Real Dinner

Tonight, being the "awesome" wife and mother that I am, I made an exquisite dinner of applesauce, toast, and chocolate milk. My sweet family was nice enough to appreciate the meal and thanked me for making it. (For the record, Michael was actually thrilled because it included 3 of his favorite things.)

However, 2 short hours later, Michael gets out of his bed after being tucked in, walks into our room, and whines about how starving he is. Again, being so awesome, I tell him he's full of it and send him back to bed. Then ask Steve, "Do you really think he's hungry or is he just not wanting to go to sleep?" Steve replies, "Ummm yeah he's probably hungry. I could eat something." Great... my fabulous dinner wasn't filling enough.

I tell Steve Michael can just have some cottage cheese or something and then go back to checking emails while being ornery about Steve's weekend work schedule. Ten minutes later, Steve comes up and delivers me a plate with fried eggs, toast, and bacon or what I would call more of a 'Real Dinner' -- definitely a more filling dinner.

I'm so glad I have a patient hubby who rescues my starving child when I fail at dinner. And who takes the time to give him more than just a quick bowl of cottage cheese. Lucky for my children, I don't have to do this whole raising kids thing on my own. Whew!

Independence Day

 This year we celebrated the 4th twice. First celebration was with the Moore family on the 2nd. My little sis and her family were in town so we decided to get together. We started off the celebration of America in an All-American way by eating Mexican food at Costa Vida. Then we headed to Poppy's and Nan's and enjoyed brownies, homemade ice cream, and root beer floats. Then we visited while the guys went and spent a small fortune on all things fireworks. Once it got dark, the firework frenzy began and we were dazzled with some pretty awesome fireworks. It was fun to kick off the 4th of July week.

On the 4th, Steve started off the day right by bringing home maple bars from Daylight Donuts after his night shift. So we sat in bed enjoying donuts early in the morning. Then while Steve got a few hours of sleep, Michael and I just hung out and I painted Loi's toenails for the first time. Then we went down to Gramma and Pompa's house. Their neighbor invited us all over for a BBQ and to enjoy their pool so Loi went swimming in a real pool for the first time. (I was a little hesitant about her being in chlorine but then found out it was a salt water-type pool so she actually put her swimsuit to use.)

We finished the night off with a handful of fireworks and sparklers and a quick 4-wheeler ride around the neighborhood.

She looks thrilled, right?

I love the 4th of July. It's one of my favorite holidays.

I truly am proud to be an American and feel so lucky I am.

We're so blessed to live in a free country where we have so much to live for.

And even though our government continues to make dumb decisions and there are more and more corrupt leaders and politicians, this country is the promised land and the Lord knows what he is doing.

I'm grateful to live here and that my children will have the same great opportunities I've had.

Michael Turns 4

I can't believe my sweet little son, my baby boy just turned 4! 

Because of him, I became a mother.

He has brightened my life every day for the last 4 years.

I remember seeing him for the first time -- I couldn't believe he was here and that he was mine!

He was my perfect little content baby -- so easy to please and just so handsome.

He loved me to pieces even after being at daycare all day.

Some nights I would spend hours rocking him just so I could hold him close to me even though I knew he slept better in his crib -- and he put up with it because he knew his working mama needed it.

Michael is so smart and surprises me each day with more things he has picked up. He uses words like delectable and interesting and plenty and basically. It cracks me up when he nonchalantly throws in words I know he's only heard once.

He is a boy through and through loving dirt, tractors, superheroes, guns, Legos, bugs, shooting bows, and "shaving" just like daddy. He loves his daddy and always says how they're buddies. He can't wait to be a big daddy. In his eyes, he pretty much gets to do anything he wants and will know everything there is to know when he's a big daddy.

But he also has a sweet tender side to him. He always has special kisses and hugs for each of us and is so thoughtful. And he will still snuggle me in bed in the mornings and let me hold his hand sometimes. :)

He is so anxious to go to the temple and get married... to his mommy of course... and warmed my heart when he said he always wants to live with us at our house even after he is married. 

We'll see how we all feel about that in 20 years.

Michael loves primary (woo hoo! success!) and always reminds us to read scriptures and say prayer before bed. He blesses each one of us along with his tractor and trailer and he blesses Jesus and Heavenly Father along with President Monson and the missionaries. He can't wait to be a missionary and a "big daddy".

He adores his baby sister and is watchful for "pukers" and is quick to give her a binky when she cries.

He can make her laugh and smile like no one else and talks in a darling (yet at times irritating) high-pitched baby voice. The other day he said, "Hi princess! How's my princess?"  :) 

She's a lucky little girl to have such a great big brother.

He's quite the character too always making funny faces or giving silly looks and talking in goofy ways.

He's still a master negotiator. The other day he really wanted to open a pack of new gel pens I bought for Steve at Costco. He said, "Okay, mom, as you know there are tons of pens and if I take one, there will still be tons." He's also giving me a taste of my own medicine when it comes to memory. He'll bring things up I hope he's forgotten and holds us to them. He definitely doesn't let us break our promises --especially when I promise him a dollar if he'll just pee in the pool. 

Yep, I'm THAT mom.

I'm so grateful to be this little boy's mommy!

I love you Pook!

Michael was so excited to have a Superhero party.

We had a kid party where they each dressed up as superheroes. They painted  Batmobiles and then made their own Superhero masks. After we tested their Superhero strength by breaking boards (styrofoam meat trays). For dinner we had "Hero" sandwiches, "CRUNCH" chips, and "POP" along with some salads and fruit. After we had superhero-ring cupcakes and superhero ice cream. We finished the night with a few fireworks and then each kid got a goody bag with a glow stick, a superhero tattoo, ring, and thumb-war guy, along with a super-strength water gun, and a Kryptonite rock candy stick. 

Painting Batmobiles

Emry & Eloise in their Superhero attire

My little Batman

Super Eloise

Showing off their projects

Demonstrating superhero strength by breaking the boards

What was left after dinner.
I wish I would've remembered to take a picture at the beginning :(

My sweaty little boy could hardly even stop playing to blow out his candles

 

Our Superhero family.
Steve was extremely ecstatic over his "nerd" shirt -- he's such a good sport.
I made Loi's outfit by cutting up an old tshirt. I sewed the E and the emblem on to a cheap onesie
and then cut a cape for her from the same pink tshirt.

He sure got spoiled with so many fun gifts. We're lucky to have such great family support. You know it's love when they come sit outside for hours in extreme heat for a 4 year old's superhero party.

Happy Birthday to our Michael!

Eloise -- 3 months

10 weeks

11 weeks

12 weeks

13 weeks

   

 

June 23, 2012 -- 3 months old -- 1st Yard Sale day

Trying to get this girl to smile once the camera is in her face is a joke. She's a smarty and will only smile when no one can get evidence of it. She's getting better though.

Because she doesn't have another appointment until 4 months I have no idea how much she weighs but I know she's solid and strong... and those lovable chubby cheeks aren't slimming down yet.

Our baby girl is wearing clothes ranging from 3 months to 6 months. 

Loi really can't wait to sit up on her own. She just wants to watch everything that happens around her so when she's awake and lying down, she strains her neck pushing her head forward into better view.

She loves her daddy and will jabber and mimic any sound he makes while he coos at her. She always saves a special smile for him after work.

Little Miss Eloise was sleeping great and now has decided that 9 straight hours just isn't in her schedule at this point so we're back to every 4-5 hours through the night. Doesn't make mama very happy to hear that cry in the middle of the night but once I see her darling face, I forget how crappy it is to be awake.

Loi is taking a lot more naps in her crib but still sleeps in the bassinet in our room during the night.

I'm just not ready to put her in her room I guess and I can't find a convincing reason why I should.

Eloise loves her brother. He plays with her all the time and talks to her in the cutest baby voice. He's so attentive to her and the sounds she makes. He talks to her and plays with her and always tries to get her to laugh and smile. His favorite thing to do is to play "running" just like daddy. He grabs her ankles and moves her legs up and down like she's running. He starts slow and then gets faster and faster. She usually smiles really big at him. It's adorable to see how they love each other already.

Our little Loi girl's hair is getting longer except for her balding spot on the back of her head.

It still is dark but has a tint of red.

We're guessing she'll be strawberry blonde but we'll see.

I love love love being this sweet little girl's mommy!

Happy 3 months baby girl!

Seven Peaks

While Steve was worried about the results of his test, I decided we should spend the day doing something fun to get his mind off it. So we headed for Seven Peaks. And fun we had! Michael loved the kiddy area and the "big kid" slides. Loi enjoyed snoozing in the shade. Steve and I just relaxed and enjoyed our day together as a family.