Alvie & Autumn

Last week on Bella's birthday, I offered to come down and babysit Alvie. Her mom beat me to it on Bella's actual birthday, but we arranged for me to come today. Alvie and I became friends today! 

We took a few selfies and these are all actual smiles! 

Like I didn't have to use a trick or get a smile from a sound I made or from tickling him. This is just us enjoying time together and capturing the moment. 

So this morning I helped older kids get up and out the door, and then after getting Daniel and Peter off to school, I'm not sure what happened but time passed too quickly and so I didn't eat my breakfast but I was able to take it to go. Katharine and I left around 9:30 and she played with Alvie while I had some carrot cilantro salad, yum. Katharine and Alvie both came to me for a few bites in between their play. 

Hyrum stayed down to Provo last night after hiking the Y, so he was still at Ethan and Bella's place after they left for school. But when Hyrum tried to leave, Alvie went up and wanted him to hold him. Hyrum "You have not cared about me being here at all until now when I need to leave..." 

Hyrum laughed at how cute he is and H felt special that Alvie wanted him, but alas he had to go. Bella had left a few cookies to use in a bribe if needed, and I was able to hold Alvie and give him a few bites of that treat while Hyrum made his escape. So now it's just the three of us. We let Alvie call the shots, and we went on a walk outside, following him around to wherever his curiosity led him, so we picked dandelions and went over to a trailer

Their feet got dirty and I washed them clean after we went back inside. We played watched some Bluey, ate cheerios and chicken, read books, and played with cars in the kitchen.

Good times. 

Final hour of fun was having a dance party. Katharine was singing "Prince Ali" and we changed that part of the chorus to "Prince Alvie!" This can be his new theme song! 

Katharine and I headed back home at 3:40, and Owen had to leave for a jazz concert at 4. Concert was at 5:15, so call time was 4:15, and takes 15 min to get there from our house. So Corey got to take Owen to that, cause Lily was back with the van. Corey also took him to get some concert black clothes first (sorry I hadn't taken care of that). Owen playing trumpet, he's a little smaller than the other players (back row)...

Corey got a video of him playing a solo, but there was a big bat decoration on the microphone, so Owen's face was totally covered so that was lame. Well, after I got home, Corey was gone, kids were doing their thing, and I seized the chance to get in my exercise by going on a ride. I hadn't been up the Quarry trail since Friday (cause I went to Park City on Saturday and Monday)... This summer I've been averaging a ride three times a week, but I only went twice last week cause we then I hadn't gone at all yet this week! So when I had a chance I made my escape to see my canyon. I didn't check the weather and thus didn't see there was any rain in the forecast. It did started to sprinkle on me after the 3rd bridge. It was starting to come down a little faster at Lisa, and looked worse further up, so I turned around instead of continuing on to the ruins. There was a very faint rainbow, so pretty!!!

It looked beautiful! 

I listened to my autumn playlist and I breathed in the glory around me. "Light" by Emma Nissen particularly hit the spot. Just lovely everywhere. The rain towards the west had stopped by the time I was at the 1st bridge, and the sun was setting, the whole sky was pink - took this pic of a gorgeous gorgeous autumn sunset.

AHH I LOVE FALL!

I'm grateful for lots of joy today playing with Alvie and Katharine and spending time up the canyon.