This here below is probably the first time ever where the kids weren’t complaining or running around one bit, and I got in as many photos of this setting as I wanted (only around 80 shots).  It was very shocking.  It’s also the very first photo that I think I’ve posted of all our kids where I actually didn’t have to use photoshop to cut off heads, move smiles, etc.

k, well I cheated on this one a bit – it isn’t from Zions, but I wanted to add it in anyway.  This little chubby kid is growing so fast!  This guy was our smallest baby when he was born, but now he’s the biggest one at this age (but of course that hasn’t been confirmed with the boss – Jill).

We got to see a little bit of a rainbow while there, and the kids ran out on the deck to see it.  Then of course Joshua had to be like his big brother and sister, but I really don’t think that he was able to see too much of the rainbow.

I liked these two shots below and thought they turned out well.  It really was a beautiful place!

This place below was quite the adventure to get to.  It was almost the kind of adventure where you end up on the news as a missing family.  We wanted to go see these dinosaur tracks (bottom-right), located close to the sand dunes, and you have to travel off road for a few miles to get to them.  Well, in the process, my sexy navigator misread the map (right, left – they’re all the same, aren’t they?) and so a turn that was supposed to be taken was never taken.  Eventually this extremely sandy trail we’re driving on ends up getting narrower and narrower, just about the right size for an ATV, not a Yukon.  To make matters worse, I couldn’t drive slow or we would have gotten stuck in the sand.  We had a few close calls and luckily made out after what seemed to be a few hours.

Finally after we were able to turn around, we thought it would be best to be safe and give up and head back to the road; however, I just couldn’t let that happen after going through all of that. so once we got back to the road, I turned back around, gave my navigator a lesson on which way is right and which way is left, and then headed back down to give it another try.  Well, as you can see from the photo below, we eventually made it… barely.  It only took scratching up our car a lot and getting a few dings, but it was worth it!

Here’s just something else I had to take a picture of, which is just right before you enter into Zions.  I really, really want this truck!

Well, in the end we all came back alive, safe, and sound… well, except for our Yukon.

I have a bunch more photos I’ll be posting in our Photo Album within the next week or so, in case you want to check out some more.  I also have some other photos that I’ll be posting in the album soon that I took while there for a wedding and event site I’m doing.

I love when you cuddle into my arms. I love when you look at me with your big, round, blue eyes. I love when you play with your sister, brothers, and friends. I love how you adore balloons, cars, trucks, balls, and basketball. I love how you are such a picky eater. I love how you say all of your words (you sound like such a big boy in a small body). I love how you try to say Jacob, but “Gobby” is what comes out; Nicole is “Cole;” and Logan is “Go-go.” I love how you copy everything your big brother and sister does. I love how special you are in every way. Our family wouldn’t be complete without you!

Newborn sweetness (my little peanut):

First Year Goodness (stay AWAY from peanuts):

Terrible Two’s (here we come):

And on a second note, Nicole lost her 2nd tooth in June, too! It was loose. She was sitting down with her knees bent up and somehow hit her leg on her chin and out she popped. It must have hurt her pretty bad (or the blood scared her after she looked in the mirror) because she came up to me crying, “Mom I lost my tooth!” Then she had to go show her friends, crying simultaneously. Looks like the tooth fairy will be a regular occurrence around here for awhile!

Did you see any similarities?

Too cute! Almost 2 peas in a pod.

Can’t resist! Can’t believe he is pushing 4 months.

This is getting a little old. When can I move around?

Let’s just cliff-notes this and say Jacob is fully and completely mobile once again (in addition to his limp). So much of life has returned to its normal playfulness. So, Jacob is welcoming friends once again to play…

Wait! Didn’t I just say cliff notes??????????

Since this happened last week and it’s nearing the midnight hours my brain just isn’t at its peak. But here we go:

“Look what we did with the scissors,” says Jacob’s friend who will remain anonymous, but let’s just call her Bertha.

Me: “What?! What scissors?!?” (Did you catch the fear?) [You must know that all scissors are placed away from the reach of all children and the kids scissors are at other's homes. Oh ya, and I am currently cutting and sewing a quilt as this conversation is proceeding. FYI said scissors were found in the child-proof ha, ha bathroom cabinet in my makeup bag.]

Now they show me their masterpieces.

Unfortunately I do not have pictures of Bertha. I was too worried about her “masterpiece” which, did I forget to mention was created by none other than my Jacob?

Well, Nicole did cut her own hair when she was 3 because she couldn’t brush the knots out of her hair. That was traumatic (for me not her). Now I know that was nothing compared to this. Your own child cutting another child’s hair is very traumatic (for me not her). Bertha had her cute little hair in pigtails rolled under. One pig tail was half the size of the other.

After bringing her to her mom and expressing my sheer horror amidst her delightful kindness I felt horrible. After assessing the damage we noticed that Bertha looked cute with 1/2″, 1/4″, 1/8″, and so on bangs. But it didn’t end there. Right smack dab in the middle of the back of her shoulder length hair became a once inch space at the nape of her neck of nothingness. We won’t mention the other discrepancies found throughout.

Well, hopefully this paints a pretty good picture because this definitely deserved one. Sorry I just wasn’t thinking camera at the time. After having a night of nightmares Bertha and mom came over to show me the new ‘do. Bertha’s mom was ecstatic because this girl rocked the new a-line hairstyle starting at the nape of her neck. Now her mom is thinking she should pay us for this new do. Seriously, though, it was not fun, but in the end she turned out so darn cute that I am thinking I may need to do the same thing to my hair.

Hmmm. I thought this was the cliff notes edition. What the heck happened? Oh well. I tried.

Now we just get to look at Jacob’s new ‘do.

And here it is after the gel from various angles.

And in order to fix this baby he’s GOT to have a buzz cut. But, I.Just.Can’t.Do.It. Buzz cuts that is. So instead I am opting for the hair to grow out in the next 3 weeks since that is how often I cut his hair anyway. At most it will take 6 weeks, right? Well, no professional pictures anytime soon.

I suppose it could have been worse. This is what happened to some other “Bertha’s” that I know…

Yep, there is no question about it. It really could have been worse.

(Above – photos from the cell phone of Jacob getting his transfer ride in the ambulance up to Primary Children’s.  The paramedics gave him a teddy bear as well as an invitation to visit them and spray the fire hose when he is better. Can’t wait for that adventure! Once at PCH, during his surgery, the orthopedic surgeon gave his teddy bear a cast just like his. Too cute! The bear gets to keep his cast.)

We are now one week post cast! What a big and exciting day. One we were all counting down, literally. However, once the cast came off we knew there were still obstacles to overcome mainly pain and walking and normal activities that only time can heal. So here is my big shout-out to you, Jacob, for your hard work and accomplishments this week! (Who says you can’t defy a doctor’s outlook?).

*Within hours Jacob receives his first mommy-hug without a cast. That thing sure got in the way of a good ole fashioned bear hug. I could hold him all day if he would let me.

*Within 24 hours Jacob takes his first stand and walk (albeit very shaky)

*Within 24 hours Jacob is crawling around

*Within 24 hours Jacob is grinning from ear to ear standing outside in the pouring rain (yes, if you caught that-being in the rain-you can’t do that with his cast), waves at a friend passing by in a car and is so excited that he twists around and falls down. I thought it was broken again! Thankfully, no.

*Within 24 hours Jacob has his first bubble bath in nearly 2 months. Goodbye sponge baths.

*Within 48 hours Jacob is mobile like a 1 year old (yet much more advanced!)

*Within 72 hours Jacob is climbing on the counter (the things you usually say no to are now being praised by the hour!)

*Within 96 hours Jacob is cavity-free at the dentist’s office (as well as Nicole—way to go again!!!) We still had to use the wheelchair, but it was our 1st outing post-cast.

*Within 96 hours Jacob is swinging on the swing and even tried jumping on the tramp-‘til mom and dad told him not to yet. Oh parents; hinder, hinder.

(Did I mention my ever so very cautious nature with every move he makes? He is going to give me a heart attack at any minute for fear of more broken bones!)

*Within 96 hours Jacob is a fully-functioning, self-serving bathroom attendant once again. What a sweet day after 2 months of duty. Trust me he didn’t enjoy the constant company, either.

*Within 120 hours Jacob is crawling to the neighbor’s house (long distance walking is yet to come) to play. What a sweet day for him for he has been waiting to “play” at other’s homes normally once again.

*Within 120 hours Jacob is holding tarantulas, parrots, and pythons.(Okay, he could do this with pre post-cast, but it was still an awesome birthday party!)

*Within 120 hours Jacob is riding his bike!

WOW JACOB!!!!!!! I am so proud of you. You have accomplished so much in so very little time. You have such a wonderful personality. Even when you were in the body cast you still had a wonderful outlook on life, contagious grin and laugh. You will do so well in life. I am so glad you are mine.

And this week he is walking more than crawling. Keep up your hard work!