"Harvest"...

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So many kids these days don't know how to just play. Watching Ryder and Ridge today playing "harvest" outside, I was overwhelmed at their amazing ability to just play. They are so creative! I had to take some pictures to share...notice the little rock "eggs" in the eagle's "nest". {The paper in the nest is a little eaglet in an egg cutout the boys made at the Library.} And yes, they are playing with real grain! I love, love, LOVE these kids of mine! :)

Life is good...

Noah today...

- 9 months old

- 12lbs 4oz

- Currently still toothless and hairless! {Boy, that doesn't sound cute at all.}

- Freely exercises his right to freedom of speech...or should I say freedom of "screech"!

- Can roll over when he wants to, {NOT on command!} :)

- Will sit unassisted for about 5 minutes, but usually ends up in a fall, looking at the ceiling, wondering what just happened!? :)

- Loves any and all kinds of food. Some favorites are bananas, carrots, and oatmeal!

- Loves, loves, loves his big brothers! He will get feisty {hard to believe right?} when he can hear them but can't see them!

Its that time again...

We've known its been coming, but it always seems to come too fast. It is time for Ryder to undergo surgery once again on his legs. Our scheduled surgery date is September 30th at Primary Childrens Hospital in SLC. This time around, he will also have a hydro-seal repaired on his groin...ouch! As for his legs, Dr. Randall will be removing the top two screws on the eight-plates* {description & pictures below} on his right leg {the healthy "normal" leg} to allow those growth plates to "breathe" for awhile, and placing a new eight-plate on the distal growth plate of the left knee, as Ryders' left leg is beginning to grow unevenly again, causing it to bow...Phew!



*Guided Growth™ can harness the robust potential of a child's growth plate to correct angular deformities. The eight-Plate^® from Orthofix is a minimally invasive, secure implant that allows speedy postoperative recovery with immediate weight bearing. The eight-Plate uses two holes and diverging screws to function like a hinge and avoid growth plate compression. It gently guides the natural growth process and restores limb alignment without the need for invasive osteotomy.



We are planning on making this a fun trip to Utah before Ryders' surgery. One last Hoo-Rah if you will! :) We are going to go down a couple days beforehand and go to the Hill Aerospace Museum on the 28th, and on the 29th Noah has a 6 month post-op follow up appointment with Dr. Barnhart {Yes, at Primary Childrens...} in the morning and afterwards we are planning on going to Hogle Zoo with friends! The boys are so excited! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks.

Fair Week

I love the fair. The boys love the fair. Chase LOVES the fair! All responsibility goes out the window for fair week. I'm talking skipping work, skipping school, the house is a disaster by the end of the week, kind of love...that is how much we love the fair.

I have worked at a food booth at the fair for 8 years called Van's Diner. Some close family friends own it and I love to go and help out every year for a change of pace {fast pace!} This year was no exception! After my wonderful Labor Day Weekend Camping trip with some good friends from Utah {will blog about that later...} I spent Tuesday-Saturday working selling curly fries, deep-fried cheese curds, burgers, and paninis!

Every year, there is always some vendors that insist on selling the some crazy food concoction, and this year did not disappoint! Some of the most memorable were Chocolate-covered Bacon {I think I just threw up in my mouth...again.} Deep fried Snickers, Oreos, Twinkies, and Cheesecake....has anyone had a heart attack yet?! But all the buzz seemed to revolve around the "Bullseye Burger" what is so special about this particular burger you may be asking? Well let me tell you...It is a Bacon Cheeseburger with a donut for the bun. And I'm ashamed to say I ate one {well, part of one} and kind of liked it...Okay, I liked it alot! Don't judge Me! You know your wondering what it would taste like!

Ryders first day of 2nd grade!

Today was our first official day of school. {Our 3rd year homeschooling for those that don't know} It was fast and furious, but kind of exciting too! Ryder wont smile or admit that it was a good day, but it was in fact a good day! :) There is definitely going to have to be some scheduling kinks to work out. I kind of "forgot" to put Noah down for his mid-morning nap and set him down to help Ryder on the computer and turned back around and Noah was sound asleep on the couch!

P.S. Ridge is totally into school! He was right in the middle of things today...making his own school "schedule", counting pennies, "writing" in his journal, and singing the Alphabet!