California, part 2

My mom had gotten my dad a golf round in California for his birthday, so the 2nd day we were there, they went golfing in the afternoon. Shelley, the kids, and I played in the backyard and did sidewalk chalk.

Keagan loved Remy and Kasen. She was a big helper.

Keagan and I were happily surprised that Remy has red hair. We hope it stays red. Power in numbers.

Kasen was a little more shy towards us, but a sweetheart when you got him to smile.

Easton trying to whistle through a blade of grass.

We did the beach one day. We walked from the condo we rented. It was a good little walk, but a pain to get two double strollers and a wagon full of beach chairs down the sand. I was sweating by the time we got there.

Shelley took my kids down to the waves while I played with the babies.

We built a 4 tower sandcastle and buried Easton's and Keagan's legs in the sand. Keagan was in heaven, saying she was Ariel.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day to my amazing husband! We love you to pieces.

and you do awesome funny faces.

California, part 1

We left for California on a Monday, stopped for a night in Las Vegas (because of the cheap prices for hotels) and got to California on Tuesday. The kids were a bit demanding on the car ride and I am so thankful I had my mom with me.

My dad actually flew in on Tuesday night and we were kind of jealous that he didn't have to drive 10 hours with two kids.

On Wednesday we went to a local city park that my sister found one day. It has been named the turtle park--can you find out why? It was an awesome city park.

There was a little rock wall that my dad helped Easton with.

the stone turtles--hence the turtle park

Cove Fort

2 weeks ago the kids, my mom, and I took a trip down to California to visit the beach bum sister.

The ride down was long, but the ride back was LONGER.

On the way down, we stopped at Cove Fort to have lunch and take a tour.

It was so windy--65 mph winds. At one point the wind was coming from both directions and my hair was blowing straight into the air. So sad I didn't get a picture of that one.

looking at the garden

smile!

The sister missionary that was showing us around was really sweet and didn't mind that my kids were obsessed with the pots that the pioneers used the bathroom for. "Pee-pots." Every room we would go in, Easton would look around and then whisper to me, "There's the pee-pot."

It was a good little break for a long drive.

happy birthday, cha-cha-cha!

Yesterday was my birthday. It started awesome, with the kids letting me sleep in til 10. Then I got up and there was a message on the answering machine--from the pedicure place I like saying I had a gift certificate from my mother-in-law to come pick up. Score!

My mom called and said my sisters were going to her house for lunch, so I packed up the kids and we went over for the afternoon.

Parker took me to dinner at a nice French restaurant. So yummy, and it was one of those places where the food is so pretty, you aren't sure if you want to eat it and ruin it. We started with mussels for an appetizer and the hostess brought out a mushroom tarte for us to try for free. Awesome! Then Parker ordered the chef's famous meatloaf while I got the pork tenderloin. So good. The evening finished off with a birthday chocolate raspberry creme brulee (holy cow, good!) and we ordered the fanciest carrot cake I have ever seen. Parker always has to have milk when he is eating desserts, so he ordered a glass and the waitress laughed and said he was the first person she has ever heard of that ordered milk.

my pork tenderloin
Parker's fancy meatloaf on top of mashed potatoes

This isn't a very good picture of the carrot cake, but it was gorgeous! It was wrapped in a white and milk chocolate shell.

To finish off an awesome night, Parker got me a new camera and the kids were asleep when we got home.

(to come, pictures from my and the kids trip to California!)

Keagan's preschool graduation....her first, at least

Keagan had her neighborhood preschool graduation this week. She was so excited.

They got hats and leis made from fruit loops---why don't they make all leis out of fruit loops? Much more fun.

The 4 graduates

Doing an art project--seriously, this face all the time.

so much better

at home showing her hat--minus the fruit loops.

switching the tassel to the other side

graduated--at least from the first year. She has two more years of preschool. sigh, the joys of having an October birthday.
The video below is from the graduation--they were telling what their favorite day of preschool was.

summer camp/school

Well, summer is here and the kids had their first day of summer camp/preschool.

Keagan was so excited to go with Easton.

My two kid-free hours included going to Costco and coming home to a super quiet house. So nice.

"I'm a big boy now..."

Easton had his last preschool graduation last week. sniff. Kindergarten, here we come!

Easton and Grandma
Easton, me, Keagan---why is she screaming in so many pictures?

my big boy

Easton and Mrs. Stephanie

Easton, Katelyn, Keagan

Keagan, Daddy, Easton, me

Easton, we love you and are so proud of you!!

dancing time

at least once a day Keagan begs Easton to dance with her. he conceded on this day. she was in heaven.

happy mother's day!

happy Mother's day to my mom and mom-in-law.

I am lucky to have such wonderful examples in motherhood and womanhood.

I love you both so much.

being a mother....

being a mother is:
your heart swelling with pride during the kid's Primary number at church today;
diffusing the situation when your three year old opens your present when no one is paying attention and your husband getting upset with her;
kissing boo-boos;
always worrying;
always loving;
sometimes impatient;
staying up at night with a sick child;
holding a scared, little hand;
taking huge joys in little accomplishments;
being a mother is.....love.

during the yummy dinner that Parker and the kids made for me, Easton says, "Mom, there is a secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is?" I say, "Um, is it love?" He looks at me like I am crazy and says, "No, Mom. If you ate your heart, that would be gross." Good point.

checking on easton....

last night while checking on Easton, I found him in bed like this.....

the bear was taking up more bed than he was.

Keagan's check-up

Keagan had a well-child check-up last week and did surprisingly well. I was worried she would scream like a banshee during shots (she had to get 2), but all she did was glare at the nurse and say, "Ow!"

She passed the vision test (yay!) and tried to talk the doctor's ear off. He did say we need to get her into a dentist to look at her bite (she sucks her fingers at night and has pushed her teeth and bite a little off), but other than that she is good.

Her weight, 32.63 lbs (49.98 %)

Height, 38 in. (41.89%)

kindergarten check-up

Easton had his kindergarten check-up last week. gulp. I can't believe he will be in kindergarten next year!

He did really good, but I think we talked too much about the shots because he was so nervous. Luckily, he only had to get 3.

The nurse did the eye exam first and as we were standing next to the chart she was asking him what the shapes were. He knew all of them, even the plus sign, and she was surprised by that because she said usually kids say "a t turned sideways," or "an x turned sideways."

He passed the eye exam with flying colors, while I was standing next to him squinting trying to see the chart. Yay! Hopefully he will not have to get glasses as soon as I did and will have his daddy's eyes.

They did an iron test and he did not like that, but was brave. Then he had to pee in a cup, and I think that was a bit traumatic for him, just because Keagan had to come in the bathroom with us and kept saying, "Oh, so disgusting!"

He is a whopping 36.16 lbs (15.38%)

and 41.5 inches (19.47 %)

I thought his percentile in length would be higher, just because he seems to have had a growth spurt lately, but I was wrong.

All in all, he is a healthy and amazing kid.

Keagan's belated 3 year old check-up is this week. That should be interesting.

thoughts for the day

there has got to be a better way to drain cooked hamburger than the way I am doing it.

when your head is pounding and every noise the kids make makes you want to yell, it is okay to take one of your husband's extra-strength ibuprofen.

yay for grandmas that come and take your kids on an errand so the only noise you hear while you cook dinner is the sizzle of the food.

my Tupperware cupboard makes me cringe every time I open it.

I am pretty sure my kids have more friends than I do.

I wish it was warm, yet when it gets too warm, I will wish it to be colder like it was today.

why is printer ink so expensive? seriously.

trying our hardest

Yesterday:

I broke down and made an appointment at the pediatrician.

Appointment at 4:40.

On our way to the appointment, car starts shaking so badly I seriously thought all the wheels were going to fall off as I was driving.

Near tears from frustration and fear, called Parker from the side of the road and explained what was happening.

Was instructed to go to car shop and he would meet me there.

Called Drs office and told them we would not be making it.

As we are pulling out into traffic I say to kids, "Pray we make it to the car place."

When we are about a block away, I hear Easton say, "I am trying my hardest, Mom."

I think he is talking about his coughing and trying to cough not so bad.

I say, "Trying your hardest for what?"

"I am trying my hardest to pray real good so we can make it."

Bless his little heart.

car prognosis: not good. ball bearings. I guess it is good that we didn't make it to the drs and had to pay that money, because now it needs to go to the car. and the kids are acting much perkier today.

sickies

Both kids are sick. Yucky cough, yucky congestion, achy bodies.

I think we are all on our last shred of patience, with each other and the colds.

Keagan had a mini meltdown this morning during breakfast because her brother was humming.

Then she had another meltdown, not so mini, while getting her clothes on because her hair was in the way.

I washed my hands so many times yesterday, I am surprised they were not cracked and bleeding.

Every night the kids pray that the germs will go away in their bodies. I do too.

Sigh.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May your day be filled with GREEN.

Ahoy Mateys

Easton wanted a pirate party this year with his friends. It turned out really good. There were 8 little boys altogether and it was so fun. My mom came to help me (thank goodness) and we started by each boy getting a pirate tattoo, eye patch, and earring. Then we decorated treasure boxes with markers and stickers.

After that we played Put the Eye Patch on the Pirate. I put two eye patches on the boys, spun them a couple of times and then had them find the picture of the pirate. It was funny to see that most of the boys peeked and got the patch right where it was supposed to go. :)

Then we went on a treasure hunt. One clue had us at the park across the street and it was such a beautiful day that we played for a few minutes. When we came back to our "treasure" (the goodie bags) the boys were so excited. One little boy kept asking me, "Who left this for us?" and "Can we borrow this stuff?" When I told him he got to keep it, he was so excited.

Then we did presents and then cupcakes. It was a fun party and although a little crazy at times with 8 little boys, it was well worth it.

Doing the treasure chests.

This was one of the surprises in the goodie bag. A pirate necklace.

Keagan went on a Daddy-Daughter date with Parker, but came home and had to get a patch and earring.

Guess who is 5?

This little pirate.

Happy birthday, Easton.

We love you.

I can't believe you are 5 already! You are such a good boy and you make our family so much fun. I love you and can't imagine life without you in it.