Cruise's New Pet Budgie: Cupcake

Cruise has been asking for a pet bird for the past 2 years. In fact, two Christmases ago, he asked for a pet eagle. So naturally we got him two robotic parakeets. About a year ago when he got really into bird watching, he asked for a pet bird again. When we asked what he wanted for his birthday this year, of course he replied with, "a pet bird!". Dave and I played with the idea for awhile, but it wasn't until one evening a couple weeks ago, I went into Cruise's room and found him crying. I sat down next to him to talk and he said he wished he had a "best bud" like all the other kids. I knew he had been feeling alienated and a little down lately; most of the kids in the neighborhood are Jett's age and Cruise only has one friend in the ward. So what was I supposed to do? Not get him a bird? So...I told him I'd get him a bird for his birthday. 

The next day he and Jett made bird furniture.

Dave and I found a little baby budgie (parakeet) on KSL.com classifieds for $40 for both the bird and the cage. She was born on May 27th and we bought her on July 31st; Cruise named her Cupcake. She is a sweet little bird and it took her about a week to get used to our loud, obnoxious house and to bond with Cruise. She stays in Cruise's room and he takes very good care of her. He changes her newspapers, feeds her, changes her water, plays with her (takes her out of her cage 2-3 times a day), cleans up after her, and even sits and reads to her. They're really cute together and despite my apprehension about the whole thing, it has turned out to be so much more positive than I had imagined. For one thing, Cruise keeps his room clean because Cupcake can't come out of her cage until things are picked up. He also is learning a lot about responsibility and patience. He loves having a little friend to talk to and hang out with. I think she was a great gift for him. Jett and Miles love her too and enjoy participating in holding her and being around her. 

Cruise reading "The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher" to Cupcake.

Cupcake likes music, she chirps a lot in the morning and in the late afternoon when she wants to get out of her cage and play. Cruise always obliges and she loves him for it. She will now let everyone hold her and will eat out of Cruise's hand. She never pecks or bites and is the sweetest little bird ever. 

More Catching Up...Almost There!: The Failed Boat Trip

On July 29th, against our (I say "our", but I did warn Dave) better judgement, we took the boat out on a Saturday. Which, as some may know, is a horrible, horrible day to go out on the lake because EVERYONE is out on the lake. Especially when Utah Lake is pretty much closed due to the algae bloom and everyone is forced to go to Deer Creek. Dave's brother Dan, his wife Sofia, and their daughter Liza, all met us there. Sofia's sister and her husband came as well. Sofia, Liza, and Sofia's sister stayed on the "beach" near the docks while the rest of us took the boat out to hopefully do some wakeboarding. It was crowded, the water was a bit choppy, and as soon as Dave was up on the board, things got bad. The boat started making a funny, clunking noise, and so we had to stop. We took the boat to the beach where we all got out and met up with the girls, while Dave tried to figure out what was going on with the boat. He and Dan ended up taking it back to the dock and spent about an hour and a half waiting in line of cars to get the boat out of the water. So while they did that, we hung out on the beach. Lucky for us, they had brought a giant swan to play on, so that kept things interesting. Sadly, Dave's boat is currently out of commission and he is trying desperately to fix it. So, we'll see if we can get her out on the water again before school starts.  

More Catching Up: Lehi Outdoor Pool

On the 24th of July, we took the kids to the outdoor pool since they had been begging us. It's not my favorite pool because most of it is really deep and so I get nervous letting Jett swim around without keeping an eye on him since he can't reach the bottom. Miles didn't complain about having to keep his puddle-jumper on, probably because he has to wear a life jacket when we're on the lake. So it wasn't too bad. The kids had fun going down the slides and Cruise & Jett had fun jumping off the diving board. Cruise went for the very first time off the high-dive and I was really proud of him. By the end of the day, the both of them were doing flips off the low-dive. Jett learned his lesson quickly when he did a flip off the high-dive and was met with a great, big belly-flop. Which, at the time, looked really sad and painful, but now looks hilarious...and painful. 

More Catching Up: Bridal Veil Falls

Towards the end of July, we visited Bridal Veil, since the kids were tired of boating and Dave & I were tired of taking them to the movies. It was a nice change of pace and the kids had fun climbing and throwing rocks. I just was happy that the water was ice cold because it was above 100 that day. 

More Catching Up: Cruise Goes to Robot Camp

Mid-July, Cruise got to attend Robotics Camp at UVU. It was a week long camp that last 3 hours each day. I ended up having to stay in the building during it for at least the first couple days because Cruise was having some anxiety about it and because his medication had just been switched. It was great catching up on some reading though! But I was able to leave him for an hour or so the rest of the week so I could get a few errands run. Jett even came with me one of the days so he could got pick out a birthday present for a friend. Cruise did great and learned a lot! Next year he wants to go to scratch camp. Apparently that is a programming camp for robotics, but I know nothing about any of this stuff, so I'll take his word for it. 

During break, Cruise bought Starbursts out of the vending machine and fit himself with some new teeth.

On the last day of camp, each partnership built a lion lego robot and had a program they connected it to on the computer, making it move and roar. Cruise was pretty proud of his. 

Overall, it was a success and I feel good about having him go again next year. 

More Catching Up: The Boys Find a Bird

The neighbors had a little bird fall out of a tree and looked like it had something broken. We told them to put it back into the nest, but for whatever reason they couldn't. So they tried to take care of it, put it in a basket in a tree (like the articles say to do), but sadly the bird didn't make it after a few days. It was pretty sad and they were all pretty broken up about it. 

More Catching Up: Independence Day

I know, I know, I'm waaayyy behind. It seems like we are always doing stuff, there are always photos to transfer and edit, and not enough time to blog. So I've got to do a lot of posting this week so I can catch up.

For the 4th of July, Dave's parents invited us over for a BBQ and they rented a bounce house for all the kids to play in. The boys had a lot of fun and I am so glad they rented it since it was about 100 degrees out. Such a good idea!

In the evening, we did fireworks in the cul-de-sac. Despite the fact that we kind of hit the jackpot because the neighbors had bought a ton of aerial fireworks, I was still pretty irked at the fact that people were being super careless about where and how they were setting them off, and the sheer number of them. Who needs clean air anyway? Right? I'm not a huge fan of fireworks. But the boys had fun doing our own little fireworks, watching the neighbors' fireworks, and then getting on the roof (sans Miles and I) and watching the Thanksgiving Point show.

Poor Lucy was pretty scared since the neighbor's fireworks were right above our house and seemed to last forever. I tried to help her out, but she never kept the headphones on. 

Today You Are Ten

Dear Cruise,

Ten years ago today I became the luckiest person in the world: I became your mom. At 2:27 PM, you came into this world with a head full of black hair and a football shaped head. You were so small and I didn't want to put you down or give you to any of the nurses. I just wanted to snuggle the little person I had spent 9 months waiting for. As a baby and toddler, you were curious and noticed everything from tiny little bugs to the big sky full of stars. You were adventurous and found humor in any situation. I look at you today and you've grown so tall and become more and more handsome every day. You are funny and kind, you're sweet and smart. You are so talented and still as curious as ever. And as much as I hate to realize that you are getting older and bigger and more independent, I am proud of the person you are and who you're becoming.

You, like so many, struggle with things you have no control over. I know it makes you sad and frustrated, and sometimes even angry. I know it can be hard and that sometimes it feels like you're alone, but I hope you will always remember that you are loved more than you can imagine. Know that not only do your parents love you and will always be here for you, but that your Heavenly Father is always there as well, is mindful of you, and loves you more than any of us can imagine. You have overcome so many challenges in the 10 years you've lived on this earth; you are strong and a hard worker, and I am in awe of all you've accomplished.

Cruise, I wish we all could be like you. I wish we could all see the world like you do: with hope and wonderment. With a faith that is so pure and unadulterated. I wish we could all have the resolve to continually try to do better. I wish we all could serve so quickly and easily, and without a second thought. If the world were full of people like you, how perfect it would be. But there is only one you, and how blessed I am that you are mine. You are a light to all those around you, especially to me.

I love you, Cruise. I am proud of you and I want you to know just how grateful I am that I get to be your mom. I pray that this world never breaks your spirit, and that you continue this life with your unique view. And kiddo, don't be too quick to grow up. It's totally overrated.

Love,

Mom

Lots to Catch Up On: Boating

This summer has been pretty busy, so I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and write about our adventures. So, let's start with boating: 

Dave fixed up the boat so well, it's been our constant source of entertainment. The boys have had a lot of fun learning how to knee board and wakeboard. Jett really loves wakeboarding and I was kind of blown away at the fact that he learned so quickly! Cruise feels more comfortable on the knee board and sticks with that, but he too picked it up pretty quick! Dave has loved wakeboarding again and despite being incredibly sore the day after, continues to push himself every time we're out on the boat. Dave got me back wakeboarding, something I really enjoyed when we were dating and first married.  I couldn't believe it had been almost 10 years since I had done it, but it somehow was easier than I remembered. Of course, I wasn't that good to begin with, but I started to feel a little more comfortable and to start carving more. I just need to learn how to jump the wake now! We try to take out some friends every time we go; the boys love bringing some buddies along. 

I'm just gonna dump a bunch of pictures and videos from the past month here:

This last one is on Deer Creek. Unfortunately Utah Lake is too dangerous to swim in presently, thanks to the algae. 

It's been pretty fun having a good boat. If Dave had his way we'd go out every day (I'm pretty sure Jett and Miles wouldn't mind as well), but Cruise and I can only do so much in a week. Lol! Still, it's probably one of the things that has made this summer bearable.