Love in the midst of chaos

Today was one of those days.

You know the days, 

where you feel like going back to bed & waking up on a different side,

in hopes that things might be different.

Well...

no matter how messy my house is(very messy)

or how tired I am(very tired)

I sure do love THESE BOYS...

Quote of the day:

We walk inside after a family party-around 8pm

Parker: "Mom I'm hungry"

Me: "Parker, you really need to stop what you are doing and eat dinner when the rest of us are eating"

Parker: "Well mom, you really need to do the dishes"

Me: stumped...he was right.

FHE Luau

Monday night was Phelps FHE & my Aunt Shenla planned a FUN LUAU!!!
I love this tradition & love that we have such a close family that still gets together each month:)

We have never done a Luau before & it turned out so great!

RyRy on the swing:)

Daddy & Carden...

Parker showing off his sno cone...

Uncle Matt making a sno cone for RyRy...

Watching the entertainment...

 which happened to be a family from my last ward! It was a total surprise! It was SOO great to see them, I loved these girls in YW...

 The food was delicious & since my parent's still had the lights up from my sister's wedding, we got to dine in style;)

Watching the dancers!

Does anyone else think these two look so much alike???

Carden in his luau attire;)

daddy/son dance:)

Wow! I have cute nieces!

The night wasn't complete until we had done the LIMBO!!

These 3 are crazy...

What a fun night! My friend Debbie was able to come too & bring her kids & we didn't even take a picture together!?! BUT...I'm so glad they came!!!

Boyce Avenue Concert

Matt & I doubled with my bro/sis, Tate & Melanie last weekend to the Boyce Avenue concert. 

It was a much needed night out & the longest I have been away from the baby since he was born(a HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to my sister Heidi & her hubby Jordan for babysitting, one of the few people I can trust to leave him with!!!) We first went out to eat at Aloha Kitchen & then went to the concert in Scottsdale. It was so much fun & it is rare that Matt and I actually like the same music, but this band is one we both love:)

Thanks for the HOT date!!!

Baby's 1st Smiles

Is there anything better than this age? 

When they start smiling and cooing...

boy bath

Carden joined the boys in their bath for the 1st time & Parker & Ryler were SOOO excited:)

It's the little things in life that make them happy!

Ry's Allergy Update

Since we discovered he had a million environmental allergies & some new food allergies last spring,  I thought I was going to go crazy with his diet & allergic reactions!

I'm happy to report that we did the IMMUNOTHERAPY drops & I was extremely impressed with the results. No more red itchy eyes after playing in the backyard for 5 minutes. No more daily runny nose.

 His eczema started improving after taking him off of TOMATO, WATERMELON & CANTALOUPE...and besides one incident with cantaloupe, we haven't seen a physical reaction to food in months. 

And the best part!?! 

We started him on regular ole' MILK this week & he is doing great! Hooray!

Looks like he has outgrown his milk allergy...

I'm hoping he outgrows the rest of his food allergies, but it is a LOT easier to keep him away from Tomatoes & Cantaloupe...than it was DAIRY!

**ALSO...all of his moderate allergies like chicken, chocolate & broccoli, don't seem to be a problem when he eats them...so I let him!:)

YAY for a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over the last 6 months!!!

We are at a PARK!!!

We went to a PARK on Monday for FHE!!!

Do you know what that means? 

The weather is {kinda} cooling off---woohooo!

I love all of our Brinton relatives & these cousins have the best time together!

My Teddy Bear

Ryler is a big kid, with the softest heart.

I admit I get a bit frustrated when he breaks down in tears lately over the smallest things, but he is such a sweetheart & really wants everything right in the world. Sometimes "right in the world" to Ryler, seems a bit OCD, as he wants everything his way or the highway & is VERY independent & wants to do EVERYTHING himself, even the things he can't do himself...which ends in frustration.

This kid talks all day long & even though we really need an interpreter to decipher what he says half the time, he somehow manages to get his point across. Ryler is so sweet & can turn the worst day into the best day, by flashing his dimples at me! He always, always says "I wuv you"...morning, afternoon and night and every time in between.  He is quite funny and is always making us laugh. The other day, Parker wasn't being very nice to him and I said, "Parker, you need to be nice to your brother, he is just a little boy". Ryler looked right at me and said, "Mommmm...I'm not little, I have a BIG head!

 (I think he has been told that by a few too many people! haha)

He is quite a smarty pants, but I take zero credit for that. Parker teaches him everything...colors, numbers, letters...I just need to get Parker to potty train him next.

Ryler is into the stage where he asks "WHY?" to everything & then when you give him the answer he asks why again and then again and again, until you realize no answer will be enough for him & you divert his attention elsewhere.

I

I can't believe 3 months ago, I was still carrying him around as my BABY and in 3 more months...he will be 3 years old! 

He is such a HAPPY HAPPY BOY

&

we love him so much!!!

Carden-2 months

Carden 2 months old

Weight:14 lbs 2 oz - 90%

Height: 24" - 75%

Head: 16" - 60%

Just for fun...his brother's stats at this age...he's pretty close to Ryler, but Carden is the biggest yet!:)

I love my chunky babies!!!

Ryler

14lbs-90%

23 1/2"- 60%

Head-16 1/2"-90%

Parker

11lbs 5 oz

23" long,

Head -15 3/4"

Carden is the best baby in the world! I'm SO GRATEFUL he is a good baby, or I don't know how I could get through my days lately! Parker and Ryler have been busier(which actually means messier & crazier) than ever and some days I don't know how I'm going to get anything done with 3 kiddos! But I'm loving my life and we are slowly getting into a routine, so that I can actually shower more than once a week & my house can stay clean for more than 2 seconds:)

Eating Habits:

Carden eats every 3 hours during the day, pretty much on the dot. He is chunkin' up quick and I LOVE IT! So far he doesn't seem too bothered by anything I eat, but I typically try to steer clear of really spicy foods & other foods that might cause him tummy discomfort. He does seem to spit up more if I drink milk that day, but it isn't enough to quit eating dairy over.

Sleep Habits:

His 11pm-1am AWAKE TIME has thankfully stopped & he is usually asleep by 11pm, where 1 month ago, he was wide awake during that time. He typically will go two 4-6 hr stretches at night without eating which is nice...especially when it is closer to a 6 hr stretch;) I'm hoping to move his "bedtime" a bit earlier, but for now I'm just thankful he is going to bed before midnight!

Play Habits: 

He loves his bouncy seat & we have started to hang toys for him to look at & he seems intrigued. The boys play with him ALL DAY LONG & sometimes he seems lost when he is left alone:) He just started smiling about 1 week ago & it lights up our days to see him smiling! He smiles quite a bit if you play Patty Cake with him or This Little Piggy.

Any 1sts this Month?

1st trip to the Allen Cabin

1st wagon ride

1st smiles

 1st day of "preschool"

 What a cutie!!

 Sad boy after his 2 month shots...

I LOVE THIS KID!!!

1st Day of Preschool

I was really hoping to put Parker in another Preschool this year, just to be in an environment OUTSIDE OUR HOME, to help him get ready for kindergarten...

BUT I wasn't able to find one that would work with our schedule, so I could take him and pick him up and also teach preschool, so he gets to go to "mommy's preschool" again & he is actually really excited!

Here he is on his 1st day!!!

and of course Ryler on his 1st day, with backpack on and everything:)

Trying to be patient, while waiting for their friends to arrive...but kept asking me every 2 seconds "WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO GET HERE!?" haha

Parker - 4 1/2 years old---1st day of his last year of preschool(yes this is his 3rd year in my preschool, so he BETTER be ready for kindergarten next year!)

This is Leisha, I LOVE HER! She is my "preschool helper" & plays with Ryler & Carden and helps me anywhere else I need it & she is amazing! She was one of my Young Women in my last ward & is now living the YSA life & I'm grateful she is able to help me again this year:)

My friend Debbie MADE...yes MADE her daughter's outfit for her 1st day of preschool. It is an ADORABLE ruffle skirt & the shirt says "I Heart Ms. Staci".  Made my first day of preschool, that much more special! One of the many reasons I LOVE teaching:)

Attempt #1 at "1st day of school photo"...

attempt # 12 & the only one with all 3 of us in the picture. Too bad the boys aren't smiling!

And THIS is my class!!! 6 boys, 6 girls...couldn't be more perfect & I'm SO EXCITED about this year! 9 are returning from last year & I have 3 newbies, including my niece Mia! They are all GREAT & I'm looking forward to teaching them this year!

I'm so grateful that I'm able to teach preschool out of my home & can earn money to help with the never ending bills, while being a stay-at-home mom...AND not by just doing anything, but by doing something that I absolutely LOVE!!

***Sidenote: I fell in LOVE with my husband even more today(if that is even possible). I had him read a story to the preschool kids, while I helped make Carden happy for a minute today & as I watched him read to those kids with lots of animation...I couldn't stop smiling:)

"Something that's too expensive..."

Parker watched an episode of Curious George where he saved his money in a piggy bank to buy a sailboat that he wanted from the store. It triggered the idea in Parker's mind that he could do the same! He ran and got a piggy bank that he got for Christmas in his stocking(that he hasn't touched since) & came out to see what jobs he could do for some money:)

He has really been working hard, helping around the house, saving every penny & is always asking for more chores to do! Here he is "cleaning his room" & making his & Ry's beds...

Putting his money into his piggy bank...

When I asked Parker what he was saving for, he said "Something that's too expensive!" haha. He is ALWAYS pointing out things he wants at the store & my reply is always "that's too expensive".  So he is saving for one of those things;)

I'm glad he is learning to save & willing to help clean around the house!