Memorial Day

When I think of Memorial Day it usually involves Camping, BBQ's, and family get-togethers. One thing that I do think about, but never really do much about, is actually remembering those who have passed before us. Obviously, I know that this is what Memorial Day is. And when I was younger, Dad would drag me along to visit family member's grave sites all over in southern Utah to pull weeds and replace sun rotted silk flowers for new ones. But I never really appreciated what we were doing. This last Sunday I had the opportunity to do just that with Dave's family. We drove to the Pine Valley Graveyard and cleaned, raked, shoveled, pulled the family's plots clean. We worked around Lori's parents, sister's, grandparents, and further back the family tree. It was fun hearing more about the people we were doing this for and how we were related. I found out how Dave is related to Jake by the way. Then we placed new flowers around and stood and visited for a while. Then we went to St. George to do the same. We put new flowers all around for both Dave's parents family members. I only wish I knew where my family lay to do the same. It was fun wandering through the headstones looking for lost love ones only to be over joyed when we finally did. Some we never found, but I'm sure we will be back soon. I was amazed at all the other families there visiting with friends all standing among other family and friends (listening, I'm sure) involving them like they were right there, talking about family trees and swapping funny grandpa stories. (I'm sure I have some of those that would put other stories to shame. :) ) I noticed some families brought picnics and blankets in huge gatherings among their family's graves spending the day with them. It was a fun day and I wish I was more appreciative of helping out when I was younger. But even though I may not have realized the service I was helping with then, I certainly do now.

Here is Chloe helping Grandpa on Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Bracken's grave.
Beautiful Day in Pine Valley.This is how David is related to Jake's family. Don't ask me the details, I don't know, but I do know this is Dave's Great-Great-Grandparents, and they have two son's. One line Dave came through, and the other Jake's family came through. Chloe the dog was helping dig.

Tyler and the balloon

The other day Richard from Joker Joker asked me to do a singing telegram for a customer. I usually don't do them, but he was in a bind, and it's really easy fast money. I had to go as a french maid to a tile company for some guy's birthday. It was highly embarrassing. Sarah has the only evidence of this, I'm sure you can find it on her blog. Long story short, after I returned the costume, much to Dave's dissapointment, Richard gave Chloe and Tyler a balloon. This was Tyler's first experience with a balloon so I took a few shots of him playing with it.

Disclaimer for those who are pro-hair cutting for Tyler. These pictures will probably irritate you. His eyes are covered by his bangs, just so you are forwarned, and I do expect to hear about it, I'm sure.

Even more water park pics

Last group of pics, I promise. They were all just so cute!

More water park pictures

Park Day

I took Chloe and Ty to the new water park on main with Kenzi and her son Keyan. If you have never been there before, it's really neat. Perfect for little kids. For the first time ever, I saw Chloe actually talk to another little kid besides one of our 'regular' friends. She is usually so shy that if anyone regardless of age, tries to talk to her she will put her head down like a stork. "If I don't see you, you don't see me." She did have fun as you can tell from these pictures. Tyler just thought he was in a giant bath tub, heaven for him. The only time he has actually crawled on all fours and not on his stomach was here. He also made a little friend or two.

This is Keyan. I love his feet in this picture.

Add in some more sound effects here. CRASH! BOOM! BANG!

Arrrr! We are out to find me treasure!

After their bath, Chloe was playing with a leg from her toy BBQ. She was looking through it like a telescope and said, "Arrr mommy, I'm a pirate!" She handed me another 'telescope' and we called each other 'pirate Chloe' or 'Captain mommy' the rest of the night. David was still gone so we decided to to "Find our treasure!!" We had no phone right then (another long story), so we couldn't just call David and he could have been in any of four places. So in case he came home while we were gone looking for him we wrote him a pirate note. For the full effect, you need to read it in a pirate voice.

ARRR my matey!

Pirate Chloe, Tyler and mommy has left to find our booty! (A.K.A. Pirate Daddy). If me booty has wandered back to me ship (home), place it in the brig and we shall return for it. Thank ye kindly shipmate and may the winds blow thy sails to ye buried treasure. ARRR!

Then as we were about to leave Chloe says, (her words) "Arrr Captain Mommy! Where is my treasure map?" So I drew her one and we took off in our 'boat' (car) and searched for daddy. She was so funny and really got into the game. She called us pirates far longer than I would have thought. Her imagination is amazing. It really was so fun.

That same night, Chloe would not go to sleep in her own bed. She insisted on sleeping in the rocking chair next to Ty's crib. So I let her, but I did have to eventually move her. But I had to capture it first.

Here is Pirate Chloe.

Bath time

I know, I couldn't help myself. Tyler will probably kill me for these pictures six to ten years from now, but oh well. It's my right as a parent. Tyler LOVES his bath time. It is so funny to see the difference between boys and girls. When Chloe was Tyler's age I wondered why she never splashed as much as my friends kids did that were the same age (who are all boys by the way). She maybe would daintily sit in the bath and maybe lightly tap the water with her hands. But mainly she would hold and play with the rubber duckies and hold perfectly still while I washed her. She enjoyed her baths, but I never had to enjoy a shower at the same time with her. Then I had Tyler. Since the first time I set him in the bath water, my bathroom as perpetually been covered in water. The entire bathroom (and I ) will be completely soaked by the time his bath is done. Then I realized that at even at 9 months old little boys love to make explosions of any kind and little girls are content to play, pretend, and getting clean.





Can't you just hear the sound effects? BANG! BOOM! CRASH!!!

Backyard fun

Usually we can't let the kids play in our backyard because it was basically just dog territory with little 'land mines' all over the grass. But recently we fenced the larger part of the backyard off from the dogs. Chloe was very excited that she can now play back there without the fear of finding little surprises under her feet. So these are some pictures of her and Tyler playing in our little mini playground.












I know it is hard to tell by some of these pictures, but Tyler really did enjoy it.

Chloe and the puppies

Here is pregnant Dixie. She looks very ready to have those puppies.

Chloe had so much fun when our dog Dixie had puppies. She really couldn't keep her hands off them. I was surprised at how well she did with them. Especially when we had to eventually sell them. Not one tear was shed (on her part). I may have shed a tear or two though. It was really hard not to get attached to these little dogs. It was amazing to watch Dixie care for her babies as well as any mom could. In a weird way I bonded to her through this experience. She went through many of the same symptoms as I did when pregnant. It was very obvious to me (though not so much to David) when she was ready to have the puppies. Not just the "time to have the puppies" ready, but the "I've been this way long enough, let this baby out now!" ready. And to have had a new baby myself when hers were born, the similarities between the way we cared for our babies was uncanny. She would run to them in the middle of the night if she heard them make the littlest whimper, made sure they were always comfortable and safe. And I think because, as any new mom knows, her hormones were very rampant, she would also try to care for my baby as I would hers. When Tyler cried, she was right there to lick his face (not exactly what we wanted, but it worked). After nursing her own little ones, she would lay next to Tyler the same way like she was waiting for him to nurse too. I marvel at God's work to make all mom's no matter the species, just as caring and loving to her children as any other. I felt like she knew what I was going through and she knew that I knew what she was going through. David pointed out one time when Dixie was feeding her little ones that she had the same expression as I did when it was late and I was very tired and Tyler was teething. Not very pleasant but dutiful. I have a new respect and awe for Dixie for keeping her sanity after caring for four puppies and still staying as sweet and kind to everyone else as ever. A lesson I still need to work on after sleepless nights, endless feedings, and a NEVER ending repeating Peter Pan DVD. On bad days Chloe (who has always wanted to make things better) will come up to me and ask if I'm sad. Then she gently rubs my arm and gives me a hug and says "I make you feel better." I love being a mom.