Buzz & Woody

During my brief stay in Florida last month, Patti and I found hooded Buzz and Woody towels on clearance. I thought the boys would love them. I was so wrong. The first time I broke them out they would have nothing to do with them, and they've been sitting in the linen closet since. The boys' usual bath towels are in the laundry, so I thought I'd give them another try last night. Big difference this time around. They loved them! They ran around chasing each other, and Zach insisted on sleeping with the Buzz towel on over his pajamas. Zach wound up in bed with us before morning still wearing his towel, and Darius finally took it off. Half asleep Zach was pretty mad.

When we got up this morning the first thing Zach wanted was his towel back on. Ben was right behind him and wanted the wear the Woody towel. I've been trying to figure out Halloween costumes. I'm thinking these towels will be a good backup plan if I can't come up with something else.

On a side note. Zach is still going strong with his robot obsession. You can see he's holding one in the photos. He now alternates between 3 robots:

M-O from WALL-E, Rodney from Robots, and a random green robot. Since Rodney lost his leg Darius checked out eBay to see what a new Rodney was going for. It turns out that Rodney is kind of a collector's item. The lowest price he found on the exact same one he has now was $40! Good thing Zach doesn't mind Rodney's handicap.

Fishing with Daddy

Our summer so far has been pretty lame as far as the weather goes. The magic temperature has been 52 degrees a good deal of the time, and we've had a very long stretch of gray, wet days. I can't tell you how nice it was to wake up this morning with sunshine peeking in through the slots of the blinds. In a way it's almost a tease. I get so accustomed to the dreary weather that it's hard to believe the sun and blue sky may just show themselves throughout an entire day. Good news...the weather did stay beautiful today, and it was even sweeter that Darius was off from work and wanted all of us to go fishing together.

Darius had been up hours earlier than the boys and I. He went fishing on the Eyak River and caught 4 beautiful Silvers. The time of the Coho is officially back. Darius shared much of what he caught with family and friends and then cooked up some for lunch. There's nothing like eating fresh fish caught the same day.

We waited until the boys got up from their nap, and then we headed out the road about 7 miles or so. Darius and the boys fished right from the shore, and the boys were soaked and muddy within minutes. They loved every minute!

We didn't catch a fish, but the boys did have fun as they lovingly petted a dead fish in the river. At least it wasn't rotting yet.

Ben and Zach don't quite have the patience mastered yet for serious fishing, and I know Darius can't wait for the day until they do. I did, however, get a little glimpse into the future today of 2 handsome little men and 1 handsome older man fishing side by side. It's coming up much sooner than I thought it would.

Change of Scene

Last weekend we moved into our new apartment. We've had the apartment now for a couple of months but put off moving until after our recent trips and visitors. We miss being around family, and we definitely miss the beautiful view from the house, but it's nice to have our own place again. The boys finally have their own room now, and they immediately adjusted to their new home.

My tremendous parents. I love them. I don't even know how we're able to properly thank them for the past 2 years in which they so graciously helped us out and let us invade their home. I suspect the last time I lived at home as a teenager I probably took them for granted a great deal. It's been a great opportunity to be able to reconnect with them as an adult especially now that I have a better understanding of what it's like to be a parent. I'm so happy that we were able to share this time with them and give our boys the opportunity to get to know them. It's already strange not being around them as much, but it will be even more so when they move back to Utah in a couple of months. Although they will be missed very much, I'm so so happy for them. They have selflessly worked so hard all their lives and they deserve a much needed break.

Thank you both so much for all you have done for us Mom and Dad! We're so very fortunate and thankful for all the help you've given us! We love you!

Something special along Lake Superior

Lyndsay's and Bud's wedding was held at the Lutsen Resort along Lake Superior. It was incredibly beautiful! After a couple of drinks to unwind from the long drive from the airport, followed by a nap in the car, I woke up just in time to meet up with the girls who were headed down to the lake. There was a bonfire on the shore of the lake and I had the chance to meet Lyndsay's friends and family. Everyone was so nice and so much fun to be around.

I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at the last minute with 3 super awesome women! Jack, (who was the only one there I already knew), Mel, and Karen. Lyndsay stayed overnight in the room with us and we had a little jacuzzi party, drank margaritas, and had some good quality girl talk. It had been years since I had seen Jack and about 2 since I had seen Lyndsay. Some of my most memorable single days include my adventures with Lyndsay and Jack. It felt so great to be there with them.

The day of the wedding I didn't know what to expect. I thought I would end up being in the way, but instead I was fortunate enough to be able to help out a bit. Curling hair may not seem that exciting, and it may seem silly, but I was as happy as a pig in poop to be curling my friend's hair on her wedding day.

The wedding itself was very simple and very special which reflects Lyndsay all the way. I was so incredibly fortunate to be present. Lyndsay is just an awesome person, and there's no other way I could ever make anyone who doesn't already know her see that about her, aside from just stating it. I don't know Bud except from what I've heard about him from Lyndsay, but I have to believe that he's a very good man in order for him to have Lyndsay as his wife. I'm so very happy for them both, and I wish them all the very best that marriage has to offer.

And to my friend and partner in life: Darius, there's no way I can adequately express how extremely grateful I am to you for graciously handling up on the boys and giving me the opportunity to be there at my friend's wedding. I have some very special memories now that I'll have with me forever, and you're at the root of them. I love you, thank you!

Lucky me!

The Thursday before last we had planned on flying out of Cordova with the Bacon's as far as Seattle. They were scheduled to leave the following morning back to FL, and we had plans to fly to MN for my friend Lyndsay's wedding. The flight load to MN went from good to terrible in about a week, and we knew there was no way all 4 of us would make it there in time for the wedding let alone get home in time for Darius to be back to work. Since Darius already had the time off from work he volunteered to stay home with the boys and at let me try my luck on the flights. He didn't like the idea of me traveling alone but knew how important it was for me to be there. Lucky me for having such an awesome hubby!

Getting to Seattle almost didn't happen for the Bacon's. The rest of my family were actually traveling with us on the same flight, and we ran into a little issue when we stopped over in Juneau. Turns out the flight wasn't fully booked, but the plane was loaded down with so much fish that they were going to bump the Bacon's from the flight. Joy was headed down to Seattle for just the weekend and volunteered to be bumped instead so that they wouldn't miss their flight in the morning. I guess her empty seat was enough for the weight and balance to be just right, and the Bacon's were able to continue on to Seattle. Lucky me for having a thoughtful sister!

That night after arriving in Seattle I parted ways with Michael, Patti, and Dylan. My flight out in the morning was so early that I had planned to just stay overnight in the airport. My parents instead talked me into staying in their hotel room. I have generous parents, lucky me! In a few short hours I was up again and back at the airport waiting on standby for the first flight out to MN.

I knew ahead of time that the flight was pretty much full and that it would probably mean I wouldn't get a seat unless someone didn't show. Sure enough an agent told me that the flight had checked in full, and she would add me to the standby list for the other flight out to MN that day. I was asked to stick around the gate until it was boarded. I'm so glad I did because someone didn't show, and at the last minute I was handed a boarding pass for the last seat on the plane. Lucky me!