Sunday, May 19, 2013

The one with the much needed family vacation

My cute nephew got married May 4th in the Portland, OR temple, so we decided since we were heading down for it, we would take a much needed small family vacation to Seaside, OR. My parents came to Seattle a couple days before the wedding, then we all car-a-vanned over to Portland for the wedding. It was a lovely ceremony in the temple. And after the temple, Mike and Heidi hosted a delicious luncheon at Staford's steakhouse. Oh my goodness, such delicious food! The bride and groom had a ring ceremony there as well. Then they had a reception that evening in Corvallis (where my sister lives). Such a fun time! I enjoyed my time with my sisters and parents. Then Sunday morning we headed for the coast. We totally lucked out in the weather department (the OR coast can be iffy, and usually cold and rainy!). But it was sunny and warm, even hot on Sunday! The kids had a blast building sand-castles, running on the beach, collecting shells and other creatures, chasing the seagulls, swimming in the hotel pool (their favorite part actually!), flying kites, eating lots and lots and LOTS of taffy, s'mores in the hotel room (they opted for indoor s'mores and a movie instead of a beach bonfire), shopping at the outlet malls (ok, they didn't really enjoy that, but they have been enjoying the spoils!), the aquarium, and just spending quality time together as a family. We can't wait to go back!

Sandy faces! Thank heavens for baby powder

Our view from our room!


What a good Dad, holding the kite 



Yes, that sand landed right on him! lol





The giant octopus at the aquarium. 

The one with the "baller"

Troy has entered the ranks of t-ball! He is having such a blast, and I am loving every minute watching his cute little self run bases, catch grounders, and hit balls off the t. What a stud he is! He is the youngest by far (we had to appeal for a exception to let him in, even though he is under the age limit), but you would never know it by watching them! He pumps his little arms so hard when he runs, and smokes every one of those boys off the line. He is a little speed deamon! This has been such a great outlet for him, and I look forward to many, many, many more baseball games in the years to come. These are a few pictures from his first game.






Made it to first! 

The one with the unintentional Boise State colors

Got my girls their Easter dresses...and didn't realize they were all wearing Boise State colors until I took their pictures. Erik is brain-washing us all!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!! :) We had a few minutes before our 8:30 church to grab some quick photos...ok, let's be honest, I was already running a few minutes behind so I decided to be fashionably late!








Erik is following in my Dad's footsteps :) He always has a gash on his head!


The one where Mom reflects on her amazing life

Dang I'm blessed. Three healthy, beautiful, funny, intelligent kids, and one handsome, devoted, caring husband! Life is G-O-O-D!!!

And now for a random little catch-up of pictures:

This girl LOVES her oranges!!


Troy got a hold of the camera again, and took this awesome picture of his new McDonalds toy! lol 

And his carrot craft :)

"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream!!"

"It's in my mouth!"

Easter preview. 

Do you get a sense of what my house smelled like with this beauties?! Erik was a tad overwhelmed lol

Smell that? That's the smell of summer! It's almost here!!!




Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The one with no extra time...so this is what you get

I have great intentions to blog often with lots of great pictures, but that hasn't been a reality lately. So I am settling for notes and thoughts I have been trying to remember and jot down.

1. Savannah is becoming quite the sass-mouth. Her favorite line/word is usually when I call her and she says, "What?" (pronounced whatsss with quite the little lisp, sooo darn cute!).

2. Yesterday when I told her to come inside she said to me, "I don't wantssss to." Ummm, ok, you can do whatever you want little princess! Because that is what she is around here. She practically does no wrong.

3. Troy is still playing tee-ball and loving it.

4. Last week after his game, the kids were playing on the playground while the adults chatted aka ate the left-over snacks, when I looked over and saw Brooklyn covering her head with her arms, surrounded by Troy and a couple other boys on his team and they were taking turns smacking her! Oooh man, I don't think Troy has ever seen me so angry! We had a loooooong discussion about how wrong that is! And about how he is supposed to protect and look after his sisters. I'm still kinda fuming about it, and really hoping the discussion stuck. Especially since they will be in school together next year.

5. Savannah still takes off her shoes and socks in the car. Every.time.

6. We enjoyed our first beach outing last week in beautiful 80 degree weather. Savannah thought she was the best swimmer ever and ventured out a little too far and slipped under the water. The first time I was about 50 feet from her and I don't think I have ever ran that fast. The super cold water was a little shocking to her, and I was shaking from adrenaline. The second time I was right beside her, but she wasn't fazed a bit. Ooh boy, she'll be in a life-jacket all summer for sure.

7. A couple weekends ago we were able to attend my nephew, Matt Neuffer's, wedding in Portland. We took a couple more days and ventured up the coast to Seaside for a mini family vacation. It was just what the doctor ordered. And we had unseasonably beautiful weather to boot!

8. Erik has been getting home on time lately, what a treat! But that also means I have had to start cooking dinner again. :)

9. I am gearing up for an Olympic distance triathlon at the end of summer (Sept. 7th). I am really hoping it will kick start my metabolism again and get me motivated to lose those stubborn last 10 pounds.

10. My niece and her family moved to Auburn this past month, and we have LOVED having them here! The kids adore their cousins.

11. Savannah has even been carrying around their (my niece's) Christmas card like a little hoarder. She can't get enough of Annie and Shae.

12. My Mom and Dad came for a couple days before the wedding, and spent some quality time with the kids. They even sent us off on a date one night! Hooray for Grandparents.

13. Brooklyn continues to awe and amaze everyone she meets with her reading skills. Including her Mother. She reads the scriptures like it's nothin'.

14. Troy had been going to a speech therapist to help with enunciation, and has been making huge progress! Every week he sounds more and more clear.

15. On a sad note about Troy, he has always had a slight tongue tie, and the Dr's always said it would more than likely stretch out, but it hasn't. So he will probably need it clipped. But we are going to wait a few more sessions since the stretches she has him do are seeming to help. We are very hopeful when he does get it clipped, that it will clear up his speech.

16. Troy attended Kindergarten round-up last week with Erik. He is so excited for Kindergarten! And Erik and I were both surprised that when the teachers invited the kids to come with them to color while the adults filled out paper-work, he followed...willingly! He has always been a tad gun-shy with new people.

17. We have been having unseasonably beautiful weather here. I really hope it is a testament to how our summer weather will be like and not a tease for how it will not be. (like last year!!)

18. The kids can hardly wait until our water-park opens up, and either can I!!

19. I turned 33 about a week ago. Seems old doesn't it?

20. Mothers day was absolutely perfect. Even with 8:30 church, I managed to "sleep-in" until 7:30 and enjoyed breakfast in bed. Then when we got home, Erik made delicious BLT's, I took a much needed nap (undisturbed!!), and then we dined on t-bone steaks, corn on the cob, artichokes with garlic butter, and salad. He sure knows how to spoil a girl! :) It was a fantastic day. I was even able to play with the kids outside while he made dinner.

21. May 24th marks 10 years for our marriage!!! Wow, crazy right?! We are due for some big celebrating :)

22. Troy's favorite part of our vacation was swimming in the hotel pool. Brooklyn's too. Next time we are getting a hotel down the street. hehe

23. My favorite part was shopping in OR tax free. Well, that and spending quality time with Erik and the kids.

24. I am half-way through re-purposing my living room dresser into a media console. I'm just waiting for a good week of sunshine to get that baby painted. Then it's onto the million other pieces of furniture awaiting a new coat of paint. Erik loves it!! Ha!

25. Brooklyn just brought home homework that she had write her favorite part of the day. Her favorite part of the day was apparently when the boy was chasing her at recess. And it begins.

26. Brooklyn had pictures for ballet yesterday so I put on a bit of make-up. I told Erik last night that she is not allowed to wear mascara until she is 25. Her lashes go up past her eyebrows!! I have never noticed because they are pretty light (much like mine). Anyone know a good way to lock up your daughter?!

27. When I say to Savannah: "I love you," she replies, "I love me." Such confidence!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The one with the thoughts.

1. During Sacrament meeting Sunday, Brooklyn asked me why we take the sacrament every Sunday. I told her because when we take the Sacrament, we renew our covenants that we made with our Heavenly Father and it is also to help us remember Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. And the Atonement that will allow us to return to our Heavenly Father again. I told her what an excellent question, and something that I definitely needed to be reminded of. Love her.

2. Savannah has been a total Mamma's girl lately. And is constantly coming up to me, holding up her arms, and saying "Hold me!!" So I do. Most of the time...But when else will I get to hold her all the time? She'll probably grow out of this phase all too quickly and I need to savor it now, even when I am trying to prepare dinner, or finally have a moment to myself.

3. Troy has started playing baseball, and continues to make his Daddy (and Mommy) very proud with his athletic abilities. He is the youngest (by a year in most cases) on his team, but still kicks all their trash in running. Proud Mamma for sure. :)

4. Erik has been working late pretty much every night for the past month and a half (with a few days in there where he actually got home before dinner). A lot of those nights, he doesn't saunter in the house until after 11. He's a hard worker. We are all ready to have him for dinner and evening play.

5. Even though Erik has been working crazy amounts of hours, he still finds time on the weekends to play with his kids, and spend time with his wife. And even do some yard work.

6. I worked in Brooklyn's class yesterday and came across yet another story she wrote about her trip to Denny's for breakfast with Daddy.

7. Last week was spring break and we tried to spend most of our time playing. We went to the Pacific Science Center where we saw tons of beautiful butterflies in the butterfly exhibit, enjoyed watching them land on all of us, saw cool and scary Dinosaurs, sprayed water guns across the pond, viewed a 3D movie on the Last Coral Reef, and were then of course inundated by the liberal agenda about "global warming." But still had a great time none-the-less. My favorite part was watching the kids trying to "catch" the jelly fish. We also ventured to the zoo, where we saw the baby lion cubs again.

8. I bagged, food-saved, and froze 80 lbs of chicken breasts. Our freezer is stocked!

9. I picked up Kindergarten registration yesterday for Troy. I can hardly believe I will have two kids in school next year. What on earth will Savannah and I do with all our time?! I'm sure it will fill up very quickly.

10. My neice, Nicole, and her sweet family moved to Auburn last week (about 30 min away from us)!!! We are beyond excited to have them here. The kids are thrilled to have their cousins, Annie and Shae nearby.

11. Savannah continues to adore her big brother, even though he can be somewhat of a bully to her sometimes. She is the constant example of forgiveness. Troy will hit her, she will cry, he goes in time-out, she comes and sits right next to him (sometimes ON him). She just can't get enough of him.

12. Speaking of Savannah, her vocabulary continues to EXPLODE. She repeats E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Even words Mommy probably shouldn't say out-loud. Or in her head. But none of us is perfect right?!

13. Our tulips and daffodils that Erik and the kids planted last year have exploded and filled our yard with color and beauty. They make me so happy.

14. I FINALLY painted our bathroom vanity. I used white, because that's what I had, although I ALMOST used an azure blue. It looks ok. I wish I would have used the blue. Oh well. Live and learn. Actually, I'd just like a new vanity...or rather, a whole remodel on the bathroom...someday.

15. Savannah still enjoys emptying out drawers and especially her wipes container. My "favorite" is when she empties the wipes after I just got out a new package. It looks like it snowed in her room when she does it. Little stinker!

16. I had my first experience with little fingers wiping poop on the wall. I bet you'll never guess who the culprit was. She is giving me a run for my money!

17. Troy is so excited for summer because he gets to wear shorts every day. The shorts obsession continues.

18. Brooklyn continues to amaze everyone with her reading skills. She has been reading chapter books for a few months now, and just can't seem to get enough! My dear friend Ali lent us some books for her, but she has flown through those and is beginning to read them all again. The other amazing thing is she is actually comprehending the books she is reading, which they don't expect until 2nd/3rd grade. I have a feeling I will constantly be on the lookout for books for her to read.

19. Troy is anxious to be able to read as well, and I am hoping to be able to really spend time teaching him this summer.

20. Troy, Savannah and I were in the grocery store this morning when Troy saw an Army guy wearing his fatigues. He was of course fascinated, so we stopped to talk with him. Troy asked if he was a soldier (thankfully he was Army, not a marine!). :) I told him about my awesome brother who is an Apache pilot, he was super impressed. Then proceeded to tell him that my brother was being deployed in August. I of course started to cry and the poor guy didn't know what to say or do. lol He told me to wish my brother good luck, and I wished him luck as well through my tears. Then Troy said, "Mom, why doesn't he have a green head like my soldiers?" Because of course all his toy soldiers have green heads!! lol Oh man, love that boy.


Monday, March 18, 2013

The one with a little bit of catch-up.

Man, I have not been consistent on this blog. So when I do post, you get it all...and then some. So here goes the random photos that I feel are worth posting:

What a goof-ball. She loves emptying her drawers and trying all her clothes on. 


These next few photos are courtesy of Troy. :) His bat. 




Savannah super-excited for Valentine's dinner. 

Valentine's dinner tradition: Fondue!

BUSTED!!! Little stinker 

Yum

Let the tantrums begin! Oh man, they are so funny. 

"Do I have anything on my face?"

Our very own "homeless" child! lol PS That coat was MINE when I was around 3!

The beginnings of shaving of all of Troy's hair (he snipped a bit in the front himself, hence the haircut). We were tempted to leave it like this, but assumed he'd probably enjoy looking like a goof way too much. 

A night with friends

We headed to the sound this past weekend, and oh man, it was freezing! We've decided it is finally time to embrace the cold and rain since we have lived here for almost 7 years. You gotta get out, and you aren't always going to be warm, sunny weather! Still fun, just cold. 



Savannah will sit in this chair with a book and sing to her hearts content. Sweetest.thing.ever.