the Little Notepad

hello, hawaii

2012-01-29T22:14:00.000-08:00

Tommy and I just spent an amazing week in Kauai. It was our first vacation without the kids, and I'm already thinking of when we can plan another one. :)

It was seriously a dream. I was able to have peace and quiet, a chance to pause and reflect about life, about me. And wherever I went, so did my camera. So please forgive me for posting a million photos...but I don't want to forget a moment of the trip.

I'm already dying to get back

potty stories

2012-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

This is the secret to getting a wiggly, antsy 3-yr-old to sit on the potty for #2's every day. :)

snow! at least for a minute.

2012-01-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

It finally snowed. And for the first time I was cheering along with Sydney as we peeked out the windows in the morning. This has been the warmest, snowless winter (much to my delight!) but Sydney begs every day for the snow to come. So before it melted, she quickly ran out with Haley to relish in her favorite weather.

New Years!

2012-01-01T00:28:00.000-08:00

My sisters spent New Years Eve with us, and we had a little party with movies and games and lots of treats (actually, I mostly just remember lots and lots of junk food).

my first time counting down to the ball dropping!

Even Haley joined in on the celebrations.

Afterwards, I snuck upstairs to check to see if the kids woke up from all the cheering and horns blowing. Sydney slept through it all, and didn't even stir when I kissed her forehead and wished her a happy new year. But Max was sitting up in his crib, quietly talking to himself. I kept the lights off as I took him out and cuddled with him in the corner of his room and wished him a happy new year. A celebration just isn't a celebration without my babies.

the best Christmas ever

2011-12-28T23:04:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was one of my favorites ever. Sorry for the long post, but this is CHRISTMAS! The best day of the year. I already can't wait for it to come again.

Sydney was the first to wake up, and ran straight to our room. She and Daddy waited paitently while some members of the house scurried around with a couple finishing touches (mainly her pokey mama taking some photos).

Max woke up on the wrong side of the crib with confused, sleepy tears

we first went straight to the fireplace where the stockings were waiting

even Haley got some goodies from st. nick

she went straight for the kill and dumped the whole thing out to count her treasures and treats

Tommy and Max found some goodies

the best parts...a huge pack of chapstick and the "deer" she kept asking for (which Santa interpreted as Bambi)

Santa slipped a little bag of coal into my stocking, and Sydney's been reminding me ever since that I was naughty and got coal.

my mom and dad got some treats, too

valerie and kathleen with their spoils

The best part of the morning in these four photos. Sydney didn't see her giraffe at first, and went straight to Max's little barn set. But then she saw the look on Max's face (who was transfixed on the huge giraffe) and then ran to it.

Sydney named the giraffe "Gino" (she's been really good at making made-up names for her toys, all with strange, two-syllabul sounds). Max loved the wooden food in the shopping cart more than any of his toys.

Haley was happy to find her own stocking and giant bone

Sydney wore the Santa hat and handed out all the gifts - she was more excited about that than opening her own presents. I was just grateful she didn't have any meltdowns like last year. ;)

Sydney and Tommy got me the sweetest gift full of sentimental books, candles, and a movie that have to do with my childhood - things for Sydney and I to share together on our "adventures"

I was so excited about this sweet little doll from Land of Nod with this IKEA bed. Max tried out the bed and approved.

look at this face - she pulls it when she sees the camera

Gino gave a lot of rides

Max was a totally different boy, and kept throwing the funniest, saddest tantrums. It was entertaining. Needless to say, he went down for an early nap before the rest of the presents were opened.

I love the feeling after the presents are opened, when everyone lays around lazily and plays with their toys

Sydney and Valerie watched Bambi while I snuck off for a nap

We spent the afternoon with Tony's family to join them for church and Christmas dinner. Cousins are the best!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone!

the night before christmas

2011-12-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

The most exciting night of the year! We had butterflies in our stomachs as we prepped Santa's milk and treats supply and danced around to Christmas music.

Thank goodness my mom was here to make some yummy treats (otherwise we would've picked up some donuts for santa like last year) ;)

Max didn't want to share his carrots with Rudolf

My parents and sisters spent the night, so it was a true party!

While my Dad played some Christmas tunes, Sydney and Max snuck off to rearrange the "ABC door". We need to make the house presentable for Santa, after all.

As is tradition, we each opened up a gift before going to bed.

The best present of all - one that Tommy wished for - was that Max FINALLY learned to walk! Sixteen months old...better late than never! He's now waddling around like a pro.

christmas eve with the cousins

2011-12-24T21:28:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Eve with the cousins and read stories, played games, and ate a delicious feast.

The Fisher Price nativity set was a big hit

gingerbread house

2011-12-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

I lost the photos of us making it, but at least I have the ones of us eating it. :) You have to admit, this is a pretty sweet house (no pun intended).

And yes, that's an angel on back (all Tommy, right there)

after finishing it, we went to bed and apparently left it out on the counter where Haley could reach it....the next morning we found the entire front side licked clean.

But that didn't stop Sydney from following her lead.

there's nothing like stale candy. :)

santa's plate

2011-12-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

We spent a fun night out with our good friends Stacey + Tait and ended at our favorite Color Me Mine. We wanted to paint a special plate for Santa's cookies. I pictured it in my mind with the colors and patterns we'd use. And then we started and I realized it wasn't going to look anything like I had in mind. Every time I'd paint some stripes, Sydney would take her paintbrush and glob over it with a big dollop of paint. :)

And so, without further ado, we present to you.....

SANTA's BARF PLATE.

and from here on out, Santa will get to eat his cookies and milk off of it. :)

the stockings were hung

2011-12-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

Our giant stockings are all finished (the stockings my aunt began making for everyone when I was a kid, a tradition my sister and I have kept up). Except I won't let my kids run around the house wearing them like we did when we were little.

I had in my head a picture of my sweet kids sitting cozily in front of the fire, cuddling together.....

that didn't quite happen

between a baby that winds down for the night very quickly, and a 3-yr-old that can't handle her Christmas excitement, our house is rarely quiet and cozy like I always imagine.

wrinkles

2011-12-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

There's something so sweet when your baby is sick and extra cuddly and clingy. My sister, Kathleen, was over for an afternoon and helped snapped a few photos after bathtime (yes, my lovely hair and all).

she's so sweet with children

Sydney's favorite activity is playing in the bath for at least an hour until her fingers are nice and wrinkly.

santa's lap

2011-12-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

We ran to the mall to grab a couple gifts tonight, and when we saw SANTA right there in front of us, we had to slip into line and get a photo. Sydney wasn't even phased by the screaming kids being forced on his lap in front of her. She ran right up to him with a big smile and whispered that she wanted "a deer and a giraffe" (which she's said every single day for the past three months). Max was undecided on his Christmas wish, but he took the See's sucker anyway. :)

st. nicholas came last night

2011-12-06T21:08:00.001-08:00

Our favorite tradition came today. We set our shoes out before going to bed, and bright and early this morning Sydney ran into my room asking to check on the shoes. I think she's catching on to all this...I can't wait for Christmas morning!

Tommy's been away for the week at a conference in Salt Lake, but we set his shoe out still. In the morning, I saw my little shoe had been replaced by one of my tall boots, filled to the brim with goodies. Santa and his little helper must've been up really late. :)

This is how Sydney looks when she gets excited

We skipped breakfast and munched on goodies all morning, instead.

Sydney continued her crazy faces and noises for about 30 minutes straight

Jou Jou

2011-12-04T10:02:00.001-08:00

'Tis the season for toy stores! We're actually pretty much done with Christmas shopping for the kids (we got so excited way early), but that doesn't stop me from window shopping!

We found the best toy store/candy store yesterday. I had a break while shooting a wedding, so Tommy and the kids met up with me in Salt Lake and we headed to the new Jou Jou toy store in the Grand America. I am going to create a play room for the kids just like this in our house someday. :)

they had this cute little alcove/fort/dressing room area with lots of mirrors that made it look like it continued on and on

Max grabbed whatever he could in his stroller (and his little hands can get into a LOT of stuff without me knowing)

mental note: stuff hanging from ceilings would make for a great play room addition

Sydney mainly stood in front of this wall of monster frames, watching each character move around (they'd loop for about 10 seconds, doing silly things).

Sydney's Letters

2011-12-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

Sydney loves to sit at the table and "write letters" as she scribbles in her mini notebook. One afternoon as she worked away, mumbling her notes outloud, I secretly wrote everything she said down. She's a very good pen pal, let me tell ya.

"Dear Santa,

How are you today? I love you, Santa. Do you want to come and eat cookies and eat chocolate milk? I want to, Santa. I want a bunny and a mouse, and a snake for Daddy." (p.s. she knows Daddy hates snakes)

"Dear Haley,

I can do this, Haley. I want to give you a treat bone."

"Dear Daddy,

I come for work. I want a donut. I love you, Daddy. I want to give you a big kiss and hug. Come home for work. I know, Daddy. You have a smoothy, please? I want a smoothy again. (in quiet voice as she scribbles) Smoothy again smoothy again smoothy again. Thanks."

"Dear Mason,

I can do this, Mason. We come to your house later. I can do this. I want to have this. I know. I love you, Mason."

"Dear Augus [uncle Alex],

I go for work. I can do it. I can do this. I draw a letter. I can do this every day."

The Christmas Festivities Begin!

2011-12-02T12:26:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is over and now we can officially begin the Christmas festivities! But let's be honest....we've been listening to Christmas music on pandora every day since Nov 1st. But I did hold out on the decorations until the day after Thanksgiving. We spent a quiet morning together, and while Max napped, the three of us hung the ornaments and placed the decorations around the house. Each little piece always brings back so many memories.

The next morning we drove up to Logan to play in the snow with Malinda's family, my parents, and my sister, Valerie. It's always a bit colder up north, so it was fun to cuddle around a campfire in the snowy canyon.

Max was excited to fit into Sydney's old snow suit. We'll never know if it was meant for a boy or a girl.

left: James is always the designated fire man right: Malinda and baby 'Cabe

Max loves his auntie Valerie

We came back to the warm house to watch the Muppets Christmas Carol (the BEST Christmas movie on earth!) and make some sugar cookies.

yum!

the Thanksgiving Feast

2011-11-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

We've been so spoiled in having my parents come out about every month from California to join in on festivities and family time. With most of her kids in Utah now, my mom might as well find a house out here...now we just need to get my brother in Philly to move out west. :)

prepping the pies before heading over to Tony's for the big feast

I think they're both doing my job while I wouldn't stop taking photos :)

left: Sydney and the cousins building forts - right: Valerie, the baby-whisperer

while the women cooked, Dad entertained the kids

instead of football, everyone played a round of hockey in Tony's cul-de-sac

Malinda made these adorable Pilgrim and Indian hats

Kathleen's been documenting all the family festivities with her new camera/video camera. Now I know what I look like, hiding behind the camera all the time. :)

birthday breakdown

2011-11-23T22:39:00.000-08:00

27. It sounds so grown up (yet I'm still just as silly and childish as always...still waiting for the day that I feel like an adult).

I got spoiled by my sweet hubby and family. We started celebrating the day before all the family arrived, where Tommy planned a surprise date up to Salt Lake of fun shopping, eating, and watching a good chick flick (Tommy was the only guy in the whole theater watching Twilight...that's true love right there).

the first present sitting in the passenger seat as we headed out on our date

when we got home, I walked upstairs to our room to find it transformed into a day spa! A real massage table, and Tommy gave me a true 45-minute massage...unheard of!

The next morning (my actual birthday), Tommy took us to IHOP (my FAVORITE birthday tradition...yeah, I'm classy like that), and surprised me by arranging to have all the family there!

Thanks to Kathleen for taking all these photos (and the beautiful sign)

mom and sister, Valerie

me and Kathleen

Sarah and Leah

Max was excited about the bacon and sausages

Tony and Ben

Max loves his aunties

Sydney and her best bud

That night we partied it up with songs from my Dad's guitar, pizza, cake, and presents. :)

bedtime routine

2011-11-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

Ever since Max was born, Sydney spends almost every evening with Daddy as she gets ready for bed. It's their special time together, and I love spying in on them.

Sydney's other routine is to sneak out of her room countless times without us knowing. One time we walked upstairs to go to bed around midnight and she was standing in the dark hallway up against the wall, trying to be sneaky. We freaked out. Another time we got upstairs to find her tiny hands poking out from under her door, where she had fallen asleep. I think I screamed.

But this one time she did something a little less freaky, and I quickly grabbed my camera....

Every book was lined perfectly in this path. It was hard to keep a straight face as I put her back to bed.

sleeping babies

2011-11-18T23:17:00.001-08:00

I have wanted to capture a photo of Max sleeping for a long time. I feel like a picture is the only way I can really remember a moment. But Max happens to be a very light sleeper, and the slightest sound of the door opening to his room results in him scrambling to a sitting position with a sleepy, confused smile.

But the other day after errands and appointments that kept poor Max awake all day without a nap, I put him down in the late afternoon, and nothing could wake him. I crept into his room with my camera, and after taking some shots, I just sat next to his crib and watched him sleep. It was like a gift was placed in my hands...this chance to capture my sweet little angel asleep...for the first and probably last time in a long while. Is there anything sweeter in this world than a baby sleeping?

Max. 14 months.

2011-11-16T12:52:00.001-08:00

Max has been the sweetest, happiest, easiest little guy. He chirps and squeals very loudly, but I guess I should be grateful they're happy sounds. We just can't take him in public without getting lots of stares and comments like "he sure has some vocal chords!"

He's still crawling around (who needs to walk when you are the speediest crawler on the planet?). I've gotten some sweet arm muscles from this big guy.

Max is very cuddly and social. He will bat his eyes and plunge towards strangers arms for them to hold him. I feel very lucky I get to hold and cuddle him all the time (although I won't complain if he decides to finally walk one of these days....).

**Sydney just walked up to me, looked over my shoulder at these photos and said, "Wow. He's handsome." She also says she's going to marry Max when she grows up.

he growls for car sounds

one of the only distraction that worked was a big red apple. He wouldn't let me take it away.

These three photos were taken within seconds of each other. Posing for photos is no laughing matter.

This is what happened when I took the apple away. And THIS is why I can't say no to him. Just look at that face!

Max has a special friend. Tommy doesn't like it when I call it his doll. But it is the one thing he's absolutely attached to. A $9 IKEA boy doll. He saw it in the store at around 10 months old and started squealing. I let him play with it in the cart, and he wouldn't stop squeezing it tight. Now it's his permanent buddy. I can't decide if the doll looks cute or creepy.

hahahaha....I didn't realize until just now how much the buggy is sagging to the left. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have waited until Max was 14 months old to stuff him in here...heck, he was probably too chubby as a newborn.

suckers make great distractions

I found this adorable crown HERE and have been dying to use it with Max for a "little prince" shot. Max wasn't so sure about it...

I tried several times, and every time it touched his head, he'd start to cry. Apparently I've got a spoiled prince on my hands. ;)

my genius child

2011-11-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

So apparently it comes with parenthood to find anything new your child learns or creates to be brilliant. But seriously...Sydney went from scribbling in big circles to suddenly THIS masterpiece:

"boy"

and then this incredible pig

and then this perfect ghost on halloween.

The other night my sister, Kathleen, came by, and I told her of Sydney's recent artistic accomplishments. Sydney overheard and quickly grabbed her pen and notepad. I tried not to smile too big with pride as I waited to see what she'd come up with next. Then she showed us a squiggly unrecognizable creature...and Kathleen gave an exaggerated, "Oooh!!" And then I realized I should probably hold off on showcasing my 3-yr-old's brilliant abilities to everyone that comes by.

Here are some little Sydney shots from the past month. Just randomness from around the house, but I need to record all of these moments. I could watch and listen to her all day and not get tired of the things she says and does. There's never a dull moment with a 3-year-old around.

cuddling up to a movie

counting her duckies

I find her in the pantry 10 times a day in exactly this same position (the treats are on the top shelf, and apparently it's not high enough anymore).

Halloween! back-posting

2011-10-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

At the end of each year I try to print out a hard cover book of my blog. It's so nice to flip through pages of months and years from the past. Seeing the photos brings back so many more memories than my normal journal.

So don't mind me as I go back and fill in some holes from the past year of our every day-to-day life. I hope to get caught up in the next few weeks (so just ignore all the extra posts!). :)

TRICK-OR-TREATING

Snow White and her little dwarf. He was Happy, Sleepy, and Grumpy all in the same night. ;)

I thought for sure Max would be walking by now and keeping up with Sydney as she ran door-to-door. But my crawling baby had to be strapped into the stroller instead. (oh, and look at Max's hat/beard! Malinda threw that together and popped it in the mail for me a couple days before halloween. I'm so lucky to have such a crafty sister!)

We were lucky to have really warm weather, so no snow suits were needed to hide the costumes. Sydney ran to each doorstep like a pro.

Sydney's sweet nursery teacher

**after about 3 minutes, Max suddenly threw up his dinner in huge waves (I think it was food poisening from a bad batch of hot dogs), so I ran home as fast as I could, dodging all the cute little families out trick-or-treating, and Tommy finished the rest of the evening with Sydney.

counting the loot

she was more excited about the trick-or-treaters coming to her door than anything else.

one of the last hikes of the season

2011-10-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

We love to go out and drive through the canyon on Sunday afternoons and hop out at different spots for short hikes/strolls. This has been the warmest fall I've seen in Utah, and we've loved having the extended warmth to play a bit longer before the snow.

We saw this cow moose grazing in the pond right in front of us! After a couple quick photos, we quietly scooted right out of there!

the Halloween Bash

2011-10-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

I ALWAYS wish for a real halloween party with all the goodies and games, and this year we finally threw a little party. It was small and simple but so fun! Next year I want a full haunted house and all the works. :)

halloween goodies are the best part of a party! just look at those owl cupcakes my sister made!

(left: scary teeth - right: a tasty graveyard)

pumpkin veggie dip

mummies and a pumpkin cheese ball

eyeball jello and deviled eggs

left: me and Stacey looking super scary

right: Tommy the gangster. And yes, he owned those white shoes before halloween rolled around. ;)

my adorable sisters

cousins Ben, Ryan, and Leah

left: Kirstin and Suli (aka Princess Lea and her little ewok) right: Tait the army man

donuts on a string. my favorite halloween game!

and I have to admit I was pretty darn good at it. The wig even flew off in the heated race ;)

we put on a halloween kid movie to take a breather and quiet down the kids

Guess what's inside these bowls...witch's teeth? Monster brains? Goblin guts? Nope, just garbonzo beans, spaghetti noodles, and green beans. ;)

caramel apples!

goodie bags to end the night

pumpkins and hay rides

2011-10-26T00:31:00.000-07:00

The very BEST time of year! Ok, I'm sure I'll say the same thing once Christmas rolls around...but we've been in heaven with all the fall leaves and such great weather (notice Max's bare feet...which is convenient since he won't keep shoes on no matter the weather). I asked Tommy if we can come here every night until Halloween. :)

Look! His front teeth came in! And that pumpkin hat lasted .3 seconds.

I want one of these in our yard!

And one of these. :)

we rode a hay ride to a pumpkin field in the middle of a big corn maze. It was a little picked over, but Max found a keeper.

like I said....a little picked over.

he wasn't a big fan of the creepy corn maze.

This huge pit of corn was awesome! I would've rolled around in it, too, if people weren't staring.

Look closely at Sydney's face as her eyes get bigger and more horrified. ;)

catching the piggies.

this was some kind of hay maze. Sydney led the way, but Max gave up.

that creepy lady kept spooking me out, and I finally had to walk up really close to make sure she wasn't real. ;)

Leroy was the beloved mascot that sadly has passed on. I think Max could fill in for him. ;)

A Day in the Life

2011-10-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

The other day I followed my kids around with my camera as we went about our normal daily routine. Nothing special or out-of-the-norm, but these are some of my favorite photos now. A glimpse into how life was in October 2011.

Yes, the kids were sleeping in their play clothes, and no, they didn't change (until princess dress-up time came). :)

Every morning, Sydney comes to wake me up first, and then we both go in to get Max (who's always chirping for some attention and love from his big sis).

I love his chunky-cheeked profile.

whenever the camera comes near, Sydney pulls out all sorts of crazy faces.

shirts are overrated.

Max finds "toys" in everything

everything's yummier when it's shared with a dog

Max is one of Sydney's favorite models

more faces

who knew blinds could keep a 1-yr-old busy for endless amounts of time...this is his favorite spot that he speedily crawls off to whenever I'm not looking.

Sydney thinks she's the designated babysitter, and constantly chases after Max and "saves the day" (as she proudly states afterwards).

dance party

He's fast as lightning crawling up the stairs. And even faster rolling down. ;)

Sydney watches too many of my brides ;)

Haley blends in with the rest of the mounds of stuffed animals

Max loves all of Sydney's chew toys.

a little time-out

back to play time

That night, like so many nights, I found her conked out in the front room as I was heading off to bed. She's a sneaky, quiet little thing!

Fall Fest

2011-10-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

Fall - the very best time of year! Malinda and I decided we should start an annual fall fest, and we had so many ideas and expectations. It ended up a little simpler than planned, but we got in pumpkin bowling and homemade donuts, so I call that a success!

Malinda should work for Martha Stewart, she always comes up with the cutest ideas.

a lot of stripes goin' on there

Malinda's cute boys

the best part of the evening, when we got to watch Malinda make real, homemade donuts!

I'm a big fan of donuts...and homemade donuts are heaven on earth.

creations

2011-10-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

I'm just giddy over the adorable crafts and creations Sydney's brings home in her preschool bag. Except for the fact that they start to pile up on our fridge and counter, getting bent, ruined, and lost. So I decided to take photos of them before they're gone so we can remember all of her fine art! I think she's going to take after her crafty aunt Malinda someday. :)

the first couple weeks were "triangle" theme :)

A Day at the Fair

2011-10-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

We ended the summer with a visit to the state fair. My sisters, Kathleen and Valerie, joined me and the kiddos, and we ate lots of yummy food, rode kiddie rides, and were entertained by the good ol' carnies.

the first thing Sydney saw was a huge chocolate-dipped, sprinkle-covered banana.

having two helpers makes fair-going much easier!

Once all the chocolate was gone, Sydney was generous enough to share the frozen banana. :)

Sydney loves her aunties!

She was thrilled to see a real witch at the fair. She talks about witches and ghosts and monsters all the time...ever since last halloween.

We visited the goat barn. I think Kathleen was more excited than Sydney. :)

a fair is not a fair without cotton candy

Max agrees.

I love my sugar-loving baby

The main attraction was the incredible snake lady. It was well worth the $1.

Drum roll.......

Yep, it was real....the head of a beautiful girl, body of an ugly snake. And now Sydney begs to look at this picture 10 times a day.

Sydney and Max loved watching their aunties spin super fast and high.

Max kept squealing and pulling himself to the fence as he watched

Sydney and I had special time on the ferris wheel. It was one of the sweetest things! We cuddled up together as we looked out over the entire fair.

She plugged her ears the entire time, saying it was too loud (pretty much any noise equals her covering her ears). Now looking at the picture on the right, it doesn't look as sweet and peaceful for her as it was for me. :)

This is Us.

2011-10-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun getting our photos taken by the wonderful Kirstin Roper a few weeks ago! She is an amazing photographer and friend, and really captured our little family and all the silly things we love to do together. :)

she kept making this funny face whenever the camera came close.

this warm fall

2011-10-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Every day of this warm fall Sydney and I open the blinds in the morning and say, "Wow, it's another beautiful day!".

Our family was in town over conference weekend, so we took advantage of the great weather and headed to Provo canyon for a picnic and hike.

Max and cousin, McCabe, just 4 months apart. My mom got them matching onesies that Max's gut was busting out of. But he kept it on long enough for some photos. :)

cousin time is the best! (left: Sydney and her dear "Lela" - right: Sarah and all the toddlers)

left: Malinda + McCabe right: Sydney and her Grandma

Max was a bit startled by the freezing river water

left: Charlie is a big boy now and braves the waters like the rest of 'em. right: McCabe doesn't want to be outdone by Max.

We then headed up higher up the canyon to enjoy the last of the fall leaves

a pack of balloons in my bag distracted the kids from some innocent caterpillars (that wouldn't have survived long without the quick balloon interruption)

Even Max got a kick out of them

a trip to the zoo

2011-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

Malinda lives in Logan where you can find a slower-paced way of life and new scenery, that you feel like you're in a different state. We love to escape to visit Malinda and the boys, and when we're brave, we take the kids out on day trips.

Logan has an adorable little zoo that takes about 20 minutes to circle the entire loop, which is perfect timing with 5 babies/toddlers at your heels. ;)

our two babies just chillin'

feeding the ducks

Look at these funny crows - they stayed in this same position for the full 5 minutes we were watching them. Now that's a mad staring contest if I've ever seen one.

sick days

2011-09-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

The sweet side of kids being sick is that we get to cuddle inside all day and stay in our jammies. Or in this case, Max got to stay in one of my shirts as the laundry was piling up. :)

spinning in mommy's office chair...just one of the many exciting activities we enjoy during sick days

raindrops

2011-09-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

Sydney and I have a song we sing together every night before bed. It's a silly made up song about rain, wind, thunder...and other bits and pieces we add to each night. She loves all kinds of weather. She stands under a downpour, dances in the wind, and scoops up hail to munch as a snack.

"There was a little girl

Her name was Sydney Lane

She loved to dance outside in the rain..."

We're so lucky to live in Utah with these wonderful summer storms. And I'm so glad I have her by my side to help me remember how lucky we are for ALL the seasons....she's already begging for snow. :)

a weekend break

2011-09-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

We got to take a last-minute visit to beautiful Solitude this weekend. There’s something about mountain air and a couple of lazy days full of play that gives you such a refreshing perk.

(right: this is Max’s new silly face he pulls constantly…scrunching up his nose, and then laughing)

this yummy pizzeria near where we stayed had grass on the roof! Now I want a little cottage in the woods with a grassy roof.

the second day we hiked around Silver Lake, one of our favorite spots

My sister, Kathleen, joined us for the day. Not only do we love her company, but I love the fact that I can hand her my camera to get some shots of us, too. :)

My big standing 1-year-old! He’s taken THREE steps so far. Pretty soon I won’t be able to plop him in a spot and snap away while he stays put. I’ll miss these days…

but Sydney has been trained at an early age and has developed a remarkable patience for her camera-crazy mama.

Beautiful Kathleen. I keep trying to convince her to be my sidekick on photoshoots. She’s such an artistic little lady.

I was telling Sydney the story about the three bears this morning, so the entire hike she kept calling out to me, “Mama Bear! Come on!”

P.S. I am in love with my JoTotes camera bag! It’s my camera bag/diaper bag/purse combo. :)

First Day of Preschool

2011-09-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with butterflies in my stomach. Kind of nervous and excited all at the same time. My first kiddo is going to preschool for the first time!

this is her staring off into nowhere-land (kind of looking past the camera in a daze). She likes to do that whenever I ask her to pose.

and then ALWAYS comes the silly faces

She was so excited this morning, and ran right into her classroom (it's in a cute lady's basement a couple streets over). But when I waved goodbye (big mistake), her lips began to quiver and tears welled up in her eyes. That's when I bolted (mostly because I didn't want the teacher seeing ME cry!). I didn't think I'd get emotional (I mean, it's only preschool for 2 hrs twice a week, right?) but it suddenly hit me that this is the beginning of my baby becoming a kid.

When I picked her up, all the kids walked out together on this rope to greet the parents. She was all smiles again, and the teacher said she cheered right up and had fun.

her sweet teacher

I've ALWAYS wanted to eat milk and cookies with my kids when they get home from school as we talk about what they learned, who they played with, and all the details in between. Her main report of news was that she got to eat goldfish snacks. :)

Our Family. The Movie. :)

2011-08-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

While we were having family photos done of us a couple weeks ago (I'll post those soon!) we were lucky enough to have the talented Jenny Hansen film the whole thing! I didn't realize how priceless a video would be to me...it really captured all of the sweet and silly bits of our little family, so we can always remember them.

Keep an eye out for the family photos!

The Cake

2011-08-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

A first birthday isn't complete without some cake-smashing shots. So we headed to our favorite neighborhood orchard to celebrate the oncoming sugar rush. Once Max did the initial demolishing, Sydney joined in on the face stuffing.

We LOVE cake in this house. And we're so happy Max can join us in eating treats from now on. ;)

how to get work done

2011-08-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

If I'm ever needing to get some extra editing done during the day, I usually know the perfect solution: a long play bath for the kids while I sit next to them with my laptop. I gather all sorts of toys to keep them happy and occupied for a good 30 minutes or so. But this day both kids were done after 5 minutes, and I had to get creative...

treats in the bath? this will be my new secret weapon.

the only problem, though, is that instead of taking advantage of the extra time, I couldn't stop taking photos.

by the end of the bath they were swimming in a sugary pink pool. :)

Max is ONE!

2011-08-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Sydney and I tiptoed into Max's room this morning to wish him Happy Birthday, and we were greeted by this big grin. It's actually the exact face we get to see every morning. I love this happy fellow!

We had a relaxing day together. We played, we ran errands, and Max took lots of naps (hey, it's hard work turning one).

I had to capture these chubby toes during breakfast that I kiss all day, every day. Please let me kiss these toes forever, Max! (ahem...meaning, please don't grow up...I promise I won't be kissing your 18-yr-old feet). ;)

We headed to the grocery store to pick out his favorite cereal. Which turned into Sydney picking out the a sugary "cookie" cereal she insisted was Max's favorite.

We stopped by the bakery section to design a mini cake for Max's "1-yr-cake-smashing" photo shoot (photos coming soon!). The kids were spoiled with tons of cookies while we waited, and Max showed off his speedy mouth-stuffing skills to the ladies behind the counter.

We later met up with Tommy during his lunch break at good old McDonald's play place.

The kids were excited about their kids meal (except what happened to the cute kids meal box they used to come in??). Max now takes all toys and holds it to his head. Not sure what that means, but I think it started when he played with my phone and tried to mimic me. :)

A day of lots of firsts...and lots of junk food.

He stayed by this rotating circle 90% of the time

Sydney kept thinking it was her birthday, she was having so much fun all day.

his first very own ice cream cone that he finished in about 60 seconds

After the cake-eating that night, he opened up his present that Sydney and I picked out

A little walker/trike combo. Sydney was so excited to have someone join her in riding her trike around the house in circles (something she does all day).

After baths and PJ's, we ended the night with the birthday book

except with 2 very wiggly toddlers, we might've skipped a few pages... :)

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet little ONE year old!! Lots of photos coming this week. Instead of feeling pressured to get all the 1-yr-old photos in one day, I decided we'd consider this his birthday week. So keep an eye out. I've got my props and accessories piled up and ready to go. Poor guy..... ;)

behind the lens

2011-08-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Jenfolio for the fun little peek into who's behind the camera. :)

or for a faster and larger version, watch on youtube HERE.

you know there's trouble when there's silence

2011-08-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while I was busy working on the computer, I saw Sydney and Max sneak into the pantry and shut the door. I thought it was so cute to hear their muffled giggles. But when they didn't come out after 15 minutes, and their squealing continued, I was curious....

It was hard to do much scolding when I was snapping away and laughing my head off.

If anyone's running low on paper towels, we've got about 500 grocery bags full.....I just can't promise how clean they'll be.

she's at it again...

2011-08-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Remember this? Well, who's to say a chubby, nearly-1-yr-old is too big to play dolly for his big sis. When Sydney gets bored, she resorts to using Max as her toy.

cookie

2011-08-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

When I met Tommy, he was the first person who topped my sweet-toothed addiction. I thought he was the cutest thing with his oreos and soda runs (one of our dates included grabbing all the specialty drinks/sodas at the grocery store and taste-testing them at a park). Me and my roommates even called him Elf because he reminded us so much of THIS.

And then came along Sydney. And she puts us both to shame. One of the first words she spoke was "cookie", and it's now the first thing I hear in the mornings. So our days usually begin with Nutella on toast, dipped in Milo. Don't judge. It's in the poor girl's genes.

the Big Top party!

2011-08-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Come One, Come All!

Sydney had her first real birthday party, and it was a dream come true (mostly for me...nothing's more fun than a carnival!). I'm thinking this needs to be an annual summer bash. :)

My THREE year old!

STEP RIGHT UP! We made it a family affair, so we had lots of helpful hands running the booths.

When the kids arrived, they picked up a sack to fill with tickets and prizes. Each ticket = 1 prize.

We let the kids running the booths decide how to hand out the tickets...I think this one produced the most, so it was a popular one. :)

Malinda made all the adorable banners. Her crafty talents are endless!

Malinda, painting some faces. I like the Superman/Spiderman combo.

the photo booth (although I was having too much fun and forgot to get photos of everyone)

The fishing pond was the favorite amongst the toddlers. I don't think they cared about the rules or the tickets. By the end, half of them ended up swimming (instigated by a certain somebody....who ended up in her Birthday Suit by the end of the day).

The prize table

Ping Pong Toss

that was Max's favorite booth

Bowling

clown noses for everyone

and sticky fingers galore :)

Watermellon-eating contest! We started with the youngest kids, and it went a little slow....

But we ended with the big kids, and it got exciting. I'm proud to say my hubby won the race.

Sack races, and jumping through the hoop at the end

little Bryson beat all the big kids...he was smart and ran, instead of hopped. :)

hoola hoops....I forgot to make a game of it, but they were used anyway :)

We kind of just brought out whatever we could find, so Max's slide joined the circus

my sweet sisters (Kathleen + Valerie)

sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar

presents!

more silly faces

the invite, created by my talented friend, Kirstin! www.kirstinroper.com

the crib

2011-08-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

Max's crib is the play gym for him and Sydney. After Max's nap, Sydney climbs on in and joins the jumping and squealing.

(don't mind Sydney's nudiness...she is comfortable in her own skin, and is often found running around shirtless, undies-only, or, after bath time, her birthday suit.)

Her Big Day

2011-07-13T01:35:00.000-07:00

Sydney's birthday was such a blast from start to finish. I loved having my special time with her throughout the day doing little things she loves. I can't believe how lucky I am to have her in my life.

She woke me up in the morning so happy and excited, knowing it was her special day (we've only been talking about it non-stop for the past 6 months). :)

As was tradition in my home growing up, we went straight to the grocery store to pick out Sydney's favorite cereal.

She chose "Yucky Charms"

then we got ready for the day :)

Tommy surprised her during his lunch break and took her on a special date to McDonald's Play Place, and afterwards gave her a present of a whole set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Pez.

We later met up with Kathleen, who spoiled her with a big girl purse, notebook, and pen. The rest of the day she scribbled down notes and pictures very seriously.

Sydney and I (sorry, Max was along for the day, but is a little ignored in the photos) spent the afternoon in the mall getting soft pretzels, milkshakes, and then Mommy's surprise....

a trip to Build-A-Bear. She was in awe at all the stuffed animals (she's a fan...you should see her mountain of fluffy friends on her bed). She chose this little horse.

She was a little shy and quiet with the workers through all the steps, but she kept turning to me and Max and giving us big, tight hugs.

She helped stuff, sew, and clean up her new animal. I think Max wants to come here on his birthday in a couple months.

As I was taking her to the register to finish and pay, she passed by dozens of outfits and accessories for the animals, and when I heard her little voice say "Horsey need dress?" I couldn't say no. Yeah, they know how to sucker you in....but I just about cried, the whole experience was so sweet!

She picked out a ballerina dress and gave her horsey the name: "Ballerina"

In the evening we headed to the our town's carnival. There are few things in the world I love more than a carnival, and I think Sydney is starting to feel the same.

This is a "Mommy, I'd rather play on the rides than pose for your camera" cheese face.

Max watched his cool big sister on the rides. Perhaps next year he'll join her on the ladybug.

There were a couple rides that didn't go over too well. She doesn't have much tolerance for loud noises. When she went on the caterpillar ride she screamed like I've never heard her scream. But I think I ended up crying even more than she did, especially when the worker wouldn't stop the ride (those darn carnies!).

After cheering up (she was fine within seconds....me, well Tommy calmed me down) we gave Max his first bite of cotton candy goodness. The confused smile on his face made us all feel better.

We came home and opened up a present from Grandma and ate birthday cake that Sydney picked out that morning.

You guessed it...Rapunzel.

And to end the night, another tradition of reading Dr. Seuss' classic, Happy Birthday To You.

After all the sugar, we were having a hard time sitting still for the whole story. :)

We went to bed with sugar in our bellies, a smile on our faces, and Sydney as a THREE year old!

THREE

2011-07-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday this little girl turned 3! It was the best birthday from start to finish. I'll post more soon....but for now, I'm planning her first real birthday party for tomorrow. I think I'm even more excited than she is!

The Summer Festivities Begin!

2011-07-06T23:47:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing in the Bethards' household. Lots of photos to post of our adventures so far. First off...our little front yard 4th of July. I know, I know...it might not look like the most exciting 4th of July bash, but these little moments are what makes my heart the happiest.

The first fireworks of the night! Well, not really "night"....the sparkles and colors didn't quite have the same affect during the bright evening light. But my little ones don't last long after 8pm. :)

Max is a squirmer. And a pretty fast crawler. So he got banished to the dreaded high-chair (I don't know why he hates this thing so much). It was the only solution I could think of. :)

She's always been very sensitive to noises. So I wasn't too surprised when she kept her ears plugged during all the fireworks festivities. She pretty much looked like this all weekend long.

It kept drizzling on and off, so we hung out in the garage between showers.

Father's Day

2011-06-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

Father's Day was wonderful this year because I could spend it with Tommy, as well as my Dad who's in town! I am so lucky to have these two in my life. It's so sweet to see Tommy do a lot of the same things with our kids that my Dad would do with us as I was a child.

My biggest gift I could give Tommy was to wake up at 7am and make Amalatons for breakfast before our early 9am church. Unfortunately, we're not much of an early-rising family, so we didn't have much of an appetite that early. :)

Sydney came home from church with a Father's Day card she made in nursery. The first real creation that's ended on our fridge. The first of many, I hope!

Tommy and his munchkins.

Sydney was such a good girl for Daddy all day. Until she decided to end the night by painting all over her room with red nail polish (walls, doors, bed, dressers, books). That was fun. Luckily my sisters were over to help clean up.

The cute + naughty culprits :)

Sydney and her cousin, Leah, get in the funniest kinds of mischief when they're together! I'm a little worried about the teenage years ahead of us...

bedtime stories

2011-06-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

We have somewhat of a routine in the evenings. While I feed and change Max, Tommy and Sydney spend special time before bed.

This is one of my favorite things to see.

A Trip to Daddy's Work

2011-06-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

Today we took a trip to Tommy's work, one of our favorite little field trips. It reminds me of when I was a kid and tagging along with my dad to his office. I remember playing spies with my younger siblings as we explored the hallways and elevators (not sure what the coworkers thought about that).

But we usually take trips on weekends when there's a quiet, empty space, so we can play without interrupting. :)

Sydney runs into this window almost every single time. We're not used to clean windows in our house.

she's getting a little too cozy in that big chair

Laundry Day

2011-06-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

Today we played in the sunshine and hung our clothes out to dry.

Haha…more like I chased my kids with my camera, bribing them with toys and goodies and shooting a gazillion shots between cries, accidents, and tantrums. ;) Ah, but I got the shots I had in my head forever. And the kids will thank me later, right?

Thanks to my wonderful friend, Kirstin, for playing with us (we tag-teamed jumping around, getting the kids attention for the other child’s shots). Let me just tell you, photographing children is NOT a one-person job! :)

I love my two little ones. Which reminds me…I now owe Sydney a Rapunzel Doll from my bit of bribing today…

Crazy Syd-Bid

2011-05-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

When I was trying to take some photos of Max the other day, Sydney quickly put on an assortment of accessories and hopped right in. After nearly 3 years of chasing her with a camera, she's finally warming up to the idea of being my #1 model.

Sydney is so playful and imaginative. She begs for story after story, and as soon as I say "The End", she chirps "Tell story?!" She's always been a bit of a tomboy, preferring Buzz Lightyear, Elmo, and Thomas the Train. But in the past few months she's suddenly talking about princesses and castles and a prince on a horse. I think the movie Tangled had something to do with that. She is obsessed.

While toddlerhood can be a lot of work, it is definitely the most entertaining experience I've ever had. The things that come out of Sydney's mouth keep me cracking up all day. I just love this little girl so much!

Mr. Max

2011-05-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

In a few days, this little chubbo will be NINE months old. How did that happen?! I took these last month, but he's still just as roley, since he hasn't been too mobile until recently. Actually, this week he learned to crawl, and I'm afraid all these rolls will begin to disappear. I'd better sneak more butter into his food. :)

I am so smitten by this little man. I've never met a soul so sweet, innocent, loving, forgiving, patient, and happy. He's sensitive and loves to be showered with love. He seems to sense any tension or stress, and just glows when we are excited and happy. So I try to do my best and stay upbeat and smiley whenever he's in my arms.

He is very much a mama's boy, but he loves to watch his daddy, and will just stare and stare in awe...like he knows he's daddy's little mini-me. He is head-over-heels for Sydney. She can do no wrong in his eyes. She's a sweetheart to him, but even when she forgets and takes away a toy, or ignores him for a while, he continues to gaze at her with an adoring smile and laughs at every little thing she does.

Ever since the moment Max was placed in my arms for the first time, I knew this was a special little guy. And that I was the luckiest in the world to be his mother.

a new niece

2011-05-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Tony and Sarah welcomed their fourth little one - baby Caitlin. During some Easter festivities with the family, Sarah and I ducked out for a bit to get some newborn shots. I did these in our master bedroom to get the soft window light. I love natural light. And I love newborns...especially sweet sleepy ones that happen to be related to me. :)

Alex got his call!

2011-05-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

As soon as Kathleen got home from her mission, Alex finished getting his papers in, and quickly got his call! At least they get to see each other before he takes off for two years. But it will be bittersweet to have another sibling gone on a mission. I'm so proud of my little brother!

waiting to open up the letter once everyone was gathered

My parents in California, and Marshall + Jennie in Philadelphia shared a Skype call; Kathleen and Malinda were in Logan on speakerphone

opening it up...

"you are called to serve as a missionary...in the Panama City mission"!!!

signed by President Monson!

After opening up the call, we googled everything we could find out about Panama. Then we drove to the nearby Flags store in Provo and grabbed some Panama flags, wristbands, and keychains to represent. :) I'm going to miss my little brother, but I am SO happy for him and proud of his faith and dedication to serve!

More of the Siegs :)

2011-05-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more of Malinda and her adorable family. We took these in the CLU hills next to our house we grew up in. See that hill (or "mountain", as I used to call it before realizing what Utah mountains look like) in the background? We used to hike and explore those all the time...barefoot, muddy, out for an adventure. :) Childhood is the best. And now we have kiddos of our own to relive all those fun memories!

Why God Made Moms

2011-05-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness there's a day set aside each year to celebrate motherhood! Not just because this morning I got breakfast in bed (thanks, honey!), but because there are so many wonderful women in our lives that deserve celebrating! Here's a little shout-out to my own mama, who continues to be such an amazing mother to me, as well as my little ones.

Sydney with my mom during our recent trip to California

And here is the funniest thing my mom sent me last night. Enjoy! :)

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used
bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything
nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly
    use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get
drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom . You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's
   who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic
   surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get
rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my brother who did it
and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back
of her head.

Sydney's Balloon

2011-04-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Sydney and I played with some balloons the other day. We first took the pink one out, then Sydney said the white one in the car was lonely and sad. So she made sure he got his turn later. :)

Sydney is such a sweet blessing in my life. She’s my best little buddy and just cracks me up all day. She’s so patient with me as I learn all the ropes of this whole motherhood thing. She’s still my most difficult subject, but will always be one of my favorites to photograph.

Dying Eggs

2011-04-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

The festivities continued as we joined Tommy's brother and his family to dye easter eggs and eat a delicious feast.

Sydney loves her big cousins

decorating the eggs

as soon as they were dry, Sydney cracked them open and ate three

left: Tommy trying to sneak some candy - right: Sydney showing off her cool Cinderella toothbrush to Eli

Sydney spent most of the day 90% naked with all the stainable egg-dying and drippy foods

enjoying the Easter sunshine.....yeah right. It was freezing and overcast! :)

but a pair of bunny ears will make even the cold and gray weather seem okay

Easter Baskets!

2011-04-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

We're not much of an early-rising family, so the Easter Bunny waited until after church to hide our baskets. Our tradition is to have a scavenger hunt with little paper clues hidden around the house leading to each basket.

they're ready to start scavenging!

Max's basket was first. His was a simple hunt with one clue: "I'm hiding in a spot we're not allowed to go...but Mommy let's Sydney play here when Daddy doesn't know."

(the back corner behind the big shelf seems like a fun place to hide, so I don't blame Sydney for wanting to crawl back there now and then. Max looks forward to the day when he can build forts back there with her.)

the Easter Bunny brought him his first swim suit, a couple crocheted critters (I wish I could say they were homemade), a summery outfit, and lots of treats that he'll have to hand over to his big sister who has teeth.

Luckily tags are just as yummy to gum on

Sydney's basket came next. Daddy helped decipher each clue (mostly due to the Easter Bunny's sloppy drawing skills). She was very eager and excited, although she kept looking for the basket in each spot and was disappointed each time to find, instead, a little piece of paper.

a few hiding spots....no easter basket yet!

she found it! she quickly grabbed it and ran straight to the living room to look through her goodies.

A new toothbrush (she may have a slight obsession with brushing her teeth), carrot-shaped bubbles, white gloves, egg-shaped chalk...lots and LOTS of candy that lasted only a few hours. :)

Luckily the toothbrush came along with all the treats, or else we'd be making lots of trips to the dentist soon.

The easter bunny forgot to get a basket for mine, as well as hiding it with clues, so when it was my turn, Tommy said, "Okay, go find it!" and I turned around to see that it was laying in the corner of the living room the entire time...in my purse. Nice and convenient for me. The sooner I can get to the treats, the better. :)

Tommy's basket was last, but Sydney kind of took over the hunt again.

Hiding in our front planters (yes, we love our fake mushrooms in our planters) was Tommy's basket, filled to the brim with kid toys and treats: a kite, ring toss, water gun, orange sticks, and lots and lots of marshmallows (his favorite).

Easter...the Hunt

2011-04-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter week, celebrating with both my side of the family, and then later with Tommy's side. Even though Utah never quite gave us the spring weather, we donned our easter dresses and hunted for eggs outside, despite. Here's part 1 of 3 easter posts. :)

We started the week off with an egg hunt in the park behind our house. My mom was in town helping with Sarah's new baby, so we had an early celebration before she left.

the kids excitedly waiting with their "baskets" ready (backpacks, buckets, halloween containers...)

Malinda made the CUTEST bunny ears for all the kids the night before. She can whip up anything!

and off they go!

the Easter bunny was creative with the sparse winter shrubbery :)

Sarah's 2 of FOUR kids now! I love al these nieces and nephews. :)

the helpers (Mom, Kathleen, Valerie)

(left: McCabe's first Easter egg; right: Tommy sneaking some candy from Charlie's bag of loot)

Sydney enjoying her spoils - and Malinda + Charlie sporting their bunny ears in style

mmm...munching away on our easter treats

...Max was content chewing on his stick.

first haircuts

2011-04-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm a little embarrassed to report that Sydney finally got her first haircut...at age 2 3/4. It's come to the point where I have to put it up whenever we go in public or else people will think my poor girl is homeless. But luckily Sydney's cousin, Leah, was ready for her first haircut yesterday, and they invited us to join in on the fun!

Cookie Cutters is the best place on earth! So kid-friendly with toys, treats, movies, slides, balloons, etc.

The BEFORE:

Look at these adorable cars they get to sit in while they get a cut and style

I was expecting more of a reaction from Sydney, but she just sat with a blank face on the entire time while she watched a Barbie Princess movie on a personal screen in front of her.

and the finished product:

she's home!!!

2011-04-12T23:39:00.000-07:00

My beloved little sister, Kathleen, FINALLY came home from her mission at the end of March. I've had butterflies in my stomach for the past few months before her arrival in anticipation and excitement. It was a very looong 18 months! But while I missed her like crazy, I am SO happy she went and proud of her service and dedication. She is such an example to me and to all of us.

Me, Malinda, James, Alex, and the kids kept it a secret that we were going to fly out for the homecoming. We all waited with huge smiles at the beautiful and small Santa Barbara airport and watched her plane land right in front of us. Let's just say it was a much better experience than waiting at the usual LAX!

We were all on pins and needles. Not just from excitement, but also because my Dad and Alex almost missed her arrival due to a late dentist appointment. And Max and I almost missed out due to a HUGE diaper blow-out in the airport parking lot. But we all miraculously made it in just the nick of time!

thanks to all the helpful hands, shuffling Max around while I snapped some photos (his auntie Malinda, uncle James, and my Aunt Jen)

Malinda's darling boys

Even though it was drizzling, nothing could stop us from smiling. That's her plane landing ahead of us.

I spy Hermana Vance stepping off the plane!

I got teary-eyed as she started to run once she spotted us

mom and dad

everyone had tears in their eyes and smiles from ear to ear

Sydney loves her aunt "Kakeen". But she was a little confused why we were clapping and hollering, so she continued to clap and say hi to everyone else that walked off the plane.

first stop: In-N-Out. :)

We are SO happy to have Kathleen back home. And she's now up here in Utah, about to begin a spring semester at BYU. I am so proud of my little sis! :)

family

2011-04-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

I just got back from visiting my family in southern California, and it got me so excited for summer to arrive here in Utah! While I was down there, I took some photos of my sister and her sweet family just down the street from our home that we grew up in. It’s surrounded by rolling hills and golden sunshine. I have so many wonderful memories of my home and my childhood. It was a beautiful place to live, but more important than that were the family members I was blessed with. There’s nothing better in life than family!

bubbles

2011-03-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sydney could play in the bath all day, every day. It's no wonder one of her favorite stories is Little Mermaid right now, because I think pretty soon she'll be growing some fins, too.

I need to figure out how to rid her of her soap-addiction. I find her playing in the bathroom sink, kitchen sink, and every bathtub in the house, mixing soapy bubbles in containers, adding hand towels and anything she can find to her "soup"...and then she tries to eat the bubbles if she thinks I'm not looking. The plus side is that she asks to do the dishes almost every day (which, at this point is more of a task for me as I'm wiping up after her, but I'm thinking in a couple years this'll pay off). :)