Sharing Makes Me Happy

(June 8, 2013)

As we were shuffling the kids downstairs for bed, it seems at least half the time they claim they are hungry... I would rather deal with hunger at 9pm than at 5am. So we let them have a yogurt (or string cheese or applesauce or piece of bread) and then put them to bed. They know they are walking on thin ice... so they are usually extra pleasant for us. This day they even wanted to (happily) share a chair.

My cute boys. I love 'em.

Sneaking Oreos at Mimi's House

(June 6, 2013)

Lincoln thought it was a good idea to sneak the Oreos at Mimi's house and then bring them outside (so as not to make a mess...) but eat them right in front of me. He must have known I was extra tired and wouldn't care. He also shared the wealth with Jet & Parker. Little stinkers!

Jet covered in Oreos

Claire also wanted me to take a picture of Jet holding his baby sister, Cora. Cute kids!

Ollie Chillin' with the Big Boys

(June 3, 2013) 

Lincoln & Parker love to turn our armchair into a car. They bring in the baby toys (the little steering wheel & baby keys) to help it seem more realistic. This time, they had every baby toy from the living room inside their car, so I thought I'd bring the baby to the toys this time. Oliver loved it!

Fun with Elyza & Cohen

(May 31, 2013)

Becca has been crazy-busy opening her new business, Blow Beauty. Jesse & I helped out a little bit, and one day I picked up her kids to give them a change of scenery. I have this (seems like a never ending) pass to Jumping Jacks, a bounce house warehouse. So we burned off a little energy there:

Parker retrieving the basketball

Lincoln

Train ride down the big slide (Lincoln in the middle)

The bounce houses were all "too bouncy" for Parker, still... but he finally warmed up to them at the end.

But still preferred the bead toy...

Oliver (L) & Griffin (R) were such good babies for me. Thank goodness or that would have been a really short trip.

Elyza - queen of the mountain

Parker

Playing King of the Mountain

Blurry, but I love this one

We came back to our house, had lunch, and got swimsuits on. Children are never-ending balls of energy. Literally. Until bed time.

Water fight!

Elyza

Thanks for playing! We had a great time with you, Elyza & Cohen!

At the Park

(May 29, 2013)

While Jesse went shooting with Dave, I took the boys to the park. I just bring a giant blanket, place it in the shade, and take care of the babies while the big boys play.

Here's a little movie of life at the park:

Family Picnic in Pinto

(May 28, 2013)

Terrel & Janet bought some land in Pinto, Utah. About an hour away from Saint George, it is much cooler and definitely out in the country. Only a handful of families live there year round. The previous land owner has a couple horses still grazing the property, so Papa helped all the grandkids who wanted to take a ride.

Parker was very nervous and wanted down the second he got on...

Kurt's family also came, and one of his brothers owns a couple kid-sized ATVs. Lincoln & Parker were in heaven!

Parker driving, Flora climbing on the back, Ezra countering their efforts

Audrey helping

Lola & Parker (probably sneaking chips and other treats)

Lincoln riding with Cohen

Jet-Jet

Bryce

A view of some of the land - there is a small river (just in front of the 2 horses) that flows through the property.

These guys were so good for us... until it got later and chilly (since we didn't bring blankets... woops). Oliver (L) & Griffin (R)

Big Boy Bath

(May 26, 2013)

Griffin (L) & Oliver (R) taking a real bath for the 2nd time

Thumb Sucker

(May 25, 2013)

So sweet. Oliver is my only baby that stuck with sucking his thumb past a few months old.

Griffin

Tummy Time

(May 20, 2013)

Griffin & Oliver spend most of their time (other than sleeping in their cribs) on the living room floor. They are getting more and more mobile every day. The can both pivot on their bellies and spin to look in every direction.

Oliver (L) & Griffin (R)

Lincoln was probably sad I didn't let him take a picture with the camera...

Tummy Time for everyone!

He's Leavin' on a Jet Plane

(Jun. 9, 2013)

For those of you who know Jesse... he hates traveling. Even across our own city. So when he had the opportunity to go to NYC for a programming conference (edit: Scala Days - I love their cloud intro into their website!!), he wasn't happy about the fact it's on the other side of the country. Which means traveling all day, 2 separate days. Since he's going/gone... you know he thinks it's pretty important. And I don't know about you... flights into New York City have never been the same since 9/11. I'm nervous. Not only about Jesse's flight... also about staying home with all 4 boys for 4 days in a row!

He'll be back Wednesday (6/12/13). 

We love you and we'll miss you, Jesse/Daddy!!! 

(And wish us both luck!)

Girls' Trip to Laguna Beach

 (May 16-19)

Jesse's sisters, mother, & in-laws took a girls' trip a few weeks ago. Of the 10 of us, 7 were able to go, which was way more than I thought would be able to! We missed you, Natalie, Becca, & Peggy!!!

Amazingly, all the husbands were on board and willing to watch the children. Even Jesse. Tons of people have asked how he did... he did great! He seemed a little tired when I returned, but totally put together (and he even took all the boys to church!!! Probably more than I would have done!) THANK YOU. It was a much needed break (for ALL of us!) and a wonderful Mother's Day gift.

We left Thursday after lunch from St. George and didn't stop until we wanted dinner, which was 20 minutes away at P.F. Chang's.

We went to bed, and first thing in the morning we went for a jog on the beach. Wonderful. After getting dressed, we left Laguna to drive to Newport Beach down the road for some shopping. We got to the mall at 9am... an hour before it opened! Time change threw us a little...

We saw these ridiculous books in one of the shops...

An interesting Koi pond in front of some stores

A few hours later... and I was finished. So I relaxed on a bench while the rest of the girls shopped until 5pm. Yes, we spent a full working day shopping. 9-5!

Ashley was down to a few meager outfits... so she broke the bank and got a new wardrobe!

After returning to our hotel, we got in our swimsuits and headed straight for the beach.

Mimi in white walking along the beach

After a couple hours, it got too chilly so we got dressed and went walking around the streets of Laguna - stopping for the sunset.

The next morning, we had a journal meeting where we shared a lot of personal experiences from the last couple months. It was very uplifting and one of the best parts of the trip. There are some things said there that I will never forget. Thanks to all that shared.

And of course, we went straight back to the beach. This time we started with a little yoga:

Lovely ladies...

Sarah, Mindy, Janet, Audrey, Jana, & Sabrina - Ashley in back

And how could we not get in the water for some swimming?? It was a hot afternoon with a nice cool ocean breeze. Perfect storm for a bad sunburn...

...and some sweet boogey boarding...

After I had spent a couple hours in the water swimming and trying the boogey boarding, I thought I'd give body surfing a try. The waves were getting big (according to a land-locked Utahn)... maybe 3 feet tall? I hit a particularly big wave, I thought perfectly, and basically the ocean picked me up and slammed my face/chin & chest into the sandbar on the ocean floor. I heard my teeth grind pretty hard, my chin stung, and the wind was knocked out of me. I'm a strong swimmer, so I didn't panic at all, but after standing up and still struggling to breathe, I tried waving Ashley & Audrey down. Ashley knocked me over with her boogey board (ha ha.. on accident - she was using it to try to help me). My chin was bleeding a little, my upper chest was bruised, and I chipped my front tooth!! Thank goodness it was only the back side of the tooth, hardly noticeable from the front, but painful! And a little annoying... I had just gone to the dentist.

After the beach, everyone wanted to go shopping again... except me. I was finished. Audrey stayed back with me and we sat on the beach some more. So nice to sit and do nothing. That was the perfect vacation for a mom. I would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks girls for a wonderful weekend. Next year again, right?!!!!