Videos

Lyla and her sweet friends singing their favorite songs. They loved spending hours reenacting Frozen.

Kaylie loves when we help her chase the kids around. She laughs so loud and kicks her legs.

Kids having fun at the splash park with Paul

We love Arizona!

We have loved living in Arizona for the last year and have done so many fun things! Life with these three cuties is always lively- no chance of getting bored or lonely at our house! Grandma made Trevor this soft blanket- he loves us wrapping him up in it like we used to wrap Kaylie. 

 Loving the unusal freedom to eat a few pieces of candy in the morning

 We use our pool almost every day and love our swimming time. I got this baby pool for Kaylie but the kids love it too.

 Easter clothes:

 This is my sweet 2 year old- already rolling his eyes and refusing to smile. Seriously when did my kids become teenagers?

 I thought if I snuggled him, maybe he would smile but no such luck.

 Birthday celebrations- we were at the end of a 2 week stomach bug for all of us but we still had some fun!

 It's so impossible to get a good family picture these days. Someone's always looking away, or crying, or picking their nose, or just making a goofy face. But this is fitting because it's just how our life is right now.

 We have the coolest park with a climbing rope thing that the kiddos love. They feel so old and tough when they can make it to the top.

 This boy and his blanket. He is growing more and more attached which I don't love. But there's no way to take it away now. We try to control it by saying he has to leave it at home, but I don't like having to take it anytime we go on a trip. But holding his blanket and sucking his thumb comforts him so much.

 Lyla with two of her cute friends. Their mom Cajsa did her hair for her recital since I was out of town and they went to see her perform. So sweet!!

 The weekend that I was in Utah, Paul had so much fun with Lyla and Trevor. They ate at their favorite McDonalds, played at a splash park, watched movies, went to our favorite train park. It made it easier for me to leave them knowing they were having so much fun together.

 The second day we were in Gilbert last August we met our next day neighbors, Anne and Steve Prince and their daughter Kelsey. They immediately invited us over to dinner. That Sunday she introduced me to Jena & Jason Morris and her sweet kids Evra and Wes. From that point on, we interacted on a daily basis: playdates, park time, long walks, swimming, birthday parties, girls nights, family dinners, game nights, babysitting swaps. They immediately became my best friends who I could call on for anything, at anytime. Our friendship was so easy, and from day one it seemed like we had been friends forever. Our families all mesh so well, the girls love being together and Wes and Trev have even learned to have fun together. It has been such a perfect situation and we have loved every day. It was so hard to leave for the summer because it meant missing out on the last few weeks with them. The Morris family left Gilbert today on their way to San Antonio for residency. The Prince family will be starting an ortho job in New Mexico in August. It just tears at my heart whenever I think about not having them right next door when we get back. I feel like so often in my life I get really close to people who I just have to say goodbye to way too soon. I've loved everything we've done in the last 6 years and the places we've lived, but I'm also really excited for the time when we settle in one place for long term. Whenever I go through these hard moments of saying goodbye to such good friends, I like to sing the hymn Each Life That Touches Ours for Good, especially the verse that says  What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

I'm so grateful for the 8 1/2 months that I had with these amazing women and all I learned from them. I'm determined that this won't be the end of our relationship. Love you Anne & Jena!!

Loved zoo trips

 

Am I really 30 years old??

Paul must have known that I was having a really hard time thinking about turning 30 this year, because he surprised me with a visit to Utah to be with my family. He was off from school so he watched Lyla and Trevor while I had a long weekend break with just my sweet babe.  She was a bit squirmy on the flight but it was fun to spend so much time just with her- I feel like she never gets the attention she should because the older two are constantly needing my attention. My best friend and sister Jeanne also flew in for the weekend- and she was kid-less thanks to her amazing Kevin who watched all four! We had SO much fun just being together, chatting, laughing, swimming, being crazy. I love my parents and siblings so much and treasure every visit!

Kaylie got to hang out with Ruthie a lot. They are 7 months apart.  Ruthie got so excited and gave lots of kisses and followed her around saying "baby!".

My darling mom went all out fitting as many activities in as possible. We were pampered with pedis & massages, saw Peter Pan which was awesome, walked around Thanksgiving Point gardens, ate at Macaroni Grill, had cheesecake and lots of ice cream, and exercised together. She had all of my favorite foods around- cheese bagels, peanut butter M&Ms, twix bars- let's just say I came home a few pounds heavier. Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family which I love. Definitely makes it easier to get older when we have so much fun celebrating!

We took a picture with Peter Pan- my sister's future husband :)  I'm still trying to figure out how to set them up.

 

Thank you Paul, for planning this fun, relaxing getaway!