Tomorrow's the Big Day!

And yes, I am sitting on the computer when I should be packing or sleeping or something like that.  Actually I am pretty much ready to go and I don't leave until 1pm tomorrow, so hopefully I can hang out and have a nice morning with my boys before we head to the airport.
So, since so many people give me that "smile and nod" look when I tell them I am going to El Salvador, I thought I would give a little bit more info.

El Salvador is the smallest and also the most densely populated country in Central America. It borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. 90% of Salvadorans are mestizo (mixed Native American and European origin).   El Salvador is only 1% indigenous.  There are very few Native Americans due to the  the deliberate massacres in 1932 which the Salvadoran military murdered somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 peasants, and the recent civil war in which tens of thousands of Salvadorans fled to Honduras and Guatemala. 

El Salvador has some rainforests, but those are being depleted by farmers.  Though some are now protected.  It has several rivers and lakes, some of which are enclosed in volcanic craters and some of which are man made.  El Salvador has a tropical climate and beautiful beaches.  Because of the recent civil war (ending in 1992), the tourism industry is just beginning to grow.  El Salvador is definitely an undiscovered gem.  - That's my shortened version, if you want to read more, click here for wikipedia or here for the World Factbook.

As far as what I will be doing, you can check out this blog and get some idea.  And hopefully I will be posting regular updates very soon . . .

Wish me luck!

Am I setting a bad precedent?

Two years old = two birthday celebrations.  This could get difficult in years to come.

But this year it worked out great!

On his actual birthDAY, we played at the park, had a yummy dinner and then had ice cream sundaes with Grandma and Grandpa.

Then we had a fun birthday BBQ with some friends and had a great time!  It had rained and been yucky most of the day, but we lucked out.  In fact, when we left our house, it was still sprinkling, and when we got to Grandma's house 15 min away - it was perfect weather!  His party was a "farm" theme, so what better place to have than where you can play with goats and chickens and horses and cows (although we pretty much just watched the horses and cows).   Russ said he really likes this kind of party, as compared to the other type that I usually plan, because we actually got to hang out and relax.  I liked it too. 

Playing in the yard:

Eating yummy dinner:

Frosting our own cupcakes - we made piggies, chickens, and cows:

And I think everyone's favorite was the zipline.  One for the little kids:

Colton's first time!  Sent by his dad, of course, I looked up about half way through and almost had a heart attack!  But he loved it and will probably do it many more times...

 And the one for the big "kids":

I think everyone had a good time, it was perfect for all ages and easy for mom.  And the birthday boy was happy.  That's what really counts.  Love you Colton!

Camping at Yuba

Our first camping trip of the season over Memorial Day had everything boys love . . .

Hiking and looking for arrowheads:

Fishing:

Playing in the mud:

Boating:

Climbing on rocks and finding caves:

And s'mores of course!

I love these boys!  Can't wait for more camping adventures this summer!

Summer Plans . . .

Things we are definitely doing (aka. they are acutally on the calendar):

• Camping at Yuba Lake (haven't been there in years, so we'll see how it goes).
• Mom to El Salvador
• Ride the firetruck in the 4th of July Parade
• Camping at Grand Mesa (or somewhere thereabouts) with my sister's fam
• Fiesta Days Children's Festival (unfortunately it is the same day as Llama fest this year, either we will have to choose or that will be one full day of fun!)
• Celebrate my Mother-in-law's 60th birthday
• Annual Bear Lake camping trip with Russ's fam
• Celebrate the Pioneer Day (It's a state holiday in Utah, in case you are unfamiliar)
• Road trip across Oregon

Other things we will do, because we usually do:

• Seven Peaks
• Spend the day fishing and swimming at Payson Lakes
• boating on Utah Lake, or maybe Deer Creek
• Payson Pool - it's cool, you should check it out.
• Rodeo - Lehi Round up, Fiesta Days, or the "big one" in SLC
• Fiesta Days festivities
• Payson City Onion Days (the morning that they have the free kids stuff is best)

Things I really want to do and am (mostly) planning on doing:

• Build or buy a playset
• Llama Fest
• Spanish Fork Community Theater's production of The Music Man (we have lots of friends that we will be watching!)

Things that I would like to say I am going to do (but by the end of the summer I may have forgotten that I wanted to or maybe I could just never fit it in):

• Moonlit ride up the Sundance lift.
• Trafalga - mini golfing, go karts, etc.
• Lavender Days in Mona
• Visit the Thanksgiving Point Gardens (although I am SO un-inclined to pay such a high price to ooh and aah at nature)
• Utah Valley Parade of homes (though this one is doubtful, because it starts two days before I leave for El Sal and will be over by the time I get back. hmm)
• Float down the Provo River
• Camping at Cherry Hill

The biggest thing we will be doing this summer (as in the thing that has taken up most of my attention and will require much planning and effort on my part) will be our "Summer of Service".  You can read about it here, but understand that that blog is very much a work in progress.  But since summer is starting, I had to just jump in and do it.  No going back now.  Wish us luck!

Oh, and, any other suggestions of things not to miss this summer?

Hi Ho the Dairy-O

Last week we took a fun little field trip to a dairy farm and I think we all learned alot, including the mommies!  We all had to wear "boots" over our feet so that we didn't track any germs into where the cows were.  Before we started the tour we also got "Got Milk?" stickers and milk mustaches.  Ready to begin!

We drove in a big van around the dairy and got to see LOTS and LOTS of cows.  (I didn't really get pictures, because it would be out the window - and I think everyone knows what a cow looks like.)  We got to see the babies and the pregnant cows.  This dairy averages 25 calves a day!  And boy did those pregnant mommies look miserable.

We got to see how the feed the cows.  They grow all the food for the cows.  This here is corn all blended up.  They store it under the plastic and the tires keep the air out so it doesn't go bad.  What the cows end up eating is actually a precise blend of several different things.  We got to see the feed truck dumping the food for the cows, where they stay when they are not being milked, and yes, it was a little stinky.  But their stalls get cleaned 3 times a day, wouldn't that be nice!

We got out of the van to see where they actually milk the cows.  160 cows can be milked at one time and it takes just a few minutes.  They are milked milked three times a day and average about 12 gallons each.everything was very sanitary and very efficient.  It was kind of cool. 

 

Our tour guide was Ollie's Grandpa, one of the little boys in our preschool, and he did a great job!   Cody said his favorite part of the trip was his "Cow Tail" treat that they gave him.  It was a great field trip - we learned alot AND had fun.

Terrible Twos?

I've always thought the "terrible twos" were actually more from age 1 1/2 to 2 1/2, and by then they're into the "whiny threes".  I think it's just always something.  Maybe with my third rowdy little boy, I've realized it's not really that "terrible" more just about learning and alot of discovering.  Now I just roll my eyes and clean up the mess, sometimes I even remember to take a picture so I can record this precious time of new experiences.  And most of the time he makes us all smile.  They get such joy out of simple little things.

Colton does many of the same things my other boys did, but somehow time makes us forget. Sometimes I wish I would have recorded the little things more.  So here's a glimpse of Colton at two years of age...

He says lots and lots of words (and attempts pretty much anything).  Many times he just repeats words:

Mom: "Colton, do you want a cookie?"

Colton: "Cookie"

Mom:  "Or a cracker?"

Colton: "Cracker"

Mom: (slowly) "Cookie or cracker?"

Colton: "Cookie. Cracker"

Mom:  Ok, how about just an apple."

Colton: "Apple"

Mom: "Great, here's an apple."

He has also learned the word mine, although he is great at sharing:

Mom: (bringing his lunch to the table)

Colton: "Mine?"

Mom:  "Yes, this is yours."

(setting the plate down, a mandarin orange falls off the side and I pop it in my mouth)

Colton: "Hey!"

Mom: (smile)

Colton: "sharin?" (smile and tilt of the head)

Mom: "Yes, we're sharing."

Colton: (smiling and nodding) "sharin."

Colton has been really talking since about January.  His first full sentence was "I got it."  It is still heard quite often.  Colton still sleeps in his crib (mostly for his mom's sanity).  He is also still attached to his binky, which is probably also for my sanity.  He loves to do the dishes, though when I am not looking, he likes to spray the sprayer all over the kitchen.  He loves to take baths or showers.  If I tell him I am going to take a shower, he HAS to come in with me (ie major tantrum), but if I tell him I am going to go rest for a few minutes, he just waves and I can take a quick shower, alone, and he is none the wiser.  He still takes pretty decent naps, which gives me a short amount of time each day to actually "do something", although Cody us usually running in and out with his friends.  He loves his daddy and watching out the window for him to come home in the mornings.  He gives great hugs and always wants a "hamwich, hamwich!" - a hug squished between mom and dad.  He LOVES to play outside, no matter how cold or wet it is and apparently the only thing to do in our backyard is play in the sandpile, so he is constantly dirty.  I always feel bad when I go to change is diaper hours later and it is full of sand.  Speaking of diapers, I am hoping to be done with them soon.  Everytime I change his diaper, he says "toilet!", so I let him go, although we have only ever had something come out just once.  He likes to do anything his big brothers do - ride bikes, play video games (or pretend to), wrestle with dad, go to friends', "play" legos (or throw them, whatever).  Just recently he has actually started playing with his brothers (as opposed to just following or annoying them), and I love it!

Although he is definitely in the "discovery" phase, he is smiley and snugly and amazes me everyday at all that he is learning and absorbing.  He brings such joy into our home!  We love this two year old!  Happy Birthday Colton!