IT PAYS TO HAVE A CUTE KID!

August 2nd - August 4th

Thursday, August 2nd was the last night before our two nieces Maren and Lindsey went back to Idaho. They had stayed in Utah when Lindsey's mom Rebekah (Brian's sister) went back to Idaho after visiting for a week. So we wanted to make sure we did something with them before they left. We went to a dollar store and picked out a little dollar item for each of them, and then we came back to our house for pizza and a movie. While we were at the house Lindsey and Maren made sure to try out the arcade, and they really had a lot of fun! We had a great time with these girls, and we hope to have another opportunity like it soon!







That evening there was a baby shower for Brian's cousin's wife Elise Cole. So Brian's mother, Vaughn and I traveled up to Ogden to be there for it. Elise was about a week away from having her baby and she looked fantastic! We had such a great time talking with family and friends we hadn't seen since Memorial Day. And I had a wonderful time on the way up and back from Ogden just talking with Mom Higginson. She always has such interesting things to talk about!










From left to right is Vaughn, Brian's mother, Brian's Aunt Margaret (Brian's mother's sister) and me. This picture means so much to me because two of my favorite women are in it! Brian's mother and her sister Margaret are two of the greatest women I know. They both have the kindest dispositions and most loving personalities. They are always thinking of the needs of others. They both have the greatest outlook on life. I can honestly say I've never heard either of them ever say a negative thing about anyone. And when trials had come their way, I have observed that both of them just stand and face them and they don't complain. Truly these two women are remarkable examples of courage and faith, and I feel so very privileged to know them. Both of them have taught me so many things about motherhood and just being a good person. I love them both so dearly, and I would do anything for them!!!

On Saturday the 4th of August, Brian and Vaughn and I decided to talk a long walk together. We drove a little ways from the house and then parked near a few garage sales. After looking for a while, we headed out to center street in Provo. There are a lot of fun little shops along center street, and we just like to window shop and observe the people we pass by. It didn't take Vaughn long to start fussing, so we took him out of the stroller, and he immediately started pushing it himself. He loves to push strollers! We also stopped into a pawn shop, and the moment the owner set eyes on Vaughn, he whipped out a quarter and said, "Here. This is for him for the candy machine." Needless to say, Vaughn was really happy! Then when we were on our way out, the owner stopped us again and told us to pick out a video we wanted. We took a long time, but finally decided on The Sound of Music. We thanked the owner profusely and then once we were back out on Center Street, we thanked Vaughn for being so adorable! I guess it really pays to have cute kids. (I'm really not trying to brag too much!)

We passed a little pet store as we walked down Center Street, and I begged Brian to stop in for a few minutes. I was hoping they would have some puppies for Vaughn to see, and to my great delight, they had some puppies out on the floor! Vaughn went nuts!!! He absolutely loves animals and to him this was just as good as going to Disneyland!





There were two puppies out on the floor. I thought this one to the right was adorable!!! Vaughn was so excited, but also a little scared at how quickly the puppies moved. He kept squealing with joy, and it was so funny to see him spaz every time one of the puppies jumped up and put their paws on the cage. What a cutie!!!










One of the workers there told us we could hold the puppies if we wanted to. So I picked one up for Vaughn to hold. The second that puppy was in Vaughn's arms, Vaughn went into a weird trance. He just sat there with his eyes half-opened and as still as stone. He was absolutely silent and wouldn't even look at me and Brian. It was one of the funnier things I've seen him do. He held onto that dog so tenderly. I seriously thought I was going to cry. Vaughn has such a tender heart when it comes to animals. I hope someday we can get a puppy for Vaughn. I know he would absolutely love it!









We finally got Vaughn away from the puppies and took him around to see some of the other pets. He had never seen a Chinchilla before. They are very interesting looking animals. And I learned that they can never get wet. If they do, their fur begins to mold because it is so dense it can't dry. I think it can kill them, but don't quote me on that. So there is a bowl with dust in it that the Chinchilla goes to quite often and takes dust baths. It is so funny to watch it taking tiny handfuls of dust and throwing it all over its body.

It wasn't a huge pet store, but there were enough animals there to make it interesting. I really like lizards, so I made sure to show Vaughn some of the lizards there. If you look closely at the lizard on the left, he is raising his front leg in the weirdest way!






Anybody who knows me knows that I'm terrified of spiders. So one can guess how I reacted when I saw this monster to the right. I just can't get past the huge hairy abdomens, thick hairy legs and giant fangs. Not to mention the webs of death! I HATE SPIDERS!!!!












Like I said, I think lizards are so cool! They remind me of dinosaurs, and I was fascinated with dinosaurs as a little girl. It boggled my mind to think about creatures that were as tall as three-story buildings roaming the earth. I loved how this lizard was just relaxing on his favorite rock. And he looked so cool with the sharp scales and horns sticking up on his face and neck and back. I also really liked his tiny sharp claws.




On our way home from our walk we passed a pug dog tied out in front of someone's yard. I love Pug Dogs as much as I hate spiders. I would LOVE to own one someday. And they are so good with children. Brian hates how they look. He tells me the same thing that Poopa always tells me, which is, "You can't tell which end is the head and which end is the bum. They both look the same!" I think that's a little bit of an exaggeration. How could anybody think such a cute animal is ugly?!?!



Later that evening Brian took Vaughn while Laura and I had a hangout night together. I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!! We went to a local dollar store and tried on hats. Laura of course looked gorgeous! We just went up and down the aisles pointing out the things we wanted and trying not to buy them!!! For Oviatts, specifically Oviatt women, dollar stores are very dangerous! I have to point out one more time what a hottie Laura is. Wow!











Of course I didn't look nearly as cool as Laura, but that's okay. As long as I get to hang out with someone as cool as Laura I don't feel too bad! We went to see Meet the Robinson's afterward. It was so much fun, and I was so happy to be able to hang out with Laura. She is so much fun!!!












I'll leave it at that!

And here's one for the road.....



















Love, Lisa