March

I had never heard Olive talk about a boy in a lovey dovey way before, but then she comes home from preschool one day talking like THIS!!!!

What on earth?! I have no idea where this is even coming from. I've scanned my brain over shows, movies, etc. and I guess princesses marry princes but this still feels out of left field. I want my non-boy crazy 4 year old back.

Look who's sort of big enough to be in a baby swing!!!

He army crawls everywhere and always has filthy onsie to show for it.

I call it the wiggle.

Sushi night with Alison at Sushi Brokers in downtown Gilbert. 
LOVED it!! Can't wait to go back!

Holding a pretty good plank there. 

His smiles though.... melts my heart every.time.

Travis went out of town one weekend for a snow trip with the YM.

(Bless his heart, he ended up teaching a rather frightened boy who had never been skiing, how to ski. The irony is, Travis has never skied himself! He is a patient man!)

So I got to go to Neely's Spring Carnival with the kids, solo.

Tanner was a CHAMP. Collin mostly ran off with friends. Weston and Olive stuck together doing all the things. They really pull off a pretty awesome carnival.

The big balls from Wipeout!! I was impressed they made it look easy!

Why do I feel like we always end these kinds of nights in a horribly long balloon animal line? 

Just so they can pop on the drive home. 

Tradition.

Tis the season of spending Saturdays at the baseball fields!

Tanner had to take his nap in the stroller.

Best part about baseball games!!

Someone enjoyed her pizza.

Aunt Aubrey came home from a month spent in China and spoiled all the grandkids with gifts.

Model Olive just doing her thang.

More milestones.... riding in a grocery cart now!!! Ohhhh my widdle baby is growing up!!

Collin's birthday fell on the first day of spring break so I took him out of school for his birthday lunch date the Thursday before. (Friday was a 1/2 day of school)

He chose his fav... Buffalo Wild Wings.

I have been so bad about going to the temple. I was finally going to go early on a Friday morning, but accidentally set my alarm for pm instead of am. UGH!! When I woke up and realized what had happened, I almost skipped it, but decided to do initiatories at least. It was so beautiful driving up, and turned out to be a really special experience. 

It took a lot of planning, and a lot of girls bailed at the last minute, but we finally did a GNO for Camilla and Lauren's birthdays! We had dinner at the Chop Shop in Chandler, then got ice cream up the street at Sammies. Lots of laughing and talking but the night was only 1/2 over! Lauren, Camilla, Alec and I drove to Phoenix to dance the rest of the night away at The Duce!! I don't know if it was because we got there much later than when I had been before, but it was WAY more fun the second time!! Much better music! These girls were a riot! Camilla's got moves like you've never seen! We didn't get home until after 1:30am. Who says you have to grow up?! :)

The next day I flew to Provo to visit Josie. I wish these two events didn't land on the same weekend, but there was nothing I could do about it. Josie has been doing really awful lately, (more than usual, which really says something) and I knew I needed to see her. I flew Allegiant (first time!) and everything went smoothly. Brighton picked me up from the airport and I sighed as I took in these mountains! Oh, they're so beautiful!! I miss this place!!

I stayed until Monday afternoon and spent the majority of my time next to Josie in bed. I've really missed her and was so happy to be with her. The circumstances suck. They just do. Her Lyme treatments have left her almost unable to get from her bed to the bathroom without assistance. She uses a walker now. Her legs will give out without warning. She is constantly nauseated and thrwoing up. Taking a shower is quite literally climbing Mt. Everest. She can't manage to get down their stairs so she stays upstairs. Her cognitive abilities are being challenged. She has a hard time saying what she's thinking or coming up with the right words. For the first time ever, she's not even able to write in her journal. And there's more! I could never write all their challenges. Satan seems to come out of the woodwork against her. Brighton has a full time job and goes to school full time, but he also does everything for her (if her mom isn't staying with them.) It breaks my heart in ways I can't describe. It all feels supernally unfair. I've struggled with my own angry feelings towards God for making her go through this. Having faith in this process has tested my ability to trust Heavenly Father. I have had some of the sweetest experiences of my life with Josie through this though. She is remarkable in every way and I know this won't last forever. Someday her book with be on the shelves of Deseret Book. One day, she'll be able to speak at firesides without unseen angels needing to hold her up. I am certain there are people that she is helping. In no uncertain terms, that has been taught to me. The value of the souls that she is here to assist, inspire and give hope to are priceless. I have learned that God is in charge and there IS purpose in trials. I've often wondered why simple, old me was asked to be so involved in her life. I'm certainly not qualified and feel very helpless, but I'm here. I'm learning with her and feel a tie that predates this earth. Travis sacrifices a lot as well so that I can be there for her and I'm so grateful to him. He has never questioned it and has always been incredibly generous. There wasn't much sleeping this weekend, but it's all worth it. Love is worth it.

I brought my light and gel polish just in case she felt up to getting her nails done. I knew she liked having her fingers and toes painted so I hoped it might be something fun we could do. She was super excited about it so that was a win!

All the kids ready for church with their single father! And look at Olive's hair!! I about fell off my chair. BRAIDS! I had no idea he could braid. Travis keeps hitting this #1 Dad thing out of the park.

Collin's 9th birthday!!! 

He brought Fluffy to the table since it was his birthday too. (A gift from 2 birthdays ago.)

He invited his friend from school, Nathan, to the movies with us. We saw Peter Rabbit and it was HILARIOUS!! One of the best kids movies I've seen in a really long time. Tanner was a wiggle worm in my lap the whole movie but I made it through without having to take him out! Victory!

I gave them each $7 to spend on arcades, did a round of goofy golf, ate overpriced pizza and headed back to the house for a play date. 

Don't even ask me what this look is! She's a diva!

He got rollerblades, a Beyblade, a new blanket for his bed and a Swiss army knife. I think he was most pumped for the knife.

Olive and Weston get to share Travis's old pair of rollerskates that he never actually go to use himself. I guess it was a Christmas gift his mom forgot about that Carrie unearthed in a closet when she was cleaning.

My dad had 4 extra tickets (amazing seats, btw) to a baseball game that night. Happy birthday to Collin!

Olive and I had our own party at home watching TV and eating ice cream. I was sending a Marco Polo to my sisters showing them what we were doing and how much fun it was to have my own daughter to be friends with and Olive piped up all sassy saying, "Girls night!". I died laughing! I hadn't even used that term, but she knew it applied. Yep, girlsss night!!!

The next night Collin got his official dinner of choice on the birthday plate. He chose chicken alfredo and the same cherry chocolate cake that Weston had. 

A little about Collin:

*This past year has been TRANSFORMATIVE.

Truly. 

This kid has grown up leaps and bounds since turning 8. I don't even know what to attribute it to. Being baptized? Natural maturation? Whatever it is, life has become sooo much more enjoyable. He is eager to do what's right. He is helpful around the house, seeing what needs to be done without being asked to do it. He wants to help with Tanner... get him a toy when he's crying, throwing away a dirty diaper... even begs me to teach him how to make bottles. For the most part he tries to dispel fights and choses to "give in" to keep the other person happy. He doesn't argue like he used to. When he does something wrong he immediately says he's sorry and asks if I forgive him. (Like, constantly) He doesn't complain about the dinners I make! (That is epic.)  His whole disposition has just become more happy and pleasant, wanting to keep the peace and be a good student/brother/person.

I feel like this year has been a huge breakthrough and I've tried to be cognizant of telling him how much I appreciate his efforts and good deeds. 

*He LOVES schedules. He wants to know whats on the calendar for the week/month/year. He wants to know what we're having for dinner and for lunch the next day and dinner next week, and on and on. And if plans change, that is not ok with him. We have worked very hard to teach him that you have to be flexible in life. Not everything pans out they way you planned. 

*Similarly, he likes having a "to-do" list and checking things off. He's methodical in making his bed, brushing his teeth and getting ready for school.

*He loves chicken wings, ribs, BBQ, macaroni and cheese, pizza, pasta, hot dogs, orange chicken... or most kinds of "China food" as he calls it, bacon and a warm breakfast. He also likes to eat together as a family for dinner. One night, he had baseball practice or something late and we ate together without him and that was NOT OK. He was literally in tears. 

*He is sensitive to other people's feelings. Especially mine. Whenever we see a homeless person on the street he asks me if we can give them money. Then, I've learned he has a hard time forgetting about that person and will even cry because he feels bad for them.

*He loves to read!! Cue the band!! This obviously makes me IMMENSELY happy!! He loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid book and "I Survived" books (they are historical fiction about wars, natural disasters, etc.)

*He is always the funny man. Wants to make people laugh, tell jokes, or be silly.

*He has NO FILTER. We joke that even if he wanted to get away with something, he couldn't, because he can't help but tell me about it. It's like Brick on the show The Middle. "I'm lying." Hahaha. He gets off the bus and tells me immediately if he got his behavior card pulled, something happened on the playground, he said something to someone that seemed to upset him, or someone else said or did something inappropriate. It's like I'm his daily confessional. Even when he's in the wrong, he'll tell me. Then say he's sorry and ask me to forgive him. The boy can't keep anything inside. I know this will be a wonderful blessing especially as he gets older. 

*He is a BIG germ- a- phob. He has crusty, bleeding knuckles from washing his hands so much. This goes hand in hand with his penchant for worrying. He thinks about worst case scenerios, deadly insects and impossible situations, always asking me if they could happen. I can see my own anxieties passed down to him and I only have myself to blame. Travis is not a worrier. 

*He loves to make people cards and give gifts. I always forget for birthdays and Christmas to help him pick out a gift for others because he always goes through his things to make a present for Weston or Olive on their birthdays or at Christmas. It really makes him happy to make other people happy.

Ohhh, I love this boy!!! Seriously, just looking at these pictures makes my heart soar. 

Collin Evans, you are a blessing!

Since it was Spring Break, Travis took Friday off of work to take the boys on their first snowboarding trip! Snowbowl has a good deal going on right now for lift tickets and rentals. They left Thursday night after Collin's baseball practice and spent the night in Flagstaff so they could get there first thing. The boys did lessons for the morning, then Travis continued to help them in the afternoon. Seeing the videos made me laugh. Taking two kids on their first ski trip requires a massive amount of patience! Fall after fall. Finally getting up, sliding two feet, then falling again. Yep, I remember my own first trip well! Collin snowboarded and Weston skied and they said they had fun!

That Thursday morning before they left, I noticed a sore spot on my gums, just behind my front two teeth. It was swollen and hurt and I messaged Travis at work to ask him what he thought it was. He said I had probably just burned it on food or got something stuck up there. I figured maybe a popcorn kernel from the movie on Monday had scraped it and it was just now reacting. But a few hours later I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I put Tanner down for a nap, put a movie on for the other kids and crashed in bed. From there, things just got worse. The whole roof of my mouth became one, big sore. I got sores all over the inside of my lips, on my tongue and inside my cheeks. It hurt so badly I couldn't eat. I couldn't brush my teeth. I couldn't even talk or swallow hardly. I got these pussy sores on the edges of my gums by my teeth that would bleed. The day that they were gone skiing was awful. I purely survived. My mom was in Europe, Shelley was occupied with Lindi who was sick and Marcie said that Landon had a fever. I was on my own and I felt like dying! I just watched the clock, rejoicing when it was time to put Tanner down for a nap. Time couldn't move slower. This lasted for a week. Truly. It was heinous for 5 days, but the roof of my mouth didn't clear up for 10 days. I missed church and didn't leave my bed for the rest of that weekend after Travis got home with the boys. I remember making a smoothie and I couldn't even drink that, my mouth hurt so bad. I went to the doctor, who did a culture and it turned up as herpes. Freakin' herpes!! I've never had a cold sore in my life! I'm blaming the Fat Cat's theater!! I brought Clorox wipes with me on the airplane to Utah and sanitized my seat and everything else, but then I forgot to put the wipes back in my diaper bag when I got home. When we got to the movies I realized it, then told myself to calm down, it would probably be fine. There was nothing I could do about it. So I ate the popcorn, had Tanner crawling all over me, touched everything and bam! Two days later I have Herpes. Stupid, stupid virus!!! I guess it's not that obvious, but my upper lip was so swollen. It was weird that all the sores were inside my mouth instead of outside, like herpes usually looks. At any rate, it was a horrible ordeal. The only bright side was losing a few pounds but I don't even think it was worth it!

This strange, built in cubby in our living room is his playground. Always crawling inside and playing. 

Besides the cubby, I'M his other playground. I lay or sit down near him and he immediately wiggles over and proceeds to climb all over me like a mountain. Or just lean on me or pat me or whatever. Just needs to be touching me. I can't think of a better place I'd rather be!

The day I missed church, Olive proudly walked in while I was in bed to show me what so learned in Primary. How adorable is she with her name tag and everything! I can see this being framed one day to display at her farewell party. :)

Weston wrote a letter to his friend, Everett, in Gallup. He proudly handed it to me, having initiated this correspondence all on his own. I read the inside and smiled. It was adorable. He asked about his Easter. "How sit going" = how's it going. Haha. Cute picture.
Then I flipped it over.

My jaw dropped.

Literally, speechless.

Upon questioning Weston, it turns out he has no idea this phrase is from a provocative Miley Cyrus song. Just happens to be the funny thing to say on the playground right now. *eye roll*

Enjoy, dear Everett! Cuz, he's coming in like a wrecking ball.

I just started letting Tanner down on the mats when we go to open gym. He's pretty thrilled with the place. We wash hands real good afterward.

Sometimes you try to be healthy and bring a protein shake to the baseball game.

And it tips right out of the stroller cup holder. 

UGH.

His snuggles made up for it.

So did this cute hat I found at a boutique last week! You can't see my shirt but it says, "Tired as a mother." Ha! Got it at the boutique too.

Looks like he's a deer learning to stand! It's amazing how babies just know to pull up on things without fear. It's the getting down part that had him wary. Mostly, he'd just collapse or fall. It's crazy how much he's progressed since this video.

I have a picture of Olive in this same position that makes my heart hurt because she's so grown up now. I'm treasuring every second with this babe at all the stages. It's going to be gone so fast. :(

Wait for it.....!

The boys participated in a Cub Scout bike rodeo. Never heard of this but the leaders made it a fun pack meeting and included siblings. 

Weston was a trooper trying to ride this bike during a sweatshirt relay. He kept falling over (it was too big a bike for him) but he wouldn't give up!

Fun playdate with girls from preschool.

He was gumming down on those teething biscuits! Those wet, sticky eyelashes!

It took forever, but OHHHH, the end result was gorgeous!! Her hair looked so thick. I was patting myself on the back over this one!

Shut the front door!! He's finally losing his top, front tooth! 

Well, it was actually the back door.

And he had a conniption fit when Travis tried to tie the string around it. Like, completely lost his marbles, freaking out. I don't even know why we pushed it, but we wouldn't let him chicken out. 

And it worked! Out came that snaggly tooth. 

9 years old. It's fine. 

Mom had a birthday, shout hooray!

David and I met her at SoCal Taco Shop in downtown Gilbert on her actual birthday for lunch. Travis had a commercial that day so it worked out awesome that I got to go without kids! I don't think we've ever had this combination before but it was really fun. The brunettes with their blonde mom. 

While the men were at priesthood session, us sisters got together at Morrison Ranch park for a picnic dinner and to let the kids play. Della can put it down when it comes to food! I mean, she doesn't stop. That belly is rock hard and she doesn't seem the least bit uncomfortable. We all had the giggles pushing on it.