I'm not as ornery in this post, I promise.

Erica turned 2 1/2 this month. I thought I was getting off pretty easy with the terrible two's until about now. She's still super cute and sweet and funny but man, can she throw a fit! And I don't think any of my kids can stay ornery for as long as she can. She literally whined and cried about dumb things for 2 1/2 hours straight yesterday after her nap.

We took these pictures August 5 to commemorate the day and to capture her personality.

Later that day I came home with a brand new package of underwear for her. She's been asking to wear underwear since her birthday. Every week in church when Henry asks to leave sacrament meeting to go to the bathroom, she declares that she too needs to use the restroom. So I finally let her try it out.

I wish her enthusiasm would have translated to actually getting the idea of going to the toilet when she actually needed to. She sat on the toilet forever declaring "I want to get a marshmallow!" but with no success. But 10 minutes after hopping off, I'm cleaning up a mess. After 3 accidents in a row, I called it. We'll try again in a month or so.

Justin's July pie of the month was a French silk pie. Because I was sick the last week of July, he got July's pie a week ago. After I finished putting on the cream, we all ran downstairs to watch Michael Phelps and then came back up to see this:

I guess all of us didn't go back downstairs.

The pie tasted good but I thought the chocolate silk was a little soft and gooey. I've never had French silk so I'm not sure what it was supposed to be like.

I got this backpack for Erica at a yard sale for $1. She packs around her favorite little toys (magiclip princess dolls, tea set pieces, Daniel Tiger figurines and books) and takes them everywhere she can. I love this stage.

I put Sarah and Henry in swimming lessons at a different place this year. We've done them with Spanish Fork city but I just wasn't impressed. So this year we went to a lady who does them in her own pool.

Henry loved it. He was always smiling. They implemented a lot of toys and theme days in their lessons. And they taught breathing techniques right along with floating and simple strokes.

They got to go down the waterslide every day and went all the way under the water and had to climb the "water ladder" back up before the teacher would help them float/swim back to their spot.

Sarah didn't like the first day because she wasn't allowed to plug her nose and they made her open her eyes under the water. By the end of the week, she could kneel dive into the pool, do a couple of breast strokes then roll onto her back and swim on her back to the other side of the pool. And they both jumped off the diving board and surfaced on their own.

Plus I got these hilarious pictures of them.

Here Sarah is finding flowers that match each of her new school shirts. She's kind of excited about school starting.

I ordered her a couple of pairs of boots and made her choose which one to keep and which one to send back. She wanted to see a picture of her wearing them, not just look in the mirror, to help her decide.

Justin's August pie of month was a peaches and cream pie. It tastes good but if I were to make it again, I'd make more custard part and really fill up that crust. And this is my first homemade pie crust this year so I think that helped in the deliciousness portion but not the looks department.

Sarah is kind of a reading nerd and I mean that in a proud mom sort of way. She came out of her room last night at 10 declaring she's on chapter 4 of Harry Potter #3 when we thought she'd been asleep for 2 hours. Here she is today reading the next Little House book she got from the library while she eats her lunch.  She made a goal to read 1,000 pages this summer and made a spreadsheet to keep track of all the books she's completed. She reached her goal in July and now is "just reading for fun" but is still recording things on her spreadsheet because she's kind of an Excel nerd too (Justin is so proud).  I'm proud of her, especially since she'll read just about anything I pick out for her but she really likes stories about the frontier and horses and anything by Beverly Cleary.

While Sarah was reading/eating in the kitchen, Erica was eating her lunch of scrambled eggs and peaches on the porch. We had a loooong weekend with her pretty much being an ornery bear every waking moment so I needed to capture her actually being pleasant.

Apparently my kids think it's time to go the grocery store and started my list for me. Sarah wrote "mush" which means packets of oatmeal. Henry added apples and chicken soup. I love his handwriting. Seeing my kids learn to write and read is just as exciting to me as when they learn to walk and talk.

I finished the biggest sewing project for the baby. I got the top pieced before Pioneer Day but didn't do the machine quilting until last week and then finished hand-sewing the binding this weekend while I watched the Olympics. The yellow I chose for the binding is little "out there" for me but I think I like it.

For some reason it makes me feel like less of slacker while watching all these incredible athletes who are much younger than me. Betcha Michael Phelps can't make that.

And I failed to mention last month that we finished the Book of Mormon as a family! It took us about a year to do it but we did it. This was Sarah's second time.

Here's what the kids said about the book:

What is your favorite part?

Sarah:I don't have a favorite part. I don't think Captain Moroni is my favorite part anymore because I hadn't read the whole book when I said that before. I just don't have a favorite part anymore.

Henry: When Captain Moroni was in. When the Lamanites were good and the Nephites were bad.

What does the Book of Mormon teach us?

Sarah: You can always believe in prayer and that Christ is real.
Henry: To do good things.

What do you like about the Book of Mormon?

Sarah: I like the Book of Mormon because it tells about hard choices and it talks about prayer. It can also be examples for you and think of those stories and how it can help you in your life.

How did reading the Book of Mormon make you feel?

Henry: Good

Sarah: Sometimes it was hard to sit still because Henry was always smiling at me and making me laugh.

Do you want to read it again?

Sarah: I just want to read other stories because we read it two years in a row so I want to read other scripture stories before we read it again.

Henry: {shrugs} Sure.

*We celebrated by getting Kong Kones at Macey's and are currently reading "other scripture stories" out the Pearl of Great Price.

Good-bye July

{{Me lying down on psychiatrists sofa}} When bad things happen, I always look for the possible positive outcomes. I think it's because I've noticed a pattern with God taking really bad situations and making good come from it, whether that be on a worldwide scale or down to instances in my very life. Even though our country is facing a worse candidate selection than most communist countries, I can't help but shrug a little and think, "Well, gets us even closer to Jesus coming."

But when it comes to little things, I'm a big complainer. As Justin and I were sitting on the couch the other night after the kids were in bed, I couldn't think of anything to talk about that wasn't a complaint. Granted I'm pregnant in 100 degree heat and I've been sick for 9 days but still.

Get fired from a job and I'll help you see all the benefits from starting a new career and how this will be so good for you in the long run. But ask me how my day was and all that comes to mind were the stupid things the kids fought over, the lady in grocery aisle that wouldn't move, how two flights of stairs is way more than any house should ever have and is IT EVER GOING TO RAIN AGAIN??

Anyway, the point is, I did not like July because it was too hot and then I got sick on the only day I like so now I'm bitter and glad to see it go. But I really am a positive person, really.

So I will tell you what I do like. Pioneer Day! It makes July worth it. That and Costco grapes.

Pioneer Day in Mapleton is so cute. Pancake breakfast in the park.

Sorry Sarah but Henry's smile is just too cute.

Erica could not get over how weird it was to drink from these little cartons.

The grandmothers discussing how horrible humidity is and aren't we glad we don't live where it's humid?

Then waiting with cousins for the parade. There were some tears shed over candy and no horses.

Then back to the park for some games. Erica won a taffy right away. This is all she'd show me.

You have to play the fishing game. It's the only game where you get a good prize every time.

I don't even remember what they got. Pretty sure they ruined/broke/lost it by that night.

And then there's plinko for a slap bracelet. I may or may not have thrown them away a few days later.

Then we I got too hot by 11 am so we left the park to go home where I started to feel sicker as the day went on. By dinner time, I did not feel up to going to the fireworks and then Sarah threw up. But since we made a special trip to the dollar store for glow toys (I really think this was a deciding factor), we went to the fireworks anyway.

Henry was feeling fine and pretty stoked about his glowing trident.

Erica loving her glow wand.

Sicky McPukeface was quarantined to the blanket. She threw up two more times (once during the fireworks show) plus once we got back to the car. She only complained a little and would have cried a ton had we stayed home so I'm pretty sure I was a good mom in this instance.

I spent most of the time sitting very still and not eating any of the treats I brought.

And then we got to see a lot of this. If you like fireworks that reverberate in your chest and ash landing on your clothes, this is the show for you. But it's getting pretty crowded so you should just stay home.

And then I went home and tried not to cry myself to sleep because I ached all over. By Tuesday I was running a fever of 103, Thursday I started coughing and did not stop coughing until about 7:30 this morning. My abs hurt. Thanks to the antibiotics and the ambiguous diagnosis of "Well it's not bronchitis but there is some inflammation of your bronchial tubes" I feel like I'm on the up and up. I'm kind of tired of sleeping with my face in the sweltering heat of my vaporizer so it will be nice to kick this for good. Plus it's August and we know what that means....

Peaches. (Justin is back there somewhere hanging up bird repellers)

They're not much to look at but they taste so good. I'm gonna make a pie and some fruit leather and what we can't eat, I'll give away.

And I'm not sure when it happened but now when I get down to just one gallon of milk or a dozen eggs, I'm "almost out". So I go to Costco and buy 4 gallons of milk and 5 dozen eggs and everything is right in the world again.

Mmm grapes.

Sweethearts and Stinkers (hint: they all are)

I don't know if it's because I'm having another boy, but I am basking in the sweetness that are my girls.

These are the two most chatty girls I know. Words, questions, descriptions, stories, all day long. I wonder where they get it? They play more together as Erica is becoming very interested in anything Sarah is doing. I like that except that means they argue more too.

But for the most part, Sarah looks out for Erica and Erica thinks Sarah is the coolest.

Sure, they're whiny and they think they know everything.

But they are gentle and smart and sweet and feminine and they are mine.

I am convinced that there is nothing cuter and sweeter than a 2-year-old girl.

But I am bracing myself for more of this. These boys think they rule this neighborhood.

They think they're pretty tough until they run out of sidewalk chalk or someone's bike chain falls off. Then they need their moms like nothing else.

Last week we went to the cemetery to ride bikes. It's shadier than my neighborhood and it's nice to just let them go and know that they can't go too far.

Sarah got dressed after breakfast and then noticed that I didn't get Erica dressed so she changed back into her pajamas.

Erica is having more fun than she's letting on.

Henry is definitely having more fun than he looks. He just didn't like that I made him stop to take his picture.

While I put Sarah's bike chain back on, the kids played hide-and-seek. Is that inappropriate to do in a cemetery? 

This went on for quite awhile. When it was Henry's turn to count, he made Erica do it and she always did.

I may have a baby blanket obsession. I made this simple receiving blanket for Baby Boy #2. I just love the teepees and animals.

And then I made this blanket with 8 ribbon tags. My babies always had to find the tag to their blankies and hold them while they slept. I figure the more the better.

I've got a patchwork quilt I'm working on and another quilt that's on the quilting frames at my mom's. I'll show ya'll when I'm done.

Yesterday evening, Henry came down with the pukes. He threw up several times an hour from 6-11. Poor guy was so wiped out. He woke up this morning just fine but after I got the girls lunch, I found him in his room like this. When my kid puts themselves down for a nap, my heart swell with love.

More fun with my new lens. I can't wait to try it out on newborn baby feet.

Some stuff we did and some pictures and some news

True to form, we did something completely different this year for the 4th of July. We always have fun, we just don't have any established traditions yet. Maybe inconsistency is our tradition.

Justin's parents came into town Friday night so Saturday we all got together for lunch at Tucano's to celebrate Dallin's birthday. I ate a lot of meat, Erica ate a lot of watermelon.

From there, Corey and Nadine took Sarah and Henry to Deer Valley to the condo they had rented for the weekend and Justin and Eric and I went home as Justin had to teach primary and I had to teach Relief Society the next day.  After church we joined them in Park City but just missed Braden and Molly but Nate and Cassandra and Dallin were still there.

The condo they rented was huuuge. It had 4 bedrooms, each with it's own bathroom, a balcony with a hot tub and a big kitchen/family room area. The resort also had a pool so the kids were almost always in their swimming suits. 

On Monday we rode the chair lift up the mountain, went on a hike and then came back down.  Henry was our hike leader and was cracking me up the entire way. Once he heard me say it felt so nice in the shade, he was sure to tell me when we were going to leave the shade. "We're going to be in the sun for about four minutes, Mom." He also let us know safety things like "There are a lot of weeds up here" and "Watch out for rocks". He had a walking stick in each hand and used them to whack weeds as we went. 

That afternoon we went out to lunch then put Erica down for a nap while we played games. That night everyone but Justin and I drove to where they could see the fireworks from the Park City resort (I pinched some nerve in my back carrying Erica back from the pool...gotta love pregnancy and Justin had a headache). We stayed behind to play Ticket to Ride instead. Then Tuesday we packed up and headed home. It was nice to spend time with family and do something out of the ordinary.

Wednesday Justin took Henry and Erica boating with the family while I stayed home with Erica. We both needed to catch up on sleep. Then Thursday Corey and Nadine took Sarah and Henry camping up to Payson lakes with them. Justin had to work so we went up Friday night. 

Sadly I have NO pictures of any of this. I brought my camera to Park City but it didn't had the memory card in it, I didn't go boating, and I forgot to take it with me up Payson Canyon. Epic Fourth fail. 

I do have pictures of this stuff though.

We made our own lemonade and I may never be satisfied by fake lemonade again. 

It took 6 lemons so each child got to squeeze 2 lemons. This took a long time and they were very thorough.

I had to tweak the recipe a bit to make it not so sweet and more lemony so these are the ratios I used.
1 1/2 cups sugar  dissolved in one cup water and heated on the stove (this is called a "simple syrup"), pour into pitcher and refrigerate until no longer warm
Add 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (squeezed from about 6-8 lemons)
Add 7 more cups of water and stir
Refrigerate for several hours until chilled and watch your kids drink it all down in minutes.

My kids like Monopoly. I don't know how I feel about that. I guess it's okay as long as they don't ask me to play.

Erica decided these apricots needed to each have their own measuring cups. I like how her little mind thinks.

And I like how her little face looks. 

I told her I hope her baby brother has her same cute face. Have I mentioned we're having a boy? When we told the kids, Henry shouted "I knew it!" He and Sarah had been arguing for weeks over what it should be and why it should be so, as if they had a say or somehow winning the argument would determine the gender. I would have been equally excited either way; it's just fun to know.

And I leave you with this video of Henry singing while he is watering the flowers. When Henry is in a good mood and doing something that occupies his mind like building with Legos or cleaning, he sings. It is pretty much my favorite and I hope he never grows out of it.