A visit to Colorado

On our way home from Utah we went through Colorado, to visit our good friends the Hatch's. We were planning to visit them in Utah but they bought a dental practice and moved shortly before the wedding.

We had talked this vacation up with Jack for MONTHS beforehand so we had to follow through with for our Jack & Dan, darn (wink wink)
It was really nice, this was our vacation from the "vacation."

We saw their house, and the dental practice, and then went swimming and ate pizza at the hotel.
The visit was short but we loved it! Thanks for having us!


Pool Party!


Nora loved her new swimsuit!


Bathtub party


A Pizza Picnic


And a good nights sleep to follow!

A Utah "VACATION"

"VACATION"
Driving 20 hours there & back, prepping for a wedding/reception, and kids out of their element hardly seems like a vacation. Those are the types of vacations you need a vacation from a "vacation."

BUT WE LOVED IT!

Marcia got married! That is 6 of six, married in the temple and we were all there to witness it! Kind of hokey to be dressed identical in the wedding clothes, but it was a wonderful experience to see all of us sisters & husbands lined up in the temple for the sealing. We were all in the front row, and it was very exciting. Laughing, crying, smiles. Just WONDERFUL!


Marcia & Chandler Nora being shy

Nora loves Papa (and she is so mellow for him) and Jack wiping his nose with Marcia's dress


Jack sleeping after a long day (at the reception)

A family picture



2 new babies- Liam (Melissa & Aaron) and Easton (Manda & Ben)



Playing with Sadie


Lots of cousins


Free & easy entertainment


Playing with friends


Bag lady... loving her new freedom with walking

Jack's first motorcycle ride


Papa's IPad


We also enjoyed seeing friends (we had a big WI party but never took any good pictures), eating good food-Cafe Rio and Tucanos, and just enjoying the beautiful weather. Our Utah vacations never seem long enough!

Family Dates

It seems as though our weekends are a little less busy these days, allowing us to enjoy a little family time together.  Jack's choice most of the time... McDonalds to run around (we didn't even go to one with a playground but he wanted to eat inside and play) and the park to enjoy the beautiful spring weather- no pictures, sorry. 

Maybe it's Dan's new job, but I have really enjoyed having him around to help with the kids during piano lessons.  Most of the time it is only one kid at a time, but it gives him a chance for a little one-on-one daddy time.  This week Dan and Jack played frisbee golf, Nora got to hang with Dan last week, and I of course still get my mom & kid time all day, every day, but also a little time with each kid alone by going to the grocery store, reading books, playing games (Jack is way into MarioKart), and the ever popular cars & trains. Although, we are mixing it up by playing tractors together.

I am kind of liking these family traditions... nothing super thought out, but things that have happened just by chance that we enjoy---why not make it a tradition?

The Dentist

 Jack visited the Dentist for the first time in early May.  We talked all about the nice lady was going to clean his teeth, and they were going to look with a little mirror, and when they were all done he was going to get to pick a prize from the treasure box (WHAT DENTIST doesn't have a treasure box for kids, right?) 

And that's exactly what we did...

Sadly, Jack had a hard time picking a toothbrush at the end.  They had Mater, Sally, and Chick Hicks.  He was very disappointed there was no McQueen.  Oh well, I guess being dressed head to toe in McQueen doesn't get you to have them look twice...  :) 

Easter

Sundays are hard... Easter was no different. I played piano for sacrament meeting and choir, which made Dan's job EXTRA exhausting with both kids. Nora was wiggly and tired, and threw the biggest fit as I tried to get her to fall asleep after the meeting. I was exhausted too! (I even got a very concerned "You looked stressed" comment after Nora finally gave in!)

This is the only picture I have of either of the kids in their Easter clothes, they were so cute! I have to take their picture before church, because by the end of sacrament meeting Jack had pink spots on his white shirt (someone gave him a red sucker, just to be "nice.") and Nora was covered in Jack's chocolate milk. I guess it kept her happy.

We saved Easter for after church meetings.

Jack and Dan went on an Easter Egg Treasure Hunt


Jack was really into it!

And found his easter basket in the bike trailer


The kids were super thrilled with their books, new shirts and 2 eggs. We kept it simple, but the kids LOVED it!



Afterwards, we went to our friends house for a delicious Easter dinner and played outside & in their basement. It was a great day!

Friends

Today I asked Jack if I was his friend. His response, "NO"

M: why not?
J: because you're a girl

Let this be a reminder of all of the girls that are his friends even if they are girls...

Our church friend


Our family friend


Jack's cousin (and other cousins... just no pictures)


and of course his sister


There's the little girl from swimming lessons, that after 8 weeks of lessons called him her boyfriend. And the piano girls that come to our house, and the baby sitter. He is surrounded and he LOVES all of the attention they give him!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(continued)
M: You can be friend with girls
J: because you're not small
M: Well ok, I can just be your mom then.

I guess that will have to do!

Different

It is amazing how 2 kids, same parents, can be so different. Nora is very sweet, cuddly, and happy (just like her brother) yet kind of high maintenance, noisy, and impatient. We love her either way.

A few of our favorite, and not so favorite, things about her...

She loves food! However, from one day to the next she changes her mind on what she likes. What she gobbles one meal, is pushed aside (on the floor) at the next.

She is starting to sleep through the night. I love this! yet, she is up by 6:30 AM which I don't love. She does nap great and goes down without a fuss, at night she throws a fit so we've decided to just rock her at night. It only takes a minute, and it is really sweet to hold a sleeping baby.

Her favorite things- loves the sand table, water, toys (emptying & refilling buckets of toys-we just need to teacher how to sort!) and hates other things- GRASS, her new carseat, getting her diaper changed.

She is really into blowing bubbles/spitting right now. Always making noise and yells/whines really loud when we are not meeting her needs (or just can't figure them out.)

She is really really happy. Loves to go up to anyone visiting our house and have them hold her. You would think I never hold her, but I DO I DO! She is just very sweet- her favorite people to just be held by, other than mom & dad, are Papa Russ, Kim, Shalese, and Michelle.

Nora gives kisses (just smack your lips at her), gives really sweet hugs with arms tight around you and pats your back, and if you put out your hand she will pretend to give you her pacifier

That is our sweet "love bug!"








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