Mexican Food & Wal-mart

Yes, that is how we spent our anniversary. Mexican Food and Wal-mart. That's what you get when you have a baby at home. Our good friends, The Sorensen's, watched Braden for us. He is now going through the mommy attachment phase. He recognizes that you are not mommy. We were hoping he would do better with the Sorensen's because we are around them so much.

We dropped him off at 5:30 and headed over to Moscow for a recommended Mexican restaurant. It was pretty good, however, it was also a little pricy. Blake and I enjoyed a kid free dinner. No one, but Blake, was grabbing for my food. The salsa and chips were still no Cafe Sabor, but I don't think anything will be.

After the food we headed off to Wal-mart to get some diapers and formula. How pathetic is that? While finishing up we decided to go to a fun Coffee Shop in downtown Pullman that has amazing hot chocolate and fun board games. While looking at some kids cd's we got the call. Braden was screaming in the background. He was so tired and didn't take his 6:00 nap. They had tried to put him down for 10 minutes and he wouldn't have it. So, Blake and I headed home.

We got home and Braden was fast asleep. I guess he just needed the father's touch. Dane laid him on the ground to wrap him up and out he went. Although he was sleeping and we didn't get our hot chocolate, we did enjoy our time visiting with Jessica and Dane.

It was nice to have a worry free time for 2 hours. I am still in love with my husband. Infact, more than EVER now. I look forward to seeing where we are at next year. If we can make it 3 years, I am confident we can make eternity.

Three Years Ago Today

Three years ago, some of you may remember this day as another work day during the summer; others, it is the day Justin made you late for your good friends cake cutting; as for Blake and I, it was the day we were sealed for ALL time and ALL eternity in the Portland, OR temple.

Three memories from that day (mine):
1. Watching my cousin Kara be the bossy one, so I didn't have to be (I LOVE her)
2. Waiting FOREVER in the Celestial Room for Blake to show (I thought he ran)

3. Going to visit my Grandma in the hospital, wedding dress and all (we got TONS of looks)

Three memories from that day (Blake):

1. The first dance with my wife, I could have cared less how many people were staring at me

2. Walking in the celestial room to see an upset fiance because I was late

3. Watching Maren go crazy on the dance floor with her family and friends

Some pictures throughout our time together.

Our first picture together Quick background: This was the day of our proposal, right before we were supposed to go on our date, Blake decided he wanted to take a shower. He made me wait downstairs for about 30 minutes. This is the video I took while waiting. What this doesn't show is the 3 previous videos I have of saying I know he is going to be proposing that night. Instead of bursting his bubble, this is what I said. (I kind of look and act like a dork.)

Engagement Photo

Honeymoon: In front of the largest spruce tree (Blown down last year because of a HUGE storm in Oregon)

Honeymoon: Newport Beach Lighthouse Museum Honeymoon: On the way back to Utah in front of Multnomah Falls, OR I can't believe that we have been married for three years. I am a college graduate, own a house, have a beautiful baby, and still a handsome husband. I couldn't be any luckier.

If you have any memories from that day, I would LOVE to hear them. A lot of you were there celebrating with us. I want to know what else was going on that day that I was too Love struck to see.

New Shoes & Yard

Braden's First Pair of Shoes (it's kind of a bad pictures, but he started crying so I didn't take anymore)

We had extra gravel, so we put it on our second level until we can afford pavers
A close look at the second level
Blake's new side wall project. He doesn't want the slope to be too steep (update post: the project is the steps down and the big pile of dirt, not the wood. That's for our neighbors fence. Our property ends with the far gray block on the left side of the picture.)

We decided to pay to have someone else prep our yard and hydroseed. There are going to be no more pictures until the grass comes in. That should be the first week or two of September. That way you can have a good before and after photo of the yard. I am so excited.

To Prep or Not to Prep

The yard is coming to a close. Thank goodness! We (mainly Blake) finished leveling the second tier. We are going to lay down a yard fabric and spread rock on the second level and then that should be complete. We are going to rent another tractor for 2 hours to get rid of some more dirt and level out our yard. We have to kill all the grass we have because it is just a patch of weeds.

We have decided to hydro seed our yard. It will come in a lot quicker and is worth paying the $200 versus buying compost, seed, peat moss and doing it ourselves. It ends up being about the same price, so why not have someone else do it.

This is where the decision occurs. There still needs to be prep work for hydro seeding. (aka: tilling, power racking and a final rack) Is it worth paying $350 to have someone else do it or pay $150-200 and do it ourselves? We (mostly Blake) are so sick of doing work and would love to just turn it over to professionals who can guarantee good work. We are leaning towards spending the extra $150. What's your opinion?

Summer of...

I love late night talks with Blake. We talk about the most random things. Last night we named each of our summers. Here are mine.

The Summer of Fun (2004): Those who lived this know that this was THE FUNNEST summer of my WHOLE life. I spent all day and everyday with my good friend Chelsee (Davis) Telford and my other Old Farm O2 roommates. Activities included: the Old Farmers Softball team, many trips up to Lava Hot Springs (with friends or just Chelsee and I), a spur of the moment trip to Helena, MT to run in the Governor's 5K race (this was the most random trip), monthly roommate dinners at Olive Garden, Demolition Derbies, Rodeos, 5 4th of July firework shows, Yellowstone, roommate projects and movie nights on the lawn (thank you Tim Anderson). I am confident I will not have another summer like this one. Such good memories.

The Summer of Love (2005): Although this summer had many arguments (over wedding plans), it was the summer I married my sweetheart. Many days were spent in the air conditioned P1 apartment. Bond fires and camping up in the canyon with our good friends, matching making (Shane & Jamie, Tim 'aka: Roamer' & pretty much any Old Farm girl), canoe trips (Justin making it a LONG canoe trip), and of course my perfect wedding, friends included. And who could forget Blake's techno listening, chimichanga making roommate Mr. Mike Hancock. What laughs he brought. It was also the summer of "What Maren, you are eating ANOTHER carrot?"

The Summer of Stress/Weddings (2006): I just graduated from college and expected to get this high paying job. I mean, I spent 4 years and a lot of my parent's good earned money to get this degree and no jobs were turning up. That created a lot of stress. And sure I got a job at the USU Police Dept, but we all remember how much I HATED that job. There were some nice moments (trip to Mexico with my family). Also, the lump in my neck also added stress, but we ended up making money off my surgery and getting a 42" plasma. The best part of this stressful summer was all the weddings we attended. (Heath & Andrea Weston, Brandon & Sara Stevensen, Justin & Shandy Thayne, Jace & Lyndzi Waddoups, Cameron & Hillary Holbrook, and Tim & Kelly Anderson) Minus the weddings, I am glad this summer was over.

The Summer of Growth (2007): Not only was there growth in the hours worked with my new career at Enterprise Rent-a-Car (which I loved), but there was growth with my family (brother marrying Audrey and sister marrying Brent). The biggest growth of the summer was with my stomach while little Braden was growing.


The Summer of Change (2008): There are many changes in our lives this summer; Braden, location, yard, and jobs. This has been a fun, but very busy summer. I won't post a slide show of this summer, just look back at some of my previous posts.

So, these are my past 4 summers. I would love to hear what you would name the past couple of summers. Take a minute to post them. Try and sum them up in 1 or 2 words.

Phase 4 Completed

The stairs on our wall our completed. It took Blake 2 nights to figure out exactly what he wanted to do, but it looks amazing. There are still some final touches that need to be made, but you will get the gist of it.

Here it is!
Blake working on the stairs & Braden watching
My Battle Wound (I pinched my arm in between 2 blocks. It gets worse & worse looking everyday, but doesn't hurt.)
After Day 1
The Stairs and the walls

Braden playing in his exersaucer. He has finally figured it out. He pushes buttons, pulls the toys and ...

Sucks on the Bear.

Bowl Full of Cherries

My cute friend Laurel invited Braden and I to pick yummy cherries. WSU has a cherry picking and apple picking season. (July- cherries, October- apples/peaches) It was a beautiful day. When we pulled up, the employees told us to make sure that we try all the cherries. And try them we did. Laurel's son Zack (1 yrs. old) had cherry cheeks. It was pretty cheap too. $1.50/pound.

Me picking cherries and Braden playing Zack, Clara, & Braden overlooking the Palouse
Me and my son (I got ready in like 2 minutes, that's why I look so bad)
Braden with all our cherries. Only $7.00
Another reason Pullman is great!

Phase 3 Completed

2 1/2 months, 22,500 pounds, and many sores muscles later we are finally completed with all our walls. We are still a month out from being done with our yard. Tomorrow Blake is going to put in the stairs. Then we have to level the yard, put a couple more sprinklers in, and then grass, grass, grass! Regardless of this additional work, we are done lifting super heavy blocks.

I also thought I would include some cute photos of Braden. This is him wrapped up super tight for his nap. Wrapping is the greatest thing. I am convinced we will wrap him until he is too big to be wrapped.
Look at that cute face
This is what makes Braden full out laugh at week 21. Be prepared to fall in love with him.

Rice Cereal

At 21 Weeks, Braden has reached another milestone. He had his first experience with solid foods (rice cereal- if you count that as a solid) yesterday. The rice cereal is really runny, almost like milk with chunks. My girlfriend Kelly recorded her daughter's first time eating cereal. Someone had told her it was funny to see their reaction. Kelly's daughter spit out her first taste and then quickly continued to eat. In all the books I read, it said this was normal.

As you will see, Braden loves his food. We couldn't feed him fast enough or enough food. We did limit him to 1 tbsp, as recommended. Maybe in a couple weeks he can get more, but for now we will stick to 1 tbsp.

Just a little update on our wall. We just got done laying the base of the second level. We are hoping to finish the wall tomorrow and then finish our whole yard project by Saturday. Blake is just ready to be done with it and so am I.

USU Boy

We went to the park last night for Family Home Evening with the Primary Presidency. Braden is still a growing boy. He finally fits in this cute USU romper my mom got him. It says AGGIE across the bum, but didn't get a picture of it. It is really cute though.

This is the first time Braden was in a swing. Granted we didn't push him very high, but he sat all by himself.
Big Swinging Boy. He loved it.
Mom & Son (Braden with his classic tongue hanging out of his mouth)
Family Picture at the Park

Milestones: 0-4 months

I decided that every four months I will blog what milestones Braden has reached. I know I am always asking people, "When did so & so do _____?" Most of them can't remember. I don't think I will be able to remember, so I am writing it down.

Week 4: Able to lift his head to 45 degree angle on tummy

Week 4: First Real Smile (not the gas smile)
Week 5: Eyes notice objects at farther distances (can actual focus in on something)
Week 6: Full control of his head
Week 7: I know this isn't a real milestone, but it is for the Barnetts. First Jazz Game

Week 9: Full out cooing and talking

Week 11: Discovered his hands

Week 11: Rolled onto side
Week 15: Head at 90 degree angle when on tummy
Week 16: Discovered his feet

Week 20: Braden rolls onto his tummy from his back and then rolls back over (please excuse my random high pitched laugh, I don't know where that came from). This isn't really his first time. By the time I got the camera and pushed record, he had already rolled back onto his back.

A Busy Couple of Days

My girlfriend Jessica is due with her second little girl at the end of August. Needless to say (like all my other pregnant friends), she is getting more uncomfortable and its getting harder to run around with her 2 year old. To give her a break, I took Avery & Braden to the library to watch the children's theater perform "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day." They were still a little young to truly enjoy it, so we just played in the kid's corner.

Avery & Braden as firemen (and firewomen)

Avery invited Braden over for a swim today. We were excited to show off his new swim trunks and his shirt that his Uncle Toren & Aunt Audrey got him. Go Cougs!
The Pool was a little cold
Braden got used to it and loved playing with the toys
Spokane Temple

On Friday we ventured up to Spokane to attend the temple. My old friend (not age, but friendship wise) Monica watched Braden. She has two cute little girls, so her and her husband were testing the waters to see if a third child (and potential boy) would work for their family. Fortunately, Braden did great! Minus the 20 minutes of screaming before he went to bed. Sorry Monica and Clancy! They did well and Braden has never slept better. I did pretty well considering this was the first time Braden was in a babysitting position. I only felt bad when Monica called to tell me he was screaming, but quickly recovered when she called back to say he was fast asleep.

We went to the temple with my cousin Kristi and her new husband Stu. We all went out to the Olive Garden after. Yum! If you don't know, we have no restaurants in Pullman, so we were really looking forward to it. We got back to the Flynn's at 10:30pm and wouldn't stop talking until midnight. Needless to say, the hour and a half drive home was long and we were exhausted. It was worth it to see family and friends though. (Monica, we will have to get together again!)

Frog & Toad

We have a great library here in Pullman. Today they had a special program with Frog & Toad at the park. Braden loved singing songs and listening to the stories of Frog & Toad (a cute kids storybook series).

Braden singing songs

Braden with Frog & Toad
Braden with Frog
Blake making Braden laugh. He is laughing really loud at the beginning and then starts to talk.