Mystery Leprechaun

We walked out our front door on St. Patrick's Day to find the trail of a Mystery Leprechaun. Our porch and walkway were sprinkled with clovers, green coins and surprises for the boys. We were so excited, especially our Christian who loves green and thought it was a day just for him. We still don't know who our mystery visitor was but we loved the surprise. If the Lucky Leprechaun happens to be reading this and wants to fess up, please feel free...if not, know that we loved the gesture. Thank-you to our Leprechaun!

All Decked Out in Green

Green Lunch Date with Cousins, so Fun!

35 Years Young...OLD MAN

Troy is officially an Old Man today but we still love him dearly. Happy Happy Birthday to our wonderful daddy and husband! Thanks for all you do for our little family. We appreciate all your hard work and love how you always keep us laughing. We wouldn't trade you for anyone. We wish you another great year and hope that darn back gets feeling better so we can play more. XOXO Love you!

Cheers to my Wonderful Hubby

We love our Daddy!

Disney on Ice

"Look, they're really flying!"

Christian was pumped to go see Mickey and Peter Pan (he even brought his stuffed Mickey) but once the life size figures hit the ice, he was quite shell-shocked. He just stared, mouth wide open and so serious, for the first half of the show then eventually warmed up. There's a very fine line between reality and make believe at his age. You should have seen the terror in his eyes when the giant blow-up Ursula from the Little Mermaid came out with a bang and poof of smoke. The rest of the show he was asking where the mean witch went. Mason loved all the action, he was yelling and clapping right along with the crowd (and pulling out the poor lady's hair sitting in front of us).

Paige's Birthday Dinner

Family Dinner at Red Rock...so yummy. Happy 21st to our dearest Paige! I always love a good meal with great company (especially when Dad's pickin' up the check, thanks Dad :)

Mason beating on Big Brother and goofing off with Uncle Johnny...cool shades!

Don't Forget...

to change your clocks, Spring Forward. My sweet hubby has already changed every clock in the house - microwave, DVD players, outdoor weather clock, you name it - a little OCD. We wouldn't want to be late for 12:30 church tomorrow :) Thanks for being on top of it Honey!

Great-Grandmas

The boys are lucky to have 3 great grandmas and even 1 great-great grandma, on top of 3 grandmas (did you get all that). We are so blessed to have so much FAMILY.

Milestones-Biggest Boy & Lil' Brother

We haven't pushed potty training since I find diapers rather convenient and dread the inevitable public accidents. Whenever we'd ask Christian when he was going to use the potty like a big boy, he'd say "when I'm the biggest boy I'll go on the potty." Well Christian is now the Biggest Boy and he did it on his own. This week he started telling us when he needed to go and it's been smooth sailing thus far. I'm not saying we have a genius kid who potty trained himself but he pretty much did (and of course WE think he's pretty dang smart). Guess he was finally ready at almost 3.

He proudly examines his accomplishment, "it looks like a candy cane," (TMI) and loves flushing the potty and seeing all the varieties of potties wherever we go (oh the joys of parenthood). We've even survived overnight and through outings. Hooray for our Biggest Boy! Now if he can just get over being sick we'll be in great shape.

Mason has discovered the art of clapping and cheering and he loves a good beat, he'll start rocking and bouncing to any tune. His poor forehead is battered with bruises from his other recent trick, pulling up on everything and anything and he's even attempted the stairs. Oh no - now we're really in for it!

Such a show off.

Couldn't resist posting the cute naked bums, yes Mason is bigger than Christian, such a chunk!

Food Critic

We were in need of some entertainment this evening so we headed South to the Mayan. All the recent radio ads about their new menu and better food subconsciously reeled me in because I haven't been there for years. Well Christian LOVED the divers (and began chanting "belly flop" with the crowd) and Mason was in awe of all the sights and sounds. And surprisingly the food was decent, much better than I remember with huge portions (no cooking tomorrow either - even better). Bad service but what can you expect from a 16 year-old that's more interested in texting her boyfriend than making a tip. Obviously the Mayan is about the entertainment, not the service, and that mission was successful.

I really need to become a food critic someday. I love eating out (who doesn't) and I'm always analyzing the service. I hate hate hate bad service at restaurants. Need I ask to refill my drink, take my order or bring the check?!

So it's not Market Street but all in all I highly recommend the Mayan for a dinner out with the kidos in tow. Yes, it can be pleasant. Plan on waiting to sit and feed the kids first so they can just eat the chips and watch the show - the kid's meals were almost as much as the adult's (7.50 for a quesadilla). Enjoy!

New Do

Check out my sassy new bangs...and bad self-portrait skills.

Sledding Buddies

Odd post with all the sunny weather lately but had to share these fun pics from awhile back.

We got snowed in at my mom's after one of the big snowfalls in Park City last month. While plowing the driveway, Grandpa Jace surprised Christian by also plowing the perfect sledding hill down the side of their house. He ran to Wal-mart to find the fastest sled, bundled himself and Christian up and they flew down the hill. Jace pulled Christian back up the hill (bad back and knee and all), while Christian squealed and pretended to fall off and roll back down...over and over again. So much fun and such a good sport Jace!

Fabulous Video Production

Do you need help editing your home movies or creating photo slide shows to music?? My sister Paige does fabulous video production work. Check out her blog to see part of my Hawaiian wedding video (second sample). The small screen doesn't give it justice, she really does great work! She is very creative and will work for cheap (starving college student rate).

Examples of her work include:
**Christian's first year**birth videos of my kids (g-rated of course)**birthday celebration of life**many family vacations**memories of Troy's brother who passed away and many more. They make great gifts (think Mother's Day or birthdays).

http://mosaicmedia.blogspot.com/

California Sunshine

Mom and her Boys left Dad home and headed to Southern Cali for some much-needed SUNSHINE. We truly lucked out with 75 degree weather, perfect for hangin' on the beach. The boys were great little travelers (thankfully seeing I was a single parent). Christian loved playing with his favorite cousins and cruisin' on their jeeps, scooters and skateboards (hence the scraped knee post below). Mom soaked in the warm air and shopping and got to visit her dear friend Jess for a fabulous room service and Bachelor date night. Thanks to Nat & Andrew for the fun trip!

Poor Scraped Knees

OUCH!

This is what happens when kido wears shorts for the first time of the season (not that it's anywhere near shorts season, I wish) Christian is a little clumsy when he runs but nothing that Spider Man bandaids can't cure..."Look mom, my owees are all better now!"

Showing Off

Check out my first teeth.

The "Choke Hold"

Mason's favorite passtime - Standing - you have to force this boy's body to bend and actually sit!

2 Little Minis - Matching Girlfriend Irelynn

Note to Self

Don't turn on windshield wipers with 6 inches of heavy, wet snow on the windshield! I was too lazy and didn't want to get wet by scraping the snow off first, so I turned on the wipers to see if they could clear it for me. My good idea FAILED (although it's been successful many times in the past). Apparently I broke them or blew a fuse or something (yes it was mostly my fault) and we were stuck driving to Sunday dinner in a blizzard with NO WIPERS forcing us to pull over every 10 seconds to clear the windshield by hand (with my husband rolling his eyes at me the entire time like I'm an idiot). Not to mention almost getting stuck several times because we have yet to buy that SUV we keep talking about. I'm so over the snow!

Great Movie

Marley & Me. You have to see it, especially if you're a dog-lover or parent or just need a good laugh or cry for that matter. It completely fit my life as I know it lately. Maybe it was so great because I haven't been to a movie FOREVER or because it was a much-needed girl's night with a dear friend (not to mention the fabulous sushi we had beforehand) but I highly recommend it. I'm hoping to catch it again if anyone needs a date to join them. Enjoy!

6 Months and SOOO BIG

Check out Mr. Flirt performing his latest tricks...he gets on all fours and rocks, then takes off scooting backwards 'til he gets stuck under the couch, then wails in frustration. He's so determined to go places and catch up to his big brother. He weighs 17 pounds and is 27 inches long now...hard to believe he's already 6 months old!

Love the naked dimple bum and rolls...
the hat is compliments of Christian, "you wear it like this Mason."

Christian sees Mason getting attention and has to

copy, "look Mom, I'm stuck too."

Holidays Ain't Over Yet

Christian sobbed when we took down the tree..."I want my tree to stay in my house!" and he's still singing Frosty and Rudolph "like a lightbulb" daily, so why not post a few more fun holiay pics, seeing we had four Christmases and all, not to mention the multiple birthday celebrations.

More cute PJ poses, compliments of Grandma Linda. Christian poses just like I used to at his age, head turned to the side..."cheeeeese..."
Mason scoots backwards until he gets STUCK!

Mom's Birthday dinner - Mason trying to "eat" his big brother, one of his favorite activites.

Jess, this one's for you - yummy Macaroni Grill bread, now that's what I'm talking about. Christian had it figured out, "I want the BIG ONE."

Bye Bye Binkies - Hooray!

It's night 2 without a binky for our Big Boy Christian and mom is cheering! All this time I thought it would be such an ordeal to forgo his favorite bedtime friend and then last night I just put him to bed without one and he didn't even ask for it. Mission accomplished.

He really is growing up fast and it makes me a little sad. He didn't nap today either, please don't let that end just yet! It's funny that Mason won't even take a binky and Christian is finally over his at age 2 and 1/2. The recent transition to his "Big Boy" bunkbed has probably helped but now he requests mom or dad to lay with him. Any ideas on breaking this new habit??
Christian lounging with his Best Buddy Jace in Maui last year. Farewell to the sweet binky face, now onto potty training 101...wish us luck!

Happy New Year!!

"Here Mason, now blow this!" Nothing like sharing our germs with little brother...hey, at least he's sharing.

It's the 9 nine-year anniversary since Troy and I first hungout. The romance all began New Year's Eve 2000 and look where we are today. Happy Anniversary Honey, it's been a great ride so far!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2009!