Swim Lessons Again!

I took Bretton to someone else for swim lessons. She taught him more in his 2 weeks with her than the other place had accomplished in 2 months! Thanks Sara! Here are some pics from his last day. She even got him to jump off the diving board... I don't even jump off the diving board!

*Utah*4th*My Son's Obsession*

Disclaimer: I realize that I am not the most prompt of bloggers, so when a post does eventually come it's photo overload. Please accept this as my apology and enjoy the pics anyway! :)

*********************************

UTAH

A last minute trip to Utah with Tess a couple weeks ago allowed me to have some much needed "hang out and do nothing in particualr girly time" with my best bud Amber... and we did just that! We watched lots of chick flicks, ate lots of chocolate (thanks Ray!) and way too much junk food, painted our toes, played a little... ok... a lot of Donkey Kong Country, and talked about (our) boys! It was like a week-long sleepover and Bretton and I loved every minute of it... except, of course, for the fact that Chris was still at home. We missed him and were sure glad to get back!

Amber's dad, Kirt, giving us a ride around his "back yard" in Cody's new Rhino.

Seriously... you should see where he lives. Amazing!

Bretton has this backpack and insists on putting it on, and then he falls over backward.

Amber was a good enough sport to drive me down to Sandy to see my long lost friend Rachel and her mom Judy who happened to be visiting. We figured it had been at least 7 or 8 years since we had seen each other last and about 15 since we were causing trouble together in good ol' Michigan!

(Rach's twins, Judy, Rach, Me, B, Logan- Amber's son)

Bretton got to play in the rain. Doesn't happen very often in our neck of the woods.

Menacing clouds. They were pretty cool.

This picture is explained by the video below.

(Gives you something to look forward to!)

The last day we were there we went down to Salt Lake with Amber's family and played at the Discovery Gateway while we waited for Tess.

Logan and Ray playing in the "Beehive." It was Bretton's favorite... balls everywhere!

Amber, Ray and Logan at the Old Spaghetti Factory

Thanks for putting up with us guys! We had a great time!

***************************

4th OF JULY

When we left Utah we actually just drove straight to Taylor for our 4th of July Hancock family reunion. It was so fun, as always, seeing everyone, hearing all about ancestors and eating yummy food! Not to mention the beautiful weather! By the this time I had been gone from the oven heat for almost 2 weeks and I was getting pretty comfortable!

In true Hancock (or should I say, Ronda) fashion, the setting for the festivities was decorated to a Martha Stewart "T!"

Bretton helping Grandpa Hancock and Daddy put root beer in the ice bucket.

Nicci... this one's for you.

You know what I mean

Grandma and Grandpa Hancock

and us too

Daddy and B watching the fireworks.

How cute is that??

Happy 4th of July!

************************************

OBSESSION

Ok, so we've always known that Bretton likes balls. Soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, and now "bat the balls." This kid has seriously become obsessed with baseball, or "bat the ball" as he calls it. It's the first thing he says when he wakes up in the morning. It's all he wants to do all day. It's the first thing he goes for when we get home (after he says "hi" to Tippi, of course). He has to take his bat with him in the car. He wanted to take it in to church with him today. Anything that looks remotely like a stick or a bat (drumsticks, root beer bottles, wrapping paper rolls... you get the idea) is a "bat the ball." It's all he thinks about!

The obsession started about a month ago I'd say. Uncle Travis wanted to jump on the opportunity and bought him a T-ball set right away so he could begin sharpening his skills. Bretton would play with that T-ball all day if I let him. He has actually gotten really good and can hit the ball (most of the time) when you pitch it to him. That's better than I can do!

So in comes the expanation of the picture above, along with a video to illustrate.

Bretton is not a kid that will sit down and watch cartoons for any length of time. He'll stop if something catches his attention as he is running by the TV and watch for a second, but then he's off again. Well, along with this baseball obsession has come the revelation of the one thing he will watch... over and over and over again:

POP QUIZ: What movie is it??

He will also sit and watch actual baseball games on TV. Chris turned one on today for him and he sat there and watched it for about 1/2 an hour. Chris changed the channel and Bretton looked at him in dismay and said "Uh-uh... bat the ball!"

I told Chris we are going to have to get Tivo so we can record the baseball games for him because the season doesn't last forever!

Yes, some kids like cartoons... mine likes baseball.

I think we may be seeing more outfits like these in the future!

Temporary Address: A little ways down Forest Service Road 180, Mogollon Rim, AZ

Last week was our camping trip with Chris's family. We met up with Grandma & Grandpa Hancock and Randy & Collette & their family (Chris's aunt & Uncle). We had so much fun and were seriously thinking of permanently changing our address! Here are... just a few... pictures to show you what I mean:

The view from our "usual" spot--

we went all yuppie and took trailers this time...

the trailers would have never made it back here!

Chris, Me, B, Ronda, Tess, Mike (Sam & Grandpa)

Grandma Hancock, Ronda, Grandpa Hancock

Sam (Chris's cousin)

Daddy & B

After the "not so bad" hike down to Lake Chevelon

(That hike is longer than I remember it being 4 years ago...)

Lake Chevelon

Tippi actually voluntarily splashing in the water
(if you know Tippi, you'll know why this is amazing)

Our little (dirty) camper.

This is how he looked 99% of the time.

That's what campin's for!

Found Daddy's "Glub"

I don't think Tippi could have been any happier than she was this week. She got to roam freely and eat all of our left overs. She was truly content!

Bretton is big into anything that can "hit the ball"

So naturally, we took the t-ball set and also had fun with badminton

K, I just thought this was funny. He would make this face with every bite during dinner one night. Silly kid.

And this one's just cute

Fishing @ Woods Canyon Lake

Tess and Travis caught one...

So did Randy.

(Truth be told, I did have the first catch of the day but we couldn't pull it out fast enough and he got away. Dang it.)

Sammy boy on the boat

Woods Canyon Lake

Sam was excited about catching the fish, but not too sure how he felt about touching it.

We got the fish back to camp and the boys got them cleaned and straight into the fire.

They were so yummy!

The new "I'm cool with sunglasses on" face

Site of the temporary address change

B in grandpa's shoes.

They're about as big as he is!

We stopped on the way out to get pictures of the view

My husband is hot... even after camping for 3 days!

The pictures don't do it justice.

At all.

The "Rig"

Thanks for the "rental" Brenda and Allens!

We owe you guys!