The Lateley's.........

BOWS!!


My friend shared her cute 4th of July ribbon and buttons with me so I could make a bow, so Aubrey is just about ready for the 4th. I found the cutest little dress for her to wear, got her bow made, and now I think I will make a little bracelet. So, while I was in bow mode, I finished a couple of bows I have had hanging around for a few weeks, and made the brown one with the flower to match a shirt I just bought her. Then I went to put them up and was amazed at how many bows that girl has! I am pretty sure she doesn't wear them all because I do things all backward. Instead of finding ribbon to match her clothes, I always find cute ribbon on sale and think, "I will have to find an outfit to match this.", and that rarely happens. Anyway, I just like to make them.

Gotta Love That Water Proof Cast!



This whole cast business has not slowed Wesley down a bit. He still jumps on the trampoline, goes to the pool, tackles Aubrey, and plays and plays like nothing ever happened to him. He did tell us today, for the first time in a week of having the cast on, that it is time for it to come off because his arm feels much better. Just two more weeks! In the mean time, it has been so nice that he can still swim and play in the water!

Just a funny little side story: I was bringing Wesley and one of his friends home from a birthday party today and all of a sudden I sense a bit of a heated discussion going on in the back. It went something like this:
Wesley: No! You can't come to my birthday party because you were naughty to everyone.
Friend: Nu uh! I wasn't.
Wesley: You have to make good choices and keep things cleaned up and be nice.
Friend: Okay, I will be nice. Then can I come to your birthday?
Wesley: Yes. But you can't come if you don't clean up the toys and be nice. So, be nice to everyone.
Friend: Okay. I will. I will be nice and clean up.
Wesley: Okay, then you can come.
I have no idea where that all came from, but it was funny to listen to. Oh to be young again! (no thank you.)

Car Maintenance.

Thanks to Brady, and a HUGE thanks to my dad for his amazing wisdom and ability to diagnose, and teach mechanics over the phone, our water pump in our car has been replaced and we are just about set for our trip out to Utah next month. HOORAY!





Part Two of the Canning Project:






yummy! Holy Tomatoes!!

Well, the veggies from the farmers market arrived this week (Thursday). About 80-90 pounds of tomatoes, a box of bell peppers, and a box of mixed summer squash and zucchini. The Roma's were ready to bottle today. Wesley got me up at 5:45 am this morning and I started working at 6:30 am. So, the Roma's are finished and now my friend and I have about 40-50 pounds of stake tomatoes to can on Monday, once they ripen up a bit. I froze most of the peppers and summer squash, but haven't done anything with the zucchini yet. We also got a couple of watermelons. I was under the impression they would be seedless watermelons. But alas! They have seeds. HUGE seeds. When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they mean it right down to their watermelon seeds. They look like small roaches. In fact, the other day I bent down to pick up, what I thought was a watermelon seed, off of the floor and it ran away from me! Roach. Yuck!




A few of the finished Roma's....and here is what we have left to do.

CURSES!!

Yesterday morning I was sitting in the great room (the room right off the kitchen), just thinking. Brady was gone to his meetings, and the kids were playing up stairs. I started to wonder about Brady's foot and how he was feeling because he smashed it the other day and it was totally purple. I was thinking about how glad I am he didn't brake his foot. Well, that got me to thinking about my siblings and I, and how my parents never had to take any of us to the emergency room for broken bones and how amazing that is. That led me to ponder on my future with my kids, and I began to wonder if I'd ever end up in the ER with any of my kids and broken bones. Well, I guess I cursed our family (or Wesley at least), because then yesterday night we found ourselves sitting in the ER with Wesley, and yup, he has an elbow fracture. I hope this is not a foreshadowing of things to come with this little man of ours.




At the ER Sunday night, they took x-rays, and then braced his arm, wrapped it, and sent him home in a sling. We made an appointment this morning and we're able to get Wes in this afternoon to see the orthopedic doctor. They removed the brace, and it left a cottony residue on Wesley's arm from sweating. He said his arm was all "fluffy". He had fun looking at the models of the skeletal system. He was very brave and cooperated nicely when the nurse and doctor wanted to check his arm.



After one more x-ray, they were ready to begin casting his arm. Mom got to help hold his arm in place.


And he chose green! I figured he'd choose green or orange. The best part of all, is this is a WATER PROOF cast! What a blessing for this guy (and mom and dad)! I never knew they had such a thing, but apparently he can get all the way in the pool and it is fine! How awesome is that? He has been getting a lot of attention and already has a few signatures on his cast.

We get to go back in 3 weeks to get it taken off. Does that seem quick? I am not going to complain. I think it is great!

And so now Wesley is the famous kid on the block and is really lovin' it.

I know it sounds nuts, but this has been a very fun, interesting and educational experience. Even for Wesley, even though it hurt, he did awesome. We heard, "Oh what a darling little boy!" a lot, and that always makes a mom feel good.

The Big Project: Part One

Brady inherited some random scraps of wood from our friends who moved (thanks Johnsons) and it has been sitting out in the garage. Wesley saw the wood and kept asking and asking if he could build something with it. I would get the hammer out and some nails and he would pretend to make all kinds of things. Mostly dog houses. A couple of weekends ago, Brady and Wes decided to make a little garage for Wesley's cars (since Brady told him we were never going to have a dog, so there was no reason to make a dog house). They got as far as cutting out the pieces, sanding the wood, and staining them before it was so hot they had to take a brake..........for a few weeks. Keep in mind they are doing this little project with no power tools!! How did people survive before power tools?


Dad teaching Wes how to use a hand saw.....

Daddy sawing away. Wesley got bored with the hand saw. Man we need a work bench or something!

Finally the pieces are cut and sanded. This was Wesley's favorite part. (not moms, since she found the door to the garage and the guest bathroom door, with little stain hand prints all over. Lucky for the boys, it washed off.)

Of course, Wesley has got his little car in the mix "making tracks". Uhg!

They had fun. It was a good experience and someday they will finish it. We'll keep ya posted!

Untitled

Aubrey showing off her new necklace and bracelet. She has been wanting a necklace for a few days now. So, she was thrilled this morning when I told her I made her one last night. (if you click on the picture it will make it bigger so you can see the necklace better.) It is so fun to have a little girl.
.

I told the kids to get their shoes on so we could go to the store. They came running in ready to go in these...... My kids love their boots! Gotta love it!!! Now, we are really ready to go.

Little garden update

Well, it got hot enough here that no more tomatoes would start growing, so we only got 5, one still ripening, but here are the four that are ripe. They taste really good. I went to a gardening class the other night and learned what veggies are good to plant when, so maybe we can expand our garden this fall. You can have a fall, winter, and spring garden here. That is so cool! It is just to hot now for anything to grow. We didn't get anything from our cucumbers or squash. However, they keep growing new vines and leaves and even keep blossoming. I am going to attempt to keep them alive through the summer and see if maybe we will get anything from them this fall when it cools down. Mostly just to see if I can, but the kids have really loved watering the plants and watching them grow.

I ordered 60 lbs of tomatoes from a local farmer and that order will be here next week. So, guess what we will be doing next weekend? Canning tomatoes!

And this is a what we did with 3 of the tomatoes; Tomato, Basil, Garlic pizza. My kids don't eat it, but Brady and I really like it. I press about 2 cloves of fresh garlic into about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and set it aside. Then I slice the tomatoes, and chop the basil. I pour the olive oil over the pizza crust (sometimes I will make the crust, but I usually just buy the Boboli pizza crust that is already made, cooked and everything) and add the other ingredients. Top with mozzarella cheese..........mmmmm yummy.

Friday's Date..........

For our Friday date, I suggested maybe it would be fun to go blueberry picking at a U-Pick blueberry farm just north of here. We had a really great time. We even got to explore a little bit of Conroe, which was an adventure in and of itself.
On the way to the farm, we realized we only had 10 dollars cash. We weren't sure if that was going to be enough for the blueberries, so we took an accidental detour up to Conroe to hit a Wellsfargo, and then headed back south to the farm. I say accidental because we were trying to follow the GPS to the blueberry farm, but the actual address would never pull up right. So, we were just sorta following our senses. I get so turned around sometimes, it is a good thing Brady was driving. We saw many interesting things on our little detour. I got pics of a couple of the really, really fun ones.

Click on this pic to enlarge it. We got a kick out of this Bail Bonds place. How'd ya like to try and conceal that weapon? That would be cool if it really fired. Kinda like a cannon or something.

We drove past this and I didn't notice it, so Brady turned around to show me. He was wondering what in the world this place was. But when we were turning to head back by to take a pic of it, we saw a paintball sign. So, we are guessing this must be a battle field for paintball wars. Cool, eh?

Go Deb! The bucket is almost half full!!

hmmm...... only about 6 blueberries fill his bucket. I wonder why?

Okay, I must confess, Brady really out did me when it came to picking blueberries. He ate more than me, but he also picked a whole lot more than me. In the end we had over 7 lbs of blueberries and over half of that was Brady. He just dumped all of his blueberries into my bucket to make it look like I picked more. Or maybe, because his bucket was getting so heavy, he decided to let me carry them all??? hmmmm......tricky guy. J/J ha ha. Anyway, we had a lot of fun. The weather was great. Up until the last 15 minutes or so we were there, we enjoyed a nice, cool breeze and it was overcast, and we were even blessed with a few sprinkles of rain. Then the clouds parted and the sun beat down on us and we remembered, "oh yeah, we are in Texas". We bought some local honey for 4 dollars a bottle. Doin' our best to support the locals.

The Latest......

Aubrey had her first experience with gum! I would give her a little piece and she would stand there with her mouth open and laugh. She wouldn't really chew it. She sure thought it was funny though. And yes, it did eventually end up all over her hands. LOL
I went in for a little touch up on my hair.............ummm, I really don't know what to say, except I got a little more than a touch up.
Literally, Brady's hair is barley shorter than what mine is at this moment. I am pretty sure this is the shortest it has EVER been. Was it really just last November that my hair was to the middle of my back? (it will grow, it will grow, it will grow.............*sigh*) Really, I have loved having the short hair. It is different every time I get it cut, because I go to somebody new every time. Just haven't found the golden hair stylist. My golden hair stylist all live in Utah!!
We hit Splash Town today. It was fun, as always. We were having so much fun I didn't get around to taking many pics for y'all. Next time, okay?

Why Music??

Posted by Debbie.
(This one's for you Jenn!)

Has anybody noticed I have a lot of love songs on my playlist??? I guess it is because a lot of the songs I have up are songs that were played at my reception after Brady and I were married. With very few exceptions, most of the songs on my playlist, I chose because they remind me of somebody, something, or a specific time of my life, that brings me happy memories. There are a few I have that I put on, just because I like them. Like, 'Bubbly' by Colby Caillat, I just like that song. It is fun.
'Built this City' by Starship: This was one of me and my sisters favorite songs when we were kids. It would come on the radio and we'd all sing our little hearts out. I still know almost every word of the song.
'Turn Around Bright Eyes' by Bonnie Tyler: In high school I had the best group of girls as my friends. Our little group was nick named "The Buffalo Gang" (because you could hear us coming from a mile away). I love these girls so much. We had so much fun together. A lot of music I love is because it is tied to such fun memories with these girls. We have video of us girls making cookies listening to this song. We all have spatulas, wire whisks, or spoons we are using as 'microphones' and are singing this song at the top of our lungs. And of course the music is choreographed and we are all right on cue with every movement. So fun...........
'Sold' by John Michael Montgomery (One of my favorite country artist) was always a great one to karaoke to. My sister, Michelle, my friend Arin, and I karaoke'd this song one night at The Malt Shop in Provo. I love country music. It is fun to dance to.
Most of Enya reminds me of Dr. Donaldson's office, where I worked as an Ophthalmic Tech. when Brady and I were first married and until I had Wesley. I loved my job! It was so fulfilling to me. I loved working with the patients and I loved the girls I worked with.
U2: Not only are a lot of their songs ones that are attached to great memories, but they were one of my favorite groups all through my "younger" years, and I still enjoy listening to them.
Between my sisters, friends, and my sweet hubby, there are many, many songs that I could list and tell you story after story about a memory it is tied to. But, I will save you from having to read anymore. And if you are curious about a song and the memory it is linked to, you know where to find me.
I LOVE MUSIC!!
Your turn.......................

Little Vandal!!

You see that hole where my finger is?? That USE to be the power button to turn the TV on/off. It has been pushed in! Not pulled off. How? I have no idea! There were no eye witnesses. We only know that this latest act of vandalism is the mark of, none other, than our sweet little girl. I think we are closer than ever to retiring this poor set. This 3-in-one beauty, was given to us as a wedding gift from my Dad and Ann. So, it has been with us about 5 years now. It is officially deemed "the kids TV". It barley survived Wesley. The DVD player doesn't work. But we bought a portable one for that problem. I can't even tell you how many times this thing has been taken apart to get random little toys out of the VHS side. Everything from little green army men, to gold fish crackers. Uhg!!!!

Chocolate Pudding

Morning came and with it, smiles
and wonderings of what to do.......

Then suddenly, blue eyes grew wide

and

smiles crept across tiny lips

giggles danced around

sweet covered faces

beaming with delight!

Chocolate has that effect on most

especially my little sweeties.

Health and Beauty (posted by Debbie.)

Aubrey got this dress from her daddy. He bought it for her when he went to Argentina a few months ago. He did a great job picking it out! I've been meaning to put up a pic. of her in this dress forever! I love it! Isn't she beautiful?
I have had a few conversations with different people lately about good children's vitamins. My kids love, love, love this vitamin. It is Nature's Plus brand. They actually ask me for a vitamin every day. And I like them too. I have a hard time with vitamins...they make me feel sick a lot. But these don't. I took them the whole time I was pregnant with Aubrey. Anyway, the point here is, if you are looking for a good children's vitamin, this is a great one. I don't like the gummy vitamins and those that are like "candy". To each his own, but I think that kids need to realize there is a difference between treats, and things that are actually good for your body. However, if that is all you can get your kids to take, it is defiantly better than nothing. (yes, my kids do get to eat candy and treats. But I also offer them a lot of healthy snacks too. Like carrots and apples and celery, and Wesley's new favorite treat, broccoli!)

Nerves

Aubrey is feeling a little better today. She hasn't had a fever since earlier this morning, and was up playing with Wesley. So, I decided we would go on a little field trip to Target to get a couple of things to send to my sister-in-law, who is due to have a baby soon. I needed out of the house, and so did Aubrey. So, it worked out well. Of course, while we are there, my kids asked to go to the toy isle over and over and over until I finally gave in just to keep them quiet. It is actually kinda fun sometimes to walk up and down the isles and see what new toys are out. Well, apparently I was not keeping pace with Wesley like he thought I should. We were in one isle looking at the 'furr real' pets and Wesley wanted to go look at some pirate ship. Aubrey was enjoying the little furr real puppy, so I was waiting for her. All the while Wesley was stomping his foot and saying, "mom! Hurry! Come on!". I kept telling him to be patient because we needed to wait for Aubrey. He finally said to me, "Uhg Mom! You are getting on my nervous!". I burst out laughing. The kid is cracking me up these days! I told him it is "nerves" not "nervous" in that context. But he still said, "Yeah, nervous!"

"Motorcycle Box"

Thursday is recycle day. We have a green, plastic box that we fill up during the week with all of the plastic and paper to recycle. So, I went out side to throw something away and said to myself, "where did my recycle box go?" Apparently Wesley heard me. I went in and Wesley kept asking me, "mom, did you find your motorcycle box?". I was so confused. He asked if I checked the garage. He even went and looked in the garage for me. So, through a series of confusing conversations about the "motorcycle box", I finally figure out what he means.........THE RECYCLE BOX! It had blown a little way down the street. So, Wesley went and got it for me. So, funny.

Sick Kid=Really Clean House...for a minute anyway

Our little Sweetie not feeling so good.


Aubrey is sick.

Wesley is not sick (yet), but is thrilled that I have been letting Aubrey watch movies on the computer, and has been joining in on the little movie fest we are having at our house the past couple days. He did go to play group yesterday without us (thanks Julie). Other than that, Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine have been playing a little more than usual.

This all means I feel like I haven't accomplished much except hold my sick baby girl. Which is actually kinda nice. Anyway, then I look around, and my house is sooooo clean!!! I go nuts when somebody gets sick and clean everything 3 or 4 or one million times (as opposed to the normal once or twice a week), and then diffuse Thieves like crazy, just to make sure I get rid of all the germs. I would dare say I am somewhat obsessive compulsive that way. I don't even realize how nuts I go sometimes.

So, I will enjoy holding my sick one, and enjoy my clean floors, dishes, clean bathrooms, etc. for a day or so more until everyone feels good again and I'm back to spending the day on my hands and knees cleaning up spills; one after another, after another, after another. I LOVE MY JOB!! (Please know their is no sarcasm in that last sentence at all. I really do love my job, even when it stinks.)

"Tree Grass"

Notice the little specks of broccoli all over his chin and cheek? He is so stinkin' cute!!!

We ordered pizza tonight for dinner. Of course I had to throw out something more healthy than just greasy pizza, so I made up a veggie plate with baby carrots and broccoli. I was pretty sure it was a shot in the dark that my kids would eat the broccoli. Aubrey ate some carrots with ranch, but turned her nose up at the green stuff. Wesley on the other hand, took me by surprise when he grabbed a huge piece and said, "mmmmm! Mom, I like grass!" I was so taken back by it! I have offered him broccoli cooked and uncooked time and time again and he'd never go for it. He always made the "Yuck!" face and gag sound and turned away. Anyway, after examining the "grass" and a few bites later he says, "this is trees! Tree grass! mmmmm!". I was cracking up. I did teach him that it is really called broccoli though. I don't want any confusion next time.

The Bitter Sweet of 'Good Bye'

Posted by Debbie.



*Sigh*
We have made so many wonderful friends since we have been in Texas. It is awesome! I am so grateful to be so blessed with many friends. One friend in particular is leaving the grand metropolis of Houston and is on her way to many new adventures far from here. I am so happy for her and her family and the next chapter in their lives. But man, we are gonna miss them!

She saved me when we first moved here! I was very pregnant, far away from family, and somewhat numb when we got here. I found a new OB and the office policy is such that children are not allowed in the office at all! Not even the waiting room! Only newborns. I guess since Tawn was the wife of the Elders Quorum president at that time, she got roped into helping out the "new couple" that had just moved in, by babysitting their 2 year old son. And I am so glad. Since then she has become such a wonderful friend to me. And her girls have become my kids' "best friends ever", as Kadence would say. I am sure their family will be missed by many, many, many people. I know my life is better because they are my friends.

So, I guess the bitter part is in saying good-bye. And not getting to hang out with them as much. The sweet part is we have wonderful friends forever more, and a place to stay if we ever wanna head out their way for a trip. (Which may be sooner than later so my hubby can redeem himself in Settlers! We were all creamed by Tawnee TWICE in a row! For those who have never played, especially with us, my husband rarely looses.)





The kiddos.

Wow! A Camera!

Showing off her Bracelet.

A big thank you hug!

Kadence gave Wesley a toy digital camera. He is thrilled about it. It will save my camera from Wesley and his daily photo shoots.


So, I asked Wesley if there was anything he could think of that he would like to give Kadence to remember him by when she moves. The conversation went like this:
Wesley: "hmmmm. Let me think"
Me: "okay" ( a few minutes pass and I think he has forgotten about it and I am about to ask again when.....)
Wesley: "I think (pause) a bracelet."
Me: "A bracelet? Okay. We will make her one"
Wesley: "Okay Mom. Come on"
Me: "Okay. Finish eating first."
Wes: "Okay"
So he finished eating and I went and got all of my bead stuff out and told him to look through them and pick out some beads. He was looking through them and said, "Hey! Where are the green ones? Kadence needs green." Green just happens to be her favorite color. Isn't that soooo cute? My almost 4 year old is so on top of things! He came up with all of that by himself..........no prodding from mom at all. Well, Wes ended up picking out the beads and a couple of charms, and I helped him put it all together in a pattern. He did a great job picking out the beads. I was impressed. He didn't want to string them. I wish he would have, because that would have been the best to see the pattern he came up with instead of my perfected adult pattern.