HOPPY Easter & Spring Break Sunshine

Looks like Easter BLUES was our color of choice this year...

Many FUN Easter celebrations this year:
- Grandma Jody's annual egg/money hunt where the adults were crawling on the ground and tearing apart the house for cash!
- St. George for Spring Break included a neighborhood egg hunt at the park, Jace's grand backyard hunt with treats and prizes gallore for his 4 grand-kiddos, Art's Festival, fishing, swimming...
- Yes, a full week of beautiful sunshine while it was snowy and cold in SLC. It was heavenly, definitely did my soul good. As if the 80 degree weather wasn't nice enough, we ventured down to Vegas and Mesquite for 90 degree temps at the pool, the Mandalay Bay Beach and Wave pool and Casablanca. Mom & Christian even had a special mommy/son overnight date in Sin City with our good friends to see the Tournament of Knights, filled with action packed sword fighting. It was a little intense but Christian LOVED it and I loved hanging solo with 1 kiddo. Oh how easy it used to be with 1...

Funny moments:

- While some guys were out playing air guns in the open land behind my mom's house, my boys sneaked up on them with swords, guns and a Superman cape like little snipers. Mason ran up and started whacking a guy with his light saber. Hilarious! Then they came back and complained that they guys called them "little kids." They think they are SO BIG! - Running though the splash pad attacking the spraying water like ninjas with swords (okay, my boys REALLY like their weapons).
- Driving the ride-on Jeep like maniacs down Nana's street
THE BEST: Boys were fishing with Daddy, Mason kept asking if the bait (which is bright colored goo) was playdough and we said it was the fish food. So after catching the first fish and it's laying in the net, slowing dying (so sad), we look over to find Mason stuffing wads of the bright colored bait into the fish's mouth. "Look, I'm feeding the fish!" He was so proud.

We caught this beautiful cactus flower for it's 1-day bloom.

GIANT scone at the Art's Fest (and we had already eaten half of it) - Mason had to hold the whole thing of course. No sharing for 2 year olds.

The latest "fighting pose" - apparently the days of cute smiling boys posed for a pic are over.

Look what the Easter Bunny brought us, more Star Wars stuff, imagine that! And yet another "fighting pose." Christian was adament the Bunny hid his basket on the roof, good thing he found it before he found a way to get up there!

Ninjas at the splash pad



Mommy/Date in Vegas - Cheers for the knights!

Showing off our Vegas Beach, is this boy skinny or what?!

Don't ya love our Easter masks?? Grandma Jody has all the best holiday gear...


Let the hunt begin.

Hope you all had a grand Easter celebration as well!

xoxo from our crazy fam

Lately

• We caved and got a new kitty, the same kitty we picked out, take that shelter! We had to work the system to rescue an animal. She has a huge racoon tail and big, blue eyes. Always purring and so sweet.


• When will it stop snowing? Will it ever stop? Beginning to think I live in Alaska. Definitely think I have seasonal mood disorder. NEED SUNSHINE.


• Happy 6 years of wedding bliss/craziness/adventures to me and Troy. 11 years together so it always feels like much longer. Hubs took me for brunch at Ruth's Diner (in the snowstorm). Couples massages at night. So relaxing and much needed. Tried Mazza for dinner - first time there and food was excellent. Night without kids - even more excellent. Why don't we "date" more often?? Note to self: book babysitters.


• Mason decided the new kitty needed a bath and threw her in with him. Wet paw prints everywhere and poor, drenched kitty...how lovely she smells now.


• Christian's soccer game was pure chaos - kids tackling, pushing, rolling on the ground + picture day + my turn to bring treats. Needed a nap afterwards.


• Big boy haircut for Mr. Mason - and not by choice - why do I keep returning to that dang Cookie Cutters? They butched all his curls off and he looks TOO BIG. His latest, giving "lugs" - hugs/loves. The best.


• Really, is this snow going to stop? Ever? I'm so bitter, need to be more positive. My tulips are trying to come up. We need to plant the garden. Too much snow.


• Big work project due on Monday, for once I feel prepared. Whew, always good to be finished. Woo hoo!


• Oh and the Official Big ANNOUNCEMENT, for those of you I haven't told yet...I'm preggers! That's right, I'm putting on the pounds quickly at this point. 15 weeks and due Oct. 3rd. Just starting to feel the little flutters. I was pretty sick this go around (new for me) but feeling much better now. I have a new sense of sympathy for those of you who get deathly ill while pregnant. So sorry!! Mine was minor and NOT FUN. I can actually survive without a daily nap now and I can manage cooking dinner occasionally (okay maybe once a week, take out is always better). We're excited for #3 and terrified at the same time. Mason's daily tantrums and bullying his brother and friends really make me nervous. Hoping he grows up a lot this summer. And he thinks he has a "baby brother" in his belly too. Obviously hoping mine is a "sister" but we'll take whatever healthy, beautiful angel God sends us.


• Now onto Spring, Easter, Christian's birthday (5 years!), and hopefully WARMER WEATHER!

Maui, Heaven on Earth

Nana gave us a trip to Maui for Christmas, lucky us. Such a great time of year to escape the cold and head to paradise. Just wished we could have stayed longer (I know, I'll stop complaining). Maui was like a second home to me growing up (I know again, so spoiled) then Troy and I made it our wedding site, so it's always been a very special place for us and feels like returning home. Now if we could just find a way to actually make it home, however I don't think they need cobblers to fix all those flip flops. The boys were in heaven chasing the waves, digging in the sand, catching geckos, swimming in the pirate ship kiddie pool and boogie boarding. We saw tons of whales right of the coast and I even got a free whale watch boat trip thanks to my single sister catching the eye of the boat captain (thanks Paige). I thoroughly enjoyed basking in the sun, doing nothing and playing photog with my new Canon. Troy got excited about all the fabulous, fresh seafood. He was our personal chef, grilling up ahi tuna, mahi mahi, Hawaiian ono and fresh pineapple on the BBQ every night. Tasty! Flight day: Wake up with Mason coughing/high fever and Christian with pink eye. Oh joy. We were being punished. Christian didn't make a peep on the 6 hour flight with his new DS in hand and Lego Star Wars game and didn't ask once when we were going to be there. However Mason took 3 of us constantly juggling him to keep him happy and entertained. The joys of traveling with kids. So worth it once we arrived to the warm, tropical air! Picture Overload - be forwarned!

Boogie Boarding down the pirate slide!

Hawaiian Dudes

Hot waterfall pouring in the hot tub, heavenly.

Very clever Uncle Johnny, boys will be boys.

Who can resist their birthday suit in the great outdoors?

New Ukuleles

Whale Watching Boat Trip - Whales everywhere, I have 100 shots like these!

Paddle Boards

Love my BEACH BABES!!

Brave Christian riding the big slide solo, love the goggle face.

Aloha to Maui, until next time! It was truly wonderful. Mahalo Mama/Nana for the fabulous Hawaiian getaway, you're the best and we love you dearly! We don't even have any pictures to prove you were there...

Born Too Early

My cute cousin is newly married and was pregnant with twins, due in July. Well those babies had another plan, they were born last week at only 23 weeks (4 months premature!). I'm worried sick for my cousin and those tiny, tiny babies - girl weighs 1.5 lbs. and boy weighs only 1 lb. I just can't even imagine giving birth so early, not being able to hear my babies cry, not being able to hold and cuddle them in my arms and not knowing if they will survive. It's so heartbreaking. I can't stop thinking about it, such a hard way to start out mommyhood. I'm praying and hoping for the best, whatever God's plan may be for them. Stay strong new mom, dad and little angels!

Lost Kitty Shelter Drama

So we lost our kitty a couple weeks ago. She went outside one day and just never came back. I'm sad and hope she didn't suffer but I'm not devasted about it. Growing up, our cats always came and went, not like dogs who are always so loyal. I was feeling a little guilty about not "looking" hard enough for kitty so we made a trip down to the animal shelter yesterday to see if she had been turned in (knowing it's very unlikely, I mean who calls animal control when they see a wandering cat?) And knowing the animal-lover inside me would kick in wanting to rescue all the cats, and having my kids in tow, I really knew it wasn't the best idea... So I tell all the shelter employees I'm looking for my cat and they show me the strays and the cats waiting to be adopted - SO MANY!! Of course my kids start asking to take one home and the cute cuddly kitties staring at me start pulling at the heartstrings. After a good hour of debating and holding our favorites, I make the judgement call..."sure kids, let's get a new cat!" We picked out a darling long-haired cat with big blue eyes. The DRAMA The staff sends me to the back office to meet the "Adoption Specialist." I start filling out the paperwork and running my mouth how we came in looking for our cat and now we're going home with a new one, thinking it was funny. Obviously I'm an animal lover or I wouldn't be there. The lady immediately rips the paper away from me and starts drilling me - "how long ago did you lose your cat?? what have you done to find her? have you taken postcards to all your neighbors and posted signs at the shelter?" I stutter trying to assure her we've been looking when she announces that I haven't grieved long enough and I need to search for at least 30 days and grieve longer before I can adopt another pet. WHAT?!? Who is she to tell me I haven't grieved long enough over my pet? It's not like I'm going to return the cat if it doesn't work out. I mean I'm trying to help the stray pet population and she is denying me?? Ridiculous! she even flagged my name in the system like I was a freakin' criminal! No wonder they have so many animals needing homes. If I wanted the cat bad enough I'd just send my husband or a friend back in to get it for me - and forwarn them NOT to mention having lost any pets. Be warned! So I'm over it for now...so many cute, cute kitties needing homes but there will always be another cat available and life is chaotic enough at our house right now. Sorry boys, no pets for now :(

Circus Dancers

I took my boys to a very small scale circus, in fact it was the perfect size for young kids. With blasting club music, my boys (who can't resist a good beat) were more into dancing than the actual circus. Very easily entertained...and so was I by watching my personal little Circus Dancers.

Too bad I can't get the dancing videos to upload here - they are hilarious!

Who can resist a snowcone when it's 10 degrees below zero outside?? And Mason sharing, that's a RARE photo op.
Watch for the Jordan World Circus to come to your town next year. They reel you in with free children's tickets then rob you with elephant rides, pony rides, light up swords and bouncy houses during intermission at 10 bucks a pop!

Thanks Christa and girls for the fun circus date.

Coconut, Troopers and Such

Just a few of Mason's latest fads.

He calls the color white "coconut" and it's so dang cute I just can't correct him. What color are your eyes? Mason: "um, blue and coconut." And his trooper helmet? Also coconut and perfectly pronounced. Love it and love him. All started with Christian requesting the white Jelly Bellys which are coconut flavored. Too funny.

He's obsessed with "twoopers" - Star Wars Clone Troopers - and he carries at least 3 lego troopers in his pocket everywhere he goes - to bed, to swimming lessons, the store, you name it. He bites their heads off when they fight the bad guys, they must have a gun or sword in their hands at all times and he talks about everything Star Wars all day long - definitely a little obsessive. Shouldn't he be into Elmo or Thomas the Train?? He's only 2 and 1/2 for crying out loud!

He has marathon conversations with himself in bed at night (we're taking a good hour and half). "What happened to Darth Vader? I forgot what Luke Jedi Knight do to his father? I like Captain Rex and Commander Cody and Boba Fett..." It's like he's talking to someone and he'll even answer his own questions. I guess his big brother is partly to blame for his extensive Star Wars knowledge. He knows every character's name and who flies which ships. It's hilarious. Then he'll bust out singing the Star Wars theme song. Piece of work. Almost daily Troy and I look at each other and ask "where did he come from?"

And Mason the BULLY, that's a whole other post...he is constantly teasing his brother, cousins and random kids we come across. I wonder how many parenting books exist on "how to raise a bully" or "when you're child is the bully." Guess I better start doing some research.

He sure is a cute bully though.

Winter Blues

How would it be to wake up to this view in January?? I definitely wouldn't have the winter blues. Now I see why my mom never wants to leave...


The freezing cold temps and yucky inversion sent us southbound to sunny St. George for a whole week. It was HEAVENLY to see clear skies and sunshine! We played at the park without coats, swam in the hot tub (boys fave activity) and shopped consignment furniture stores with the ladies (my mom, Grammie and aunt). Wish we could all just move down there for the winters. Need to work on getting jobs down South or early retirement of some sort. We were all punished with horrible colds when we returned (fevers, chest coughs, the works) - not fun! And we all know moms are NOT ALLOWED to be sick when their kiddos are sick. Just wanted to sleep all day, be waited on and get a little sympathy - yeah right.

Nerf Gun War

Christian's preschool field trip to Discovery Gateway Museum - Mom & Mason got to tag along.

Who could resist this face??

Many of you know I had a shih tzu for 10 years and he was my BABY. Well my mom and I spontaneously "borrowed" this darling shih tzu puppy overnight (horrible idea). I was in love, calling Troy telling him I wanted to bring her home (to which he threatened to leave me)...but by morning I was singing a different tune. The dang puppy kept me up ALL NIGHT - digging at my hair, whining, peeing, running laps on my bed. So horrible! Guess I needed to be reminded that I don't want a puppy anytime soon. Toddler are enough work!