August Adventures

We did a lot of fun things in August before summer was over. Starting with Aaron's birthday then camping at the Swann Family Reunion. We wanted to do a lot of camping since kids were older and I wasn't pregnant. Unfortunately we didn't get as much in as we wanted. We did get together with Eric's friends to camp up Amasee Valley on Aug 20-21. We were there with Nate and Audrey's family as you can see Zayda in the lower right picture, Roy and girlfriend, and Riley- you can kind of see the guys in upper right picture. The kids had a pretty good time running around. We all had some interesting car troubles though.

August 23 we made a trip up to Cabella's to pick up a gun for Eric's dad and I think the kids might have enjoyed it more than all our other excursions. They have fishes and animals to see, but not too much like at the zoo or aquarium and lots of running around; up and down, etc. Aaron loved pointing out the animals while Miriam liked feeding the fish.
She spent a lot of time picking up the little fish food and throwing it into the fish. We could hardly pull her away. Besides how much better is free?! On August 28 Spanish Fork opened a new park right off the freeway and they had a grand opening with a lot of too do. We stopped in for a little while before we headed up to Salt Lake to attend Eric's work managers wedding lunch. First we went around to see what was there then waited in a long line for the carousel. While waiting I decided to go get some popcorn. When I first saw the popcorn line it wasn't very long but it got longer and I missed the kids ride on the carousel.

After a very nice luncheon in the Joseph Smith building we looked around Temple Square. Saw the statues and the Christus. Then we found the log cabin that was featured in the Friend because I hadn't remembered it being there before.

I'm glad we're able to get and do/see more as a family this year. I love being with my family in all settings!

Miriam's Church

In those last minutes before church when you are trying to round up those last few items in the rush to beat the clock, Miriam took Jessica's music stand and her two small chairs and set them up in the kitchen. She went and got her princess book and put it on the stand. She put one chair behind the music stand (so she can stand up and see over it) and she put the other facing the stand, but some distance away. She then climbed up to the stand, found her 'song', started conducting and singing to Aaron who was sitting in the other chair. She then got me (Eric) to come over and conduct/sing, as she took her chair and set it next Aaron. Then I was in the audience, and she sang to me and Aaron. It was so obvious that she was setting up church in our house. We took a few extra minutes to play church with her at home before we left for church. I felt like it was important enough to reinforce those desires! Here is Aaron and Miriam in the audience.

And here we see a song in the meeting.

Swann Family Reunion

On Aug 13 we drove up to Banieda Idaho where my great grandparents lived most of their lives for a gathering of their posterity. With the exception of one of the daughters their children have stayed mostly in the area. We were told we could camp but only ourselves and my parents actually camped. The Swann line is the one of the ones I'm most familiar with so it was nice to see everyone. Miriam and Aaron enjoyed roasting marshmallows with Grandma. I think they look adorable in their camping jackets and Miriam in her little camping chair.

We had a few people wander back for breakfast including Grandma and Grandpa Briscoe. Unfortunately most of the pictures I took didn't turn out well for lighting reasons. On the left is Grandpa holding Aaron, upper right is Aaron eating pancakes and eggs with Grandaddy, and lower left is my dad and Eric fixing breakfast.

There at the facilities were some playground equipment that Miriam was dragging whoever she could over to pay whenever she could. Grandma and Grandaddy had a good time with it and even Aunt Jennifer would swing with the kids. Later some other relatives trickled in for lunch so we ended up seeing waves through out the day. I'm glad we have reunions so we can remember and get to know living and family that has gone on before.

Miriam's August Adventures

Somehow it seemed we had less pictures than usual lately and its amazing how many things they are still doing after several months. Both my kids have always been good helpers though it is on their time and in their own way. Here on Aug 9 they are helping take out the trash and I could have taken the exact picture just a couple of days ago. I have always been very surprised at how strong they both are, taking things about as big as they are.

"Here baby (which she is still calling him) have some food!" Such a helpful, loving big sister. He doesn't look quite as thrilled however. Oh the days when Aaron would still eat in the high chair and wear a bib- we haven't seen those days for a couple of months (took too many lessons from Miriam I guess).
Another sad day is when they are strong enough to open the fridge/freezer door. Miriam managed to get into our ice cream on Aug 24 and on the 31st pulled out the cookie dough (below) herself. It can be really hard to keep up with her getting things out of the fridge or cupboards in the case of the cookie cutters.

She knows what cookie dough is for- to cut cookies out of! She just forgot to roll it out, sorry Miriam I don't think those hearts are going to work out for you!

In Jan a cousin gave Miriam a bag of dress ups but she hasn't shown any interest. We were babysitting on Aug 31, and the little girl who is about a year older thought they would be fun so Miriam not wanting to be left behind also put on her Tinker Belle clothes. So far that is really the only time Miriam wants anything to do with dress ups is when someone else is around.
She is really starting to get into computer games. Here she is on Aug 28 playing purbles with some help from Daddy, a game that came on the computer where you put cakes together following an order among other things. I'm impressed almost 2 1/2 years old the control she is gaining on the computer mouse and other recognizing skills she has to play this game.

Belated Happy Birthday Aaron!

Perhaps its fitting to publish about Aaron's birthday on his 19th month mark but at least it is before Miriam's birthday.My family came down to celebrate the weekend before his birthday as the weekend after was a family reunion we all went to. We did the basics- presents and cake, and called it good, but we all enjoyed it.
My mom is really into balloons and so we got a colorful bouquet for Aaron and I think it was his favorite present. He loves batting them around. It probably will continue to be a birthday staple. Miriam had a very hard time with all of Aaron's presents. On the right you see her opening one of Aaron's presents and we had to keep getting after her to let Aaron open them. Somehow we took way more pictures of Aaron opening presents than we did with Miriam so here are the best of those who were helping him open up his loot.
Daddy and Miriam helping..Mommy helping unwrap a ball..Once again the point comes home that one year olds don't care about a ton of presents. He got way more than he was interested in and it was excruciating to keep him focused long enough to open all the presents. My mom forgot that and was basing off Miriam who loves opening presents and the more the better so we tend to separate and unwrap every little thing for her and it just didn't work so well for Aaron.

Aaron got what will be tradition for first birthdays- a Care Bear cake. In his case liking blue we went with Bedtime Bear (hoping that was an indication of good habits to come) which was better than Grumpy Bear (the other blue bear). He sure looks interested in what this cake is.

He thoroughly enjoyed the cake as evidenced. He didn't really get into it till someone handed him a fork then he really went to town! Happy Birthday Aaron!