The Bean Museum

One day we decided to venture down to BYU to visit where I used to work when I was a student, the EFY office.  My brother Tyler and his wife Mara used to work there too so we all thought we'd pay them a visit and show off our little ones.  Mara and I were both receptionists (at different times) and Tyler was in charge of organizing sessions.  Yea, I was the one on the phone if you called to register your child, trust me there are a lot of moms out there who don't know how to use the internet. :)  I didn't get an actual picture in the office, but I got one of everyone hanging outside in the shade waiting for us.  It was a nice visit though, and even though I don't know a lot of the people who work there anymore I did get a cd from this years session.  Shhh... don't tell.

My Grandma was very excited she got to hold Carter for a while when we were waiting for Tyler and Mara.

Of course we had to get a four generation picture on my mom's side.

After our short visit at the office we went over to the Bean Museum on Campus.  It's a natural history museum, and oddly enough the first place I ever voted.  That's right I voted for the President of the United States surrounded by dead animals.  My dad took his turn showing Preston around.

He was also willing to carry my bag because I had Carter in the bjorn.  I think he was also holding him right before I put him in, hence the burp cloth on his shoulder.  This picture cracks me up because my dad always refused to carry my mom's purse because he doesn't want to look girly.

My mom held little Ashton for a while...

until his mommy had to feed him.  I love the elephant behind her head.  Yes, it's a real stuffed elephant.

Then, my mom took her turn taking Preston around.

He really liked the lion

and especially the ducks

but he wasn't so sure about the bears.  I think it scared him just a little bit.

Last, but definately not least, I had to showcase a picture of my brother Bryant with the famous Liger they have there.  She used to be in the Hogle zoo.  It's pretty much my favorite animal. :)

Around My Parent's House

We had a lot of fun just hanging around my parent's house.  Here's Tyler after he met Carter for the first time.

Carter had some sagging issues that day.  He's our little gangster.  :)

Preston absolutely LOVED all the attention!  My dad read him books every chance he got.

Preston saw Grandpa's hats high up in his closet and really wanted to wear it.

I'm so glad my mom likes to give the boys baths.  Less work for me...

and it means I can just sit and take pictures.  Carter loves his bath time.

Of course there was a lot of lego playing going on too.  With both my dad and Uncle Bryant.

My parent's spoiled the boys to death, if you couldn't tell.

Carter loves his Grandpa.

He started grabbing the edge of the blanket a lot while we were there.

I'm glad he's such a content baby, it made the trip a lot easier for me.

One afternoon Bryant turned a PBS cartoon on for Preston.  We found him watching it while sitting in the box full of books and toys.  He did not want to get out either.  What a goof!

Preston also learned how to be a master chef by helping my dad with the grilling one day.

He was always interested in whatever his Grandpa was doing.

Just hanging out around the house with my family was one of my favorite things about our vacation.  Preston actually got upset every time we left their house which is funny because when we're home all he over wants to do is go "bye bye."  :)

Family Filled Sunday

The day after the fourth my 18 brother Kyle was ordained an Elder.  In our church this can happen after a boy turns 18.  I wasn't able to be there when my other brothers were.  A lot of our family was able to come, and it was really special to be able to take part in.

I attempted a makeshift tripod for this picture,and as you can see I barely made it in time, and look kind of funny.  Oh well, at least everyone there was in the picture. :)

My mom made us all a yummy lunch as always.

We also got a few pictures of family while we were there.  I LOVE this picture!  Need I say more?

We also did some four generation pictures.  Here's Tyler and Mara's family with my parent's and grandparents...

and me and my boys with my dad and his parents.  I had to swap a few heads for this one. :)

It was a nice relaxing day.  We always have fun when the whole family gets together!

Fourth of July - The Fireworks

We actually did our fireworks at home the day after the fourth but it still counts right.  Of course I had to get a picture of the Star Spangled Banner.

Preston was very excited for the fireworks.

It's not hard to guess what his favorite thing was.

Snap-its!

He thought is was the funnest thing in the world.  After he got over the fact that they were a little scary.

My brother Kyle is a bit of a pyro.  He made these homemade firecracker bottle rocket things.  They weren't the best idea.  One of them hit Tyler and Mara's car, luckily it didn't get damaged.

Kyle and Bryant lighting off the fountains.

See what I mean about the maniac in him?  He was really excited about this one.  It was one of the coolest ones that are actually legal there.

I've never actually found fountains to be that exciting myself.  But it was fun to watch him have fun lighting them off.

I did break down and try a sparkler or two though.

My dad and old Elliot hung out on the porch...

WIth all the women and babies. :)

The day before we did actually watch real fireworks down in Provo and got to meet up with Gabe's brother Mike and his lovely wife Ashley, they were excited to meet Carter.  If you recall they were married back in April.  They actually live in Arizona but were up visiting her family for the holiday.  Oh, and I think they switched their neon lights right before this picture.

They thought he was an angel baby. ;)

By this point Preston was REALLY tired, hence the binky that's too small.  He didn't like the fireworks people were lighting off around us at all.  He kept saying "noooo, aaall done!"  So my parents got him a neon light to keep him busy.

Carter absolutely loved watching the fireworks.  He was mesmorized.

When they started Preston came and sat with me for a while and decided that he liked the ones "high in the sky."

I even got a chance to take a few pictures.  I wasn't really prepared and we were kind of far away from the stadium, but it's always fun to remember what we saw.

These kind are my favorite!

The night ended with a beautiful, slightly cloudy moonlit sky.

It would have been perfect if only Gabe had been there with us.