Good-bye summer, it's been fun.

Summer 2010 has been a very fun, very memorable summer. School is starting in a couple days, bringing all sorts of new adventures. I'm excited, but at the same time, I will miss having the whole day with me and all my boys.

Here's a glimps of some of our activities/random moments over the last few weeks as summer winds to a close.

For playgroup last week we took a trip to the firestation. The fire chief (Billy Seamens) asked for volunteers and Dallin wanted to help out with the demonstration.

I LOVE this next picture.

Logan has been growing so fast. He now weighs 14 lbs. He found his hands last week and constantly has them in his mouth.

My sister (Reenie) came down from Utah a little while back, and brought Caleb, her boyfriend, with her. We took a trip to Tombstone with them.

As a kid, John always hated going to Tombstone. He said the only good part was the treats, so he was sure the kids got to experience the "good life" in Tombstone. They definately didn't have a shortage of sugar that day.

John, the super dad! Gosh I love this guy.

The boys had LOTS of fun with Reenie and Caleb.

My father-in-law has had lots of Dr. appointments in Tucson in the last little while, so we've had fun watching Jacob.

Here's Dallin waiting patiently for lunch.

But I think the wait wore him out.

The other night John got off work and was about to hop in the shower, but got distracted with a punching match with the kids. Before I knew it, one by one the kids all took off their shirts to join in the fun. They were just trying to be like Daddy!

Logan and Daddy hanging out.

Me and Logan sitting on the couch enjoying watching a monsoon come in. I LOVE this weather!!!

Bryson's 6th Birthday!

Yep, he did it, my sweet little Bryson turned 6!!!

(Oh gosh, could he BE any cuter???)

We started the birthday celebration off the night before with a double birthday party for Bryson and John's brother (whose birthday was 2 days before Bryson's).

It was a beautiful Arizona night for a BBQ and birthday party.

I made an ice cream cake for the big guy.

Here's the other birthday boy and Dallin

And of course, whenever there's a new baby around, everyone wants to get a chance to hold him!

Bryson worn out and cuddling with Grandpa Tilton

The next morning was Bryson's actual birthday. He started the day off in a GREAT mood, but that's just Bryson EVERY SINGLE DAY! He's so EASY TO LOVE!!!

Cory was an amazing help as I got the house ready for the party, but we had to take a minute or two to play also! Here he is, with his little creation, a duck made out of a balloon! How does he come up with these things??? He never ceases to amaze me.

I told Bryson he could have a few friends over for his birthday, and he wanted Bekah Howard and Heidi Gore. He also wanted a boy from school, but I had no way to contact him or his parents since it's Summer break. :( But we had loads of fun anyway!

Cory and Heidi -

this picture is so cute, I wish it weren't blury.

July 19th is also Heidi's birthday. She turned 6 too. I remember while I was in labor someone told me that Martha Gore was in the hospital having her baby too. Who would have guessed that 6 years later they'd be buds?

And of course, presants...

...and more sugar...

...and then tons of craziness...

These crazy kids made an indoor slip'n'slide. I thought it was a creative way to try to stay cool on a hot AZ summer day.

From left to right: Lizzie Howard, Dallin, Bryson, Cory, Heidi Gore, Rebekah Howard.

After the party, Daddy took Bryson to the Cove (our public pool). They had a LOT of fun. Bryson went down the big water slide 6 times.

We'd had so much junk food for the past couple of days, but I realized that Bryson hadn't had a chance to blow out candles yet, and how can you have a birthday without blowing out candles? So instead of making a cake, I got an order of lava cakes from Dominos and stuck candles in them. Bryson didn't seem to mind.

Logan enjoyed the festivities. I think even he put on some weight from the weekend.

One of Bryson's presants was a super soaker squirt gun! Unfortunately I was feeding Logan during the actual water fight so I couldnt' get a picture, but I did get a picture of the aftermath.

Bryson, happy birthday! I love you tons and tons and tons. You are a joy to raise, and I feel completely honored to be your mom. Between your sweet, calm personality and your ability to make friends and include everyone, you're one easy kid to love. Thank you for being mine.

The Mystery

The mystery:

Cory has had these bumps on and off for several months now.

They'll come, generally (but not always) right after playing outside. Obviously they are pretty itchy. They only last for about a half hour, and then disappear completely.

I took him to the doc, who said it was scabies (a mite which is usually cleared up after one treatment), but these pics were taken the day after treatment.

He gets them on his legs too, and then scratches them, leaving a bunch of little scabs all over his legs.

Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? I'm thinking some kind of allergic reaction to the grass or something. If so, do I need to take him back to the doc? I feel silly taking him in for something that comes and goes so quickly, but it's been happening for so long, ughh. Wishing kids came with an instruction manual...

Picture update

Logan is starting to get all cute and chubby already! Here he is ONE MONTH OLD! How time flies.

John's brother Joel came down for the 4th of July weekend, so we decided to do Logan's baby blessing this weekend too. It was awesome having him around. Here the two of them are:

Cory and Bryson enjoyed helping Grandpa Tilton pick up apricots.

A proud Daddy

Baby Logan, completely passed out with Daddy.

We went to the 3rd ward 4th of July breakfast at the Coronado National Park. John helped cook the breakfast for the ward.

Handsome little Dallin found some old sunglasses.

Cory found my camera and took the several following pictures. I enjoyed looking through the things he thought were important enough to take a picture of.

Here's his T-Rex he made out of legos. Isn't he creative? I am constantly AMAZED at the things he comes up with!

Our beloved dog, Starbucks, and our messy back porch. Cory was really excited about this picture.

I'm not sure how Cory got this next one, but it's totally his personality.

And another self portrait. What a goof.

Bryson waiting in the tree for a date with Nanny.

Awww, a sleeping baby.

Bye Bye kidney stones!

I had surgery today for the kidney stones. There are two types of proceedures (well, two that don't involve any cutting), and I was told up until today that I would have the one that was a little more invasive, but more effective. I didn't want this one, but the stone was in a place that the other proceedure wouldn't work as well. Well, we got to the hospital and I was told that I had the option of the less invasive, less effective proceedure, called lithotripsy, so I took that option.

Here's the jist of what it is:

You lie on a water-filled cushion, and the surgeon uses X-rays or ultrasound tests to precisely locate the stone. High-energy sound waves pass through your body without injuring it and break the stone into small pieces. These small pieces move through the urinary tract and out of the body more easily than a large stone.

Everything went well, and I am back home, a little loopy from the anesthesia, but very happy, but that might be the meds too...hmmm...

I haven't had too much discomfort from the smaller fragments passing. I don't have much of a voice from the tube being down my throat during the proceedure, but since the kids are being taken care of by my wonderful parents and in-laws, I have no need for my "loud voice". I can't breastfeed for a day because of the antibiotics, so little Logan is on the bottle, but doing REALLY well with it.

BUT, the REAL SILVER LINING in this whole thing, is that I got an AWESOME NAP!! Thanks to the anesthesia, I got a nice, long UNINTERRUPTED nap. Oh yeah. This whole mess was almost worth it just for that!


So, just wanted to post an update for any who are wondering. This whole thing has been one miracle after another. I wasn't even sure that the kidney stone was even still in there because I haven't had any pain in almost two weeks, but it was definately still there. How awesome is it that I just couldn't feel it? Then I got the proceedure that I wanted, but didn't think I could get. I have all the help I need. My baby is doing good with the bottle. Of course, the nap (we can't forget about the nap!!) I could go on and on.