This little Yoda is growing up...

This is a little sneak peak of Halloween at our house. Lets just say that we are having a little Star Wars fever around here.

I can't believe that Kael is 18 months old! Seriously! Time has flown by.
Of course when a child turns 18 months this also equates to a happy day at church....nursery!

This is both a happy and sad day for me. Although I am very happy for a peaceful two hours of church, but it makes my life difficult when they cry because they don't want to go. Of course the first time is always bad, but he did so good. He didn't cry once. I made Bryan take him and drop him off and he was fine the entire time. When I went to pick him up he was upset as soon as he saw me. Lets just hope that he will go this week, I was just called to the primary presidency so I can't roam the halls with him any longer. I have to deliver the snacks to the nursery so we will see how well he does when he sees me and then I leave again.
Pray for tomorrow. Nursery round two.

First Day of Preschool...

Peyton had his first day of preschool last week. And so it begins....the next 20 years of his life are mapped out. The school journey has begun. Now that I have those dramatic statements out of my system, we can move on. He did great. I was so nervous for him to start. I told Bryan the night before, {whom was also starting back at school} "I feel like it is my first day of school tomorrow. I am so nervous." We had literally got back from Utah the night before and he was not very happy about this. I was afraid that he was going to put up a stink about going to preschool, but he didn't. He walked right in and sat down. He didn't even look back at me. I was the one that had to say "bye" with a little tear in my eye.

I am so grateful that he didn't make a scene and that it was an easy transition. I don't know why I was so nervous? He did joy school last year and during the summer we went to the YMCA everyday and he played at the daycare there, and did fine. I guess I was just nervous about leaving him and driving away. What if he needs me? What if he gets hurt or sick? He eats lunch there and I was nervous that he wouldn't eat good for them {he is a difficult eater}. But when I went to pick him up...he was fine! He LOVED it. He couldn't stop talking about it!
He has preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is actually at the rec center in our town, and a few ladies from our ward teach there, it is perfect.

Sometimes I can't believe I have a preschooler.

What a doosey....

This has been a doosey of a week....and it's only Tuesday.
{wow. i just got depressed reading that statement}

On Friday Bryan came home from school a little early and said that he was not feeling well. He went to sleep and I went on with my day. A little later he came out from his nap and said that he just threw up. My heart stopped. I LOATHE the stomach flu {as anyone would}. When I hear that someone has it or we have come in contact with it, out comes the can of LYSOL. There is nothing worse than a baby with the stomach flu. Someone who cannot tell you they need a bucket or run to the toilet. It is also a feeling of impending doom. When someone comes down with it, you know you're next. Like the grim reaper who is going to take you out of commission for a couple days and make you feel like death. {a little dramatic? maybe. but you get my point} I HATE it! On Saturday morning Kael started throwing up. Which put me into stress mode. Not only was I scrubbing up puke from the rug but we were hosting some friends for Sunday dinner and I knew I could not subject them to the horribleness that is the flu. So I had to call and cancel. Then the waiting game began. Am I going to get it? No. I am strong, my immune system is strong. {i drink like 5 vitamin waters a day you know. ;) } The last two times my boys got it I came out a champion, a sweet victory, no stomach flu for me. Not this time though. Sunday came and went and no sickness. I thought once again I had conquered the beast. I got up on Monday and got ready for the day and was about to leave for an appointment at Bryan's school's clinic and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It literally left me running to the toilet only making it by the hair on my chinny chin chin. I called Bryan who had just left me in good spirits just a few minutes before and told him to call our friend Jason {who is my chiropractic intern} and tell him that we wouldn't be coming to the clinic today. The grim reaper {aka the stomach flu} had caught me. Just as there is nothing worse than a sick baby with the stomach flu, there is nothing worse than a sick mother with the stomach flu. Taking care of two rambunctious, busy little boys is not the easiest thing with a clean bill of health...but sick? It's impossible. It was a long day and I was never so glad to see Bryan in my life. But now that the stomach flu has found its way out of my body I still find myself playing the waiting game. Peyton still hasn't got it. Is he going to get it? How has he not got it? This flu is a jerk. It is going around this city like wild fire. We know two other families that are going through this fun, and Peyton is sitting here happy as a lark. Probably tomorrow it will rear its stupid, jerky little head.
Peyton went to preschool today, which was good because I could stay home and recuperate from being down and out yesterday. My house was a disaster. Food everywhere. Hundreds of tiny little goldfish crumbs smashed into my rug. {evidence of me throwing any snack my kids would eat between trips to the bathroom. "oh your throwing goldfish all over the floor. okay. whatever."} Bryan tried to clean it up, bless his heart, but he hates to vacuum so after 5 minutes of vacuuming it was good enough for him. I had my house spotless when I went to pick up Peyton and after 15 minutes of being home, it looked like this.......

Those two are trouble together, I tell you. Little partners in crime. I was answering some missed emails from yesterday and I turn around to this mess.

Mr. Kael decided it was a great idea to smear Vaseline all over his face, arms, shirt, shorts, rug and couch. He finds it where ever I hide it. If its up high, he gets a chair to find it. This morning while I was cleaning, and thinking he was happily playing in his toy room I found him in my closet....with my make up bag...holding my mascara that he so cleverly unscrewed and was painting his shirt, face, and my clothes.
Fun.

They also unloaded the entire closet full of blankets. Man we have a lot of blankets for living in such a hot place! Needless to say that it has been a day.
Good thing I am feeling much better today!

By the way. We have been home a week now from our vacation and since then, this little one has acquired quite the little attitude.

He now will point at us with all the anger in his little body and tell us, "No!" It is so hard not to laugh, seriously. He vigorously fights back with his brother now. I knew it was coming but it is exhausting pulling them off of each other every 3 minutes. He also has figured out that some things are bigger than others. Thus the reason he is carrying around an entire loaf of bread. While I was laying on the couch near death, Bryan cut him a slice of bread...when he could clearly see that the slice of bread was not as big as the loaf...he insisted on having the loaf. Bryan not wanting to fight with this very determined, feisty 18 month old, he gave in. He took about 4 bites of it and then was finished and set it on the floor where he was playing.
I know I have said this before about Peyton, but I hope I make it through Kael.
I like to chronicle all of these silly little pictures and stories so that one day I can look back and think, "Was this seriously my life?" Where then I can think, "Wow. I miss that." or "Wow, I am grateful they are big."
But I am quite certain that they will keep me on my toes with every stage to come.

I have to tell you, in all of my experiences that I have had with my two boys I have not had an experience like my friend Jill just had with her two little ones on an airplane ride home. You won't be sorry you read it. It had both Bryan and I laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. It will leave you saying, "Wow. I have had some bad things happen, but nothing quite like that." My dear friend Jill needs to be granted sainthood after her experience.

Remembering...

I remember.

via

I honestly can't believe it has been ten years since the 9/11 tragedy.
I remember on that September morning I was getting ready for school where I had just started my junior year. As I was getting ready to leave for school, my dad was watching the Today Show. I came out into the family room and saw the horrific image on the television set. I asked my dad what happened and he said they weren't sure but it had to be terrorists. That was a word that I didn't really know much about, or maybe never thought of...but I was about to understand what a terrorist was. I remember my dad was disgusted with Katie Couric when she thought it was a small aircraft, such as a Cessna that had crashed into one of the towers. Being an airplane man, he knew better. I remember him saying, "That was not a Cessna, Katie. There is too much damage for a small plane. That was a big bird that did that damage." {talking to her as if he could hear her} After watching the images for a moment longer I continued getting ready for school. I was down the hall of my house and I heard my dad yelling, "Holy crap! Another one just hit! That was a 767! Get out here!" My mom and I came running and couldn't believe our eyes. Katie Couric piped in, "Tower two has just been hit. I think we have a major air traffic control problem here." {i had to laugh at that comment. seriously katie?}
As soon as I got to school I was still eager to know what was happening. I was taking an Anatomy and Physiology class at the DATC and my teacher had pulled in a t.v. for us to watch. We watched as they got word that the Pentagon had been hit and immediately thought of my cousin Nicole who was working back in D.C. I watched as the first tower fell, I was totally in shock as to what was happening. As the school day went on, the topic was on everybody's minds. Many rumors went around the school that we were at war. It was a very scary day. When I got home I turned on the t.v. and watched the images over and over in shock and horror.
I remember the next day at school sitting on the tennis court waiting for my round and looking at the sky, there was no airplanes. It was a very eerie feeling. A thought that kept plaguing my mind was, "When is this going to end? When will things be back to normal again?" The fact was is that there would soon have to be a new kind of normal. Things would never be the same. The way we lived will now be different. Going on an airplane would now become quite the ordeal {it is for safety purposes,and for that i am grateful. but still. quite the ordeal} People now were suspicious and lived in fear. The poor families that lost loved ones would never live normally again, their loved ones were now gone. I felt for them, even at the young age of 17 I put myself in their shoes. What if I had lost my mother, father, or brother? And now that I am a wife and a mother I can't help but think, what if I would have lost my husband or my child? My heart still breaks for those who lost.
I am grateful for the heroes of that day. For those who fearlessly ran into the buildings, buildings that were on fire. For those that gave their own lives on an airplane so that another tragedy would not ensue.

I will never forget.

via

Discovery Gateway....

The two grandmas joined forces and we went downtown to the Discovery Gateway{also known as the children's museum}. We got a season pass so that we could not only enjoy the place once, but multiple times....and we did.

Kael's favorite part was the little buggies. We didn't really need to go to a children's museum to achieve this kind of fun, but he probably loved it because his older brother was distracted by something else and not trying to horn in on his fun. Exactly why there must be two grandmothers present....one for each child...and a mother to take pictures sit back and relax....I should have brought a book.
:)

Peyton loves to pump the gas. He gets to help his dad pump gas into the car {as long as he keeps his shoes on. my children think it's funny to take their shoes off every car ride we go on. annoying.} He would tell the child who was driving the car, "Hey dude, I am gonna put gas in your car."

He also liked to be the grocery man. I don't think that I want to shop at his store though.....he told me it was four dollars for two tortillas.
:)

They also had a bunch of tubes that would suck up little balls and take them up high. Peyton and Kael loved it!

Peyton working in the construction zone.

They had a life flight helicopter on the roof for the kids to sit in.

Peyton loved to pretend to fly it and Kael just wanted to sit in the back. Phew. A fight averted.

Peyton was a great pilot.

Kael loved the back of the helicopter. When I told him it was time to go, he pretended he was deaf...for 5 minutes. Ha ha! I finally had to pull him out kicking and screaming.

Grandma and the boys forecasting the weather.

And last but not least, the life-sized horse. Kael wanted off before he got on. He loves horses, as long as he is not sitting on one apparently.

We actually went twice while we were in Utah. Peyton just had to show his dad the ball maze.
Thank goodness for our season pass.

The Amazing Puzzle....

Bryan's little sister Megan has an amazing mind. When I first started to date Bryan we had a game night with his family and Megan wanted to play Boggle. I remember Bryan telling her noway, he was not going to play with her. He said, "Megan is the only human I know that can find the entire Constitution of the United States in one shake of Boggle." I of course laughed and thought it was a joke....until I played her and she kicked my butt! She loves to do puzzles and she is fast at them.
So it didn't surprise me one bit when she said she had just completed a 24,000 piece puzzle.
Yes, a 24,000 piece puzzle.

It took her 282 hours to complete.

She worked on it for a few hours everyday and it took a few weeks to complete.

My family was amazed by this and had to see if for themselves.
We all took a field trip to Megan's basement to see it for ourselves!
It was incredible!
Good job Meggie!

And of course we had to play on Uncle Mark's drums.

Kael loved it and didn't want to leave...or give up the drumstick.
He has a great grip.

Pepperbellys.....

My friends and I always try to get together at least once in the summer and once around Christmas. This time we decided to go to Pepperbelly's in Kaysville. Lets be honest here, its not the best food you can probably get...but it holds a place in my heart {and hopefully Hilary's and Emily's too.} See, we were the three {also the three on the right hand side of the picture} that stayed home for our first year of college, therefore we glommed onto one another...having at least two college classes together a day. At the end of our college day we would often stop by Pepperbelly's to have lunch. Our favorite on the menu: a side salad with poppyseed dressing and a side of rice {or at least that was my favorite}. Another great perk that Pepperbelly's only did for us {i am sure of it} was mixed drinks {pg style}. We would often ask for a Diet Coke with strawberries or as our favorite waiter, David liked to call a "Straw-fresca-limay" {aka strawberries with fresca and lime}. Sorry for the nostalgic moment, but it just seemed fitting that we went there for a little friend reunion.

It is so fun to get together without our children and talk about the good old times.

:)

Spiderman....

My parents saw a Spiderman costume at Costco that was Peyton's size and they knew they had to buy it. He was so excited.

I think that Kael thought it was the real Spiderman. He couldn't take his eyes off of Peyton.

He did not want to be hugged by Spiderman.

Spiderman decided to stay for dinner.

Peyton loves to dress-up. He has all of the superhero masks and thinks he needs more.

Mamau had a costume for him at her house to where.....

Alf.
This was Bryan's Halloween costume when he was 5.
It was hilarious to see Peyton in the costume.

Bear Lake 2011...

Bryan's family has a cabin up at Bear Lake. Every summer we spend at least one week up there. Bear Lake is always so beautiful when you drive down from the canyon. Pictures of the lake never do it justice, the color is so incredible.

I at least tried my best to get a good picture of the lake.

The cabin is on lakefront property, with a nice little beach that we can walk to. This year was a different story...because of all the snow and rain this past winter the lake rose....a lot! Usually the lake shore is about 200 yards away from the cabin....not too far really, just a nice little walk. You can't really tell in this picture, but the lake shore is now just past those cabins at the top of the picture. There was no beach. No sand for the boys to play in. Sad.

Peyton and Kael loved the balconies on the cabin.

Kael found Mamau's {aka Bryan's mom} drink.

The high water/no beach made it great for kayaking.

Kayaking for Kael was like a Sunday drive. He sat back and relaxed, put it his hands in the water....he loved it.

Jana and Megan were great sports to take the kids out.

Mamau was a good sport to take the kids down to the lake every hour on the hour.
:)

Peyton loved the campfire. He especially loved when Grandpa Gerald put gasoline "scout juice" on the wood to start the fire.

Kael on the other hand, is a little too clumsy for the campfire. We had a couple of close calls. Mamau kept him sequestered...and entertained him with a green floatie.

Making smores....the best part of camping cabining.

He must be bored with our campfire conversations.

Bryan entertaining the boys with the green floatie again. What cheap entertainment.

Kael was mesmerized by the green floatie.

One day we went four-wheeling up Fish Haven Canyon. This view was half-way through our journey. We almost made it back to Beaver Mountain on the four-wheelers. It was a beautiful ride.

It was actually a lot warmer than I thought it was going to be. It was the hottest temperatures that Utah saw this summer, so it made the nights a little hot, too bad we couldn't swim at the beach...it would have been perfect.

Birthday for Dad....

While we have been in Utah we were lucky enough to be able to celebrate Bryan's birthday. One night we had cake and ice cream. The selection at the store was pretty slim {it was either flowers or spiderman} and Bryan went with Spiderman.

Peyton was so excited to blow out the candles but it was a little windy so we could only get one flame.

The cake.
That sure is blue frosting isn't it?

I don't know why I am always surprised at what a mess this child can make.
It is always epic.

Somehow he smeared the frosting through his hair and then on his lower back.....and of course all over his face, hands, arms, and chest. Lets be honest, it was probably squished between his toes.

Yesterday was his actual birthday and we went to Kneaders for a french toast breakfast. In the afternoon Bryan's mom watched the boys while we went to see The Help. {and paid 13 dollars for a popcorn and drink. still can't believe we paid more for that than the actual movie.} It was so nice of Bryan to go see that movie on his birthday. Then we went out with his family to the Red Lobster for dinner.
It was a fun birthday and we were glad that we could celebrate it with our family.
We love you Bryan! Happy Birthday and thanks for all you do for our family!

Sleeping and Four-Wheeling......

It is safe to say that we are not on a schedule here in Utah....there is too much fun to be had.
So sometimes our evenings end like this...

Peyton must have been tired because he rarely does this.
He usually can outlast the entire house when it comes to sleeping...he's a bit of a night owl.

This one is just a random cuddler....he found my cousin Tyler to lay by.

They also like to play in my parents bedroom, aka "The Retirement Center".
{endearingly named by my younger brother blake}

Kael made my dad watch Toy Story 3 about 349 times.

And the love of both of my little boys' lives....the four-wheeler. Peyton and Kael liked to go on the four-wheeler ALL of the time....Peyton had to wear these glasses {even though they were going 3 miles an hour}. Kael would never want to get off of it when it was his turn. He could spend hours on this machine.