Crossing Things off the List

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love a list.  I love crossing things off that list even more.  A recent list just got completed.

• Bunk Beds
• Put Crib together
• Organize baby clothes
• Clean out closets
• Buy car seat and stroller
• School Shopping Hank

 Hank thought he would join in on the list making process with his list of things to do before school starts.

• Jump on It
• Hogle Zoo
• Pool
• Trick Off

I'm happy to say that after a crazy week we were able to cross all the items off his list.  Yeah, I could have taken the rest of the summer, but we opted to do it all last week.  I am really not trying to put myself into premature labor.  

Unfortunately, my picture taking was pretty sporadic.  I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the trick off.  Hank invited a few of our neighbors to come and watch his awesome display of trampoline tricks.  I was afraid no one would come so we called Jenni and Sarah since we knew they would.  To Hanks surprise, the entire Barney family came, and the Thomas family came.  Even his love, Nicole came.  He was shaking in his boots to say the least.  The only way I could get him to perform was to spray some bright orange dye on his hair.  It won't come out by the way! It gave him the courage to come out and shine. We have some awesome neighbors.

The next day, we invited Colby and Dyson to come to Jump On It with us and those 4 didn't stop for nearly 3 hours!  They were jumping, flipping fools.  Max just discovered how to do a front flip.  I was so entertained watching them.  They all get along so well.  I love how close they are.  Apparently I was too touched to take a freaking picture.  Just imagine 4 wild, very sweaty, very hyper boys and you get the idea.  Hank even convinced Randy to take him to Jump On It one other time this week after work.

Wednesday, Sarah and I were up and at em' and headed to the zoo by 9:30 a.m.  I'm so glad we made the effort to go.  My kids were adorable.  They wanted to see EVERY single animal and were more interested and entertained than any other previous trip we've taken to the zoo.

 

 Max and I enjoyed the train ride together.  I barely fit in the seat, but whatever.

 The boys were so eager to be photographed.

 They learned a lot about elephants...like the fact they only have 4 teeth.  Who knew?

 The carousel was so fun they had to ride it twice...Max chose the praying mantis.

 Hank went with the Lion.

 After feeling a bit dizzy from the first ride around, I opted to sit the second out and these three rode together.

 The fake dinosaurs they have throughout the park were more exciting than the actual animals.  Even though I thought I might die walking back to the car, the outing was a huge success.  No fighting, no whining, and no going into labor.  Just a great time spent with my boys, Sarah, and Jack. 

By Thursday I was feeling a little weary so we decided to relax all day at home.

By Friday, I was feeling refreshed enough to hit the Lindon Pool.  We picked up Lucy and Isabel and met Sarah and Jack right when it opened.

 Max and Lucy

 Max was my little buddy.  We spent most of our time in the lazy river relaxing.  It felt great to be in the water, even though my suit doesn't fit my expanding belly.  

 Hank, Lucy, and Isabel were inseparable.  I hardly saw them. 

 They had such a great time together.

 I've said it before, Hank LOVES his cousins.  

Yesterday, Rick, Rusty, Collette, and Owen came to town.  Randy and I entertained nearly 20 people last night.  We had a great time, but once again I neglected to take many pictures.  They will be here for a week so it is my goal to capture it with the camera.  Until then, here a few pictures of my kids with their newest cousin Owen.  

 Hank fed him his bottle like a seasoned pro.  He just wants to be near him as much as possible.

Max surprised me the most with Owen.  He was so sweet and so interested in him.  He will be such a great brother to Crusher.  I can't wait to spend more time with Owen this week.  More fun times to come.  P.S. Only 32 more days until Crusher comes!

Soap Carving, Smores, Fireworks, Needles, and Ninja's

Crusher and I can't sleep.  After 5 trips to the bathroom,  checking the thermostat just as many times (I was sure someone turned the heater to 90 degrees),  and getting sufficiently kicked from the inside out, I decided to get up and blog.  Seems like a logical thing to do at 6:30 on a Sunday morning.  In my sleepy haze I accidentally deleted the prize winning picture of Hank off my camera...ugh.  I almost cried, seriously, I have problems.  It's not like there aren't 50 more pictures of him.

 Sarah and Brett organized a fun Sunday activity last week in American Fork Canyon.  It's been a long time since we've been up there.  The kids were in heaven, and my dad was on high river alert.  He didn't let anyone within 150 feet of it!

 Sarah broke out the ivory soap for a fun little soap carving contest.  I'm pretty sure our Wankier ancestors invented this activity.  It's a throw back to my childhood, for sure.

 Jack loves ROCKS!

 So does Grandma Joanne!  She has an arm on her.

 It was so fun having her up there with us.  We have a show we want to pitch to the food network..."The Blind Chef", I think it would be a hit!

Brett carved a pirate ship worthy to be in the Smithsonian.

 Hank and Randy worked on a carving a shark.

 Max carved for a bit but then decided to take some pictures of the group.

When his soap camera didn't work he grabbed the real thing.

 I love it!  I think Max has real potential.  You just never know when he's going to snap the picture.

After eating our body weight in sugar, the night ended with my kids jumping off an enormous boulder into Randy's arms.

 I think they could have done this all night, but I had eaten my limit of smores and managed to get about 15 new mosquito bites so we had to leave.

On the 24th, Randy invited our family to Jeri's for a BBQ.  He provided the entertainment with an amazing fireworks display.  Since all fireworks are legal in Utah now, Randy went all out and created our own little Stadium of Fire show in Jeri's front yard.

The boys, and I mean all the boys (Scott, Randy and Lynn) were freaking out!  Hank pretty much lost his mind.  The picture I deleted captured it perfectly.

 

 "Baby, You're a FIREWORK" was most definitely sung by the group.  Dyson and I started it.

 Oh yes, it was pouring rain during the show.  These manly men handled it no problem.  Randy had a big enough umbrella for the entire neighborhood!

 Max and Grandma enjoyed the show from the back of Scott's car.

 Thanks Mr. Umbrella man, I guess we can't ever go back to the cheap fireworks now.  

 Why would I post a picture of a laundry detergent container....

 I thought it was blog worthy since we just recently filled it to the brim with insulin syringes.  It took us 4 months and approximately 575 shots to max this container out.  It kind of makes me sick actually.

 In other news, Max is a ninja this week.  He rocked this outfit to Kate's birthday lunch at Thanksgiving Point.

 Hank is a nut!  I love his poses for the camera lately.

 I really think Max has a future in Theater.  While the other kids played outside he went in the store with me and tried on hats for 30 minutes.  He loves being in costume.  After he tried on this hat he said, "wait is this hat for girls?".

 Drowned Rats

 Hank and Max picked lovely petunias from the gardens and I couldn't resist showing them how the Hawaiians wear flowers behind their ears.  

Who says I need a girl!  Don't worry, five minutes after I took these pictures the boys left for an overnight camping trip with Randy and did nothing but get muddy, throw rocks, and fart.  I'm really sad I couldn't go.  

That wraps it up here for me.  Only 39 more days until Crusher joins our family.  I hope I can survive.  This pregnancy is kicking my butt!  Oh yes, we need a name for this child....any suggestions?  Just don't say Carlos.

End of Baseball 2011 and other Random Tidbits

 Coach pitch baseball 2011 has come to an end.  The season was short and sweet and left all of us wanting more.  Hank went from never playing ball to quickly becoming the #1 hitter on his team.  Hank played with the same intensity he showed us in basketball and soccer.  That kid wants to be where the action is for sure.  He had a great experience.  It didn't hurt to have Randy as their fearless coach.

 I'm not quite sure who the old man is on the right...he kind of just jumped in the picture.  

 The Diamondbacks really showed improvement as the season went on.

 Hank had his A game on, especially because he wanted to show off for his adoring fans.

 The Wankier's represented at this game.  The only one missing was Lucy who had dance. I think the lady in the white wanted to pretend she was part of the family.  Hank has the best cheering section ever!  I can't fail to mention the Griffin fam...they came to several games throughout the season as well.  I really got a kick out of watching my dad at these games.  Hank looks more and more like him every day, especially in a baseball hat.  Finally he gets to watch one of his boys play ball!

Jack made himself right at home on some random guys seat.

 

 Hank loves showing off for his cousins.  Max was such a great sport this season.  He was entertained by his propel bottle he claimed was full of tasty poison.  He is such a funny kid.  I can't wait for his turn to play.

 We also hit the splash park this week, along with every other person in Utah County.  I  can't believe how grown up these kids are getting.  We had a milestone this week at Tae Kwon Do.  Hank is in a new class and just started sparring.  He has all the gear, helmet, chest pads, shin guards, mouth guards and....a jock strap!  He came up to me and quietly asked if I could help him put it on.  I've barely ever seen one of those things let alone put one on!  I swear I was just changing his diapers and now I'm putting a jock strap on him.  He was quite amazed by the whole process.  I am a little traumatized.

Finally, an update on me and the little Crusher.  The official C-section date has been set for Thursday September 8th.  That's less than 7 weeks away folks!  When you see me it would be much appreciated if instead of saying..."wow you still have that long, you are huge!" you would say "wow, that is so soon, you look amazing!".   My belly really is huge though, bigger than ever, I dare say.  Perhaps it's not all Crusher...I went to Cheesecake Factory last night and now all I can think about is this...

Heaven on a plate, I tell you!  Super rich, chocolaty goodness.  I wonder why I'm so huge? 

Crusher and I also enjoy our daily morning walks and yoga sessions before it gets too hot.  You can bet we will be jamming out to either one of these new albums.  We highly recommend them.

 Raphael Saadiq has soul, that's all I can say.  Love it!

311 released their tenth album this week and I can't get enough.  Sarah personally delivered my edition of Universal Pulse yesterday and it is the perfect soundtrack for the summer.  Crusher and I give it two thumbs up! I always love me some 311.

Last but not least I have to include my other favorite thing.  Mino's choices in clothing have been extra creative and entertaining these days.

 

He's still rocking the pajama shorts without underwear but he's recently started wearing all his clothes inside out and backwards.

"Kris Kross will make ya..."