Thanksgiving 2015

I have realized over the last two years that I like the prep for our Thanksgiving meal. I like the planning and cooking. I really look forward to it and thankfully, I have family and friends who completely let me take charge in the kitchen.

We are very fortunate that Joe's sister Debbi came to visit us again for Thanksgiving.  And also, have our friends, the Thronsons over to share our meal. (We met the Thronsons in Hawaii and they also moved to SLC, small world)

The day started with Joe, Debbi and Taylor participating in a local 5k run. It was extra chilly, so Taylor was prepared.  

The running group (Joe, Debbi and Taylor)

For lunch our friends joined us. The kids always have so much fun together.

The families together (we will miss our new tradition)

Our Family

We also headed out to do some shopping later in the evening. Ever since I left the world of retail, I avoided shopping around Thanksgiving but Debbi still has to go for work, so I have been happy to take her around Utah for the last two years.  It was actually a lot of fun! We didn't have our eye on anything special but it was great to get out and shop without the kiddos. 

Thanks Jenny for joining us :)

Today Joe, Jayden and Debbi went to shop and eat in Park City and I decorated the house, complete with the Christmas tree while they were gone. We are all set!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Someone is 2

It is a little late and way too much to catch up on. Let's start with our favorite girl and her second birthday!

Time has just flow by, so much more than with Jayden. We have loved every minute.

She is in love with Minnie Mouse, so she loved her ears and cake.

Taylor singing Happy Birthday, to herself.

Here is a look back on a great year.

Halloween 2014...if you can't talk, you can't complain that you are C-3PO.

Loving bath time...all the time

Playing toys

Some yoga

Loving JJ

Christmas

Sleeping beauty (she looks exactly like her brother here)

Her half bday (mommy's bday)...blowing kisses

Best eater!! She will eat anything.

Easter Morning

Being outside is our favorite!

JJ loves her

Growing up too fast!

Today, Taylor loves to sing the alphabet, itsy bitsy spider, and twinkle twinkle little star.  She also likes to ask "what did you say?" She is listening very closely. She loves to count, brush her teeth, chase her brother and play on any playground. She also has an opinion about fashion and shoes (not looking forward to the future with that). She loves to be read to and will sleep with her favorite books.  This year she started "school" and absolutely loves everything about it.  

We love our sweet girl.

Summer is here

I have so much to catch up on over the last year it seems but I do want to celebrate the start of summer 2015.  JJ and Taylor have enjoyed almost every day outside so far.  Today we hit the high 90s and we still loved it.

Last week JJ started swim lessons.  He has so much fun and would stay in the pool all day if I would let him.  That was me as a child.

Waiting patiently to go.

JJ in his first class.  He then was bumped to the next class because he remembered more than I thought.   Go JJ!

Today we went to the zoo.  Perfect day for it.  They have dinosaurs that move placed all over the zoo.  JJ asked me when they are going to release them into the wild.

JJ also learned how to swing by himself.  We have talked about pumping his legs and the other day, I was working in the garden and he wanted a push.  He didn't like that he had to wait, so he just started going.  It is awesome to see something just click.   So proud of JJ.

Taylor loves everything outside.  She would stay outside every minute if we could.

This is my first year with a garden. I have never really been able to keep any plant alive.  Joe is shocked that I dig my hands in to pull out weeds and that things are actually growing.  JJ just pulls lettuce out and eats it.  Won't complain about that.  I will take a picture and post in my next blog.


Happy Summer!!

Big Day for the J Man

Last week JJ had his last day of preschool for this year.  I was thrilled because I got to join him in the classroom.  He loves school, loves to learn and loves making new friends.

This was JJ at the start of the year.

JJ at the end of the year. (stop growing so fast!)

I made slime for the kids.  Very fun!

JJ and his teacher Miss Vickie.  JJ loves her!

I hope he keeps his love for school as the years continue.  

Mother's Day 2015

I remember the moment in the operating room like it was yesterday.  My head was clear and my body was numb.  All I did was watch the reaction on my husband's face.  He was here, we had our baby.  I was a mom.  I remember a flood of emotions going through my mind but I remember thinking "Oh wow, he is ours.  We are parents!" Some days I sit back and look at our two children and cannot believe that I have been a mom for over 4 years.  There is no manual, there is a lot of advice but you just do what feels best and it works. Every day is an adventure!

Mother's Day this year was wonderful. I got to spend an hour with JJ at his preschool.  Although it was just an hour, it was so great to have one on one time with him.  (thanks Jenny!)
He was so excited because he had made me some gifts.  My favorite are the homemade ones.

He also sang a song. And when it was done he ran up to me and hugged me. I love my boy!

This morning, I woke up early to do some school work and didn't start cooking breakfast like I do most days.  Today, my hubs and JJ took over the kitchen and made me bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.  It was so good.

It was a great day with my family.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.  And to the god mothers, aunts and dear friends!

May 4th....

Yesterday, I told JJ he could wear his Star Wars t-shirt to school because it was Star Wars day.

I picked him up from school and this was our conversation.

JJ: Mom, how come no one else wore their Star Wars shirt today?
Me:  Maybe they don't celebrate it.
JJ: When I grow up, I want to be a storm trooper?
Me: Aren't they the bad guy?
JJ, Yeah, and they have the best costumes.

A brief pause.

JJ: You said Darth Vader was nice?
Some Star Wars characters showed up at the March of Dimes walk this past weekend.  JJ did not want to get a picture taken with Darth Vader.  I told him that he was nice.  My husband said not to tell him that again.....apparently he takes Star Wars a little seriously :)

Snow Day. April 15, 2015

Yesterday, we were finally home during a snow storm in Utah.  We seemed to miss the couple that happened this year.  JJ loved watching the snow fall all day.  He made a comment "good things we didn't plant our seeds" as we looked out the window.  I had soil delivered for our garden the day before.

We got out and played when daddy got home from work.

Today the sun is shining and the sky is blue.  I am sure we will be out to enjoy the snow before it is gone.