My little helper

Merrick has figured out that his little chair for his table will allow him to do anything he wants.  He loves to grab it and help me do most of my chores.  He loves to help me do dishes, hang up clothes, and cooking.  He will sometimes get his books down from the counter and pretty much anything he just needs to be a foot and a half taller for.  It's annoying and cute at the same time. 

Under the blanket

I don't think it's really getting colder or anything, but the kids have discovered big blankets and they love them.  Any time now that Kayton wants to sit down and watch his show or a movie, he grabs this colorful blanket and asks me to help him.  He will then crawl on the couch or the chair and sometimes invite Merrick to come over with him.  He sits still and then I cover them up with the blanket.  It's the funnest thing for them and they love snuggling with it.  

There are monsters in my house

My kids have been getting into Monsters, Inc. lately and so they have been going around the house scaring us and making roaring noises.  Their favorite is when they tell us to go to sleep and put a blanket on us and then they yell and scare us awake.  It's really cute and Merrick looks really cute with his little hands.  They are really loud monsters though.

Handsome boys

I am very proud of my boys.  I think they are the cutest thing ever so I took pictures of them on Sunday.  We finally got them some nice sunday shirts in their size to go with their ties and they looked so handsome going to church in their ties.  I love them.

Nephew #5

I became an aunt again today.  My step sister Amanda and her husband Preston had their first baby today!  They named him Hyrum States Wengert.  Born 7 lbs 12 oz.  I can't wait for a few more weeks to meet him.  I'm already in love with him!

 

Potty Trained

I'm officially saying it.  Kayton is potty trained!  It was a long time coming and he wasn't too excited about it at first.  At first we just let him run around naked and try to learn when to go to the bathroom.  Then he wore pullups for a while, and now he is in underwear all day and only pull ups at night.  It's been a couple weeks without an accident and I am so glad he is potty trained.  It's so nice to only have one kids diaper to change.  

On another note too, Merrick is showing amazing interest in getting potty trained.  He really wants to be like Kayton and wear pull ups and underwear.  We have tried a little bit to make him go potty in the toilet, but he can't figure out how to tell me when he needs to go yet.  I am pretty excited that hopefully both boys will be potty trained before we have our next kid.  I am so proud. 

Uncle Brent's soccer game

Tonight we went to my little brother, Brent's, soccer game. It was the first one of the season so we went to cheer him on and get out of the house.  Brent is the goalie so honestly, there wasn't that much to actually watch.  So, Grandpa Pete showed up and decided to sugar up the kids so we had Twizzlers and chocolate.  Then, there was a soccer field behind us that no one was playing on, so the kids ran around a lot too.  Uncle Dallin even kicked the soccer ball around them a little bit.  It was a lot of fun and I am glad we went.  

Learning Checkers

A while ago, we bought a checkers game from Cracker Barrel so it is the big checker pieces and there is a blanket for the checker board.  We have tried to teach them a few times, but the other night, Kayton finally was a little interested in learning the game so we played it for a while the other night. The game didn't go for very long but Kayton had fun.  I also like the game too because there is a tic-tac-toe game on the other side of the blanket/board.  It's just a perfect game for us to play, even if we don't play it right. 

Bye Car

We were a little bummed this week.  We had to sell Nate's car and say goodbye.  It was a 1990 Toyota Camry.  He has only had it for a year, but it was a good car and we are going to miss it. 

First Day of School

Everybody has pictures of their kids going to school for the first day.  Well I have fun doing pictures of my amazing husband who is a teacher.  He has a first day of school too.  He only taught at the junior high this week since it was only 2 days, but he was still nervous and jittery like any kid.  He starts his full schedule on Monday with his general music classes in the afternoon at Linden.  He is so excited to be here in Show Low and we feel like we will be at least a few years. 

Playing with the girls

My friend needed a babysitter the other day and so we played and goofed around for a few hours in the morning.  We played a game and had a snack and played outside then I had them go back and play in the playroom.  Next thing I knew, the oldest girl, Kiersten, comes out in a costume that I had in there for dress up.  She was Iron Man and then next thing I knew, all the kids were in costumes.  They were having so much fun and then it turned into a picture party.  

Spider, Iron Man, Ninja, and Dinosaur

Action shot as Iron Man

After we were done with our costumes, they asked if we could build a fort.  So this is what happened.  Then they all got pillows and blankets in there and we watched "The Smurfs" for a little bit.  It was fun to go all out while the kids were there. 

In the fort

Boys bonding time

While I was gone, Nate's brother came to visit and I was glad he and Nate got to hang out a little bit.  So since I knew they wanted to hang out I had them do a little chore.  A long time ago we picked up the headstone that was made for Nate's Dad.  We had everything all ready to go and take it out there, but I'm glad that Nate and Joe went out there.  It was a great thing for them to do and bond with.  It looks really good and I got these pictures texted to me while I was gone.  

 

We also had him over for dinner the night before he left to go back to Tucson.  I found him playing with them and their toys to help us while we were trying to make dinner.  They are pretty fond of their Uncle Joe.

The rope swing

So my mom and I drove home Sunday afternoon and decided to have Nate and the boys meet us out in Pinedale so we could have dinner together.  We had some burritos and just hung out after being gone for 4 days.  We ate outside and Kayton found his new favorite thing.  A rope swing.  The board to sit of broke off, but Aunt Susan showed him how to swing around and hold on tight.  We set up some chairs so he could go back and forth between chairs.  He loved it and thought it was the best thing.  

Shealynn's Wedding

Shealynn's married.  I can't believe it.  We have been so anxiously waiting this day and now it's here.  She got married in the Oquirrah Mountain Temple in South Jordan Utah on August 3rd.  Everything about it was beautiful.

We had to wake up early that morning since there were about 10 people at Aunt Dana's house and most of us had to take showers before we left.  The sealing was at 10 so we had to be there at 9:30.  We got there and got set up in the temple.  It was a beautiful temple and while we were sitting in the waiting room, I got to see so many people and other relatives and I loved that it was in the temple.  So awesome.  Then the sealing started and I knew Shealynn was a little nervous, but she did great.  The sealer was so sweet and brought such a great spirit.  He did a little joking with Ted about how he kissed Shealynn and they kissed a few times over the alter and after.  They looked so happy and it was so great to be there.  I felt awkward going to give the hugs because that was my first time seeing and meeting Ted in person so the conversation was a little funny.  

Afterwards, we waited.  We went outside and waited for them.  There were about 2 or 3 other wedding parties out there too so it was a little crowded.  We all enjoyed some picture taking opportunities until they came.  When they came out, they just looked so happy and I haven't seen that face on Shealynn in a long time.  I was so happy for her.  She was just so  beautiful too.  Congratulations to Ted and Shealynn.  

 

 

Luke, Brianna, and Olivia

The looks say it all

The Beckerts minus CJ who is on a mission

This is their cute way of saying I love you

Sisters

Cousin Ella holding her train

Me and Shea

 After the temple was the luncheon.  We totally got way lost getting there, but we beat the bride and groom anyways, so it all worked out. The luncheon was at this pavilion near some baseball fields which was really cute because Shealynn loves baseball, but anyways, it was just a fun big room with windows all around.  They had Texas Roadhouse cater it so everyone was so excited for the food and it was delicious.  We all got our food and sat down then went around the room and had everyone stand up and introduce themselves.  They also thought ahead and had centerpieces made of glass so we could bang on it to make them kiss.  One table was really good about remembering to do it every 20 minutes or so.  After everyone had eaten, we stuck around to help clean up and then headed out to go to the reception hall.

Getting ready to kiss

Grandma and me

So when we went to the reception hall, we were just suppose to drop off stuff and go back an hour later, but when we got there, they just let us stay and set up.  It was a long afternoon.  We were there from like 2-10pm.  Anyways, we got there and unloaded stuff from cars and tried to do as much decorating as we could.  The hall was so pretty.  There was a kitchen right across the hall and a indoor room that we used for the food and gifts and then there was a really big outdoor room where they had the tables and dance floor.  The food was fresh fruit with fruit dip, Aggie ice cream which I guess is big buckets of ice cream that are like blizzards.  Then there was lemonade and outside by the sitting area, there was a candy table where the bride and groom picked 2 of their favorite candies and then they had their parents pick their favorite candy too.  There were little candy bags so you could make your own bag and take it with you.  I thought it was super cute.

Sign in table

Gift table

Refreshment table

Happy kitchen helpers

Candy table

Funny picture - Grandma heard about different stories on the news about people coming to receptions for people they don't know and stealing the cards or little presents.  She wanted to make sure she had a chair to sit on by the table to keep an eye on them. It was cute.

Side story:  I said on Facebook that I was going to Utah and my friend Rudi that I graduated with from from Durango read it.  She sent me an email saying that she lived close to there and she wanted to see me.  I was so excited but I didn't have a car so I invited her to come to the reception.  She just got married earlier this year so I got to meed her husband that night too.  They are so cute together and we got to reminisce about the glory days and meet some of my family.  I was so glad she came and I miss her.  

David, Rudi, and me

Grandpa and Great Aunt Marie

Mom and Aunt Dana

All the aunts - Tina, Janene, Pat, and Dana

Dancing

It got to be about 8 o'clock and then they did the traditional stuff.  They started with the cake which they did perfectly getting a good amount on each others faces and having fun with it.


After that was the garder throw which Ted did with sexy dance music and pulled it out with his teeth.  Shealynn was a little embarrassed by it but it was so cute. One of his buddies caught it and then there was the bouquet toss.  It was a great throw and our cousin Brielle caught it.  It makes sense with how tall she is.

Next was the dancing.  They did the dance with the parents which was really sweet and then they had their first dance.  I forget which songs they were, but they looked so in love.

Daddy and daughter

Ted and Shealynn

The funnest part of the night though, was that Ted had a special treat planned for us all.  He got one of his friend and half brother to lip sink to a One Direction song call You've Got that One Thing and came up with choreography and everything.  Shealynn had no idea but it was so fun and we all enjoyed it.  We heard that they practiced for almost 4 hours straight the day before to get it figured out.  It paid off.

Well, the party was over and it was time for them to leave.  Ted took care of the hotel arrangements for the night and wanted it to be a surprise for Shealynn.  He called it Hotel Amazing.  Turned out to be this hotel in Salt Lake that some celebrities stay at when they come into town.  The next week they were going to spend driving to California and spending a few days there and then driving home.  Anyways, they came out and had a decorated car sponsored by the sisters Carlie and Amy. They drove away and then it was clean up time for us.  It was all actually really easy since we just had to pick up the stuff we brought and the staff at the building cleaned the rest.  It was a long afternoon, but it was amazing.     

 

 It was a fun night and I'm glad that all the things worked out so I could be there.  I'm glad I didn't miss it.  Congrats to Shealynn and Ted.  I love you guys.