Holy September, where has the summer gone!

It feels like the past few months have been dedicated solely to the preparation of Jessie and Taylor's wedding. However, that can't be all we've done this season, so allow me a moment to recap:

I did spend a lot of hours making jam for the event, this included a morning raid on the neighbors apricot tree and other shenanigans, but I'd intended to do this anyway.

There are so many things one can do with an apricot! Jam it, dry it whole or pureed, bottle it a number of ways, or simple enjoy them fresh off the tree. Yum, yum, yummy!

Charlie's second birthday bash was a delight! We had everyone over for a make your own pizza party. It was pizza, pizza, right down to the cake. It's hard to believe my baby is a toddler.

Six days later I severed my thumb, ouch! Even now as I type these memoirs of a lost summer I am donning a bandage waiting for the nail to grow back in and feeling to return. Perhaps I'll cover more on that subject later.

Jessie & Taylor McAllister were married in the Manti Temple, August 19th. Ben and I spent the night before in a little hotel across the street from the temple, while Charlie stayed with Grandma. Other than waking up dazed and confused at three in the morning, he handled the separation well.

The reception was at Grandma and Grandpa Grape's (Elder's) in their backyard. Emotions ran high, namely the over anxious feeling that comes as a result of mixing a 24 month old with multiple water hazards - the river in back, the pool inside, and the newly installed feature in front. Overall the event went smoothly with home-made bread and jam and a variety of lemon aids as refreshment. Although I had come prepared with 57 jars of jam in 11 different flavors, I never had to open more than the first bottle of each kind.

Through it all Benjamin has been working on one home improvement project . .

. . . or another. That's just a sneak peak, the big reveal will come later.

Absolutely Green

Towards the end of what always seems like a long bleak winter, I get so down on life that I just need to see something green and growing. I got it into my head that I would get my garden started early this year, even though our yard didn't have a predesignated garden plot at the time. I had day dreamed about where it could be and Ben had drawn out plans as to what it could look like. I didn't know when it would all come together, but I didn't want to miss the prime growing season. So I ordered my tomato plants in advance and went to work sowing squash and what have you, inside.

Instead of little clods of dirt sitting about, I wanted something that would double as decoration. Jennifer and Chase, who were living with us, eat a lot of eggs. I put in a request for them to save their shells - which are a great source of calcium to add to your garden soil. Once I had enough eggshell pots I went to work dyeing them and my kitchen counter in the process - no worries it cleaned up nicely with a little soft scrub.

After several failed attempts I came to the conclusion that starting indoors is a lot harder than all those seed packets would have you believe. Nevertheless, come Easter (April 24) I had managed to get enough started to give some away as presents, even if they weren't that pretty. With the warmer days, I could leave the plants outside in the more shady parts of the yard. By the first of May they were weathered enough to stay outside all night, however, like little hermit crabs they were quickly outgrowing their shells. I found some old pots left behind from the previous owners and on mother's day weekend I arranged them: three or four squash plants per pot, artichoke starts centered in two of the planters and the few peppers that made it in the other.

A week and a half later the garden boxes were ready to be planted. Thank you Ben for all your hard work!

Two weeks later I was taking a morning stroll and was surprised to find bright yellow-orange blossoms on my squash babies, just about as big as the plants themselves.

Exactly a month later I picked my first zucchini and have harvested a couple dozen since then. Now if only my tomato plants would get on board.

The Hunt

Alright, I realize Easter was last month, but on the flip side this video is only a month old unlike the recitation of Animal Orchestra which is much older than it's posted date would have you believe. Plus, it's just too cute not to share it.

Before Charles was even born my father purchased all the plastic easter eggs we would ever need. Most of which were your garden variety colored eggs but a number of them where formed to look like different creatures from, jungle animals to aquatic life and even insects. While the little dude may not have realized each character contained sweet morsels, he certainly enjoyed searching them out and greeting each one as he did.

A few weeks before Easter I found this little wheelbarrow and thought that it would make a great alternative to the traditional basket. After purchasing it I tucked it away so I could surprise Charlie with it when it was time for the big hunt. Then, the Friday before Easter, Ben brought the wheelbarrow in the house and had the little guy playing with it before I could intervene. I complained that I had been saving it for Easter and was met with a confused look. To both our surprise, Ben and I, on separate occasions and locations had purchase the exact same wheelbarrow for our sons enjoyment. What are the odds!

How many trumpets are there?

After visiting the zoo last summer we purchased this animal orchestra book for Charlie in hopes that it would aid in his learning to count. I guess he missed that point and was more interested the instruments. Watch:

The things we do to our children.

Snowshoeing has always been an interest of mine so when one of Jennifer's colleagues offered to take us I couldn't refuse. To increase the difficulty Jennifer suggested we take our children along with us and...well, we survived.

Charlie Reeder hated getting into the backpack at first but was fairly content once we were on the move. I also realized his pants were a little too short once he was in the pack. To correct this we pulled off his shoes and strung gloves to his feet/legs to close the gap. He looked like a little monkey on my back.

Valerie Jean slept through most of it.

Charlie fell asleep during the last stretch of the trial.

I had to use my scarf to support his head until we reached the car.

The next activity we subjected our son to was biking! I've been wanting a bike for so long and last Christmas I finally got one. Soon after, Benjamin purchased a used bike from the local classifieds (He's been commuting to work on a single speed for a couple of months now and he is looking so fine.) This weekend we got little Chuck Reed suited up with a seat and helmet and made the trek to Nanny's house.

Once again the little dude fell asleep on the way home.

Gung Hei Fat Choi and a Happy Chinese New Year!

This years celebration went much smoother than the last, I’ll take that as a good omen for the months ahead.
Allie and I made all the dumpling the night before so we actually got to sit down and enjoy the food this year.

Thanks everyone who was able to make it and support this tradition.

Charlie's first Manzanita

Having grown up vacationing on the coast, I was suprised to find this beach in the middle of all the beaches I've stayed at. It is an awful beach and you probably never want to come here. This is our early morning stroll along this dirty, ugly beach today.

-ben

C is for Charlie who’s just turned 1 you see!
My baby is growing up. Saturday the families got together for many reasons (Chase’s baptism, Sarah’s endowment) all of them very important. The nearest and dearest to me was Charlie’s birthday. It’s hard to believe that I’ve had him for a year already. The ordeal it took to get him here seems more like a dream than a memory. On the other hand, I have been very mindful of all those who have loved and cared for my little man. Saturday was just as much Ben and my way of showing our appreciation as it was a monster party for Charlie.

A cookie monster party that is and boy! were there cookies. I gave away most of them, but if any of you didn’t get enough I’m offering refills.

Charlie’s cake turned out just the way I had envisioned it. And the cup cakes, although rushed, weren’t half bad either.

Thanks Jennifer for your help with those while Chase Brown did some awesome window art.

Charlie got some great toys and books to make playtime fun again.

I’ll admit I was very pleased with his reaction to the wagon Ben and I got him. We drove all over trying to find the right one. Little does Charlie know I have big plans for that wagon in the fall when the apples are ready for juicing. Sorry Charlie.

Everything we share has become our son.

Playing in the office this Sunday afternoon

We took Charlie down to Reams park to see the ducks, I obviously hadn't been there in years because the fence is no longer around the pond and it looks like it's been gone for a while. We visited my grandparents that live just across the river and he crawl-scooted all around their front room and all across my cousin Brighton. Now we're just spending some time wearing the little guy out so he'll sleep hard tonight so we can do the same.

Bubbie's new gait

If you know the little guy you already know that he's becoming mobile quick, here's the proof, 7 months old and scootin' like a scoundrel.