Spring Things

Oh, Spring.  That magical season where you never know if you are going to wake up to shorts or snow.   At our house, we are so looking forward to our upcoming super awesome epic mini summer of fun (named by Holden), that it is easy for Spring to get overlooked.  Here are some Spring things we've managed to accomplish. 

St Patrick's Day--

Pictured- A selection of artwork from the day and Reo pleased as punch that thanks to his sister tracking down the long lost recipe, we were able to recreate the "green stuff" from his childhood.

Not pictured- Crazy tricks the leprechaun played on us throughout the day.  I'm quite sure the leprechaun had to get pretty creative to stay one step ahead of Holden.  

Enjoying warmer days at the park with my very oldest friends--

Pictured-Even though it feels like yesterday we were all hanging around the neighborhood, somehow we've managed to have a whole bunch of kids

Not pictured- One kid in school, one kid who couldn't be coaxed off the playground for a boring picture, and one not quite born yet (none of them mine, don't get any ideas).  Also the adults.

Trying to enjoy not as warm of days wishing warm weather into fruition by painting summer landscapes--
Pictured-Holden getting his painting skills on
Not pictured-Harper painting with water....Because she's two and I'm prone to anxiety attacks around messes.

Taking Lagoon by storm on opening day to finally utilize the season pass Holden has been waiting months to use--

Pictured-Some of the family favorites

Not pictured-Me coming thisclose to throwing up.  Multiple times.  Carny rides are no longer my jam. 

Getting a little Spring cleaning/organizing fever--

Pictured- A couple of completed projects for Harper's room to help me realize that no, I do not in fact hate my house and everything in it, I was just sick of looking at the same walls during snow day after snow day and needed a change.

Not pictured- The majority of my house that still looks the exact same.  I'm a slow decorator.  

Our first experience with baseball--

Pictured-Holden ready to go

Not Pictured-Holden's first hit, where he proceeded to run with his bat in front of him like a cane to first base.  Since he is 50 percent mine, this is actually pretty impressive.  Sports aren't so much my jam either, apparently.

In a perfect blog world, Easter and the events leading up to it would be it's own post.  But since my blog is in survival mode, getting lumped in with everything else it is!

Pictured--Against my better judgement, embracing all the crazy Easter-time activities.  Sugar cookies, egg dying, super overcrowded community egg hunts...we did it all

Not pictured--Me actually really loving all of that stuff.

The night before the main event, Holden left this note on the front door for our Easter Bunny.  

In case you don't read Holden, here's what it says..

Find eggs in living room.  Thanks! Happy Easter!  And P.S. I want to wake up to find my basket full of Peeps or you could do whatever you want your choice  Love: Holden

Pictured-The Easter Bunny delivering

Pictured- The kids ready to hunt for eggs.  Holden is holding a map he made to remind him where to look. Yes, we do currently go through a lot of paper at our house, if that's what you were wondering.

Pictured-The Loot....And what happens to Holden's leg when we do not provide him with enough paper.

Pictured-All dressed up and ready to celebrate the real meaning of Easter at church.  And not yet so hopped up on sugar that they can't hold still.  So, success!

And finally, it's not a holiday without a little family time--
Pictured-These two cousins having the best time together
Not pictured-Everyone else

Happy Spring!

So, Thanksgiving Happened...

And I managed to take exactly one picture.  It was of the pie I made.  Shows where my priorities are.  At least it was good pie (Pssst: Hannah,  here's the recipe.)

All sorts of other fun things took place that long weekend.   Here's what my camera missed:

Harper had on a super cute outfit.
We had a visit from our Christmas Elf (he's a once a year deal and he almost forgot to come, so kudos to you elf on a shelf people).
I saw an Oscar winning movie (30 by 30!!)  and quite possibly the opposite of of an Oscar winning movie.  It was Rainman and Breaking Dawn Part 2, in case you were curious.)
We decorated our tree.  Probably good that we don't have pictures of that.  Our tree is more fitting for a college dorm room then a legitimate family house.  I've got big plans for the after Christmas sales.
We did lots and lots of Black Friday shopping.  On the internet.  That counts, right?

Hope everyone else's Thanksgiving was just as wonderful but more documented!

The Happiest Birthday On Earth

 Warning:  Ever since the untimely demise of Picnik, I feel like getting the photos from our activities under control and onto my blog is more effort than the actual activity.  So I am pretty much over this post already, and have just started writing.  Hope you don't mind  the glossed over version.  Since it is pictures of someone else's birthday party, I am going to go out on a limb and say no one will be heartbroken.  Here goes.

Holden has a nasty habit of trying to steal my sister's birthday thunder, so we decided a joint party might ease the blow a little bit.  Joint theme a 32 year old and a 4 year old will both like?  Not a problem when the whole world has Disneyland in common.  Please don't ever tell me if you don't like Disneyland.  I won't be able to take it.  Seriously.

The birthday kids.

Annnnnd, I just noticed the same picture is in here twice.  Pretend you didn't see it.  If I tried to fix it now this post would never get done.   Plus, the "Photo With A Character" Booth was one of my most inspired ideas, if I do say so myself, so getting to see it twice is a blessing, really.  See?

Also pictured:  Toy Story Mania Dart game (I got blisters on my fingers stuffing those darn balloons full of candy, but Holden was out there the whole time, so I'd say it was worth it); Souvenir stand complete with glow sticks and the infamous giant Disney lollipop; and Disneyland Monopoly...always a favorite at this house.  

My dumbed down version of Disneyland food.  

And it wouldn't be a party without my annual cake fail.  I don't exactly have a steady hand.  I've come to terms with it.  

Family Picture, or, why we didn't get family pictures taken this year.  We've always got at least one child on the loose.  Just squint really hard and use your imagination.  

Birthday bash first timers this year:  My grandma (who came from Alaska just for the event, I'm sure); My niece Kelsey (on Grandma's lap); my soon to be sister in law Annie (Yay!); and Harper.  

Not pictured:  Presents.  I figured you'd been through enough.  And it just reminds me that last year I was so impressed Holden blew out his own candles, and this year he read his own birthday cards.  And that just reminds me he is growing up way too fast.  

Phew...We made it.  More about four coming to a blog post near you once I no longer want to swear at my computer screen.  

Best Of: Two June Weekends

So, we are all in agreement that June is the best month there is, right?   

Here's why mine has been so great.

Weekend 1.  I got to cross off #27 (spontaneous overnighter) on my 30 by 30 list, in the form of a surprise (to me) night away in the faraway land of downtown Salt Lake City.  Sure, I could go farther away, but I had no kids (thanks mom and dad!), two malls and a Cheesecake Factory in my own backyard, so what else could I possibly need?  

Pictured:  Reo's gratuitous meal of Fried Macaroni and Cheese, with cheese sauce, on a hamburger...Well done, Cheesecake Factory, well done.   Exploring the new City Creek mall, where I showed unprecedented restraint at the 77 Kids AND Disney store. 

Not pictured:  Getting cheesecake to go, going back to the hotel and making the impossible choice of whether to watch Dateline or 20/20.  And debating crashing the Neon Trees concert.

Weekend 2:  Opening weekend at the Wing pool/celebrating dad-hood.

Pictured:  Holden's James Bond swim trunks, Holden and Harper's cool dad, eating "mores", and cousin introductions.

Oh, and here's more..  Reo's faves in the form of Pioneer Woman Mac and Cheese and Strawberry Golden Oreo milkshakes, Holden devouring a "Small" snowcone, and homemade Father's Day gifts.

Not pictured....Nothing of note, this one was weekend that was documented well if I do say so myself.

See why I'm loving June?  And I still have two weekends to go!  Life is good.

Easter Moments

I seem to have lost any ability to accurately document events in our life.  Easter is the latest casualty.  Basically, if it happened after we went to church on Easter Sunday or you aren't my kid, there are no pictures.  Please make do with the following.

Pictured:  Egg dying.  Possibly the messiest kid activity ever.  Whose idea was this anyways?  Let's take an incredibly fragile item and dump it in DYE, and just see what happens.  I'll tell you what happens.  Two annoyed parents try to bite their tongues to avoid sucking all the fun out of this family activity.



Pictured:  The Loot.  Holden was very pleased with his baseball glove, and less than impressed with the clothes Harper got.  I was excited to add another basket to the mix this year and also that the Easter Bunny came through big time with the adorable cake stand I've been eyeing.

Pictured:  Holden taking his sweet time finding eggs during the egg hunt, in which he is still the only participant.    The kid is in for a rude awakening in a year or two when all his moseying around results in his little sister getting all the eggs.

Pictured:  Easter outfits.  Best outfits of the year, hands down.  Too bad this was the best picture I got.  How do I tell Holden that less is more when it comes to showing me his gums?

Not pictured:
All the food!  I don't even know me anymore.
Family and friends.  They were there, I promise.
Teaching Holden how to make lipstick out of Robin Eggs.  The fact that such an important coming of age ritual wasn't documented is a tragedy.

Twas Two Days After Christmas..

..and all through the house, there is lots of post Christmas recovery to take care of, so I am blogging instead.

We ate a lot:

Pictured:  Holden giving my cinnamon rolls (30 by 30 checkmark!) a thumbs down.  He was totally wrong by the way, because they were awesome;  Christmas Eve dinner extravaganza.
Not Pictured:  The 14,000 other times we ate good food.

We got visited by Santa:

Pictured:  Checking on Santa's location one last time before bed; Running around like a maniac checking on all our Christmas spoils
Not Pictured:  Holden holding still and/or looking at the camera.  Santa's gifts wait for no man.

We literally opened presents for hours.

Pictured:  SOME of the presents we had shoved into my parent's living room (in our defense, there were 12 of us)...But we were also spoiled.  Baby Girl even got her fair share of gifts in utero; a happy three year old opening said gifts.
Not Pictured:  Holden picking out which present he would open next while there were still 10 people to go before his turn came around again.

We took obligatory awkward family photos

Pictured: My way too pregnant belly;  MORE of my way too pregnant belly next to a cute and tiny pregnant belly in the form of my sister in law; and proof of my inability to take a picture without giving someone creepy glass eye (I thought the camera on the iPhone was supposed to be foolproof, what am I doing wrong?)
Not pictured:  TONS of other people, because we were lucky enough to see so much family that if I posted all the photos you would still be reading this blog post tomorrow, when you really wish it was already over.

Oh, also?  Merry Christmas!