Friday, April 25, 2014

Happy 5th Birthday Nala!

My baby Girl, Nala is 5! She is so amazing. I love her. Essentially there was no better dog that could have been put in our life! It's been a long but fast, fun but stressful, and memorable and expensive five years. That being said, I wouldn't change any moment we've had with her or all the amazing times that are still to come!
Choosing day. Travis really
chose well

Growing up she got to go boating
about twice a week one summer!

Meeting new addition, Maddix

When we lived at Gma Eileen's we
would go down to the park every
morning then come home
and I'd give her a good long
brusing; she loved it. 

Buddies. At Gma Lori's they went everywhere
together

When it was too hot out, they found shade
together

They also got to share a room

Poor Nala
I'm so happy we had the opportunity to spend her birthday this year by having her over to Grandma's where we gave her a new box of treats, played fetch, cuddled in the sunshine, and chased her all around the yard! 

Just us blonds; it was good to have
another girl around

This is my new favorite photo of them!

Nala is always hamming it up for
a photo

Loved sniffing out the window
the whole way home! 

~EASTER... and ALL our celebrations~

Saturday, of Easter Weekend: We had a combine Easter party/ birthday party for my mother-in-law. I really enjoyed having a home big enough to invite them over to, and the kids really enjoyed the big back yard full of Easter baskets!
Quite excited that the Easter
Bunny had come!

This little Ali was ready to
follow the big kids around

"Here's another one!"

"My basket fell!!! and my eggs fell OUT!!"
bahahahaha.... cry baby stage

This kid was in heaven testing all
the eggs out in his mouth
 Then on the way back up the path "magically" their Easter buckets were waiting for them.
Keilie passing by: "Wait a minutes... What's going
on here?" 

Thanks Gma Lori for the fun Easter Loot! 


Sunday, Easter Day: The boys slept in. What more of a sign do you need to know it would be a good day. Maddix LOVED his new bike and Easter goodies. Aaron enjoyed digging through his basket. And Travis... never really likes how well I hide his basket he he he, but I still do it because it's tradition:) Travis was really excited to give me my basket and kept saying, "Now don't shoot the Easter Bunny when you see how much he spent." This worried me, but I do love that bunny. And he almost completely surprised me until Maddix said, "Mom has dad given you your bike stuff yet?" Oh Travis was not happy :)
"A big bike!" 

Ooh, more things to stick in my mouth!


First test run. 

Bike stuff! I got a helmet
and gloves

"I'm trying to be happy, but seriously, why do
you have to hide it every year." That's what
that face says to me. 

Happy Easter! 
After our Easter Scripture study, church, and cleaning we ran down to see my mom, then over to see Trav's Grandma Juliene where Maddix greeted her with, "Hi Grandma, it's good to see you; you're looking so old, and why do you have so many wrinkles?" Then said goodbye with a "Bye Grandma, I love you; You're going to die soon!" Say Wha???? Then we went back home where all my dad's siblings came over for another Easter Egg hunt and good times. Somehow it ended up men around the fire, and the women in the house. Eventually we ended up having really good conversation around the fire and staying out late; loved Easter. So grateful for the Sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ... and that he lived again through Resurrection!
Visiting my mom's for Easter

Crazy Cousins

EVERY year on Easter we get an annual
stairs photo of the Grandkids
(we took this even though we're missing SO many ppl)

"I found one in the tree!" 

Sharing some eggs with Cousin Bella

Men by the fire pit

C. Lexi jumped into the photo as I took it of the girls around
the food.

Seeing how high he can stack the cups

Maddix knocking down the cups

~Our Da~Da~Days~

Travis
His days are much of the same: study, study, study. That being said he does give us about three hours a day (usually an hour for breakfast, then lunch, then dinner ;) and after having him in Poland for 5 months, these three hours just seem to spoil us! 
Lately we've struggled to find sitters for all my shifts at work so Travis has been "stuck" watching the boys. Usually he'll study during Aaron's nap time, then take the boys outside to ride bikes down the hill on the side of our house, or just anything fun. Then back to studying during Aaron's 2nd nap until I get home from work. 
Daddy makes me look cool

This happened on Travis's watch

Helping Maddix fly his new kite for the first time

Such a good dad
Lacey
Lately, as I've mentioned, I've been really into triathlon working out. Thanks to Travis being home studying during the boys' nap times, I've been able to go exercise regularly, and I'm so stoked to say I recently swam 2miles! It's further than I've ever done. THEN to top it off I've recently up'd my mileage running to 6miles (it's been awhile since my foot's been okayed to run), AND I've started biking to work on my day shifts:) I do 12 1/2miles there in just over an hour, then home it takes a little longer, but I really enjoy it all!! 
I also participated in a fun co-ed softball game with Brian Chatterton's team and although I didn't do so well (it's been awhile) I sure had fun practicing with Travis, then having Larisa come play as well.
Still enjoying the short hair; it's great for all the times I go swimming now, or wearing the helmet to work, it doesn't really get messed up. 
I also finally slimmed down to fit in my Valentines top Trav got me that looked ridiculous, he he not too bad now. 
AND there is a home in the neighborhood that has this giant Rooster statue in their front yard and they always decorate it for each holiday.... well I just HAD to get a photo in front of it for once!

This seriously looked so bad
when I first tried this on



I love every minute I get with
this babe

Me and the holiday rooster!
Maddix
He has begun saying the funniest things again. Currently he likes to say, "I've got a fur wedgy" (from Hercules) every time he has a wedgy:) He likes to tell me, "Mom you're the best mom I've ever had." He also came up to me the other day when I was holding Aaron, placed his hands on each of our cheeks and said, "Cuties! I'm going to keep you!" (Frozen)
He got a bike for Easter and LOVES going out to ride it around the yard. 
He runs all the errands with me and is my buddy. 
Has recently become a bully.... again.... and a cry baby; I hear it's a stage, but I'm just about done with it, yep totally done. 
He had so much fun this past Monday when we were able to meet up with his buddies (Mattix, Mav, and Hadly) at the park, then getting to have Maverick and Hadley come over for a bbq at our home that night. He just made new friends with my VT's kids and enjoys playing with thin. 
He is still wicked smart and makes me so tired each day; this is how our conversations go: 
M: "Mom, why do you always say I don't know when I ask you questions?" 
Me: Because sometimes you ask so many questions that I can't come up with answers anymore so I just say I don't know."
M: "But you have to answer me when I ask you a question."
Me: "But why do you have to ask so many questions." 
M: "Because I'm a kid! That's what we do! You have to answer me so I can learn! You Understand me??" 
Me: (zoned out) "I dunno."
M: "AHH!!!!!" 
Wanted a drink... and to
drink it right next to Aaron

Helping his brother walk around the yard

Helping Gpa pull weeds for
the Easter celebrations

We read our Prague Travel
book, and he wanted to compare
it to the photos we have
to see where we were
on the map.
Then I fell asleep... and so did he

Striking a pose on our way home
from our family lunch at Olive Garden

Just had too much fun being with mom all day ;) 
Aaron
Oh this little guy... he is just soooo.... lovable? Squishy? Funny.... frustrating! 
He seriously wants to walk and is VERY close. He can stand himself up for about 30 seconds and take a step or two before falling over. He is learning to go down the stairs. He wants into every drawer he can't be in, and has NO desire for kids toys. He just had a doctor's apt and seems to the Doc that he'll be an early walker, talker, but not teether. He really doesn't want to play with anything, he just wants to empty every container and every drawer and stick everything in his mouth! 
We're figuring out his pain tolerances:
If Maddix hits him in the face= gets caught off guard
If he hits his head= slight whine to no reaction
Any finger pain= Passes out! 
Seriously. Twice now he has had his fingers pinched in a door and begins crying and holding his breath. He goes so black and blue in the face! We blow in his face and flick water at him but it does NOTHING... then he passes out, begins breathing, regains coloring in his face, and then wakes back up looking dazed and confused. 
Travis says he's dedicated. 
He LOVES to squawk, squeal, yell, laugh, sing, talk, gab gab gab, and anything that involves noise. 
He's fingered out mimicking and will stick his tongue at you, wave, clap, starting to blow kisses, etc. 
He eats everything. Smiles all the time. Loves everyone, especially his brother and Nala. Enjoys his morning showers. Hates teething. And over all is a real pleasure to be a mother of and I loves watching him grow... Just wish it wasn't going by so fast! 
Making faces with U. Colton

Just so dang cute! 

Quite intrigued by the wall
at the doctor's office
Why does he have to grow so fast! I LOVE this babe!
Our Family
As mentioned, we had a fun lunch to Olive Garden before an even more fun trip to Costco (seriously, it is actually really fun to go shopping with my boys, and having Trav come just made us act goofy and funny). We've enjoyed a trip to the park with friends, as well as the bbq. We've spent countless hours out back laying in the grass, throwing the ball back and forth, playing basketball, and riding the bikes down the hill. We still eat our meals out on the deck. We enjoyed watching a massive storm the other day with the windows open. And we also had a terribly cooked, yet awesomely funny dinner with two of our Elders from POLAND!!! One we've seen already, but the other just barely came home and it was so good to see them. 
E. Chad Mikolyski

E. Rittmanic (from Timpview) in the
yellow tie on the left. 
Oh I love that all these Elders come through Utah and we can see
them again:) Rittmanic is in the red. Mikolyski is in the gray/blue.