California

On March 26th, Dave and I took the kids to California to visit our families. We blessed Austin while we were there, but that's a different post.
It was so fun to have Austin meet all his aunties (except one, we missed you Jess & Ryan) and uncles.
Meeting Aunt Ritz

 

Ritz has made a blanket for each of our kids, and this is Austin's. I love it.

 

Meeting Andrew & Carrie.  Andrew, as in THE Andrew. Austin Andrew.

 

We were able to just hang out and relax while we were there.  Heavenly.

 

 

 

 

 

While we were there, we celebrated my Mom's birthday. We went out to lunch and then went and got foot massages. That night we went to Melissa's where she had made an amazing dinner for everyone. So fun.

My parents with their five grandkids

Sugar high

I was able to see some of my high school friends while I was there

 

Kathy was so nice to come see me at my Mom's house.  Austin loved snuggling and sleeping on Grandma Kathy

 

 

 

My Dad has a 1941 Pontiac that we lovingly named Betsy. I loved riding (and then driving) Betsy when I was younger, and it was fun to see my Dad drive my kids in it.

 

 

 

Until next time California!

Audrey

* Joshua had messed up Audrey's barbie house while she was at school yesterday. When she got home, she was pretty devastated. I had Joshua go in and clean it up, and Audrey wanted to help so that everything would be put back where it belonged. I was picking up Joshua's room next door and heard Audrey say the sweetest thing: "Joshua, I am your sister and I will always love you. Even if you mess up my things, a sister's love will never change."

* I was putting Austin to bed last night and he was crying because he was overtired. Audrey was next to me and asked what was wrong. I was snuggling a crying baby and just said, "Oh he is just beyond tired." To which Audrey said, "He is beyond beautiful."

It is the little moments like this that make it all worthwhile.

 

Life Lately

Life lately has been busy. Having a baby didn't really change much...it just added to the party. My first week without any help (Austin was two weeks old), both Audrey and Joshua got really bad colds and ended up with ear infections. Audrey missed three days of school and it was all I could do to keep them away from Austin. Dave was gone at least 14 hours a day, and went out of town twice before Austin was 8 weeks old. Audrey got the stomach flu and barfed 10 times in one night. My sweet Grandpa died and it was an emotional few days for me. Then I got sick...blah, blah, blah. But we have been blessed with such a sweet baby, and I am so grateful he has joined our family.
I have been such a slacker. I really want to get up to date with my blog. Here are some catch up pictures that I never got around to blogging.

Wednesday 2.9.11
Middle of the week snow day! Hooray! Dave and Audrey both got to stay home. We enjoyed the day together making valentines for Audrey's school Valentines party. Let's be honest, everyone else made the valentines and I slept.

Snuggling Fafa

Tub time, but first a snuggle from Memor

Big brother taking pictures

2.10.11 6 days
Before Bruce and Marianne left, they set up a fun Valentines date for Dave and me. The kids were our servers and we enjoyed first class service and one of my favorite meals.

2.11.11 My sweet friend Kitty Carter sent me this Edible Arrangement.  Joshua was obsessed with it.  He ate most of it in one day.

Chocolate on his forehead.

2.17.11
My mom came and spoiled everyone rotten.  She cooked, and cooked, and cooked.  She even brought pans from her house because she knew I didn't have pots big enough.  She is one saintly woman.  The quickest way to my heart is through my stomach, and my mom knows that.

She brought Joshua this toy and Joshua loved it. I can't remember why he was crying, but I love these pictures. My mom is one beautiful woman.

3.4.11
The night before Joshua's birthday party, we let him stay up with us and stuff the pinata.  He found a war head (a very sour candy) and wanted to taste it.  Ha.lar.ious.
First taste

"Mmmmmmm"

"I wub it!" (while rubbing his tummy) He ended up chomping that candy like it was no big deal.

3.15.11
5 1/2 weeks.  Austin learning to smile. PAYDAY!  The first time Austin smiled was on Joshua's birthday.

3.16.11
Brotherly bonding time. Joshua loves sharing his toys with Austin.  I am grossed out that I didn't have a burp cloth under Austin's head.

That's better.

3.18.11
Audrey's spring break was pretty lame.  She got the stomach flu. Dave went out of town. We did have a picnic outside and Audrey wanted to pick flowers for the "centerpieces".  We have been watching "Four Weddings" too much.

6 weeks. Angel baby.  Love the super french cut onesie.

Sleeping through Joshua's noise.  That's my boy!

3.21.11
My three boys

3.25.11 7 weeks

The first of many catch up posts!

Conference Weekend

I love Conference weekend. The last four Sunday Conference mornings have been spent at Mandy & Colby's eating a fabulous breakfast. I brought my camera to take pictures of it all, but the only picture I took was of Berkley and Austin hanging out on the couch. Oh well. The menu has been the same for the last two years:
Mandy: fried french toast, french silk chocolate drink
Megan: homemade cinnamon rolls
Me: breakfast casserole and homemade buttermilk syrup
I will miss this next October.

 

Wednesday, March 9th

Joshua's third birthday. We celebrated Joshua's birthday by doing all the things he loved...
1) Going to the fire station
2) Going to our favorite mexican joint
3) Immediately after leaving mexican joint, we went and got donuts
4) Napped
5) Dave was able to come home early and join us for Sonic for dinner
6) Went to Chuck E Cheese for some games
7) Home for cake and presents

Our day basically revolved around food, but he is his mom's boy and loves to eat! Happy birthday sweet boy.

Fire station with his friends

 

 

 

Austin was an angel baby and slept the whole time.  It's what he does best!

 

 

 

 

I don't have any pictures from the rest of our activities.  The kids loved helping me make the cake.  When I asked Joshua what kind of cake he wanted, I thought he would respond, "Chocolate" or, "Vanilla".  Instead he said, "Spiderman!" He had already had a Spiderman cake that Mandy was so nice to make, and I wasn't about to try to make another one.  He agreed to a "dirt cake with worms".  Much easier, especially when he wanted to help make it!

 

About to open presents...he was doing his "I'm excited!" dance.

 

 

My mom bought me this book called, "Joshua, Man of Faith".  I am excited to read it and one day have my Joshua read it to learn more about the Prophet Joshua.  My mom also bought him these little crawly bug things.  Right now, Joshua is more interested in the bugs than the book...hopefully that will change one day.

 

I have a picture from last year on his birthday drinking out of a Sonic cup, so clearly I needed one this year too.

 

Make a wish! (A section of the cake is missing because I couldn't have chocolate and I still wanted some cake. I was mad I didn't save me more)