Lake Powell - One Week Later

We will never EVER be hesitant again about whether or not a trip to Lake Powell is worth it…getting a babysitter for days, time off work, packing coolers and planning meals, etc, etc. Not really that big of a deal, but some effort required.

Again, we were wrong. No questions asked. Worth it. 100%. I will always remember that. Next summer I will remember that. Right, Holly?!

Lake Powell: A little piece of heaven on earth.

The best company. My hubby, cousins, and an uncle and aunt whom I adore. Honestly.



In bed by 9:00. Awake at 6:00. Naps anytime I want. The perfect schedule.

A sky full of stars when I wake up in the middle of the night – five or six times at least. Fireworks everynight.


Swimming and sliding. “You got left, I’ll go right!” (This doesn’t work for a double-sliding, just so you know.) Falling in the water – stuck between jetski and houseboat. Oops.




6:17 am: Glassy water. Reached maximum speeds on the jet ski. Reflections of the walls of rock going deep in to the water. Wish we had a camera. We saw no on else there.

Games and more games. Laughing and lying. I am a good liar.


Yummy food. Everything tastes good at the lake.


Hiked Hole in the Rock. Straight up, all boulders, my cousin Jake pushing me up and carrying everyone’s stuff so our hands are free.




Thanks, everyone, for the BEST trip of the summer.

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I'm sick of looking at the title of my last post. I am not the worst mom ever. I have never seen a kid so excited to see his mom and dad as Gavin was when we got home from Lake Powell last week. That's got to mean something! Pictures forthcoming...just getting a few other things out of the way and then I can clean and unpack and get back to real life.

Worst mom ever

Yesterday Gavin wondered away from me for about one minute. I was in the front room on the computer and should have followed him, but didn't. I heard a loud crash and crying and I ran in his room to see the corner piece of furniture (a little hutch thing that hasn't been secured to the wall yet) LAYING ON TOP OF HIM. I felt awful. I could even take a picture of the bump that immediately popped out underneath his left eye. This morning I thought it would be a serious shiner, but it's just a little bruised.

So that's my wakeup call to not be a lazy mom and get up when I know I should. Ugh.

Our baby boy...growing up

I don't think we have a baby anymore. This kid is more and more toddler every day. Just look at this face -- a real boy!

This past month has been so exciting for him. He's learned to walk and there's no stopping him now. Just last week he figured out how to get himself to standing from sitting without holding onto anything. Without any training, he has figured out stairs, different levels of cement (cute little crab walk) and is bravely testing out new terrain. It's like he's always known how to do it. He just needed the chance. He falls 50 times and it doesn't bother him at all. He just gets back up and keeps on going.

He talks to us now...sometimes I feel like one word with him is an entire conversation. It's crazy to think that he actually knows what he's talking about! I know that's how it works, but it still is just fascinating to me. He says "mama" and "dada" and will bang at the door if he knows we're somewhere else. He says "up" when he's done eating or wants to be held and "nana" when he needs his favorite yellow treat. He says "bye-bye" with a wave and has said "hello" a few times. So sweet. I love his little voice. It's still so new that I'm the proudest mama anytime one of these comes flying out.

I love Gavin's interest and curiosity. He recently has developed a love of the outside. Only a few weeks ago we could leave him on a blanket out there in the backyard and know he would stay put -- he didn't want that gross grass feel itching his legs. Those days are long gone. Suddenly each leaf needs to be explored and fun-shaped rocks need to be tasted. Dirt is grabbed and dropped, again and again. Dirt mixed with water from the hose is even better. Only I'm thinking about his fingernails...but I'm quickly getting over that. He finds things out back and carries them around the yard...his treasures. Don't even think about taking them away before he is ready. Not a pretty sight.

I can see we're in a new phase of life. No more holding still for anything - there's just too much to see! I've got to gear up and get some more energy, because that's what it's going to take from now on. Hopefully I've got it, because our little boy is ready to go.

Twenty-first Century...Here I come!

This is me posting, for the first time EVER, from my very own home. No kidding. We finally got the internet! I think I'm going to like it. No more trips to the library - sitting in the car in the parking lot waiting for my bars to show me I've got a connection. The worst part was the worker guy who had to trek through the office only to not find a phone jack. Oops. The last choice was the bedroom. Yikes. Bed unmade, laundry unfolded, underwear on the floor. Someone please tell me your room looks like that! I just wasn't expecting a stranger to be sludging through it!

But, we do what we've got to do to be (finally!) technologically with-it. Hooray!

Lyns...This one's for you!

He is "Fang" no more... Two front teeth came in this month. :)

What we've been doing...

1) Putting up a vinyl fence – a serious undertaking. Literally hours and hours and hours and weeks and weeks of work. Thank you, thank you to our neighbors, family and friends who have helped us. It would have been done next year (maybe!) without you. It looks so good! And Wilson has stopped barking at everyone walking by. He has, however, gotten accustomed to digging his way under into our neighbor’s yard. I swear – if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Jason & Brian

Grapevines coming out

Rhett and Gavin

Actual completed vinyl fence coming soon...a few more touches left.

2) St. George - Robinson Family Annual Trip

Like father, like son

Gavin loves the pool

Rockin' the hair

Pooped


3) Cabin retreat with the Nelsons. So fun and beautiful! Brian and I are convinced we need 20 acres and a cabin. We'll work on that.

Jason, Karen, Ethan, Kate, Lily, and Elsa Nelson

The kiddos

Enjoying the outside

Petting the goats. Very nature-like.

Cleaning my cupboards. I was too embarrassed to take a ‘before’ picture. But I was too proud to not take an ‘after’ shot. Just think of the most cluttered, gross, unorganized thing you’ve ever seen. And multiply that by 12. It really is so pretty now. Sometimes I open the door just to see.

4) Working on a six-week meal plan. This will ensure that I actually do cook meals and will help me to get my food storage going. What an idea – store the stuff you eat. Huh. How could Brian not be happy about this? He’s eaten better and healthier in the past month than he has in the past five years.



5) Bread baking. Along with my food storage kick, I’ve decided to feed Brian and Gavin real, homemade wheat-full bread. Gavin loves it. But then again, he loves anything you can put in his mouth. Thank you Meredith! You are inspiring!

6) Visiting with Bart & Krista who were in town. BBQd at Michelle's house. So fun. I LOVE these girls. Two of my very favs.




7) Sleep training Gavin. Moving from two naps to one. Takes more than a day or two. But...I think we've got it! :)

8) Preparing for two courses I will be teaching teachers in a few weeks.

I may just break down and get the internet. I am so out of the loop! Qwest may be giving us a deal I just can’t refuse. Here’s hoping that 1) we can get it and 2) that I can control my computer time when we do.

That was my fast way of catching up an entire month. It's the very best I can do right now. :)