Build a HILL, and they will come....

When we met with our landscape architect to design our yard, we told him that we wanted it to be kid-friendly. Fortunately for us, he had done his master's thesis on kid spaces and imagination. Since the day our last dump-truck load of dirt was delivered, the kids have been in love with our yard. Each day we find new little ones playing on the hill, behind, or around it. Who would have thought something so simple as a HILL would bring about so much imagination and creativity with the kids. I have been told numerous times by the kids in the neighborhood, that "I am sooo lucky to have a mountain in my backyard!"...

Props to Brady, our landscape architect!! (or curse him until we can afford a fence!)

These are just a few shots I've taken of kids on the hill. Two nights ago I got home around 8:30 and our backyard was FILLED with kids (close to 20--no joke). I had to close the shutters before Tyson saw and wanted to join.

Another Zulauf Wedding...

We are down to just two unmarrieds... who ever thought that would happen?? Almost exactly 8 years after Greg and I were married, Court and Carly tied the knot! We are so happy to have another girl in the family. (Jenny is especially pleased to not me the only female in-law anymore, I am sure.)

So, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LOVE!! and a BIG CONGRATS to Court and Carly Zulauf.

These were the few pictures I was able to get of the Happy Couple. Thankfully, since their wedding was in AZ, IN AUG, they had taken all of their pictures beforehand. They were so kind not to make us suffer.

AND US....

and by us, I of course, mean there are NO pics of me and Greg, because he is he biggest TURKEY about taking pictures. Sad for me. I am going to start taking them alone. Will that make him feel bad?? (probably not)

Forgot to get one of my parents too. Opps. Good thing I was not their photographer. Bad thing no one else brought a camera..

Leticia and Lacey (Josh had to work, so she brought Lacey as her date).

Lacey and her real date Jeffery

(Peek-a-boo Zach!)

Zach and Jenny

Of course I take a bad picture (blinding) of the best photographer in the fam... SORRY JEN!

Faith and Shaun

And the last two singletons... Tyler and Shelb

Here is Tyson Boy with Uncle Zachy. Zach taught him how to give knuckle sandwiches. How will we ever thank you Zach?

And Macer-Facer slept right through it all...

Fun at the B-L!!

Our annual trip to Bear Lake this year was as fun as ever. My family is growing so fast with marriages and births, that every year we have at least a couple first-timers at the Lake. It has almost doubled in a year and a half, which makes for a lot of bodies at any family gathering. It was nice to have a large, outdoor site to congregate at.

We spent just over two weeks at the cabin and were so busy having fun that we failed to get a family picture... Darn. We did get together just a few days later in Mesa, AZ for Court and Carly's wedding, so we snapped a more formal shot of us all then.

____________

Grammie SPOILS the grandkids with warm pools to swim in. I do not recall ever receiving such treatment as a Bear Lake youngster... Even the "Big Lady" Macy liked to go swimming in those conditions.

Kaden (Leticia's little boy) and Tyson are about 9 months apart. It was great for Tyson to have a buddy.. and fun for us to figure out who the instigator in their little disagreements was. Check out the sandy freckles... Who started throwing sand first??

...And these two. They are 5 months apart and destined to be besties!

Our biggest decison each day was pool or beach.... Oh what a life! I am sad it's over.

It was great having so many aunts and uncles around. Tyson was in heaven with all of the attention.

If you can picture...

This was too funny not to share (although it doesn't speak well of my parenting skills)...

This morning Tyson and I were having breakfast, and our house was shaking a little. We looked outside to see that our streets were being repaved. So, that was that, we kind of watched them then went on with our morning.

I was on the phone a bit with family planning our Bear Lake get-away, and apparently Tyson got tired of waiting for me, so he just disappeared. I searched the house for a few minutes while talking to Lacey, then decided I better get off the phone and begin a more concentrated search for my son. I could not find him in any of his usual hideouts (park, basement, my shower, closets, etc.) so I began to worry. Mostly because I was still in my PJs (as was he) and it was 10:30. What would the neighbors think? Then I heard the roar of the paver passing by, and I left my prideful thoughts, and turned to more serious ones of, hoping that Tyson was not out there by those big trucks. I swallowed my pride and headed OUTSIDE for the pavers.

Not far into my walk, way in the distance, standing on the sidewalk, I spotted a little bum in red undies. I thought, "That can't be Tyson, he had green jammies on... Wait. OH, yes, he was wearing red underwear." Upon closer appraisal, I could see the green pajama bottoms at his ankles. Now that he was fine, I laughed a bit, and wondered in what state I would find him. I got over to him, he was complete unphased by my presence, and saw him standing as close to the edge of the sidewalk as he could be, with his undies halfway up (they go hung up on his bum) and his shorts around his ankles. I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was watching the pavers. "The pavers are rolling the street then the 'ment mixer is dumping mud..." I asked what was going on with his undies. He said that he did his peeps on the grass while he was watching the pavers. Sure enough, there was just enough evidence on the sidewalk in front of him to confirm that.

There were about 4 big trucks out there and 5 or 6 additional workers standing around. What did they think of the parent-less child standing inches away from those big machines, UNATTENDED, PEEING in the grass as he couldn't take his eyes off of them? Oh my word! It is going to be a good day :)

Allergy Update

I thought we were through the worst of it when I posted those pictures of Tyson earlier... However, shortly thereafter, G was off to the ER with him. His joints were black and purple and his face was so swollen (Have you seen Hitch??). Thankfully he took an advised pit-stop at our doctor's office, which probably saved us a few $100. Dr. Clayton (the BEST pediatrician we've every had--okay-- there have only been 2, but he is the best) said that it was the worst case of hives he had ever seen--he's been in practice for 40-50 years. We got some more meds and a steroid to help fight it off... but not before I snapped a few more pics :)

He is doing fine, I guess. He is so doped up on Benadryl and other drowsy-causing medicines that he is a walking zombie, but the hives seem to be under control. We just wish we knew what they were from.

Can you say CHUBBY?

Those of you who knew my first born as a baby probably thought he was the fattest baby you had ever seen, and that it would simply be impossible to get any fatter. Well....

The impossible has happened. Mace is officially the LARGEST 14 week-old baby on earth. Check out these flattering pictures of my sweet daughter. She sports 12-18 month clothing these days... SERIOUSLY.

At least she's happy, right??

Allergies Anyone???

Look what happened to my boy yesterday. He woke up with a small rash on his trunk, which quickly spread and was no longer a rash, but MAJOR hives. We have no idea how this came about/what caused it. Our personal ER doctors (Laurie and Ryan) diagnosed him with a VERY serious case of the HIVES, and saved us with some meds at midnight. After some Claritin, Benadryl, Motrin and Tylenol, and a good night's rest, Tyson looks more puffy than red.

This is yesterday about 6:00 pm. Tyson's "rash" was getting worse and he started to get a temperature, so I gave him a little bath... Even with the added bubbles, he was not happy--But then, you probably gathered that from the pictures :P

His body was a normal cool temperature anywhere the hives were not present. The hives were burning hot to the touch... so weird.

I put Tyson to bed at 8:00, and checked on him around 9:15. He was laying in his bed looking around. When I walked in he had a 15 questions for me about the little boy down the street who he's been playing with. "Mom, does Lijah (Elijah) have dump trucks, cement mixers and backhoes on his bed?" "Is Lijah asleep or in the bathtub?", etc. I felt so bad for him. He wasn't sad, just a little out of it and clearly too uncomfortable to fall asleep, exhausted as he was. So I brought him downstairs to be visited by Aunt Laurie.

Here he is around 10:00

TMI??? Possibly, but this was our first exposure to rash/allergic reactions... It was an interesting experience. For Tyson, too, I'm sure. He told me this morning "No more pictures, Mom!"

Back to the Humidity

First off, can I just say, how do they stand it??? We took our FIRST ANNUAL Zulauf family vaca to Ft. Lauderdale, FL this year. It was great minus the humidity. How could I have forgotten so quickly how miserable that is?? (Selective memory, I guess.) I loved living in Jacksonville. When I think about our time there, I think of great friends and awesome WEEKLY trips to the beach---not the weather in May, June, July, August, September, and 1/2 of October. But, despite the humidity, we managed to have a blast.

Participants in this year's festivities (an adults only trip--next year will be families) were: Greg, myself and Macy (she eats like an adult, so she was allowed to come), Lacey and Jeff, and Faith and Shaun. I know, we are missing more than half of the fam... They all chickened out on us.. but after stories of this trip start surfacing, I am sure we will have greater participation for next year (destination undecided).

Here are some pics of the trip.


Me, Greg and Mace (I wasn't going for a glamor shot--that just all there were of me :P)--Nice bangs, ehh?? Gotta love the humidity.


Lacey and Jeff


Faith and Shaun


Getting ready for the air boat tour....Notice our "muscle"--they kept us safe from the gators.



Our Fearless snorkelers!



Mace on the ride back from snorkeling... Just keepin it real! (check out her PEACE sign)



Baby Mace's 1st swim.. How precious!

Funniest Picture--what is that look?

Macers was sooo good for us. She didn't like the heat anymore than the rest of us, but she didn't complain too much. She started sleeping through the night on this trip (mind you she was 10 weeks when we were in FL) and she has kept it up like a champ. Chubby Ladies like their sleep!

Jeffery getting a little fatherly practice in... Soo funny all of the attention he got from having a DARLING baby strapped to his chest. We were definitely not in UTAH. (We were actually in South Beach, I believe Mace was the only baby for miles around, and rightfully so. That place was WACK!)

We were SOOOO tired when we finally found a place to eat in South Beach... Don't we look like we're having fun?!?

It was such a fun trip! I was sad to be off "vaca" but it was nice to get back home to see my boy!Can't wait for another trip next year!