Boaz's Big Day

Sunday, July 27



What did you say? Today's going to be a big day for me?







I got to try some rice cereal for the first time. I'm not quite sure about it. After a few bites, I got used to swallowing it. I'll need some more practice though.






Mom fed me too slow. I decided to take over. I decided it was pretty fun to blow bubbles and spit my rice cereal all over innocent bystanders.

I got to visit my Great Grandpa Cal after lunch. This was the first time we'd met. He liked holding me... I'm his first great-grandchild.






This is our 4 generations picture... Grandpa Cal, Grandma Carol, Daddy, and me!







On Monday I got to try my big boy chair. I really liked it. I tip over sometimes, but for the most part sit up really well.

Lately my laugh sounds less and less like a baby... and more like a little boy. I'm getting a few tickle spots. I love to talk- especially when I think nobody is listening. I think I have the talking thing wrong though... I'm making noise as I inhale. I squeak as I breathe in, but it makes me cough. I need to practice talking as I exhale. I have perfected the fake cough. It gets mommy's attention sometimes, but she calls me a faker and I laugh.



I'm working on getting some teeth. I like to rub my gums with my hand and I've been a little fussy. The past week it's been really hard to fall asleep for my afternoon naps. My legs don't stop moving either, so they make me roll over a lot. Instead of napping, I either roll or cry. It's driving mommy bonkers and I think it's funny! I smile at her really big when she comes in to turn me over on my tummy again. She tries to be serious when she sneaks into the room, but I always make her laugh and smile.

Busy, Busy...

July 15 - This is Grandpa Bartlett playing the trombone in the 'old man band.' (that's what luke calls it) They opened for the municipal band a couple weeks ago and we sat in the park to watch them.





Grandma Bartlett and Boaz had fun marching to Grandpa's music. It was a beautiful evening. Boaz loves to be outside and people watch.


July 18- Boaz got his first haircut!! He had to look polished for our big business trip!!

Our friends Andrea & Peris came and stayed with us on the 18th, then we went to Ames to see them run in the Iowa Games. We met Kathy there (my best friend since preschool)... along with her new little boy, Kyler.

July 19 - Boaz & Luke relaxing on the monstrous bed in our hotel room. Luke had a Papa Murphy's convention in Chicago, so Boaz & I tagged along and had a mini-vacation while he was in meetings. Our hotel room was so dark that Boaz slept in until 9am the first day there!! I think we may invest in room-darkening shades?!?




During the day, Boaz & I spent a LOT of time in the hotel pool (a full length 5-lane lap pool!) and walked around the mall. While Boaz napped in the afternoons, I spent time in this comfy chair reading FUN books! Yes- FUN books!! Not for work or about parenting... fiction!! :) It was beautiful. I'd like to own a chair like this for my room someday.



On Monday night, there was a big awards banquet at the convention. This is our family all dressed up for it. Luke looked really sharp in his new dress pants, shirt, and shoes!! (thanks for helping pick them out, shelby!) He opted to not wear the tie though. We met a lot of people who work for the corporate Papa Murphy's offices. It was great for me to be able to put faces to the names Luke talks about. And I love meeting new people (and schmoozing).... I was in my element this night!! :) We decided that it's good to bring a baby along to meetings like this... all the big shots come to talk to you if you have a cute kid!!



The first night in Chicago, we went to a White Sox/Royals baseball game. It was an adventure getting to the stadium, but we enjoyed the game. Boaz's favorite was the fireworks afterwards. They were set to music and were amazing. It was mullet night at the stadium, so we got a kick out of that. Wish we would have known... luke could have worked on that.

Boaz wants to be a business man just like his daddy.

July 25 - we went home to see my family and celebrate Grandpa Glace's birthday. I forgot to get out my camera!! The Isaacson cousins were there and we had a fun time playing. Boaz enjoyed sitting back and taking in all the action.

This is one of Boaz's favorite toys these days.

the quest for frugality.

My new quest... be diligent about shopping at Aldi! I don't know why I never go there. Any time I've been, I'm amazed at how much money I save. Actually... I don't shop at Aldi because they aren't open at 6am when I prefer to shop. I love getting in and out of Walmart in record time when nobody else is there. Shopping is a sprint for me. When I'm there during regular daytime hours, I end up having 2 hours worth of conversations with people and my milk spoils before I get to the checkout. (why do they put it at the back of the store anyway?) I love shopping early. So- my shopping time preference will have to change, but I think I'm going to become an Aldi girl. Luke will have to make a Walmart run here and there for his Oreos and Cheetos though!

Here's a website that I found that I'm excited about... www.aldimeals.com It helps you plan your meals, gives recipe ideas using all Aldi foods, and even will create a shopping list for you. A blog that also has some great Aldi ideas... www.momadvice.com/aldi

Anyone else want to venture into the Aldi world with me? Or maybe you've already discovered it and I'm way behind...

Summer = oatmeal, swimming, & cousins.

We are having a lot of fun so far this summer. It's going by so fast! Here are a few snapshots of what we've been up to lately...

A few nights ago our friend, Meg, came over to hang out and helped me make supper for Katie and a neighbor. We decided to have some messy fun with oatmeal to see what Boaz would think. He liked playing in it for awhile with his hands. Then we tried playing in it with his feet... he got really scared and screamed. Thus the end of oatmeal fun.




This past weekend, I turned 30 years old! Yes- you read that correctly. I'm old. It was a good birthday. I woke up to a birthday message written on our bathroom mirror, Boaz & I got to do some shopping and errands, then Grandma & Grandpa Glace came over and babysat while Luke and I went out for dinner and a movie. Grandma sent me on a scavenger hunt for my b'day present... a gift card to use on something just for me! I can't wait to go shopping.






We have so many cousins on the Glace side now! Emily, Hannah, Ellie, and Zach came over to play for awhile one afternoon. Zach is a month younger than Boaz, but I think has already passed him up in size. These little guys will have fun wrestling soon.




And here's our brand new cousin, Brenna!! She was two weeks old in this picture. This is all of us at the Bartlett Open golf tournament on the 4th of July... it was a beautiful day. Luke has been running the Bartlett Open golf tournament for 11 years. He sets up pin events, and gives out a bunch of prizes. There's even a traveling green jacket that's awarded to the winner!! We look forward to this event every year, as friends and family gather to golf and have a picnic afterward. Aunt Linda and all our friends bring in amazing food and make this a fun outing.




Here is Luke during the awards presentation. Our cousin Ben (last year's winner) is awarding the green jacket to our friend Cam. After golf, a bunch of us ended up at Luke's parents home. His aunt and uncle from South Dakota brought some fireworks across the border with them. Luke and Justin put on quite a show for us all!! I'd have to say that our display rivaled Cedar Falls!! We laughed really hard all night at the embers and ashes falling all over us. Ron & Carol gave me my b'day present that night... Carol refinished a rocking chair that belonged to luke's great-grandma. We'll enjoy many nights of rocking in it before bed.



Tonight we decided to take Boaz for a little swim. We went to a hotel just down the road from us in hopes that we'd have the pool to ourselves. We pretty much did! Boaz liked the water. He was a kicking machine. He wasn't as animated as he typically is- he was focused and determined. We're getting him prepared for hours of pool fun on our Ozarks vacation in August!



Swimming wore Boaz out. He fell asleep before we were out of the parking lot of the hotel... and we couldn't wake him up when we got home 2 minutes later! It was a fun evening. I'm hoping Boaz loves water and chlorine as much as I do. If so... I forsee many afternoons of pool fun ahead!!