Costume Party

After my marathon post I will just let these pictures talk for themselves!

Life in the fast lane

Camping in Flagstaff

Keepsakes I never thought I'd use

the boys enjoying Daddy being home on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday etc.

Hayden playing soccer

The boys taking turns helping Daddy move some dirt around. And Shawn having way to much fun with this new "toy"

So its been awhile. Between not feeling great and just being busy some things have to be put on the back burner, and blogging has been one of those things. I thought that when Shawn finished working out of town that life would be less crazy, but of course it has been the opposite. After him being out of town for almost a year we both kind of got used to doing our own thing and dealing with our own hectic schedule. I was really looking forward to him being home and actually just having him around. But I guess I forgot that he is never really around even when he is home. Something about Shawn is that he is a work workaholic. He cant stand not having something to do. He truly is amazing, the amount of things he gets done in one day, it would blow your mind. Its exhausting just watching him. So I tell you all this because my little day dreams of having him finally be home and us eating dinner together as a family, and actually just sitting on the couch together was so such a joke. Don't get me wrong we do do these things but it always has a time frame, squeezed into the hectic day, you know rushed- not exactly what I had in mind. But what can I say I love the man, and I will take whatever I can get.

Soon after Shawn being home he took on this huge project in our backyard. And I mean huge, the man thinks big. He thought it would take one month to finish, but you know how these projects go, they always take longer, and they always cost more. But I know it will be beautiful when its done. And you will just have to wait and see for yourself!

So some other things that we have been up to is taking a quick trip up to flagstaff with some of our favorite neighbors. The boys had a blast. We hadn't been camping as a family in forever. It was so gorgeous, and everything was so green. The boys had fun hiking, throwing rocks into a lake, shooting a gun (yikes!) and having ice cream at Mormon Lake.

I took the kids for a three day weekend in Cali to visit my fam. I couldnt wait another day to see my family, I was missing them so much. We stayed with my sister Amberly, and I got to hold and play with Radley till my hearts content. He is so sweet, and he is getting so big way to fast. I thought seriously about stashing him in my luggage on the way home. It was a great weekend, I got to see everyone, not for very long, but it was a good solid visit! I am so anxious to have everyone come out next weekend, to see everyone again. Its always a lot less crazy when they come out here, because we get to just hang out instead of me driving all over the place to see everyone. So it will be fun.

Hayden started soccer, and loves it. He just gets in there, and doesn't think twice about throwing elbows to get the ball, I wonder where he gets that from? HMMmm. He gets so excited about it he will get ready an hour before practice. He is definitely the athlete of the family. Ethan started baseball, and was so excited that his best friend just happened to be on his team. At his last practice, the two of them wouldn't stop laughing and playing around. I think the coach might have been a little frustrated, but I was so glad to see him having so much fun. His bff goes to a different school so they don't get to play as much. They have their first game this week. Ethan also has joined an art club after school. Its only for a few months. Ethan loves drawing, he spends hours drawing characters and writing the stories to go with them. Ethan is also still enjoying Bear scouts. So between the three activites he (and I mean me!) is a pretty busy boy.

Something funny that happened was Ethan had spent some time hanging out at the park with some neighbors. Soon after he got home I hear this blood curdling scream, and I see Ethan dancing around... with his pants around his ankles. I am think what is wrong with this boy. He is crying that there's something on his bottom that is biting him. But I can't look because he's dancing around the living room holding his bottom. After a little coaxing I get him to relax and bend over so I can take a look. And let me tell you, I haven't taken a look at his cute little hinney in long time, it was a little weird. Anyway, sure enough there was something biting him. It was a giant black ant, and it wasn't on his rump, it was somewhere a little more sensitive, and that's all I am going to say about that. Except for the expression "ants in your pants" has taken on a whole new meaning in our home.

Sorry is this the longest post ever? Well I just have one more thing.

My Mom is the most organized woman I know. She is truly amazing. This is just one of the many qualities that I love best about my Mom. She saved some of my beautiful baby dresses. They have each been placed in zip lock baggies to protect them. She gave me this keepsake box after I got married. I didn't think I would ever be able to use them, because I am a boys Mom. But after a recent ultra sound we found out that we just might be able to put the dresses to some good use! We are so thrilled. I was in total shock for a whole week, I would wake up in the middle of the night and think oh my gosh I am having a girl! Or I'd be throwing up and I'd think no wonder I am so much sicker this time around, I am having a girl! -And it made it okay.

So that's it, my life in a nut shell. Even though life is so hectic I love my life. I love my husband, I love my boys, I love my home. I love being pregnant. I wouldn't change anything. Even though life is crazy I can still find a few quiet moments in my day where I can just sit back and truly enjoy my life and just be grateful for my many, many blessings. I think if we get caught up in being to busy (because we are all busy) and we forget to just be grateful then we miss all the good stuff. So thank you, thank you for today and that I could be busy with my family.

Our weekend with Cara

Poor Jared! He is such a good sport! Thanks Jared for sharing your family!
Hayden and Ella playing games cuddled together on the couch.

Cara thanks so much for coming to visit us. I had such a good time with you! I am so relieved that no one got sick and I actually got you all to myself this time around. Remember last year I had to visit you at the hospital just to see you! But this year we got to sit on the couch and actually hang out, how refreshing! And the weather was so perfect, the kids had such a blast at the park, and on the train. Thanks for coming! I hope you had fun in Sedona! I think its my turn to visit you!! Love ya!

Hot new wheels

Ethan has been bike-less for a long time. He was OK with this until we went camping over the summer and he was stuck with what ever bike was left, which was always either a pink bike or the rat racer which was 5 sizes to big for him. But since i wanted to get him a bike for his birthday and he refused saying he needed a new ds game way more, I was not feeling so generous as to buy him a new one. So he saved up his money for months. I was so proud of him the way he hung in there and didn't give up when that new Pokemon game came out.

Shawn helped him find the perfect bike, a Haro bike, which is a bmx bike (which Shawn is quite jealous of!).

Ethan loves his new wheels, all the more because he paid for it himself!

Oh Baby!

Look there really is a baby in there!

I know I haven't blogged in like forever! This is actually the first time I have even spent any amount of time on the computer. The computer is my enemy...it just wants stuff from me. I have been super sick, but don't worry I am sure I will feel better in a few weeks, my fingers are crossed!
Last week I went to the doctor and got to see the baby and hear its tiny heart beat! I was so excited. I can't believe I got to see the baby so soon! According to the ultra sound I am 9 1/2 weeks, so I am due on March 21!
After the first two weeks of being sick Ethan started to get worried that he would be having frozen dinners every night for the next year. And well I couldn't really reassure him otherwise...whats wrong with frozen dinners? Hayden told me my baby is really small, and asked why I wasn't fat yet...We quickly had a little talk about how pregnant women are not fat, they just get a bigger belly as the baby grows. Last week Shawn asked if I had a pooch yet. Can someone please tell my husband that under no circumstance do we ever call a belly a pooch, even if there is a pooch we just dont call it that! It's a baby, not a pooch. And anyways, for crying out loud I am only 9 weeks, there is no pooch! Geesh! My family is giving me a complex.
Anyway I am super excited, and can hardly wait. I can also hardly wait for it to cool off here, but oh well, only soon enough I suppose.

Hayden turns Five! Rocket Ship Party

The invite.
Hayden had a ball handing out his invites.

The front door.

The party favors.
My sister wrapped her present to look like a rocket, isn't it so darling. I didn't want Hayden to open it!

I pretty much didn't do any decorating, I just was not feeling up to it. In fact I really just wanted to sleep through the party, so we kept everything super simple. I just decorated the table, with place cards, the pinata, balloons, and the cup cakes. It looked festive, and Hayden was thrilled, so that's all that matters!

I've been looking for the perfect party theme for months. I wanted to do something special, and it had to be homemade. So when I came across this idea for a Rocket ship Party on this blog, I knew it would be perfect. Not to fussy but still fun and different. I think it turned out great. Hayden had so much fun, so naturally, I was very pleased!

More Party

Hayden was thrilled about all of his presents. He's easy though, he just likes getting new things!

The kids blew bubbles.

Thanks to Aunt Amberly, we shot off a rocket. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. It went super high, and flew probably a block away.

The kids took turns blowing up and releasing rocket balloons.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday, and Hayden made a wish!