Buddies

Ashton and AJ are good buddies, and they love having Aryk as a new buddy. Here are the three buddies sitting on the couch together. With buddies, come stories. Ashton went to help Jeff and Grandpa Likes with some yard work and AJ stayed home with mom and to play with Aryk. He said he enjoyed his buddy, but that he wanted three buddies (Ashton, Aryk, and another new buddy). I asked where he would get his new buddy from, he said "from you, mom, another baby brother" I asked why he thought that I would have another baby, and why it would be a boy. His answer was "Jesus told me yesterday in my prayers." I was so surprised at the revelation. We have not decided IF or WHEN our family would grow, and here's AJ so confident in his response.

Another story, again, AJ's confidence astounded me. Last night Aryk was a little fussy between eating and sleeping, and AJ wanted to hold him. I didn't want to have Aryk screaming even more, so I told AJ to get ready for bed, then he could hold Aryk. I was hoping to calm him down in the process, and maybe even get him to sleep. But it didn't happen. AJ insisted that I let him hold Aryk, and that he could make him happy. AJ sat on the couch with a pillow and put his arms out. With Aryk crying I layed him down in AJ's arms. INSTANTLY he stopped crying, and fell right to sleep. No kidding... it was instant. Then Ashton and Jeff came home and he was startled awake, and the fussing started again. But AJ wanted to keep holding him and show him how to "go... 2... sleep"

Catch that dog!

The boys were playing fetch with the dogs, and had a hard time getting the balls from them. Here are the boys chasing and wrestling with Elektra and Fudge trying to get the balls, and creating a whole new game that they all enjoyed!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

We took the boys (all three) to the Boise Hawks game! What fun. We put Aryk in the pack, and he sat there lovin' it. He fell asleep for a while, then wanted to eat, and that was about time to leave anyway. Here is a picture of AJ, Aryk, and mom at the game. Ashton didn't want to be in it. Maybe tonight we'll get all three of them in the picture, and maybe even with Humphrey the Hawk! Play Ball!

Aryk's Smile

Aryk has been showing off his smile for a select few people. AJ and Uncle Cam. He stops smiling as soon as mom, dad, or the camera come to see.

Finally, one morning (6:30 am), he was all smiles for mom! It was cute, despite the hour. So, the camera came out. The smiles were very sparatic. Finally, the epiphany of a video came. Here are the few snap shots, and a couple videos that we have been able to capture. Hopefully more smiles and pics will follow. You will want to pause the music on "my playlist", if you want to hear his baby noises!

New Bench

Aryk loves to be outside. And I enjoy going out and watching The Big Boys play in the yard. So Jeff surprised me with a new glider bench for the front yard. So nice. I can go out and rock Aryk and watch the boys. It really helps when he has his fussy time in the evenings.

Fun at the pool!

We of course have been doing more than sitting at home drooling over the baby, and wishing I was in Europe. We go to the pool and enjoy cooling off and playing. Here are the boys swimming.

Flashback Friday

As much as I LOVE my boys, and a new baby, and being home, I can't help but remember the fun times with "the girls", away from home, in Europe!

Last summer, I was invited to go to Europe with my mom, and aunts, and cousin, to pick up Grandma Ashton from her mission. YEAH!!! I can still remember the excitement. We spent the first week in Slovenia, seeing Grandma's Mission, meeting people who touched her life, and seeing the area.

Our Luggage was lost between Paris and Venice. So we had to make do, with what we could share, and find. Here are a pair of swim shorts we dug out of the dumpster! We were going to Croatia to swim in the Adriatic Sea. We had to have something to swim in!!!This is Mark, one of the LDS members in Ljubljana, a good friend to Grandma. He drove us to Croatia, and was our tour guide for two days. He was SOOOOO patient, six women, what a trooper!

We went to the castle in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It was really neat! You could see the whole city from the top!

Visiting another castle in Postonia. All "the girls". Mark is taking the picture!

Here is the site & construction of the new LDS church house in Ljubljana. As I understand it, they held their first church services there a few weeks ago, and will be dedicating the building early fall. How exciting for the members of The LDS church!

Swimming in The Adriatic Sea. It was beautiful! And fun! And Salty!

While in Croatia swimming, our luggage was delivered to the mission home. Boy were we excited when we got home! Especially since we were leaving for Venice the next day! Here we are with our luggage, leaving Slovenia by train.

St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.

Gondola rides in Venice, how romantic? I'll let you know when Jeff and I go back, and take one!

The Rialto Bridge

On to Rome...

Inside the Colosseum

Outside the Colosseum

The Vatican.

Every night, no kidding, EVERY night, we would go out for Ice Cream! The guy from the cafe, took a picture of all of us!

Ice Cream in Florence(Gelato on a waffle).

Leaning Tower of Pisa.

When we arrived in Paris (July 14), they were celebrating their independence day. There were parades, carnival rides & games, and fireworks!

Fireworks and the Eiffel Tower.

Picture from top of Arch de Triumph with Eiffel Tower in Background.

The Louvre

One of my favorite places was The Palace of Versailles...

The "Hall of Mirrors".

Some of the gardens & fountain.

Looking up!

Looking Down!

What a trip! Sorry, this was a bit long! But I think those were some very memorable weeks, and I enjoy reminiscing!

Aryk is One Month Old!

Wow!!! Time goes by so slowly and so quickly. It has been a fun month, with a lot of adjustments. Aryk is holding his head up pretty good, he keeps trying to smile, he recognizes Mom, Dad, Ashton, and AJ. He is sleeping longer at night (he made it 7hrs. three nights in a row!). Our family loves Aryk, and we are excited for more fun!

4th of July

We had a simple Independence Day. Jeff went golfing with some guys from work, Alyson lounged with Aryk, Ashton and AJ picked up the house, and played. Then in the afternoon we went swimming. After that we went to The Mickelson's for a BBQ and friends. Then we came home and did a few fireworks in the driveway. This is Aryk on his first 4th of July. He is wearing his "Born in 2008" shirt, and laying on a patriotic blanket made by Grandma Holbrook.

Sleep

I LOVE Sleeping Babies! I LOVE Babies! I LOVE Sleep! Aryk, knock on wood, is a good sleeper, so far. We've only had a couple nights that he wanted to stay up and look around, while the rest of the western hemisphere was sleeping soundly. Some nights we only get two hours between feedings, and others he will go five hours! He is such an adorable sleeper. I have always been mesmerized by my sleeping babies. When Ashton was born, I would just lay by him and watch him sleep. I remember my mom getting after me to nap. I have gotten better at taking naps, when the baby is napping. But I still have to take a few minutes to watch them, first. Still to this day, I love to go into the boys room, and see AJ and Ashton so peaceful in their beds. Of course, that's the only time they are peaceful and quiet. It's so adorable.

Aryk's 1st Bath

Aryk's First Bath at Three Weeks Old. He used to scream when we would sponge bathe him. But He actually enjoyed sitting in the warm water. YEAH!!! He has a fussy time between 8:00 and 10:00. So a warm bath will be a nice distraction come that time of night.