So...Let Me Catch You Up

So...obviously I haven't been doing a whole lot of blogging lately.

But a whole lot has been going on.

In August the kiddos started school.

First Daughter - 4th, Second Daughter - 2nd, Third Daughter - Kindergarten.

They love school and are doing great. 

In September I celebrated my 31st birthday.

I went out to breakfast with a bunch of friends, had lunch with my sister in-law, and had Red Mango with my family for dinner.  It was perfect!  I felt very loved and loved all the yummy food and wonderful people.

We completed another busy soccer season.
We were lucky to have beautiful weather throughout the season.  I sure love watching my kiddos run around that soccer field.

A new daily activity for us is to go watch the trains.  Son#1 absolutely loves trains and we have found a few spots where we can get an up close view of the trains going by.  It really is a highlight to our days.

The girls are taking piano lessons from me this year.
I was really nervous about how that would go, but luckily it is going amazingly!  So much better than I expected.  We really enjoy the one-on-one time together, and they all are doing really well practicing and progressing.  This is the first year for Third Daughter and she is doing great!

At the end of September, Husband and I broke away for a couple nights to go to CA for one of Husband's friend's wedding.  We were able to go to the temple with his family that lives out there and that was wonderful.  Even though it was a very quick trip, it was very nice to be kid free for a little while and enjoy family and friends (and beautiful CA weather) together.

The day we got back from CA was the Ogden Temple dedication.
It was a special day for First Daughter because she is now old enough to attend the dedication.  I really loved going with her and our cousin Andrea.

We have been having the most amazing weather, and the most amazing sunsets and sunrises!
I really love the view every night and can't help but take pictures.  I send them to my mom because she loves clouds. :)

Speaking of beautiful weather, the kids have been spending most of their afternoons outside with friends.  First Daughter loves to ride her ripstick and the others love to ride their bikes.  This weather won't last for much longer, so we're soaking it all up while we can.

 We really love fall.  Son#1 has discovered leaf piles and he just loves to lay in them.

Two weeks ago I ran my fifth half marathon.  It was the Pink Series half in Park City.  The weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful.  As for the course - not my favorite.  It was pretty hard.  But the company was fantastic.  I have loved training with these ladies and so proud of how our little team did!

This fall park season has been really fun for Son#2.  He can climb up the stairs, walk around the park, and he loves going down slides.  Playing at the park is one of my favorite things to do with my family.

Last Saturday Husband and I celebrated our 11th anniversary.  Things didn't exactly go as planned, but we were able to spend the evening together anyway and that's all that matters.  We spent some time talking about what we love about our marriage.  It really made me so grateful looking back on our life together, how we've grown, and what makes our marriage so incredible.  I love this guys more than ever and still feel like he is my greatest blessing ever.  I stand by that statement.

And last but not least...

Third Daughter lost her first tooth!  And as a matter of fact, she lost her second one just today!  She was so excited to get a visit from the tooth fairy, even though our tooth fairy is pretty forgetful and almost always doesn't come the first night.  Oh well...we forgive her :)

 

Well, now I've pretty much caught you up on all that's going on around here.

Life feels pretty good.

I am loving being mom to these kids and wife to my husband.

Which is good, because I spend a whole lot of time doing those two things :)

 

 

 

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So...A Year Later

Son#1 - June 2013, Son#2 - July 2014

same splash pad, same bathing suit
I love these two

 

 

 

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Monday Memories 072::2 Years

 First Daughter - two years old - 2007

Second Daughter - two years old - 2009

Third Daughter - two years old - 2011

Son#1 - two years old - 2014

 

It is so crazy to me to think that it has been almost seven years since First Daughter turned two. 

So crazy.

 

 

 

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So...Guess Who's Two?

Today our first boy is turning two. 

Unbelievable.

We have been practicing all month holding up two fingers.

Today we are celebrating with lots and lots of bubbles, some toy cars, and a moon cake.

I hope he loves all of his surprises.  This boy is so fun to watch when he gets excited.

It's one of my favorite things in the whole world.

I kinda like this guy.  Like, a whole lot.

 

Happy Birthday Sweet Sweet Boy.

We love you so much and are so happy you are in our family.

You make every day better and sweeter.

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So...Right Now...

Right now Son #1...

 

::doesn't mind wearing pink boots.  that's what happens when you have three older sisters...

::is 23 months old.

::is almost double his brother's weight at a whopping 38 lbs.

::loves loves loves the moon.  he will sit on our front step and wait for it to rise over the mountains.  he also knows the moon comes up when it gets "gark"

::also loves loves loves buses.  he calls them "b's"

::loves watching Winnie the Pooh (actually it's Piglet's Big Movie).  he calls it "Poohs"

::calls French fries "hot dogs." 

::loves both his mom and his dad a lot, but is really good buddies with his dad.  (and his mom)

::is the sweetest boy. 

::will spontaneously give hugs and kisses.  it is the sweetest.

::has just learned all his siblings' names.  he still calls Son #2 "baby"

::seems to learn new words every day, but still definitely has his own language.  i kinda don't want him to ever change.  or grow up.

::loves every kind of ball.  he has a really good arm too!

::will probably be left-handed.  that's our guess.

::has drawn on almost every wall in our house.

::has the cutest high kick happy dance.

::has been known to throw toy cars.  or any toy for that matter.  it's kinda dangerous.

::still drinks milk from a bottle and i totally don't care.  i kinda want him to stay a baby forever.

::can climb out of his crib, but we keep him contained with a crib tent.

::can unlock the front door.  including the dead bolt.

::thinks it's funny when I chase him down the sidewalk.  or the street.

::loves to play outside.

::has pretty bad eczema.  this cold, dry weather is hard on his skin :(

::loves water, or "wa-wa."  mostly for dumping out.

::gets really excited when we can understand him.  he gets a huge smile on his face and says, "Ya!"

::gets really sad when we leave him.  whenever someone comes over he gets pretty apprehensive and clings on to me or Husband's leg.  once we leave he's fine though.

::tries to be a good friend and is learning to share.

::can play with cars for hours.  he likes lining them up on the window sill or racing them down our banister.

::loves being a big brother.

::loves airplanes.

::can scream like a girl.  actually, better than any of the girls in this house.  he does it a lot and it always makes me laugh.  (his dad doesn't laugh - he encourages him to scream like a man)

::pulls his sisters' hair when he wants what they have.  we do not encourage it, but I have to admit it's a smart move...

::hits and throws stuff sometimes.  we are working on this :)

::loves to help unload the dishwasher and knows where almost everything goes in our kitchen.

::loves suckers.  like, really loves them.  they are "guckers,"

::might be the cutest little boy in the entire world.  i kinda want him to stay this way forever.  wait, did i already say that?

::makes us all so happy and we all love being around him.

 

 

 

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So...Photo Dump

I thought it would be a good time for a little documentation of every day things that make life so wonderful :)

First of all...this little man has stolen my heart.  He is so easy to love - squishy, smiley, cuddly, and extra cute.  Those cheeks!  He's been spending some time lately in the exer-saucer.  He loves it! 

Third Daughter has fun with her baby brother during the day.  She thought this was so funny - he has elf ears :)

We enjoyed the last few park days of the year.  I absolutely love going to the park on chilly fall afternoons.  And it felt good to ditch the homework/practicing/chore routine and just enjoy the warm sunshine at the park.  (Still can't believe there are five of those little ones...)

Not too long after our park days, we had a few cold, rainy days.  One morning we woke up to a little bit of snow.  The Daughters and Son #1 decked themselves in their snow gear - snow pants and all - to go play in the less-than-one-inch of snow on the ground.  It was hilarious.  First Daughter even made this miniature snowman.  I guess they are anxious for winter (they didn't get that from me!).

 

Son #1 makes me laugh (and sometimes cry - but mostly laugh) everyday.  He is so funny!  And it is so fun seeing more of his personality come out everyday.  Here are some things he's doing lately::

Turns on the tub.  And apparently drinks from it too.

(Better that than the toilet!)

Pours his snacks on his lap in the car.  Sometimes he pours them into his cup holders.

It's messy, but it's his way and it makes sense to him, so I let him do it.

And I think it's adorable :)

Not really sure what his plan was here...

He waits on our front step for the moon. 

The moon rises over the mountains and he knows this, so he waits and watches.

And he waits for it to get "gark" for this is when the moon appears.
He actually gets quite upset when I try to get him off that step and come inside.
This activity is very important to him.

He also waits for the bus.  He LOVES buses.

 He also loves riding the vacuum :)

 And apparently his little brother too...

This picture of Jesus is on the wall in our kitchen behind Son #1's highchair.  I love that there are finger prints all over it.  Every time Son #1 stands up in his high chair (which scares me to death and I wish he wouldn't do) he points to this picture and says "Jeees" which kind of sounds like "cheese" but means "Jesus."  I love that.  And I love those finger prints.

When the Daughters heard that Grandma Joy was in the hospital and that she might die, they decided to make cards for me take to her when I went to visit.  Second Daughter made this card.  The inside says (in her own spelling) "Dear Grandma, I hope you have a great time in heaven."  She wanted Grandma to have that before she died.  Quite possibly the sweetest thing ever.  First Daughter saw the card and told Second Daughter she shouldn't write that because Grandma Joy might not die.  Second Daughter was embarrassed so she ripped it and scribbled it out.  I kept it, and gave it to Grandma Joy in the hospital.  Second Daughter has the most tender heart.

I'm sure Grandma is having a great time in heaven.

First Daughter had her first school choir performance for the school Veteran's Day assembly.

It was so fun to watch!  Here she is with a couple of her cute friends.

Two of my siblings and my parents were able to come in to for Grandma's funeral.  We went out Saturday night to Station 22 and Comedy Sportz in Provo Center.  We had a great time! 

Good food, good people, good time, great memory. 

"Mom, will you hug me and take a picture?"

Yes Third Daughter, I'd love to.

 

 

 

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