Josh, Jenn, Ashton, and Emmy...

“A Pink Princess Dress”

Jenn Carr — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:01:15 +0000

Emmy has been borrowing her cousin’s Snow White dress for the past…oh wow, two months (where does the time go???). She wears it everyday and LOVES looking like a princess. Well, on Saturday she asked me if I would make her a pink princess dress. Uuuuuuh, I WANTED to say ‘yes’ but couldn’t see a time in the near future that I would be able to do it, what with this baby coming n’all. But you have no idea how cute it is when Emmy looks at you and asks things like “Mom, do you want to cuddle with me?” or “Mom, do you want to play with me in my playhouse?” or “Mom, will you make me a pink princess dress, please?” It is IMPOSSIBLE to say ‘no’. So I told her I would but and I had NO IDEA how I was going to do it.

Well, later THAT night, Logan called and asked if she and Lauren could bring over Emmy’s birthday present. Lauren was soooo excited about it and wanted to bring it over before bed. They pulled into the driveway, opened the car door, and GUESS WHAT THE PRESENT WAS!!!!!!!

LOGAN MADE A PINK PRINCESS DRESS FOR EMMY!!!!!

I almost started crying! How completely inspired and amazing Logan is! Logan, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are incredible and we love you sooooo much!!!

Big hugs for Lauren

Then they had a late-night tea party in the playhouse

Children’s Parade

Jenn Carr — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:56:56 +0000

Ashton and Emmy were in the Fiesta Days Children’s Parade for the Primary Activity on Saturday. Ashton didn’t even want to go and Emmy wasn’t really old enough to be there, but they ended up having such a fabulous time. I was PLANNING on riding in the trailer with Emmy and Ashton, taking it easy, but Ashton decided he wanted to ride his bike since his pal, Mac, was riding his. So I walked along with the adults to make sure Ashton was staying with our group.

Emmy had a blast waving at everyone and throwing candy with Druw

Emmy taking her float-riding responsibilities seriously…

After the parade, there was a big party at the library park for the kids. Here is Steph keeping the kids busy with Duck Duck Goose until all the parents came. She and the Primary Presidency did such a great job with this activity. It was a scary undertaking, if you ask me.

Ashton in line with some of his cousins for the bounce slide thing

Ashton’s Soundtrack

Jenn Carr — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:40:29 +0000

No matter what Ashton is doing, he is humming a song. If he is playing with his toys, his humming is mingled with sound effects. If he’s dressed up and running around as a superhero, there is DEFINITELY a song being hummed. On his bike…humming. Walking around the house bored..humming. It’s so cute, I love it.

Ashton LOVES to color and draw. If he isn’t playing the Wii or with his friends, he’s up in the kitchen drawing. And I STILL don’t know if he’s right-handed or left-handed. He usually has a different color in each hand and will alternate hands depending on which color he wants to use. It’s WILD. Anyhoo, I can ALWAYS tell what he is drawing by the song he is humming. For instance, he’s sitting right here next to me drawing as I blog and he is humming the very intense Danny Elfman “Batman” Movie theme song as he draws Batman.

Joker: He’ll hum the circus song from “Batman”

Superman: John Williams’ Superman Theme

Star Wars: There are MANY Star Wars songs depending on the character or the scene he’s drawing

Darth Vadar: Imperial March

Princess Leia: Normal Star Wars song

Ewoks: Yes, the Ewoks have their own little theme song and he knows it

Spiderman: Spiderman theme

Most of the songs are by John Williams. Of course, I love John Williams, but have you ever tried to hum Star Wars without it turning into Superman or Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones??? It’s really hard. Well, Ashton can distinguish between all of the songs within the first couple notes. It’s amazing.

PS: I was wondering last summer if only little boys love to pick flowers for their moms. Well, that little glass is full of flowers Emmy picked for me. They BOTH love to bring me flowers accompanied by kisses and hugs. Am I lucky or what?!?!? I LOOOOVE IT!

4th of July Weekend!!!

Jenn Carr — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:10:52 +0000

I LOOOOVE the 4th of July!!!!! And I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVED that the 4th of July was on Sunday this year and that all the festivities were spread out over four days!!! Here’s a brief report of the fun we had:

We started the weekend off on Friday with something new for us that I am hoping will become another part of our traditions. We went to the Utah Symphony’s Patriotic Celebration at the Sundance outdoor amphitheater. Cari and I had a long list of patriotic songs we wanted to hear so we were probably impossible to please, but it was still very good.

Spencer, Cari, Rob, Krissy, Josh, Jenn

Cari wasn’t expecting to hike down a mountain in the dark when she chose her shoes

The next morning we woke up early to watch the hot air balloon launch.

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Unfortunately, it was too windy for any launching and barely any inflating….

We had a little impromptu BBQ at our house later that afternoon.

Then Cari came with us to the MTC field to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks.

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We went to church on Sunday where I cried, once again, as we sang all the verses to “The Star Spangled Banner”. I bet most of the United States doesn’t even KNOW there are more verses. And, if you ask me, this is THE MOST important and meaningful verse, ESPECIALLY NOW!!!!!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave

After church we went to Josh’s parents’ for another BBQ. We brought huge marshmallows to roast and Josh made Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler…and Josh’s mom made my favorite chocolate pudding dessert…oh man, I ate way too much! Then the kids went wild with sparklers.

Ashton is a VERY patient boy

The next morning we went to the Freedom Festival Parade. (Thank you Nate, Steph, Fia, Sheri and EVERYONE for letting us reap the rewards of your long day and night of place-saving)

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We went home, we ALL took naps (it was amazing and SOOOOO needed), and then we had, that’s right folks, another BBQ!

Move Over Princess Leia, Cat Woman’s on the Prowl

Jenn Carr — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:16:02 +0000

After becoming a champ on Lego Star Wars, Ashton was ready for something new. A few months ago when Ashton was shopping for my birthday present at Best Buy, he spotted the Lego Batman game for the Wii and asked if he could have it. We usually say “Yeah! You can have that for your birthday!” but this time he told Josh he didn’t want to wait for his birthday….DANG IT! He’s growing up. It ALWAYS worked before. Anyhoo, Josh told him he could EARN it by helping out around the house and that I would make a chart for him. I am pretty O.C.D. and didn’t really want to relinquish any of my household duties so it took me a while to come up with things he could do. I finally made the chart and Ashton worked sooooo hard to earn his game. He was a little discouraged after the first three or four days but pressed on. He’s such a good little (BIG) guy!

I’m relieved that his crush on SLAVE Princess Leia seems to have diminished SLIGHTLY since Cat Woman entered his life.

Crested Butte, CO – Anders’ Baptism

Jenn Carr — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:41:18 +0000

This last weekend we took a quick trip to Crested Butte, Colorado to visit my sister Angie and attend her son, Anders’ baptism. Angie is the only Stewart sibling not living in Utah…Angie, you rebel! I don’t know how she lives so far away from CIVILIZATION…though it is gorgeous and peaceful.

Ashton and Emmy had so much fun with Angie’s kids. The first day, we hung out at Angie’s, talked, laughed and had a birthday party for Anders (and Angie…They have the same birthday but Ang, of course, allows Anders have all the attention). She made a ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME cake which is just totally ANGIE and CREATIVE. It was Angie’s 33rd birthday and if you flip the first three over and you get an 8 (Ander’s 8th birthday)! GENIUS.

The Birthday Kids

Grandpa and Emmy eating cake

Emmy getting kisses from Grammy

Ashton was playing Star Wars with Anders the WHOLE time.

At the hotel. Emmy is too big to sleep in the portable crib these days! Crazy! She was excited to sleep in the big bed. Ashton was more excited to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor which is where he ended up.

The next day we met everyone at a vacation house Shawn rented for the fam. The kids had a blast. There was a cool little loft to play in…

Lots of places for the adults to talk, but the staircase was quite comfy

Ang and Shawn (and Cari) made breakfast for all of us

SOME of the kids eating

Aaaand the adult session of breakfast

I wondered why all the kids were so quiet and we were enjoying such peace…They were all in the living room watching Mufasa get trampled by wildebeests (and apparently that IS how you spell wildebeest…weird). They were all in shock..I wanted to put that scene on repeat for a few hours.

Josh actually missed out on all of the morning festivities. We left him at the hotel working on his talk for the next day. We picked him up and had a little picnic on the church lawn while we waited for everyone to get there. Isn’t Josh cute???

Anders’ baptism was fabulous. I am always excited for Ashton to witness such events. He came away from the font and said “Mom, that was AWESOME!” At the pool this week, he showed me how to baptize him. Cute.

Swimmin’ in the Rain, Just Swimmin’ in the Rain…

Jenn Carr — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:58:18 +0000

We spent all of yesterday’s perfectly gorgeous hot and sunny afternoon running errands and going to my baby check-up appt. Every time we got into the car, Ashton would say, “Mom, it is soooo hot! We should go swimming!” So I PROMISED him that we would go today. Welp, wouldn’t you know it, the skies were cloudy and the wind was a’blowin’ all morning, though it was still hot and sunny every once in a while.

Josh and I always make sure we do whatever we say we will do, especially pertaining to our kiddos. So after lunch we went swimming. I thought we’d drive there, have it start raining and then just come home but hey, what else would we do all afternoon???

Even though we had more clouds than sun, it was still warm and we played for two hours! We left just as the last sunshine of the day was swallowed up by storm clouds.

Cute boy with clouds looming in the distance…that hair needs Kassy baaaaad!

The very sad thing is that this was the second time we’ve been to the pool this year!!! I was SUPPOSED to be spending EVERYDAY at the pool until this baby comes. Grrrrrr.

Amish Selfish Big-Butt Bread

Jenn Carr — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:37:59 +0000

“Amish Friendship Bread”…What a horribly named food! It should be called “Amish Self-Esteem Bread.” This little loaf of doughnut is so packed with calories that as you eat it you can actually watch your butt grow. It’s like a hand grenade of fat. If you keep it, you destroy your own self-esteem by watching yourself swell in the mirror. If you give it away you can trick your “friends” into getting fatter than you and make yourself feel better in the process.

My sister offered me a starter for this bread a few weeks ago. My first reaction was, “Sure, but I’ll just throw it away after I forget to do anything with it for a week.” But she reminded me how absolutely delicious it is and I took a starter off her hands. How FRIENDLY of her.

So I mushed the starter for a few days and added junk to it. I followed the simple instructions until I could finally bake my two loaves of bread and create starters to give to three friends – hence the name “Amish FRIENDSHIP Bread”. Well, within half a day, those two loaves of bread had been devoured! Not only by myself, but my kids were CRAZY about it. When Ashton finished the last piece, he almost cried. We were all very sad that it would be TEN MORE DAYS before the next batch could be made.

Then and there I became an addict and made a commitment to NEVER be without Amish Friendship Bread again! So those three starters that I was supposed to give away were cared for and mushed by myself for ten more days. Then I made six more loaves (I don’t know what happened to them but they aren’t here anymore) and kept two starters for myself. I know, the Amish math isn’t adding up, but whatever. Cari and I have tried to figure out a way to cheat the system but that Amish math is haaaaard (and Cari is even a math GENIUS!).

Well, yesterday Emmy and I made four more loaves…(not pictured – Emmy licking the counter where the batter dripped, licking the spoon clean, then sticking her whole head in the bowl to lick the sides before I could stop her. It’s a drug, I tell you!)

I KNOW!!! I KNOW!!!! I have a huge problem and I am finally ready to admit it and take control of the situation. This time, I didn’t keep ANY starters! I threw away all opportunities for me to ever make more of this incredibly delicious treat again. I know that is extremely SELFISH of me not to even give starters to my friends but look! I would know WHERE to go for MORE starters! I had to destroy all my resources. I’m pretty sure this is part of the 12-Step Program.

Here’s the problem…My Butt! In a study performed in 2004, researchers discovered that the Amish had very low rates of obesity even though they had extremely high calorie diets. The difference between them and us is they walk an average of 5 miles per day, whereas we walk about five steps. Here I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and my butt and everything else is getting bigger by the second and I know this loaf of doughnut is completely to blame. So it must end NOW, I am quitting cold turkey….right after I eat these last four loaves.

Working on His Tan

Jenn Carr — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:50:29 +0000

Today, in between rain clouds, Ashton ran through the sprinklers and played in the sandbox with his friends, Alyssa and Banks. They also laid out on their towels and read books. It was pretty cute.

Then they played in the front yard with a bunch of kids. Here they are, taking a break, eating Cheetos…

Wii Karaoke

Jenn Carr — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:11:53 +0000

For my birthday, Ashton insisted that he needed to go to Best Buy to find me a present. While Josh was returning something at the customer service counter, Ashton was doing his own shopping. By the time Josh finished at customer service Ashton was on his way to checkout with gift in hand and a very helpful and impressed employee in tow. Ashton was holding a box for Wii Karaoke. Apparently he had walked right up to the worker and explained how he wanted to get a game for the Wii for his Mom. So the employee showed him where the Wii games were located. Ashton knew just what he wanted and walked right over to the Karaoke game, announced that it was perfect and they were heading to the front of the store.

So the other night, Josh and the kids busted it out. It was way cute….

Emmy sang all of her Nursery songs

Josh rocked as only Josh can

Emmy responded in the only way anyone else would

Here is Emmy singing. She LOVES to sing