Ashton's First "team sport"-Kickball

We decided to sign Ashton up for kickball since that is what Providence City does for the kids his age instead of t-ball. We thought it would be so fun for him and he was actually really excited about it (before it started) and loved it when we set up a little kickball field for him in our yard to practice. But when we actually got there for his first game, it was a different story...and a totally different kid. For the first few minutes he participated and listened to his coach and even kicked the ball once and ran around the bases, but since then he wants nothing to do with any of it and just sulks around saying he wants to go home the whole time while all the other little kids are having fun playing. We can't really figure it out and we never would have pegged him to be the one to act this way-he's usually so outgoing and wants to be in on all the action. Anyway he's had 2 games so far, Tuesday and Thursday night and finally at the end of the second game Lars talked him into kicking if he (Lars) would pitch the ball to him. He still has about 6 more games, so we'll see how it goes. Here are some pictures I took when he first got his shirt and hat before it all went downhill...

The Team (Ashton had already ditched his hat) Kicking the ball

Running the bases

Gunnar is 5 months old today!

I just can't believe how fast the time is going! Didn't I just bring him home from the hospital like a week ago? My sweet little baby is getting so big! Ashton and I took Gunnar to town and picked out this little exer-saucer for him today. So far the couple of times he sat in it he has loved it! It will be nice to have another thing to entertain him. The other day Ashton wanted me to set up his little Thomas the Train track that goes around and around on it's own, so I did and Gunnar was laying by it on the floor and rolled over to his belly and watched it forever! He LOVES it! It's so cute to see him get so excited about stuff. I love how he watches Ashton playing too-it will be fun to see them interact more and more as he gets bigger. Ashton is really so sweet with him most of the time.

First bath together!

Playing outside

Fun Weekend in Price

Saturday we drove to Orem and met Lars' family for lunch, then went to a nearby swimming pool for a couple hours, then we all drove on to Price. Yesterday we went up Huntington Canyon for a barbecue and Lars and I actually got to fish for a couple hours while Ken, Nora & Shelley watched the boys for us. It was so refreshing for me to get out and fish...I hardly ever get the chance these days. It was perfect weather and I even caught a few fish! Ashton had so much fun running around with his cousins and playing at Nana & Papa's house-he was so excited all week to go to Price. Every morning he would wake up ask me if it was Saturday yet so we could go. We hung out today till around 2:00, then headed back. The boys traveled pretty well...Gunnar slept a lot and Ashton watched movies, so it was relatively painless. It's always nice to be home too.

Hunter & Ashton at lunch-so excited to see eachother!Ashton, Hunter, Ali, Shelley, Gunnar and MeYay-I can still fit into my waders!Me and my huge fish! Oh well at least I caught some~!

Papa & Lars

Ashton playing at the poolNana & Gunnar hanging out in the shadeAshton still loves this swing that hangs from the big tree in the front yardGunnar loving his bath in the sink!

Surprise Visit

My Mom called me Sunday night to see if it would be okay if she came down Monday to see Ashton and Gunnar. So I told her that it was fine...we would be around all day. So she showed up that morning around 11:00. I had been out for a walk with the boys and hadn't even gotten around to showering or anything since I planned on cleaning my bathrooms (finally) while she was there to entertain Ashton. A few minutes after she showed up I got another knock on my door and commented to my Mom that I really didn't want to answer it, but of course Ashton ran ahead of me to get it. To my GREAT surprise I see my sister and her boyfriend (now fiance'!) of 2 years that I had yet to ever meet. I was starting to think he didn't really exist-that she'd just photo-shopped him into the few pictures I had seen. I was completely shocked! Especially when she told me that they had been planning their trip to see us (and lots of other places) for 2 months! And that they have been engaged for about 4 months! They are both traveling nurses living in Farmington, New Mexico and are on 3 weeks vacation traveling across the west on Jimmy's motorcycle. So they drove to Evanston first and stayed a couple nights, then stayed with us Monday night and left yesterday morning to head through Jackson and Yellowstone and many other places on their fun trip. Never did I picture you riding on the back of a motorcycle all leathered up Kelli. Who's jealous of who now???

Poor Ashton was kind of sick while they were here-he threw up a few times and had a fever so I was praying that no one else got it. But I was also kind of joking around about the vast differences in our lives right now. Kelli on a three week vacation biking across the west-free as a bird as I sit at home listening to two screaming kids and cleaning up puke all day!

Anyway it was fun to have you guys here and to finally meet you Jimmy.

Congratulations on the engagement!

Here are some pictures from the short surprise visit.

Kelli & Jimmy

Aunt Kelli and a sick Ashton

Me, Gunnar & Aunt Kelli

Jimmy and Ashton having fun running around the yardKelli, Me, Gunnar and Mom

Much needed girls night out!

Friday night I finally got to go out with my friends for a girl's night out. Starlee, Cheryl and I went to see one of my all time favorite country groups...Diamond Rio at the Preston Fair. It was just like old times and we had so much fun! It was about 9 years ago when we had all gone to see them at the Utah State Fair in Salt Lake. In case you ever read this Andrelee...we missed you this time! I'm so glad I called them last week to see if they wanted to go-it was so worth it and now I realize that I really need to get out more with my friends. It was so refreshing to go out and laugh and just have fun!Lars stayed home with both boys for the first time and they did fine. Thanks hun, now I know I can do it more often!

Cheryl, Me & Starlee

The start of a great friendship

We were outside waiting for Lars to get home and Ashton wanted to hold Gunnar-he was being so sweet with him. I really hope that they continue to have a good relationship as they get older.
I think this picture is so cute!

4 month shots :(

Gunnar had his 4 month check-up last week, but I decided to wait on the shots since we had family in town and we were heading to Wyoming in a couple days just in case they made him more fussy. So I took him in yesterday to get them. Poor little guy! I HATE when they have to get shots, it makes me want to cry. He was so happy and cooing at the girl who was about to poke him...I felt so bad for him! He screamed for a minute after he got them, but then he was fine and slept while I got my Walmart shopping done. Last night I could tell that they were really starting to bother him though. He just got really fussy and finally fell asleep while I was holding him. I took advantage of the situation and just sat on the couch and held him for a long time. My sweet little boy.

He seems to feel a lot better today.

Lars' fishing trip

I guess I forgot to mention where Lars was while I took the boys to Wyoming last weekend. He went on a little fishing trip with his buddies Shane and Bryan. They floated down the South Fork of the Snake River in their pontoon boats. From what I hear they had a blast. They floated a little less than halfway on Friday, then stopped and camped overnight, then floated the rest on Saturday and got home late that night. I already posted this new picture on the side, but Lars was pretty excited about his "Big Brown"! So here it is again and a few other shots. Thanks for all you do for us hun, I'm glad you got to get out for a guys trip-love ya!

How could anyone not love babies???

I have a friend who hates the little baby stage and I just don't get it, how could you not love babies? Gunnar is so yummy right now-I could just squeeze him and kiss him and sniff him all day (and I do)! Oh I love this beautiful little boy!

Wyoming Trip

Well I survived my first trip to Wyoming with the boys by myself. We got home last night after what seemed like a really long drive. We got stuck in traffic in Garden City for quite awhile going 5 mph...but other than that it wasn't too bad I guess. Gunnar slept a lot again and Ashton watched one of his favorite movies "Meet the Robinson's". I remember thinking when I was pregnant with Gunnar that I would never be able to take them both by myself, but I guess you just do it. Other than not getting much sleep, it was a lot of fun. Especially for Ashton. He had so much fun helping Grandma with all of her chores, playing in the cute little sandbox they got for him, riding his tractor, helping Grandpa Harry fix his camper, feeding the horses and "riding" a couple of them and getting to play with 5 baby kittens that my Mom has been bottle feeding since their mommy cat got hit and killed by a car :(

We got to spend more time with Grandma and Grandpa from Texas over at my Grandpa's house. Ashton spent one whole afternoon playing with my Uncle Charlie too-Thanks for entertaining him for so long Charlie! They went to two parks, did a lot of drawing, setting up and running through sprinklers etc...At one point I poked my head out to check on Ashton and I hear him say "No, you listen to me!" Who knows what they were talking about, but I had to laugh!

Yesterday I finally got showered and ready for the day, then had to load up all of our stuff before we went to town to go to church. Of course just as I'm getting ready to take stuff out to the car, it gets REALLY windy and starts raining, then hailing! Lovely...by the time we finally left the house, I was sopping wet and wondering why I ever bother to do my hair in Wyoming! Oh well~

Here are some pics from the trip-

Playing in the sandbox

Introducing Gunnar to Blackberry

Ashton sharing his "Cars" blowup bed with Gunnar-too cute!Running through the sprinklersSoaked!Gunnar funny face with GrandpaPlaying with the kittiesTouching so nice :)

Yeehaw!

Pic in front of Great Grandpa Swede's house

At least someone is getting some sleep!

How trips home have changed...

Ashton, Gunnar and I made it to Evanston today after packing up pretty much our whole house to come. I don't think I ever would have even made it out of the house if Lars hadn't come home to help me load up! One day it will get easier I guess.

As I drove through Logan Canyon and Bear Lake I couldn't help but think back on the countless times I have travelled that road. I've lived in Logan for almost 15 years now and used to drive home every weekend when I first moved here! And so many other times through the years since then. Those drives were so peaceful in my little red truck. I could turn the music up as loud as I wanted and never heard those 4 words that I hear constantly now "Are we there yet?" And "Why aren't we there yet?" and "hmmm...I don't see Grandma's house anywhere, do you?" But WHEN are we going to be there??? and 2 minutes later, the same questions over again. Then the "Mommy...I have to go pee."... 10 times before I finally stop (since I just passed the slowest tractor in the world and don't want to get behind him again!!!)

I love you Ashton, but I sure miss those peaceful drives!

Luckily Gunnar slept the whole 2 hours, so that was officially the longest nap he's taken since he was about a month old! Way to go buddie!

It's still always nice to come home. Ashton LOVES coming to Grandma and Grandpa Harry's little farm. We brought his little tractor that Grandma bought for him last year and he rode it all over the yard. Then tonight he got to help Grandma clean up her barn for about an hour. I asked him what he got to do to help her while I was bathing him and he was so excited to tell me that he got to rake the poop into a pile for her to scoop up!

(For those of you who don't know, my Mom raises miniature horses) I'll post some more pictures tomorrow-here are some from a while ago-