Sunday, August 30, 2009

Augus 29, 2009: DaDaDa

August 20 through the 30th, 2009: Moving, Mayhem and more

I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that we have been quite busy this last week and a half-ish.

Craig- Switched to four tens, and now has Monday's off. He leaves for work at 5:00 in the morning now.

Tricia- Started work on the 20th. It doesn't look like I'll be able to keep working though. I do still enjoy my job, and I find myself enjoying my boys more too, but it's just too hard with Craig working during the day. I'm trying to hang in there for another month. My sister-in-law is watching the boys and says that if I quit at the end of September that should work good for them.

The boys- Have started to show a liking for country music. Mostly for Garth Brooks. I'm not even joking or embellishing here. They even have their favorite songs. Little H loves "The River" and "When You Come Back to Me Again", but when "Beer Run" comes on he lets you know he does not approve. Big H loves "Standing Outside the Fire" and "American Honky Tonk Bar Association". I swear I'm telling the truth. Though this pattern may change in a week or so, you put these songs on whenever they get fussy and they quiet right down.



Big H- Has finally gotten past the screaming phase and is now his lovable and enjoyable self. He even goes right down for naps without any complaint- for the most part.



Little H- Has entered the screaming stage. We thought Big H was bad, but we had no idea.

The Family- Finally got insurance set back up, and we are now trying to get to all those much needed appointments. The boys are going to the doc tomorrow and they will probably get more shots :(

We cleaned up the playground at the apartments on Saturday. My dad came and helped and we finally got it looking fairly decent. This is one of the few projects we've tried to have finished before we move.

We're all getting ready and set to move out this week. Hopefully we can get most of it done on Monday.

We had a birthday Party for my brother, Brady, on Saturday.





We all had fun swimming in the pool and eating hot dogs, hamburgers and cheesecake yum!

Wednesday August 26, 2009: A Pirates Party for Me! Well for my Nephew



Happy Happy Birthday!

My mom, my sis-in-law, Craig and I all helped to put together a Pirate Party for my Nephew's 5th birthday. My sister-in-law did a Pirate Party for her little boy not too long ago, so we decided to give it a try for my nephew's party. It was so much fun I think I want to have a Pirate Party on my birthday ;)



Such a cute little Pirate.



I told my mom I would do the map because I love doing stuff like that. I of course recruited Craig to help, and he had a blast. Towards the end he took over and put on some fun embellishments. I give credit to Craig for how totally awesome the map turned out!



As always, I have to get way into things. I bought these Pirate outfits for the boys as a just-in-case Halloween costume. Might as well get some use out of them right? And when you have a perfectly good pirate outfit sitting in your closet why not wear it when the occasion calls for it?



This is one of three treasure chests we hid in the park.



The end of the treasure hunt. Yar!



Time to open presents!




And now for the cake. Apparently Costco will make you a custom cake- if the decorator of the day doesn't mind. It doesn't cost anymore than the normal cakes either. You just feel out an order form and draw a picture on the back of what you want.



Craig and I made this for the map.



And we put directions for opening the treasure chests on the bottom of each chest.





After the friends left we moved the party to another park, so my nephew's family could come and celebrate his birthday.



The boys tried out the swings for the first time.



We also got to meet the newest addition to my nephews family.



Yar! A Pirate's Life for me!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137714&id=765058202&l=d76fb2d639

Sunday, August 23, 2009

"Ode to My Hands"

By: mom for Little H



Ode to My Hands
So wonderful and fine
Ode to My Hands
For they are truly mine



See how the bend
And twist and move and sway
They are so grand
For they move in any way

Oh how I love my hands
See how my fingers curl
Such marvelous hands
More perfect than a pearl

Ode to My hands
They are my favorite toy
Ode to My Hands
For they bring me so much joy

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

August 12 through the 15, 2009: 2 weddings and a Funeral

We had yet another busy week here at the Stratton home.

On Wednesday John, Holly and baby D paid us a visit. We all went out to dinner and then we went shopping at the mall.



They decided to stay, so Craig and John stayed up all night playing the Wii. It was so fun to have some visitors!

My cousin had called me earlier that day and informed me that the woman I used to care, for before I moved to St. George, had passed away. I'm glad my Aunt and my Cousin read the paper because they always seem to be the one's informing us when loved ones die. I decided to pay a visit to the parents of the woman the next day. I only wish I had visited while she was still alive.

That night we went to a friend's reception. I used to work with her at Barratt. In fact she's the one that subbed for me while Craig and I were on our honeymoon.






The next day I had to go to a training meeting for work, and my parents graciously agreed to watch the boys. My mom watched them in the morning and my Dad watched them in the afternoon. I have to send out a special Thank You to my Dad. He took on a lot that day.

He was doing a great job, but I'm sure he's still glad that I got off early.

My Dad had planned to go and visit my Grandma A, and I decided to join him since it's been a while since she's seen the boys.

We had fun visiting, and seeing how the garden is coming along.




That night we had another reception. This one was for a friend who choreographed a play I was in, and that was at Tuacahn while I was there. Him and his wife are moving to Florida and he's going to choreograph the parades for Walt Disney World.




Saturday was the funeral. It was a very nice service, and the weather cleared up just as we were heading to the grave site. It's strange but I don't find myself sad when these special spirits pass on. I will miss them, but I imagine that things are so wonderful when they are finally released from this life. I also think this will be a great relief to her parents as well. Now they won't have to worry about the care she receives after they pass on.







On Thursday I went to Burlington to try and find some appropriate funeral attire for the boys. The only matching suits I could find were for 18 months. Funny thing is they almost fit just right. Even funnier is that that didn't surprise me.




On Saturday I realized that I didn't have black socks. These socks were the best I could come up with.

Monday, August 17, 2009

August 7, 8 and 9, 2009: Down in Dixie



A couple weekends ago we took a trip down south to visit some family. The boys had so much fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa Stratton and their cousins.











We also visited our friends, who are having twin girls in December, out in Kanarraville. Best of luck to them. I'm sure glad ours were boys- though girls would have been lots of fun.





There was a spiral Staircase, so I simply had to get a picture. I love spiral stair cases.

After a visit, and a tour, we all went to dinner with Mom and Dad Stratton.

The next day Craig spent some time with his brother while I lost my mind shopping with the boys.

After that we all headed out to Craig's Grandparents house in Hurricane. Our passenger side window decided it didn't want to roll up anymore, so Craig got to spend some time with his Dad and Grandpa while they all worked on the car. I visited with the women inside ;)






Craig's Aunt and uncle were there too. It was really fun to get to visit with everyone.

After delivering a baby present, to our friends that are having the twins, we finally got on the road at 10:00 that night. This wasn't the plan, but we have no complaints. We had fun visiting with everyone, and Craig especially enjoyed the extra time he got to spend with his Dad and Grandpa.

We decided to stop in Fillmore for a break, and we made the rest of the trip home on Monday.

If you copy and paste this you can see the album without a facebook account.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133456&id=765058202&l=740f0fee0c