This last week Jeff and I spent a wonderful 4 days in Lake Powell. Epic trip!  Perfect weather, awesome food, great company, and endless fun!  The following picture is a perfect representation of everthing I just expressed:

  

What happens when you build a giant slip n side...tie up a tube to a jet ski... ??

Our friend Chris Black wanted to get some great, upclose pictures of Jeff riding.  And this is how he accomplished that:

 This is one of Jeff and I's favorites shots.  For those of you who havent been to Lake Powell before...you can see why everyone LOVES Powell.

Banks's little friend Rowen has moved to Arizonia.  This was the last time they got to hang out. 

You can see by Banks's serious expression he's not so happy about this.  I can only imagine that Banks confessed his love and promised Rowen they'd reunite in about about 17 years...

Jeff did his first triathalon last Saturday.  I am so proud of him!  He did an awesome job!  It was a 600 meter swim in Utah Lake, then a 13 mile bike ride, then a 3.1 mile run.  It probably would have been more ideal for Jeff to have had a couple of rest days before his big race but instead we played super hard in Powell and came back the evening before.... leaving him no recovery days in between (and limited sleep).   Nonetheless, Jeff did AWESOME!

FINISH LINE!

Grandma and Grandpa Maruji bought Bank's this fun little table.  We brought it inside the other day from the patio and realized Bank's loved it and thought it was a fun lil jungle gym.

 Do you think Banks loves peaches?

 If you can't tell from the pic, Banks truely, deeply, loves the dirt.  And what is actually better than dirt?...MUD!  I texted this picture to my mom and she said, "He's all boy!"  Man, is she right!

My Garden.  Yes I planted everything way too close...but I was determined to plant everything I wanted, but when you only have two planter boxes.... this is what happens.  :)  Next year (sigh*)  I am super happy with my squash and tomatos nonetheless!

"Is Mom looking?  Ok, good!  I can eat this dirt clod!"

Unfortunately, this is what Jeff and I have been up to the last two weeks.  Hand pulling obnoxious crab grass.  Our sod unfortunately was littered with this ugly thick bladed grass and we were told the only way to get rid of it is to hand pull it.  So many, many hours were spent hand pulling it.  It actually looks like we planted corn stalks all through out our yard.

So this is the BEFORE picture.

This is the AFTER picture.  (Jeff mowed it today for the first time.)  Not too bad, eh?

We went to the park tonight. You can't really tell, but Banks is playing a musical type instrument here.

Banks loves the swing!

Bank's latest hobby: Unrolling.............. every........ roll........ of......... toilet paper......... in the house.  (Multiple times a day!)  And don't leave the toilet seat up because Bank's love to splash in the toilet!

 Banks also enjoys trying to put his feet in our shoes and walk around.  But since he doesn't really walk on his own, he'll put our shoes on his "hands" and beams with pride!  He thinks he's such a big boy putting mommy and daddy's shoes on. 

Furniture shopping.  Banks liked this one.

"When mommy isnt paying enough attention to me I will empty the shoe rack, scattering all the shoes around the kitchen.  When mommy STILL isnt paying enough attention to me I proceed to crawl inside the shoe rack.  This has GOT to get her attention now!" -Banks

 

Other news:

-Banks is really impressing us these days.  He can sign "Milk", "More", "All-done", and will fold his arms (most of the time) on his own for prayer.  (Oh how we LOVE LOVE LOVE our lil Banks.  He is the light of our lives) 

-Jeff will compete this coming Saturday in a Sprint Triathalon.  He has been training so hard for it.  Good lucky daddy!  (Pictures for sure to come)