2nd Week of September

Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of September.  

Hudson is no longer nursing.  He switched over quite easily to cow's milk and loves it!  Thankfully he is also sleeping through the night, from about 7pm to 7am, which is awesome!  I'm definitely thankful he nursed well and was able to make it a year.  Plus I was able to nurse him 100% at home vs pumping while away at work and Steve giving him a bottle.  That definitely made our lives easier overall.  I'm also thankful he can now sleep on his own and I don't have to wake up during the night to feed him.

                                                                Cute baby Hudson sleeping. 

Baby Hudson is learning to stand.  Just like Carter, he's learning to stand even better w/ the water table.  He's determined to stand up since he wants to play and splash in the water.

Friday afternoon Conor came over to spend the night.  Dave and Joann also came over and we had dinner together.  The next morning Steve and the boys and Rob went up to Farmington Bay for a Youth Duck Hunting Festival.  

All ready and excited to go on an air boat ride.  Some of the free gear they received.

Nyles shooting a gun, then a dog would go after a duck.  Carter getting his instructions.  Nyles, Carter and Conor sitting in a Sherp vehicle.

Taking a ride on the air boat: Conor, Carter, Steve, Nyles and Rob.

Boys taking a ride on the air boat.

Nyles learning about archery and giving it a try.  Carter got tired of walking to Rob gave him a ride.

Rob, Nyles and Conor on a boat, Steve and Carter on the other one.

Having a lot of fun going for a ride!

When they got back they showed me all their "gear/stuff" they received.  They got hats, cups, duck calls, duck decoys, water bottles, candy, color books/crayons, and even a camo backpack!  It started raining pretty hard towards the end of the festival, so many people left, which meant they were guaranteed a door prize, which they chose was the backpacks.  They took a shower to warm up after they got home.  We then went outside and enjoyed the sunshine.  Hudson loves to stand at the water table now w/ his brothers.

We went to Lowe's for a couple things as well and enjoyed just being together.  

It was a beautiful sunset that night.

We picked up the kids' kits at Lowe's, and Carter put his together, a bird house.

Sunday afternoon we went for a walk at a duck pond.  The boys of course brought their duck calls and we took some grain to feed them.  Piper came along for the ride as well.

Hudson playing, making car noises.

Hudson making car noises.

Hudson playing music.

Great quotes.

1st Week of September

Here are some highlights from the 1st week of September.

On Wednesday, September 1st we had a Primary Activity for the kids in Activity Days.  The boys group had new leaders but hadn't met them yet, so we wanted to do a "kick off" since school has started and they should be having monthly activities.  We divided the kids into 2 groups.  Half went and made key chains and the other half were w/ me and played Minute to Win it games, then we switched.  

The kids trying to get an Oreo down from their forehead to their mouth w/out their hands.  

Then trying to keep 2 balloons in the air w/ only their hands.

Nyles and Carter are really enjoying their Martial Arts classes.  Here is Nyles working at his class.  He's also working to read a book, then he'll do a book report on it.  He's really enjoying 3rd grade so far!

Cute baby Hudson waking up from a nap.  We got our carpets cleaned, which is always a good idea, and especially now that baby is crawling on them all the time.

Silly Piper looking out the front window.  Piper w/ her silly tongue.  And Piper putting her head under our bed while Steve studies for his test.

Hudson giving Carter a hug while we clean and rearrange their rooms.

Since Nyles' birthday, Carter has been back in his room.  Now that they're in 2 different rooms again, we decided to switch the beds, so they would fit better according to the room size.  We put the bunk beds stacked up in Carter's room, and the full bed back in Nyles' room.  There is now much more room in both rooms.  It was a lot of work to disassemble and reassemble, but it's great now that they're done.

Over Labor Day Weekend the boys wanted to sleep outside on the trampoline.  It got pretty cool so they bundled up really well.  Now that it's getting darker earlier, it's less smoky outside, and it's not as hot, we thought it would work great.   Plus we're at the end of Summer, crazy enough.  They thought it was awesome! They enjoyed it so much, they slept on the trampoline both Friday and Saturday night. 

Nyles and Carter ready for bed on the trampoline. Hudson saying hi before heading to bed himself.

Hudson eating his duck, playing w/ his car, and playing in the mat the boys slept on outside.

Hudson playing.

On Sunday we went over to have dinner w/ LuDean and Diane.  We made burgers, and Aunt Diane made her yummy chocolate cake.  Hudson tried it and loved it, just like his brothers!  It's their favorite for sure!  Thanks Aunt Diane!

Carter fell asleep on the way over.  He's really good at taking short naps in the car.  

Hudson and the boys had fun playing w/ the toys and Aunt Diane and visiting w/ Grandma LuDean.  

Hudson playing at LuDean's house.

Sunday night Nyles and Carter wanted to sleep out one more time.  Since there were some bugs the night before, we decided to set up Steve's 2 man tent for them to sleep in this time.  Aunt Diane gave them some glow sticks too which the boys loved playing w/ right before bed.  

They were only a little excited to sleep in the tent!  They definitely stayed warmer in the tent.

We also picked more of our peaches from our tree, yumm!

On Monday, it was Labor Day, so no school or work.  That morning the 3 boys and I went on a hike w/ Pauline and her family to the suspension bridge by our house.  Steve stayed home and studied.  It was a pretty popular place that morning, but we still had a great time.  

Taking a water break, walking across the wabbly bridge, Hudson w/ a sucker, and Carter, Nyles and Ezra taking a break on a rock.

We also saw a praying mantis on our way down.  Quick picture by the bridge.  Beautiful Sunflowers on our way.  Cute baby Hudson still enjoying his sucker after we got back to the car.

We picked even more peaches that night.  

There are more peaches than we can eat, so we've shared w/ all of our neighbors by us as well.

That night as we put Hudson to bed, we caught him on camera.

He pulled himself up in his crib and took a step for the first time!

When I came to get him the next morning, I found him standing up again!  And so it begins....

Great quotes.

Last Week of August

 Here are some highlights from the last week of August.

We played a little Badminton as a family. It was fun!

Cute Hudson checking out Piper w/ her bone.  We're so thankful Piper is patient and gentle w/ the boys.

Cute baby Hudson having more of his birthday cake and playing w/ his new toy.  Don't you love his foot hold?  Nyles likes to say he's part monkey ;)

The boys finally started their martial arts class in the studio.  Hudson took a little nap while they had their class.  Carter goes at 4:15pm and Nyles at 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Our peaches are getting bigger and ripening.  And we still have some beautiful flowers in bloom.

We grew a pumpkin, though it's the size of an orange.  Hudson and Carter playing in the ballpit.

Cute baby Hudson.

We took a walk at Draper Park and let the boys play on the playgrounds.  More pretty flowers.

Cute baby Hudson in his many sleeping positions.

We picked up 2 mums from Costco.  The boys thought it was fun to put some in my hair.  The boys helped water them after Steve planted them.  Cute baby Hudson pretending to talk on the phone.

Silly Carter trying to scratch his ear like Piper does.  Cute Hudson sleeping.

Steve walked over w/ the boys to Scheels while our tires were getting put on the Honda at Costco.  

They had to ride the Ferris Wheel of course :) Carter reading a book.

Steve spray painted his motor, getting ready for duck season next month.

We went on a family walk Sunday afternoon up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We finally did the Mill B South Interpretive Trail and Hidden Falls.  It's usually super busy and cars are parked all down the canyon, but we were actually able to find a spot in the parking lot.  We passed a couple people going up, but then we had the rest of the trail to ourselves and no one at the falls.  It was great!

Pretty walk next to the river.

It was so pretty and relaxing.  The weather was perfect as well and cooler than down in the valley!

Walking together, the boys throwing rocks in the river, and a cool tree.

Pretty fall color leaf starting to come.  Beautiful sunflower.  

A mine near the falls that the boys thought was really cool.

The falls were really cool, literally!  The sunset was really beautiful as well.

Steve w/ Hudson, and our new Mums we planted.  We also have a Shasta Daisy in bloom.

Silly Hudson.

Nyles helping Hudson go down the slide.

The boys going down the slide together.

Great quotes.