Guns, hoses and little noses

The Temple!

2009-05-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

We were sealed as a family on Friday, May 8, 2009 in the St. George Temple. It was a beautiful day and we all loved it! After the temple, we took a few pics and then everybody headed over to Chuck A Rama. Then, since Tyler absolutely loves motels, we had rented a room and we stayed the night in St. George. Tyler loved it and we had a great time! Thanks to everybody who came and shared our special day with us! :)

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am so behind on my blog. I'm going to try to catch up just a few highlights from the past few months and then, hopefully, I'll get better about updating in the future!

Here are a few pictures from Easter. We woke up to some eggs hidden by the Easter bunny and cute new outfits and then we were off to church. After church we went to Aunt Keri's for dinner and another fun Easter egg hunt!

Brookes blessing

2009-03-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

Brooke was blessed by her daddy on Sunday, March 1, 2009. It was such a beautiful experience. She had lots of support from family and friends for her big day and Ryan gave her a wonderful blessing. Of course she looked like an absolute angel (as you can see below!). After church we had a great party and the yummiest dinner. Ryan did dutch oven potatoes and chicken and it was delicious! But, I think the chocolate fountain was the biggest hit. Just about everybody left with a little chocolate down the front of them! :) We love you Brookie and congratulations on your special day!

Sleeping beauty the morning of her big day...

Her "attire"...

Picture time before church...

The biggest hit of the party!

Brooke slept through her entire party, but at least she *almost* had a smile on her face! :)

Are you freaking kidding me?!

2009-03-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

Remember my last post about how Tyler goes missing for a while and I find him sleeping?! (Those *were* the good ol' days!) Today I was up in my room holding Brooke and talking to Jason on the phone. I had even thought to myself, "wonder if Tyler fell asleep, can't hear him", then I heard him playing downstairs so I *thought* all was well. UNTIL....he came up to my room and said "ah oh mom". I looked up and about freaking died! Tyler's face, neck, ears and hands were covered in blue marker. It was all I could do to not start laughing, but I was in shock. He has never done that. I'm dying and I'm narrating to Jason (who I'm sure got a kick out of all of it!) So.....I take pics first (of course) and then clean him up. THEN....I go downstairs to make sure nothing else is blue and I find he has colored the dining chairs, dining table, back door AND the mirror next to the door. OMG. Luckily, he used a dry erase marker. However, it will not come off the door and I can still see faint blue streaks on the table. Just a few pics of some of the damages. ***Now, quit laughing and feel bad for me!!!!**** Oh, the joys of motherhood!

Sleep?? No problem!

2009-02-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

OMG, Tyler is killing me with his new sleep positions! Last week I hadn't heard him for a while and found him curled up on the bottom stair! School must've worn him right out that morning.

Then, today...I was upstairs with Brooke and thought to myself "hmmm, weird that Tyler hasn't been up here lately". So, we wandered down to the kitchen. Nope, not there. But his hot chocolate and banana mess was which was where I saw him last. We venture to the basement and I can't see him, but I hear snoring!!! Where could he be? and.......there he was..... on his Thomas chair curled up in some kind of crazy ball with his head resting on the Mr. Potato Head case. I was laughing so hard that I had to run Brooke back upstairs and put her in her crib so I could go back and take pictures! Check out the pic I took of his head after I moved him to the chaise! Mr. Potato Head case gave him a serious owie on his noggin! Wonder if that's gonna hurt when he wakes up?! I guess at 3pm when he asked to put his jammies on, he had something other than play in mind! Note the cowboy boots over his jammies. :)

Happy Birthday Brooke!

2009-02-17T09:47:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Brooke's two month birthday! Wow. I can't believe it. Time really is flying and I hate that! :) We *celebrated* by going up the mountain snowmobiling with Ryan, Jason and lots of cousins, but the wind was so miserable that I didn't even get out of the truck. Brooke and I enjoyed from the warmth! :) In only four short weeks I go back to work and I really am dreading it. I have absolutely adored my time home with my beautiful kids and hope that every day at work is a quick adventure and I'm home before I know it! We love you Brookie! :)

Happy Valentines!

2009-02-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

Tyler loves this Valentines stuff! However, when I was telling him to say "Happy Valentines" at school he said "No mom, Tyler say 'Trick or Treat'!" Apparently that was much funner! :) He had a party at preschool and got some great loot.

I miss those days in school creating a great bag or box and then waiting for the Valentines to pour in. Then... going home and "evaluating" what each and every Valentine meant. You know - reading the candy heart that came from a boy that said "You're mine" and trying to decide if that meant that he is in love with you or if his mom unknowingly stuck that in the envelope. :) Oh, to be young again!

Writing *scribbling* his Valentines...

Home from school and checking out the loot! mmmm Snickers!

Must do a taste test on EVERYTHING!
Are you serious, there aren't any more?!

8 Things About Me

2009-02-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the Rules:
1) Post rules on your blog
2) Answer the six '8' items
3) Let each person know they're tagged by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Law & Order: SVU
2. ER
3. Without a Ttrace
4. Dancing with the Stars
5. CSI's
6. The Biggest Loser
7. Unwrapped
8. America's funniest home videos

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Ate breakfast
2. Took a shower
3. Went to church
4. Visited w/ home teachers
5. Went to Keri's for dinner
6. Visited with family
7. Kissed my husband
8. Watched TV

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Watching my kids grow
2. Losing my baby weight...
3. Sleep
4. Spring
5. Ryan blessing Brooke next month
6. Retirement :)
7. Going to the temple
8. A cruise w/ my family

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Pei Wei
2. Ruby River
3. Costa Vida
4. Cheesecake Factory
5. Goodwood BBQ
6. Olive Garden
7. Iggy's
8. Mongolian BBQ

8 Things On My Wish List:
1. Debt free
2. Self cleaning house
3. A cruise
4. Lifetime happiness
5. Good health
6. A wonderful life for my kids
7. Disney trip w/ my hubby and kids
8. Safety

8 People I Tag:
Please note: if I don't tag you I either....
a) don't think you'll do it or
b) think you've already been tagged by someone else... don't be offended!
1. Keri
2. Olivia
3. Kailee
4. Victoria
5. Brittani
6. Grandma
7. April
8. Tulsi

The longest week ever...

2009-01-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

We have been hit by the sick bug. Tyler started coughing last Saturday night and it has progressively gotten worse. Ryan had it by Monday. We were really worried about Brooke getting it, so Ryan and Tyler went to the Dr in hopes of relief/help. Turns out they both have severe colds and Tyler also has an ear infection. So, they're drugged and slowly getting better. But, in order to keep Brooke healthy, the two of them have been banned to the basement and Brooke and I are secluded to the upstairs going between my bedroom and hers! This really is no fun and I can't wait until we can stop living as two seperate families! I am going stir crazy sitting in our rooms. I hadn't heard the boys for a while and just found them crashed out. I got a pic of Tyler, but Ryan caught me before I could get a pic of him. :)

On a sidenote - here is Brooke today with her first tummy time. She loved it, which she should, seems how she spends most of her time sleeping on her tummy on my chest! :) (((also - we took her to the Pedi yesterday and she is almost 9 lbs!!!)))

And a couple pics from snowmobiling last week:

1. Tyler, daddy, uncle Jason

2. Tyler & papa

3. Tyler & grandma

4. Tyler & daddy

Church

2009-01-11T14:47:00.001-08:00

Brooke went to church for the first time today. She was, of course, such a good baby. She slept, only waking to have her bink recovered. :) Here are the kids after we got home.

Shout out!

2009-01-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick shout out and a big Thank You to Brooke's Aunt Keri who did an awesome job helping me decorate - or should I just say "who made ALL the decor" for Brookes' room. I love having a crafty sister and love showing off her adorable nursery!!! :)

Keri made these three magnet boards.
She cut the vinyl....And the clock, frame and other vinyl was Brooke's Christmas gifts from her....

Showing off...

2009-01-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

Just a few pics of Brooke from the last 2 weeks, including her first bath at home. We took her to her 2 wk appt last week and she made it back to her birth weight - 7lbs, 3oz. She had gotten to 6 lbs 10 oz. when we left the hospital. She's doing fabulous and we are just loving having her!!

Wii fun....

2009-01-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Seriously - having lots of fun with the wii! Oh, and did you notice Ryan's new "do" in the last pics? How funny is it?! :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-01-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas was wonderful this year! But, I'd have to say it always is. :) Tyler was an absolute joy and was SO into Christmas. He was really excited for Santa to come and sang "Santa Claus is coming to town" at least a dozen times a day for the last month or so. I really need to video tape it because it is absolutely precious - then maybe at some point I can post it on here if I can figure it out! :) Christmas Eve was spent at my mom & dad's. We do Christmas Eve dinner, play the white elephant present game, sing Christmas songs, Santa stops by and brings us new pj's, take a pic of the grandkids in their new pj's, read the Christmas story from the bible while everybody (usually just the grandkids now) dresses up to act out the nativity and then we clean up and head for home!

We got started pretty late Christmas morning. Generally we'd do the rounds at everybody's houses, but we didn't want to take Brooke out so we stayed home. Brooke decided she didn't want to sleep Christmas Eve (she must've known Santa was coming!) so we didn't get to sleep until after 3am. So....I wasn't too disappointed when we didn't get up until 9! Not that Brooke slept that 6 hours - we were probably up at least once or maybe twice for feedings. But....how crazy to not get up until 9am on Christmas morning! We told Tyler Santa had come and he couldn't get downstairs fast enough. He had his new cowboy hat on within seconds and had checked out all of his new toys in no time! It was 11 by the time we had all of our presents open and then we spent the day at home enjoying our gifts and each other. We went to my mom's for Christmas dinner and then headed back home for Tyler to play cowboy! :)

Tylers' loot....(cowboy hats, boots, shoes, clothes, tools, helmet, treasure chest, cars, dvd's, snow shovel, toy gun, camera, comforter...)

Ryan's fun stuff...

Brooke's loot...(diapers, wipes, clothes, pillow, hats, head bands, socks, gift cards....)

and mine...

Brooke is home!!!

2008-12-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

It truly is the greatest thing ever to be home! We left Provo Friday just before noon and didn't have to deal with any storms, which was wonderful! We are loving being home. Tyler tore through the house like a mad man going from room to room just making sure everything is still here! :) It was pretty funny.

I knew we were gonna be in for it when Brooke was in my belly and about 1o:30-11pm every night she would get very active. Yup, we were right - she's a night owl and we are now zombies. But - it is the greatest blessing that she is here, healthy, and went home with us. I am in 7th heaven. I am doing good. Slowly recovering from my c-section. I like to think I can do more than I should - then I really hurt and regret thinking I need to be busy. Ryan is loving home life too. He has been playing in the snow with Tyler and doing lots of "boy stuff". He's been great keeping Tyler happy and away from climbing on me!

Tyler is so happy and he really loves his baby sister. It seems he has really grown up this last week or so. He doesn't seem like my baby anymore. :( He is being such a big boy which makes me a little sad. He was thrilled when he saw how much snow we had at our house and he really had been missing our Christmas decor - especially the tree. He is so excited about Christmas and sings "Santa Claus is coming to town" on a regular basis! He is so much fun.

Brooke Kristine has made her big appearance!!!!

2008-12-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

And wow, she is beautiful. I am completely in love! :) She was born at 1030 this morning via c-section and is doing great. She wanted to grunt when she was born so they had the NICU Dr come down along with a respiratory therapist. She passed with them and went to well baby. Can you believe it? I had a baby and she went to well baby and will go home with us?! Crazy. Anyways - she is 7 lbs 3oz and is 19 inches long. She has strawberry blonde hair and the greatest round cheeks. Tyler is loving her and thinks it's pretty cool. He likes to look at her and has asked to hold her a couple of times! Here are a few pics and I'll post more tomorrow night. :)

We made it!

2008-12-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Well, we're on our 11th night at the hotel and we are SICK OF IT! But.....we made it and my c-section is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 0930! We will go in at 0715 and I am so so so ready. :) I am taking my laptop, so hopefully we can get pics up by tomorrow night-ish. Wish us luck and in 11 short hours I will be holding and kissing my sweet baby! Love to everybody! :)

Killing time....

2008-12-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

We're seriously getting SO bored. How many stores can you walk around, really?! Especially with no money, seems how it's all getting dumped into our motel and food bills! We're getting sick of being around people constantly, so we retreat to the motel but that gets boring too. Our typical day goes like this: I'm awake by 5 or 6 (I'm just not sleeping anymore so I'm pretty much up all night off and on) but have to be quiet until the boys wake up. Ryan is up by 8ish and Tyler is closer to 9. If we're up & going before 9 we go down to the breakfast, otherwise we eat the stash we have saved in our room. Then we all get ready and head out around 11. Wander some stores, drive around, eat lunch and we're back to the motel around 3. Ryan "tries" to nap, Tyler plays and I usually get on my computer. Once again - the sleep thing isn't working for me and it is so uncomfortable to lay. Ryan and Tyler go swimming around 5 for an hour or so. We then go get dinner. Lately it's been picking up a quick dinner and eating at the motel. It's a lot cheaper than restaurants every night. Then - we chill at the motel, watch anything Christmas-y since it really doesn't feel like Christmas being shacked up in a motel or anything good that we can find and crash around 10-11. What a life! It really does suck. I just want to go home.... Here's hoping the full moon will help us out tonight. Otherwise, I have a feeling we're waiting until Tuesday....

We took Tyler to Krispy Kreme the other night. He loved it! Can you tell?! :)

And....here's Ryan about 5am crashed out on the sofa hide a bed that's on the floor since half the springs are broken. I was awake, bored and decided to take pics. Luckily, the flash didn't wake them! :)

Is it really a "home" away from home?!

2008-12-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

Our new home - Super 8. At my last appt my Dr said I really need to stay in Provo until the baby is born because I'm dialating and he didn't feel good about me being so far away. So......we went home, packed our bags, wrapped up things at our house and moved North. Nothing like being 8.5 months pregnant, living out of a suitcase, having to eat out every meal and sleeping in a crappy motel bed for the last *and most uncomfortable* 5-10 days of your pregnancy. Ughhhhhhhhhhhh......Can this baby PLEASE just make a grand entrance so we can go home and see our cute Christmas decor and sleep in our own beds? What does a girl have to do?!

A hero.....

2008-11-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

What do you say? Are there words, really? Jason is my big brother. I think it's safe to say that we hated *or really disliked* each other until we were out of high school (what brother and sister don't!) , but I wouldn't hesitate one second now to say that he is one of my best friends.

Jason is a hero of mine and it became even more evident on January 5, 2007. As a police officer myself I can not imagine what he went through the night of his shooting. Hell. Pure hell. And it's been a roller coaster ever since. He is such a strong person. He is the one that is there when you really need somebody. When I went into labor with Tyler, he came to Provo that night. He spent the next 2 days learning about the hospital, he took the tour of the NICU for us since I was bed ridden, he brought in the Dr's to explain to me what to expect with our tiny little baby that was coming any time. He gave me a blessing. He was a rock. That is Jason. He is still a rock. I never doubt that if I am going through a difficult time that I can count on him.

On Labor Day this year I was an emotional wreck worrying about my current pregnancy and Jason offered me a blessing. It brought me to tears that he would do that. He doesn't know, but I think about that blessing constantly. He has no idea the peace it brought me. I *knew* this baby wasn't coming early after that blessing. Jason told me so and I have no doubt that he was inspired. I love him for that.

I love that he is willing to do anything for his family and friends. I love his personality. I love talking to him (when he does talk! haha). I love hearing his stories from being out on patrol. I love watching him work as he has this way with people that is just a treat to watch. I love his sense of humor - the guy really is funny and a joy to talk to when you get him going! I love that he loves his family. I love his sense of adventure. I love how he can make me feel better after a good talk. I love that I feel like he really cares about me. I love hanging out with him. I love when he is sarcastic and we laugh about it. I love the glances and that we totally can laugh inside because we know *why* we're giving those glaces! I love that he is Tyler's uncle and Tyler loves him (especially when he gives pennies!). I love that he will be our baby girl's uncle. I love that he is humble and doesn't boast himself in pride. and......I love that he is my big brother.

Today, after almost a week long jury trial, we got a guilty verdict on his shooter. We didn't *win* per se, but we were blessed with a great sense of relief. It's not a win/lose here, it's justice....and justice was served on the twentieth day of November, 2008. This was a huge hurdle to get over and one that we are all so grateful to put behind us. Most of all Jason. I will always be so grateful to my Heavenly Father that he allowed Jason to stay on this Earth with us. What would we do without him? He is our rock.

Our baby girl has a room!

2008-11-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

We did a lady bug theme and it really turned out cute. We have just a couple of things to hang up and the nursery is completely done! I love the cherry wood and the bedding is just adorable!

Cute closet - thanks Ryan!!!! I really LOVE having a handy man husband.... and check out those clothes! I can't wait to start dressing this spoiled little girl! :)

I didn't have a rocker in Tyler's room. I am excited to have one this time. It'll save me a trip downstairs to the recliner at 2am. :)

Seriously, my baby shower cake tasted as good as it was cute! Delicious! I need to post more shower pics, but I have to get them from my mom. I only got pics of the food! ((of course)) It was so much fun and my mom, Keri, Kailee and Joni did a fantastic job!!

.....and check out this baby belly! Yowzers!!! I can not believe I'm 34 weeks. Crazy!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween! Our cute house with monsters and spiders! :)

Tyler was a monkey and he imitates one perfect. His hands go into his armpits and he squeels "eee eee eee". SO adorable!

Carving pumpkins with dad. Tyler loved it!

All ready to go Trick or Treating! Let's go mom & dad!!!!

How cute is that monkey bum?!

The first house! Oh, and don't try to adjust your screen - that's Ryan "dressed up" in his grumpy old man mask. :)
Trick or treating to daddy at our house!

We're having a baby!

2008-10-21T13:17:00.001-07:00

It took 3 years to finally talk me into doing it, but.....I am pregnant! I am 31 weeks and 1 day to be exact, not that anybody's counting! Oh ya, I am. I am counting every.single.day because this pregnancy has been emotional chaos. What a roller coaster of emotions to be pregnant after Tyler's scary experience. We have had 5 ultrasounds and every one has showed us a baby girl, so we're starting to feel convinced. :) I have been extremely paranoid and refused to buy anything for a long time. At 26 weeks I finally went on a little spree and got some cute girl stuff. Then...after having a minor panic last week that we hadn't done anything since - I ordered all the furniture. So, we should be ready by next week. Yay!

I am due December 22, but am having a c-section sometime early December. Can't wait to meet our baby girl! :)

Here's my belly about 3 weeks ago! I never really had one with Tyler so it has been an adjustment.

...and her cute little face. She is already stubborn and wouldn't peak out from her hiding spot on THREE separate 3d ultrasounds!

Ryan's weekend handy work. He pulled the closet doors off, took out the closet rod, did some touch up paint and built a new closet. I love it. It's a lot like Tyler's, but bigger which I'm sure our daughter will need! I'll update pics as we get the nursery done. :)

Our miracle...

2008-10-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

Well, since I posted one of Tyler's birth pictures, I decided it's a must to dedicate a post to my sweet boy.

We were ecstatic when we found out I was pregnant. But, we really never saw the roller coaster coming. Tyler was born at 24 weeks 6 days. A full term pregnancy is 40 weeks. He weighed in at 1 pound, 9 ounces and was 12.25 inches long. When he was delivered, we had no idea what to expect. Well, we had seen pictures from the NICU staff of teeny tiny babies, had been given survivability odds and had heard the horror stories but we were not prepared for what came. He was SO tiny. He let out one little squeal before they whisked him to the NICU team. I barely got a glance at him. We spent the next 80 days at the NICU. It was torture and definitely one of those million dollar experiences that you wouldn't pay a penny for! Tyler came home 4 weeks before his due date and has been doing fabulous ever since. He continues to amaze us and the medical community with his great strides! We love you sweet boy!

4th picture tag....

2008-10-20T21:09:00.001-07:00

So everyone is passing this tag along, so I figured I'd better jump on the bandwagon. Here's how it works. You open your picture files and choose the 4th picture from the 4th folder. Let's see what you get! I tag everybody!

This picture is 3 years, 3 months and 12 days old. It is my sweet Tyler at on his first day of life.

Tyler's 1st day of preschool

2008-10-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Tyler started preschool this August. We were really excited for him, but too bad he really doesn't feel the same way. He is NOT a morning person (just like his dad) and he has to be on the bus by 8:20am! It has been a task to have him awake and out of bed, then he needs 15-20 minutes of waking up time, then dressed, fed and ready for the bus by 8:20! It's exhausting! :)
Daddy and Tyler on the first day of school!

Yes, he had rice crispie before he left.
Bribery is a wonderful thing sometimes.

He rides the bus to and from school and I was dying for him to get home the first day! Here is a picture play by play of me waiting....taking pics of the empty street....then the bus shows up.....and I was almost in tears by the time I got to the bus to get him! He looked so big with his back pack on getting off the bus. Needless to say, school exhausted him and he crashed on the couch not long after he got home!

We're bloggers!

2008-09-02T19:18:00.001-07:00

Yay! Everybody says blogging is great and I really love to read other people's blogs. So, here we are....we'll see how long we last!