Black Eye Boys

So, I have two boys with black eyes right now.

Jack is recovering from his surgery and last night Owen was hit in the eye with a toy car.

No names named on that one . . . (JACK!)

Guess I better get used to this with all boys!

Jack's Eyelid Surgery

Jack had surgery on his eyelid today. In June his lid swelled up and looked like this . . . The doctors thought it was an infected sty, but antibiotics did not help it. It has kinda come and gone over the last few months. I finally decided to take him to an eye doctor. We had a recommendation from three doctors to have it removed. They called it a cystic tumor.

Unfortunately, Jack had to be put to sleep to remove it. :(

So, today was the day and he did a great job! It was a little intense (for a multitude of reasons) but overall the experience didn't traumatize any of us too badly.

Jack is now home and doing well.

Just trying not to touch his eye . . . and we are trying to deal with his drama-king-ness.

Owen Is Seven Months Old

Owen has reached seven months today!

I am so grateful for every mile stone he reaches and everything he is capable of doing.

SO grateful.

This month Owen:

weighs 16 lbs. 9 oz.

is 27 inches long

has started eating lots of different foods

is rolling all around the room to get to where he wants to go

has started to ooch around on his tummy

smiles the biggest smiles I have ever seen

has the best belly laugh ever

had his first tummy bug (yuck!)

still loves to swing

is sleeping in his own room(!!!)
had his first non-family babysitter

is wearing 9 month clothes

is trying to break through a few teeth

Balloons to Gavin

Okay - first of all . . . check out that serious little boy bedhead.

Seriously?

I think we may have Jack a little confused when it comes to balloons.

Every time we gets one he wants to send it off to Gavin.

Today I heard him saying, "Here Gavin!" while throwing the balloon in the air.

I know it may be a little twisted - but it is nice to hear Jack "playing" with his brother.

Remembering 9/11

Today we took the boys to see the flag display at the cemetery in remembrance of the 9/11 victims. There are hundreds and hundreds of flags set up. It cause me to reflect on that day. Like so many others, I will never forget where I was when I learned of the attack. I was 19 years old sitting in my college apartment trying to get ready for an early morning nutrition class. I stared in amazement at the TV as I watched the first building burn and the airplane crash into the second building. Later watching them both crumble to the ground.

From that day on - the world has never been the same. It makes me sad that I had 19 years to live in a world where I wasn't aware of terrorism. I know now that it had existed, but it never had been part of my everyday life or vocabulary. It makes me sad that my boys will grow up always knowing what a terrorist is and what they are capable of.

I am so grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed, served, fought and died for our country - to create a place where I grew up safe and a place that they protect for my children.

THANK YOU!

"I Holmet My OWN Hand"

Today I told Jack he needed to hold my hand as we crossed the street and this is what he said to me,

"No Mom! I holmet (that is Jack's term for "hold it") myself!"

So, this is how he holds his own hand as we cross the street.

I'm thinkin' he isn't quite understanding what the whole point is and why he needs to hold my hand . . .

Labor Day Weekend in Parowan

Jack said that gathering the candy from the parade was like Halloween!

Yay for small town parades!

Shucking Corn

Cake The Bug

Jack found a new friend at the cabin . . . see the bug in the bottom left corner of this picture? That is Jack's bug friend.

He named the bug "Cake."
Not sure why . . .

Later that night Jack told me that Cake went home to be with his mommy and daddy.

Tractor Show

This was Jack's favorite part of the whole weekend.

Nothin' like a good ol' tractor show, eh?

Iron County Fair

The Bailey Family in Parowan

Cowboy Jack

We always have such a great time spending Labor Day with my family at their cabin.

Jack loooves to dress up like a cowboy too.

Basket Boys

These are darn cute boys in a basket if you ask me . . .

Toy Story "Movement" Class

Here is Jack and his buddy at a new Toy Story "movement" class! Each week they go to this class and learn to dance/jump/play like a different Toy Story character. I honestly look forward to it every week as much as Jack does.

And there is always a little of THIS . . . whenever boys are involved.

Especially two year old boys.

Lovely.

The Bribe Of The Day . . . No, The Century

We had a BUNCH of shopping and errands to run today.

Like a TON.

I bribed Jack with Cars-shaped Mac N Cheese and it worked like a charm!
The errands were a success!

What A Mom Really Wants On Her Birthday

What more could this mom ask for on her 29th birthday? Brownies, Diet Coke, flowers and a darling homemade card from the boys I love most. It was great coming home to find this waiting for me. I am so lucky!

Here is to year 29!

Demolition Derby

While we were up in Parowan with Jason's family we attended the Iron County Demolition Derby. What a scene! Jack was pretty entertained - especially as soon as the first car crashed and the tire blew. These boys sure loved it! It was really fun getting to do something we normally wouldn't do.