What we have been up to

This has been one CRAZY summer! It seems like we haven't had a second to breathe.  And today we are flying to Boise for Ernie's sister's wedding.  (I still can't believe she is getting married tomorrow!!) We are flying in tonight, the wedding is tomorrow, and then we are leaving again Sunday morning. I know, whirlwind. 

SO, what have we been up to that is so crazy? Well, moving to begin with.  And then it was Ernie's family for Memorial Day while we still had no house to move into. Finally, a house to move into in the middle of June. With it came a few more "projects" than we had anticipated. (Thank goodness for finding Ryan our handyman.) Boise for the fourth of July. I flew up to visit my Grandma and go to Karli's bridal shower.   Ernie had two trips for work.  I went to Boston with my dad to visit my sister.  And then Ernie's dad came to visit last weekend. 

We have a YMCA by us that we go to nearly every day.  They have great classes. (Which has really gotten me back into the swing of things since- here comes the confession- I had gained 5 lbs during all the crazy move stuff. but I have lost it again, thank goodness.) The boys LOVE to go swimming there, and I don't mind the cooling off myself.  And no matter how much I layer on the SPF 50, I have been getting a nice tan line. (Thank you mom for olive toned skin)
The boys have had swimming lessons.  (And they have both improved tremendously.  Especially Caleb- he went from being a little frightened still of the water, to far surpassing the other kids in his class and becoming a little fish.)

They beg to go on family bike rides nearly every evening. This has proved to be a dilemma seeing as I do not have a bike, and big E's has by far seen better days.  Big E and I take turns with his squeaking bike and laugh at each other as the kids go by much faster. I think it is about time we invest in some bikes for ourselves. What do you think?

I am going to stay in Utah next week and hang out with Ernie's family from New Hampshire who is here for the wedding.  It will be really fun and the kids will love going to Lagoon.  I don't think they even remember it!

And then it is August.  Wow, I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by.  At the same time, it has been such a whirlwind that I am excited to have some stability back.  As soon as we get back, Ernie has his first basketball game, and big E is coaching, so it will be fun.  Oh, and Caleb is starting soccer.

The other night big E came home, and said "does it ever slow down?  It seems like there is SO much going on all the time!" Yep, and we only have two kids. How did my mom and Ernie's mom do it?

A great weekend

This past weekend Ernie's dad came to visit us.  We really had a fabulous weekend. It was great to be able to have our first visitor to see our new home and where we live.  The boys are still laughing about some of the stories he told.  We did a lot of fun things, and hand some great conversations.   On Saturday, we went bowling which is one of the boys very favorite things to do.  

Ernie and Ernie

Caleb and Ernie

Ernie and Ernie (I know, it can get confusing)

Caleb was really getting into the music that they had playing.  I was laughing so hard, I could barely handle it.  He was pulling out some great break dance type moves.  I wish I could have gotten more pics, but here is at least enough of an action shot to remember his awesome moves.

Thanks for coming! We loved it.

Caleb's first trip

Caleb had a monumental moment this summer.  He went on his first trip without his parents! He flew with my sister (not quite ready for him to fly alone yet :) Layne to visit my sister and brother in law in Rexburg.  Mark and Natalie were so awesome!  Caleb still talks about what a blast it was.  They loved it too, at least I hope they weren't lying when they said they loved it :)!

Here is Caleb in one of the many pictures I took of him while he was about to get on the plane.  He finally leaned close to me and said, "oh brother mom. I'm not even going to be gone that long!"

He went fishing and caught his first fish! And may I add, was the only person that caught one.  He was very proud.

They also took him to Yellowstone. 

I can't believe he is that big, but I am so grateful he is able to have experiences like this.

Independence Day

The Fourth of July was awesome.  We headed to Boise (sorry I wasn't able to see all of the friends we love so much there. There just wasn't enough time.  But we still love you guys and think about you all the time.)
I took a gazillion (pretty sure that is a completely valid word :) pictures.  I have tried to limit them, but there are so many cute ones!

The family

The boys right before we left to go to Grandma Doreen's

Ernie and his cousins Jake and Tyler in the pool

Caleb-love his goggles! They were on his head like this most of the day.

Caleb with his cousin Dillon and Aunt Amber

We played a really fun game of kickball. Here is Ernie and Caleb getting ready to help their Grandpa pitch. (yes, they were a HUGE help)

THE kickball team, well part of it. 

Heather and Ben in the outfield.  Notice the spectators in the back right.........I'm sure we were pretty funny to watch.

Here are the boys with a bunch of their cousins after the game.

One of the best parts of the night is Grandpa's fireworks show. Here we are getting ready to watch.

Ernie with he glow in the dark necklace and light up ring.

I had a hard time getting a picture of Caleb.  He was busy cutting off Ashley's legs with his "light saber" instead of wearing it. Caleb had a blast playing with her!

Grandma Doreen, Caleb, Grandma Angie, and Ernie

Hailey, Caleb, and Summer

Caleb was hysterical to watch.  He was hanging out with the girls the whole time and he was pretty animated.

Caleb, Allison, Megan, Natalie, and Annie

Caleb decided that you could see them best if you laid down and his entourage followed suit.

My boys have always loved Natalie! She is always so cute with them, from the time they were babies.

Grandpa always lines his yard and sidewalks with flags.  I love it!

We had such a great fourth!  I feel so incredibly blessed to be a citizen of this great country.  And I feel very blessed to have so many great people to share a celebration like this with.

Alive

I am still alive.  It just dosen't look like it in the blog world.  But, my goal for the week is to update my blog.  Now that I have a few pictures on my wall, I will feel okay spending time catching up on that stuff. Promise.

An Anniversary Treat

Ernie and I recently celebrated our anniversary.  Well, recently being June 30th.  I know, I am really on top of this blogging thing lately.  We had a lot of fun together.  I feel very blessed to be married to such a fabulous man.  We really are best friends, and I can't tell you how fabulous it is to have someone to share everything in your life with : good and bad.  Anyway, I will stay away from too much of the mushy stuff :) We went out to dinner at a GREAT resteraunt called Nuve.  It is on the 36th floor of The Palms.  It was seriously some of the best food I have ever had. It might have tasted that great to me because Ernie made the reservations and everything! (That doesn't happen that often anymore after 9 years! We go out, don't get me wrong, but we usually aren't that, well, organized.)

My sister Layne watched the kids for us. She is so much fun. They had a birthday party for Caleb's stuffed animal "Giraffey".

They had a blast. (A lot more fun than if we had been home with them :)

Layne let the boys make the cake.  Ernie was in a "mood" and so it was mostly Caleb that did the decorating.

He obviously was very careful to not get too messy (and I might have lost a little bit of my appetite for the cake after I saw the pictures :)

After the cake was made, the party began. 

They watched a movie, had treats.

And then they had cake and sang to Giraffey.  I am still unsure of what age he turned because I get a different number each time I ask Caleb.

And they even saved us a piece to eat for our anniversary, and made us a note that said,

"Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad". 

Thanks Layne!  And thanks Ernie.  Here's to another 75 years........

Yep, I did it

I took my sister Layne to see Eclipse.  Yep, the midnight showing.  I know, I am the most fabulous sister ever.

Here is Layne

I thought the screen showing all 16 theaters with Eclipse as the movie was pretty funny.

And it was a mad house! I couldn't believe that I was there, but then I saw little kids there.  They couldn't have been older than 5.  Seriously? Okay parents.  I don't think that it is the best movie for a 5 yr old to begin with, but if you are going to let them see it, can't thery wait ten hrs? But I am glad I was able to go with Layne.  We had a lot of fun.  (BTW: never thought I would EVER post something like this, but team Edward, all the way.)

And this would be us documenting the evening.  It's 2:45 in the morning at this point. 

 Yes, I was VERY tired. 

But my payment from Layne for taking her was that she watched my kids for me to go out with Ernie for our anniversary.  Completely worth it!!!!