Connor's Swimming Lessons

I signed Connor up for swimming lessons this summer at the North Shore Aquatic Center in North Ogden.  With all of our vacations this summer, the only time slot that was open before I had Baby #2 was the last 2 weeks before my due date.  So his classes were 10-10:30 a.m, Monday-Thursday, June 18-28.  I figured I might miss the last few classes if Baby #2 came early (we did end up missing the last one because I was induced on June 28).

Connor did awesome and is getting much more comfortable being in the water.  He learned to do the swimming motion (big monster arms) and kicks, blow bubbles with his mouth, and close his mouth and hum under water (forces air out your nose).  He even went completely under water a couple times while humming - and didn't cry afterward!  That was a big step for him - he doesn't even like bath water on his face.  It was a fun 2 weeks to get to spend with just him before the baby came.

Other swim-mates and instructor during roll call.

Cute little fish.

The lazy river.

Pleasant View Founder's Day

Our Pleasant View Founders Day was June 23.  Connor loved the parade on Pleasant View Drive down the street from out house (lots of candy and otter pops, tractors, police cars, horses, old cars, cheer leaders, etc.), and fireworks later that night.  I love living here.

38.5 weeks pregnant!  Baby will be here soon!

Water Balloons

One of Connor's favorite activities this summer has been playing with water balloons.  We have done it so much, it deserves its own post.

We did a last-day-of-school water balloon party on May 25 with lots of friends from our ward (even though Connor isn't in school yet, a bunch of his friends that we meet at the park every week are).

After all the kids threw water balloons, we had a "pick up party" and made a contest of who could pick up the most balloon pieces.  The top 3 winners got $1 and everyone else got a quarter or 2.  Best idea ever.

Look at the piles of balloon pieces!

We invited our friends across the street (Stacey, Lincoln, Jackson, and Teyla) over a several times to throw water balloons with us.

I also did a really fun activity with my Young Women.  We did a service scavenger hunt.  Each task on the list I gave them was assigned a point value from 1-5 points (easier tasks like washing a window or taking out the trash were 1 point, harder tasks like scrubbing a toilet or vacuuming a room were 5 points), and the girls had to go to ward members' houses that were in need of service.  There were 12 Beehives, I challenged them to get 75 points total and if they did there were 500 water balloons waiting for them at my house that I filled earlier that day.  The girls did awesome and earned 92 points!  The girls had a blast and were really nice to let Connor throw balloons with them.  I love summer!  (If any of you serve in YW and want my service list, let me know, I'll send it to you.)

Father's Day

Father's Day was great.  It was fun to celebrate what a great dad Brad is.  Connor adores him and wants to be just like him.  I'm ok with that.  I know Baby #2 will love him just as much.  I don't always express how much I appreciate all that Brad does for Connor and me, and pregnant Wifey is definitely much harder on him than he deserves.  Thanks for putting up with me Braddy, and thanks for being such a wonderful dad!  We love you!

Connor and I got Brad pictures for his office, new shorts, a new tie (a Father's Day tradition), and some of his favorite candy (Nutrageous and Raspberry M&Ms).  Brad was so nice to share his M&Ms with Connor.  

I know I posted this in an earlier post, but I love it - it is so indicative of how Connor is at this age, and how much he loves his dad.

Jeppson Family Vacation - Southern Utah

This year's big Jeppson Family vacation was to southern Utah again June 2-8.  This year we went with Brenda's brother's family (Byron and Krista) and it was fun to have Brad's cousins and their kids there to play with.

The 4 parents (Brian, Brenda, Krista, and Byron) stayed at a camp site, and all the rest of us (about 13 older kids, and 5 babies) stayed at a rented house in Panguitch since most of us have young kids.  The house was about 30 minutes from the camp site.

It was a fun week riding dirt bikes and 4-wheelers, hiking Spooky and Peek-a-Boo slot canyons in Escalente, and driving thru Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon.  The one not-so-fun event was "the plague" that rolled thru the entire camp the first couple days we were there.  One of Brad's cousins was sick with a terrible flu-like disease on Sunday, 4 more people were sick on Monday, and about 10 more people were sick on Tuesday.  By Wednesday everyone else except for 2 people (Brian and Brad's cousin Nicole) were sick.  They were lucky and managed to escape it somehow.  Tuesday night is when Connor and I had it the worst.  Connor threw up 3 times, I threw up about 20 times.  Fortunately it was very short lived - only about 12-15 hours of feeling sick - but those hours were pretty miserable.  The worst part was there were only 2 bathrooms in the house so that was very valuable real estate for those couple days.  After everyone was over it, we got on with the fun.

I wasn't able to do very much since I was so pregnant (37 weeks) but I did go on a short 4-wheeler ride (on a smooth graded road) with Brad, and a short hike to a waterfall with some of the cousins.  Mostly, I just visited with stayed at camp and visited with everyone.  Even though I wasn't able to do much, it was still a fun trip, and Connor had a total blast!

I love this picture.  Connor's huge head/helmet is awesome.  Here he is getting ready to ride with Grandpa.  He really loves to ride.

This was taken right after the hike to the slot canyons (I didn't go because I wouldn't have fit thru the slots and the hike was way too long and hot for being 37 weeks pregnant).  Apparently all the older kids were complaining how hot it was so Brad's Aunt Krista asked (sarcastically) "Are we having fun yet?" and Connor shouted "YA!"  Apparently while everyone else thought it was too hot and just wanted the hike to be over, Connor was running thru the slots and having the time of his life.

Maternity Pictures

On May 28 (Memorial Day), we went down to the Jeppsons' to celebrate with Brad's family.  My sister-in-law Jen and I decided we really needed a girls' day so we left Alexis and Connor with the boys, got pedicures together in the morning, ate lunch at Wendy's, and then I got dressed up and she snapped some maternity pictures of me in the afternoon.  The pictures were taken at the Jordan River Temple because the landscaping is the prettiest in the area by Brad's parents' house.  It was a fun day, and I love the maternity pictures - Jen is a great photographer.  Thanks Jen!

This picture shows off my "baby jewelry."  I bought the pearl necklace with Brad in Hawaii while I was pregnant with Connor, and I bought the turquoise bracelet with Brad in Hawaii while pregnant with Baby #2.  I think I will keep up the tradition and buy a special piece of jewelry with every pregnancy (but the next few may or may not be bought in Hawaii).

These pictures were taken exactly 1 month before my induction date, June 28.  Getting excited for baby to come!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was great.  Brad and Connor made me breakfast in bed, and Connor wished me a "Happy Muver's Day."  Sweet.

They got me flowers, Reece's peanut butter cups - yum, and a book (that I requested) called Confessions of a Scary Mommy.  Hilarious!  If you are a mom and need some good humor about what motherhood is really like, not sugar-coated, this is the book for you.  Brad read it with me.  Quite hilarious. 

I am so grateful I have Connor and I'm excited to add another sweet little boy to our family soon.  Being a mom is wonderful, even when it's hard and not glamorous at times.  There is no job more rewarding than seeing Connor learn and grow into a great kid because of (and sometimes in spite of) me.  I love him dearly.

Date Night - Demolition Derby

Brad and I hired one of my young women to babysit for us several times in the last few months so we could go on as many dates as we could before Baby #2 comes (Audrey is Connor's favorite).  We remember what it's like to have a new baby, and alone time will be rare.

One of the dates we went on together in May was to a Demolition Derby at the Harrisville Golden Spike Arena (Weber County Fairgrounds).  It is definitely a different crowd that attends those events - there were many piercings, tattoos, missing teeth, and appallingly inappropriate t-shirts with the sleeves cut off - but it was really fun!  I had never been to one before and Brad hadn't been to one since high school.  Thanks for the date Braddy!

2012 Carver Family Vacation - Oahu, Hawaii

Our Carver family vacation this year was April 27-May 6.  We decided on Hawaii (definitely the biggest vacation we've ever taken as a family) because more babies are on the way and it's harder (and more expensive) to travel as all our families get bigger.  There was also potential that Ady and Jono were going to move far away as Jono is looking for a new job, so we wanted to make sure we got in a great and memorable vacation with all of us.

It was nice to go somewhere warm.  3 weeks before we left for Hawaii, this is what it looked like at our house:

  

Brad and I left Thursday night and drove to Vegas for the red-eye to Hawaii (that flight is direct and WAY cheaper than flying out of Salt Lake).  Connor was great on the plane and slept most of the 6 hours. We got to Oahu early Friday, and hung out together, just the three of us until Saturday night when the rest of my family got there.  This is how our vacation went:

Friday, Day 1 - Took it easy (we were tired from the red-eye).  Drove the fishbowl for the gorgeous views, checked into our hotel.

View of Diamond Head from the top.

Saturday, Day 2 - Honolulu Zoo (so fun!), Waikiki Beach, another drive up the fishbowl at night, picked up the rest of my family at the airport.

They had so many species of monkeys, but our favorites were the spider monkeys.  They were climbing and swinging all over their cage.  I didn't get a picture of them though.

Gorgeous sunset overlooking Honolulu from the top of the fishbowl ridge.

Sunday, Day 3 - Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri Battleship), and Hula Dogs.  

Connor sitting in the Captain's chair on the USS Missouri Battleship.

Same as Puka Dogs but mom and dad that owned the place split up, so they had to change the name to Hula Dog.

Monday, Day 4 - Sunset Beach and a small hike up the road from the house in Hauula where we stayed for the week.  

Tuesday, Day 5 - Temple session in the Laie Temple with my family, Polynesian Cultural Center.

Claire and Sterling stayed back to watch the kids.

Showing off Connor's ink.  They airbrushed it on him at the beginning of the day and he loved it.  He got some sun the rest of the vacation and when the turtle ink finally washed off, he had a turtle tan.  Awesome.

Our table at the luau/dinner was right up against the stage!

Wednesday, Day 6 - Hale'iwa Beach, Dole Pineapple Plantation for lunch and tour, Snorkeling at Shark's Cove (where we swam with our first sea turtle!).

Mom and cute baby Will.

Train ride at Dole Pineapple Plantation.

Feeding the Koi fish at Dole Pineapple Plantation.

Thursday, Day 7 - Snorkeling at Shark's Cove again, lunch at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (garlic shrimp, and the most delicious grilled corn on the cob), then a pool party and BBQ at Jono and Ady's friends' house on the North Shore.

Friday, Day 8 - Breakfast at Papa Ole's, swimming at Waimea Bay (Brad, Ady, Jono, and Will - Connor fell asleep in the car on the drive there so I sat in the car with him, which was ok because it rained a lot of the time), Family Pictures at Sunset Beach.

Saturday, Day 9 - Snorkeling at Hanama Bay (lunch at McDonald's), shopping and dinner at the outdoor International Marketplace.

Brad, Connor, and I flew out Saturday night on another red-eye and Connor slept the entire 6 hour flight, and thank goodness because Brad and I were exhausted too.  We drove home from Vegas on Sunday.  It was a great vacation and we had a lot of fun with my family.  Since Brad and I went to Hawaii when I was pregnant with Connor, and now while I'm pregnant with baby boy #2, we joked that we would just have to make this a pregnancy tradition.  I don't think I would mind that tradition one bit, although I would prefer not to go when I am so hugely pregnant.