Where's the baby? There he is!

"I home"

One afternoon Kirsten got off the bus to find Timothy and I out on the swing. She immediately gave Timothy a huge hug and said "I home baby. I sorry I gone all day. I love you baby boy!"It was so precious I couldn't help but snap a couple photos.

Dance

Thanks to Groupon Audrey is in dance class. It's a tap/ballet combo class for 3/4 year olds. She LOVES it. The class is Thursday at noon and Thursday morning is torture at our house. Ever 15 minutes or so she asks if she missed dance class. She loves her teacher Miss Helen. She listens really well in class, even if she is slightly uncoordinated. The girls love to have matching (hair) buns on dance day. Class is during the time Kirsten needs to be dropped off at school and we have been very blessed to have Kirk in town every Thursday for the past 6 weeks. Firehouse subs is next to the dance studio and so Audrey and I usually make a date out of it. I love this little lady and playing the color or animal game and hearing all about her "favorite part" as we drive to and from class. :)

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a slight bust this year. Not only do we have church at 8 am but Kirk and I had to speak. I had such a hard time trying to decide what I wanted to say in my talk. I ended up just telling stories of my mom, Kirk's mom, and various prophets mothers (that I stole from this month's friend). It turned out ok and I have to share my favorite story told by Elder Holland's wife:

For three days in a row, my son Duffy (who is our eleven-year-old linebacker) leaped from some hidden corner of our home to throw a body block on me, Super Bowl style. The last time he did this, in my effort to avoid the blitz, I fell on the floor and knocked over the lamp and found my fight elbow wedged up somewhere near my eyebrow. I completely lost my patience, and I scolded him dearly for making me his tackling dummy.

His response melted my heart when he said with tears rolling down both cheeks, “But, Mom, you’re the best friend a guy could have. I thought this was as much fun for you as it was for me.” Then he added, “For a long time now I’ve planned what I will say in my first interview as a Heisman Trophy winner. When they ask me how I got to be so great, I’ll tell them, ‘I practiced on my mother!’”

Cutest story ever!

We came home from church and I collapsed into bed (staying up until midnight preparing my talk). Kirk took a nap after I woke up while I made dinner and some brownies. The girls drew some pictures and the evening was relaxing. Kirk was hoping to buy me a new car for mother's day but when it didn't work out celebrating the holiday just kind of went sour. I tried not to care but I did. I cried and he apologized and we were both glad when the day was over. Isn't that how it goes sometimes? Holidays can be the best and so much fun or they can be slightly heartbreaking. Oh well.

I love my mother. I'm grateful for her in my life. I appreciate that she is continually trying to better herself and that she always has faith. I respect her and all that she did as a mother, very much. A story about her I told in my talk was that: 

I longed to be just like my mom growing up. I was lucky enough to be her big helper. I got to hold the dust pan while she swept the floor and hand her wet clothes to hang on the line. It was so cool to be like my mom doing chores and taking care of the “little kids.” At the time I was certain she loved having me follow her everywhere she went. As a mother now I realize how much patience and love she extended to me as I refused to be anything but her little shadow. 

I LOVE being a mom. It's hard and frustrating but I love it so much. There is nothing else I would rather do with my time or my life. I strive to do my best to teach, cherish, and love my children. Sometimes it's easy peasy and sometimes I cry in frustration. But I am just grateful for the opportunity I have to try. It doesn't hurt that I have the best kids ever either :)

My gift from Kirsten

Flowers for mommy!

Let's Play Music

For the past 8 months Kirsten has been in the Let's Play Music program. It's a program that teaches kids theory through play and after 3 years they can play the piano and compose their own music. It's an awesome program and her teacher was one of our friends in our ward. Miss Jane is a wonderful teacher and person, I was so grateful to have her influence Kirsten for the better. Kirsten looked forward to music class every week and improved drastically over the year. She sits down and plays around on our piano daily and I'm excited to see what her musical future brings. Theses pictures are from the recital held a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

 

5 months

 

Isn't he handsome?! I just love his scowl in the last picture. Our handsome little man is growing up. He is more fun everyday.
He has started playing with toys, to his sister's delight, and loves to stick them in his mouth. We got him a jump activity center which he loves, the more noise it makes the happier he is.
He is the sweatiest baby I've ever met. We have to bathe him because he smells so badly of sweat every other day. He wakes up from naps drenched in sweat, his clothes and sheets drenched. It's really pretty gross.
He has decided to stop nursing (much to his mother's dismay) and loves bottles. He only really cries if Audrey is too close for too long or if he can see a bottle and it is not in his mouth.
He's quick to give a smile to anyone who smiles at him but he makes us work hard for a laugh. He mostly loves to laugh when he sees us playing and laughing with each other.
He loves to eat solids and downs a full bowl of rice cereal every morning.
He still sleeps through the night and takes 3 two hour naps a day. I swear he is such a good baby because he sleeps really well and can be content when he is awake (now if only he sisters would get the sleep they need!).
We enjoy Timothy so much and are so grateful he has joined our family. Life is better with him in it, and that's the truth!

MOMMY, WE MISS YOU!!!!!!!!

Well, since you left and went to go spend a day or two on the beach we decided we needed to tell you how much you were missed here at the house!  About every hour or so one or both girls tell me that they miss their Mommy and Timothy too!  I've decided we are not sure how to function completely without you.

This morning I decided to take away the anguish of missing you by taking the girls to the mountain... On the way over they started yelling out as loud as they could "We Miss You Mom!!!"  and "Mommy come home". Of course being the considerate dad that I am.  I said Mommy is too far away and can't hear you

Don't worry this only fueled the fire.  They then asked if you were on the mountain.... "Nope" and then they decided that since they were going to the mountain they could yell from the top and see if you could hear them then.  Needless to say if there were people still sleeping the Las Vegas Valey by the time we got to the top, they were sleeping no longer!

We Miss You!  Hurry Home!

On the Way Up they Yelled!

And at the Top they Yelled!

"We Got Thirsty"

We also had to yell "Wahoo" from the top

Audrey "Poser" and "Grumpy" Kirsten :)