Happy Birthday Amy!

Yesterday was my sister-in-law, Amy's Birthday!
The weather was BEAUTIFUL so we decided to have lunch at the park...

My cute nephew Tanner & niece Gemma


Red faced & cupcake goop...I love this kid!

Gemma getting in on the fun, despite her broken leg...

Cute Abby in the sand...

Hallie...all ready for St. Patrick's Day...

So much fun with cousins!

We ate pizza & cupcakes, played...played & played some more...
and went home all tuckered out!

Happy Birthday Amy!

I 1st met Amy in highschool when she started dating my brother Matt. I liked her from the beginning & told Matt he better not screw it up! When I went with my parents to pick Matt up from his mission in the Philippines, he was SO NERVOUS to come home, not knowing if it was going to work out with Amy!:) I remember helping him pick out a souvenir for her & he was so anxious to get home & see her!

I'm so glad it worked out! She is the BEST MOM to the 2 cutest girls in the world & we all love her for marrying crazy Matt! She has the kindest heart in the world & I've never heard her say something mean in my life. I hope you had a wonderful day Amy, you deserve it!

Day 2 &3...

Maybe a little Too Much Info, but...

Day 2 went GREAT! I was worried about church, but he went during Nursery.
He also went when we were at Grandparent's for dinner...twice.
He had one accident while I was gone to a farewell.
It was #2-I'm glad Matt was home & not me:)

Today...is day 3.
Not going so great.
No accidents, so I can't complain, but he is REFUSING to wear his underwear...so he is currently naked...

Day 1...

They say to wait until your child is READY before you potty train them...

Well, I think Parker has been ready for a little while, but I have NOT been.

I have been DREADING dealing with "accidents"...DREADING it.

PLUS...when I felt like he WAS ready(about 7-8 months ago) we were in the middle of moving & I didn't want to deal with it.

Then preschool started & I knew that if I started, there was no way to be able to work on it during preschool, so I was just going to wait until the summer.

Well...this past week I decided to go for it during SPRING BREAK, since I would have a week off of preschool to concentrate on helping him.

Yesterday was DAY ONE:
It went surprisingly well.

I am sure there will be bad days, but we are off to a GREAT start!

Stay tuned for more potty training details throughout the week{because I KNOW you are all dying to know how it goes}...

PS. NO...I'm not potty training Ryler, but Parker refused to put on underwear unless Ryler did too. Whatever works.

Cafe Rio Birthday Lunch

My sister-in-law Heidi's birthday was Saturday, so we went to Cafe Rio for lunch to celebrate!
This is NOT a picture of Heidi, but we all thought it was very cute to turn around as we were eating to find these 3 cousins entertaining themselves...

Heidi is INCREDIBLE! She is pregnant with her 3rd kid & her kids don't even slow her down one bit! She does it ALL! I remember when Matt & I got married, she was dating Matt's brother Craig & I always felt SO inferior around her! Now we get to be sisters & she is JUST AS AMAZING & I feel just as inferior, but I still am so grateful to be related to her!
She is a KILLER COOK(call her if you need a caterer!) & the best MOM!
She is very crafty{which I of course LOVE!} & one of the nicest people you will ever meet!

Happy Birthday Heidi!!!

sit-sleeping

Put Ryler down for a nap at my friend's house today, while there for a play date
{thanks! It was so fun!}
& went to check on Ryler after awhile.

Saw him from the backside, sitting up in the Pack & Play.

Decided if he was still awake, to just get him out & go home & put him down for a nap.

Went to pick him up...

and discovered that he WAS asleep.

I started laughing.

And went downstairs to get my camera, like I always do:)

AFTER a picture...
and a few more laughs...
I laid him down for the rest of his nap:)



PS. With ALL of Ryler's allergies, I'm just thankful that he is not allergic to bees!
Poor boy got stung for his 2nd time yesterday!

Track & Field

Fun afternoons at my sister Heidi's Track Meets...

Why we love Sundays

They consist of a lot of

Climbing...

Playing...

Laughing...
& occasionally a little crack...

Don't Underestimate...

Your 1 year old's ability to...

...FIND A WAY to reach things that you purposely put OUT OF HIS REACH!

Guys & Dolls

We went to see Guys & Dolls Saturday night at Hale Theatre
(thanks to my wonderful Uncle calling to say they had 2 extra tickets)
We've been wanting to go, since my sister{in-law} Elizabeth is one of the dolls, so we snatched up the opportunity for a fun date night!
I didn't remember this musical AT ALL, but I thought it was so cute & Hale Theatre did an AMAZING job at putting it on! Go see it if you get a chance, it is still playing for several more weeks!
*My brother Jeff & his wife Elizabeth after the show

Big Deal

Remember when 29 of my relatives went to Vegas in January?

Remember how I told you that we went to the gameshow, LETS MAKE A DEAL?

Remember how my cousin WON BIG?

Did you get to watch it yesterday?

If not...check it out HERE

Wayne Brady is so confused when we all rush the stage at the end:)

1st Trip to the Dentist

I took Parker to the dentist yesterday & he did such a GREAT job!
He opened his mouth nice & big and sat so still, while the dentist brushed his teeth,etc.
I tried to prep him for it, but I was still expecting that he might freak out.
He didn't freak out...he did GREAT, was so happy about his new Mater Toothbrush & the fact that he got a token to pick a prize on the way out!
He is growing up so fast...a little too fast.

Too bad we have to go back to fill a million cavities :(
I don't know if he will like the dentist as much, after his next visit.

Too bad it is also going to cost a fortune to fill those million cavities.


I didn't really want grass in my backyard this year anyways...
Oh wait, yes I did.
That will teach me to brush my kids teeth better!

Track Meet

I took the boys to my little sister Heidi's 1st Track Meet today...
she is MHS's #1 High Jumper.
The highest she has ever jumped is 5'3"
When I arrived, we got to watch her clear 5'2"
then 5'3"...
& 5'4"!!!!
and then this video shows her clearing
5'5" !!!!!!!

She beat her personal best & then kept going!
The girl who took STATE last year jumped 5'5", so I'd say for the 1st meet of the year...this is going to be a great season for her! You are awesome Heidi!

*I think we are her good luck charms;)

Peg Boards

Trying out a new preschool activity the night before preschool...

Besides the fact that I have been stepping on pegs all over the house this week, this activity has been AWESOME & provided hours of fun for these two!

Diet...hate that word

You know what the only thing worse than a diet is?

2 weeks into your diet...
when you are down 5 pounds & feeling like you MIGHT be able to do it this time around
& then you run into a friend who immediately puts her hands on your stomach & says, "Ohhh, Congratulations!!!"




How is THAT for motivation!?

Next American Idol

This kid cracks us up lately.
He picks up on songs quite easily & if we sing a line or two from a song, we often hear him singing it randomly, at a later time...

Like Saturday night when I had the boys in the bath tub & all of the sudden Parker starts singing,
"All the single ladies...all the single ladies!"

He also does an awesome version of
"Pants on the ground"
that makes us laugh,
every
single
time.