4th of July

Wow! Look at me...three posts in one week! That hasn't happened in a LONG time! It seems like we have been so busy playing for the past month or so, and the fourth of July weekend was no exception! With Wesley's birthday being so close to the holiday, it feels like we celebrate for a whole week! We started off the patriotic weekend with our good friends the Arbuckles. We met up for dinner at Robintino's, then we headed to the firework show at Granite High. In my opinion, Granite puts on the best firework show! We are never disappointed. Since Wesley is completely terrified of fireworks, my parents were kind enough to let me tag along with them up to Bear Lake.

Beckett and his buddy Max playing with Max's uncle Matt

Us minus Wesley

Silly Beckett

Cute max

Scary Carter

Next on our weekend of celebration...I decided to run my first race since my knee injury. The City of West Jordan usually holds a 5k and 10k over the holiday weekend, so I decided to try the 10k and asked my friend Lexi if she wanted to join me. I had never ran a 10k race, but figured it wouldn't be too difficult. I ran 6 miles the week before and my knee held up ok, but I was still nervous for the 10k. Saturday morning turned out to be a gorgeous day! It was a little cooler than normal (no complaints from me!), and I ended up with a great run! I finished 6 minutes faster than I was hoping to finish. Afterwards my knee felt great and I couldn't have been any happier!

Lexi and I after the race!

After we left the race we headed home, packed up the car, and hit the road! We spent the rest of the weekend with family at our cabin up in Bear Lake. Although the weather was a bit on the cooler side, the kids still had a great time playing in the sand and in the hot tub!

We had a great weekend and were completely exhausted by the time we got home! I think it took a week or so for us to recover. I am definitely loving summer this year! Can't wait to see what else is in store for us...stay tuned!

Wesley turns 4!

Last week my little man turned 4 years old! I can hardly believe I have a 4 year old! Wesley has been looking forward to his birthday for the past year! Every time we celebrated someone else's birthday, he would always start talking about his next birthday and how he was turning 4. Wesley decided he wanted a Batman Birthday party, so that is what he got! The original plan was to have his party at the park, but super high winds forced the party to be at our house last minute. It was a little crowded, but it worked out in the end.

The awesome pinata

A bunch of goofy boys!

My cute nieces modeling the capes that my Mom and I

made for the kids. (Thanks for the pattern Dede!)

Playing water balloon games

Handsome Max

Wesley excited to open presents

Wesley's classic excited face!

You should hear the noise that goes along with it...hilarious!

The cake

The Pinata

Out riding his new bike

Me and the Birthday Boy!

Here are some of Wesley's favorites at 4:

Favorite Color: Dark Black, Dark Blue, Dark Green, and Yellow

Favorite Food: Quesadillas

Favorite TV show: Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 or Team Umizoomi

Favorite Thing to do: Swimming

Favorite Place to Eat: McDonald's

Favorite Toy: Hot Wheels Cars and Monster Trucks

Happy Birthday Bugaboo! We love you!

Swim Lessons

I finally got around to signing Wes up for swim lessons. The kid is a fish and I thought he would get a kick out of learning the right techniques to swim. Boy...was I wrong! I think there were a couple of factors that played into Wesley hating the lessons. #1- The very first day of lessons, the wind was blowing 20 mph, and it was pretty chilly outside. #2- Wesley has never really swam in the big pool at the rec center without his life jacket. #3- He didn't know his instructor, nor any of the kids in his class. On the first day, I walked him to the pool and told him to sit on the top step. He was doing great until the instructor tried getting him further into the pool and he wigged out and ran straight for me. I took him back to the pool kicking and screaming, and had to pry him off of me and hand him to the aide. I then walked away to a spot where he couldn't see me. From my hiding spot, I watched as my son (who LOVES to swim), kicked and screamed through the forty minute lesson! I was mortified! I couldn't believe what I was watching. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought he would react that way!

The next swim lesson was the day before my sister got married, so my Dad volunteered to take him while I helped my mom with wedding preparations. I bribed Wesley with two new hot wheels monster trucks and he told me he would go to swim lessons without crying. Shortly after arriving, my dad text me and this is how the conversation went:

Dad: Wes is crying and won't get in the pool...Should we just come home?

Me: No! Give him to the teacher and WALK AWAY!!!

A few minutes later, my Dad text back and said Wesley wasn't crying and was actually participating. I thought it was a break through! I was so excited to take him his next class. So...the next class came and he reacted the same way he did the first time. Kicking and screaming, with me prying him off my leg and throwing him to the teacher. I began to dread swim lessons. We even had Rob try and take him one day, but that didn't help either. His final lesson was on his birthday. I decided not to tell him where we were going. When we pulled into the parking lot, he began throwing a fit and started crying! I felt so bad forcing him to go, but I didn't want to teach him that he could just give up and quit. The wind was blowing again like crazy that day, so they held the lessons in the indoor pool. Wesley through a fit all the way to the indoor pool, and once again I had to pry him off my leg and hand him over to the aide. I went with Beckett and found a spot to sit. I tried to ignore my crying child but to my surprise the next time I glanced up, he wasn't crying! He was smiling, laughing, and even participating! I couldn't believe my eyes! Who was that child? He certainly wasn't mine! I was so happy that he finally was enjoying the lesson. I was also happy that I happened to have my camera in my purse and was able to snap a couple of pictures. Luckily...Wesley passed the class and can move on to the advanced tots class. I just haven't decided if I want to put either of us through it again!

Sorry...some of my pictures are blurry. I was hoping he wouldn't notice me.

Monkey, Airplane, Solider

Swimming on his back

Blowing bubbles

Beckett Man

Mom's happy to see him smiling!