February

My brother told us about this new food truck called Seven Brothers that was yummy. We remembered the name from eating at their actual restaurant in Laie, Hawaii. It was gooooooo-ooood! Get the cowboy burger and smothered fries! The coconut shrimp was top notch as well! 

Weston turned 6 this year!! 

He had been wanting a birthday party so badly that I caved. I figured Collin would be getting so much attention with his baptism, Weston deserved a little attention too. 

I wanted it to be as simple as possible, so we had it at Peter Piper Pizza. 

Anderson had to leave early and Ruby had to come late but all his friends were able to make it at some point!

We started with pizza, hit up the games, came back for cake and presents, then did more games. 

Here is Anderson, Rusty, and Van. 

This sweet boy has my heart. I am SO lucky I get to be his mama. And he frequently lets me know that he loves me to the moon, around the whole earth, through all the houses, and to all the planets. ;)

Some things about Weston...

He NEEDS the fan on at night. You'd think with 2% body fat he'd be snuggled under covers, but he always seems to be hot. 

He sleeps at the foot of the bed, usually sideways. I cannot for the life of me convince him to sleep on his bed normal. 

He has 10+ stuffed animals that he loves dearly. Whenever I try and get him to get rid of one, he is reduced to the saddest tears you ever saw. 

He is fairly oblivious to life. If you ask him what he learned in Primary he says, "I don't know." If you ask him how his day was/the b-day party was/ANYTHING was.. he says "good." No elaboration. What did you learn at school? "I don't remember". He kind of floats through life. If you can picture a kid getting distracted by a floating butterfly and wandering off til he's lost... that's Weston. Speaking of butterflies.. he loves insects. Bugs = another word for friends. He'll pick up anything.

When he gets home from school he has no interest in homework. He beelines it straight to the backyard to play in the sandbox. He has always been good to entertain himself playing alone.

He LOVES to talk! Cue Grandpa Jess's successor! He will talk to anyone that will listen. You could be a complete stranger and he will chat you up. 

He LOVES babies. Even though I'm pregnant right now he often talks about all the "other" babies I'm going to have. He has said he wants me to have SIX more! Oy! I hope his future wife wants a big family. 

On a daily basis, he will sidle up to me like a cat, just needing some affection. I'll be making dinner and feel something by my leg and it's Weston, just pressing his head to my side for a moment, eyes closed. Just needing a "snuggle". 

He has theeee most generous heart. Getting something only makes him happy because he thinks of how he can share it with Collin.

I swear every second he is growing bigger and I'm not processing it well. He should still be 18 months old. I love him so very much. 

I had Jefferson for the Christmas sibling gift exchange so I bought him a ticket to Monster Trucks! The catch... I had the other ticket. ;) I picked him up and we got dinner in Glendale at Islands, then headed to the stadium. The stadium that oddly didn't have any traffic. I quickly pulled out my tickets... it had started 40 min. ago!! BAH!!! I don't know why I thought it started at 8, but it really began at 7. I was SO bugged at myself!! We rushed in and caught the end of the races and at least got to see all of the "freestyle" competition. For some strange reason, Weston loves Gravedigger, so I took a ton of videos, knowing the boys would eat them up. After it was over, we got icecream at Rally's and just sat in the car visiting in front of his house. I had gotten my first tour when I picked him up and was super impressed! A very nice bachelor pad, indeed. I didn't mean for the conversation to get serious, but we hit on all topics. It was..... absolutely the best. We haven't had a deep talk like that in years. I love that he trusted me and was open and honest. I have always been impressed by Jefferson, but that night taught me more about his integrity and heart than I ever understood before. Jefferson Hunt is a darn good person. Our night together did more for my soul than he realizes. If you could "see" joy, it would have been jumping from my heart. 

Well, Weston's party was on a Saturday, but his actual birthday was the following Monday! He turned 6 on Feb. 6, which made this his GOLDEN birthday!! His siblings were mucho envious. :)

It was a school day, so I came to have lunch with him. It was "breakfast for lunch" day so he chose to eat that rather than have me bring something. I also dropped off two dozen donuts in his classroom to share.

He wanted Velvetta and Shells for dinner (atta-boy!!) and fruit salad. I was more than happy to prepare his dinner from a box. ;) And hey, it was gold!

His big surprise this year for his golden birthday was...... a GOLDFISH! He wanted a pet so badly, but I just can't do a dog still. Even a hamster sounds daunting. So a fish it was. He named him "Goldie", cuz he gets his creative genes from his mama. 

I have been the Primary secretary since December, but I was finally released from Cub scouts in February. Here's my two bears at our last pack meeting. I had taught them a traditional, Native American hoop dance to perform and it was a riot. I must be a lunatic, but part of me will miss this.

I feel awful that I haven't been more help to Marcie, but I pulled through one Friday morning. We took Scarlett to the Wiggle Room for a couple of hours, played at the park and got lunch at Chick-fil-a. She was perfect. Not a single problem. But it's crazy how different it is to adjust to a child who's just a couple years younger than your own. It's just a whole different ball game having a "little" one around! 

We really, really tried to get to Gallup over the winter to visit, but it just never happened. Life is so stupid, crazy busy! The kids were disappointed they didn't get to see their friends, but also bummed about not getting to play in the snow. So, one Saturday magically opened up and we took it! I found a family sledding park by Snowbowl in Flagstaff that was closed all week due to lack of snow, but fortuitously was open just for that Saturday! The boys had baseball practice first thing in the morning, and then we were off! Geez, Flagstaff is a lot farther than I remembered! It took about 3 hours. All of which was completely worth it when we got to see their excitement. 

We had to giggle walking behind them. We were a rag-tag group! All our snow gear is just a bit too small. And mismatched. Collin didn't even have snow boots. His plastic-y high tops we bought for the dunes would have to do!

The snow was slushy but the weather was nice! No one was shivering or cold. 

We started at out at the small slopes to warm them up then moved to the higher slopes. I, obviously, was more spectator, than player in this fun. 

Olive wasn't so keen on the big slope, so we busied ourselves making a snowman. It was actually really fun!

Don't tell, but I did brave up and went down the big slope one time, making sure to drag my feet so I went slow. It was a blast! I kind of wished I had gone more. 

It started sprinkling and everyone cleared out. We basically had the place to ourselves. I think we lasted 2-3 hours before Olive was wet and whining and the boys were ready to go. 

Mmmm, hot chocolate! 

Since this is a family blog, I won't post a picture of the giant sculpture that some hooligans crafted out of snow next to the parking lot. But it was very "ballsy" of them. ;)

Collin played his first season of basketball! He mentioned how much he liked playing it at recess, so we thought we'd give him a chance to try it out. Ummmm, maybe not his sport. Generally speaking, Collin likes to play sports for the interaction with friends and the treat at the end. He's not competitive. Add in the fact that he really knew nothing about basketball and it was his first time playing. He struggled. And his team struggled. They never won a single game. But you can't say he didn't try! He kept a really good attitude even when I'm pretty sure he knew he was the worst player on the team. He had fun with it and improved a lot. Actually, by the last game, I was surprised to recognize how much better he was doing. Finally got the hang of guarding someone and following the rules. He wanted to make a basket soooo bad, but it never happened. At least he got the chance to try! The first few games, he never even touched the ball, unless it was to throw it in from the sidelines. A for effort, Collin boy!

Sunday dinner at Shelley's house! I think this was the time my mom and Craig had been sick all week so we decided to quarantine their house. It was fun to change up locations. The girls just love Abbey. 

VALENTINE'S DAY!

Isn't this the perfect card?! I could hardly believe it when I found it! For my lobster. ;)

Got to have themed hair!

I told Travis NO gifts. And I meant it. But roses and Justin's chocolate doesn't count, right? 

I had made these cards for the kids and put a treat with them on their nightstands. "Gifts" come pretty high on Collin's Love Language chart, so he made me a thank you card. I love his cards. 

My visiting teacher dropped off a heart shaped pizza which was PERFECT because I had felt sick all day. 

I let Collin come with me to drop off homemade sugar cookies at the neighbor's house that night. There is a nice, middle aged couple next door with no kids and I was chatting with the husband. He mentioned his wife had felt sick today and I said I had been feeling under the weather too. To which Collin pipes up and says, "Yeah, my mom has a disease." I wasn't sure I heard him right. What??? Flustered, I corrected him, "I don't have a disease, Collin, I'm just sick." Not to be deterred.. (is he ever?!) he belligerently argued with me. "Yes you do! You SAID you had a disease!" I surely hadn't, but what the heck was I supposed to say? Now the neighbor probably thinks I have some secret, embarrassing disease that I'm trying to deny. I couldn't continue to argue with my 7 year old in front of him (I could tell Collin wasn't going to let this go), so I awkwardly chuckled and tried to change the subject. I don't know why, but it was one of the most embarrassing situations I've ever been in.  I think not having kids of their own, my neighbor was feeling equally awkward and the whole situation just ended badly with me excusing us and hurrying away. UGHHHH!!! I don't know why, but it felt extra humiliating. KIDS!! I got so mad at him after that and wouldn't let him come with me to the next neighbor's house. I tried to explain to him that having a disease is so much worse than just being sick. That the two things didn't mean the same at all. He seemed confused and remorseful. But my hormones and pride didn't care. I shut myself in my room and gave up for the day. Collin sent Trav in with this apology card for me. Now, how many of you out there got a Valentine's card from your child saying they were sorry they said you had a disease?? 

Mmm hmm. 

I'm just the lucky one I guess. ;) 

A tea party, birthday party! Those glasses!! This girly girl was in 7th heaven.

For our Valentine's date I thought it would be fun to reenact a date we went on before we were married. Doing the paddle boats at Tempe Town Lake. Only this time, we ate AFTER the boats and Trav didn't have a churning stomach he was hiding from me the whole time, lol. It's funny to think back on that and realize we weren't even comfortable enough around each other for him to tell me how he was feeling! That I just sat outside that Port-a-potty for the longest time, wondering what the deal was. ;)

We couldn't have asked for better weather than evening. Breezy and beautiful. I love spending time with this guy.

We had dinner at Matta's. It's been years since we did this and is was ah-mazing!! Just a bean burrito, enchilada style. The order of my youth. I still remember the first time I finished my WHOLE burrito at Mattas. Ahhh. Memories. ;) 

After we put the kids to bed, I tried to make a special dessert... a souffle! I'd never had one before. Holy work, Batman! This thing was labor intensive! And then! I let go of the cup I was beating egg whites in and half the contents went flying... all... over... everything. My phone speaker still isn't working properly. So, my recommendation? Just make a regular molten, lava cake. Wayyy easier and basically the same thing. 

We rented Inferno from Redbox. Oh guys. NOT a Valentine's date sort of movie. Unless you're into grotesque corpses writhing from the earth. What was I thinking? At least the lake and dinner was good. ;) 

Travis's front office lady, Lisa, got remarried to Fred Ashby at the Wright House. It was only the second time we'd been back there since our own wedding. She was gorgeous and the ceremony was as well. The circumstances for both of their first marriages not working out is truly heartbreaking, so we're happy they've found each other. 

Abbey's mother passed away this month from complications involving substance abuse. She has struggled since Abbey was a child and not played much of a role in her life since. Abbey spoke at the funeral and did a remarkable job. Her forgiveness and love for her mother was humbling to witness. Abbey's heart amazes me. The Relief Society put on a delicious luncheon afterward and it was fun to visit and eat together on what would normally have been just another Monday. Olive came with me and was perfect. It's so fun to have her around as my little buddy. A little buddy who will actually sit still and listen, lol. 

We gave my parents a gift certificate to take dance lessons at Fred Astairs for Christmas. So we did a double date for the first lesson and then had dinner at Nico's Heirloom Kitchen. It was fun! I wish that our instructor had done less tour-giving and basic step reviews and actually taught us more, but oh well. One day our schedules will be less demanding and we can go back for more lessons. Right, Trav? Wink, wink. 

Miss Camilla has been a saint to me since we moved here. Immediately befriending me and helping me feel welcomed and loved. Our little girls are good friends and now we're both having boys close together too! I took her out for her birthday and got to try a place I'd never been before... Sobas. I guess it's Asian food. Also got my first bubble tea! Except it was lemonade. ;) And had my first Bao bun. Yum! 

Time for our 2nd Annual Lindblom Family Lip Sync Challenge!!!!

Wooo hooo!!!

This year, Casey PARTICIPATED!!!! Check out that opening hand wave, people! Yes!!! It was awesome. They performed Lindi's Christmas dance recital number, hahahahaha.

Marcie and Jefferson did the parody of Taylor Swift and the goat and I DIEEEEEDDDD!!!! Like, could not breathe!! It was hysterical!! Seriously, a highlight of my entire life. 

Then Marcie and Austin did an awesome job at a mash-up of several songs. Austin does not love this new tradition, so we have to give it up to him for being such a good sport. He even did a shimmy at the beginning!! 

OK, then Abbey and David brought down the house with their number pretending to be my parents!!! Oh MY HECK! HILARIOUS!!! They are so creative! And they said they had just thrown it together. This was the song my parents lip synced to last year. Then Abbey grabs a video camera, bahahaha. Ohhhh man, laughing that hard is good for the soul. They are rock stars. And it for sure won them first place!

Mom even got into the spirit and did a song too! 

The only bummer to the night was that Trav and I choked! Booo. Or really, I just choked and threw Trav off.  It's all my fault. I tried to get us to memorize too much too late. We should have just stuck with the one chorus. We did the song "We're all in this together" from High School Musical. At least his Zack Effron wig was funny. And that is my actual Pommie uniform from 9th grade! Hiked up to my ribs though. As if I could squeeze into that thing!

 It was SUCH a fun night!! I love my family so much! They are so good to not take themselves too seriously and do stuff like this. I'm already scheming what our song could be for next year!