Bella Borsa

I'm told bella borsa means beautiful purse in Italian. Behold my birthday present from Italia:

My in-laws just got back from their adopted mother land. This is the one they brought back from their first trip, about three years ago. It's the one I mentioned that matched my red shoes

For pictures of their trip, go to JB's sister Suzanne's blog. Next time I am definitley finding a way to go!

Speaking of pictures, Max played with the camera while I did some work. He took a picture of me, his leg, and his face, plus all his toys but you don't need to see those blurry shots.

He saw the picture of his face, looked closely and said, "I'm wearing Nona's lipstick." Yes, poor child, you were born with lucious lips any girl would die for (when he was a baby someone asked us if he had botox). They are quite red in this picture though.

How to get an almost-4-yr-old to nap

#1 Let him play outside a lot. Maybe in his swimming pool/storage bin.

(that's Benny pre-haircut)

#2 Give him a new beanbag doggie (a present from the neighbors) to cuddle.

Success!

Binks broke

Binks (Benny's nickname for his pacifier or binkie) broke tonight. He chewed right through the tip. He's been trying to suck on what's left but he is quite frustrated and sad. Since he's almost 20 months old, this is a perfect way to say good-bye to it. But it's bittersweet to hear him saying in his crib, "Binks broke. Binks broke!"

We tried to reassure him that he would be fine with his blanket, "night-night." We were shaking our heads from side to side, "mommy doesn't have a binkie, daddy doesn't have a binkie..." So he keeps mournfully shaking his head side to side while saying "Benny."

By the way I had a really bad Monday that is actually quite fun to write about now that it's over.

I changed purses (pictures to come of my bella borsa from Italia) but forgot to include my cell phone car charger. My cell phone was dying as I popped into an interview for a story at the U of U. I parked where I thought they told me to park. I came out and found a boot on the marked news car. My phone died, the boot was there, the car was almost out of gas so no AC in the heat as I tried to figure out what to do. Thankfully I was able to email from my laptop and my boss fixed it all up. She sent another reporter out to help me while she arranged things with the U to smooth things over with the frat boys who put the boot on my car. (They had a hand-written note on my windshield asking for 50 bucks by the way. Very professional.) Oh, and I had on red peep toe heels that, though cute, were hard to walk around in. My second story assignment was to check out graffiti at Ensign Peak. The monument at the top. Hiking was a problem. But at least my shoes matched my purse.

My shorn sheep

Benny's hair was getting long around his ears. He's only had a little trim once or twice in his life, but this time, we buzzed it all off.

I held him down and gave him chocolate while JB did the clipping.

His hair underneath is so blonde he looks bald from a distance. I think he doesn't look quite the same but so cute still. Max keeps telling us "Benny looks different!" Sometimes he rubs his head with his hand. He matches JB, look:

After all miss, this is France

My sister emailed me this. I love it!

KC movie fun

I forgot about these pictures. My sister and I went to see a movie when I was visiting last week. We went to the Fork and Screen near her house. It's awesome. You sit in front of a small bar/table, and a waiter quietly takes your order and brings you dinner while you watch a movie.

After that Bekah showed me the delux screens down the hall -- arm chairs!

It's dark because it's my cell phone camera and I felt sneaky, but boy was it fun.

Kansas City 2

While at Bekah's house the boys played outside with the hose. Well, Max played. Benny curled up and cried when he was sprayed.

Last Friday night, July 3rd, we went to a Royals baseball game. The boys' first MLB game. It was really fun. They made it all the way through to the fireworks at the end. The Royals aren't so good this year (or most years) so the game went fast. And it was dollar hotdog night!

Watching the fireworks:

Some tidbits: The orange band on Max's hand came from the Target pharmacy (where I got all my meds to breath around the cats). If you'll notice Benny doesn't last long without his binkie and "night-night." I hoped by bringing them to the game he would fall asleep in my arms but there was just too much to look at.

Kansas City

We had the best time with my sister Rebekah. We ate at three different BBQ places in three days, including Oklahoma Joe's below. Goooood food.

The boys slept together on Bekah's air mattress. We peeked in and saw Benny snuggled up to Max.

Funny story. I am allergic to cats. When I visited Bekah last year I just took a Claritin everyday and was fine. But this time, our first night, I could barely breathe. I could also barely talk because I was so short of breath and wheezy. I finally had to go to the ER in the middle of the night and get a breathing treatment. Here I am sporting my hospital bracelet bling.
They hooked me up with steroids and an inhaler and I was fine for the rest of our trip.

Missouri odds and ends

We drove over to Adam-ondi-Ahman from my parents' house, and JB and I sat on the same rock where we got engaged almost 6 years ago. Now we have two little squirts (who got tired of the pictures quickly).

In Chilicothe many of the buildings have large murals on the side. This is the side of the El Toro restaurant, where we ate lunch one day.

This was my favorite mural -- Chilicothe, home of sliced bread!

Missouri fun

The boys had a blast at my parents' house. Activities included running and playing outside in the huge open space full of sky and fields, feeding the chickens, petting the new kittens, playing on the lawn mower, reading books and blowing bubble with Gramma. Our last night we roasted s'mores and my dad put on a fireworks show -- the type that are illegal in Utah! I forgot to take a picture of it though.

Missouri trip

We are back from our week in Missouri and Kansas! We spent a few days with my family in northern MO, then a few days with my older sister Rebekah outside Kansas City. Surprisingly, it wasn't muggy and humid at all, and the boys did great on the plane rides.

A good hint -- fly on a holiday with a baby. They had an extra seat! He fell asleep in his car seat.

Their favorite part of the plane trip was the shuttle bus to and from the car rental place and the airport.

It was so nice to see my family again. They had not met Benny yet. They fell in love with him and he with them. It's also been about two years since they saw Max.

Here we are in their backyard. Only 5 out of the 12 kids are currently living at home. Emily, 19, isn't pictured below, she was at work "in town." Rachel, 17, is out in Seattle helping my brother Michael and wife Bethany with their new preemie baby. My brothers James and Joe are in Texas, Peter is in CO, Enoch in heaven. In the picture below, Stephen, 15, is with the hat, Seth, 21, is in the back, Sarah, 10, is in the front.

Sarah calmly informed me I could be her mother. I told her sometimes people thought that I was when she was a baby and I was visiting home from college! Max adored Sarah, and called her his friend instead of his aunt.

So I Think I Can Dance

Once again, I find myself asking why I cannot touch my shin to my ear yet. I mean, c'mon, I've had almost 30 years to practice.

And I love this show.