Fourth of July

I can hardly believe it, but this blog post is going up in the same month that it took place in!  I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel... :)

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year!  To kick things off right, Luke slept a solid 8 hours during the night, and we all enjoyed sleeping in.  We had made plans for a morning hike with Grandma Candy, but because we slept later than expected, we decided to modify that plan.  Instead of hiking when it was too hot, I thought it would be fun to visit a place I used to go with my family when I was young.  So we packed a lunch, loaded the kids, picked up Grandma Candy, and headed to Mueller Park!  We found a nice table in the shade, and the kids got right to exploring the same little creek with Grandma Candy that I used to when I was a kid.  There is something so cool about that.

Speaking of cool, look how adorable my little patriots were in their 4th of July duds!  This is our first year actually dressing patriotic on purpose, and I really loved seeing the kids in red, white, and blue.

While the girls were looking at pretty rocks with Grandma Candy, Danny and Johnny enjoyed some good old father-son outdoorsy time.  Luke would have loved to join in, but he was enjoying some good old mother-son nursing time. :)

Once Luke and I were ready to join in the fun, we decided to go on a little walk.  Grandma Candy and I remembered a relatively easy walk that looped around the park.  We thought it would be the perfect mini-version of our previously planned hike, so we set out to find it.

But for some reason, we couldn't find it!  Turns out, that was okay.  It was a bit warmer than we had anticipated, and the kids were hungry.  So we started making our way back to camp.  But Claire was too exhausted to carry on without some help.  Grandma Candy found her the perfect walking stick!  What would we do without Grandmas?

We enjoyed a nice picnic lunch, and then got started on what has now officially become a 4th of July tradition.  Magic Wands for the fireworks!  The girls had been excited for days about making their wands, and I got caught up in the excitement too.  So much so, that I realized I bought all things that really only I could use.  So the kids ended up with really cool wands...that they got to watch me make. :)  I'll keep their little hands in mind next year!

Once "we" were done making wands, we cleaned up our little camp and made our way back to the car.  Danny and Grandma Candy decided that a long, pretty drive was in order.  It was a way to kill a couple of hours and ensure that the kids got a nap.  And lucky us, we even had some dramamine on hand to ensure a vomit-free experience.  And to ensure at least the girls got a good nap!

Danny decided to take us home by way of Farmington Canyon.  We drove along the very top of the mountains, and the views were incredible!

We were almost to the end of our drive when we came across a "Road Closed" sign.  There had once been caution tape strewn across the road, but it had long since been ripped away.  Since there was only one way off the mountain, Danny figured it must be an old sign since we hadn't seen any earlier indications that the road was closed.  Plus, our only other option would be to turn around and spend another hour and a half backtracking.  As Danny said, he couldn't possibly turn around and waste that much time unless he knew for sure the road was closed.  So on we went!  And the farther we went, the more confident I became that we were going to be just fine.  Until we were almost out of the canyon, and we hit the road closure.  Seriously?! So, we turned around and spent the next 90 minutes going back the way we came.  Good thing we had plenty of time on our hands!  And luckily the kids were still mostly asleep.  We finally made it back to Bountiful, and weren't much worse for the wear.

Our plans for the rest of the day included a cookout and swim party at the school, and meeting up for fireworks that night.  Grandma Candy decided she wanted to rest before the fireworks, so we dropped her off at her house before continuing on to the school.  We got there just in time to swim for a while before dinner...

We love the kids new water wings!  They give the kids the ability and confidence to actually swim, which makes it much more fun for Danny and I.  And more fun for the kids, too!  There's only so much to do on the stairs...

Ok, jumping to Daddy from the stairs is still fun. :)

Ok...it's also still fun to chill with your cousins on the stairs, too.

But nothing on the stairs can possibly compete with the sheer thrill of 8 feet of air beneath you!

We have so much fun swimming at the pool.  We haven't been able to go near as much as we'd like, what with having a baby and all, but we've made some fun memories when we have been able to go.  Thanks, Grandma and Papa for an awesome place to play!

Luke isn't able to swim quite yet, so he found a wonderfully warm and loving place to sit under the shade.  Great Grandma Call still has the magic touch, and she kept Luke quite happy while the rest of us played.

Before we knew it, it was getting late.  So we rushed the kids home for baths before heading off to the fireworks.  Well, that was the plan, anyway.  We got home, got the kids in the bath, and then started to realize what a dumb idea it was to try to make it to the fireworks.  Even though we knew it would disappoint the girls, we decided to stay home.  Turned out to be a good idea!  Because of the fire danger this year, they cancelled some of the fireworks in the area.  Not the Layton City ones, however, which was where we were going to go.  Apparently, it was so busy they eventually had to shut down the roads to and from the park to manage the crowds!  We made the right decision.

But it wasn't all disappointment for the girls.  Apparently, it is no longer illegal to set off your own aerial fireworks, and the neighborhood was ablaze with them!  Claire and Sophie got to see some fun fireworks from the front porch, as well as watch the televised fireworks shows from New York and DC.  Turned out, they still got to use their wands, and they didn't have to get bit by mosquitoes.  Win, win.  Well, except maybe for the mosquitoes. :)

As always, Danny and I were reminded how blessed we are to live in this wonderfully free country, and to raise our precious family here.  We're grateful for the sacrifice of so many men, women, and their families as they have fought and continue to fight to keep us free.  God Bless America!

Syracuse Heritage Days

We love living in Syracuse!  Especially during the last weekend in June when we celebrated Syracuse Heritage Days with a trip to the carnival!  After all, what better way to spend a Friday night?

The kids were stoked.  And Danny and I were glad we chose to go on Friday instead of Saturday.  Believe it or not, it really wasn't very crowded.  We walked around the food stands for a while, and eventually made our way to the carnival rides.  We purchased a bunch of tickets and let the kids choose where to start.  It was a unanimous decision.  The carousel, of course!  

The girls still remembered their very first ride on a carousel when we visited Disneyland last spring, so this first ride was nostalgic and magical!  The only problem was I needed to stay outside the ride with Luke, and we didn't think that Danny would be allowed to supervise three children, so we told Johnny he needed to sit this one out.  I really didn't think he'd mind that much.  I was most definitely wrong.

We made up for it by letting Johnny ride in the vintage cars all by himself.  He was very excited to get in the car, but he was surprised when the car started moving!  I think it took him the whole ride to figure out what the heck was going on.  Finally, during the last 30 seconds or so, he actually gripped the steering wheel and cracked a half smile.  Silly boy!

After Johnny's incredibly exciting car ride, the kids moved on to the boats.  These boats were actually in water, and the kids were fascinated!

Claire opted out of the ride for some reason, so it was just Sophie and Johnny.  Sophie's older, so she was in charge of navigation.  Johnny's younger and well, a boy, so he rang the bell as consistently and loudly as possible!  Ahoy, matey!

It was still a pretty warm evening, so after Sophie and Johnny's voyage on the low seas, we headed back to the food stands for something cool and refreshing.  And we found just the treat!  Mama's favorite...snow cones!  Tiger's Blood flavor, of course.

Johnny, true to his almost two-year-old self, pitched a HUGE fit at not having his very own snow cone.  We were sitting with a large audience gathered to watch the free magician show, and after letting Johnny writhe and scream for a minute, we did what any good parents would do.  We bought him his own Spiderman Popsicle treat to shut him up.  John Boy: 1, Parents: 0.  Well played, John.  Well played. :)

There wasn't much else to do after we were done with our treats, and we still had tickets left, so back to the rides we went.  The kids are kind of into pirates right now, so we thought that they'd love the little pirate ride.  Sophie was pretty tired, so she stayed in the stroller for this one, and Claire and Johnny boarded the ride.  They were excited!

It went a bit faster than either of them anticipated, and it started to freak them out a little...

Ok, it freaked them out a lot!

While our children were crying for their lives, Danny and I stood there laughing and taking pictures.  What sympathetic parents we make!  But in our defense, as soon as Claire got off the ride, caught her breath, and wiped her tears she exclaimed, "That was fun!" :)

Believe it or not, even after the pirate ride the kids were up for one more grand adventure before it was time to head home.  They decided to do a ride all together, and decided on the classic cars.  Johnny was a good brother and played chauffeur.  After all, he was a pro.  He'd done this ride before. :)  

This time he was ready to take the wheel!

We had so much fun as a family!  We do so much with our extended family now that we're close that it isn't often we do something with just us.  And we like us.  Our kids are a blast, and they're so good to just go along with what we decide to do.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Being a parent is so cool!

Passion For Fashion

Aunt Katie has been offered a unique opportunity.  She'll be modeling modest prom dresses for a local bridal shop in order to earn her own prom dress.  Part of her duties is to model during fashion expos during the summer and fall.  Her first show was in late June, and Grandma and Papa took Claire and Sophie all the way to Orem for the big debut.  After all, our girls have a passion for fashion! ;)

I understand that Aunt Katie was nothing short of ravishing, and did an excellent job modeling.  During the evening, Claire and Sophie got the chance to go into the dressing rooms and look at some of the dresses.  They even got to model some themselves!

Introducing the Fall Line for 3T and up....Sophie Anne!

"Let's see...excited!" :)

And for the Wistful in White Collection...Claire Bear!

Who needs a dress, when you can skip right to the tiara? :)

The girls loved being models for an evening!  And I loved that they were able to see that you can be beautiful and modest.  Thank you for setting such a wonderful example, Aunt Katie!  Keep up the good work!

Two Months

12 lbs. 9 oz. ~ 70th percentile

23 inches ~ 52nd percentile

Head circumference: 16 inches ~ 66th percentile

We take a break from our regularly scheduled "catching up" to bring you Luke's 2 month post!  Yes, Luke is already 2 months old...and yes, I'm still trying desperately to get caught up on blogging our life. :)

Luke is one studly kid.  We still can't believe how different he looks than our older three.  But with each passing day, he looks more and more like his Daddy!  He also reminds Danny and I a lot of Johnny when he screams, and Claire when he smiles.  His eyes are still a steely blue/gray.  Johnny's had starting turning brown at this point, but Luke is holding out!  We'll see how long he keeps those baby blues...  

Luke's well-child check up went well.  Dr. Baur was impressed with his neck and head control, and said he's growing right on track!  He looked perfectly healthy..oh, except for the ear infection and ruptured ear drum! Woops.  Luke had been noticeably fussy during the night for a few nights about a week before his check up. I thought it was another growth spurt, and I'm ashamed to admit I got a bit testy with the little guy.  Looking back, I should have recognized some of the tell-tale signs of an ear infection...you know, increased irritability, frequently waking up at night screaming, difficulty eating, whipping his head from side to side when trying to nurse.  But in my defense, he never ran a fever! :)  After two sleepless nights, Luke miraculously slept through the night.  I was overjoyed!  But while feeding him, I noticed that he was draining some pretty gross stuff out of his ear.  Turns out, his ear drum ruptured.  I felt like the world's best mom at that check up!

Other than that little hiccup, it's been pretty smooth sailing this month!  Here's more about the Lukester at 2 months old:

*Is outgrowing his 3 months clothes, and is ready for the next size (just as soon as I can get around to sorting through them!)

*Wears size 2 diapers

*Goes to sleep between 9 and 10, and doesn't wake up until 5 or 6 (unless the poor kid has an ear infection) :)

*Has the biggest smiles for his Daddy and siblings, but saves his biggest for his Mama

*Loves to talk

*Really loves his binkie

*Is very ticklish, but can't seem to figure out how to get the laugh out

*Is definitely, 110%, a Mama's Boy

We love you, Luke!  Feel free to grow up a little slower... ;)

Sophie's First Talk

Back in June, on Father's Day to be exact, Sophie gave her first talk in Primary.  She did such an awesome job!  She was a bit nervous at first, and sometimes when Sophie gets nervous she completely shuts down.  But I gave her a little pep talk, and walked her up to the front of Primary to take her seat.  She waited reverently for her turn, and then walked right up to the microphone.  Danny helped her, and she spoke each word clearly and confidently.  Here's what she had to say:

"I can choose the right by being obedient.  Being obedient means listening to my Mom and Dad when they ask me to do something.  It also means listening to my Primary teachers.  I try to always be obedient to the commandments that Heavenly Father and Jesus have given us.  When I do, I feel happy.  I love my Heavenly Father, and I love Jesus, too.  I especially love my Daddy.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."


I know that Sophie knows her Heavenly Father and her older brother, Jesus Christ.  I am so proud of her sweet testimony of the gospel.  As she spoke, the spirit was strong and I was reminded of how much our Heavenly Father loves each of us.  I know that Danny felt especially proud of Sophie, and enjoyed helping her with this big-girl responsibility.  And it was fun that it was on Father's Day!

We're so proud of you Sophie, and enjoy seeing the girl you are growing up to be!  You are truly a sweetheart.  Love you, Baby Girl!

Father's Day

Father's Day started bright and early with 9 o'clock church.  Poor Danny didn't get much of a day off when it came to getting the kids ready to go.  He's such a good Dad, he didn't even complain about having to do a fair amount of the work himself while I fed Luke and got myself looking presentable.  

The fun thing about church was the Father's Day gift that Danny got...matching ties!  We got a matching tie for Papa too, but he was up at the cabin for the day, so we didn't get to give it to him that morning.  Rest assured, a full fledged tie picture will be coming soon. :)  Look at those handsome Call men!

Church was good, and we enjoyed a quick lunch when we got home.  Then Danny got to lay around for the afternoon...his favorite part about Father's Day being on a Sunday.  That man loves his Sunday afternoon naps.  Before dosing off, he spent some more time with his boys.

(I like to think my real Father's Day gift to Danny was this good-looking little Mini-Me.  Look how fast he's changing!)

But almost as much as Danny loves napping, he loves cooking.  On the menu this year was Porterhouse Steaks, Parmesan Potatoes, Rolls, and Watermelon.  But the star of the show was Danny's cobbler.  Well, a grunt, to be exact.  He tried out Alton Brown's recipe, and even bought a new cast iron skillet for the job.  Another Happy Father's Day present!

The cool thing about a grunt is that you drop the biscuit-like dough on top of your fruit, in our case blackberries, and as it cooks it makes a grunting noise.  Hence the name.   

While the grunt was...well...grunting, Danny grilled up our steaks while I worked on the potatoes.  It wasn't long before we were sitting down to eat copious amounts of red meat and carbohydrates.  A perfect man meal for the perfect man!

And as if dinner wasn't fantastic enough, the grunt was ready to eat as soon as dinner was over.  And it turned out amazing!  It wasn't too sweet, and the biscuits on top were incredibly fluffy.  A home run for Daddy!

The kids absolutely loved dinner.  The girls especially loved their steak, which honestly we were a bit surprised by.  But happy about!  They stuffed themselves full, and then I shooed them outside so I could clean up the kitchen in relative peace.  I looked out a few minutes later to check on them and found the three of them laying on the porch swing.  I guess they needed to let their dinner settle a bit... ;)

After the kitchen was cleaned up and the kids were able to move again, we decided to continue to aid digestion and head out on a walk.  It wasn't long, as it was still way too hot, but we enjoyed the fresh air and the exercise.  We paused on our way in to get a picture of Danny and all his kids.  All FOUR of his kids!  

We are so lucky to have Danny as our Dad.  I know each of our children loves him deeply, and they each have a personal relationship with him.  The best part of all our days in when Daddy comes home from work. He brings so much happiness to each of us.  Thanks, Danny, for being so wonderful!  We love you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!