Back to School

Its that time of year again!  Here is Avery's 1st Day of Pre-Kindergarten (preschool) picture.  He couldn't wait to go back to school, even if he is the oldest and one of 2 boys in the class (there are alot of girls this year as opposed to last year that only had boys).  He recently learned how to count to 100 and you will find him counting EVERYTHING!  He is also starting to recognize the letters /sounds at the beginning of words and thinks that is quite awesome.  Lily was sure sad when she couldn't stay with him for preschool.
We can't believe that next year he will be in Kindergarten.  He is growing up too fast!

Jumping Good Time for FHE

Avery described our last FHE as the "Best Family Home Evening ever!"  When we were at the mall the other day, Brian was given a coupon for a trampoline park, Skywalker Haven.  It expired at the end of the month and since we had a free night, we went there for FHE.  It was alot of fun!  The kids absolutely loved playing there and us parents did too, though we didn't have as much energy as the kids.  We sure are getting old...
Lily loved the Kangaroo Bounce, which was this big blow-up pad that looked like a giant pillow.  Avery liked going down the "half pipe" and both kids loved the foam put and the trampoline court.  We just took turns watching Mason on the sidelines.  He even liked the music that was playing.
Lily liked to mimic the other jumpers and when she would go on the foam pit, she would bounce all the way down the runway and then stop, and climb (not jump) into the foam pit.   She tried to do some "toe touches" like another little girl there.  Avery just went all over the place, it was really hard to keep up with him!  He was doing somersaults all over the place as well.
Indeed, it was a great Family Home Evening!

2 Months!

Mason had his 2 month appointment a couple of days ago.  Here are his stats from the doctor:

Weight: 12 lbs 12 oz (90th%) (what a big boy!)

Height: 23.2 inches (between 50th-75th%)

Head: 15.5 inch (between 25th-50th%)

Weight/Height combined: 50th%

Brothers!

We are so glad that he is growing! He had to get shots at the doctor and was the saddest he has ever been...He just wanted to cuddle up and snuggle with mommy all day (which she wasn't complaining too much).  

Here's a little (or not so little) video of our little Mason!

A Sunday Stroll to the Park

We got a soccer ball since Avery is going to do soccer this fall and he wanted to try it out at the park.  We forgot to get any pictures of the kids actually playing with the soccer ball, but hopefully we will get lots when Avery starts playing games.  He is quite excited to play on a team with his good friend from church.

  It was hot as usual at the park, but very enjoyable in the shade and there wasn't anyone there for the longest time.  It was just a peaceful afternoon as a family.  

Of course there was some swinging time since that is Lily's favorite pastime at the park.  Mason just hung out in the shade on a blanket and was giving us lots of smiles. 

Such a cutie!

Big Smiles!

Even Bigger Smiles!

Lily sure loves her brother!

the two youngest

We found out a great way to get Mason to smile.  He LOVES it when someone is singing to him.  It has to have a nice melody sound to it (he doesn't like chanting songs) and then we will get really excited.  Here is a video of Brian singing to Mason:

A Bumpy Ride to Willard Peak

  Since summer is winding down here, we decided to do a one night camping trip up to Willard Basin.  We hauled up the dirtbike, and boy, what a bumpy ride!   Brian had to keep getting out and tightening down the dirtbike since it was so bumpy.  It took us well over an hour and half to go 11 miles, but it was still an adventure and very fun!  (We just won't be hauling a dirtbike all the way up there again).  The kids were such troopers the whole way up the mountain (even Mason slept most of the way).
  The "campground" wasn't much more than firepits and tables, but atleast there was that.  It was a little windy since we were up well over 8,000 feet elevation in the mountain.  Lily actually complained it was cold, but at least it wasn't 100 degrees like it was back at home.

Lily getting ready for Dinner!

instead of eating dinner, lets just eat circus animal cookies

this is how Avery wanted to pose for the picture

snug as a bug in a rug by the campfire

breakfast time!

still cute even with crazy hair and dirt everywhere!

getting ready for a dirtbike ride  

A little further up the road, there is Inspiration Point which is a spot to look out over the whole Ogden Valley and Willard Bay.  It was so beautiful up there (about 5000 feet above the valley).  We went up there at night (the pictures didn't turn out well) and it was crazy to see the whole valley (even as far as Salt Lake City a little bit).  On the ride up you could also see the Logan Valley.  We also tried to hike a little towards either Willard Peak or Ben Lomand peak, but Lily just wasn't in the mood to hike (she isn't much into hiking), so we turned around after a little while.

on our hiking trail overlooking the valley

Mason's first hike in the snuggly

Lily just wanted to collect rocks on the hike

taking a break

Mason slept the whole hike

what we  could have been in for had we kept going (Willard Peak is ahead of Brian)

Ogden Valley!

good little hikers!

The kids and Brian all got some riding in on the dirtbike and overall, we had a blast!  Mason was such a good little camper as well!  We were all so dirty by the time we were done and were ever so glad to take a bath!

this sums up how much fun we had!

Updates on Mason

Its a little late, but here is a 6.5 week photo of Mason:

*He is still such a happy baby. 

*He rarely cries, and its usually only because he gets bubbles in his tummy (and then it isn't really crying, more of wimpering because his tummy hurts)

*He just started to coo and smile at us (when we do something silly or talk to him).  Sometimes he "giggles" in his sleep.

*Has outgrown all his newborn clothes :-(

*Loves being in his swing (probably because of the bubbles in his tummy)

*Avery & Lily are constantly wanting to hold him, and he takes their loving quite well

*Likes to have his hands up by his face when he sleeps with the "bundle me" wrapping him up tight

*Been our best sleeper so far.  There have been a few rough nights but not too many.

*will take a binky, but only the one from the hospital.

We love our little Mason!  We can't believe its his 2 month appointment next week!

Mason's Blessing Day

We blessed Mason on Sunday, August 4th.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  It had been crazy leading up to it since Brian had been gone all week while on his scout backpacking trip.  However, we managed to have everything ready for Mason's big day.

Brian did a great job giving Mason his blessing.  Some of the things we can remember that were said during the prayer were:
*that he would always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and be worthy of it
*that he would be someday choose to go on a mission on serve the Lord
*he would find an eternal companion and take her to the temple
*he would be a good brother to his siblings, Avery & Lily
*he would be a good example and serve others through his life, education and association with others
Those who bore their testimonies after were: Brian, Amanda, Bruce (Brian's dad), Bret (Amanda's dad) and Candace. We are so grateful for everyone's testimonies and those who were able to make it.  We missed those who couldn't make it, but we understand that not everyone can be there.
Afterwards, we attempted to take a family picture (since we only have the one from the hospital.  However, Lily has been especially defiant of picture taking lately and refused to be in the photo.  Then we headed over to the park for some yummy lunch, playing on the playground and some ultimate Frisbee.  Mason was such a happy camper all day long (he slept through church).

The Past Seven Weeks...

Wow! its been seven whole weeks (and some days) since we welcomed our little Mason into our family.    It has actually been quite busy for us even with a new little baby!
The week after Mason was born, Avery & Lily went to Idaho to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Turpin.  Boy they sure had a blast and we sure missed them during that time!  It was so quiet that  week as Brian had the whole week off and got to stay home with Mason and I (Amanda).  We drove up to Idaho the following Friday (so Mason was ONE week old) to get the kids.  While there, we had to go out on the boat (Grandma stayed on dry land with Mason) since Grandpa had promised Avery he would take him for a ride.  We tried to tell him it was going to be cold (since it was only in the 60s that day) but he insisted that he was going to get wet and ride in the tube.  Needless to say, after one trip around, he came back on the boat and said "I'm NEVER going back in the water."  He did actually go out again though.  

The following week we went to an Owen family reunion.  The kids loved playing with all their second cousins and it was fun to see extended family.  Mason is Amanda's Grandma Owen's 68th Great-Granchild!  (And she got 2 more great-grandkids within the next month!)  

The following week was 4th of July and so we went to the parade and festivities here in town.  Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures but it sure was fun.  Avery went nuts over the fireworks that night (they are pretty awesome since they are so close).  Aunt Candace joined us that afternoon and evening for a barbecue and picnic.  Mason slept through the entire firework show.  Lily was a little nervous for the firewokrs, but also loved them.

Then we headed up to Idaho to camp out and go on a hike up Table Mountain in the Tetons. It was Mason's first camping trip at 3 weeks of age! We stayed at a little campground (with nice restrooms) for the night and then went on the hike.  Amanda, Lily & Mason drove back to Idaho Falls instead of going on the hike. The hike is like 7 miles up and 7 miles back with snow along the way.  They made it quite far, however, a storm rolled in with rain and lightning, so they turned back.  

Mason's 1st Camping Trip-3 weeks old!

Table Mountain Hike trailhead

Then we stayed in Idaho Falls to go to Brian's brother's baby blessing that Sunday..  Mason & Lincoln are 3 weeks apart.  It was such a beautiful day and blessing!

On the way home, we stopped by to see Amanda's other Grandma (Downs).  

We thought we would be all done with adventures for the summer, which we were for a couple of weeks.  We did go to the Treehouse museum one Saturday (since it was free for Weber County RAMP Days).  The kids enjoyed that even though there were a million people there!  We also camped again in our backyard as a family and had a fun block party with our neighbors for the 24th of July.  They had a crazy candy cannon that shot the candy up in the air over 100 feet.   Some of the candy had become powder when it landed.   Then we had a really good firework show which luckily, turned out all right (note to self and others: don't put the ariel fireworks up on a board between two ladders like the ground fireworks, the box had 'jumped' up and landed luckily right side up on the ground in the middle of the aerial fireworks going off).  We were quite blessed.  

bubbles in the backyard for the campout

at the Tree House museum

Gathering up the candy from the Candy Cannon

 We also made a quick trip to Idaho to do some swimming at Downata.  Mason is 6 weeks old and its his first time swimming!  He didn't mind it at all and even drifted off to sleep a bit.  Avery got brave enough to ride down the hydrotubes and Lily just loved being in the pig pool.