course.

Meanwhile, Nyles was having a good time up at the cabin playing w/ his cousins.

 

Conor and Nyles eating chocolate muffins and watermelon for breakfast.  Breakfast of champions!

Getting the boat out on the water.

Fishing now, waiting for the fish to bite.

Cute Carter drawing while I got ready for the day.

Carter's starting to get more and more independent.  One of the things he likes to do lately is pick out his clothes and put them on all by himself.  It definitely requires patience on our part.  This is after Carter put his PJ bottoms on.  He just kept pulling up the bottoms though they were snagged on his diaper.  So cute!  He was so proud of himself though!

After putting Carter to bed Steve and I working on drying pears.  We bought 2 cases of pears and we dried most of them.  I would peel, core and cut in half, then Steve would cut them.  We'd then put them on the drying sheets together.  We got 22 bags of dried pears, which was pretty good considering we ate quite a few.  Steve and I did this 4 nights in a row.  We were definitely tired of peeling and cutting, but they were worth it.  They are SO YUMMY!  

Steve taking a rack of pears out to the dryer.

Love these quotes.  We can each choose to be happy.  Try to enjoy each moment we have with one another.  I love my family!  "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift––that is why it is called the present.”

 

Tender Mercy!

So last Monday, September 10th at 2:30pm Steve got a call from Jennifer Pollock, the Program Manager of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound Program.  She asked if Steve was still interested in the program, which he was.  She then informed him that one of the students had decided to go another route and wasn't going to continue w/ the program, so there was an open spot if he wanted it.  She then gave Steve an hour to talk it over w/ me, find a sitter, call her back with his official response, and then get to class which started at 5pm that night.  

Steve then sent me a text which said, "Can you please call me asap!!" I had just finished with my phone appointment and saw the text and called him right away.  My first thought was that one of the boys were hurt and he was headed to the Emergency Room.  When Steve answered the phone he said, "I'm in the program!"  I then tried to make sense of what he was saying and he told me what just happened and the conversation he just had with Jennifer.  At first Steve wasn't sure if we had "changed plans" or anything since school had already started 2 1/2 weeks before, but we knew this was a great opportunity and we should definitely take it.  Steve then called Jennifer back and said he'd love to take the open spot.  Our neighbor Sydney Evans was kind enough to take the boys until I got home from work that night while Steve ran to class. 

It's been a little bit crazy trying to get everything done in a couple days whereas the other students were given the whole Summer to prepare.  Steve had to get his immunization updated, do a background check, a TB test, a drug screen, and he'll need to get re-certified for CPR.  He also had to order his books (thank you Amazon Prime for 2 day shipping), and figure out the balance our schedules with the boys.  Luckily his classes don't start until 5pm (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), so there isn't much change during the day with the boys.  I'm just getting them ready for bed by myself now most nights.  Joann has also been willing to watch the boys until I can get home from work which has been a great blessing.  Steve also has Young Men's on Tuesdays, so he'll normally be able to still participate in their activities as well.

We are still figuring things out and they'll be changing every semester since his clinicals will vary, but we feel blessed for this great opportunity.  Steve found out that there were more than 150 people that applied for the program, only 3 of which were men, and only 70 were interviewed.  They originally had 11 spots open for the program when they did interviews, then during the process one of the hospitals dropped 2 seats, so that left 9 spots open.  Steve was number 10, so he was technically "in" originally, but then was "out" after the hospital dropped 2 seats.  So after the other person dropped out this past week, he was back "in" the program.  

It's not going to be easy, but we know the Lord has a plan for us and will help us in this journey.  As Elder Bednar said in his talk about Tender Mercies “the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence."  We know the Lord had been guiding our path to this exact spot at this exact time.  We are indeed grateful and humbled by this opportunity.  We know this will push us to new levels both in Steve's academic career and our family life, but it will be worth it and the Lord will help us along the way.  This truly was a tender mercy of the Lord!

August 2nd Half

August is over and so is Summer, but we had a lot of fun.  Here are some highlights from the last half of August.

Cute Carter making bubbles, and wearing Steve's church shoes.

Beautiful SLC Temple grounds.  The flowers are so pretty!  

I made it after work to do initiatories one night.

Nyles working on his 1st grade "About Me" poster.  He drew all the pictures himself.

Carter's turn to color.  Both boys wanted to sit on my lap during Stake Conference; silly boys.

Cute boys!

Feeding Ron and Becky's ducks our tomatoes we grew over the wall.

The boys think it's so fun.  Ironically the ducks have eaten most of our tomatoes this year.

We had Pauline and Rose's family over for dinner and to celebrate August birthdays (Pauline, Nyles and Summer).  Singing Happy Birthday.  Nyles wanted to blow out a candle.

The boys opening presents from Rose (since she missed them earlier).

Carter got a Yeti, but he thought it was a very soft kitty ;)

 

Nyles got a glow in the dark skeleton shirt from Pauline.

The airplane Nyles got from Rose, which Chris helped him put together.  

Pauline w/ Carter eating a fruit snack.

Carter playing w/ the ducks Rose gave him and Nyles w/ his airplane and skeleton shirt.  

Carter helped me roll out the pizza dough one night.  He was my big helper!  I love the under cabinet lighting Steve put in so we can see better while preparing food.

Steve put up some lights on our garage as well.  We didn't have any lights there before, so Steve ran the electrical wires and created the mounts for the lights.  They are light sensitive, so they turn on and off automatically which is awesome!  Good work Steve!

Yeah for more lights!

He also put one in the back over our patio.  Nyles playing on the playground before school.

Steve has also been working on weeding LuDean's yard, both in the back and front yard.

Carter and Nyles riding around in the Jeep.  Ever since we took pictures for 1st grade for Nyles, Carter thinks he has to hold up his finger now for pictures.  It's pretty cute!

 

The boys playing firemen in the Jeep.

 

More rounds on the grass.

Carter having fun!

Cute boys sitting on the rocky chair George made for Dave when he was a little boy.

More wasps have been caught in the trap Steve put up at LuDean's house.

Aunt Diane and LuDean sang happy birthday to Nyles and Carter wanted to join in.

The gas motors Steve put together for duck season coming up (one is Robs).

Steve took the boys to the Aquarium.

Nyles helping Carter walk across the rope bridge.

Cute boys and a monkey backpack ;)

Steve painted his motor to be more camouflaged.

A swivel chair for the boat.

Steve is so proud of his duck hunting boats.  Steve also helped Rob get through Hunter's Safety this Summer, both w/ the online class and he also sat w/ him through the testing day one full Saturday.  He's a good friend, plus now Rob can officially hunt w/ his own license.  They're pretty excited for duck season to start in October.

I read this amazing book about learning how to be a better parent by being more Christlike.  

Every parent should read this, such an amazing book!