102 posts! Those SOB's!

This is the 102nd post on my blog!  Impressive, especially considering in the last two years, I had 11 total. 

Last night, NQ got me up for a hurting ankle.  He didn't go back to sleep easily, and then, after I was up, neither did I.

But, as I lay in bed not sleeping, I had one of those really random past experiences get stuck in my head so, I'm sharing it, because it was funny:

(The photo's ONLY relevance is that there is a dog in it, and that Nathan woke me up. No other relevance.)


Flashback: NQ and Jasper 2009



A friend and I went to another friends house to say hi.  While we were there friend #2's neighbor popped by with her two bouncy, large dogs.  Apparently the dogs had been in trouble with the man that lived down the street. So we listened to her tale.  She was a little angry and upset with how the man down the street confronted her and her dogs. She monologued for several minutes of how her precious dogs were innocent of such horrible behavior.  Shocked she was, SHOCKED, when she said:  "And he was yelling at them and calling them - SONS OF BITCHES!!"  She paused for dramatic flare.  This is when I cut in and said, "Well, that's true, when you look at it." Somehow this did not appeal to her more logical side, and she took a big huff.  Everyone else laughed.  I guess you can't blame the guy for marking them for exactly what they are! Anyhow, the story soon dissolved and we were able to get on with friend visits.

And for some reason that replayed in my head several times last night...and amused me greatly.  Wish you would have been there.  It would have been a lot funnier to you too.

Odds and Ends



So Glad when Daddy comes Home

The Petty family has been under the weather this week.  Colds and sinus congestions a plenty!  However, we've been sure to get out and enjoy the daily springlike actual weather.  We've painted, and colored with crayons, and learned about calling 9-1-1 in emergency.  We haven't had any, but I taught NQ how to unlock my phone and dial the number.  We've also discussed the importance of running to a neighbors house if the phone is not quickly found.  I don't anticipate emergency ---but then who does?

A chilly day at the sand dunes

Nathan has been playing with Easton (a neighbor friend) this week and has had been big enough to walk to his house by himself.  Nathan sometimes worries about getting lost, but has been successful thus far. 



A birthday visit from Grandpa Petty


 We've also tried a new walking/biking path recently that follows along the Virgin River. (It was up beyond where we raced last week.) There are bridges and fun paths that go up above and down near the river.  Ashton probably ran for the first half mile all by his onesy.  Then NQ and I journeyed on for at least another two.


Ashton and Grandpa Petty



 We spent almost all of Saturday with our super friends! (The Harris's)  We climbed a mountain, watched a bald eagle soar, threw rocks, and defied death - as it was quite steep, had pizza, tramp jumping and lots of playing!



Nathan and Mom make a Mario for NQ's room.


 Now is the time to admit, that I, Cami Jo, have learned to play Mario on the Wii.  And, *gulp* it's actually fun.  When Nathan has been extra good, I can fire it up and play with him for reward.

Mom makes an Owl painting for the downstairs bath

We look to create adventure everyday! Swim classes start soon and then on to soccer season!  Life Happens SO FAST!

We were driving around this week when I saw some lovely homes with horse property.  I told NQ that in a few years, when he and Ashton were in School, that I could get a job so we could have horses too.  HOURS later, Nathan say's "I don't want horses." I answered back, "that's okay we don't have to have horses." He replies, "I don't want you to go to work, all I need is Love."  He was sincere and sweet.  What a great boy.

5k and Tuff Kids Race

"It doesn't matter that I didn't win, I smiled the whole time." The words spoken by my wise Nathaniel Quin on his very first race day, spoken directly after the race.  He did his best and he was great! He says, "My favorite part is having fun and getting my new medal."  NQ and I have been practicing for our race for about a month, I guess.  I run and push Ashton in the stroller, and Nathan rides his bike, and then he runs a few intervals - for practice.  

Loaded up and headed to the race!

My time wasn't stellar, but I'm okay with that.  I have a miserable cold and sinus pressure.  I wasn't sure yesterday if I'd even be able to make it at all.  And my time was better than what I'd decided would be marked as a 'pass' (if were in a pass/fail situation - though anyone who finishes should be counted as a 'pass.') My race started wet, cold and raining at 8:50 in the morning and was completed before 9:30 - as I was on the road by then to the Harris house to get the boys ready for their race at noon! (You may notice there are no pictures of me racing - I went totally solo - and kind of relished that oneness.) I'm glad I did it.  It wasn't all fun during the running parts, but it was fun when it was done!  Stolen idea from a recent article: I didn't enjoy running, but I enjoyed having run. The actual line was from an author who declared that they didn't enjoy writing, but enjoyed haven written. I have to agree with this idea.

Standing in the rain and cold - didn't bother these boys!

Waiting for the 200 meter to line up for start

Nathan and friends Ben and Kade completed the "Tuff Kids" 200 meter race with enthusiastic ease!  They all came through with smiles, finisher medals, tasty treats (Frozen yogurt, fruit snacks, chocolate milk, cookies, oranges, bananas, rolls, Gatorade, and water) and some awesome confidence.  They gave hugs and told each other they loved each other and had all sorts of cool self worth-y words of affirmation to share. 

 I loved watching my little man zoom with all his might!  I loved that he came in in the top five. (official standing not yet posted **See NOTE at Bottom**) And I love that he was smiling.  He loved it and I love that he loved it.  I love that he and Ben and Kade all appreciated each other for a job well done!

Ashton and Carter were SO good to stay in the double stroller with snacks and sippy cups during the commotion! Holly and I both got a little choked with emotion when those boys came zooming through! I was on one side and she was on the other. I had the boys at the starting line, and she had the babies at the end.  I ran down along with the racers and yelled out my encouragement as they went!  I'm so grateful that Holly snapped some good pictures of those kids running!



NQ Far Right in Brown



NQ Crossing the finish - in brown

 

What a great lesson for everyone today!  You CAN do it!  And you can have fun, no matter when you might enjoy it.


**UPDATE**
NQ came in 3rd Overall! He was the first Male finisher, and came in behind a 10 and 9 year old. The 4th place boy was right on his heels and was 4. WAY TO GO MY LITTLE MAN!! Momma is SO proud! (26 participants in the race - awesome work guys!)

Ashton Christopher's 2nd Birthday

My sweet little gremlin/midget/monster/dinosaur turned 2!

Breakfast included some delicious chocolate chip pancakes.  Then we ran to the store for some ingredients (ice cream among them.) While out, we delivered Aunt Brooke's special Calendar and amused the post office patrons.  Then, because it was a birthday request from the birthday boy himself, we went to look at Puppies at the pet store. This was a let down as they were big puppies and mostly asleep.  But we enjoyed petting them and watching all the fishies swim.  Lunch and down for a nice birthday nap!  Then our fun friends came to visit for a little while and play. The bigger boys were having a few dominance issues, but Ashton didn't make a peep...he was having a great time playing along side all the big boys and with the big toys!

Meanwhile, Momma was putting the finishing touches on the Nemo cake.  I had more in mind, but Holly wisely advised that it was great - and to take a break on it.  So I did, but next time, there will be bubbles and some more coral-y type sea stuff...

Daddy came home and we dove right into dinner - another birthday boy favorite: chicken fried rice.  He ate spoonful after huge spoonful of rice and peas and chicken and eggs with vigorous urgency.  After dinner we joyfully hit the cake and ice cream and followed that up with presents!  His happy little face was lit! ALL NIGHT. (To date, he's had that little car and helicopter with him everywhere he goes.) To finish the night we had a family dance party down stairs. We pulled out all our favorite family tricks to loud music and sweaty little guys giving their all! Twirling, jumping, shaking a leg, spinning and hand pumps in the air were among the best moves.  Can't ask for a better day than that!

His current stats: 30 lbs.  And he is 35.75 inches tall.  I give it another 2 months before he's a flat 3'. 

We have all sorts of verbalization from Ashton now days.  Some of my favorites:  "Dada!! Get back here! Where are you?! Mmmm... Delicious. Thank you, you're welcome. Go on car ride. Go outside. Throw Rocks"
Often times he likes to comment on the softness or coldness of items we're playing with, "wow, soft pillow" And when he's feeling his 2 year old power he likes to tell me "No, nap. No rest. No food. No change bum. Just play." And when it's time to go to bed, he's conveniently hungry for a "snack."  He loves the book Good Night Moon, and enjoys the rhymes and voicing the sounds of the kittens and clocks, and the cow who jumps over the moon. He's got a great gremlin voice he uses while speaking 'elfish.' Though last week Holly and I were sure that he called someone 'fluffy face' in gremlin. Then, the other evening, the whole family was in bed reading scriptures, when my stomach growled.  Ashton looked at me with wide eyes and said "Dinosaur! ROAR! Bites!" Then proceeded to become a dinosaur, with vicious teeth, to battle me. It was hilarious. Happy Birthday you cute little sprite! We love having you in our family!

Time in Zion's Natl. Park

In November, soon after returning from Wyoming - there was a weekend.  The boys and I hadn't seen Shane in weeks, and even after we got back he had a vigorous work week.  I think it may have been 7 on 1 off, and then six back on.  So, seeings as how it was Stake Conference...and we had a little boy who was going to be miserable AT BEST during the two hour meeting, we decided to go to the Church of Zion.  (In Lander, once in a while, we'd go to the Church of Thermopolis. It's just the nice way of saying "skipping church to do something else." Which does not happen all that often, just so you know ;))

So, off we went towards Zion!  A beautiful fall day.  Colors abounding! We come to the gates of Zion - and they open for us...for FREE!  Yes, it was free entrance day at Zion.  And by the looks of it, not too many people know about it.  The park was NOT crowded, most of the visit was just the four of us exploring the majestic wonder.

All of us went of at a good pace up the trails.  Ashton was near impossible to stop.  He loved the long path in front of him.  Loved running up the winding trail.  Loved being flanked by whoevers turn it was to catch up to him.  Nathan, on the other hand, loved stopping.  Mostly because he knew we had our cameras out.  And he wanted to be in every picture!  He stopped SEVERAL times along our hikes saying "how bout one here, and now one here..." on and on and on!  Finally I had to tell him enough! Our spirits were high, but how couldn't they be?  Look at this place!

When lunch time came, we thought about skipping out of the park and down into town for a bite to eat, but we didn't want to lose a moment of our time.  So we headed to the Lodge, expecting the worst, in terms of menu pricing.  Guess what?!  NOT SO BAD!!  The food was very tasty - Shane and NQ got Burgers, Ashton got noodles, and I, a turkey sandwich with the barley soup.  Again, not crowded, and we were seated right by a window, so we didn't miss a single moment of park!

Wild Turkey - I did not eat this one.

After lunch the boys played some tag out on the lawn in front of the lodge, and then we went out for another trail.

We left the park, just as the sun was bursting through some clouds as the early fall sunset started to close in on the day.  It was a fantastic day.  And what we felt together, as a family, out in nature - was certainly a marvelous feeling that we would not have felt together, as a family, had we tried to endure a stake conference meeting.

With Zion being less than one hour away from over very doorstep in St. George, this is the PERFECT day trip destination!  While there this trip, we also drove through the 1 mile tunnel up above the park, if you have never done this, I suggest you do, at least once in your life.  It's neat to see how they've bored the gigantic tunnel right through the mountain rock!  The "windows" or air pockets for ventilation are arches that can be seen as you drive toward the tunnel.  Now, I guess there's a separate charge for the tunnel, but not on FREE entrance day!  So we lucked out TWICE!  This was a great little family day that we hope to make a couple times a year.