Back to the Y

I hadn't been to Utah in almost 2 years so when Chris started talking about going up for the BYU vs. University of Washington game I told him I want to go too! Chris usually makes it to at least one football game in Provo every year and I thought it would be fun if we all went too! One of the biggest highlights of our trip was the fact that the stars aligned and I was able to get together with 2 of my college roomies, Meagan and Megan! The last time we were all together was at Megan Newell's wedding over 4 years ago. It was too bad we didn't have Carrie there too and we would have been able to recreate Jamestown #13. It was so much fun to get to hang out and just be together for a few hours. It just left me wanting more time with my roomies. I hope next Summer we can get together again. The best part about us getting together is that we all had babies born within a few months of each other! Both Megan and Meagan have their first baby and I of course have #4! Miles, Libby, and Gracie played together on the floor as we all talked. It was so much fun to see them as moms. Someday our little ones could end up at BYU together!

Our trip was very short, we really were only in Provo for one full day. We arrived Friday afternoon and I got together with my Roommates. On Saturday we got up and headed over to the BYU bookstore to get our game gear. Carter got a new hat, Maddie got a new shirt and Chris got a new shirt as well. I was excited to get some of my favorite downeast tees. Chris and Amanda were also in Utah for the game and stayed at the same hotel as us so they went with us too. Chris was going to go to the game with Chris and Amanda and I was planning on hanging out with the kids. My brother Chris was outside the bookstore and overheard a girl trying to sell her ticket. He bought it for only 18 bucks and Carter was able to join them! I had just said not 10 minutes before, "I wish Carter could go to the game." What a miracle! After the bookstore, we went to our favorite restaurant Brick Oven. Mmm... makes me hungry just typing about it. Carter enjoyed a yummy homemade root-beer.

Later that afternoon we headed to the game from our hotel which was about a mile away. Here is our group.

We did a lot of walking that day. After we left Carter, Chris and Chris and Amanda at the stadium I headed (against traffic I might add, foot traffic) south on Canyon towards campus to show Maddie what a day in the life a BYU freshman is like. I hadn't been on campus (other than the bookstore which doesn't count) since I'd graduated (almost 10 years ago!) so I was anxious to see how things had changed.

First we stopped just outside the stadium to take a picture with the famous cougar statue. I have fond memories of my dad taking us kids to play on the cougar statue and rolling down the hill. Maddie sure enjoys listening to my memories and wanted to pose next to the statue. Apparently its a popular meeting spot for people going to the game, no one would get out of our way to take a picture.

Once we got past all the crazy freshman headed to the football game. We noticed a shaved Ice shack across from the dorms. OH MY GOSH!!!! It was the best stuff I'd ever had in my life. Sawyer and Maddie kept saying they wanted to marry it!

I took the kids to my old hall, Hinckley Hall. I showed them the living room area and where we would get together for activities and "Ward Prayer".

I told Maddie about my Sunday runs to the vending machines and she knows all about the dining plus card now! I remember the vending machines were always pretty cleared out on Sunday nights, not much selection.

Then we walked up to my floor. I probably wouldn't have walked right up to the floor I lived on but since literally EVERYONE was at the game it was completely empty. Here are Maddie and Carter outside my door. #2204 So many fun memories there with Meagan.
I showed Maddie the hall bathroom and she thought that was pretty gross that we all shared a bathroom and showers.

We walked out to the Cannon center and it is totally different. I was disappointed the little food place inside (which is now the Creamery at Helaman) didn't know how to make grasshopper shakes. Oh well we settled for ice cream and it was tasty.

I absolutely love BYU for all its beautiful flowers. The campus is simply beautiful no matter what time of year. I had to snap this pic of Maddie and Libby in front of some of the pretty blue flowers that adorn campus right now.

Maddie with the Indian statue on campus.

We spent a while in the Eyring Science Center looking at some of the fun science displays and experiments there. Maddie was playing with Magnets here.

Maddie posed in front of the "Tree of Wisdom" a piece of art that has been on campus for many years. It looks like it needs a face lift though. Isn't the sky just gorgeous?

We ended up at the Wilkinson Center to watch the rest of the game and have some food. Once it was almost over we started our way back to the stadium to meet the rest of the gang. We made one last stop to see good ol' Brigham Young.

Throughout our walk I told Maddie all about BYU and all the wonderful experiences I had there. It was a great experience to be able to share that with my daughter. I can't believe in only 9 years she will hopefully be starting her Freshman year at BYU. Maddie knows it is very tough to get into BYU and it is only getting tougher. She wants so badly to go and even made the comment while we were there, "Mom, can you just ground me to my room until I'm 18 so I'll just do school work all day long?" I thought that was cute. Who knows if Maddie will still want to go to BYU when she's ready for college. I certainly hope so but I'll support her in whatever she wants to do. When we got home from our trip she started her college savings account and made a budget of how much everything is going to cost her for her freshman year (right down to frequent visits to Brick Oven and trips to the arcade in the Wilkinson Center) I've got a planner on my hands!

As we headed back to the stadium I looked up at the beautiful mountains that tower above the campus and the huge Y on the mountain and I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and a sense of great love and appreciation for my time at BYU. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend such an incredible institution and I hope and pray my children will be afforded the same opportunity.

Our trip concluded with a trip to Cafe Rio after the game (just a block from our hotel) and then a long drive home on Sunday morning.

It's Great to be 8 months old

On Saturday Libby turned 8 months old. I know I say this every month but where has the time gone? She is growing so fast I just can't slow her down. Her two central lateral teeth are now coming in on top so she no longer looks like a vampire. I can't believe she has 6 teeth already. My other kids didn't even have one tooth at this age. Libby is still not interested in crawling though. When we put her on her tummy she just gets mad when she can't get anywhere. Libby has started waving at people and it is adorable. One thing that Libby always does when she is sitting is cross her legs (see collage above) it is simply adorable and she is such a lady. She also is eating many more foods including being able to feed herself small cut up food. Libby loves her siblings so much. She cracks up laughing at them when they act silly. It is just the most precious thing to watch, makes my heart melt. Libby is in love with her Daddy. Whenever he comes around she lights up and gets so excited.

Here is a picture I took of Libby the other day. We had a brief stint of Fall weather so she wore her pink pea coat (which was Maddie's too.) I'm looking forward to some more cool weather so she can get lots of use out of it.

Libby also started taking big girl baths the other day. Sawyer loves taking a bath with her and makes her laugh the whole time. She is totally a water girl and loves her bath time.

Sawyer's Day at D-land

On Sawyer's actual birthday we all went to Disneyland. Kristy, Brady and Coleman came along with us which was so much fun for Sawyer. Grammy brought Maddie and Carter in the afternoon so they didn't miss school. We had a great time and enjoyed a day at Disney without the crowds. I had a mystery shop that day too so Sawyer got to pick out some fun things for his birthday (for FREE!)

Sawyer got to do the fishing game and won a little turtle. We tried to win a bullseye for him at the horse racing game but with no luck. Maybe next time.

The kids had fun playing in the fountains at the new park area on the water front. They got a little too wet but luckily it was a pretty warm day and they dried off quick.

I just love taking pictures on the carousel. Can't get enough of em.

One of the highlights of Sawyer's day was that he finally reached 40" and was able to go on some of the fun big kid rides! The childhood theory that you grow on your birthday every year must be true!

When we were at California Adventure Sawyer was excited to be able to go on Soaring over California. At Disneyland he was thrilled to be able to go on Space Mountain. Here he is just before boarding.

Sawyer had no idea what Space Mountain was all about and since its all inside it was quite a surprise. I was lucky enough to get to ride next to him. During the ride all I could think about was what was going through his head. Here he is just as we are starting the ride, looking a little nervous.

During the ride Sawyer started to cry and kept screaming "When is this over". I felt awful and just wanted my baby to feel safe. When it was over he wasn't crying but he wasn't happy either. Daddy gave him 2 dollars for riding and that made him feel a little better. As we walked back to meet up with the rest of the group and Carter was going on an on about how cool the ride was and how much he loves Space Mountain. Sawyer then speaks up and says in sort of a grumble, "Alright I liked it"

We had a great day and Sawyer had a wonderful birthday. By the time we left he was definitely ready to go. Our last ride was Dumbo and he threw a fit in front of everyone because he had to ride a pink elephant. Even though Sawyer is now 4 he definitely still takes on the baby role sometimes. Hopefully that changes as Libby gets bigger.

Toy Story B-day Party

We celebrated Sawyer's 4th Birthday on August 28 at our home. We had a fun family party and invited a couple of Sawyer's little friends. Here is the invite.

We had so much fun with the toy story theme. I made these cute favor bags the kids went home with.

My mom made this amazing cake! No it's not fondant, its all done with butter cream. Isn't she amazing? I made the alien cupcakes.

Sawyer was so cute when we sung to him. I could tell he was very happy but shy. He doesn't like to be in the spotlight in large groups. (he used to but lately he's been funny, must be his age). He didn't blow out his candles cause he was being so shy!

We had the house all decorated for Toy Story with toys around. We served Pizza from "Pizza Planet" and salad and fruit. The kids played "The Claw" where they tried to see who could pick up the most toys with "The Claw".

They also had to put Mr. Potato head together. It was so much fun to have all the cousins there from the Nielsen and Jones side.

Sawyer got a lot of presents. He opened them so quickly I couldn't keep up! He was in heaven. With a Toy Story themed party naturally he got a lot of Toy Story gifts. Here he is posing in front of his Toy Story gifts!

Aunt Amanda made him an adorable stuffed alien out of felt. She is so creative! He loves it.

Libby got lots of attention at the party and actually slept through a good chunk of it too!

Sawyer was pooped at the end of the day. He had a great time and loves all his new presents! We have spent a lot of time putting legos together.

My baby boy is 4!

Its hard to believe that my baby boy is now 4! Sawyer turned four on September 1. and couldn't be happier. Four is such a fun age and Sawyer is growing up and learning so many new things every day. He loves going to preschool and every morning wakes up and asks me if he has school today! He also enjoys his time alone with Me (and Libby by default). When we talk about kindergarten he gets a little upset and says he is not going to ever go to kindergarten. I hope his feelings change by next year. Sawyer is a little shy unlike my other kids. He resists change but luckily warms up to new things quite quickly, so I'm sure he'll have no problem leaving me to go to kindergarten. We'll at least have our afternoons without the big kids around!

Sawyer looks up to his brother and sister so much. He copies everything Carter does. It reminds me of myself with my older sister. Carter gets annoyed and I try to remind him that it is a compliment. Sawyer also loves it when Maddie babies him and takes care of him. Carter is such an adorable big brother to Libby. He has always just adored her but lately he's really starting to play with her. She loves to laugh at him when he plays with her. He's also gotten a little more comfortable holding her and rolling around with her on the floor which is fun to watch.

Sawyer is a special part of our family and we love him very much. He is such a fun little character and quite funny as well. He has an adorable smile and dimples that make me melt. I can't imagine my life without him. Someday I will miss the time we are able to spend together while the older kids are at school. He truly cherishes that time we have as do I. He loves to cuddle up and tell me that he loves me and that I am the best mommy in the world. What more could I ask for? My little guy is growing up but he'll always be my baby boy.