It's Not Easy Being Big...

Bracken and I had a rough night a couple days ago. It had just been one of those afternoons. He'd gotten tired and cranky early and was into everything, being his busy self. Then he threw several handfuls of dirt onto my freshly painted --still wet-- shelf. Ohhh man! Then while I tried to fix dinner he stood on my bare feet with his shoes on and kept giving me indian rug burns while he fussed and cried for attention. The final straw came when I didn't push a big bowl of vegetables and olive oil back far enough on the table. He grabbed it, dumping the entire contents onto the floor, and then proceeded to "skate" through the olive oil. I don't think I've ever been so mad at him. I said "Bracken!" and none too gently scooped him up and set him down on the couch in the living room. He cried while I cried as I cleaned up and then mopped my oily kitchen floor. He'd already eaten so I decided it was time for bed.

He picked one of his favorite books, "It's Not Easy Being Big" for me to read to him. As I read the first few pages I just kept thinking, "That's for sure!" Then it starts saying "It's not easy being small." Up to that point in the evening I was feeling pretty frustrated and picked on. I was feeling like it wasn't easy being big: Trying to be patient while every button was being pushed, making a healthy dinner when I wanted to order pizza, wanting a few minutes of "me" time. Then I started thinking about Bracken, and how it's not easy being small. How he tries so hard to talk but isn't always understood. How he can't get his own food when he's hungry. How he has to rely on me or Brian for pretty much everything, but at the same time wants to be independent in so many new ways.

So at that point I got a little reality check on my pity-party. Bracken still had a really hard time going to sleep, and thank heavens Brian came home and took over for me after a long day of his own. Not only did he get Bracken to sleep, but he told me to read or watch a show while he did the dishes too. Thank you Brian, you're amazing. Even though it's not always easy being big, I'll try to remember it's not always easy being small either. I am so grateful to have my little boy (and my wonderful husband!), and hopefully I'll be a little more patient the next time we're having a rough day.

Just like Daddy

Yesterday Brian changed the oil on our car. Bracken and I came out to watch, but Bracken saw Brian's tools and decided he needed to help his Dad.

"Hmmm...I think this needs fixed."

Several years ago we got an email from Sally with pictures of Brian's brother Mike working on his truck with their little boy Ethan helping him. When Brian saw it he said something to me like, "Oh, I can't wait to have a little boy who wants to help me fix things, and wants to be just like me." Well, you've got that now, Brian! Bracken adores Brian. He loves discovering dirt and rocks, learning new tricks, and having wrestling and growling matches with Brian. Today in church Brian was on the stand and Bracken kept yelling from the bench, "Dadda! Hi Daddy!" It was a little embarrassing for me because he was so loud, but made Brian proud as could be.

Cable Mountain Hike

I've been wanting to hike the Subway or some other semi-technical slot canyon with my younger brothers and sisters and Bri for a while, and we've gone to Zion's twice this month trying to do just that. The first time we didn't get a permit so we hiked Angel's Landing. This last week Shaylee and I went to Zion's at 5:30am the day before our planned hike to get a permit. We missed the Subway but were able to get a permit for Orderville. However, that night we had a thunderstorm with lots of rain. With a high risk of flash floods we decided we'd better find a plan B. So we hiked to the top of Cable Mountain.

Seth, Shay, Ryan, Bre and Kira--just waiting for the highway to open back up.

Breonna and Shay. (I love the cheesy smile Bre :)

When we first looked over the edge I felt queasy and dizzy because it was so high, and I'm not usually bothered by heights. In fact, we were so high we looked down on Angel's Landing.

I don't think I've ever seen as many lizards in a day as I saw on this hike. They were everywhere and they'd come fairly close to us. We had to drop a few rocks over the edge of the cliff. They took a long time to fall to the bottom. Yikes! We were disappointed that we didn't end up hiking a slot canyon, but we had fun hanging out together on this hike and then cooling off at the lake back in Cedar.

The Johnson's Come to Town

Brian's family came to visit us this last week. Rick just got home from his mission in Honduras two weeks earlier, so this was the first time we've seen him in two years! Brian had a whole list of activities for us to do while his family was here. We went shooting at the range one morning. Bracken and I wandered around finding lizards and eating crackers while Rick, Brian and Kristi showed off their shotgun skills.


That afternoon we went to the Washington County Fair. I'm used to even smaller fairs, and Brian is used to the huge Arizona State Fair. So I was impressed with the fair and he wasn't, but we all had fun together anyway. We ate Navajo tacos, watched a show with rainforest animals, looked at all the booths, Bracken went through the petting farm/zoo with Grandpa, we played on stilts, I went up for the hypnotist show (but I couldn't be hypnotized), and we watched a laser show.


Grandpa Rob and Bracken. Bracken is riding on one of the mini cows in the petting zoo. He loved petting the goats too.

Trying to walk on stilts and with bucket shoes was Brian's favorite part of the fair.

Grandpa Rob watched Bracken while the rest of us watched the "Newlywed Game" at the fair. They found this little car to play with and Bracken thought it was the best toy ever. Grandpa Rob became one of Bracken's new favorite pals.
The next day we went to the new little lake here in town. Everyone from Arizona thought the water was crazily cold at first, but we had a blast anyway. We probably played "monkey in the middle" for an hour. (Above: Rick and Shay)

Kira and Brian

This little guy loves the water and playing in the sand. His favorite game to play at the lake is "motor boat." I'll take him out in the water and spin/help him swim in a circle slow, then fast, and then dunk him up to his neck while saying,

Motor boat, motor boat, go so slow.

Motor boat, motor boat, go so fast.

Motor boat, motor boat, step on the gas!

Rick, Kristi, and Brian taking out their frustration on the sand castle they built. :)

It was so fun to see Bracken with his Grandparents and Aunts and Uncle this visit because he remembered them and thought they were all the coolest. He was so sad when they left and keeps asking for "Rick and Kristi's." We've laughed because he insists on calling Melissa "Sarah," even though he can say "Lissa." Thanks for coming to visit and for all the fun you guys!

Angel's Landing

My Mom came to Cedar City to watch Bracken for us for the day so Brian and I could hike Angel's Landing. Shaylee, Ryan and Seth came with us. Isn't the view from the top amazing?


I forgot how steep and narrow this hike gets at the top. We kept telling Seth to be a "smart scout" and not do anything crazy.


It was fun spending the day with my little sister and brothers. They're all pretty cool! We had so much fun we decided we're going to try to get a permit to hike the Subway soon.

Talking...

The other day Bracken's little friend Lucy brought me her bow and I put it in my own hair and asked, "Do I look pretty?" Bracken said clear as a bell, "You look pretty." It was so cute!

I love watching him putting his words together. He talks constantly and we understand more and more of what he says all the time.