Almost forgot the two highlights of my summer:

Before we went to Utah for the long long vacation which I am obviously still trying to recover from since it has taken me three months to post about it....my sisters in law made a trip out here so we could go to a friend shower for Ashley and take Audrey and Eli to Disneyland. Eli is finally tall enough to go on a few roller coasters, namely the Matterhorn and whatever that one in ToonTown is called. So we took them. And it was a blast. He was scared and apprehensive. Olivia and I just decided that we were going to make our kids do it because we knew they would love it. And it was so fun. They both loved it. Seriously, aside from the births of my children, it was the most exhilirating moment I have had as a parent thus far-because I knew I would love this part of being a mom. And I felt the same way when we went to Utah and took Eli out on the boat; Adam, Eli and I went on a pretty decently paced tube ride. And at the end, we even pulled him off into the water. Watching his face as he begins to experience some of my own very favorite recreational activities is such a thrill. And it is those two moments that I look back on and remember when I feel, as I often do, like I am drowning as I try and take care of my two kids and everything that follows that.

Kolob Canyon and Tater's blessing

On the way to Utah this summer, we stopped and hiked a little in Kolob Canyon. I just love this place. I just love Utah. What a freaking cool place.

Once we got to Utah, the first order of business was to bless Taterbug. And we did. It was awesome. We had both of our families at the Burr's house. We love this little guy and are so glad to have him in our family.

What a party!

What a remarkably fun night. Not too many people get to attend a senate election victory party in their lifetime; I was glad I got to. Congratulations Mike.

I LIKE MIKE

PLEASE GO VOTE FOR HIM TOMORROW!!!!!
Hi folks. It has been a while. I am in Utah right now, eagerly awaiting the resutlts of tomorrow's senate primary race. As a former Utahn, unable to currently exercise my right to vote in the state, I want to give my plug for my favorite candidate (and uncle) for the United States senate. Mike Lee rocks. So any of you fine people who are registered residents, please consider voting for Mike. Here is why:

-Mike was literally born for this job. He would never tell you that. Contrary to repeated attacks of arrogance, Mike is one of the most capable people I know who still manages to keep his feet on the ground. He is bright, extremely well qualified, well educated and has been uniquely prepared, since the day he was born, to make a difference in the United States Senate--but make no mistake...I am the one telling you that because I know him well enough to know, not because he is arrogant enough to presume the job is his.
-Mike is hilarious. And loud. Sometimes we just laugh at how loud he is. He will make his voice heard as your senator in every possible way, figuratively through his skills as a Constitutional scholar and literally with his, shall we say, fine tuned vocal chords. Mike has the unique ability to absolutely mezmerize his listeners whether he is discussing the Commerce clause or the right way to build a sandwich. He knows no other way than to be a strong, decisive and convincing leader; he will be just that on the Senate floor as he implements his intellectual prowess and sharp understanding of the US Constitution for the good of the state; he will do it through a strong felt belief in the need for government to limit itself and adhere to the principles contained in our founding document. He will make his point by wowing his audience with a profound ability to think deeply on the spot, clearly articulate his thoughts, make EVERYTHING interesting and exciting, and damnit, make you laugh until you pee your pants if necessary.
-Mike is one of the most honest people I know. As your senator, I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will do everything possible to hold himself to the promises that he has made in his campaign, such as:
-repeal the healthcare legislation
-set both House and Senate term limits to 12 years
-return more governing power to the states
-balance the federal budget
-keep federal budget at or below 15% of GDP
-institute a flat tax

Please vote for Mike. Obviously I love Mike because he is my uncle. He is smart, funny, charismatic and so so very fun to be around. There are very few people I would rather sit down and just chat with. But more than that, I can absolutely vouch for his work ethic, honesty, integrity and knowledge of the job that lies before him as your senator. Furthermore, his wife rocks too. No good man can do anything good without a good woman next to him. Sharon is absolutely that good woman in addition to being incredibly bright and eloquent herself.

PLEASE GO VOTE FOR MIKE LEE FOR US SENATE--TOMORROW. TRUST ME. HE ROCKS.

Really!?!

Why?



Because of...




Thanks to...

Best Mother's Day ever

A happy Mother's day indeed. I am this happy today-maybe even more!


Because I got the best Mother's Day present ever: They are back!


Adam asked me on Saturday what I wanted for Mother's Day. Aside from the fact that it was a little late to be asking...I had no response because I did not think it was fair to ask for the impossible. What I really wanted was to have my lost wedding rings back. He read my mind anyway though and we went back through the events of the day I lost them. He asked if I did anything before I changed-sat on the couch or went anywhere. I said I might have sat down on the couch to nurse the baby but I already looked in, around and underneath the couch several times. He asked if I looked in the little velcro pocket behind the couch. I said I did not know what he was talking about...

So on Sunday morning, I was sitting on the couch watching Meet the Press and nursing the baby. Adam started looking in these alleged "pockets" and found some coins for Eli to put in his pig. I heard some things drop out but didn't think anything of it because I knew they had already found change and cheerios and I did not want to get my hopes up that it might be a diamond ring. Then Adam got out his pliers and a flashlight for what I thought was another futile search. A few minutes later he held up all three rings. I was floored. I covered my mouth as tears started streaming down my face. Does my husband have perfect timing or what? He remarked that he has only been able to get that kind of reaction out of me two times: Both the times he has given me the same ring.

So anyway, his ACTUAL present-another replacement ring he made in the lab- was a little bit overshadowed by the discovery of the lost rings, but I still love this one too. And I don't know where he found time to make it but here it is:

My husband completely rocks. I think I left a comment on my sister in law's blog on Saturday remarking that the Burr boys are excellent problem solvers and that I could not think of a problem that Adam could not solve. How true it is. Give him enough time, and he can do just about anything.

And Eli, bless his little heart, made this cute little flower pot for me at Home Depot. Every first Saturday of the month, Eli puts on his orange aapron
and he and Adam head to Home Depot for a project. Last Saturday he made this for Mother's Day with his cute little friend Hailey. It's the cutest thing. They worship him there! And Adam gets so excited to take him because, duh, he gets to go to Home Depot which is the coolest place ever, second only to Costco or his own couch.

So happy Mother's day to every mother I love. I think I had the happiest one though.

Random bits of information

1-I'm a sucker. Either that, or having two kids is less complicated than I thought it would be...or I just need something fun to do with both of them. In any case, I decided to renew my Disneyland pass. We are going on Tuesday to meet my aunts and cousins and I confess, I am happy about it.
2-I have been making a conscious effort to drink eight cups of water everyday and I have noticed that the texture and clarity of my skin has improved; has anyone else ever made this connection? And if that is a real thing, do you know why that is?
3-I have been stuck at the same weight since Tate was two weeks old. For the first ten days, I was losing like a pound a day making absolutely zero effort and it was awesome; now that I am really trying, the scale won't budge and it's starting to really aggravate me.
4-My sister is having a girl! I'm so excited to have another little niece...however, I need someone in my family to step up to the plate and produce a boy so I can share all of my boy clothes.
5-Adam has precisely one year of school left. That makes me very very happy.
6-Which reminds me, every time I get mad at Eli for doing something that Eli does, he retorts, "Are you happy?" I wish he would ask me that question sometime OTHER than when he has deliberately done something to make me unhappy.
7-Tate is a rockstar for the following reasons:
-He does not spit up!
-He has several chins to spare
-He is extremely easily pacified; I almost always know precisely why he is crying, which means I can easily address his problem which makes my job very fulfilling.
An area where he could improve:
-Sleeping...um, while I love that he is a cuddly little Taterbug, I don't love him sleeping in my bed. He far prefers to sleep on someone's chest or nestled in the crook of an arm. He will sleep for no more than an hour stretch in his own cradle. And though he weighs a perhaps too healthy fourteen pounds, he is still under the impression that he needs a meal in the middle of the night--not so my friend.
8-I love to run. After 9 months of pregnancy, it feels so good to take in a deep breath and have the air go ALL THE WAY to my lungs. I got into the St. George marathon for October of this year. So it is officially training time.
8-Wow, my thoughts pretty much revolve around myself and my kids. Got to get back to my religious news watching habits and read something other than, What to expect the first year.