James the charmer

I tried to lay sweet baby James down in his crib the other night to start hardcore sleep training. I lasted only a few minutes.

I went in to try and soothe his crying by patting his bum, and he reached up and put his arms around my neck. I couldn't help it, I took him out and tucked him into bed with me where he could use his two binkies.

He is just a lovie dovie, and is going to quickly become a toddler before I can help it.

He's 14 months old, and can stand briefly on his own and walk while holding on to stuff. Then he falls down smack on his bum.

He tried out JB's lightweight camping chair and turned all Goldilocks -- "this one is jussstt right."

He charms his way onto dates with JB and me, while the three other boys stay with a babysitter.

And he recently had his second haircut. Look at those curls. And those cheeks.

I can't stand it.

Pioneer Trek

We did it, we trekked.

JB and I left our children for almost four days and four nights to be with the youth of our ward and stake for a Pioneer Trek in central Wyoming.  It was incredible.

This is the second time JB and I have had the opportunity to go on Trek. (see quick post from four years ago here and pictures here). 

We left early Wednesday morning on three school buses and several trucks and trailers with our gear and food. One of our first stops was Independence Rock.

They told us people coming west on the Oregon and Mormon Trails knew they had to be to this point by July 4th, hence Independence Rock. Many pioneers scratched their names into the rock. JB and many others scampered up to the top. I did not.  I may not be pregnant this trek like I was four years ago, but I still didn't see the need. This was JB's view on the way up.

By 3 that afternoon we arrived at the Martin's Cove Center. This is where you pick up your handcarts, get your stuff loaded, then trek 3 miles to the campgrounds.

When we arrived, black clouds gathered up....and just after JB and I got the tent up, it started POURING, with lightening, thunder, and then sideways hail. We all took refuge in the trailers to wait it out.

When the skies cleared we were ready to eat the first of many great dutch oven meals. It's amazing how hungry you get in the outdoors.

This was our camping group. The youth were all placed in groups of 7-8 with a Ma and Pa.  That's what we did four years ago. This time, as bishop, JB was a captain of a youth group, and we were the Ma and Pa of these adults. Basically we were in charge of bringing supplies and information for these other leaders. We had two members of the stake presidency and their wives in our group, plus two other bishops and their wives.

The skies were beautiful.

Thursday we trekked to Martin's Cove.  This is where the members of the Martin Handcart Company of 1856 tried to find shelter when a fierce October snowstorm hit them on their way west.

You could feel the somber spirit of the place where so many people died.

I think we walked 6 miles on Thursday.  After Martin's Cove, we got back on the school buses and drove an hour west to the Willie Center. This is where the Willie Handcart Company spent their tragic days when that October snowstorm hit. When we got to our campground, another rainstorm hit, with more hail.

But that soon cleared and we were putting up tents again. I will admit I got cranky hungry (hangry), because we were helping others put up tents and forgot to get new charcoal on our dutch ovens. I ate my lasagna warm-ish with crunchy noodles, but the others waited for it to keep cooking.


The next day was our long day. A 10-miler on the trails around Willie's meadow and the Sweetwater River. We crossed it 3 times. The last time, we all played in the water. Last time JB was dragged in, this time, he walked in with the young men and said "Dunk me, I'm yours."

Then he just laid down and relaxed.

It's a game each trek to dunk the leaders. Here they all are chil-axin' in the water afterward.

I stayed out of the water, instead, I hunkered down behind the outhouses to do some pumping for my baby I left behind. I would do this during any extended break along the trail.

Our friends and neighbors the Thorntons were in charge of the whole thing, and they did such a great job. Here's JB with Greg, and me with Cindy:

Here's just our ward's youth and leaders that went:

The picture of the whole group (150? 200 people?) is very impressive.  On Saturday we drove back on the buses. It seemed to take so long, but finally, at 4:10 PM, we pulled back into our stake center parking lot in Salt Lake City to a big welcoming crew, including my boys below, holding signs and roses for me,  with their amazing, loving Nonna behind them in the pink shirt:

I couldn't help it, I started to cry when I held sweet baby James again.

He gave me the longest hug, and then gave JB a big hug.

Reunited with our boys:

We are so grateful for JB's parents for taking such loving care of our boys while we were away. When we would get a signal, we would call, and each time the boys would rattle off all the fun stuff they were doing. Pauline may need a vacation now, though. Maybe to Wyoming.

Opa!

JB's mom's sister married a Greek man. Ergo, his cousins are Greek. And, one of those cousins got married in July. It was a blue and white and musical wedding.

Please forgive Andrew's pirate eye patch. He had a stye under his eye that was drained that day. Why not have a family picture capture the sight?

This sweet baby James likes me a lot. And I like him a lot. I'm back to needing a shelf as a hip.

 

But I'm glad he is making friends with Nonna. Especially because he will be staying with her while JB and I go on our stake pioneer Trek.

Two photo bombs below, Matt, and my undershirt.

Cousins!

Smaller cousins!

Cousins dancing!

Cousins trying to dance!

Mother and son dance.

Mother and son.

Handsome brothers.

Beautiful parents.

Darling sisters.

Cute family.

Another cute family.

Opa!

Max's birthday

Max couldn't wait for his birthday this year. He had a very specific wishlist, including Daddy's lasagna. So JB made it the day before, and stuck a candle in it.

 

Look at James's little face as he wobbles standing up by the table to take a peek! Max ate leftovers for days, including a plate for breakfast in bed on his birthday.

 

He got a new suit from Nonna, just in time to wear to a wedding the night before his birthday (I'll post about it soon).

 

Handsome suited boys.

 

Besides the food and suit, Max's other specific wish was for a RipStik. He practiced and practiced on neighbors' boards, and went with me to check out one I found for sale online. Then he had to wait til his birthday to use it, though I sometimes heard him sneaking a quick try in the laundry room where  it was waiting.

 

Here he is first thing birthday morning.

I tried to make a cake that looked like a RipStik for the birthday dinner at Nonna and Pappa's house. He loved it. Cake Boss I am not, but it was fun to try.

 

 

Birthday kisses for our firstborn.

Max is such a great 9 year old boy. Helpful, funny, compassionate, anxious about his younger brothers' welfare and safety, sometimes a little TOO bossy over Benny but still a great friend to him.

I love how he reads out loud from the top bunk to Benny and Andrew after I say good night.

He is super cute with baby James.

He is particular about food, and could eat the same few foods over and over: toast he makes himself with cheese or lunch meat on top, grilled cheese dipped in ketchup, daddy's lasagna, cheeseburgers and pizza.

He is particular about his hair. He wants to style the front like daddy, and hates buzz cuts now.

He is starting to listen a lot more to what JB and I say as we talk to each other. He lurks to listen, or inches his head up in the car to overhear us. He reads the newspaper every day and asks big questions about what he reads and hears.

He loves to watch sports with daddy, reclining on the other couch.

He sleeps in his underwear in the summer time (prompting 3 year old Andrew to want to do the same), and it just makes me giggle to see his long body lounging around the house.

His feet are just about the same size as mine. I have a feeling he will be taller than me very soon. And he's only 9! Do you think I can put a brick on his head to stop him from growing? My heart is full as I reflect on my firstborn boy.