That was one messy family home evening....

Monday, October 18, 2010
Dear Max,
What an evening! We decided for Family Home evening we would make Halloween cards for friends and family. It seemed like a good idea...but boy was it a mess. Well, the entire night was a bit of a mess. It started with a dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese. At one point, their was an arm swing, by a little boy which resulted in tomato soup on the floor, walls, chairs, shutters...EVERYWHERE. It looked like a crime scene! Once we got that all cleaned up, mommy got out the black paint and had the great idea of putting your hands in it. What I didn't think through is we should really do this one hand at a time. I'll remember that next time! With both of your hands covered in black paint it was a two man job to hold one hand back while we used the other to create one side of our spider. The end result turned out!

Happy Halloween!

An evening bike ride

Your getting to be such a big boy!

The tomato soup crime scene

Yup... Both hands!

What a mess!

St. George Weekend

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Dear Max,
Well, we were home for a few days.... And then off to St. George. Daddy and I worked for 1/2 the day on Friday and then we all drove up to St. George. Daddy and I had tickets to see Tarzan out a Tuachan on Friday night. So you got to enjoy an evening with Grammie. Daddy and I enjoyed a fun date night, complete with dinner at Anasazi Steakhouse, where our meat came out "raw" and we cooked our steaks on hot rocks...interesting. The play was good. It was the closing night, so their was a lot of energy in the audience and with the performers. It was great to see.

Then Saturday, Mommy's friends from Las Vegas came up to St. George and we got to enjoy a full day of Shopping! It was so fun. We had great times buying and laughing and buying oh and lot's of laughing! We were just glad that Daddy was still in town and had brought the truck, we called him 1/2 way through our day to meet up with us and can you believe that all our purchases filled the bed of his truck! Oh we had fun. While I was out enjoying some bonding time with the girls, you were also doing some bonding of your own... with the baby doll at Grammies! You are such a loving little boy! I love you Max!!

Did we just go to Disneyland?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Dear Max,
Well, that was a sporadic decision! Auntie Julie called earlier this past week and said that she had 4 days off and really wanted to go somewhere. How about Disneyland? I made a quick call to Daddy, and he was all for it! We adjusted our schedules, I made a phone call to secure us a hotel room, Julie made a phone call to secure us some FREE tickets to Disneyland and California adventure and just like that we were on the road. Because it's always fun to go places to "celebrate" we decided that we would celebrate a couple of things, an early birthday for you and 10-10-10. Sunday was the 10th of October of 2010. So cool, especially when it was 10:10 in the morning, or again when it was 10:10 at night! Oh and another reason to celebrate, it was your first time at Disneyland and you loved it. Well, kind of. On the loud rides, you put your pointer fingers in each of your ears, but would look all around. You never got scared, not even in the Haunted mansion or pirates and by far your favorite ride was "it's a small world" The largest challenge of the two days spent in the parks was your lack of understanding as to why we need to wait in line for 20 minutes before getting on a ride. Even with 4 of us adults working together we couldn't keep an active almost 2 year old entertained. It only took mommy having to chase you under the ropes once to decide that maybe the best way to tackle this is to have you and daddy wait outside the line and at the last second bring you to the entrance and hand ya over. This worked well for the kiddie rides when the lines are not deep into the catacombs of the rides. It was such a fun couple of days.

Saturday, October 9, 2010. Our departure day. We woke up in the morning, and Daddy had prepared us a Disney breakfast complete with mickey mouse pancakes!

We arrived at the Hotel, and got checked in. Mommy's friend had hooked us up with a two bedroom suite complete with cookies and milk and a fruit basket, oh and a mickey mouse for you. I wasn't even sure if you knew who Mickey Mouse was, but as soon as you saw him, you ran over and grabbed him and said "MICKEY MOUSE!!!" Well, I guess we are in the right place!

Daddy and Max snuggling with Mickey Mouse

We woke up Sunday morning and got ready and headed to California Adventure. Our Hotel was at the Hilton, which is walking distance from the parks. It was a nice change to not have to worry about parking and riding the shuttles.

Here it is.... Can you see on Daddy's phone. It's 10-10-10 at 10:10 in the morning. I know, we are dorks! But at least we were "celebrating"

A boy after his mommy's own heart. Your favorite concession stand treat... CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANA'S! It's your mommy's absolute favorite! I'm glad you like them too!

Daddy and Max trying to stay entertained in the lines. Learning how to give a "thumbs up"

You are such a big boy. Riding way up high on the "Bug's Life" ride

Julie and Brian riding along

Disney by far puts on the best parades and this one had all your favorite's! You were so excited to see Lightning and Mater and Buzz and Woody all in the flesh!

There he is... Lightning McQueen

Sporting your 3D glasses for a premier trailer of the new movie TRON

Monday, October 11, 2010. We enjoyed the day in Disneyland. It was so fun to see all the Halloween decorations. They make it so festive.

The Haunted Mansion

Riding on the train. I'll be honest, this ride was a first for all three of us. Daddy and I had never gone on the train ride. You were so excited!

Oh the excitement! It was something around EVERY corner!

Riding on Pirates...I think something is making you nervous

Max, Mommy and Julie. I look like I've had a two year old on my shoulders for a little too long.

Kisses for Mommy and Max!

You loved Toon Town... I'll be honest, I wasn't a big fan. Again, had never spent anytime in Toon Town. It was fun to see you so excited to play with all the fun stuff.

And our Disneyland post would not be complete with out getting a line of this... the ultimate line jumper... Max.

I love you Max, and I'm so excited we were able to spend this time together. I will say, we are not as young as we use to be. We drove back from California Monday night, rolled in around 2:00 in the morning, and got up to go to work on Tuesday. My Thursday Julie had called to say she was home sick and guess what, so was Daddy. I take that back, Daddy and Auntie Julie aren't as young as they use to be... Mommy on the other hand made it through the week in flying colors!

FAM / Conference Weekend

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Dear Max,
It's been another crazy week. Mommy had her first of two FAM weekends at work. I'm lucky enough to have a set work schedule that gives me my weekends free, but once a year we have FAM trips where we bring in our top customers to "Fam"iliarize them with our properties. Well, this year we have decided to hold two events. This being the first. It is always tough to be away, but especially tough being away and being in the same city. We are kept very busy, which helps the time pass and before I knew it, it was time to come home. I was fortunate enough to participate in a very touching service project on Saturday. We donated our time at the St. Judes Ranch for Children. It's a ranch out in Boulder City for foster children. The children that are at this ranch are children who have moved at least 3 times between foster homes. I was so unaware that the foster system had families participating that don't care properly for the children placed in their homes. At St. Judes Ranch, the children live with house parents in separate homes. Their are 10 homes on the property and our team agreed to paint the interior of all 10 homes. It was such hard work, but such rewarding work. The kids were able to pick out the colors they wanted for their rooms, which they were thrilled about. Their was one little boy, who touched my soul. He had recently been adopted by a couple from Las Vegas, about a month after he was adopted the family dropped him back off at the ranch. He was devastated and is still dealing with the ramifications of what this has done to him mentally. It's unbelievable to me that these kids go through such challenges at a young age, this boy is only 6. It seems so unfair. I want to do so much more to help them. They are in such great need for everything out there. Clothes, shoes, coats, bedding everything. Spending time in the homes it was clear to see they are getting by with the bare minimum. If I could I would have taken all of the kids home, you would have had a bunch of new brothers and sisters. Max, I'm so grateful for your birth mothers decision. I know it was not an easy choice, and who's to say what your path might have been, but I'm an confident that their is a reason we are a family. Seeing those kids struggle made me grateful for our strong family and extended family. I know that even when things get rough we have a support system around us that will always help. These kids really don't have this type of support, and to think at 18 they are out of the system and expected to make it on their own. I'd like to think I didn't need my parents after I turned 18, but the truth of it is I STILL need my parents :) I know I'll be back to St. Judes Ranch, I don't know when, but I am committed to do more to help this cause and these kids.

After an emotional and exhausting last couple of days, it was a welcome relief to enjoy conference in the comfort of our home. I'm grateful for our association with the church and the knowledge that we gain each conference from our church leaders. I love you Max!

NASCAR Series Truck Races

Saturday, September 26, 201
Dear Max,
Today we spent the day out at the speedway. We've been looking forward to taking you out to see the races, their was a lot of excitement in our hearts as we were getting to expose you to a sport that your daddy and I love so much. And like many things that we dream up in our minds, it didn't quite go as we had thought. But it wasn't all bad. We went out early so we could walk around the pits and see the crews work in the garage's. You really liked seeing all the trucks and waving and saying "hi" "hi" to all the workers. After roaming the pits, we took our seats in the grand stand, and then the moment we had all been waiting for "Gentlemen Start your engines!" The roar of the trucks began, you didn't seem to be bothered by it. You were actually excited. And then the race started, the fans got excited. And then it happened, the drunk group of men behind us started asking for you to give them high fives. I will admit one year when we were at the Daytona 500, a drunk man asked Daddy to give him high five, and because your daddy is as nice as you, he did! I quickly busted out the hand sanitizer and right in front of the man asked your daddy to wash up! I couldn't keep up with the hand sanitizer on this one. And then the ultimate happened...the one in the middle crunched his beer can and their it was a drop of beer on my baby! THAT'S IT! :) We are out of here. Now I will admit that daddy and I have always felt a bit out of place in the NASCAR circle, but we did always seem to find our fellow fans that enjoyed the sport in a "classy" sense. Where are these people now? Obviously not sitting behind us. So needless to say we made it to lap 67 out of 220, not bad for our first go. Maybe next time we'll make it to lap 220!

Hanging out with our little Family

Saturday, September 12, 2010
Dear Max,
Today we had the opportunity to hang out as a family. We decided since we don't get many opportunities for weekends that aren't filled with commitments, that we better take full advantage of this. We started the morning out by going to Lied Children Museum, each time we go back it seems like it's better suited for you. We were so busy chasing you around, apparently we didn't get any pictures! Oh, did I say that right... YES! CHASING YOU AROUND! You are a runner! I don't think "walk" is in your vocabulary, even though I'm constantly saying "Max, walk please, Max, walk please... Max, slow down" I'm thinking that while you are reading this you will be having flash backs to hearing your mother say these words, they have to be embedded in your subconscious by now! After enjoying the museum we met up with Aunt Andrea at Love It Frozen Custard, it's the only frozen custard place we know in town, and it happens to be in the worst neighborhood. Close to the children's museum (I know, don't ask!) We sat in our car with the doors locked eating this yummy treat. Oh and we got to see a bum fight too! What a day! It's always so fun to spend time together as a family. By the way, we have put the vision in motion for your birthday party. We even snapped some "farmer" photo's of you this morning... that's right, it's going to be a Farm yard BAAAASH! Here is a sneak peak! I love you Max!

Swiss Day's for Labor Day

Friday, September 3, 2010
Today Grammie, you and I drove up to Salt Lake to spend the weekend up at Swiss day's. It's a festival that I have heard about for a long time, but never attended before. We were invited to go with the Roger Family, which is always so fun to hang with them.

We got to see Aunt Jali, Uncle Geary, Daniel and Natalie before they left for the Labor Day weekend to go camping. I was glad we got to see each other if even for a little bit.

Daniel having some breakfast

Saturday, September 4, 2010
We drove on up to Heber City Saturday morning and arrived just in time for the parade. I love home town parades and have decided that we don't have the opportunity to go to enough of them!

The line up of Tractors! I love it!!

Aunt Julie helping you score some candy from the parade

Now, this is what I will refer to as the "dark time" After the parade we headed into the festival, booth area to get some lunch and do some shopping, sometime between getting lunch and shopping I realized that I had lost the camera. I couldn't believe it. I was sad, but didn't beat myself up too bad, as accidents happen. However, let me try to paint the visual image for you... Rows upon rows of craft vendors selling their stuff.... Rows upon rows of crafts Grammie and Mommy were buying. Do you get the picture? The best part of the whole day was the fact that Papa Rogers and Grandma Roger's dear friends and previous mission couple friends live in an old pioneer style home right across the street from the festival. They have a huge yard that is fenced in by not just any fence, but yes, a white picket fence. Their grass is so green and beautiful with huge tree's complete with a tire swing and hammock. It is truly my small town dream home and yard. Oh and did I mention their was a porch swing! Papa Rogers and Grandma Rogers spent the majority of the day on the porch visiting and helping with the grandkids as everyone came and went as needed, it was wonderful to have a comfortable "facility" to use. After a full day of shopping you had the pleasure of taking an afternoon nap on the porch swing. As I sat their swinging you back and forth I just couldn't stop thinking of how lucky we are to have quiet, beautiful moments like that.

And then the miracle moment of the day... I decided as we left to walk by the lost and found booth and guess what? Someone turned in my camera! So to round off the day nicely... a picture of a man with his dog on his motorcycle!

Seriously! Look at this!!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Today we went on the Heber Creeper. It was your first train ride and you LOVED it! You did like it, but it was 2 and 1/2 hours on a train. And I though an hour and fifteen minute sacrament meeting was rough... so here is a small sampling of the many things used to keep you entertained while traveling through the countryside...

Popcorn

Sunglasses

Papa Rogers, Aunt Julie and Taylor to mention a few of the individuals that found ways to entertain you

Yup, head out the window, keeps little boys happy!

Grammie, you and Mommy

Part of the gang getting ready to go on the train ride

Mommy and Max with the conductor

After the train ride we drove back into Salt Lake to meet up with our dear friends Swendy and Becky. We met at Ms. Swendy's day school, which you loved. Their were so many things to look at and play with, including Becky's doggies, which you loved. It was so fun to see them and quickly get caught up. I love these two lady friends so much!

Playing with Becky and the doggies

Singing songs with Swendy

We also got to see Auntie Emilie on Monday morning for breakfast before driving back home. It was great to be up north even for a moment to see our family and friends. We just don't get up their often enough, so it's always good to spend some time there and for you to get to see the beauty of the north! I love you Max! Thanks for hanging with us ladies this weekend!!