Last day of freedom

The day before Dave started back to work teaching (8/16/2011) we took some time out of our morning to take Miles up to Bridal Veil Falls up Provo Canyon. We haven't been up there since last summer so we figured it was time. I knew Miles would have a great time running around on the Provo River Trail. He also enjoyed sticking his feet in the very cold water! On the way home we ran into some neighborhood friends and chatted with them for a bit while Miles and their kiddo ran around some more. It turned out to be the perfect little morning get-away that we all needed.

Posing with dad



Posing with mom



Miles doesn't walk anywhere!



"Oooo!"



Very cold water



Taking a dip



"Ooo! Look mom!"

Horrible

I've been so bad about updating the blog lately and frankly it is because I've had no desire to do it. When we got back from Kansas (about 2 1/2 weeks ago) we hit the ground running trying to get all of our "chores" done from being gone for six weeks and then also getting Dave ready to head back to work at both of his jobs. Needless to say it has been busy and I've been tired!

We decided to put Miles in daycare for three mornings a week to give me some devoted time for work. I was very anxious about this at first, but now that he has been going for a week I can see how much fun he is having there and how much better it is for him then being here with me with the television being his babysitter. He has a hard time when dad drops him off initially, but then she claims he is fine the rest of the time and he is very happy when I pick him up a few hours later.

We also decided to get a second car. It has been years since we've had two cars (we both can't even remember when it was). We live so close to Dave's work that he just walks normally so we never felt the need. When Dave took on his second job about a year ago I started feeling like maybe a second car would be nice because Miles and I are stuck at home in the evenings. Dave's brother decided to sell their 2005 Hyundai Tucson and we decided it was a good time for us to go ahead and buy a second car so we took their vehicle off their hands. It was nice getting it from someone we know so we can ask questions like when were the headlight bulbs replaced last, etc. (They are probably sick of all of our questions!)

So, to finish up our trip to Kansas I need to post pictures of the projects Dave did at my mom's house. Enjoy!

The finished floor in the "breakfast nook"



The faux copper ceiling in the "breakfast nook"



Dave putting the floor down in the kitchen



A new threshold between the kitchen and dining room



A few of the boards were broken in the hallway and Dave replaced them



The finished "breakfast nook"

Dave sanded, stained, and polyurethaned all of the baseboards in the "breakfast nook" so that they would match the laminate floor. He also sanded, stained, and polyurethaned the window frame and the door and door frame that leads into the "breakfast nook." This project is what took the majority of the time! He is now a pro at staining! We had hoped to be able to sand, stain, and polyurethane all of the hardwood floors in the rest of the house this summer too (as you can tell from the pictures of the threshold and the hallway), but Dave just ran out of time. Maybe on our next visit???

Dave always does such a good job at everything he does! I'm absolutely positive my mom appreciated all of his hard work this summer. He is a life saver!

Time to ponder

The last week in Kansas was pretty hectic for Dave trying to get all of his projects at my mom's done. He felt like he wasn't very productive this summer at her place, but he had no reason to feel that way! He got a lot done for her and I know she appreciated all of it. In my next post I'll put some pictures up of the projects he got done. It all turned out fabulous!

Even though he was busy, we did take some time to visit a memorial bench and plaque that was put up at Hadley Middle School in Wichita, KS in honor of my sister. She was attending that middle school when she died in 1996. I've always been so impressed that her fellow classmates and the school decided to honor her in some way. It was a very nice gesture indeed. All these years I've wanted to stop and take pictures of it, but for one reason or the other it has never happened. This time I made sure we got pictures. I think it was extra special visiting it this time too now that Miles is a part of our lives. It makes me super sad to think he'll never get to meet his Aunt Sabrina in this life, but hopefully in the eternities they'll be buds!

The plaque



Family photo
(we didn't notice there was trash in the background until we took this photo)



Miles wouldn't sit still



Hadley Middle School

Birthdays Galore

The end of July/beginning of August is a busy time for our family. There are lots of birthdays to celebrate during that time. We ended up having about six official/unofficial birthday parties during that time this year. It was a busy week, but I'm so glad we were around to be able to celebrate with so many people. I also probably gained 10 pounds with all of the cake consumption unfortunately!

My mom started off the week of birthdays. Her 60th birthday was on Sunday, July 24th. We decided to have a small party on the official day. She got to pick out the cake flavor for me to make and requested a white cake with butter cream frosting. Yummy!

Dave's birthday was Tuesday, July 26th. For his birthday he chose to eat dinner at Abuelo's in Wichita. Mom watched Miles so we could go out for a nice peaceful evening. After dinner we stopped by and visited with my grandparents before heading off to Lowes to buy Dave a sander. He wants/needs it for projects at my mom's, but he also said it would come in handy when we paint our kitchen cabinets...if that ever happens. LOL!

My brother and his two girls came over on Thursday, July 28th, for a combined birthday party. We celebrated mom's, Dave's, and my birthdays. Dave got to pick out the cake flavor for me to make since he didn't get an actual cake on his birthday. He picked out a spice cake with white icing.

Getting dinner ready

These three were mesmerized by Little Einsteins



Attempt at getting a posed picture of the three of them



We only had the 6 & 0 candles so Dave had to pretend he was turning 60 too



Patiently waiting for the cake!

We then went to Kansas City for the weekend. Friday, July 29th, a group of my friends from high school and their spouses got together to celebrate birthdays. We had a great evening catching up with old friends! My mom and aunt Cathy watched Miles again (we've been so blessed this summer to have "adult" time) so we could just go and have fun. We stayed out WAY too late and paid for it the next day. We definitely aren't young chicks anymore. LOL!

Me, Erika, Mike, Jill, & Sheena
(our spouses are taking the pictures)

On Saturday, July 30th, we had another combined birthday party with my aunt Cathy and uncle George. George cooked a fantastic meal on the grill and I made a triple layer lemon cake with lemon cream cheese frosting. It was my pick for the flavor. Boy was it yummy! Once again we celebrated mom's, Dave's, and my birthdays.

On Sunday, July 31st, after we got back from Kansas City and Miles woke up from his nap, we drove into Wichita to have a combined birthday party with my dad's side of the family. My grandma's birthday is July 27th so it is squeezed in there with the rest. My grandma ordered the cake this time (I think she felt sorry for me having to make all those cakes earlier in the week although I enjoyed every minute of it). She only put Dave and my names on the cake though because I think she refuses to celebrate her birthday. She can be ornery sometimes!

Miles, me, and my dad waiting for cake



Happy birthday David, Peg, & Holly is how it should read!
(Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting)



Grandma apparently doesn't like to have her picture taken



Our gang

He loves ketchup

Miles loves ketchup and really anything that he can use for dipping. We were trying out a new restaurant in Newton (Huddle House) and decided to see if Miles would like ketchup on his waffles. And the verdict is...YES! He apparently will eat ketchup on anything. So, when we are struggling to get him to eat something we just bring out the ketchup and he eats it right up.