We were lucky enough to get an invite to go boating with Katie, Braedon, and some of his family a couple of weekends ago. Ryan was out of commission, but he was well enough to stay home with the baby so Ari and I could go. Thanks, Ry!! We had so much fun. It's been years since we've been boating. The weather and water were fantastic!
Ari and Rose. They're pretty good buds. I love it!
Lookin' good while cruisin'. Nevermind the crooked sunglasses. ;)
Ari was obsessed with holding the flag.
Awww, ya! Still got it! Got up on slalom on my first try! The water was really calm, so it was great skiing. It was also freezing, and that was with a full wet suit.
Uncle Braedon was awesome and got out in the water with Ari so she could kneeboard. I'd warmed up and wasn't about to get back in. I was so proud of her! We may have neglected to tell her to let go if she fell the first time around, but she got right back on it and had lots of fun. I love how willing she is to try new things. It was a fantastic day!
Ari earned another fun activity, and chose to go bowling. We had some friends come with us, and it was a great night.
I don't think he likes the flash.... Locke was really good while we were there.
We went to the aquarium last weekend, too. Honestly, Aria doesn't care much about most of the animals. She likes the rope bridge and the petting pool for the stingray and starfish, but that's about it.
I don't know why, but watching these two hold hands always gives me the warm fuzzies.
Locke was there, doin' his thang.
We both suck at posing in cardboard cutouts.
Here are some random pics/videos from the last couple of weeks:
I am in love with this happy, chubby boy!
Check out the 'tude she's giving me. I'm in so much trouble when she's a teenager.
Ready for game day. Go Utes!
We sang Happy Birthday to cousin N last Sunday. Ari LOVES singing Happy Birthday, and was thrilled to get a hat, too.
Ari was jammin' on her guitar the other night. Girl likes to rock.
We got the kids' Halloween costumes this week- I am so excited!! It's going to be a fun month!
It is crazy to me how quickly time goes by when you become a parent. It blows my mind that Locke is already more than 2 months old, and Aria is in preschool. I'm trying to appreciate each stage that they're in, because I know it will pass before I know it.
Locke's 2 month check was last week. He weighed in at 14lb and 13 oz, which is 97th percentile, was 25 inches long (also 97%), and had a head in the 80th percentile. So- he's a big boy! He is smiling, and cooing, has pretty good head control, and still isn't sleeping through the night. He is much happier than he was a month or so ago when he was going through his fussy phase. As far as I know, he's done great with the sitters since I've been back at work. He loves to snuggle, but also does great just kicking it on the floor, looking around. He is all boy, and loves it when you make farting noises. It's super fun to talk and interact with him now. We've been awful at taking official monthly pics, but here are some pictures we've taken (don't judge our at home photography... Ashley!!! All "photo shoots" were done on an impromptu basis with no secondary parent there to help, and none have been shopped...) I love all of the faces he makes.
I stuck him in the chair while I got the camera and was testing it out. This was the best smile I got the whole time!
CHEEKS!
Oh Hi!!
He'll try to copy you when you stick your tongue out at him.
This was about all I got for an official 2 month picture.
Future linebacker pose. This is his "Imaeatyou" face.
The "I just ate a dozen donuts.... and it was GOOOD!" face.
Gah! He's so cute!
The "Mom just told him the Cougars won..." face
This is probably my favorite picture of him. My happy, smiley boy!
All snuggled up after a bath, and going for his fist. He has found his hands, and is constantly sucking on them. I've busted him sucking his thumb a couple of times, and he'll even spit out his pacifier suck on his hand. I'm in trouble!
Aria started Preschool 2 weeks ago, and she LOVES it. She was SOO excited. I found an awesome mom that is willing to pick her up and drop her off from her babysitter. I couldn't get off work, but Ryan stayed home the morning of her first day to drop her off. When he went to the sitters to pick her up, he could her her inside yelling, "I get to go to preschool now!" They got to the school, and the other kids wanted their mom's to come with them, and Ari just told Ryan that she could go downstairs, and took off. He went down to check on her and she was sitting on the mats, all ready to go. She is super excited to show me what she's made at preschool each day,
Her marker board answers drive me nuts. I wrote down what she told me at the time, but her favorite color is usually blue (much to her father's chagrin) and she usually says she wants to be a police officer when she grows up.
She was SO excited about her lady bug backpack. She made me put her in the car with it on!
Happily heading back to school!
I love how excited she is!
We've been to the zoo a couple of times:
Ari calls the roaming peacock her "friend." She chases it, and it runs away. I hope she doesn't think that is how most friendships are...
Locke's first official trip to the zoo! He'd just spit up all over himself and me in this pic. :)
Ari got to pet a chinchilla.
I think this might be our first family pic with us all together since we've had Locke. Glad we're all in our Utah gear!
He doesn't look as chubby in this one, and I like how blue his eyes look. I think they may stay blue, but Ryan is sure they'll be brown.
Mommy/baby selfie!
Ari was being a bit of a stinker this day, so she wouldn't smile for any pictures.
The polar bear actually got in the water... for about 2 seconds.
Neither of them were in the mood to pose for pictures.
They all love the new train!
I took Aria and Locke to the aquarium last week. I keep forgetting that we have passes there and we should go more often. A lot more of the exhibits actually had animals in them this time!
We got to see someone in a scuba suit go into the giant fish tank to save a baby bird that was learning to fly and accidentally got itself stuck on a ledge on the far side of the tank.
My big boy!
Ari loves the rope bridge. She looks so much more grown up to me in pictures, now.
Locke was so good while we were there. I sure love my kiddos.
We are glad it's football season. It's fun to dress us up on game days, and we enjoy watching games with Ryan's family when we can. We get new Utah gear for Ari each year, and this year she's sporting this sweet track suit:
I've even got Utah scrubs for work!
Life has been good. We're excited for Fall and all the fun seasonal stuff that comes with it. Here are some random pictures and videos that we've taken lately:
Ari loves to play tug of war with Abby. This is great when we are too tired to keep her entertained but won't let her watch any more tv. :)
We went to breakfast at Black Bear and Ari started dancing up front.
Ari started waking up every night for one reason or another, so we got her a calendar that she gets to put stickers on for every night she sleeps through. When she gets 7 stickers, we go do an activity of her choice. Her first pick was mini golf, so we went to the Lehi Fun Center to do their black light course.
Ari showing me how to use the band to stretch out at the gym..
She loves Jingle Bells. I have no idea what she thinks the words are. When she stops in the middle, she is getting baby monster and moving him. Baby monster is her imaginary "friend" and he goes everywhere with us. She thinks he's awesome, but I think he can be a real pain in the you-know-what.
She still loves to hold her baby brother. He looks ginormous!
He was being super happy for tummy time today... and this is why. Who isn't happy when there's an arm to suck on?
