Sick-ness

Corbin and Quinton have both been to the doctor twice in the past 2 weeks. The first round of illness rendered Corbin with an ear eye infection and Quinton with a double-ear infection. Immediately after they finished their antibiotics (10-days later) Quinton had 24-hours of a fever.... and then Corbin came down with a croupy (sounded like a barking seal) cough. Lo and behold round two at the doctor turned up a throat infection and croup for Corbin and another double-ear infection for Quinton... along with the goopy eyes, cough, and green-booger nose, and the diarrhea that accompanies antibiotic consumption. (Hence the reason I'm not a big fan of antibiotics... I'd rather prevent with probiotics... but that's a soap box of mine I won't get into now.)

To top it all off... Jeff is on round two as well with a nasty cough, feverish chills, and all around lethargic achiness. What is this? We were never THIS sick THIS often when we lived in AZ. Guess it's all a part of the transition process. If this is how our Utah spring is, I'm a little scared for what winter will hold, when there is a new baby in our house. It's a darn good thing I've been taking my vitamins, but I'm stumped as to why and how I have held up to take care of everyone being nearly 5 months pregnant, hormonal, emotional, and sleep-deprived. Don't think I've slept THROUGH the night since sometime in April. Go figure. Someone is looking out for me, but really... I'M SICK OF ALL THIS SICKNESS! Hopefully, now that summer is a few weeks away, we'll hold up a little better.

In Memorial

Memorial Day was beautiful here in Utah. The sun was shining and warm and we got to spend time with family members... both alive and deceased. We began our day at Provo City Cemetery to see the resting places of Jeff's grandpa Heal (who passed when Jeff was 3), then Uncle Jeff (who passed the year we were married)... among others.

This was Corbin's first time participating in the "events" of Memorial Day and he loved it. He was good to arrange and water the flowers, clean off the headstones, and pose for all the cameras. Here he is with Grandma Tee-Tee and her dad's headstone.

Corbin learned that his great-grandpa Heal was an avid fisherman... so the prior events of the weekend were very appropriate to remember him.

After a scrumptious brunch back at grandma's house we headed for Orem City Cemetery with Jeff's dad and grandma and some aunts and uncles to visit the resting place of Grandpa Moss (who passed 2 years ago, but Corbin did get to meet him). Corbin once again helped arrange the flowers and became very fascinated with all the pinwheels and variety of decorations that appear in a cemetery on Memorial Day.

Grandpa Moss had quite the crowd to entertain (L to R: Grandma Moss, Jeff's grandma; Grandpa Royd, Jeff's dad; Janet and Vaniece, Jeff's aunts.) It was a good visit.

Grandpa Moss was a war Veteran and we found his name on the Veteran Wall at the cemetery...

... and his own flag with his name on it, a tribute for his service to his country.

Our final stop was at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery to visit the resting place of Buddy Bath, Jeff's first step-dad. Bud just passed away last year from cancer. It was good to visit all those who've passed on and who have had a significant impact on our lives. At one point, among all the driving around, Corbin asked Jeff, "Why do we go to all these cemeteries daddy?" Jeff's response, "I know a lot of dead people." It's true, but I'm so glad Jeff's passing on his family tradition, the meaningful way to celebrate Memorial Day.

But, after a round of naps and resting, we did enjoy a hot dog/mallow roast up Hobble Creek Canyon at Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Ed's. A great way to round off our day and our weekend. Complete with 4-wheeler rides, turkey sightings, hummingbird watching, and playing with cousins.

You bet Quinton got in on the action too. He loves doing things like the big boys do.

Hope your Memorial Day was relaxing, fun-filled, and as memorable as ours!

The Great Outdoors

Don't you just love Memorial Day Weekend? In my childhood it always meant a trip to the cabin up in the mountains of the Mogollan Rim in AZ.... a chance to escape to the cooler air of the great outdoors. It also meant the start of SUMMER! Well, this holiday was no different for us... just the scenery was different. We went camping with Haley, Cole, and Krew up near Strawberry Reservoir for some fun and fishing.

Of course beforehand, Corbin had to have a fishing listen to learn how to use his new fishing pole! He learned to cast quite well!

Cole picked out a beautiful spot for us near Co-op Creek... and Corbin enjoyed long walks, playing in the dirt, rocks, finding sticks, playing with the fire, etc.

Of course Q loved eating his first chocolate cookie by the fire.... mmmm!

Corbin roasted mallows to his hearts content, but of course wouldn't eat them. I enjoyed more than my share...

Saturday morning Cole found a great fishing spot (it's a secret, don't ask) and the boys FISHED in the sprinkling rain. Father-son bonding for sure.

The story is that Corbin caught the first fish... a rainbow trout, not a bad size! He was so excited to reel it in but wanted nothing to do with it once it was caught. Too funny!

Jeff also caught a good size craw-dad crab. Corbin was intrigued by that!

In the end Corbin and Cole caught 1 rainbow each and Jeff caught a rainbow and and a good sized (22.5") cut-throat trout. Not a bad hour or so of fishing!Proud fisherman!Mountain-man Cole gutting the fish! There were a TON of eggs in that cut-throat, should have kept them for more bait because the next day the fish wouldn't bite.
It was a fun weekend enjoying good food and fresh air... although we had some rough nights in the trailer (keeping everyone up all night I'm sure) and more rain than we wanted... and now both kids are sick again. Utah's weather is beautiful but our systems have not yet acclimated.

Log cabin, gardening, and bugs

While Corbin was home sick from Church on Sunday (ear and eye infection), Jeff happily showed him the finer things of life: Lincoln Logs, the very same set Jeff played with as a boy.

The two of them spent some quality time building a log cabin and a garage (of course). That takes a lot of patience... on both of parts! Corbin is going to want to ditch church every week now...

Later that day we spent some time at Haley and Cole's, where Cole taught Corbin and Krew how to water the tomato garden with the watering can. Two boys and a hose... what fun!

Corbin watched very carefully and attentively. Uncle Cole has quite the green thumb- for being such a tough guy! :)

Quinton cruised the deck... his favorite thing these days is standing up and trying to copy his brother. Ironically he's standing next to the cooler, another favorite past time is scrounging for food.

Another great discovery... roly-poly bugs! After getting the mail on Monday Corbin found this bug on the sidewalk and had to get acquainted.

They really roll up into a ball? That's a neat trick... and another favorite item for a boy to play with, a bug and a ball all in one package!

Finally, the highlight of the week so far: discovering our new backyard at our home in Provo, and picking (and EATING) fresh strawberries from the earth.

Can't wait to move in... only 2-3 more weeks!

BBQ season!

Last Friday morning Jeff called me around 10am to inform me that his team at work had met a goal and earned a family BBQ at 12 noon! We promptly headed to the store to get our share of the potluck and headed for Lindon Harbor Park.... right on the shore of Utah Lake. It was a beautiful afternoon! Jeff brought Corbin's new kite and the wind on the shoreline was perfect for flying.

...and it really flew HIGH this time.

Jeff enjoyed relaxing with his boys in the middle of the empty parking lot, watching the kite dance in the wind. Quinton really had no idea what was going on and wouldn't look up into the sun to see, but he like sitting with daddy and Corbin anyway.

Quinton did love the food, of course! (This kid could eat all day if we let him.) There is nothing like cold, fresh, juicy watermelon all over your white shirt, I mean at a hot summer BBQ.

Jeff and I really enjoyed getting to spend half a Friday together while also getting to know his colleagues better and enjoying the sun, lake, grass, and food.

So glad barbecue season is here for a few more months!

bUmpS aNd BrUiSes

... THAT'S what little boys are made of, right?
After our fun at the golf course (previous post) Corbin was trying to run through the parking lot and tripped. He landed on his head...

A few days prior he had been playing soccer with one of my girlfriend's 2-year-old boys when a "that's mine" situation occurred and Corbin got bit... HARD. He cried, but he was tough. As I tried to explain to him why that boy did that (his ?) all I could come up with is that his mommy is trying to teach him and he just has a bad habit. So, as his bite mark slowly disappeared he proudly displayed it to anyone and everyone proclaiming, "That boy has a bad habit." No fear though, he still wants to play with his soccer friend.

Quinton fell the other day and hit his cheek/eye bone on the corner of the coffee table. He also has a nice black eye.... unpictured.
Funny how boys like to show off all their bumps and bruises...no matter how tough they try to be though, this is how they really feel about it.

PLAYTIME!

Since the past 2 months have been filled with packing and moving, my boys have really missed out on a lot of fun playtime....and been stuck inside with their own, old, boring toys (poor kids, I know). So, since we are staying with Grandma and I don't have TONS of house-work and chores to do, we have taken advantage of our time together to just PLAY...

We go on daily walks to see the horses, play at the playground, and discover the neighborhood. We even take drives through Hobble Creek Canyon to find deer and admire the HUGE cabins and the rivers/streams. Corbin calls our drives "canyons".
Here is a small glimpse of some of the fun we've been up to lately (at least those times I remembered to take a picture):

Corbin really likes playing at Krew's house because Krew is there... and he has lots of books and "new" toys... and a trampoline and 4-wheeler... and aunt Haley who spoils him with Yogurt! This little red car has also been a hit for both Corbin and Quinton. One night after dinner the boys cruised around in the front yard...



We've also enjoyed testing out their bike trailer on a few bike rides with my new bike. Corbin and Krew love that thing...

On a silly note, Corbin and I found Ty's pirate hat and had a fun photo session. Corbin thought that was pretty neat because he just happen to have his pirate jammies on that night too!Aarh Matey!

We have also enjoyed a few backyard BBQ's on the deck complete with s'mores and tunes and all. Haley and Cole are pros at entertaining!

Of course, if you know anything about Jeff or his family you know they are AVID golfers. Jeff is keen on teaching Corbin at a young age. No doubt one Friday after work Jeff got home and fulfilled his promise to take Corbin golfing. Spanish Oaks is a beautiful little course at the mouth of the canyon and Corbin loved using his own clubs to practice putting and driving. He knows which clubs are for which strokes too.... know any other 2 year olds that can do that? Quinton is quickly picking up on all the golf tips as well.

Uncle Colton who was on the High School golf team got a good shot of Corbin's putting skills:

I have a feeling this might be a regular ritual with these 3 boys.

Spanish Fork is a windy community. Jeff took advantage of that and came home from work one day with a surprise for Corbin... his first Kite. They had to test it out in the backyard, but of course it was like the only day it wasn't quite windy enough to fly a kite. They got it up, but only for a bit.

The grass in Grandma's backyard was so long that day that Quinton wouldn't move from his spot as he watched his brother fly a kite.... don't think he's ever seen grass that tall!

Of course, we had to check out the Provo City Library (old BYU Academy, where my grandpa attended college... years ago). Corbin and Quinton LOVE books but we weren't able to check any out since we aren't officially Provo residents yet. That's okay because the Children's wing of the library is ENORMOUS and they loved playing in the story time pit, reading books on the couches, and of course pretending to type on the "real" computers, in chairs just their size.

Busy, Busy, Busy

From the day we drove into town we have been very busy with so many family happenings!

The very first day we got here it was the twins' (Jeff's niece and nephew) 11th birthday, so we drove to Roy for a fun family gathering and cake and ice cream.... and Corbin loved catching up with his Utah-cousins, especially since they got a trampoline for their birthday.
I can't believe Carson and McKenzie are already 11. I remember when I first met them and they were barely 5 years old. Look how grown up they are now:
McKenzie (@ 10 years old)

Carson (@ 10 years old)

We have also spent some fun dinner nights at Haley's, enjoying the backyard, deck, trampoline, and roasting marshmallows. Corbin loves playing with Krew (they were originally supposed have a birthday a day apart until Krew came 5 weeks early). This is their new favorite game to play together: Ring Around the Rosies, with a round of applause at the end. (pause the music for this one... wish I had captured more of Corbin singing, he thinks he's a soprano.)

That same first week we were in town it was uncle Colton's 17th birthday (Jeff's youngest brother). Corbin thinks Utah is officially party land since we celebrated almost 4 birthdays in the first week we were here.

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The following weekend was this little man's baby blessing, Boston Clark Heal.

Boston is the 4th son of Jared, Jeff's oldest cousin on his mom's side. Afterward, Uncle Tom hosted a fun family meal for about 80 people at his beautiful new home in Orem, right at the foot of Provo Canyon. It was a great Sunday filled with food, family, fun, and blessings.

Sometime in the 2nd week we were here Corbin discovered how fun it can be to pet and feed horses. Literally right across the street from where we are living (grandma tee-tee's house) there are 4 horses in a large field. Corbin and Quinton both love to see them as we are going and coming and on each walk we take. Even getting the mail is 10 times funner because the horses are always there to watch. During meal times Corbin likes to look out the kitchen window while sitting at the table and claim that he is eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner with the horses!
Then one day he got the idea to feed a carrot to the horses.... so,

...we walked across the street and did just that.

How fun is that?

After feeding them, Corbin stood and pet the horses and wished for more carrots to feed all 4 horses! Instead he settled for picking the weeds and grass to feed the hungry horsey. He named that one Shadow...

Quinton got in on the action too, of course.... and whenever he sees the horses now he tries to growl at them... pretty funny.

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Unfortunately, last weekend we spent at a memorial service for Judy Young, Jeff's oldest sister's mother-in-law/neighbor who battled cancer for 13 years. She was an amazing lady. I only knew her 5 years but she will be missed by many.

The very next day was Mother's Day... and we enjoyed a brunch with LOTS of family up at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake. (sorry, bad photo... nobody was looking but Jason and I.)
Then, I got to try out my new gift... a bike! I haven't had a bike since Junior High, but I'm super excited to take family bike rides up the Canyon... once we live in Provo. Corbin asks about it almost every day. Yeah, my kids and husband spoiled me. That is a HOT beach cruiser bike that is in high demand right now... not sure how Jeff got it, but he did. We'll see how long I can ride with a growing prego belly.
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Needless to say, the last 3 weeks have been BUSY, but that helps to keep me from getting home-sick. As I sit here and type this almost all my extended family is celebrating my grandpas' remarriage at a reception in Arizona.... sick children, pregnancy, and no husband were not a good combo for me to travel, so I chose not to go.
BUT...the weather here in Utah has been perfect... and I'm even getting tan because I can actually enjoy spending time in the sun rather than trying to escape it. This weekend I tended to sick children (including myself) while Jeff tested ALL DAY SATURDAY for the Highway Patrol. It was a loooong day for all of us and we're ready for a weekend from our weekend. Anyway, stay tuned.... there is more fun pictures to come.