Life is fun

Life with 2 kids is a lot of fun and easier than I thought it would be. Sure it's busy and freaking exhausting and tries your patience to new degrees, but Stu and I have both expressed that our level of joy has increased a lot. And we were pretty darn joyful before kids. :) Burke is the best big brother ever and so far really only wants to kiss Sam and point out his 'toes' and 'nose' and 'eye'. I think he is just too young to know that he was the only fiddle before Sam arrived, so maybe it will work out pretty good that we had the kids so close together. Things seem easier with Sam than with Burke. I think because we aren't so freaked out about every little sound or rash or surprise that comes along with a baby like we were with the first one. Thanks Sir Burke for breaking us in as parents! Sam is almost 5 weeks old already. He is a really mellow baby overall. He's sleeping 2 1/2 to 3 hours at a time at nights, and that's getting longer all the time. Stu is good about giving me breaks on the weekends and I try to let him get the majority of the sleep during the week. I've had a few breakdowns, but after a good cry in Stu's arms I have been able to pull it back together and keep going. So far, so good. I'd recommend 2 kids to anyone. :) With that said, Stu and I would like to plan an overnight getaway in March to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, since we were both too sleep deprived to celebrate it in September, and yes for the sweet taste of waking up on our own, taking a nap WHEN WE WANT, and being kid free for a day....any volunteers to come and watch the boys? :)

Stu's parents came in town for 9 days to visit and it was absolutely wonderful! They are the best guests ever. Seeing Guy and Sue with the boys was so fun. We love you both and it was sad to see you leave. Burke woke up the morning after they left and went to the window saying 'grandma....grandpa'. He misses you guys too.

Enjoy the photos of our latest adventures and give yourself a big hug from the Graters!




Don't bother me, I'm playing.






Samuel chillin' at the table with the fam.



Burke could read until the cows come home. And his latest love is the stuffed pig that's in his arms. He sleeps, eats and plays with it all day long. He calls it 'Piiii'. He can't say a G sound yet so he drags out the 'i' sound instead. It is so stinking adorable. :)



Burke in his castle out in the backyard. Of course with his blue ball. The blue ball comes in a close second to his stuffed pig.







Big yawn from Sam. Its exhausting watching my big brother Burke play all day.



Feed me, I'm starving!



Sam has so many cute expressions.



Chillin' in mom's lap.



This is to prove that Simon still exists. He hardly gets any attention at the moment, but he's still a handsome, great dog and we love him all the same. Good boy Simon! The vet says that he's 5 lbs overweight! So he's on a diet right now. 1/2 lb a week is the goal and so far he's doing great. He hates it of course and is bewildered every time we eat and don't give him scraps, but in the end I think he, and his bad back, will thank us.



Dad and Burke on the Honda70.



Sam is chunkin' up big time! We don't go in to have him weighed again until Nov, but its obvious that he's growing like a weed.



What an angel face!



Visiting with the grandparents, riding dad's motorcycle. Life doesn't get much better than this. :)



Sue, Guy, Stu, Burke and Simon. It's good to have the gang back together again. :)



Vroom-vroom. That is what Burke says non stop, literally, every time he sees or rides on a motorcycle.



Spending time with the folks.



Grandpa and Sam. Two peas in a pod.



Burke up Big Cottonwood Canyon.



Sue and Guy at Brighton.



Me, Sam, Sue, Guy and Burke.



Burke wasn't too happy about getting a family photo.



Our little vagabond. We weren't expecting it to be so cold up the canyon so we didn't bring coats. All we could find was an extra shirt I had brought along so we put it on Burke. He managed to get his arm out, just before he set off into the woods. :)



Mom and Sam.



Picnic in Sugarhouse Park with the Landies. It was so fun hanging out with everyone. From left to right, Burke, me, Sue, Guy, Ruthie and little Dylan in front.



Don and baby Cali. Cali is 11 months and started walking just a few days after this picture was taken!



Burke and Mom eating yummy food.



Jake and Burke.



Grandpa and Burke at Gardner Village checking out the sights during the witch festival.



Dad and Burke saying goodnight and goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma.



This is the night before Guy and Sue left. Goodbye Gma and Gpa, we love and miss you!



Not the greatest picture of Sam, but I had to document the enormity of his cheeks!



While Sam slept this afternoon, Stu went on a walk with Burke, then we switched and I went on a walk with Burke too while Stu watched Sam. It was such a beautiful night and the perfect temp for a sunset walk. Not too many days left like this one before the winter comes. We thought we'd snap a pic before the sun set.


That's it. Until next time. :)