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{September 11}

When Donovan had his one year checkup our Dr. mentioned that he heard a murmur.  Not something that you want to hear.  He said to just keep an eye on it.  While we were checking Charlie I asked if Dr. Marsden could just listen to Dono’s heart.  He suggested that we quickly see a specialist.  Not something that you want to hear.  So I scheduled an appointment at Primary Children’s. 

I’m generally a positive person.  I see things half full.  I like to smile and laugh and giggle.  But seeing my baby all hooked up to those cords freaked me right out.  He was so brave and held perfectly still.  He was mostly worried that he was going to get a shot.  He was pleased as punch when there were zero needles and a sucker involved.

The specialist came in and listened to Dono’s heart.  He had him look left, right, up and down.  He explained to me that certain holes in your heart will normally close up and that the two different murmurs he was hearing was benign.  Lots of medical words that made me feel better. 

headed north

 grandma denter loves them. rootbeer.

poopy diaper-close my eyes for five minutes-walk the dog-feed the baby-pit stop.

stinkbug dog & sleeping boy

We were headed north to Logan and West Haven.  My cousin Kristen and her husband Troy were headed to AK and asked us to stay with her kids.  Donovan was so excited to be with Kiana and Ryland.  He is a great traveler.  I don’t think he really has had a choice.  Charlie slept most of the way except for when he needed an emergency food stop. 

first creek walking

{September 8}

 To be honest since these pictures are almost six months ago I don’t exactly remember how we ended back in Vegas but we did.  We drove and drove and drove.  I love the desert and feel very comfortable in the cacti.  I loved the green and yellow and the open fresh air.

early september.

{September 2-5}

 

I drove Randy back to the airport and then turned around and drove back to St. George.  We played outside with friends and went for a bike ride.  Donovan adores Jillian.  He asks for her almost daily.  We were able to get a snowcone.  We thought Charlie might've been exposed to whooping cough so we had to get checked out at the late night Dr. clinic.  Thankfully he didn't have it.  We went to Hurricane and while Grandpa Owen got a haircut we played at a splashpad. 

i'm so glad when daddy comes home. . .

{August 31-September 2}

While Randy was in Carson City at POST

we constantly talked on the phone

about the things we wanted to do when we were all back in the same place.

Donovan always wants to go to the park.

I wanted to eat out.

We wanted to see family. 

When he came home we tried to as much as we could

in the short short time we had together.

 We paid for Cafe Rio all in pennies.

Best lunch ever.

 We went to the park.

 

Donovan picked me a flower.

It was so sweet.

 

 We went to Red Lobster's all you can eat shrimp.

Randy ate a million.

 Digging in the dirt is the best...

being buried in the dirt is AMAZING!

Merrijane with her four youngest grandsons.

Donovan and Josh are 5 months apart.

Zachary and Charlie are 5 months apart.




****
I had spent a lot of time writing and editing this post.
Only to discover that I'd already posted it.
So I decided I'm going to add it in anyway.

Randy was only home a few times during his training so we tried to have as much fun as we could.  We walked the Ranch, picked fruit {pears} and flowers.  We went to a brand new park and enjoyed the sunshine.

We went out to lunch at Café Rio and paid completely in pennies.  The cashier just laughed and even gave us a tres leches for free.

I think it’s such a blessing that we can hop in the car and be at our homes in just a few minutes.  We were able to spend some time at the Denter’s house.  The boys were so happy to bury each other and then climb out and do it all again.  We kept asking Dono if he wanted to come out and he said, ‘No, I’m happy in the dirt.’  I think it pretty much sums up his existence.  He’s much happier when he’s outside and getting dirty.

love

I am in love with their relationship.  It's so physical and rough and fierce.  Charlie will let Donovan pull him by his shirt and squish his face.  Donovan will let 'baby Charlie' pull his hair and give him slobbery kisses.

I never imagined how these boys would capture my heart the way they do.  It's strange because during the day I will have moments where they're both climbing on me and I can't even slip away to go to the bathroom by myself-but then they're asleep and I miss them.  I sneak into their rooms after they've fallen asleep and I'm reminded how lucky I am.

I love love and always have.  So today I feel I'm so fortunate that these guys in my life love me too.  I can get them both to giggle hysterically with just one look.  Randy is an amazing father.  He also is such a sweetheart and really takes care of me. 

Happy Valentine's Day!  Go smooch someone you love. 

watered in

{August 30}

 I have no clue why my pictures are chopped up and funky.

But I kind of like them.

I remember this morning because we were excited to go to a playdate.

We had changed clothes and diapers, got snacks and water ready.

I was speeding {I shouldn't admit this}

to get out of the park.  

But then I stopped like the ten other cars-

we could not go any further.

The rainstorms had brought so much water

so quickly that we had a flash flood raging through 

our little road.

No going anywhere.

At least for several hours until the water subsided.

So we went home and made some bread.

wednesday

{August 29}

 Wednesdays at 10:30 at one of the malls in Vegas

there is a storytime which includes two free rides

on the carousel.

Normally the rides are $3 a person.  Seriously?

Then afterwards we get a coupon to one of the stores for $5 off.

Bargain outing if you ask me.

ndow

{August 28}

 We were walking around the lake when we saw someone

in a canoe paddling around.

Donovan was yelling at them,

'you're not supposed to be in there!'

We walked around to find some guys setting traps.

They were from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

{I thought their truck said NVD of Life}

They were really cool about telling us how they were 

going to count the endangered fish we have in Lake Harriet.

They even pulled out a trap and 

got a fish so Donovan could

hold it and look at it.

It was great PR except for the fact

that Donovan constantly asks if we can go fishing in the lake.

baby bird

meanwhile back at the ranch...

{August 28}   

 We love Jan because she lets 

Charlie eat as much of her hair

that he can handle.

We were waiting for Randy to come for the weekend

and were soso hot so we went to the park,

 splash pads and tried to stay cool.

If I think back that was really the story of the summer ::

try and stay cool.

I was talking with a friend the other day and we said

it's hard with kids to get out in the cold but when it's hot

you just throw a bucket of water outside and 

let them be.