Week by week 52

(June 20-26). What a crazy week. Sadly, not the craziest week we had while in Utah. It started out by going back up to Brian's moms house (not really crazy at all there). We got there in the evening so that we would be there when Brian arrived the next day from Geneva. We found out that Brian's sister, Stephanie, was in town for a crazy 24 hour relay race and so we made sure she came over for a few minutes to say hi to the boys. Steph and James. Steph with Johnny.
Unfortunately, she had to leave about an hour before Brian got in from Geneva. But the boys were sure glad to see her and they were so happy to see their daddy! James was showing Brian his new guitar and Johnny was just laughing happy to have daddy back.
He was all smiles for Brian. (He usually is).
Brian and his mom decided they needed to go visit his Grandma that afternoon before a scheduled party for Johnny at my parents house. I went down to Bountiful with the boys to help get things going. My new haircut. I got bangs!!! I love them but Brian doesn't so much. I deliberately went super short so it could grow in and I could just have it cut at Christmastime again. I still haven't had a haircut in Geneva. I can't pay the prices.
For some reason my family loves to feed my kids. They are constantly being fed by an aunt or by my dad. Fruit from Edpa.
It just so happened to be Father's Day as well so here is my dad opening his present from us kids while Pink gives him bunny ears.
Johnny's Birthday cake (we were celebrating a bit early because we were planning on leaving Utah on the 23rd. It was homemade, gluten-free, carrot cake with no frosting. Carrots came from Grandma's garden.
Pink waking from her nap on the couch.
Grandma (not on the phone? A miracle!).
Jax giving his momma a kiss.
Avocado and corn from Aunt Karen. Not even an hour after his fruit from Edpa.
Johnny's cake.
He couldn't be bothered to eat it in his chair. He wanted it to go.
Brian was not able to make the party because when he went to see his Grandmother they found that she had had another stroke (we think) and was not responsive. He was helping his mom.
Geoff and Emily and Alex and Hayley (and Oscar) came into town too for Emily's sister's wedding. The days were beautiful so we spent much time outside.
James enjoyed "walking" Oscar.
Brian and Geoff being lazy in the yard while the kids played.
James had a blast playing with Geoff.
He wasn't very successful at getting his hand though.
Playing in the park by Grandma's house.
We got to see Brian's siblings this trip as most everyone came rushing down to see their Grandma. We were supposed to leave on June 23rd but when we got to the airport there was such bad weather in Chicago that they told us to come back the next day. Poor James had woken up so early that he fell asleep in the car on the way back to my parent's house.
The next day we decided that I would stay in Utah with the kids and Brian would fly home to work because his Grandma was really not doing well. Brian left Thursday thinking he would miss Johnny's 1st birthday. He got home Friday and his Grandma passed away that morning so he flew back immediately on Saturday (he was in Switzerland for 18 hours) to be with the family. At least he got here in time for Johnny's birthday.
This is the end of my weekly posts. Johnny's first year is documented and I will now be posting as necessary.

Week by week 51

(June 13-19). Another fun week with family. My mom got really excited about her garden this year and every morning she would take the boys outside with her to the top of the hill to the garden and they would water and pull weeds and plant seeds. James loved it.Playing on the hill.
Johnny "gardening". He really just dug around in the dirt a bit and ate a bit. Thankfully it is a totally organic garden so no harm done.
He found a pen which doesn't surprise me knowing my mom.
We also went to the parks around. My brother, Boy, even got guilted into coming. (By the way, this is a good example of what happened to my pictures in our recent, very expensive, technical difficulties). This park was next to the firehouse and it was great because it was mostly fenced.
James and Lexi enjoying the sand toys in the wood chips.
Classic! My mom on the phone? Who would have guessed?My mom and my sister, Karen, with Johnny.
Big cousins playing nicely with Johnny. Elsie and Lexi.
More playing with Johnny. He loved the attention. Max and Jax.
Really loved it. Max, Lexi and Elsie.
Irritating Boy with my picture taking.
Happy baby!
I finally convinced Boy to swing James around. Of course, some of the other kids wanted it too. Poor Boy!
Ashlyn and Johnny.
James got all tuckered out for a moment.
Ashlyn and Lexi. Aren't they beautiful? Handsome Bubba!
We also went to the zoo this week with my parents and my two younger sisters and their kids. My dad keeps a season pass so that he can take kids whenever he wants. Because we went to the zoo he didn't get his regular 4-6 mile run up the mountain and so here he is doing push-ups while we look at animals.
Not sure what this exercise is but it was amusing.
We tried to put James on a leash and Lexi was the keeper. Many of you know that James has a tendency to run off really quickly so this was our attempt to not loose him.
Wu and Ryan on the elephant.
James and Lexi taking a breather in the stroller.
Jax waiting patiently for all of us to catch up.
Carousel fun.
Lexi.
Pink and Jax.
James running and my Mom.
Wu and Ryan again.
James on the carousel.
Riding the train around the park. This is the kids favorite thing to do.
The non riders. You can really tell they are related here.
My mom and Jax.
Johnny didn't get to ride the train because he fell asleep.
We also took family pictures this week at the insistence of my sister Karen. Here is a small sampling of what we got. Pink with Jax and Lexi.
Everyone. (excluding in-laws as they weren't all in town).
Mom and Dad with all 9 grandkids.
Just my parents. See how my mom's face never changes but my dad can't hold still for long enough to get a consistent photo. So classic!
Pink and Lexi and Jax again.
Mom and dad with all 5 kids.
Johnny on the mini trampoline.
Me with James and Johnny.
James wrestling Alex.
We did end up using a bit of bribery. Organic suckers! Can you tell Johnny wants one too? Well, my evil sisters aren't that nice. They made Johnny work for his sucker. He just started taking some pretty okay steps and they wanted him to come bet the sucker.
John and his older cousin (by 5 weeks) Ryan.
James was crying on the phone to Brian who was about to get on a plane to come pick us up for our originally planned departure of June 23. James missed his daddy.
We also saw some of our good friends the Cowans this week but somehow I failed to get any pictures of them or us with them. They lived here in Geneva but then decided to move back to Utah last year. It was fun to see them and catch up a bit.