Thursday Picture - 13 Weeks

13 Weeks Old

My little man, Mommy is not ready for this day. Tonight I have to kiss your sweet cheeks and leave you and go to work. I know it has to happen and I'm so thankful that I've been so spoiled to be able to stay at home for this long and love you and just be a mommy to you and your sweet sisters. Its hard because we are just figuring out our routine and now we will have to be patient with each other as we figure out our new routine.

This week you got to spend a few days with Nana and Papa while mommy and daddy went to St. George for their anniversary. Mommy was hopeful that you would be sweet and sleep through the night for them but you decided you needed more time with them and woke them up to hang out. I'm pretty sure you grew during those few days we were gone, I'm not sure if I appreciated that.

9 Years...Who'da Thunk!

 

9 Years - 3 Kids  - 2 College Degrees - 5 Jobs -3 Houses - 14 Vehicles - 4 Cats - 3 Dogs - 3 Countries Traveled - 1 Trucking Company - Innumerable Hunts - 6 Disney Trips

And what a great ride it's been. This guy reads me like a book which I love and hate at the same time. He is an amazing husband and the sweetest daddy. He loves us all unconditionally. I love his vision and his courage. I'm so proud of the company he has worked so hard to nurture and build over the last 2 1/2 years. We laugh together, carry on long conversations but are content to be in silence. I sweeten him up a little bit and he makes me a little sassy. I love this man more and more every day and I'm so thankful for him!

Our anniversary happen to fall on the last week of my leave from work. We took advantage of having the time off and spent 3 days in St. George. The kiddies stayed with Nana and Papa so I savored every second of being able to sleep all night long and Cody lovingly let me sleep in as long as I wanted in the morning. We spent a day swimming and wave running on Sand Hollow. Neither of us had been there and we would definitely go back. Someday if I learn to dive we will have to go, because there is an airplane and VW Bus submerged there.

Love this guy! And he loves me, I can tell because he takes all the silly pictures I ask.

That night we found ourselves at Outback where we enjoyed a delicious dinner. Our appetizer was mouthwatering! Fresh crab meat over avocado with a wasabi sauce. I might be salivating right now thinking about it.

Cody had found a hike to a waterfall in the Red Rock state park, but just our luck that half of the park was closed for geological testing the exact days we were there. We decided that since we were already out and about we might as well work off the Bear Paw breakfast we had.

We hiked to a historic pioneer home. I love old stuff like this. Standing next to it in the blazing early afternoon sun I realized that I would not have been a very good pioneer wife. There was also the remnants of a movie set from the '60s out there.

We hiked to an abandoned silver mine, more cool old stuff.

We hiked along for a while more, looking for the loop that the map had shown. Never found it. I'm pretty sure we were following a game trail and finally had to bail off down a side hill following my goat husbands trail. Fun to explore a new area after traveling down there so many times, but after hiking in the middle of the day I was happy to plop myself in a nice cool pool.

Strawberry Days

Sit back, Relax, and enjoy. Strawberry Days is here again. This week is chuck full of traditions and activities for our family. My brother McKay, who is serving an LDS mission in Sweden, wrote home and admitted that this week of the year is almost harder for him to miss than Christmas time.

My sassy mom, someday I will look all put together like her. She is amazing, I love her.

My little cuties in their Strawberry gear.

Mr. Hayze was as sweet as ever as he celebrated his first Strawberry Days. Big sister Mya loves this little man to bits. She loves to snuggle him whenever she gets the chance, sometimes they aren't very long snuggles but they do happen.

Sadie was grandpa's buddy during the parade. It might be because he was the shade master, she's like her mama and gets pretty red cheeks when it's hot.

Grams and Hayze

This year the girls actually wanted to go to the carnival. Never thought we would get to that point but it happened. No tears were shed. Nervous Nellie Mya was still pretty cautious about it all but found a few rides that were her speed. My previously anti-Merry go round gal happily participated and rode it multiple times.

Sadie wanted to ride the dragon, and sweet grandpa waited an extra turn so that she could be the first one in line and would be sure got it. She is a very serious rider, this little smile was before take off. During the ride she was all business.

Of course if there are cars Mya will find them. This ride brought back memories of the good old days...of me and all my cousins piled in cruising at the carnie.

That night we got all dressed up and headed to the rodeo. Grams and Grandpa had been saving outfits for them that they found at the National Finals Rodeo last December. We were walking in and Mya said to me, 'Mom, I'm a real cowgirl huh? Because I have pants and boots, and a belt and a hat!'

Sadie woke up on the wrong side of her nap after an already fun filled day. She decided that she didn't want to wear her jeans to the rodeo, she wanted to wear her blue skinny jeans with white polka dots. I finally talked her out of that and she agreed to denim skinny jeans and I tucked them inside her boots...because of course she wanted to wear her boots and belt. So we were heading out the door and she sat down on the floor and started to fuss that her boots were too tight on her legs. Oh my. At that point she agreed to put on her jeans because daddy assured her that it would solve the tight boot problem. If this is any sign of what her teen years will hold we are going to have to be ready.

Don't you worry little mister didn't get left out. He's sporting his very own western wear.

Daddy snuggling with Hayze. He's sporting his awesome bamboo print cowboy shirt courtesy of his mission in the Ivory Coast.

Sadie parked herself with Megan and was much happier about the night.

Tired eyes and berries and cream...signs of a good day.

Thursday Pictures - 12 Weeks

12 Weeks Old

Little man found his voice this week. We had a lovely little conversation he and I. We sat on the couch and he looked me right in the face and for a good five minutes he coo'd and whoo'd and basically made me melt. He also, sweetly, decided to let his mommy sleep through the night more. Some nights he escapes his wrap and that usually leads to fussing but once he's all snuggled back in and he gets his binki we are good to go until about 5 or 5:30. Big sister Sadie loves when he smiles at her and she will run over and announce that, 'Hayze smiled at me!! That means he wuvs me!'. Yes little Miss, I'm pretty sure that is exactly what that means.

Miss Mya is 5!!

This pretty little miss had a birthday. She was thrilled to have her special day finally arrive. Day to day I don't feel like that much time has passed but when pause I am blown away that my baby is 5 years old. She is such a joy to have in our family! She is such a sweet little soul with a tender heart. She loves her siblings and is quick to defend them or share tears of sympathy if needed. She is the biggest helper to me now that our little brother has arrived. She loves to snuggle, but her snuggles only last a minute or so because pretty soon her little body just can't keep still any longer. I love you my darling girl, more than you will ever know...I love you one hundred and fifty ninety.

An interview with Miss Mya...

Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Daddy

What is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite TV show? Octonauts, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

What is your favorite outfit? Strawberry shirt

Where do you wish we could go on vacation? Disneyland and a beach.

What would you buy if you had $1000? A humongous stroller and some cars.

What is your favorite vegetable? Mushrooms

What is your favorite thing to eat? Mac and cheese, shrimp, crab legs

What sport do you like best? Archery and Soccer

What songs do you love? I love to see the Temple, Mary Poppins

What's your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

Who is your best friend? Hadlee and Bo

What do you want to be when you grow up? An Artist

What is your favorite book? Fancy Nancy

What are your favorite movies? Cars, Cars 2, Incredibles, Swan Princess

Who is your hero? Daddy

She was beside herself with excitement that evening as she waited for everyone to arrive. She asked me if she could choose to open her presents first. I told her that would be absolutely acceptable.

No celebration for this girl would be complete with out an addition to her Car collection. Nana made sure that she was taken care of and Daddy and I got her an illustrated encyclopedia with all the cars in the movies. It has provided some great reading.

My little Pony is a new found love.

This grown up girl has to have a grown up bike.

Little Miss sometimes has a hard time making up her mind. I wonder who she gets that from...

She wanted a cars cake, then maybe Brave or Olivia, then back to cars. We finally settled on cupcakes with My Little Ponies on top.

Sadie couldn't decide which flavor she wanted so why not have two.

We are pretty lucky to have such supportive and loving family that came to celebrate with as. She also received many phone calls from her Aunts and Uncles across the country.

Uncle Tyson and Aunt Hallah

We were lucky that Aunt Cami and cousin Abigail were here visiting and got to celebrate with us.

Miss Mya, you know you are loved when your guests break out your new lady bug game and play with you despite it being a lengthy endeavor.

Thursday Picture - 11 Weeks

11 Weeks Old

I might be just a little smitten with this little man and his comb over. He can be a little solemn, but then once you get him to smile it lights up his entire face.

The time we went to the splash pad 2 days in a row

It finally happened, as it usually does here in Utah, you go to bed one night after a cold, rainy, week and when you wake up it's instantly summer. It's sunny, hot and time to find water. Last year our hang out of choice was in Highland but this year, since we moved, that seemed like kind of a trek. I had heard that there was a splash pad at the Shops at Riverwoods and since that is much closer we tried it our one evening after dinner. It was such a success we went back the next day and while tucking them into bed I was receiving requests to return the following day. Glad to know I've discovered a quick go to place to let them get their wiggles out. 

 We brought our buckets to play with and they were quite the hit. The girls got lots of sharing practice because they would put one down and pretty soon a rouge toddler would snatch it up and carry it off to the other end of the pad. I wasn't too worried because its not that big of a place and really, it's a bucket. Sadie would get a little concerned when they would stray too far away but to her relief an embarrassed mom would always bring it back.  

 I'm not sure what she was pretending but it was hilarious to watch her, she was undoubtedly enjoying every minute.

 Miss Mya was pretty excited to discover that she could do 'splits' and touch two of the fountains.

Hayze and I found some shade and enjoyed being outside. He was content and sweet as always. He did have a pretty impressive blow out and all I had was long sleeve jammies, not so great on a hot day. So he chilled in his dipe for a while. Lucky for us Gymboree is conveniently located nearby and was having a great sale. Mommy may have got a cute little romper for really cheap.