REWIND: 'And the Rockets' Red'....SCARE

This past 4th of July we learned that Max doesn't like fireworks unless he is a considerable distance from them. And by considerable distance I mean, inside the house and a good foot from the window. He enjoyed the little Pops that Dad bought for him but that was about as good as it was going to get for him.

Thanks to our great friends and neighbors, the Bambrough's, for all the entertainment they provided.

The most entertaining part of the evening had to be when Matt flipped over in his wheelchair and was laying flat on his back in the road right by a lit firework (that's not the funny part). Mark and Ryan run over to help him as his wife Krista stands by laughing and taking pictures of the whole scene. They have such a good sense of humor about life!

Luke loved the fireworks and Ryan had a good time lighting them...mostly with Krista & Matt's kids. It was perfect way to finish celebrating the freedoms that we are so blessed to enjoy!

Oh What do You do in the Summertime?

At the end of June each year, Lehi holds it's LEHI ROUND-UP DAYS. Every year at this time, I am reminded again why I just love living in small towns. Lehi has a lot of pioneer and cowboy heritage and they definitely showcase it in the parades and rodeo each summer.

Max has a real love for horses and loved the all horse parade on Thursday. On Saturday we went to the "big" parade and cheered for our ward as they marched down Main with our Double Decker Bus Float. It didn't take Max long to learn that waving to the pretty royalty girls earns you lots of candy. What a weekend it was!

On the 4th of July, we always go to Tooele for the parade and then we always get together with the Johnsen side. This year I actually ran in the 5K prior to the parade with Stacey and Jeff. Crazy enough, we each placed in our own age groups...Jeff took 1st, Stacey 2nd, and I took 3rd. Considering that there were several hundred runners, I think we were pretty pleased. We enjoyed the parade and then went back to the in-laws house to shower and get ready for our BBQ at the Hogan's farm in Stockton. Aunt Jill has a great place out in the country and she bought one of those big inflatable water slides for the kids this year. Max loved it there. He just ran and played all day. Matt took him to see the pigs and he is still talking about them. We had Eli with us too and I think he had a good time using the theater to play his Wii, using the putting green, and all the good food.I love the traditions we have on these holidays. Ryan has made one of his own 4th of July traditions. Every year after the parade and before the BBQ lunch he watches the Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN. It fascinates him and it repulses me every year.Other than the parades and holiday fun, we've spent the summer swimming (even took Max and Eli to 7 Peaks for the first time), had a few BBQ's, and mostly enjoyed the summer evenings outside. Max has a real love for the water! Looks like swimming lessons are in the very near future. We've had our share of popsicles and ice cream and always have an ample supply of sunscreen and mosquito wipes around.
So that's what we are doing with our Summertime!

Farewell to the Cockatoo, the Old Man, and the Mane

One evening last summer, I sent Max outside to help his Daddy in the yard. After about an hour or so, I went out to find that my husband had made good on his threats of shaving Max's hair and so the first of the Summer Buzz was born. I was somewhat mortified as I looked at my little boy who reminded me of a sheep that had just been shorne of all it's wonderful fluffiness.

Max mid buzz

But after a few hours of looking for the positives to keep myself from shaving off one of Ryan's eyebrows in his sleep in retaliation, I thought the buzz really showcased Max's big blue eyes and yes, it was a lot cooler than that mop of beautiful blonde hair he had. Ryan reminded me that it was free also...another positive.

Barber Daddy

So about a month ago, I didn't give Ryan any grief when he told me the time had once again come for the annual Summer Buzz. Ryan assured me Max's hair would be grown in by late August when I plan on having some pictures of the boys made together. It took a little convincing for Max to cooperate, but once we promised ice cream... he was all good. Ryan suggested that while we were at it, that we should shave the "ugly hair" on Luke too. WHAT!?!?! I was hesitant. I was really hesitant. I didn't cut Max's hair until he was 10 months old, and that took a good amount of prodding and some kind of bribe I'm sure; I was trying to make it to his first birthday when all of the other natural rights of passage occur and the universe makes you let go. I don't know why I am like this. Is there some unwritten rule that once you cut your baby's hair for the first time, then you lose some of the baby? Somewhere in my subconscious Mommy mind this must be it. The Cockatoo Tuft

I didn't care that Luke has a cockatoo tuft and an old man patch that refused to fall out like all of the other fine baby hair was doing. It was the original stuff! It's what he had when he was placed in my arms for the first time. Old Man Patch

Ryan repeatedly told me this was crazy woman talk and that the ugly hair needed to go. He also told me Luke would come out of it unscathed and still just 4 months old! I agreed the tuft and the patch were a bit ugly...but I didn't want to alter any of the BABY in my baby. But I gave in. Ryan shaved off the little cockatoo tuft on top and took a good portion of the old man patch in the back off. I was okay. I'm the accomplice

Then the crazy OCD in me kicked in and I couldn't leave well enough alone; I took the scissors out and was determined that the hairline be perfectly straight for my baby's first haircut. I kept trimming and trimming forgetting to account for the several adorable neck rolls that Luke has. When he finally lifted that chubby little head up, Mommy saw that she kind of trimmed a little too much. Oops. Neck roll down to reveal Mom's botched trim job

Ryan took the scissors from my hand and told me he was going to get the vacuum to clean up. To which "crazy Mom" once again showed up and said "Not before I put Luke's hair in a baggie!" He gave me that look that husbands give when they don't "get it" but they don't want you to explain it either. Baggie 'o Baby Luke Hair

Max's Shorne Mane

At the end of the day, Ryan got to play barber and save money, the boys both look and feel cool for the summer, Max got ice cream, and Mom let go of some weird idiosyncrasies...and there's one more baggie of baby hair in this house now. All cleaned up, happy and ready for bed

Luke turns 4 months old...then 5 months old

OH MY...LOOK WHO'S FIVE...months old already!I realized that a month has gone by and I haven't posted these pictures from last month when Luke turned 4 months old. Yesterday he turned 5 months old. He looks about the same...probably fatter. At his 4 month appointment his stats were:

17 lbs. 8 oz

25.5 inches

(Max's stats at 4 mos were 17.3 lbs and 26 inches...just about the same!)

By 4 months old:

Luke fits his whole fist in his mouth

Puts himself to sleep most nights

Sleeps through the night most nights

Has some serious snot & congestion issues we are still trying to figure out

Has lots and lots of gushy chubbiness to love

Knows who his Mom, Dad and Max are

Between month 4 and month 5 Luke has morphed into a little lion cub. He likes to growl and loves for you to growl back at him. He is getting stronger and stronger and can sort of sit up for a few seconds before his lower half realizes how heavy his top half is. Although with these thighs, you would think he could support all that weight.

We are still trying to work out the formula issues. We thought we had found one that worked, but alas...last night we had another puking episode for a few hours. So I am trying to keep up with this boy's eating demands...not an easy task!
He is such a happy baby! We just love him and can't imagine our lives without him.