Trouble Maker

Now that Stratton is fully mobile, I can't seem to keep track of or clean up after him fast enough. A girl in my ward just asked my if I'd be willing to day-care her 2 year old and 4 month old. If I decide to do it, I think I'll be pretty much covered as far as birth control goes.

This morning he let himself outside.

Already a movie buff. This drawer of dvds is his favorite to unpack. He hits it up 2 or 3 times a day.

A perfect Strat-sized cupboard. Every day or so he empties this cupboard.

I'm still not sure how I got him out.

Stratton was so proud of this trick that he gave himself a round of applause.

Family, Friends, Weddings, and Lots of Driving! (A super long title for a super long post)

Ok, here's the promised pictures and details of our latest travels. Stratton and I left with Emily, Nate, and Samuel the 3rd week in July. We drove through New Mexico and up through Colorado, Wyoming and then home to Idaho. I think it was like 25 hours of driving. Then we got to spent 2 weeks with our family. Then Strat and I flew back to Arizona for a few days, and then we (Matt came this time) drove to California for Matt's little bro Andy's wedding. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but we have loved seening our family and friends. Next week we head back up to Idaho for family my reunion and Andy's open house. It's so great to see our family so much!

These were some amazing mountains in Colorado. I forgot how beautiful mountains are when they actually have trees and snow on them.

Strat and Samuel were so good on the drive. With only a few angry moments. This is them playing "peek-a-boo" with their blakies. You can barely see the tops of their heads poking out.

They both love books, the problems came because they mostly liked whatever book the other one had.

Stratton has been practicing his walking. He took his first steps in AZ with Matt right before we left. In Idaho with so much help form aunts, uncles, and grandparents he is really mastering his staggering walk.

He loved playing on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa Barnes.

He did ok on the motor bike at first, vibrating his lips making engine noises. But then he kind of freaked out and they had to cut the ride short...he's sort of a chicken pants.

Great-Grandma Barnes shared some raspberry cobbler with Strat, he loved it!

Great-Grandpa Barnes helping Stratton get around.

We got to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Sievers

Stratton practiced up on this Rock Band drummer skills.

I love this picture. It pretty much sums up Idaho summers growing up. Hiking the Butte, canoing/floating the canal, and the changing farm fields that let you know how much summer is left.

Grandpa letting Stratton play in the puddle.

Uncle Bridger juggling the boys. Stratton loves all of his uncles. In fact, he usually prefers them to his mom.

I was able to go to one of my best friends from high school's wedding. It was so great to be in the temple with so many of my old friends! I think that's what heaven will be like. We'll just look around and see all of these familiar faces and people that we know and love but haven't seen in a while. Anyways, she was beautiful and her husband is a really great guy. Good luck Marc and Diana!

Some of my best friends from high school. All grown up now and making babies.

Stratton loves wedding cake.

This was last weekend in California for Andy and Lorin's wedding. I had never been to the L.A. temple before. It was amazing! Lorin look so gorgeous! And Andy even managed to look pretty good :) The reception was at this beautiful mansion (literally a masive home on this hill). It was the most amazing reception I've ever been to. With fabulous food and decorations. It made me really want to get married again. And own a mansion. We were able to see our newest niece, Penelope. She and Aubrey flew out from New York for the wedding. It was a great couple of days. Welcome to the family, Lorin. You're in for a real surprise:)

By the end of the day Strat was pretty pooped. And probably sick from eating so much cake. All in all it's been a wonderful few weeks. Stratton travels really well and Matt and I have always loved long drives. Good thing because next week it's another 15 hours back to Idaho for our Barnes reunion and Andy and Lorin's open house.

Sculpting With Paint

I am really excited about my latest painting. It is kinda hard to do something new in the art world without it just being weird and who knows if this has been done before or not. I started sculpting flowers out of paint that wrap around a thick canvas and everyone seems to love it. This was my first attempt so who knows how far I will be able to run with this new idea. Yet it makes me a little nervous simply because I just bought 200 dollars in paint and it might last through the weekend.

Home Sick?

Stratton and I headed up to Idaho for some cooler weather and some family time. Matt had to stay behind and run the gallery :( I didn't realize how hard it would be to be away from him this long. I especailly miss his help with Stratton! But the heat in Scottsdale right now is unbearable, and one of my best friends from high school is getting married the 8th, so it was a great time to get away. So Strat and I caught a ride with Emily, Nate, and Samuel. It was a super long drive from Arizona, we stopped in Albuquerque to see Melissa and her fam, and then went through Denver to drop off some equipment for one of South's construction sites. It took us 3 days to get up here, but the drive was so beutiful and the babies did really well. I was so excited coming through Colorado and up through Jackson, the mountains were so green and amazing, some still had some snow on them! This was the longest I had ever been away from Idaho (7 months- I know it's kind of sad!) and it is great to be back for a couple of weeks. In Arizona I get really home sick for here, but up here I'm really home sick for Arizona (especailly for my husband!!). I guess it's good that it's starting to feel homey there. So, that's just an update on what's going on with us. I'll have some pics and stuff to post later...