girls

Let me just start out by saying that I love my boys.  Like I am completely head over heels in love with them.  That being said, it just breaks my heart that my little Lily doesn't have a sister.  I grew up surrounded by women: an amazing mother and sisters, wonderful aunts and cousins. 

 Such support.  Such love.  The more I watch Lily grow up and reminisce back to my childhood to determine any similarities or differences, the more I realize how incredibly blessed I was.  It's the biggest temptation to move to St. George - family! 

We were in St. George for two weeks in April.  The first week Liz was there with her family, along with Amanda and her kids.  So. Awesome.  Cousins all over the place.  Amanda and I took our kids to the crack and I decided to try to get Lily and Jack to do it.  Jack was too scared; I gave up on him.  Lily was quite nervous as well but I picked her up and told her to be brave like Rapunzel and sometimes when we do scary things they end up being fun.  So Lily, Brooklyn and I ended up going up and down, and Lily loved it and was so excited when we finished.

I also got to bike with Liz and Jared in Snow Canyon.  Here we are at the top.  So gorgeous!  I love that ride, it feels so good to finish. 
Amanda and I met up with Amy and Meg for a birthday lunch, where we decided to go get Dixie Nutrition frozen yogurt for old time's sake.  On the way we decided to go check out Grandma and Grandpa's property in Middleton.  We laughed so hard we cried remembering how we would spend all of our time in Grandpa's irrigation ditch, the "Pond", which was a concrete structure covered in moss and crawdads, but we were thrilled to have a place to go swimming.  So crazy!  Mostly we laughed at what our parents were thinking, as we don't remember showering very often. 

Here we are in the grapevines that Uncle Steve still cares for.  I lived on this property during my 8th grade school year and would spend a lot of time hiking the red hills, listening to Jon Schmidt and John Lennon on my walkman.  Now most of that land is developed, and the (real) pond I would sit by and pick cattails at has been turned into a park that I plan on taking my kids to. 
I feel so renewed after a month filled with time with my mom, sisters, sister-in-laws, aunts and cousins.  Even though Lily doesn't have any sisters now, I hope she realizes the strength that comes from sisterhood with those around her. 

spring breaks for everyone!

(Waking up Grandpa - following in our footsteps.  Poor Dad.  He probably thought he was done with being jumped on in the morning on the weekend.)

A few weeks before the kids had spring break, Mom mentioned that she was wondering why I never sent the kids down to St. George without us to stay with her.  Bingo!  Everything came together and much to Mom's surprise she got what she asked for!  Janet and Terrel came and picked them up on their way home from Idaho, and had them the first few days of the week before dropping them off at my parents.  In the meantime Adam and I got the chance to relive, for a week, having only one baby to take care of.  WOW.  Kids are a lot of work!  I didn't fully realize until I was at home without them.  We went on lots of dates and lots of drives (absent Lily whining about how BORING car rides are), and I was able to get a ton of stuff done, plus a lot of little projects that I have put off for a long time.  It was an amazing spring break for me, and pretty much I am eternally grateful for our parents, who are so supportive and know that those breaks help us be better parents.  :)  Hopefully we can do that every year, although I think Mom is still reeling.  hehe  Adam and I have been struggling with our wanna-be teenager/5 yr old girl, so it came at such a good time for us to take some time and figure out some things we need to change at home.  It was so fun to drive up to the house and see Jackson outside digging and come running over to give me a big hug.  Both kids were super-sun kissed from hours in the pool, and their hair all tangled and sandy from playing outside.  Mom described Lily as a little lost Indian.  It reminded me of how much happy time I spent in St. George with my grandparents when I was young.  Hopefully Lily and Jack are creating wonderful memories to look back on.  And we know now that Jackson likes his house and Ogden, and Lily wants to move to St. George because it is FUN and home is BORING.  The night before we were planning to leave, Jackson was so upset that we weren't going home immediately; Lily on the other hand said that I could leave her there for a few weeks (we were coming back the end of April) because she had gotten to see me and was okay and didn't want to go home.

a long time coming

 I thought about post dating things but decided against it.  February and March were so. busy. 
A ton of Lily and Jack's friends have birthdays in those months.  Pretty much if we're not planning a party Lily is BORED.  Hard to live up to that girl's expectations. 

Jackson had his first Primary assignment of saying the 2nd Article of Faith.  He did such a good job repeating every word.  When he got his first invitation for a birthday party it was the neatest thing to see - he was SO excited!  He kept on asking me to read it over and over again. 

He also had a Parent Teacher Conference.  His school and teachers have been such a blessing.  We definitely are in the right place. 

Lily had a PTC as well - on track for kindergarten!  We have LOVED that school as well.  Both kids got much needed haircuts.  Adam was upset about Jackson like always. 

Isaac passed his 4 month mark and is just the cutest little guy.  Big smiles for anyone who talks to him (unless he's tired).  We lucked out with another very nice baby!  It's so fun to see him interact with the family. 
Adam has been working working working, and with school and the CPA done has found extra time to golf and bike a bit more than usual (as long as he gets in all of his fantasy reading - the current phase he's focusing on since he dropped computer games). 
As for me, I am sustaining a 7 month old who detests solids and am trying to find ways to deal with the guilt of letting him cry at night because he is STILL WAKING UP.  We got a new bishop that is more organized than I am.  And with more organization comes more work to do!  I'm not sure if it's spring or what but for those two months I felt like it was just meetings and more meetings with visit after visit to go to.  It has been a growing experience.  I seriously don't know how I got away with morning sickness last year. 
We are looking forward to summer and being schedule free for a while. 

some consequences of three

* Definitely the number one change for me is that if I want to leave the house at a certain time, I need to start that process 20 minutes in advance. Needless to say I am late a lot.

* The other day marked the first time ever that someone saw my house and felt sorry enough for me to return a few hours later offering to help me out. Yep, it was that messy. I let myself get a little farther behind than I used to. Thank you to Laura, who held Isaac while I cleaned and then put him to sleep so she could help me organize toys. What a lifesaver!

* Lily said the other day while staring at my belly: "Mom, is there a baby in there? It looks like there's a baby in there." I started attending some yoga classes and realized that my stomach muscles are completely worthless. Like I can't even work them because the rest of my body makes up the difference they are so weak.

* My absolute favorite comes from Adam. A few months ago Jackson was having a tantrum before school, but we sent him off with Adam to go anyways. I called a little while later asking how things went for the drop off. Adam answered that after getting in the car, Jackson was so quiet that he went to work instead of the school. He didn't remember Jack until he was in front of his work. I guess his memory is failing just like mine! haha!

These photos are a bit sad for me. Isaac is no longer a newborn! But of course that comes with smiles and giggles, so I guess a pretty good trade-off. So add another bullet to the list: I never take the time to take pictures!

funny

Our little cross-dressers. They thought this was the funniest thing ever. As did I.
Like father, like son. This kid is a sucker for electronics as well. Adam was very proud to show me how he would turn his head to keep his eyes on a football game. I do love having a baby in the house again. Although at night you wouldn't hear me saying that. I don't think Isaac got the memo that he is almost 4 months and should be sleeping for 6 hrs at least! This kid is so dang lucky to have Lily and Jackson. They love him so much and he knows it! It's almost easier when they are home because they are like little babysitters and will entertain him for me if I need to do dinner or clean. Or blog.
I tried to make the big 3-0 special for Adam, but as usual the execution of my plans were lacking. First was to surprise him at work with his most-requested amaretto chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. What I failed to take into account is that his office has a funeral-like atmosphere. It didn't help that Adam saw me, then said "well go ahead and cut and serve it" then tucked back in his office to talk to someone on the phone. I asked him later if it was always that boring and he said that as soon as I left they got the trampoline out and had a real party. Second was a plan to surprise him after our date on Saturday night with a group of friends to have cake with. Lots of fun to sit around and talk with the Groves and the Parkers, who we've known since moving here. I had told him I wanted to skip dessert and celebrate with the kids at home, which he agreed to but then ordered something anyway. So the oreo crusted white chocolate mousse torte that I made wasn't as special as it could have been. Third was a birthday dinner with Matt and Jana (McKay and the Hendershots couldn't make it). I highly enjoyed Adam's birthday weekend, and hope he did too. The kids gave Adam a dancing game for the xbox. I had a lunch playdate and was talking upstairs with the other moms when Lily asked to put it on. I said no. Ten minutes later I went downstairs and found this. What a little party organizer! A few minutes after this she started screaming and I found her with a bloody nose because one of the younger boys had accidentally kicked her. I went to take her upstairs and she pushed me away so she could continue dancing. So dedicated! As a side note the demographics have definitely shifted in our neighborhood. All of Lily's girlfriends started kindergarten and so little boys for Jackson are all that are left. Doesn't stop her from putting on a princess dress though.

at home for christmas

...for the first time in our marriage! The first time in 7 1/2 years! It was very exciting for us. I was worried Adam would want to go to St. George at the last minute but he started planning a great day for the kids and agreed that traveling for Christmas wouldn't happen this year!
Lily and Jackson were so darn excited to see Santa at the ward Christmas party. Lily asked for makeup and Jackson asked for gum. Santa delivered.

(with Jensyn and Hurley Parker)

This year we got the kids involved in giving presents to each other. It was so darn cute. After they wrapped the gifts and put them under the tree they were so excited! Jackson got home from school and I pointed out his gift from Lily, and he immediately looked at Lily and said "gun?" Which lucky for him Lily got him a ton of bullets so close enough. I was absolutely amazed that they lasted until Christmas morning without getting peeked at. Early one morning I heard some rustling and Adam ran out to see Lily "just holding" her present from Jack (which was a fairy doll). They were so excited for Santa, and we sang Christmas songs every night before bed.
This year Adam got a second wife (isn't that what people call their husbands' obsessions?). An x-box. Seeing as how he has wanted one forever and is always disappointed, I thought with him finishing the requirements for his CPA, the fact he's turning 30!, his promotion, and don't tell him but he spoiled me like crazy this year, I figured why not? A few days after Christmas we were walking in Costco and I saw a pea coat. "Oh right. That's what I wanted this year." To which he replied, "Oh yeah? Well I wanted...." Haha!! That moment right there was worth the $400.
Santa came with lots of balloons (and an allergic reaction that basically made me rethink my entire existence), a beautiful set out breakfast table (crepes, egg sandwiches, orange julius), and lots of treats and toys. We spent the week after Christmas in St. George. So nice! Bike rides, time with both families, dinner out with no kids and no babysitting fees ("Oppa!" for flaming cheese), our first movie since Isaac (MI4), and a day trip to Zions with Mom and Dad. Lily was not impressed and wasn't feeling too well during the "LONG" (1/4 mile) hike, and declared that she wanted to come back there "zero times!!!!" Coming home was a bit more difficult than usual.

fairy garden

Lily turned 5! We planned a fairy garden birthday party. Lily seemed super excited and I found some good stuff online to make it pretty cool (in my opinion). Wings and wands for all the little girls, fairy cupcakes with fairy dusted pink and purple frosting; and fairy games - 'flower flower who's got the flower' and 'duck duck goose' (Lily is informing me that it was 'duck duck goose'. I was thinking it was 'fairy fairy princess' or something).
Here is the gorgeous girl. She is such a big helper; so nice to her brothers; loves to make people laugh; likes to play games; and she says she likes to have cupcakes and have a lot of fun. She has always been such a joy to have as a daughter. With two boys now I am reminded a lot of how lucky I am to have this sweet girl to keep me company.She says she likes to play with her brothers, and she loves her brothers. She really is an amazing big sister! Sometimes she is reluctant to share and not tease Jackson, but she usually is so willing to play nice. Isaac loves her so much and she can get him to laugh and smile so big! Sometimes it is easier to have her at home than at preschool. We are so lucky to have her in our family.
We love our little Lily!