Jumpin' Jacks

This summer we made a small investment in some big fun. Our local Jumpin' Jacks had a grand opening, which we went to, and offered discounted summer passes. We bought one and have definitely gotten our use out of it!

The first few visits, H would just watch. By the end of the summer, he was NOT happy unless I was climbing up the slides and going down with him (he was just not big enough to do it himself). That is a good workout, let em tell ya. We got to share the fun with friends a few times and even dragged Grandma and Uncle Matt (note to self, never play air hockey with Matt again). The very last week of our pass we went 3 times! I was worried that G would start to expect it every day but he seems to be adjusting to not going anymore, fairly well.



Here a few videos to help you 'Experience our Experience'.

8-21-09 jumping jacks ride from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

8-21-09 JJ ride2 from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

Of course, after so much fun, G would often end up like this.

morning

This morning K didn't have to be to work quite so early. I decided to take advantage of this and exercise while he could get up with the boys and get them breakfast. G woke up when I was about halfway through my DVD and came straight downstairs to watch. K came down to get him and give him breakfast and G was not happy about it.


He started whining and crying, "Dad! You ruin me!"


K "How did I ruin you?"


G-"I want to watch mom's special thing"


K-"Don't you want some breakfast?"


G-"I already had some breakfast yesterday!"

Coolest Reunion T-Shirt, Ever!

We had a family reunion in August. I didn't post any pictures because I didn't take any. One of the activities we had was for the kids to decorate their own reunion t-shirts. My boys are a little too small for that so I 'helped' G with his.


He really likes water balloons and it was a fairly simple design so it didn't tax my brain too much. I did not have enough creativity left over to do H's shirt so I put it on my pile of stuff to take home. Luckily I have an uber creative brother who was somewhat bored after his knee surgery so this is what H ended up with.

Show me your Red.

We had an incident a small while back that involved K crouching down to eye level to talk to G about something, and G promptly poking K directly in the eye. Hard. K was not wearing his glasses at the time. There was no swearing, but a few walls were hit and a little boy was slightly traumatized. K's eye was red for quite a few days after that.

Since then we have had conversations about keeping our fingers away from other peoples faces, but the think G keeps focusing on is the red eye. He will randomly pipe up with, "Show me your red, Mom!" and want me to pull my eyelid up or down to show him the red part of my eye and he is constantly looking in the mirror to see his own red.


I don't know if the part about being soft to peoples faces has sunk in yet, but I hope so.

5 Seconds Ago...

G: Mom, Can I have some juice?

Me: No, but i'll get you some water.

(tantrum ensues)

G: (whining) Pleeeeeeease Mom!

Me: Can you ask me without whining?

G: (composing his face and asking in a whisper) May I have some juice please?

Me: Ok. (getting a cup, getting the juice, starting to pour)

G: (as soon as the cup is full) I want water.

Me: You just said you wanted juice!

G: Oh. Sorry about that.

Corn!

I must admit that I have absolutely LOVED having a child that you can put something new on their plate, and they will JUST EAT IT!

School Lunch

One of the activities we did this summer (usually on Friday's) was to go to our Elementary School and have lunch. Fridays are pizza days, and pizza is pretty much G's favorite food ever.

This is G and his best bud showing their pizza enthusiasm.
H started the summer out, eating in the stroller. By the end of it though, he had to be on the bench just like G, using a straw, just like G and feeding himself, just like G. This kid absolutely adores his big brother and will often drop whatever he'd doing to follow G around.

Big Boy Jammies

I think G is starting to look so grown up! What happened to my cute little buddy?

The Best Part About Getting A New Computer...

...the box, of course.

Unexpected Homecoming

My little brother has been serving a mission in California for the past year. This week we got that news that he would be coming home to have knee surgery. I was lucky enough to be able to be at the airport to meet him with my parents. Unfortunately my camera was being stupid when I was trying to take pictures, so they aren't great. I should have stuck to video.

One of the reasons we were at the airport with my parents was to pick up his luggage. They were in a huge hurry to get to the Dr's office as soon as possible so we stayed behind and waited for the suitcases to show up. This was really very entertaining for G. Once we got the suitcases he tried to drag it all by himself. He mostly succeeded.

8-11-09 geting matts bags from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

Later that evening we had an impromptu dinner with the family members that could make it on super short notice.
I really love getting together with my family. We all love and care about each other and enjoy spending time together. Plus when we spend time together we get little gems like this:

8-11-09 H grandpa catch from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

8-11-09 H grandpa catch2 from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

Fast forward a few weeks and here is a picture I 'borrowed' from my sister of Matt's knee after surgery. He recovered remarkably well and was able to return to his mission after just six weeks!

G loves Birthdays

G got to go to his friend Lydia's super fun birthday party. They had a carnival theme, which meant they got to do some face painting,


games (this bowling one was G's favorite),

a bounce house,

and balloon animals (is it still a balloon animal if you pick a sword?),

they got birthday bucks that they could use to buy yummy treats like popcorn and cotton candy, and they won prizes at the games. There were cute cupcakes after we sang 'Happy Birthday'.

And one of G's favorite things was seeing Bubbles the Clown.

It was a really fun party and I think Lydia was in heaven having all her friends at her house having such a good time. I think I have such talented neighbors and friends. Leah did another very cool party for her son's birthday earlier this year.

I will state it plainly and publicly to all my neighborhood friends: Someday when I actually have a birthday party for G...don't expect anything like this!

I'm adding this last picture just so I can brag a teensy, tiny bit. I think I can officially say that G is reading. His favorite thing is to look at signs and find words he recognizes and sound out ones he doesn't. He is constantly asking me how to spell things and is fascinated by letters wherever he finds them.

Start 'Em Young

I don't think kids are ever too young to help with housework.

9-2-09 H sweep from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

Summer fun

We didn't do a whole lot of swimming this summer, but we are lucky enough to have some neighbors that have a pool and are very nice about letting us use it. I know it looks like H is not enjoy the water, but he really did. Sometimes it really takes a LOT to coax an expression out of that kid.

Yup...

...we still love snow-cones.

H loves them so much that he comes running from across the house if he hears me put ice in the snow-cone machine.

He also does this little dance, every single time. :)

8-12-09 sno-cone dance from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

8-14-09 sno-cone dance from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

G's First Talk

Today G gave his first talk in Primary! The following video was taken right before church.

8-2-09 G first primary talk from Sarah Brown on Vimeo.

When it came time to give his talk, he walked right up to the microphone. I didn't have to prompt as much as in the video, and everyone said they could hear and understand him really well. He wasn't shy (surprise, surprise) and I think he really liked being in front of the whole primary and getting to talk in the microphone. the primary presidency liked his talk so much they asked if he would give it in their upcoming Sacrament meeting program this November!

He did so well and we are so proud of our little character :)!