Weekly Update

Sloan went to her 6 month doctor appointment today. She weighs 15 lbs and is still above average in length. She is starting to eat some finger foods under strict supervision. She really is more excited about it than the picture shows.

On Sunday, Jack and Guy went on a bike ride. Guy tried a hill for the first time and started going way too fast. He was out of control and screaming, "I'm scared! I'm scared!" Jack was also on a bike and he tried to grab Guy's handlebars to slow him down. The two bikes collided and Guy went flying. He smacked his forehead on the ground creating a giant goose egg. Jack's chain ring dung into his leg as his bike went down, gouging out a chunk of skin. I drove over to scrape up their carcasses and take them home. We plan to get Guy a better fitting helmet this weekend.

Guy painted a coffee filter in art class. When it was dry he scrunched it up in the middle and clipped on a clothes pin. After adding piper cleaner antenna, he had a colorful butterfly.
Jack went to the Virgin Rim Trail this weekend with his friend Joel (who is 67 years old and can kick his butt at biking). This was one of the longest mountain bike rides he has done - 28 miles. The altitude of 10,000 feet was a killer for Jack. He said he felt delirious.

No pictures of me this week, but I will get some good ones next week while we visit family and friends in northern Utah. I am excited!

Guy can ride!

Guy is 2 1/2 years old and he can ride a bike! I bought this bike last week at WalMart and he has had two 10 minute practice sessions before today. He started on a balance bike which was an excellent way to start, so he just needed to figure out how to pedal.

Check out Strider balance bikes on-line or at your local bike shop. They are the best way to learn how to bike. No more training wheels!

Father's Day at Zions: Jack biked 50 miles from our house up to Springdale. We met him there and biked to Zion's lodge for a picnic lunch. Guy made Jack a magnet for Father's Day at a craft class and Sloan and I gave him the movie 'Stepbrothers.' It is a funny movie.

Maybe the best present a parent can have is to have your child want to be just like you.

Jack took a picture of me, but it was HORRIBLE! I promise to have some pics of Sloan and I in the next post.

Blazing Trails

Goodbye Volvo... Hello Trailblazer! We have already taken our new vehicle off road and it is fun! Jack went to Bryce Canyon to mountain bike on Saturday.

Then we hiked along the top of Gooseberry Mesa on Sunday. Jack had Guy in a backpack on his back and I had Sloan strapped to the front of me. We hiked for about 4-5 miles and our shoulders and backs were killing us.

Guy wanted to mountain bike too, so Jack took him on Gooseberry Mountain bike trail. Guy loved it and didn't want to stop.
Guy make these snakes in an art class at Robert's Crafts store. He refused to eat a boiled egg the next day because he said a baby snake was inside it. I don't know if telling him it was once a baby chicken helped.Sloan is hungry all the time! I can't get enough food into her. Her 6 month doctor's appointment is next week. We'll see how much she has grown. I am sure there will be a time when someone asks me if my kids are twins.

Activities

Guy started his summer art class. He used scissors for the first time. We came home and decorated aprons to wear next time. It was fun to paint with marbles, but I don't want to wear paint all day even if it is washable. Guy is starting to wear big boy underwear this week. I ate all of his M&M potty rewards. Maybe I will buy licorice for his reward. I hate licorice.

I ran a 5K Saturday. I was disappointed with my time, but I guess I have to start somewhere. National Geographic was there to film a dog from Dogtown that was also running the race. He beat me.

We went miniature golfing later Saturday. Jack and Guy traded clubs. Jack won 12 holes. We tied 3 and I won 3. Guy was sad when the last hole took his golf ball forever.

I have started making my own baby food. I think it is really saving money. I pureed a steamed acorn squash and froze it in ice cube trays. It is easy to pop out some food to warm up and it made a lot. Guy is a good helper in the kitchen. I am planning to sign him up for a cooking class as soon as he is 3.

Mini Jack

This is Mini Jack. Guy loves his dad and they go biking through the neighborhood a few times a week.

Here Mini Jack has on his dad's snowboarding helmet and goggles. Safety first. A few days ago I was unloading the van after going to a waterpark in St. George and Guy took off on his bike. He had no shoes on, but he did put on his helmet. I chased him in flipflops with a baby on my hip and I finally caught up to him a quarter mile from the house. He is fast!

Guy and Sloan are already best friends. Guy can make her laugh more than anyone else. He is blowing on her tummy in the picture and she loved it.

I rode my bike to a park with the kids in the trailer. It was a short ride, but it had some good hills. Towing 50 extra pounds behind me is a great workout.