Company Party

Andy's department had a fun carnival/BBQ party this past weekend.

It started raining HARD just before we left.

We almost didn't go.

But we're glad we did, because the rain stopped just in time for us to get there.

We ate hot dogs and hamburgers.

Our meals came with prepackaged silveraware/napkins.

Peter felt that the fact that he HAD a fork meant he must USE the fork.

So after some troubling moments, Daddy helped him stick his hotdog.

There were blow up slides, and carnival games.

The boys came home with a bag of "prizes".

There was popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.

Ammon and Peter were in heaven.

And all of this took place at the lake behind Andy's work.

It was a delightful and beautiful evening.

Thanks DiscoverCard!

Conversations With Ammon

A New Season

The weather cooled down for a few days, just as a teaser, and it warmed right back up.

And so it seemed almost without warning that summer was over and school began.

And this year my oldest baby started first grade.

One thing I love about Ammon is his energy.

I was shy and timid and scared.

Not Ammon; he was excited and jubilant.

We planned to get to the bus about ten minutes early.

There, I would take plenty of "first day" pictures while we waited.

I snapped these couple on Ammon's way out the door, but was called back by Peter who was lagging behind.

Of course this cute little guy wanted to do everything Big Brother was doing!

Ammon got ahead of me and when I got to the bus stop, he was in my neighbors van.

The bus had come SUPER early and a couple of us had missed it.

So we drove over to the school together.

When we got to the school, Ammon and his friend jumped out of the van and were off.

I tried to yell for him to wait for me, but to no avail.

I spent the next several minutes scouring the school for any sign of Ammon.

I checked the cafeteria and the playground.

I turned around to heard towards his classroom when I saw he and his friend duck into the library.

Apparently his friend LOVES the library and tends to end up there everytime he disappears.

(Good to know.)

I caught up with them and we headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.

He enjoyed his first meal at school.

It was a fun experience.

Peter was jealous.

He screamed and screamed and screamed the whole time.

He wanted what Ammon had.

The school bell rang and it was time for class.

I intended to walk with Ammon to his room, but he ran ahead.

By the time I caught up with him, Ammon was already in his classroom.

Peter and I headed home.

He was still pretty distraught about not getting to do the things Ammon did.

On our way out, he determined that he wanted a trip to McDonalds.

And on the third day of my school, I already felt the conflict of my own schedule.

 Mom vs Student.

I only had an hour before my own class started.

That wasn't enough time to give my precious three year old the time he deserved.

And that is when Daddy came to save the day.

Andy rushed home from work and spent the afternoon with Peter.

Including, of course, a trip to McDonalds.

I got some much needed organizing done with my schedule.

And Ammon was gone at first grade.

All day.

It was long (for me).

When it was time for school to end, I worried Ammon wouldn't find the right bus.

So I sent my secret spy: Daddy.

He hung out at the school long enough to watch Ammon bounce out with his friends

And climb onto the correct bus with no problem at all.

Then he came home and the three of us waited to hear all about it:

Ammon's first day of first grade.

He loved it!

Brothers

Ammon and Peter taking a bath in preparation for Ammon's first day of school.

And here we found them snuggled up together a few nights earlier.

Ammon had snuck into where Peter was sleeping.

Apparently he fell asleep better when Brother was nearby.

Cuddling

Father and Son

Snuggling together.

Wrapped in a quilt made by Mommy with Great-Grandpa's shirts.

Holding a panda bear (Sergio) that Daddy grew up with.

Leaning against the U of U pillow case, which is a perfect reminder to where we live now.

Timeless memories from the past and present to last forever into the future.

The Farm (Week 10)

We enjoyed an outing with the cousins

to the Farm at Thanksgiving Point.

They had a good time running around and seeing the animals.

Aunt Jen brought quarters to buy food to feed the animals.

Michael, Ammon and Sophia went on a wagon ride with Jen and Quincy.

Kara and I (along with Jack) kept Peter, Kate, Will and Spencer who rode the ponies.

The boys wrestled each other on the grass.

They explored the old "jail" and had fun in the play room.

Everyone had a great time!

Thanks Kara and Jen!

First Date

Another flashback of the past. Continued from Coming Home.

Our first date was just three days after I returned home from my mission.  I remember feeling so comfortable getting ready, thinking that this was the perfect way to break back into the dating scene.  After all, nothing would ever develop between Andy and me, so we could just hang out at perfect ease. 

I did get a little frustrated, though, as my mom was preparing dinner for those staying at home.  It had been a year and a half since I had eaten her yummy enchiladas and spanish rice, and here Andy was ripping me away from this delicious smelling food so that he could feed me the kind of meal I'd been eating last week.  Oh well.  I had agreed to go so I decided to make the best of it.

I don't remember too much about the evening.  We ate at Tim and Jen's house and then watched a movie.  I remember snuggling up to Andy, again thinking how nice it was that we could just be snuggle buddy friends because he and I both knew that NOTHING would ever come of us.  We had just been neighbors and friends far too long for either of us to have romance on our minds...

I remember admiring the way he looked as we stopped for gas on the way home.  He was wearing a brand new leather coat he had gotten the week before as a Christmas gift.  He was wearing the same coat three years later as we headed to the hospital for the birth of our first son.

I remember feeling good around Andy - feeling like he was very chivalrous and kind and fun to be with.  We laughed a lot while we were together.

And the next day, as I spoke in church to report on my missionary experience, I remember bringing up a comment that he and I had discussed the day before.  I snuck a glance at him from the podium and we exchanged knowing smiles.  I was four days home from my mission and I realized that I had already found my best friend.

I just never would have fathomed that in less than a year he would also become my husband.

To be continued in Burger King

To be continued...

Afternoon at the Zoo (Week 9)

The thing I love about having my sister on Facebook

Is that I get random posts from her

saying things like,

"Let's take the kids to the zoo today."

And since I have a zoo pass

and it is literally half a mile down the street from me

it totally worked out.

Yay for an impromptu activity.

The weather was perfect and the afternoon was splendid.

Thanks Katy!

Coming Home

Another flashback of the past.  Continued from Neighbors Again.

I came home from my mission determined to spend some time "boyfriend free".  I had enjoyed the eighteen months of just being me and wanted it to continue for a time.

I was met, as most missionaries are, by a group of friends and family at the airport.  It hadn't really occurred to me that there would be people there other than my own family.  But there was my first missionary companion, several friends from highschool, and even someone from my home ward (Andy Shadel).  It was awesome and flattering to have so many people there to welcome me home.  I made the rounds, talking with everyone and was ready to leave with my family when Andy approached me again.

"Can I call you tomorrow?" he asked.

I was thoroughly confused.

"But I'm right here," I said.  "Why do you need to call me tomorrow?"

Well, he had wanted to wait until after I had been formally released from my mission before he made the request, but he explained that Tim and Jen had encouraged him to bring me on down to their house for a double date so that I would have a chance to see them.  He was eager to make Red Beans and Rice for dinner (a common favorite of southern food that he and I had been exposed to as missionaries).

He finished his explanation by asking, "Are you available Saturady night?"

I drew a blank.  I had no idea!  I had been a missionary for eighteen months, haven't even gotten home yet, and I have no concept of what I will be doing with my time.  I turned to my dad. 

"Am I available on Saturday night?"  I asked him.

He considered my schedule and determined that yes, I was available.  So with a shrug I turned to Andy and agreed to our first date. 

Then I headed down the escalator to pick up my luggage.

To be continued in First Date

To be continued...

Bear Lake (Week 8)

Time for our annual Bear Lake trip!

With a picnic in Logan on the way there.

Gotta stop for that Aggie Icecream at Utah State University.

Although they didn't have Blueberry Cheesecake, which is their best flavor!

I had to settle for Pralines Pecan.

(It was still pretty good.)

After our picnic, my boys joined their cousins in Grandma's moterhome.

We followed them to the scenic overlook.

Ammon went straight to the map.

That is just so Ammon.

It melted my heart.

He has an amazing sense of direction and LOVES to study maps.

I adore that boy.

We had considered cancelling the trip due to the possibility of rain.

We were all thrilled that we hadn't given in because the weather was beautiful!

We set up camp and then headed to the lake.

The boys both LOVED the water.

Last year we HAD been rained out so even though we went to Bear Lake,

Peter had never been in the water.

He LOVED it!

This was his first real "beach" experience and he couldn't have had more fun.

(Except for the part where he and Andy were playing catch with Jeremiah.)

Andy picked Peter up and then set him back down to throw the ball.

He didn't realized that he must have taken a step or two into deeper water.

And poor Peter was in up to his forehead.

That's when Peter decided it was time to come to shore and snuggle with Mommy.

I LOVED it!

(The snuggling part - not the near drowning part.)

We got back to camp and a crazy wind blew our tent so hard it snapped some of the poles.

The rainfly served as a parachute and the wind pulled out the stakes.

Andy rushed to unpack our tent and tear it down before all of our stuff got wet.

If everything hadn't been so crazy with the tent breaking, it would have been a really awesome storm.

I looked out at the lake and saw the waves going sideways.

The kids had a great time playing in the motorhome.

The adults ran around camp trying to secure everything that might fly away or break.

It was quite the adventure!

We had a nice dinner in the moterhome.

Then Andy, Peter and I drove home to sleep in our own, warm beds.

Ammon stayed at camp with his cousins.

And enjoyed a second great day at Bear Lake.

Bike rides, more time at the beach, driving home through Wyoming.

I can't wait to hear about it all when he gets home tonight!

And I am hoping

After two years of trying

That maybe next year we'll get to spend the night at Bear Lake.

Andy's Birthday (Week 7)

The day before Andy's birthday, we went to Silver Lake with his family.

It is just such a great way to do a "hike" with young families.

The cousins had fun running around the trail together.

We were but a few moments in when we saw a Moose.

Really close.

Derrick got some pictures (I don't have any shown here).

After our walk, we had a great lunch thanks to an awesome group effort.

And Peggy brought cake to celebrate both birthday and graduation.

Happy Birthday, Andy!

Congratulations, Andy!

We spent the remainder of the day with a variety of activities.

Michael came home with us and played for a while.

Peter and Andy walked to the zoo and saw the elephants.

We took Michael home and played with the cousins for a bit.

Andy, Derrick and Tim went shopping for Andy's birthday present:

new running shoes.

We had dinner with his parents and then headed home.

Overall, I think Andy had a GREAT birthday.

And it wasn't even his birthday yet.

For his birthday, we made Andy grill our dinner!

That sounds mean, but seriously, he LOVES to grill, so it seemed OK.

And really, doesn't he look like he's having fun!

We went down to my parents house and invited everyone over for an impromptu party.

Rebecca and the boys made the "cake".

Brownies is what they really were.

Peter had fun playing with Grandpa.

I think he wants to move back.

He also enjoyed having a trampoline again, even if just for an afternoon.

Andy and Dad had a "group nap".

And I'll bet if you notice the picture of Ammon

That you would never believe the temperature was high 90's!

Why he was wearing a long sleeve shirt is beyond me.

Finally everyone arrived.

Ammon presented Andy with the cake.

Andy was holding our sweet niece Maeli.

I want to keep her.

I want to keep her older sister too, but I figure her parents are too attached now.

I'm still hoping I can find a way to steal away the little one...

Overall, we had a good weekend.

All in Andy's honor.

We spoil him.