Palm Springs

We went on our now annual trip to Palm Springs for the century ride over there and this time we had company which was so nice. Bev, Joe, Jace, Jim and Mari's family, and Jeff's cousin Becky's family came with us. It was funny to see our parade of suburbans in California next to all the little sports cars. Seriously, no one has an extended suburban! We left Thursday morning for the drive and arrived at about six that night (it felt so long to me, I was complaining more than the kids)! On Friday we got up and Jace, Becky, and I went on a little bike ride which was so nice to do. I have missed riding my road bike. We went to the park and played then went to the pool and swam the rest of the day. 

Saturday was the boys ride and they left early, then we went to a children's museum and had a lot of fun. They even a car the kids could paint themselves. Jace finished first from his 55 mile ride so we picked him up and then waited for Jeff and Ryan at the finish line. They did awesome and deserved their hot tub soak that night. 

Sunday we went to church first and then to the zoo and boy was it hot that day. They kids did great and seemed to have a good time. We relaxed the rest of the day and packed things up. We drove home Monday and it seemed to go a lot faster, maybe it was my attitude. :) Overall another great trip there and we have spring fever now so hurry up spring we are dying for some more sunshine

This is pretty much what we did most of the time. Look at those little fish! The car at the museum was a hit!

Isn't he a crack up! 

Hunter was MIA. Can you tell I was the only one who wanted the picture taken. 

The three finishers in all their glory!

I absolutely love this picture! Look at Jake, I want to be just like him when I grow up!

Harlem Globetrotters

We went to see the Harlem Globetrotters a couple of weeks ago and it was so fun! I have never seen them so I was so excited to go. Amazing doesn't even start to describe the skills these guys have! They were really funny too, more of a comedy act then an actual basketball game. Jake was really interested at first, but the kid was so tired so he just held onto Kristina and ate his treats. Whereas Jaxon was into it the whole time. He asked who are we cheering for mom? He was screaming for them and thought it was a real game, then he started watching and catching onto the funny parts. They have this blowup guy named Globee and he was so funny, he landed on his face and Jax did not quit laughing, which made me laugh even harder, till the point I was in tears. A show to remember definitely! 

 I wish I had a better camera, the tricks they did in this warm-up circle were beyond amazing!

Cereal

Hunter finally likes rice cereal, seriously who would though. He will open his mouth and actually swallow it. He has been eyeing our food the past month or so, seeming to know something is happening and he is not in on it. His first taste of rice cereal was not to his liking and he had nothing to do with it when I offered it theses past two weeks. Its nice to have him eating something other than milk so I know he is getting all he needs. My kids have all loved to eat baby food and I don't know why but I love feeding them. I love to see what their facial expressions will be as they try different foods. Hunter is a spitter however, he spit back out his cereal this morning right in my face. All of us were laughing. I'm just waiting for a nasty spit and splatter back in my face. It would serve me right though, we have a picture of me spitting my carrots all over my dad. One step at a time though Hunter, time is flying by and I don't want it to. I have enjoyed having him as a baby, lots more than I did Jaxon or Jake. With Jax I was too stressed about him eating and my milk and my first baby and when Jake was born Jax wasn't even two so I wanted him to grow fast. So take it slow my sweet Hunter!

TOFW

This past weekend I was able to go to Ogden and attend Time Out For Women. I was skeptical at first when my mom bought tickets and I knew Hunter would have to come along. I didn't know if it was going to be worth it. Wow! It totally was. Even walking into the doors there was a line of women waiting to get a seat and I did not want to go in. We did and boy am I glad I did. There were lots of speakers and musical numbers. I am a do it myself gal and I don't really rely on anyone unless I have to, much less just call and chat with a friend. I consider Jeff the only one I have to talk to and I tell him all that I am thinking. Boy have I been wrong all these years. I have heard lots of women say, "Women NEED other women!" Sure, we do I would think. But I realized this weekend that there is something empowering about being around other women who are in the thick of mothering and even those in the thick of grandparenting. It gives you strength to face things together, to share in the hard times and heartaches (this sharing part is the hardest for me, I am a great listener, just not a sharer). Needless to say I learned so much and am ready to face those dirty faces again! I learned something from each of the speakers. Jenny Oaks Baker was there and talent just oozes from her. Made me want to start taking violin lessons. John Bytheway is always a great speaker, he talked about praying for the spirit to be with you each morning and night and then throughout the day picture the Holy Ghost with you. Still gotta try it! He talked about the armor of God and how the only offensive part of the armor is the sword of the Spirit and how Satan tries to take that away from us first, then all we can do is defend ourselves. Chieko Okasawki spoke and wow, what a spunky 83 yr. old! She talked of simple treasures we all have in unlimited supply; like smiles, time, song, prayers! The Eyres spoke, this is why I wanted to go in the first place because I had just read their book. They just reviewed their book, so I knew most of what they were talking about, so many great ideas. My fav though was coming up with a family mission statement and then displaying it in your home. Still thinking on that one, I've got to trick Jeff into thinking we are doing something else. Its all about being sly sometimes. This other guy Richard ??? was a scripture genius on the old testament and changing the way we look at things, talking off our glasses and looking at things through someone else's view. This lady Mariama was from war torn Africa and told a story that has totally changed my perspective on life and service. Emily Freeman also spoke mostly on hope, which was the theme. Just amazing! I am still soaking it all in and sorting it all in my head. Thanks mom for doing this and for everyone who helped with the boys. Thanks Jeff, you are amazing in so many ways. I am so lucky to have you.

These days...

I just printed out our blog into a book and I love it. It works as my scrapbook journal and it is accurate because when I put in pictures I also talk about the event. So I don't have to rack my brain for details months later. Love it! Since receiving this I have been thinking about what my kids are doing in comparison to a year ago and I need to write these everyday happenings down so I don't forget how life was with little ones under my feet. Here it goes...
My kids love cereal, much to my chagrin sometimes, because if I have time I would much rather have a hot breakfast.
Physical, physical, physical. Not all sports either. The wrestling, pushing, all boys type of physical. Wears me out somedays.
Jaxon is my organizer, I find him randomly rearranging his shelves and mine. Must have gotten that from his mother.
Jake is all about saving princesses. Each day I have to ask him who he is today. It's usually Prince Charmy (aka: Charming), Prince Phillip, Eric, Knight is Shiny Armour. I am usually the princess and he loves it when I pretend to be asleep from the witch and he kisses me. The kiss must be on the lips or it won't work and we do it again.
Hunter is an angel sent straight from Heaven. I don't know if I will ever be able to resist that smile of his even when he is a screaming toddler
Jaxon loves to be with friends, I am not talking about just a playgroup. We need playgroup from all day or he doesn't survive and neither do his brothers and I.
Jax wants it his way and I am learning that I have to trick him into my way and make him think he chose that. Funny, I thought this ended when they were two or so.
Jake does not stop talking, I mean all day! Whether it is to someone or just pretending.
I love the way Hunter's smile makes his whole entire face scrunch up.
Jaxon is always asking questions and why we do things or how.
Hunter seems to be as social as his brothers and sometimes wants me to just put him down so he can be free and watch.
We are early risers for the most part and I love it until Saturday and Sunday come when I just want to stay in bed till 8am.
When it is warm outside we do not come inside to play, ever!
Bedtime stories are always read by dad when he is here. There is never even a question, the boys love it and I think Jeff likes it just as much.
Family time is constant, we always have a family gathering or a cousin over. We love living close enough to just walk to one another's houses and play.
There is nothing I like better than to watch them pretend together.
The boys are so helpful at cleaning up and doing chores, even the dishes! That is Jake's favorite job. Jax likes to vacuum the most.
Exercise is commonplace, even the boys join in on workout DVDs and know some of the moves involved. Jax likes to do the bicycle move on P90X as well as pushups, man he is tough!

Everyday life is always full of surprises! What would I do without them, I don't know!

Differently Amazing

If you know Jake at all you know he does not like to be called little, baby or any of that. This name "baby" was what made him decide to get potty trained. I was not up for another excursion of this because Jaxon was so awful and the process lasted like a year. Well, Jax kept calling him a baby because he wore diapers still, so he then refused diapers and I being 7 months pregnant was forced into this situation. Looking back now he did it all on his own. I wasn't really into it consistently, he decided and did it. Well needless to say according to him big boys don't wear pull ups either. This was decided after two nights of them. I did not want this and tried to force it, but finding him asleep one morning, the bottom half of him naked, I gave in. I starved him of all liquids two hours before bed and he never had accidents. Well months later after being great he started wetting the bed, mostly because I didn't even think about not giving him drinks. After changing three nights of soiled sheets, I decided we had to make a change. I kept talking to him about getting up in the night, peeing, then going to sleep again. I folks we did it! Last night he got up, Jeff helped him, then went back to bed. I know this is not particularly amazing to most, but my four year old Jaxon can't even do this yet! Why? I don't know? This is where I am learning that they are individuals with different ideas, ways of accomplishing things and all sorts. So give it up to Jake for being so differently amazing!

The mind of a child

Hunter started sitting in this Bumbo chair we borrowed from Mari, which is good and bad. Good because it means he is getting bigger and stronger and will be entertained for longer, which now that I think about it is also bad because my sweet baby is growing too fast for me to keep up with. Jake was taking an uncharacteristic nap (Good thing considering today), so Jax and I were playing with Hunter and showing him new toys and seeing how long he could hold onto them. Well I got up to get the phone and I came back in and Jax, Bumbo and Hunter were nowhere to be found. I listen and here Jax saying here we go as dreadful thoughts go through my brain still thankful there isn't any screaming though. I came in to find this and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically! Jax pushed him, carefully thank goodness, into here and was taking him for a ride like a cowboy. Hunter thought it was great fun! Totally enthralled by it all. I honestly couldn't stop laughing. What an imagination! Why do we seem to lose this imaginative ability as we grow older, no wonder babies adore other kids because they are so creative and entertaining. Way better than boring old mom who sticks a pacifier in my mouth and a toy hanging in my face! Mothers need this imagination to come back as soon as they have kids. Love it!

Don't you love this face! Whoa mom! Back off!

A profile picture! I wasn't interesting enough, what does Jax have over there?