Phone dump....catch up to summer....

Only missing Tristan here......

Random looking of the clouds.....

So fresh and so clean....

Random fort play.

Sawyer....the artist, formerly known as Soybean.

This one turned 3 here.

Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.

Tulip Festival

Tulip Festival

Somewhere in Nebraska

Ooooooh........we loved the hot tub at our cabin in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.

Coolest part of Dollywood.

Dollywood after a random rainstorm.

Smoky Mountains, TN

Total sense of wonder........easy to believe in God when looking at those gorgeous mountains.

Hey there, cutie.

Loved this picture...random hotel outside of St. Louis.

Traveling in a small car without electronics IS still totally doable......and sometimes even fun.

41, tired, imperfect....cool with it.

This is what allergies to mosquitos can do.......ooh, we do not like the skeeters.  Pray the boys can outgrow this...that their immune system can beat the little suckers.

This is total fun and awesome memory making.

That look........

A little bit of copying here.........but he's still rocking the wonder.

One of my most favorite views on earth.

I love this man.

Love.

Love.

Is he sad because we're looking at him or content being cared for in a preserve?  Fine line.........

I love bears.

Dinosaur Park

Dinosaur Park

Daddy's interview.  Praying he gets the job that makes him happiest and continues to make him proud of what he's a part of.

Random park play.

The boys have been well.  We limit outdoor play to when we notice mosquitoes aren't being little stalkers.  Therapies continue on.  Those that know Sawyer well know his speech has gotten soooooooooo good.  He's worked hard and it shows.  Occasionally, he needs a reminder to slow down and usually, that'll get him on track.  He still has a few issues with word placement.  We've basically stopped behavioral therapy.  Sawyer has quirks but handles most situations quite well.  ........Connor combines behavioral and feeding therapy.  He has tonal issues (tummy strength, jaw issues, palate sensitivities, etc) and has behavioral things we are working on.  He very much dislikes group settings and has a real desire to hide away (or get extremely upset) when things in his space feels overwhelming or too different.  Honestly, I have gotten a bit that way, too.  I don't like crowds and I always prefer home to anywhere else. ...........Connor also has the speech therapy...really, I think speech is almost an automatic with Pierre Robin or palate issues.  He's got a huge vocabulary....some things just aren't totally understood.  He'll get there.....and God forbid, let's just say we used to worry Connor would be teased but trust me, we worry more about him being a bully.  He's a tough one.  I would have never believed boxing was born in you but I can guarantee we've never, ever punched our children.........and yet, Connor has a natural instinct to roll his fist back and punch.  ........please laugh here my peace, loving friends.  Sometimes, the truth is simply that boys will be boys.  They fight.......and yet, they love and laugh tons!

Our main vacation was done before the summer rush and the rest of the summer will be little trips here and there.  We're hoping to visit some WA family in Aug, Tristan and Nikka are marrying in July and we'll have quite a bit of family here then, and well, summer just feels easier.  Everything is so green.  We've planted our favorite things for the garden.  We have added more trees here and there, which I love.  We should have mini pumpkins covering a portion of fencing that'll hide our chickens this fall.     .............that's it.  Connor has his annual team meeting at the Children's hospital at the end of this month.  He has a few minor things that will need to be dealt with but all in all, he's amazing.   ........enjoy your summer!

The end of Winter! YAY!!

I'm going to need to get better about dumping my SD card from the good camera.  We bought the Nikon Coolpix L830 for our valentine's gift to each other.  So far I really love the camera.........it's a major step up from camera phone pics.........but there is a major learning curve.  Also, this camera runs on batteries, has no viewfinder so you use the screen which can be a bit annoying if it's super sunny outside, and then it's not wireless.  Beyond those negatives.......there are about a gazillion reasons I do love this thing.  It's light, has an awesome zoom and has taken really great pics for us.  Once again, I do have stuff to learn.  I could not find one good tutorial (online) on how to figure out all the features and honestly, the manual doesn't help all that much.........I'm thinking I'll need to find a class.  I have learned some things on my own though and for that, little by little, my pics should improve.  ..........anywho, no major happenings on the Brady front.  Sawyer has been doing awesome with preschool and today, Connor is set up with IEP plan for starting preschool.  .......with Connor, we made the decision to wait until the fall before he actually starts though normally kids start as soon as they turn 3.  With Connor's birthday being the end of March, spring break being the first week of April, and our family vacationing in May........we think he'd do better just starting with the other kids this coming fall.  That should be a real experience.  Both boys will be in the school intervention programs but I do not want them in the same class.  Time will tell how great that schedule will work out.  ..........for now, both have private therapies they need and Connor was allowed to have a group summer program that should really help him get used to being around other little ones.

Ogden train show.

A rare lucky moment to play with the train controls........this stuff really is cool.

My Soybean.

Connor needing a bit of guidance to actually leave.

If you've ever been to Antelope Island, especially in the past 20 years, you can see how terribly sad this picture really is.  We're pretty dang certain this year will be the lowest water level on record for the great Salt Lake.  Honestly, if we're going to be technical, Antelope Island isn't even an island right now.

The first time I had the chance to walk around this island was around 1991 or '92..........then, the water was all the way in that grass that looks like the island's border.........what you see isn't water here but salty sand..........a few darker areas are wet or a small amount of water.

A family lived on this island until the 80's....I'd honestly need to double check my facts (as far as dates go) but this island does have some cool buildings and stories about the original family that lived here.  Slightly funny to me though, is the mass amount of "antique" equipment that being from a VA farm, I remember distinctly being called "old junk".

One of the boys favorite stops.........playing around on these fake bulls to rope and ride.

From the looks of this area, I'd imagine this little forest was planned out.........oddly, I've yet to find berry bushes or fruit trees.  One day, I'll have to ask one of the volunteers about that because really........this place was surrounded by quite a bit of water and I'd imagine they were the truest of homesteaders back in the day.

Some poor little one lost his toy..........Sawyer appreciated the find..........and left if there, just in case someone comes back for it.

We rarely leave the homestead area without shocking anyone that's never been there by ringing this old bell..........extremely loud so one ring is it.

Pretty sure he believes this island is partly ours alone.

Good luck getting a view there shorty.

Rare, stop and smile pic.

Huge changes in the kitchen..........I turned the table.....and cleaned most of the chalk board walls.  I've gotta find a cute Easter tablecloth for our everyday use.  I have a pretty big collection of these due to my abused table top so am slightly shocked I don't have one around.........and don't really remember having one.  I love putting out cloth type tablecloths but at this stage of the boys' lives.......my sanity can be at stake and that would just be silly.

I spent a good amount of time to try making kale chips.  These were terribly salty though I was shocked Sawyer actually tried one.  Granted, he proceeded to make a huge show of spitting..........but, I think I'll try this again.

Sawyer showing his hanging project from school.........sadly the thing was ripped up shortly after.....and that is that.  Paper plate art was not meant to last a life time.

Not the best picture..........but "gator" hunting has been the latest craze in our house.  I'm not a huge fan but the boys love watching Swamp People with their daddy........honestly, I have been known to get sucked into watching the show.........no shame people, the finest of families surely watch this.  I will definitely try to get a video because the expressions these guys make as Sawyer will say "pull the rope........now shoot" is truly priceless.  ..........for kids with major speech issues, Swamp People is bringing out their imaginations.  For that reason, I'll actually say "God bless those swamp people".

Now.......time to get ready for that school meeting.  Prayers for setting up goals that will have Connor succeeding like crazy in his future.  :D

Photo dump......

Antelope Island....beginning of January

Connor soaking up sun after running around the park.

Sawyer, hard at it.

Bulbs I was gifted for Christmas.....

Sawyer turned 4!!

1st bike.

Incredible gift from family.

Spider man bike had been a winner around here.

Connor is still scooting along. .....his birthday is soon.

      

Connor

A scripture/penpal type thing I did for Valentines Day. 

Sawyer looking too old for 4.

Antelope Island should pay me.  Some of my favorite instagram photographers were there the weekend after I posted this....and yeah, it's not coincidence (smile and feel me here, I love my new camera).

We were lucky enough to see the owls.....this area is now roped off due to nesting.

Antelope were everywhere this particular day.

Rare posting of me.......we pretend this Island is our backyard. .....so mom pics are bound to happen. 

This is us hunting for snow.....found it near Pineview.

Ranch love. 

Kitchen help.

Hutch/cookbook love

Connor loving green beans.

Train love.

Extra eggs mean fluffy pancake....6 Eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, a bit of salt (1/4 tsp?).....dump that in a 9x13 pan coated with half

 stick of melted butter ....cook on bottom rack in oven at 450° for 15 minutes.......yummmmmmm

Connor love.

Tablecloth change for St. Patty's.

Valentine dinosaurs from cousin Austin.

Chef Sawyer love.

Swinging is cooler than cool.

The help.