Singing

You should watch these.

ABC's

Popcorn Popping

New Mexico Vacation

I never posted pictures of the family vacation we took to Ruidoso, New Mexico in July. Here's a few...

Nathan rockin' out the Swordplay game on the Wii. He's really quite good.

Swimming

White Sands National Park

It was SO hot.

Examining the hill we were going to sled down.

Corey and Nathan

Can you see the sweaty sand all over him?

He still loved it though.

My parents.

Looking back on the hill we sled down.

Old Apple Barn 

The mock Build a Bear Nathan made.

The Quarter Horse Races. This was cool. 

Some updates

1. Nathan got a hair cut. He didn't even cry. Oh. My. Gosh.
2. I cut Corey's hair for the first time and it was good.
3. I am in such a good mood today. I just feel so blessed and happy to be where I'm at right now.
4. Corey took a PT test during this last weekend's drill. His score was 328. A perfect score is 300. He did 70+ push ups in 2 minutes, 80+ sit ups in 2 minutes, and ran the 2 mile run in 12:something. That's my soldier.
5. I am LOVING 'school time'. And so is Nathan. Who would've thought. We have so much fun together.
6. The motel is starting to slow down again and I am so ready for some calmer nights.
7. I love that it is getting cooler. I love fall.
8. We started getting the weekend newspaper. I have had 2 very successful shopping trips with coupons. I think I'm gonna like this.
9. I have pictures to post which I will do soon.

Nater-gator

So, it's been a long time since I've really posted anything about my little stud muffin.

This is a regular conversation at our house...

N: (jiberish)

M: What?

N: (more jibberish)

M: I don't know what you're saying. Try again.

N: (slightly more audible jibberish)

M: Chocolate milk? (or something in a similar nature)

N: Ok! (As if I just asked him if he wanted some chocolate milk.)

M: Um, you can have chocolate milk after we eat dinner. But we need to eat first.

N: Oh... (as he bows his head in disappointment and walks away.)

Nathan will often come up to me and hug my legs and say "I wuv you, Mom." "I love you, too, Nathan."

Nathan loves being outside. He is always running everywhere. Loves slides. Loves swings. Loves jumping. Loves rocks. Loves water. All day. Everyday.

I've started 'school time' a few mornings a week. We read stories, do math, science, art projects, learn numbers, letters, color, and just have fun learning and teaching new things. Nathan loves books and us reading to him. Since Dad reads for school, he'll find something sitting around and tell me that he's reading a book. I'll ask him if he's reading a book like Dad and he says "Yes. I love books, Mom. Do you love books?" "Yes, Mom loves books." "Dad, do you love books?" "Yes, Dad loves books, too." "Me too, Dad! Me too!"

Yesterday, we asked Nathan if he wanted to go to the park or the farm (Corey's Grandpa's farm that is now being run by his aunt and uncle right here in Tremonton.) He said the farm and started running to the door to go. The big barn has recently been cleaned out and there is now a stage set up in there with an old time ice cream parlor counter and red velvet seating. And you can't forget the rope swing. Which Nathan loves.

Rides on the lawn mower with Grandpa and the tractor with both Dad and Grandpa made Nathan's Labor Day even more fun. Anything Dad or Grandpas need help with, Nathan is right there to be in the way, I mean, help with anything they need.

I think I have a linear child. He's always putting blocks, movies, Legos, whatever in a line. Good or bad?

I know one thing for sure. Man, I love this kid.

Happy Dance. Happy New School Year. Happy Anniversary.

We sold the Cavalier! HAPPY DANCE! And a deep breath as far as finances go. The motorcycle is still for sale though. 

So, if you haven't noticed, we've been MIA. Hopefully things will really start settling down now that school has started. Well, busy still, but more schedule oriented which means that I can handle it better! We've had family reunions, vacations, baby blessing, good times, bad times, laughing times, stressful times, during this summer. So, here we go in starting a new school year, a MASTERS one.

As of more recently, Wednesday was our anniversary. We did sealings at the temple that morning, a tradition which we love and a perfect day to do them on. Love the reminder. Corey surprised me with a bed and breakfast in Lava Hot Springs. Lions Gate Monor. It rocked. We stayed in a Phantom of the Opera room. Again, it rocked. I don't have any pictures so I'll try to paint you a picture in your mind. 

First of all, the entire house was decorated and furnished with an old victorian vibe. The furniture was all hand crafted and imported from mostly Indonesia. Everything was beautiful. We got a tour of the house before he showed us our room. I didn't even know what kind of room we were staying in (surprise, remember). Then he said The Phantom's Liar, and pulled back the bookcase to reveal a secret passageway into the basement. Classic phantom, right?

I could see gold candle holders, red roses, black ribbons, and a portrait of the phantom with the purposeful dim lighting. Then we walked down a black spiral staircase. It was metal so every footstep echoed like we were entering some kind of a dungeon. I could hear the sounds of trickling water in the distance (just a CD player, mind you) as well as the famous Phantom theme. It set the mood perfectly.

As you get down a little farther, you can see a wooden bridge over the water (ok, so the floor was just painted black, but with the reflection of dim lighting, I really wondered at first). The bridge goes next to the tub which was the coolest tub ever. Air jets. Lights. Heated back rests. The faucet where the water came out to fill the tub was in the ceiling. The 10 foot ceiling. So you turned the water on to fill up the tub and it came out of the ceiling. Just don't let it get you in the back of the head. 

So, continue on the wooden bridge past the tub and you walk under archways to Christine's room. A king size, four poster bed, feather pillows, candles everywhere, white and red flowers. A TV of course, just for modern sake. French style red velvet love seat and chair with ornate details on the arms and back. A beautiful glass chandelier. Christine's big dressing room mirror, and when you turn on a little switch you can see the phantom in the mirror, just a little, like when The Angel of Music sings to Christine. They had the music box with the monkey playing the symbols as well. And it played Masquerade. A collector's piece indeed. 

Then you walk a little further and see a red velvet rope (like in the movie theaters for traffic control) with a sign on it that says 'Box 5 Reserved.' When you pull it back and step in, you enter the theater room. Surround sound. Antique organ. More candles and flowers. Dim lighting. Another red velvet ornate love seat. Another flat screen TV. This was where we watched the Phantom of Opera, the movie, that night. With the surround sound and the sub-woofer, my heart almost skipped a beat as the chandelier was lifted and that music started. BOOM! 

The bathroom had a beautiful, big shower. The shower head was in the ceiling. Again, 10 foot ceilings throughout. Very cool. And as you turn around to look back to where you first walked in the room, you see a mural on that back wall of a long walkway in a cathedral type building. Just going off into the distance. I felt like I should check to see if the Phantom was hiding behind one of those columns, watching us. You never know.

We had breakfast the next morning with the other couples who stayed there. We all sat around this big, gorgeous table with the tall Victorian type chairs and ate a very good breakfast while visiting with everyone and enjoying their company.

Man, I married a good one.

And thank you Justin and Natalie for watching Nathan.

Visit www.lionsgatemanor.com to see pictures and look at the other rooms.