Dad's MoTab Experience

This past October General Conference, a combined choir from our area got to sing in the Saturday afternoon session. Justin was chosen to be in the choir and he went to many long practices and worked hard practicing at home for the big day. They were very strict... he had to have wardrobe approved, couldn't use gel, had to powder his forehead, and was required to part his hair (we joked about his comb-over, but he looked pretty handsome anyway). They were instructed not to touch their face or cough. During practices they would have a camera person walk around and project people onto the big screen so they'd get used to being recorded. There was even an article in the newspaper about it. Justin looks like a real MoTab member (a young one).

He was so excited for the big performance and said he had a wonderful experience. The best part is that he was able to sing at all! He had had a terrible cough that week and thought he'd be having to mouth the words because singing would instantly bring on a coughing spell. But he sucked on a cough drop between songs and said that he was able to sing as good as he ever. What a blessing!
We loved watching Dad on TV. It made conference really entertaining for us. Justin got lots of screen time and was even on during the entire rest hymn! The boys said, "Dad makes lots of funny faces!" I think he looked great! It was extra special that Justin could wear his late Grandpa Moulton's suit, and the final hymn, "Abide with Me 'Tis Eventide," was sung at his funeral.

Dad of the Year Award

I've always known that Justin is a wonderful father, but a few weeks ago he really went above and beyond. I was shopping for couches with Ezra and Lucy when I noticed that we no longer had the ONE LAST binky from the hospital. Lucy insists on using the hospital binkies because they are green, and softer and smell like vanilla. I have bought other Soothie binks in pink and green, but she knows the difference... big time! I knew we either lost in at IKEA or the Draper RCWilley - only the two largest stores in the valley. So I was feeling a bit worried that we were being forced into prematurely weening Lucy from the binky. My blood pressure was starting to rise just thinking about the terrible nights and nap times ahead of me. Well, Justin said he would call the hospital and ask about where to get the exact same binkies. A little while later he said that he had to run an errand and that he'd be spending some quality time with Lucy. What? That's odd. Usually he takes the boys places but not little Lu. He said as he went out the door, "We're just going to go spend a little time at Lucy's birthplace." 

Well, it turns out that he went to the hospital and the nurses gave him 3 binkies! They were so nice. Justin asked to pay and they said, "That's okay... but you should have brought us some chocolate!" I am still planning on taking the nurses some chocolate. They saved the day... and so did Justin! 

Kid Quotes and other funnies

While Ezra was at the hospital recovering from his tonsillectomy, the nurse was standing nearby as he ate a popsicle. All of a sudden he said, "Stinkbomb!" The nurse said, "What does that mean?" He said, "I tooted. And it was a big one."

While Nolan was practicing the piano, I kept reminding him of the notes by saying, "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge." Well, when he was done, Ezra was concerned and said, "Mom, I thought Nolan deserved fudge!"

During the summer, the boys were spending too much time playing Minecraft. We set a rule that there would be no playing until 4 o'clock. Well one day, I dozed off around 1 o'clock while reading my book. When I woke up the clocks said 5:15. I couldn't believe it! It turns out that the boys had changed most of the clocks so that they could play their game. I was relieved to find that it was only 2:15. That would have been quite a nap!

The boys love playing with Clarice from next door. She knocked one day while we were eating dinner. She said she'd wait outside for them to finish. The boys were taking a long time to eat so I hurried them along so that Clarice wouldn't be waiting. Nolan said, "Don't worry. Clarice is a patient woman."

Ezra asked me, "Do you think someone could count to 100?" Well, I quickly counted all the way to 100 and then he said, "Wow, that is actually pretty boring!"

Lacey told me that Ezra told Rob, "You have a big, fat forehead!"

I was working on the computer and Nolan came up to me and said, "When I grow up I'm not going to let my wife blog." Clearly I was interrupting his minecraft time.

Nolan was telling me all about a minecraft mod that he wants to create. (It was very involved.) Then he thought for a moment and said, "If I make that mod then I might actually get a lot of girls, which would be a pain in the butt. I'm just not that into girls." I told him that that's good and he said, "Yeah, this isn't the age that I'm supposed to get a girlfriend."

Justin had a cold so I was sleeping downstairs. For some reason, I woke right up at 11:15 p.m. and thought I should check on the boys. It turns out that they weren't in their beds or anywhere in the house. Then I noticed that the front door was unlocked. I opened the door to find them on the porch, cuddling in a sleeping bag and watching a movie on the tablet. What little stinkers sneaking out before they are even teenagers! They said they were going to sleep on the grass but they saw lightning.

Ezra is not a breakfast person but I'm always offering him various cereal options. One day, he got frustrated and said, "Ugh! You always prefer me to have cereal!"

Ezra was watching Lucy and decided to give her a little snuggle. Then he turned to me and said, "Mom, thank you for having a baby!"

And just barely, Nolan was wondering who I was sending this to. I told him it was going on the blog and he said, "Oh no, you and your blogging!"

Loving September

 We've been enjoying the cool weather by taking walks, bike rides, and playing at the park. Lucy loves to climb up slides.
 Ez was looking pretty handsome.

For my Dad's birthday in August, I gave him two tickets to the Park City Home Show. It turns out that Lacey and I joined them and were able to see most of the amazing homes. It was so much fun! We got lots of ideas for the new cabin that my parents are building near Park City. We realized that we wanted to get planting some trees on the property, so over Labor Day weekend we headed up to plant 5 pine trees and 5 quaking aspens. Lacey's family came, too. It was pretty hard work, but the kids enjoyed being outside and we lucked out that it wasn't raining. Our trusty old truck did a great job hauling the trees up there.

 Ezra finally started preschool! This is his 3rd year of preschool and he is with Miss Marissa. He couldn't choose between a person that draws blood or a surgeon. I told him that if he chooses surgeon then he can do both. He thought that was a pretty good deal.

 One night while Dad was out of town, I sent the boys to bed and left Lucy to play quietly in her room for a bit (she wasn't tired yet) while I talked to Justin on the phone. When I was done talking, this is what I found in my room: they can't resist cuddling and snuggling with Lucy!

 See what I mean?

 Grandpa John came up to help me with a big project. I've been totally changing up our living room and entryway, trying to make it feel more light, and less beige. We finally got new couches and a darling chair. The kids love it when Grandpa visits. He read Lucy the same little book over and over again because she just kept putting it in his hands and asking for more. She was so pleased.

Here's the entryway project. Justin was so nice to let me do whatever I wanted and my Dad was so great to do all this work. It turned out even better then I imagined! We had a good time working together, even though he did all the hard stuff.  

Before:

 During:

 After:

And here are a bunch of pictures that we've taken lately:

 Lucy does lots of standing around, but only takes about 3 or 4 steps at a time. She is just too fast (and super funny) at her monkey crawl.

 I'm realizing that I take lots of pictures of her while she is eating. I think that's when she gets the most silly. She does lots of faces and keeps us all entertained at the dinner table.

 She melts my heart with that smile!

 Her most favorite thing in the world is still shoes (other than her binky and blanket). She brings them to us and then sticks out her foot so that we'll put them on. Such a girl!

 She recently learned how to climb up onto the piano bench. She plays us lots of songs throughout the day.

 Justin is singing in the upcoming afternoon session of General Conference. He was beyond excited to be chosen from our ward and can't wait for the big day. There was a dress rehearsal at the conference center and families were welcome to come. We planned to drop by to hear the last 45 minutes. Well, wouldn't you know that an area of the freeway was closed and we ended up spending 30 minutes in stopped traffic. We got there just as they finished. We were sad that we didn't get to see Dad up in the choir seats and take pictures. Anyway, he went home to rest (he had a cold) and we headed to City Creek to eat at Red Iguana and play at the children's area. We had never been there before. Lucy was in heaven (and the boys were too, I suppose). It was hard to get good pictures of her because she was so busy crawling from one toy to another.

 And this is out of order, but earlier this month Justin had a fun outing with his friend, Jeremy, from work. They went on his 4-wheeler and motorcycle up the mountain near Stockton. He said it was a good time.

 Ezra being cute in my sun hat.

Justin is never happier than when he is cuddling with the kids (except when he's cuddling with me, of course, but I don't have a picture of that). They fill up his love tank! And of course Lucy is holding a beloved shoe.

 September flew by! Bring on Fall... the best time of the year!