our saturday getaway

Jake and his brother Mitchell wanted to try out a bike park in Park City so we decided to join them and make an afternoon of it.  The drive through the canyon was beautiful with all the changing leaves.  I love the colors this year-- the very vibrant greens with bright reds.  Utah is so pretty.  

And lucky for us there was a park right at the bottom of where Jake was riding.  So we played around on the slides and swings, said hello to Jake each time he came down, and met a few dogs at the dog park right next to us.  It was eventful, beautiful, and just what we needed.  Weekends go by so fast.  I call for another like that please.

teachers go to football games

Maybe even it was for only half an hour.

(18 month olds have a mind of their own)

Watched my AF play my LP friday night

and I was torn.

I actually caught myself saying, "Let's go Knights!"

uhhhh I'm a Caveman.

A little confused.

I think it will take some time.

And getting used to wearing black and red.

a letter

Myer-

18 months! You are a one and half year old! That means nursery next week.  Oh my, oh my. (I'm old enough to have a child in nursery??)  Time flies, but not quick enough for me to jot down some of the new things you are doing and saying these past few months:

*six new teeth-- four molars and your bottom incisors

*your shorts actually hit your knees instead of your ankles

*new words you say are "spice-ee", "d-gulp, d-gulp" (digger), "mess", and "whoa"

*you can identify where your eyes, ears, mouth, tongue, teeth, knees, feet, and elbows are

*you like to line up your cars and then "poosh" (push) them all with your last car, especially in the bathtub

*you like to climb on my back for piggy back rides

*new signs lately are CRACKER, DIRTY, APPLE, HELICOPTER, HAT, and your sign for Mimi and Papa

*we can't leave the house without your hat

*you love dogs.  Every dog we meet you sign and say "puppy!" and we have to stop to pet it

*your face is very expressive-- I can tell when you are happy, excited, investigative, frustrated, concentrated, sad, etc. I think it's from sign language...

*dr. seus are your favorite kind of books

*we last inside maybe for only half and hour.  All our time is spent outside.

*you still hate the car, and we have to distract you with passing horses, diggers, construction trucks, and trains.  Good thing we live in Utah County.

*your favorite show is "Howdy Town" (that cheesy horse show our landlord made a while back) and you dance and laugh along with the characters

*you don't like sitting in the stroller...you like pushing it.

You're getting more independent with more personality.  I feel like every time I come home from work you grow up even more.  I put all these cute little things you do in my phone so I don't forget, and so I can look at them when I miss you too much.  The four hours we do have every day together I love watching you grow.  You're becoming a boy, not a baby anymore, and I am honored to be a part of your journey.  Love you so,

-Mom

we.

We are all together in this picture, somehow, which is a rare moment.
We are still figuring out our swapped roles of "working mom" and "stay at home dad".
We are letting go (well I am) of how clean the cottage needs to be.
We have to stay in one room when we are all home because if not, Myer worries one of us is leaving.
We have a hard time saying goodbye.
We are still couponing because we just can't bring ourselves to pay $4.00 for cereal when we can get it for $.99.
We somehow have time for that.
We just got our four molars in, and now we are getting four other teeth.
We are really grumpy.
We are also interpreting a few nights a week.  We are crazy.
We still only have one car.
We love our bike trailer.
We've had a lot of eggs and toast for dinner.

But we've never been more close and strong as a family.
We are going to make it.

peek-a-boo

love,

myer

jake's car mat

This used to be Jake's car mat when he was little, and now it's Myer's turn.  I love looking at all the cute drawings and details.  Jake's crafty Aunt made it and included some Alpine landmarks as well as a few recognizable things throughout Utah Valley--the airport, Hogle Zoo, Alpine Market, Lehi Post Office, Church, Alpine Elementary, and more.  She put a lot of work into this, and it's really special it's still in one piece!

Of course it's worn and faded, but it's perfect.  Myer and Jake love driving around on this mat and they spend hours.  I also love that we have something of Jake's to pass down to our son.  Something they both share.  Happy driving!

morse cousins

Must be that time of year, as everyone is doing family pictures.  We were no different, getting our Morse side of the family pictures last month.  And my favorite was naturally this one.  Here are the cousins left to right-- Kambree, Cayden, Kate, Devin, Myer, and Jess.  Aren't they cute?  Myer's lucky to have these kiddos part of his family.  They love him and are anxious to play with him when we visit. Too bad it's cars every time... He knows he's lucky.

insta update

1. parade seating  2. matching outfits

3. splash pad with friends  4. diseases

5. Burgess Peaches  6. boys and cars

7. date night  8. kisses 

9. animal crackers in my soup  10. new shoes

11. row your boat  12. mrs. morse

13. waterproof cars  14. babysitting

15. all his socks  16. running errands

17. naptime  18. cottage windows

parkees

Also during our weekend, we ventured to a new park.  It's starting to cool off around here, and we wanted to play somewhere without loading on the sunscreen.  So we scoped out the park scene.

Having Myer swing in a baby swing really threw me off when I saw him running around the park, exploring, sliding, and deciding what he wants to do next.  When did that happen??  Not to mention his new obsession with hats (notice previous posts) makes him look even older.  We are coming up on the 18 month mark.  Yikes.  He's permanently in that baby swing if it's the last thing I do.

hat partay

We sometimes get a silly before bedtime,

put on our hats,

and have a hat-dance party.

We even stay-up past bed time.

Rebels.

a too distracted weekend

Typical.

Would you believe me if we took 8 pictures trying to capture one where he was looking up?

All 8 looked like this-- enthralled with the bowl of tortilla chips.

Don't mess with a (Morse) boy and his appetizer.

So obviously the weekend was filled with mexican food,

salty fingers,

and "corny" kisses.

Ready for you Monday!

without you

So.... 

your welcome.

becky's back

 Sister Allred is back!  After an 18 month mission in London, she is home safe and sound.  Becky's one of my dear friends from college and when we saw her Friday night, it seemed like we never missed a beat.  (She even pulled out some sign language. Whoop whoop!)  Welcome home!  We missed you!

labor-less day

With the new mexico cousins in town,

we did what the Thacker's do best...SWIM!

Drove our way up the Salt Lake's Seven Peaks

(aka the old Raging Waters)

and swam in the wave pool, lazy river, and baby splash pad.

But our favorite was hanging out on the dry tubes and eating gold fish.

After all, labor day is just for being lazy.