The 2/4 of July

Sunday {July 10}
Church went well today and we had a fun Sunday all around.  As soon as we got home after church, Zac's brother Brad and his daughter Jadzie came to visit.  We don't get to spend too much time with them, so it's fun to see them when we can.  G&J are only 10 days apart and up to this point in their lives haven't wanted much to do with each other.  It was totally different this time though.  They were adorable together!  They were just instant best buddies and played so well.  I took them with me to grab something at my folks and they were just little characters there too.  Beckham napped and the kiddos played on my bed while Zac & Brad talked electronics in the living room.  It was so fun to see Gray and Jadzie's little relationship developing and I'm excited for them to be great friends growing up.

Soon after they left, Zac went to the farm to change water.  While he was gone our next round of visitors came.  Brian, Candace, and kids were heading home from Washington and stayed a night with us on their way home.  They got here about 5 which was so nice because it's usually much later.  Brian took a nap on the couch while the kids played and Candace and I made dinner.  It is always wonderful to have them "in real life" and I'm so grateful our friendship has stayed strong despite our distance and that we communicate weekly in some way or form.  Nothing substitutes that face to face contact, though.  Our lives are crazy full of kids right now, but I'm so thankful our kids are exposed to each other & developing friendships as well.  We talked after the kids went to bed for a while and then headed to bed ourselves.  And, they brought me a bowl full of BEAUTIFUL and delicious Washington cherries-key to my heart!  I think they were gone in two days!

Monday {July 11}
The Nielson's stayed for breakfast and headed out shortly after.  We were sad to see them go, but so grateful they make a pit stop at our house at least yearly! (:  I ran a couple Nyssa errands, started the Bridge to 10k program on the treadmill, and had a great workout.  For his mid morning snack, Grayson had a jam-Eggo sandwich {a favorite of his} and showed me his foot covered with band-aids.  Totally cracks me up.  He used to HATE band-aids and be afraid of them or something.  He likes them now and makes sure he is well covered at all times.  

Around 4 we got to have Vince and McKee over while Denise went to Annie's volleyball game.  We MISS this family and are glad we get to see them sometimes when they visit.  The boys were so cute!  Vince wanted to play Toy Story and Grayson played fireman and they kind of played parallel to each other, talking every once in a while.  McKee and Beckham played really well together and after lots of outside playing, toy playing, and dirty making, I put all four boys in the tub.  Got them all dressed in jammies and put Bex to bed.  McKee cuddled right up in my lap to watch a movie with the big boys around 8 until their Papa Dennis came to get them.  I loved that cuddle time and just love Denise and her kids.

After the kiddos left and Gray went to bed, Zac and I watched "Just Go With It" and loved it.  We laughed a ton and I always enjoy cuddling with Zac, so it was a perfect ending to the night.

Tuesday {July 12}
This afternoon after while boys were resting, I worked on these little cute gifts for my coaches who were going to convention with us.  I love how they turned out, and I love the little things.

After nap/rest time, I took the boys to Cleaver's to swim.  They have a baby pool and a bigger 4 foot pool.  Grayson surprised me with his bravery since he has been so paranoid about water for the past year or so.  He climbed up the ladder and played on the inside of the pool on or right by the ladder.  He even touched the bottom and was so proud.  He loved every second.  He thought he could fill the pool quickly from the little "hot tub" pool to the big pool too, and that kept him busy for a long time.  Beckham played in the little pool and sat on my lap or Grandpa's, wherever he could find food.   They both terrorized Acey the dog, but she had it coming. (:

We got cleaned up and changed-except I forgot a dry shirt for Gray so he went shirtless-and drove to the stake center where my Grandpa Mike's family was having a mini family reunion.  It's always fun to show off the boys, although we missed Zac who was working in Boise.  After visiting and eating a bit, we took T&T with us and met L,K, and Jaeger at A&W so they could get ice cream.  Grayson loved his ice cream cone {except he doesn't eat the cone} and Beckham loved mooching off everyone else.  Zac just happened to be going past us toward home at the moment we stopped at A&W-happy coincidence-so he stopped and had ice cream with us.  I was so happy he could join us.  We laughed and visited and then headed home.  Got the boys to bed and Zac and I watched "Tron" before hitting the sack.

 Wednesday {July 13}

pico de gallo-delicous, and it was just fun to visit and enjoy being together as siblings.  Hopefully Doll doesn't move too far {like more than 10 miles} when she gets married! (:

Thursday {July 14}
Grayson and Beckham got to go play at Jaeger's house for a few hours this morning while I had a brow appointment and got my hair colored again.  I grabbed groceries after both and it was nice to be able to run in and run out.  The boys adore Jaeger and all of his toys, so I'm grateful Kelsey is always willing to deal with them.

After I got home we had nap time and Grayson and I had some one on one time before Bex woke up.  After Beckham woke up, he cuddled with me for quite a while.  I LOVE cuddling with my boys.

In the afternoon, we went over to Pete's place for a couple hours because it had been a few days since the boys had been over there.  Grayson jumped on the trampoline with the sprinkler while Beckham played on the gator.  Gray joined him after a bit and I just think they are so cute.  Got the boys to bed early and enjoyed my late night workout & chatting with Zac.

Friday {July 15}
Taylor had the boys today while I worked.  I got lots of client calls made and was productive at home.  Picked up the boys and ran to the post office.  Wow, it's definitely harder with both of them-especially because Beckham tries escaping and Grayson laughs trying to hold him back.  Gray is and has always been super good about staying right where I am and listening to me if I tell him to stop something in public places.  Beckham is a completely different story!  Crazy animal!  After that workout, we headed home and found our first ripe Apricots of the season!  Beckham LOVED them and so did I.  I think fruit trees are one of the best things in nature.  Got in the house just in time for naptime.

After a sufficient nap, I packed both boys up {in an effort to be more like my friend Katie who takes her kids to do everything} and headed into town for the Thunderegg Days festival {aka: rock show}.  It was not my brightest idea.  1. It was 95 degrees out at 5:00 when we went, and 2. There wasn't really anything for two HOT boys to do there-and I was by myself.  Dumb.  Anyway, I loaded Beckham into the stroller at M&W where we parked and Gray held my hand while I tried pushing the stroller one-handed.  It went okay.  We walked to the school-sweating at this point already-and walked around to find a bathroom for Gray man.  He pottied and we found him an ice cream cone.  You might think I was prepared with wipes and things for these situations.  You'd be wrong.  I didn't have anything except the stroller, the boys, and a binky for Beckham {who was almost asleep & I was trying to keep awake}.  Gray finished his ice cream cone, picked out his favorite rock {he's a bit obsessed with rocks lately}, and we pushed over to the Friday market for a second.  Headed back to M&W for a couple ingredients for dinner and jacked the air conditioner up back in the car.

We went to Grandpa Farrell and Grandma Marge's to visit and drop off some delicious apricots-they are seriously good!  Grandpa was outside taking a little walk around their driveway so Beckham got his first walker ride and was thoroughly impressed.  I love that Grandpa loves doing this with the kids.  Aunt Laurie and kids were visiting and Grayson was in Heaven seeing Adam and Ben again.  They are amazing with the kids and I love that my kids will know my cousins and their great aunts and uncles growing up.  We visited there for a while and headed home.

Whew!  It was crazy behavior for me to try braving a public situation by myself with kids.  Totally not worth it. (:  Just teasing, the boys were awesome and happy and it was an okay thing.  Zac had an all day Boise work day and took his staff to a movie tonight for meeting their goals in June, so we were home alone.  I got the boys to bed relatively early and watched a chick flick and went to bed.

Saturday {July 16}
This afternoon we had a surprise visit from a mysterious motorcycle man.  Turns out, it was Todd. (:  He looked different with his helmet on!  It was a great unexpected surprise for him to stop by and for Zac to be home to visit for a bit.  He's a great friend to Zac and we are grateful for him.  On another note, he's been totally wanting Zac to get a dirtbike and I don't know how I feel about that yet!

Taylor and Talon watched Grayson and Beckham for us tonight so I could go with Zac to Nampa.  He had a staff meeting with all his employees and so I dropped him at the store for that and went shopping in hopes of finding something to wear to Florida.  I wasn't feeling super great about myself when we left which is never a great time to try on clothes.  This time was no exception.  I went to Old Navy, Kohls, Target, Maurice's and hated almost everything I tried on.  It was nice to just have a couple hours to try a lot of stuff on and to wander a bit.  I found the boys gifts for when we got back from Florida {a trick I learned from my mom so you don't have to search for gifts on vacation or bring heavy stuff back or be tempted to buy expensive airport stuff if you forgot!}, and got some toiletries for our trip.  In Kohl's as I was coming out of the dressing room feeling completely dejected, I happened to see a dress on the return rack.  I thought it was cute but thought it surely wouldn't fit me.  I really didn't want to get undressed again, but it wasn't quite time to pick Zac up and I had nothing to lose, so I did.  And I liked it.  Not absolutely LOVED, but really liked.  It was cute.  So I grabbed it and there were none other like it in the whole store-it was fate.  Overall I did get some cute stuff-even a layered tank that I loved from Walmart of all places, and it was an okay trip.  It definitely helps when I'm feeling confident going into it though.  Picked Zac up and we talked the whole ride home.  T&T had the boys in bed and we chatted with them a bit before they went home and got to bed around 11:30.

Just a side note, I am so grateful for the way our families love our boys.  My kids are so full of confidence from the attention they receive from their amazing grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins.  Not to mention extended family and our friends-who are our family by choice.  We feel so blessed to have so many great influences for our boys at this especially full time in our life because we know we can't raise them alone.