Monday, February 28, 2011

November

Here are my little Indians having a Thanksgiving feast in preschool.
For the month of November, Jonny attended Miss Wendy's preschool because he had really been struggling having to share his mommy with a new baby sister, my other preschool students, the young women in our ward, etc. He was really acting out, being naughty, and driving me bonkers! I knew he needed something of his own to get excited about and just time away from me so that when we were together, we could both appreciate each other more. It was exactly what we both needed, but when I found out two of my preschool boys were moving, I felt I better bring Jon back to my class for the rest of the year so that Owen wasn't the only boy. So Emily made her Indian hat with me, and Jonny made his pilgrim hat with Miss Wendy. And they played pilgrims and Indians for hours that day. :)
We watched Cynthia's kids for two days, and it was one big party! Emily, Elora, Jon, and Max all had a blast having a sleepover together. And yes, Cynthia, Jonny is wearing Max's cool pajamas because Jonny begged him, and Max thought it would be cool to sleep in his clothes anyway. So funny!
Elora and Emily enjoyed their heart shared sandwiches...
...while Jon and Max played with their dinosaur sandwiches. Later, they did actually EAT it, but wouldn't YOU play with your food, too, if it was cut out like a dinosaur?! ;) Kiana has been really special to our family. She's one of the young women I serve with in our ward, but she's also one of my favorite people to hang out with! I'll take her driving (with her in the driver's seat) since she has her learner's permit and is close to getting her licence. And we just laugh the whole time. I love this girl! Oh, and she babysits almost every weekend, so of course our children adore her, too. Her mom is also a dear friend and my visiting teaching companion, and we have a sweet connection as well.
No, we aren't the proud owners of this adorable puppy, but she moved into our basement apartment in November, so we play with her daily. Her name is Bea Bea, and we call her "crazy pants" because she's a typical puppy and runs around like crazy nonstop...kind of like my 3 year old. ;) We also really like her owners. JR is the world's biggest Star Wars fan with tons of memorabilia and Adriane is an actress so she has boxes full of make up and dress up clothes. Needless to say, Jon and Emily want to go downstairs and play with them everyday! Grown adults with cool toys? I can't compete with that! We do miss our last family who lived downstairs. When I was on bedrest last summer, Brooke and Marin saved my sanity because we spent every morning relaxing in the backyard together while the kids colored with side walk chalk.
On Thanksgiving day, Wade and I ran the 5K Turkey Trot in Cottonwood Heights, in 17 degree weather. Brrrr! Wade ran while pushing the double jogging stroller, and I ran while pushing Sarah in her stroller. It was insane, yet fun to include the whole family because we REALLY had to try to bundle up warm at 9am, but we did it! In 2007, I set a goal to run at least one 5K every year of my life. My first year, I ran several, but this year, I was lucky to squeak one in towards the end of the year. I'm already training for my favorite run, the Heart of Holladay 5K, on June 12.
Here's Wade showing off his mustache with his little twin, Jonny. I'm not crazy about the mustache idea, but he grows one with a friend every November because it's cancer awareness month in Canada.
Before Thanksgiving dinner with Wade's mom and step dad, we stopped by my sister's house in West Jordan to spend some time with Margaret and Ruthanne and their families. They were originally planning on spending Thanksgiving in St. George, but with the weather report talking about that big storm, which ended up being kind of lame, no one wanted to travel on the freeway. I thought it would be fun to end this long post with a cute smile from our babe thanks to Aunt Ruthanne tickling her.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Fun at the Gateway

We're loving our pass to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum to help us get out of the house once a week. Each time, we bring along a friend which makes it even more fun. This time, we invited Jenica, Addie, and Jaxon.
Although he used to call Addie his girlfriend, when Jonny took his shirt off and started working on his truck like a little stud muffin, I thought maybe he was hoping to pick up on some new women. haha It was so random, but he told me that's what you do when you're a "workerman."
Phew, I finally convinced him to put his shirt back on so they wouldn't kick us out of the museum.
Addie and Jonny riding off into the sunset...
Emily and Addie
Music time!
how Sarah spends most of her time whenever we're there
until she wakes up, asking for mommy to feed her
Donating some change on our way out as the coins go around and around and around...

some random favorites

My friend, Kim, bought Sarah one of the cutest baby girl outfits I had seen. There's an owl on the front asking, "Who's the cutest?" Then on the toes, it says, "I'm the cutest." Love it!
We have a make up artist in our home...can you guess who? Emily received some glitter make up for her birthday in October from Jon and Sarah, and she's been having fun with it ever since.
Go Daddy! The So Jo 5K was one of the three 5K races Wade ran last fall. He's been having a blast training and becoming a runner again.
Every morning before I go to the gym at 6am, I pump some mommy's milk just in case Sarah wakes up hungry before I return. This was the first time Jonathan got a chance to feed her, and he was quite a proud big brother. Every time someone asks me how the heck I find time to work out everyday, I tell them it's because I go before the family is up for the day, and that I do it for MY sanity. Yes, I've slimmed down and toned up a bit, but more than anything, it helps me stay balanced emotionally and mentally so I don't struggle as much. It's been worth it!
walking Emily to dance class a half mile away
The funnest thing about having a second girl is having her wear her sister's hand me downs. I used to love this outfit on Emily. She always seemed so cozy and happy in it, just as Sarah does now.
Here's Emily dancing along to a High School Musical song while wearing what she likes to call her "dancing skirt" homemade by my sister in law, Elizabeth. Sarah even has a matching one, I love!
My other sister in law, Diana, picked out this outfit for Sarah, and I snapped this picture just for her.
After preschool one day, Jonny and Sophie climbed into Sarah's crib, knowing they were being a little mischievous, but for them, it's a lifestyle, so Kristal and I just shrugged out shoulders and laughed. :)
Until Sophie was accepted into Headstart 4 days a week, I was lucky enough to have her in my preschool class for 4 months and have Kristal watch baby Sarah as trade. They have a special connection.
My favorite time of day just might be my one on one time with Sarah after Emily and Jon are in bed. Before or after her bath, I'll just hold her and talk to her, and she'll talk back with "Hi...ah...ooh...and the like." Precious moments.

Celebrating our 7th Anniversary

We returned to the Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah for the third year in a row to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Can you believe we've been married 7 years? Crazy!
After relaxing on Friday and enjoying a wonderful dinner, the next morning, we rode the Heber Valley Railroad, which included some stunning scenery.
Just beautiful!
This little munchkin joined us of course since I'm a nursing mama, but we didn't mind because she's pretty stinkin' cute! Thanks again to Grandpa and Grandma Reed for watching Jon and Emily so we could have some much needed time away.

Halloween 2010

Is it true? Am I finally posting my Halloween pics even though Valentine's Day is already passed? Sheesh, I guess 3 kids has kept me busy lately!You're going to love this, Sarah is the ONLY one of us whose costume was complete at our Neighborhood Trunk of Treat! We have a soccer player without his soccer ball, batman without his eye mask, Ariel the Little Mermaid without her crown, and a witch without her hat. hehe We left in a hurry and forgot a few of our accessories. ;)
Jon, Emily, Lacey, Zack, and Ada
Jonny with his best pal, Ollie
And a month later, Wade took this picture of our little Sarah kitty since the ones we took on Halloween didn't turn out as good.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Emily, the 5 year old

It's like I blinked and this baby girl grew up...
...to become a beautiful, creative, dancing 5 year-old girl. I thought it was appropriate to put that picture of Emily at Disneyland when she was 6 months old since she is so excited for our family to go again in April.
my big 5 year-old girl BEFORE the 6 inch haircut...
...and AFTER the haircut, all smiles with some of her best buddies, Allison and Avery
celebrating her birthday at preschool with chocolate pudding (her choice) and milk
riding her two wheeler on our way to a neighborhood party...I can't believe how grown up she is!

Some Fall Fun in Preschool

I heart preschool. I really do. I spend two mornings a week singing and dancing with children, creating dinosaur mountains out of play dough, seeing a child's eyes light up when they learn something new, and visiting fun places in our community on class field trips. It's awesome. Here are some fun adventures we had this fall:
Field Trip to Harmon's Grocery Store
Having hula hoop competitions with my students...Guess what? I've been getting really good lately, just not as good as my 5 year old daughter!
Field Trip to Gardner Village to see the witches and get into the Halloween spirit
playing in the leaves...again...again...and again
so fun!
Halloween Program
Mailing letters to our parents during our lesson on community helpers...Falle is a rad mail carrier, right Brynn, Darcy, Kathy, and Kim?
Field Trip to the Fire Station