Who doesn't love kid art?

After chasing a fly around with some old-school kitchen tongs (you know, the kind with the hole in the middle??) for the better part of an hour, Marshall decided to make this sign. He asked me to make 6 copies for him, one for outside our front door and the other 5 for around the house. He clearly wants the fly to get the picture - he's NOT welcome! Gotta love 5 year olds!

Week in Review

On Monday John went out to his car after work to discover a flat tire. His 3rd since moving here. I loaded up the boys and headed up to Kearney, where he works. At this point it was about 7:30 and the boys were starving so we decided to scrap whatever was on the menu that night, along with FHE, and get some fast food.

Tuesday morning we drove the half hour back up to Kearney so John could take the tires off and bring them in to Walmart in Excelsior (which we were told is the largest Walmart ever) and was another 30 minutes away. They put two new tires on (the other one was nearly shredded, too) and we drove back to drop John off at work. By the time I got home with the boys it was already 12:30!!

Coen decided to make this his 5th day of not napping and I finally decided to see if a drive would help him sleep. So after lunch the boys and I headed back out to run some quick errands at the bank, the post office, and drop off a book at the library. While we were out it started pouring rain (I swear the rainstorms are worse here!) and we got lost on a detour to the post office. Coen finally fell asleep, and we finally scrapped the P.O. idea and just found a blue drop box close to us.

John had won tickets to a KC Royals game at work and took Marshall to it that night. Coen was so sad when they left and the whole time I was rocking him to sleep he kept saying "Sho-sho, sho-sho," which is how he says Marshall when he is tired. (It's "Maw-sho" normally.) Marshall had a BLAST at his first ball game! Despite getting wet from the rain, he was all grins when he got home.

Not sure what exactly happened Wednesday, the days seem to just all be the same.

On Thursday morning the library had a children's musician performing so I took the boys to it. They had fun but were getting antsy towards the end so we grabbed our books on hold and headed out. I decided to go exploring on a little drive (ok, so I really just wanted to go get custard) and we took some roads we had never been on before. The more I see, the more I love it here!!

After a long, hot week, we needed to get ourselves out to the pool!! I always feel so good after some Vitamin D exposure ;-) I was supposed to go grocery shopping but Coen refused to nap again so I didn't get my coupon clipping done. Plus it seems like whenever he doesn't nap, I get so frazzled and thrown off schedule.

When John got home we cleaned up a bit. I put Coen down for bed early, then drifted off myself as I listened to John and Marshall playing Sequence for Kids in the living room - music to a mother's ears! I think that's the biggest turn on - John spending quality time with the boys :D

On Saturday John took the boys to Lowe's to do another kid's project. This time it was a UFO. Only kids 5 and up are supposed to make one, but John snuck and did one for Coen, too. They were both so proud of their spacecraft :) I headed out to do my shopping while John and Marshall listened to books on CD. John went out with the missionaries afterwards.

We had dinner and played a game of hallway soccer. Our hallway is just perfect for playing!! It was a fierce competition as Marshall and I teamed up against John. I now know why they wear shin guards and I have some bruises up and down my legs, but the fun time was worth it ;-)

Then after dinner we took a family trip to Target. Marshall had $5 burning a hole in his pocket that my mom gave him on our Utah trip. He spent it in the dollar section on not 1 but 2 packs of markers - one a batman set and the other Dr. Seuss, a cheap looking army tank with LEAD written allover it, and a bag of water balloons. Interestingly enough, the books that I got from the library on Thursday were all about teaching your kids about money - ha! We'll get there. He has to learn, because I wasn't ever given a chance and well...

So anyway, nothing super exciting this week. Hope all is well back home!

PS. Coen also said "toot" for the first time - as in gas. He is still in love with dogs or "Foo Foos" and horses "Neigh" and balls. Recently I got the wooden train set out for him and he really likes playing with that, too. He says "choo choo" for train. He likes to whack his plate and cup off the table when he is done eating. He loves his daddy and if he's awake when John goes to work, he cries. When he drops or looses something he looks at me with an "O" shaped mouth and puts his hands up like "Where did it go?" It's so stinkin' cute! Every time we change his diaper he says "poo poo" even if it isn't. That's the latest with him!

Keeping up with the boyses (so it ends like Joneses)

My cleaning schedule goes something like this:

Monday: try to clean up from the weekend while the boys make new messes disasters
Tuesday: try to clean up while the boys make new messes disasters
Wednesday: get out of bed, take one look around and try my hardest to not crawl back in bed to escape it all. try to clean up while the boys make new messes disasters. John can tell I'm losing it and does some dishes while I clean the bathrooms.
Thursday: try to clean up while the boys make new messes disasters
Friday: go to the pool and grocery shop. Family clean-up night! The place looks great.
Saturday: family fun day, sick of cleaning so we slack off
Sunday: a great excuse to not clean
Monday: TOTAL disaster. wonder how on Earth the house can get so trashed in just 2 days and the cycle starts all over. And for the millionth time wish I was like my mom or my cousin or my BFF that actually enjoys cleaning.

Tips? Suggestions? Thanks :)

My decorating project

I have wanted to replace our old family photo with a frame collage for a while now. As much as I loved that picture (which will find a new home in our bedroom) it was from when Marshall was 6 months old, 5 years ago. So I printed a bunch of newer (and found some older) prints that include Coen. I gathered all my old picture frames, arranged them how I wanted them, then spray painted them all black because I couldn't decide on a color scheme (I want to sew some throw pillows and don't know what colors the fabric will have). So here's my first decorating project in our new home, all finished and everything (which is quite an accomplishment for me because I rarely finish my projects).

How much do you love it??

My favorite things about it are:

-John actually likes it after expressing concern that it was going to look like a hallway in a home from the '70s with a picture wall.

-It includes a picture of each of our parents for the boys to remember them by from our recent trip to Utah.

-It has classics like one from our engagement photos, right after we were married, and the time John and I went to Cape Cod.

-It also has memories from our vacation earlier this year to Newport Beach and Disneyland.

-I did it all by myself! And to go along with that, I made our place a little cuter by adding my personal touch.

-It was cheap - all I needed for it was spray paint and a few pictures! Which fits my motto that my in-laws taught me:

"Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
or do without."
-Pres. Kimball (I think?)

For Riley :)

Dear Aunt Riley,

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to rescue your Purple Ninja! We have prevented his escape by tying him up and gagging him, as you can see.

The conditions are as follows:

1. You will be required to come visit your nephews for no less than 5 days.

2. We must have fun with you at all times.

He will be released upon your departure from Kansas City, Missouri after these conditions have been met.

If you choose to forego this mission, we cannot say what will happen to Purple Ninja. Just know that the situation is grim. Very grim. Time is of the essence.

Your beloved nephews,

Marshall & Coen

MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Coen's new words

While in Utah he learned "home," only he says "ho--" and leaves off the m sound at the end. He also says "bleh," as in when something is yucky. As a preface to this, my brother Brandon brought his new dog, Marty, home with him for the Fourth. Coen is absolutely in love with dogs, only he calls them "Foo Foo," his sound for "woof woof." Coen was quite distraught after Brandon and Marty left to go back to Colorado. Every time after that, when we went to my mom's, Coen would say "Foo Foo ho--" for "Foo Foo home." Marty is only a puppy and likes to chew on things he shouldn't, like Coen's toy balls, so Coen also learned to say "Foo Foo ball, bleh," and sticks out his tongue." He has said both new phrases repeatedly since we left.

A few days ago I was on the phone with my mom and she asked if Coen knew any more words yet. And in fact he had just learned one that day.

I took the boys to Target with me one afternoon after a doctor appointment over in Liberty, unfortunately foregoing naptime. I got in the store and realized I had forgotten my list, but had all my coupons, so I based what I needed to get off of those (because if I don't have a coupon for it, I don't get it). It took a lot longer that way and the boys were getting restless. Coen kept wiggling out of the strap in the cart and would cling to my shirt, trying to get down and walk like Marshall. A few times I just carried him for a bit then strapped him back in and said, "Sit down," and as I walked around I would sing-song to him "Sit. Sit. Sit." It didn't take long for Coen to learn the chant, only he was screaming it and had added an "h" in the word, right where you don't want it to be. So we went around Target with him yelling profanities the rest of the trip. I couldn't help but laugh.

And just yesterday he learned the word all mothers dread hearing. "NO." And to add to it, he folds his arms across his chest, turns his torso away from you and says, "Hmmph." He gets it from his big brother. It is so cute!

You know you've seen Incredibles one too many times when...

you start applying lines from the movie to your life.


For example, in Utah, as my lips and skin were drying out, I thought about this scene:


Mr. Incredible: "Why don't you just use the moisture in the air?"

Frozone: "Because there is NO moisture in the air!"



And my all time favorite:
Mr. Incredible: "Sometimes I feel like the maid, 'I just cleaned up this mess!'"



And someday soon I hope to have this conversation with John:Elastigirl: "Honey, I'm calling to celebrate a momentous occasion. We are officially moved in."

Mr. Incredible: "And the last three years don't count because....?"

(Only hopefully it'll be more like 6 months rather than 3 years.)

Elastigirl: "I finally unpacked the last of the boxes."

Utah Trip 2010

I'm so tired of rearranging pictures that I'm leaving this one at the top. It's from the Rodeo. It's a cute one of us, huh?

It took multiple days and a complete reposting of the pictures, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday's recap thanks to Coen's fascination with the glowing power bar button. SO. If you're reading this please comment. I was just on my way OUT of blogging before we moved, so grandparents and family reading this, know that I love you and this is for you and it makes me really sad that no one ever comments anymore :'( Ok, I guess it's for me too, so I can recount what our family is up to. But still. It's a love/hate relationship. I love the pictures and the journaling and the memories, but I HATE Blogger. It frustrates me.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that I just "visited" Utah. I haven't "visited" Utah since I was in diapers! I mean, who "visits" Utah?? I guess us - "Utah, we're your new visitors!" It's weird to take a "vacation" to Utah when for so long I've called it home. It's not a place I "vacation" to, it's where I "vacation" from.

Saturday, July 3rd

The drive to Utah took us 16 hours but it went by fast. I was eagerly awaiting, well here, I said it best on facebook "Nicole Marshall Bradley...Has waited all day for this moment when my taste buds would be Cafe Rio-united with the tantalizing flavors of the barbacoa salad! Mmmm....it's been way.too.long." So yeah, Cafe Rio is what got me through the 16 hour drive to Utah - I had to make it there before they closed!

Sunday, July 4th

On Sunday John's mom was so nice and got up with our boys so we could sleep in and recover from our long drive Saturday. Thank you so much!!!! We went to our old ward for sacrament meeting and got to see all our old friends. I loved having the fourth of July fall on a Sunday. The people who bore their testimonies talked about America's founding fathers and how they laid the groundwork for this country to have religious freedom so that Joseph Smith could restore the gospel and how this was the promised land and how blessed we are to live here. I have always loved the Fourth but this year it brought new meaning to my favorite holiday.

As sacrament was ending I felt like we needed to go see my step-grandma, Mary. She is really special to me and I didn't get to say goodbye or bring the boys over to see her before we moved. Let me just tell you about this remarkable woman. I was 5 when my dad married Sarah Jane, Mary is her mom. They moved to New York and then Las Vegas. One summer while we were staying with them in Vegas, Mary was there for a visit too. We were at the pool with Sarah's brother and his kids just playing and having fun. All the other kids were calling Mary, Grandma Mary so I decided to try it out too. After I said it I was so embarrassed that I dove under water and swam away. Later she told me that I could call her "Grandma" if I wanted. I have never forgotten that moment and how special and included that made me feel.

My family was not your typical divorce and re-married family. My mom and dad got along and never fought, things were great. When my dad and Sarah moved back to Utah, my mom really got to know Sarah more at soccer games, birthday parties, and other times that called for us to be together. My mom also used to have my little (half) brother and sister over while my dad and Sarah went on dates. They got along so well with each other. Sarah would print pictures from our trips for my mom and later they even started exchanging Christmas gifts. Well through the years, my mom started getting invited to Sarah's family parties at Grandma Mary's house. She never came, but started talking to Mary when she would pick us up and drop us off. They too exchange gifts, phone calls, and visits to this day.

Mary and Sarah have magnetic personalities, they draw people in and you just feel blessed to know them. Growing up I would hear Mary talk about the luncheons, bridge club, and opera she attended with friends she had made back in high school. I remember thinking I want relationships with my friends like that, ones that lasted into our older years.
Mary's house held a kind of magic for me growing up. It was a place where you felt at home. I have many memories there of playing dress-ups with Mary's old clothes, having sleepovers with my cousins, the Sunday morning scone tradition, holiday meals, the "Christmas Room" that is only used on December 25th, the fishing pond for the grandkids at Mary's birthday party every year, having picnics in the treehouse, being bribed with a pair of Doc Martens if I would use the zipline to come down, and having my own 16th and 18th birthday parties in her gorgeous backyard. If I hadn't gotten married in December, my reception would have been in that yard. My boys have their own memories of her house now, too. Marshall came upon a huge glass vase full of marbles when he was 1 year old and ever since then Mary has let him spread them all over the floor everytime he comes over. He loves to go out to her patio and garden and water the flowers and we usually get out a rubbermaid bin of old wooden train tracks. Her house is full of treasures.

She is so funny sometimes! I can't help but laugh whenever she swears because to hear it from her you just wouldn't expect it and she knows that and quickly pardons herself. She has funny quirks, like she has to have lipstick on no matter what, and earrings even if they don't match because to her that's better than nothing. She has about 10 pairs of reading glasses laying around but can never find any of them. You just know not to go over there before 10 or 11 in the morning because she likes to sleep in. You will almost always find a loaf of bread on her counter with the bag open, a mug of coffee nearby, any medicine you could ever want in the drawer under the silverware, some sort of chocolate goody hiding in the microwave, and always something long expired in the cupboard or fridge (I'm talking 1993 here. Seriously). She is the type that will buy something on sale just because it is on sale then put it away for someone. She has a whole room chalk full of these finds. She can't throw anything away, due to growing up in the depression, so consequently she has A LOT of stuff.

I have enjoyed many conversations with Mary. We've talked about mothering and raising children, education when she taught and how it is different today, I know about her family, how she met her late husband, how she misses him and still dreams about him, and I interviewed her once about growing up. She has been through so much in one lifetime. She grew up in the depression, lost her husband when Sarah was only 7 months old, raised 6 kids on her own, recently lost her oldest son to cancer, and is a cancer survivor herself. Even after all this she always wears a smile and remains upbeat.

As a woman I find myself looking up to all the women in my life, taking from each what I want for myself. I love learning about my grandparents' lives. I'm so grateful that Mary took me in and I truly am blessed to know her. I'm glad we stopped by to see her. She seemed lonely now that all her grandkids are grown-up and don't come around that often. We both got teary-eyed as I was leaving and all these memories and thoughts of her spread through my brain. I just wanted to document them. So on with our trip.... {sorry}

We headed to my mom's next. It had almost been 24 hours since we rolled into the valley and she still hadn't seen us, she was dying!! JK. We hung out at her house then went to do family pictures.

Brandon and John were absolutely THRILLED about having pictures done, let me tell you.

Sunday night we had ribs and other delicious food at the Bradley's for dinner. When it got dark we headed out for some of Grandpa's creamy homemade ice cream and fireworks!!

Marshall was one of the lucky few who got seconds.

Smile everybody!

The cousins enjoying their ice cream while they watch fireworks

So pretty!

The Loot.

Marshall wanted to help light one but ended up being too afraid.

He did however like his first sparkler!

Monday, July 5th

Our brother and sister-in-law invited us to go swimming in the morning so we got all ready and headed out. I had left my cell phone at my mom's and when we stopped to get it, Coen saw her and wanted to get out and go inside to play so we let him. It made for a more relaxing time at the pool for me and John since Marshall is old enough to entertain himself. Not that we needed him to with his fun uncles there!

Gold Digger

Marshall had a blast with Uncles Paul & James, and cousin Atticus

Whee!!

After a fun morning of swimming we got ready to head up to Park City for a Marshall family barbeque at my aunt and uncle's before the Oakley Rodeo.

The reason for the season!!!

My 2 bros - Cooper and Brandon

Marshall explores with his second cousins

Lounging and catching up before we head to the rodeo

Scott and John compare the old and new version of the MySlide

The whole Rodeo 2010 Gang, we missed those who weren't there :(


And then, what happens every time (scroll down to the slide show in that link) I leave my camera alone with my siblings, pure goofiness ensues:

the beautiful Miss Riley

Brandon showing off his Marshall family nose

picking said nose

What are they about to do now? Wait for it, wait for it...

BOOM!

Going, going,

BOOM!

What?!

The Kirk Marshall family, party of 9

Checking out Dad's new tat. Riley gave both him and Pippa one but because Dad's was on his head he got a lot of attention.

Marshall and Coop played Hackey Sack and Marshall actually hit it with his knee. Coop was shocked, he still can't hit it.

Coen stole my custard and wouldn't let go. He had been asleep all through dinner so the poor kid was starving.

This is what happens when you take yummy custard away from a hungry baby that just woke up from a nap.See that tear? That's all it takes to get the custard back.

Posing their tattoos.

Coen just looooves his Uncle Brandon!! He played with him when he wasn't watching the animals.

This poor horse got his feet caught over the fence!

Tuesday, July 6th

Before heading to work, John's Dad took us to our favorite hole-in-the-wall breakfast place, OTC (Over The Counter) for their famous omelets. Next on the agenda was meeting my friends, Angie and Heather, to do what we do best during the summer - hang at the pool! We all have boys the same age and Asher and Indie are Marshall's best buds. Murray Pool has been our favorite haunt the last two summers and I'm definitely missing all the bonding we do there while the kids play in the water. Marshall got sunscreen in his eyes right off the bat and when I used the towel to wipe it out, I must have rubbed it off his cheeks too, because they got super burned - oops :/ Luckily he has my skin and it had tanned over by the next day.

Peek-a-boo, Coen!

Coen "spread" out his towel then came and got his blanky and binky to go take a rest.

Proof that humans descended from monkeys:
Marshall and his best buds, Indie and Asher.

That night we had dinner at my Dad and Pippa's world class restaurant. Hahaha, JK. But we know we're always in for good cooking there. We had Salmon and some fish that sounds like Schwa or something, cooked on the grill, along with leftover corn and watermelon from the night before. I got a little giggly being with all my crazy, younger siblings. The wheez n' laugh even came out a few times. John showed everyone his new phone and it's capabilities like guitar playing, star gazing, youtubing, and we even did a geo-cache around the corner from the house. It was a nice family walk and when we found the cache the people came out to see us find it. It was on someone's porch hiding under a planter. It was perfect though because it had all sorts of fun kid stuff in it and not only were Marshall and Coen thrilled, but the neighbor kids had come with us too. We always have so much fun and you just never know what's going to happen with my family.

Coen loved this rainbow thing that Pippa found on a cross country bike ride.

Marshall enjoyed being tickled by his aunt and uncles.

Wednesday, July 7th

On Wednesday morning we woke up and headed out with John's parents to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon where the river pours into the reservoir. We met up with our sister-in-law, Kirsten, and her kids. The boys had a blast finding rocks along the river bed to throw into the water. Grandma was wise and brought buckets for collecting rocks, water, and dirt.That afternoon we met John's dad downtown at his law office, then headed out to lunch at the Red Iguana - yum!! We were lucky enough to have some free time that afternoon to see some of our best friends, the Bells. They came over to John's parents' house and hung out with us for awhile before we had to head back out.

Running through the sprinkler

Grandma Marshall has so many fun toys for when the great-grandkids come over

Dinner time!

My Grandma Marshall had a dinner for us and the boys got to run around in the sprinkler in her back yard, a favorite pasttime of Marshall's. We visited with my Aunt Robin and cousin, Christian, and my brother and his new puppy, Mad Martigan. The boys were getting tired after a long day, so my mom headed home with them for a sleepover at Grammy's and I headed out for a Girl's Night with my BFFs, Heather, Angie, and Sage at Melissa's house. It was just like old times and I didn't even feel like I had been gone or missed out on anything the last 2 months. We talked until 2 am! The best part was no one rushed off so they could get up and run in the morning {ahem, Heather}.

Thursday, July 8th

I was so tired Thursday morning, I think I slept until 11. After lounging around, looking at my mother-in-law's school supply catalogs, I headed back out to Melissa's to get some one-on-one time with my BFF. We chatted away the afternoon, just catching up, while her kiddo(s) napped.
My kids were busy having Grammy-day at my mom's house and loving every minute of it, I'm sure.

That evening we had plans to go up the canyon with my mom for hot dogs and s'mores. After waiting awhile to see what the weather would do, we packed up and headed out. This was the only thing Marshall had requested to do with her while we were there. He loves going up the canyon during the summer and once he asked my mom if she had been up. She told him it had been a long, long time since she had, so he insisted she go up with him while we were there.
It's alway so quiet and peaceful up there. Not to mention cooler. And I love fire-roasted hot dogs. Mmmm....

We dropped my mom and the boys off at her house for one more sleepover, then headed to Rite Aid to score a deal on some much needed diapers and even more needed chapstick with a gift card that came after I had moved. Sadly, we have no Rite Aid in Missouri. When we got back to John's parents they had just finished watching City of Ember, so John and I asked if we could watch it next. It was SOOOO good, I can't wait to read the books!

Friday, July 9th

We woke up to the most delicious smell of John's Dad cooking us the best omelets we had ever tasted!! Just typing that makes me crave another one. We had to go pick up the boys from my mom's and bring them back for a playdate with some of their favorite cousins - Laine, Eve, and James. While the kids ran amok and did kid things, Natalie, Lonnie, Paul, and I played a card game called Nerts. It is one of my favorites and I didn't want it to end.
After Natalie and the kids left, John's parents took us to lunch at our favorite Italian deli, Granato's, where we learned how to make worms grow out of straw wrappers and how cold it is to spill ice water into your lap [Marshall] and the lap of the person sitting next to you [me].

John tried to get Coen down for a nap while I payed a visit to my favorite local toy shop, The Red Balloon (oh how I miss you), to get the kids some activity books for the ride back home. When I got back it was time to head out to the movies to see Despicable Me. I loved it and will definitely add it to my list of movies to watch for on sale/coupon match-ups!
I stopped in Deseret Book on our way back (I miss you, too) and then we went to my mom's to say goodbye. John's Mom made us a delicious pasta dinner, complete with salad and broccoli. We were all starving and it hit the spot!

We put the boys down for bed then packed up our suitcases and car to head out early the next morning.Grandma and Grandpa Bradley with the boys!

Saturday, July 10th

Our trip home started at 3:30 am when we woke up, situated the boys, and headed out. I started driving while John slept a little more. I love driving on road trips! I do math in my head - I try to figure out how much longer we have based on how far we've already gone, and how far we've gone out of how long the trip is total, in fraction form, and then figure out how much longer until the next numerator change. I am a HUGE nerd! But it helps keep me awake and the time passes faster that way.

Luckily the boys slept until about 6:30 but upon waking, Marshall was immediately car sick. And grumpy. We stopped shortly after to get gas and drinks. Marshall chose some Gatorade. It was blue. And he drank all of it. And all of it came back up. FUN!!!

We gave him more Bonine because I think it's safe to say it was out of his system at that point. We told him to close his eyes and rest - he did NOT want to hear that. But I finally explained that I was trying to help him and that if he didn't want to help himself than I wasn't going to either. Finally he relaxed and was quiet and calm for awhile. It didn't last for long and he started to complain he was hungry and thirsty. We found a McDonalds and got some breakfast and everyone was back to happy. Luckily all of Marshall's food stayed down this time.

The rest of our trip was pretty boring, which makes sense considering we were driving through the most boring part of the country, in my opinion. Sorry, Nebraska. The kids were either super good at entertaining themselves or completely melting down, unfortunately not at the same time. It would have been great to either relax or handle melt downs all together, but no.

Anyway, we made great time and got home at 7:30. John took the boys swimming and then we had cereal for dinner, bathtime, then bedtime. It took about 3 hours for the apartment to go from 93 degrees down to 80. As much fun as it was to see all our family and friends, it was great to spend the night in our own beds and wake up here in our new home. We will definitely not be making that trip again anytime soon, it takes a lot out of us. So until next year....Arrivederci, Utah!!!