Three

My baby turned three!

He was SO excited to turn three and celebrate his birthday! 

This kid is 100% all about pirates right now. He woke up to a birthday treasure hunt where he got a Captain Hook costume and pirate accessories. We got a little Saturday work in and had grandparents over for cupcakes, decorated with pirate wafers and chocolate pirate treasure coins! 

Nate picked his favorite place to eat out for dinner--IHOP!

We wrapped up the day playing in sprinklers in the back yard and a glow-in-the-dark bath. 

This three year old:

-Is all about independence--typical three year old! He dresses himself (99% of the time his shirt, pants, underwear AND shoes end up backwards), uses the bathroom by himself, tries to do his own car seat buckle, etc. He can play, eat, and clean up after himself with only reminders along the way. 

-Can out eat me. This kid is SOLID. 

-Still throws *loud*, long-lasting tantrums at the drop of a hat. He can be a force that's not to be tamed. 

-Is the first to give. If he knows someone wants something, he'll often give it to them without even thinking or expecting any praise or exchange in return. 

-Has never outgrown the need to climb all over a grown-up sitting/laying down comfortably. The need to feel his hands, knees, elbows, and feet all over someone else has existed since before he was born. 

-Still HATES being cold or wet. I asked him to help me pick up an ice cube that dropped and you'd thought I was torturing him to walk it over to the sink. 

-Is a HUGE tease. He gets that twinkle in his eye (all from Daddy) and the cackle to tell when he's about to pull one on you. It's impossible not to laugh. 

-Definitely wins over everyone who meets him. He briefly met his upcoming preschool teachers for this fall and they could not get over how cute they thought he was. Even after we left they couldn't stop talking about how cute he was. 

Love

Garrison is no longer the only married child in his family! We've waited patiently for six years and excited to expand the club. Jeremy, Garrison's older brother, got married a couple weeks ago. 

These two definitely get a award for long-distance relationship! She's from St. George and he's living in Virginia. And they met through a mutual cousin/friend from Germany. 

We traveled down to St. George for the wedding to be there in the flesh. It was fun to go inside the temple that seems SO white against all the red rock nearby. 

My camera and phone were always hiding in my purse or car, so the only pictures I stole were on the drive home of scenery and cacti for a four year old at home who was overly anxious to see pictures of the real desert. 

I did capture a picture of their wedding present though. 

Their sealing was beautiful and it brought back so many memories from our sealing. Both of them just looked like they were on cloud nine that day! Very sweet! 

They came up north for their open house in Salt Lake a week later. The boys (particularly Gabe) were *completely* enamored with their fun uncle and new aunt while they were here. 

We're awfully excited for them as they start on their new adventures together finally! 

Elder Scott

I've waited a long time to be right by Nate at a time I had my phone on hand to capture one of these moments. 

When Nate is content and quiet, sometimes he gets this expression on his face. 

His eyes squint and the corners of his mouth tug up into a slight grin. He stares happily at whatever holds his attention in that moment. 

I thought for some time that it reminds me of someone, but it took me a while to put my finger on it. 

Once I did, I affectionately could call this look the "Elder Scott."

And the Days Are Long

We've made it through another Sunday!

I sat by a new lady in my ward at church today. Her few month old was (unbelievably quietly) restless. She explained that nap time was normally 9:30 for them and it was quickly coming up on 11:30.

I dunno about you, but my kids still get restless and tired with three hours of church.

Scratch that. I still do.

The days have been long lately. It was just one of those days I was ready for today to be done before it really began. There are several reasons I tell Garrison, "I'm fighting feeling grumpy," ranging from my kids turning to the dark side, to my stomach and hips being cruel, to my pet died and my haircut got goofed... but anyhow.

It's times like these you have to make your own happy places.

Today for dinner I fed the kids applesauce and multi-grain Cheerios, while I fixed us "big kids" a box of Pasta Roni and veggies for our half of the table romantic dinner "getaway"... complete with dollar candles burning and grape soda.

I smiled when I noticed we have orange, yellow, and light pink lilies blossoming in our flower bed.

I cherished the multiple moments when I was glad I wasn't the only grownup at home to help clean up potty training accidents.

Some days need a medal for surviving to see the end. But at least we're surviving, right?

Minivan

We've joined the club.

And if you saw my teeny old '92 Toyota (that didn't even have airbags) you'd know--it was time.

The boys went NUTS! "This is my minivan!? This is our minivan!?" accompanied with introducing parking lot strangers to our new car now.

Happy anniversary to us!