A Little Bit of This.....A Little Bit of That

No news so far on where we are headed but, we have kept busy.

We spend a lot of time over at "Pa's" house. Keegan loves all the puzzles they have.

We have been lucky that we are able to spend a lot of fun time with friends. This is Keegan at Liberty Park on one of the little rides.

Here is Audrey.

We have been fishing on the Provo river. I have a picture of Keegan sitting on this exact log every year for the past 3years.




Daddy let Keegan reel in his fish. And boy was it a "Whopper" according to Keegan

Here we are at the playground by Audreys house. I'm so glad those 2 play together so well.

We have had some really nice weather, we decided to take advantage of it by going to Tanner Park. It's an off leash park at the mouth of Parley's canyon. Koda loves it.

Keegan thought we were hiking, he managed to hike the whole way without complaining.

This is Keegan's new favorite thing to do. He loves the Razor scooter. Which makes me soooo glad that just 6 months ago for Christmas I bought him a 3 wheeled scooter because I just didn't think he could handle a Razor scooter.

We have spent some time over at Josh's grandparents. Or Grandma and Grandpa Cowball to Keegan. (they have a Texas Longhorns football) Here are all 3 of the Viehweg Great Grandchildren.

Keegan, Austin, and Jason

While we have spent A LOT of time over at the Viehweg's, it hasn't always been peaceful. They are remodeling the kitchen and some days it got EXTREMELY LOUD!!! This was the day(s) they took out the old tile floor. The tile floor that DID NOT want to come up.

It got so loud we had to put on ear protection. It just wasn't fun playing Wii while it sounded like the house was being torn apart.

Keegan with his ear protection.

There was even work that Keegan could do. He was a great wallpaper peeler. He worked at it for over an hour.

After all the demo and wallpaper removal. Jon, Josh, Paul and I have been painting, painting, painting and then doing the tile on the floor. It has actually been fun. So here is what we have been working on. After 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of paint it is finally done.

Then on to the tile. This pattern looks really neat once it was finished but it took me following a "map" and the boys placing tile where I told them to get it done. There may have been a bit of confusion and prying up of tile at one point cause I got lost in my "map". In the end it turned out alright, at least I think.

So that is what we have been up to. Hopefully next time I have some more exciting news to post.

Homemade Laundry Soap

So a while back some of my 0n-line friends were talking about how much money they save by making their own laundry soap. I decided, since it sounded like fun and who doesn't like to save some money, I would try it. I found a "recipe" and went to work. I've been using it now for about 6 months and I love it! It smells good and really is much much cheaper. So since I've gotten my friend Lisa converted over I figured I would share it with anyone that still checks my blog.

Laundry Soap

1 quart water (boiling)
2 cups bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

*Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.

*Pour the soap water into a large, clean bucket and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.

*Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.

*Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it. (it will gel)


*For the bar soaps you can use Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Sunlight Bar soap, Kirks Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Ivory works well also. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps.


I like the Fels-Naptha soap the best. It has a nice fresh almost lemon-y smell to it. The Fels-Naptha bar is also a bit bigger and one bar equals the 2 cups you need. The other bars are a little smaller so you end up needing more than one.

All of the ingredients can be found in the laundry soap isle at the grocery store. I keep mine in a big bucket and fill up a old laundry detergent bottle just so it is easier to dispense and you can shake it to mix it up a bit before you pour.

I've been really happy with this recipe and so far it has worked great, has gotten out all the stains and dirt a 4 year old can manage. It also doesn't seem to fade clothes as fast as some other store bought brands and its better for the environment.

Mazatlan!!

So a while back we tried to plan a trip to somewhere tropical and warm with a group of friends. After a few bumps in the road and a couple of friends less we ended up going to Mazatlan, Mexico with Tyler and stayed in his time-share.

Sunset from the cabana

Our new tradition

The lighthouse in Mazatlan

Sea Lions

Our ride on the banana boat. Tyler was a bit hung over so he didn't go.

Tyler getting all ready for BINGO.

Josh getting ready for BINGO

Tyler at Senior Frogs

We got fresh coconut

It seems it didn't taste good.

On the zip-line tour

Josh on the zip-line

Tyler zipping over the Agave

Me on the zip line

At the end of the zip-line you have to repel out of a tree, they kept Tyler hanging up in the tree for a LONG time. When they finally dropped him he screamed like a girl.

After the zip-line tour we toured a Tequilla factory. This is Tyler getting free samples and trying on the hat and the shot glass belt.

The view from my chair on our last full day at the resort.

Playing on the beach on our last night there.

One of our cool waiters. He could dance with this thing on his head.

Sadly we had to return home to reality. I was really ready to get home and see my little boy. I missed him a ton.

Pictures

Not much really to update about. We go to the gym every morning. Keegan thinks we are taking him to a really fun place to play, he doesn't really get the fact that it is a daycare. After the gym Keegan goes and plays with my BFF's son Evan (Keegans new BFF) They ride bikes, run around, make a mess in Lisa's basement. Basically they keep each other busy enough that Lisa and I don't have to entertain them much.

Swimming lessons should start up again this week. So far he has loved them . One of the best parts for him is that Evan is in his class.

The flowers have started blooming, now that it is FINALLY warming up.

This year for easter we actually dyed eggs instead of doing the plastic ones. They came with stickers and Keegan was determined to use every single one.



Still stickering
The egg dyeing kit we found had lots of colors

We have gotten to see our friends a lot this trip. Keegan really loves playing with Audrey. Here they are at Chuck E Cheese

This was one day at the park.

This is out of order but we have also spent a lot of time with a cold. Here is Keegan in the middle of the day, he fell asleep while waiting for "Pa" who was only 2 minutes away.
Back to the park with Audrey.

And this would be a really cute picture if Keegan was smiling normally.

Here is the little jammer "speedo" that I just couldn't resist getting. He wears it under his trunks that are way too big in the waist.

And this is my mom's naughty dog that I caught sleeping in her chair. After I got him out of the chair 5 minutes later he got right back in while I was looking at him. So it seems that I didn't catch him doing anything, he is just that brazen.

So that is a short summary of what we have been up to. Of course there is the usually stuff too, like the grocery store, Josh playing video games, me sewing. Reading to the little loud boy in our house. Tomorrow we are going fly fishing, wish us luck.

Swimming Lessons

Since we are in Utah for a while I decided it was necessary to get Keegan into some swimming lessons. Can you believe my kid has never had a formal swimming lessons?? I mean, goodness, I used to work at the pool. Crazy, I know.

So here is Keegan right before his 1st swimming lesson. He refused to smile, but he was excited.

Here they are listening to the rules. And there is the lifeguard just incase they let go of the wall. I will be mortified if my kid has to be rescued. Gratefull to the lifeguard, but mortified.

Finally in the pool and waiting his turn.

Kicking with the "surf board" as Keegan calls it.

Learning to do "Big Arms"
Kicking on his back. I can't even get him to lay back in the tub. I was totally surprised.

Floating on his back. Again totally surprised by this. And not sure why he is doing fish lips while doing it.

Floating on his stomach, he was totally squirmy.

Now I feel better. MY kid is finally in swimming lessons. And he loves them. How is it possible that I have put it off so long.

Bowling Party

Last night we had Keegans bowling party. We invited his little friends and their parents too. We had 3 lanes to ourselves. Amid some slightly organized chaos games got bowled, kids had fun, cupcakes got eaten.

And for a brief second the kids sat still.

Logan, Keegan, Mason, Audrey

Left to Right

The Boys
Thanks for the fun night. We loved getting together and seeing all of you.

Goodbye Vancouver....Hello Salt Lake

Today we are leaving Vancouver and heading home. We are kind of bummed, we have liked it here a lot, maybe even more than ABQ. And sadly enough, the place we have liked the most we spent the shortest amount of time here. No option for extending and even the other travelers that the hospital did extend had their contracts canceled. So since I am on a list kick I will list what we are going to miss the most.

1. Tillamook Cheese being cheep. Here, it is cheaper than any store brand out there. Soon we will be back where I can only dream about buying it.
2. The trees, it is so pretty here.
3. The weather, I really can't complain. It was never really cold and I actually like the rain a lot.

4. The park just across the street. It was so nice to be able to take Keegan to the park anytime it wasn't raining.
5. The fun things to do here, the zoo is gorgeous, Multnomah Falls, the beach was close enough to do in for a day trip.

Anyway, we will be hitting the road later today, wish us luck.

Happy 4th Birthday Keegan!!

Where did the time go???
How is he already 4??

He used to be so little
He used to let me put diapers on his head as a hat.

And now he is such a big boy.
I'm pretty sure he won't let me put diapers on his head anymore.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy
Hope we can have a great day!!

Keegans Favorites

I decided it would be fun to have a little Q & A session with Keegan, here are some questions and his answers exactly as he told me

1. What is your favorite color?
Hmmm, blue I mean red and blue

2. What is your favorite animal?
Mammoths and my favorite dinosaurs are therapods like T-rex cause he has 2 fingers on each hand.

3. What is your favorite toy?
T-rex

4. What is your favorite show to watch on TV?
Dinosaur Train

5. What is your favorite movie?
Hmmmm, hmmmm Ice Age

6. What is your favorite book?
Hmmmmm, Lion King

7. What is your favorite food?
Hmmmmmmm, Ice Cream

8. What is your favorite thing about Vancouver?
Hmmm, playing on my scooter

9. What do you want the most for you B-day?
Hmmm, a bike

10. What is your favorite game to play?
Hmm, Hmmmmmmmm Zombies, I mean shooting games with daddy


So this was the first edition of Q&A with Keegan. I can't say I love the answer to #10, but that is exactly what he said. I was hoping he would say Chutes and Ladders but nope. He loves those dang Zombies.

Happy Valentines Day

Hope you all have had a wonderful day. Ours was spent relaxing around the house. Keegan managed to let us sleep in until 9:00, which was much appreciated. I made pancakes for the boys for breakfast which I think is their favorite. We then caught up on the Olympics that Josh had missed yesterday while at work. Josh was in charge of lunch and that left me completely STUFFED!!

I decided to list 5 things I love since Keegan does call today "Love Day"

1. Obviously my 2 guys. Josh and Keegan, they are truly the best things to ever happen to me.
2. Traveling, I have absolutely loved the opportunity we have had to travel and see new places. Our time her in Vancouver is almost at an end, I can't believe it.
3. Unlimited minutes on our phones. I don't think I could enjoy traveling as much as I do if I weren't able to call my friends and family ALL of the time. I do tend to harass some more than others. Thanks for letting me do so.
4. Chocolate..not much else needs to be said here.
5. Getting to go home and see family in 1 week.