We had Kate over to play and I couldn't help but notice how the height difference continues to increase, haha. I love Kate. She has been such a good friend to Collin. She's a guy's gal and that really worked out well for Collin when we lived two doors down! They spend their time pretend fighting with swords and light sabers or playing laser tag or video games or LEGOS or any manner of rough housing.
Little man figured out how to crawl into the dryer and was SO pleased with himself! Now, it's his little hideout when I'm doing laundry, only he can't get out by himself so that's a problem!
Trevor and Gretchen were in town, so the guys had a night out! Trevor's luscious hair gets him a little grief from his family, but hey, when your hair is that thick and beautiful, I don't half blame him!
Spent the day at the park with Leah and Shelley and wonder of wonders, Tanner actually played well with Della and gave me a few seconds of peace!! GLORIA!! Only, when the kids reported back to me that he had a stinky diaper, I didn't want to jinx his playing so I let him be as long as possible. Turns out, I waited a wee too long!
It even got on his shirt, so he had to make do with just his jacket after that.
Ohhh, that sly smile!
Us ladies had a night out, too! Zinburger then Creamistry.... my favorite.
A small topic of conversation that I should probably not write about, but I'm gonna anyway because I want it documented, is that on Jan. 2 some changes were made to the endowment and sealings. That's all I'll say, except that I really loved the changes. :)
Ohhhh that widdle bum peeking out is pretty cute!!
I think this is Xtreme Air. Tanner was quite the pill. I was exhausted after an hour. One day, I'm going to be one of those parents reading a book while their kids play at these trampoline places. One day.
My mom was really sweet to organize a big dinner to have Steve and Maelynn over with their kids and new baby. Steve used to be a staple over at our house back in the day! He even came family camping and was a part of our sibling Christmas gift exchange. He didn't get married for so long, and then ended up with Maelynn who is so sweet! Their baby girl is almost a year and none of us had met her yet!
OK, strange thing to document on the family blog, but it is sort of my journal too and I feel compelled to have this written somewhere. When I was pregnant with Tanner, I could feel myself losing it. EVERYTHING irritated me. I just didn't feel normal and I hated it. I had tossed around the idea before to use medication for my anxiety and general hormonal-ness, but really resisted pulling the trigger. It was many series of events in the making, but I finally went and saw my doctor about it and he suggest Sertraline... which is a generic for Zoloft. I felt like it genuinely helped. Like it just calmed my nerves a touch and made me feel normal again. I continued taking it for two years until the prescription expired and then decided to try life again without it. (One big reason was when we went to Oceanside, I had forgotten it, and it was four days before Marcus, who was coming to Oceanside later, was able to bring it. And when I miss a day, I get terrible side affects that make life almost debilitating.) So I spent several weeks weaning off of it, then once I stopped altogether, the withdrawal symptoms were AWFUL. Hard to describe, but my brain felt like it was underwater. I felt dizzy and the way you feel right before you're about to pass out. It affected my vision and thinking and it was all I could do to get through it. It lasted about 3 weeks. After that, I could also tell a difference in the way I felt. I prefer the way I feel ON the medication. I'm just not as emotional. It's like I don't generally feel sadness, irritations, anger, etc as strongly. But that also goes for good emotions. So there are pros and cons. A friend highly recommended this other natural supplement to help balance moods so I started that and it seems to help a little. It's called Pivot 180.
Us, Lindblom girls, had a night out too! We ate at The Yardhouse in Scottsdale mall and did some shopping! We spent quite a bit of time in Nordstorm, picking out new, skinny jeans for mom and some new tops! She looked awesome! And Shelley and I became LuLu Lemon snobs for the first time ever!
Tanner was cracking us up! He had moved a chair behind the couch and while the kids were playing a game, his head suddenly popped up and then he whipped out a Nerf gun and was trying to shoot the kids! Hahaha, I was dying!
Back to School!!
Olive was officially going to FULL DAY Kindergarten and I was a little nervous for her! She was super brave though and didn't shed any tears! The only time she looked a little sad was when it was time for me to leave. I couldn't help myself though and came back during lunch time. My mama heart couldn't bear the thought of her potentially eating alone. But when I got there, she was already enveloped in friends and had a hard time choosing which girls got to join us outside. You're only allowed to take two but we smuggled a third. ;) Such RELIEF seeing her smiley and surrounded by nice friends!! And full day has proven to be a great choice since then! She used to cry every morning that I dropped her off at Ben Franklin, but she never cries at Neely. I know she was happy at Franklin, but I think she really likes going to her brother's school now and walking in with them.
Tanner likes to tinker around in the garage after we get home from something, so I just prop open the door so I can hear him and let him be. Well, this day, after a while I heard small whimpering noises and walked in to find him perched on top of Collin's bike!!!! HOW?! How did he scale that and get his leg over without tipping it on it's side?! It's only balancing on its little kick stand. Honestly, I was baffled! What a little monkey! Only, he was definitely not sure about this endeavor once he was up there, haha. He wasn't full blown crying, but his sad whimpers told me he was regretting it!
I have felt absolutely SUNK in life. Drowning and barely scraping by. But my cousin, Leah, posted on Instagram about some ideas for Come Follow Me and it inspired me! I bought this magnetic board and some files on Etsy and got it all printed at Staples. I bought an extra Come Follow Me book and had the binding cut off so I could display the pictures that accompany each lesson. And I had a study guide printed for the kids to write in. It was quite a bit of work, but it got me so EXCITED to start this new program. We have the board in our kitchen so we can see it every day. I'm writing this in April, so I can say that we have decided to read the assigned scriptures each morning before Travis leaves for work and the kids leave for school. We spend about 15 minutes reading and discussing the scriptures and then usually get the study guides out on Sunday to review what we've been learning. It's been going great and I LOVE that instead of just mindlessly reading scriptures as a family, it's become actual STUDYING. I feel like we're learning together and it's meaningful. There are so many great resources that I've been listening to like the Meridian magazine podcast and Emily Belle Freeman's YouTube commentary. The church was truly inspired to make this change. I love the new, two hour church schedule and the emphasis we have been given to focus on these gospel topics in our homes.
We planned and squared away this weekend months ago!! It's a highly anticipated trip we, and our kids love! Visiting the Shaheens in Gallup!!
(But of course, the Kings were out of town again! Boo.)
We piled our car with oranges, lemons, grapefruit and Boca Mexican food (I feel like it's an excerpt from that book 'The Relatives Came' haha) and drove up Friday afternoon, getting there around 6pm! Lots of hugging and shouting and staying up way too late! Kids and adults alike!
Continuing with the book.... they all slept on top of each other like puppies.
Probably my favorite picture! Bron in his robe, preparing his drinks for him and Trav to go hit up the hot tub! He looks like such a rich guy in his gorgeous house and fluffy, white robe, but you just have to know him! Bron is a hoot. He's honestly the most humble guy. We love him!
8 minute abs and 8 minute buns. Can you see the tiny phone on the fireplace?? Trav just sat back and laughed at us.
They had gotten some really awesome snow that week, but it was starting to melt! We drove to Rehoboth, hoping to have enough snow to sled on so we didnt have to drive up in the mountains. It looked pretty sketchy at first, but it worked! A full blown and serious miracle that no arms or tailbones were broken though!
Miss Ivy is a CRACK UP. Soooo fiesty and fun. I think her parents are haggard, but we get a kick out of her spit fire personality!
And sweet Navee in her puffy, pink suit was too cute for words! If Tanner knows what's good for him, he'll keep an eye on her!
These kids!!! Rubi dubee leaning on Weston! They are both snuggle bugs and we joke that they could really hit it off married. They might not get anything done, as Megan says, but they could just snuggle.
Driving back to the house, we pointed at the hospital where Olive was born. She said very calmly, "Oh. That's cool."
Megan and I both love to bake so I had this idea that we should try making macarons. They're supposed to be pretty tricky and take a long time so it seemed like the perfect activity for us with a whole afternoon together! Lilly helped too. They didn't set up quite like they were supposed to, but ohhh they were delicious! And they only took us 5 hours, haha! Granted, we started a second batch when we were half way through the first one, realizing we needed more cookies!
The pantry of kings, everyone.
We met up with the Haws at Fratellis that night for dinner and then went back to the house to play games.
Alfredo fries... I have missed you.
We had to take a picture showing our similar gold, hoop earrings from Madewell and our matchy camo shirts. Not planned!
We went to church together on Sunday, then left straight from there. Here's model Navee, ready for church. I DIE. That bonnet and those knickers!! I.want.to.eat.her!!!!
My heart always aches as we drive away. The Shaheens are such a good family and we really loved living in the same town as them. We just have such a special bond and it truly hurts inside getting a taste of what we used to have with them, only to drive away a couple days later.
Uncle Austin helped out Collin's Bear pack by doing a little demonstration about law enforcement. It was fun to watch! Afterward, he took us through the building and it was really interesting seeing where they bag and put evidence, the detectives offices, the briefing room, holding cells, etc. Just like Brooklyn 99! Haha. (A show we're watching right now about the police force in NY)
The Mormon world is a small world! A family in our Buffalo ward has a daughter serving in Gilbert right now and she's assigned to our ward! The Caspers had 5 kids in Buffalo and Brent was two years ahead of Trav in dental school. I was a YW leader over their oldest daughter, Kennon. The girl in the middle is their second oldest daughter, Savannah. When I spoke in church in December she recognized me and stopped by our house to say hi but we weren't home. It was really fun visiting with her!
I convinced Olive that her fish, Goldie, would be happier swimming in a big pond, instead of her fish bowl in our kitchen. Hallelujah! Mama no like pets! So long, Goldie!
100th day of school called for special hair!
Mmmmm, I'm not kidding when I say that some of my happiest moments on this earth have been biting into a warm slice of buttery, cardamom bread. Turns that frown upside down!
This silly boy made it onto the Neely Character board! I have to say, he really is a very good student. Get's all A's and some B's. Turns his homework and assignments in on time and with no hassle from me. Has got his multiplication facts down pat. Is a really creative and funny writer! And truly tries his best to follow the rules and be a good student. I'm really proud of him!
It used to be splits we had to take pictures of every day for dance and now it's leg extensions! Tanner made me laugh when he tried to join in!
This was the date night I decided we were officially, big ol' boring grown ups. We went to dinner at Blue Adobe, a funeral viewing for LaRee's grandpa and then Home Depot to look at backsplash tile for the kitchen. And you know what? I loved it. It was a perfect evening spent with my perfect guy.
Olive and I went to see Disney on Ice for one of her birthday presents! I chose the 11am show so that we wouldn't have to fight weekend traffic and parking at night and it was great! She wore her Belle dress and was completely mesmerized by the dancing and singing. I was too! They really put on quite the show! From Cinderella's carriage... Rapunzel doing an aerial show from ropes and real fire on the ice for Moana's number it was all very entertaining! Olive was oooing and ahhing and loving all the princesses. Such a fun mommy/daughter date! We got lunch afterward and some frozen yogurt then had to go home in time to switch off kids because now Olive was staying home with Tanner and a babysitter, while we took the boys out!
We weren't planning on going to see the Monster Trucks, but Travis's hygienist had some tickets she couldn't use and just gave them to us, so we bought two more and all went! Marcie and Austin went too, so we had dinner with them at Islands first.
How they talked me into the cotton candy that came with these masks, I don't know! So creepy. But this picture made me laugh!
Weston has been a fan of Grave digger since he was 3 years old, in the sand box, playing with a toy one.
Look what my handy husband did while Olive and I were on our date! Our garage was in need of some organization! And he even set it up so that there is a charging station on the back side to plug the electric scooters in! Love love it.
Aunt Aubrey's face painting skills aren't just for the girls. But *shudder*, not my favorite look. Look... get it... hahaha.
Seriously amazing!
Some sort of holiday on Monday so Livy got to spend the night!
This Rudolf nose lights up, but not brighter than this boy's smile!
His half moon, happy eyes are my favorite!!
Just a reminder that he's not always smiling. This is such a good example of what my life has been like.
We had the sisters over for dinner and they taught a lesson. It was fun to get some more chat time in with Savannah. I took video of her teaching and sent it to her mom who really loved seeing her in action.
In this digital age, I've often thought how our "love letters" will never get saved to be discovered amongst old papers by our children when we're long gone. So here's to saving some.
When we're killing time in Mesa between Let's Play Music classes, and I'm feeling like a nice mom, I take the boys to the skate park. Tanner wishes.
I have this friend named Camilla. And she is INCREDIBLE. We had set up a play date with our kiddos one morning at her house, but when I got there, she handed me this card, shooed me out the door, and took Tanner upstairs to play. She had booked a massage for me nearby and then told me to go shopping or out to eat or do anything I wanted until Tanner would need to go down for his nap.
I was flabbergasted.
I protested and protested, but also knew if she had set up the appointment and paid for it, I couldn't just not go. And yet it was still SO hard for me to accept this ridiculously generous act of kindness and love. I literally had tears in my eyes as I drove to the massage parlor. No friend has EVER done anything so sweet for me. So thoughtful. I have been on the brink of collapse. Just getting through each day by the skin of my teeth. This meant more to me than I could ever, ever, EVER say. The massage was absolutely amazing. I just laid there thinking, this is the last place I thought I'd be this morning!! Such a treat. Afterward, I could in no way spend her money, but I did go to the store to get some things for Young Womens and then grabbed an acai bowl. I will honestly never forget this. Til the day I die, I will be singing Camilla June Porter's praises!
Alison is getting married and Shelley was throwing her bridal shower at her house. I decided I needed more macarons in my life! And I was dying to try baking them on my own anyway. I quadrupled the recipe which was probably not the smartest idea. Things got pretty messy. But the finished product wasn't half bad! Who am I kidding. I ate my weight in those fluffy, pink cream filled pillows.
Grandma threw a big, family party in honor of Grandpa's birthday and to replace the Udall Christmas party! It was so fun! All the aunts and uncles put out quite the spread of pulled pork sandwiches, salads, fruit, chips and cookies. Then Alex was our DJ for the rest of the night! The dancing didn't last nearly as long as I wanted, but I'll take what I can get! Those Hogles and Udalls just aren't as big of dancers as us Lindbloms, I guess. We did get Leah on the dance floor for a couple Backstreet Boys songs though!!
I want to have this video forever and ever! Tanner's slow, little bent knee sway slays me!!! OHH the cuteness!!!
The next morning I took Weston out to the temple to take his baptism pictures! It was COLD. Like 42 degrees cold. But he was a CHAMP. Never whined or complained. The most he did was laugh and jump up and down with big eyes saying, it's freezing! But he said it lightheartedly like it was funny or a joke. He gave me natural smiles and was so good about standing or posing any way I wanted. Dream kid. I didn't want our time together to be over after that, so we extended our date to include breakfast. Henhouse Cafe hot chocolate and pancakes the size of your head warmed him right up. Gosh, I love this boy! He is so good natured.
I did a quick shower and change, then loaded up all the food and platters to take to Shelley's for the shower. Andddd down went a platter. It had slid against the door while I was driving, so when I opened it, it fell right onto the concrete. Sigh. At least no macarons were harmed.
How about that spread?! Shelley was overhauling her backyard and interior decor to get ready for this event and it all paid off! It was beautiful and perfect and we all ate ourselves into food comas on her new, orange couch. ;)
When we had the sisters over dinner, If found out it was Sis. Bradburn's birthday that Saturday and no one was signed up to feed them. I couldn't have that! So I offered to take them out to dinner. She chose Carrabas and we had a good time visiting and devouring allll the carbs. The sad part is that I found out a couple of days later from Savannah's mom, that she has been really struggling and decided to go home early. They came over again the next week and we had a long talk and Travis gave her a blessing. I hoped she might have a change of heart, but she left a couple days after that. I'm glad we at least got to spend some time with her before she left.
Weston's new Primary teachers give the kids elaborate treats and candy every Sunday. Like, I joked that they must own a gas station. It's all the gimmicky candy treats that parents never buy. Hard candy bottle nipples that you lick then dip in the bottle of powdered sugar. Odd, rubber animals that are filled with candy. I don't even know! But Weston is our candy addict, so he's in hog heaven. And he gets so much that he hands out extras to his siblings. Its a little out of control.
A wrong bounce on the trampoline had Olive's ankle all swollen and sprained. She legitimately wouldn't walk on it for two days. Got me nervous about a dance performance she had coming up, but thankfully it resolved itself without any doctor visits or x-rays!
Grandma Evans crocheted sloths and these mouse bookmark things that the boys love sleeping with. I wonder when you get too old for stuffed animals? I hope it's not anytime soon.
