26th

 Well I turned 26. It's funny because two days prior I had to go to urgent care and fill out forms and when it asked "Age" I was so excited to put 25 for one last time. I loved being 25. It was so much fun. It was a great year... but I know this year will be equally as fun.

We started off the day with presents, flowers, diet coke, and chocolate. I mean really... what more could a girl ask for?

 We have been wanting to go to the Monte L. Bean Museum since we moved here, but haven't found a day. So we decided today would be the day :) Lucas LOVED it. I mean, seriously... LOVED it. He ran from exhibit to exhibit racing around naming all the animals, making their sound. It was hilarious. And everyday since the first thing he asks when he wakes up is to go see the animals.

This little love was an angel and so happy :)

Such a big boy, watching a movie

 And wouldn't you know he found the only train in the whole museum. It was seriously 5 inches long. He stood at that window for a good 20 minutes. When I took his hand to keep walking, he said no mama, and walked back. Then when I walked away to see if he would follow, he came, took my hand, and said "Train?" and walked me back to the window. We are taking him to the train museum next month in Ogden, he is going to flip!

We came home, put the kids down for a nap and my sweet niece Emily came over to watch the kiddos so we could get away. It was so so nice to go out with just Andy! We went to La Jolla Groves and it was delicious!! I got the salmon (surprise, surprise) with cilantro butter with bruschetta (again..surprise) and Andy got the Beef Tenderloins.

And seriously... the diet coke was amazing. Good crunchy ice, and the server even put a lime in it. 

 Afterwards we went shopping... and instead of buying something for me, I bought clothes for the kiddos. They were having a sale at Gymboree and it makes me happier to buy them things, then myself. We picked up a carmel apple for dessert on the way home and called it an afternoon.

When we moved up here I told Andy I wanted to go to Strawberry Days for my birthday since it fell on my birthday weekend. So after a fun filled pool day at my Aunts we came home, showered and headed off to the rodeo! I was so bummed because as soon as I pulled out my camera to catch Lucas excitement at all the animals it said, "Battery Depleted!" I was so mad!! And I had left my phone in the car because I had my good camera. Darn! Needless to say it was so much fun. It was my first rodeo (that I remember) and it will definitely not be my last.

When we got back to the car I pulled out my phone and took a quick picture before coming home just to remember the night :)

Father's Day 2012

We had a low key Father's Day this year. We had Andy open his present the night before because we wouldn't see him until church, and then not until dinner with his work schedule. He loved the survey Lucas did. I printed a bunch of questions and asked Lucas the answer. Some of my favorites were...

1. How much does daddy weigh? 8 lbs.

2. Where was daddy born? Sodor.

3. What does daddy always say? Swing the hook! (From Thomas)

4. What does daddy say in the morning? I need more ZZZ's. 

So funny what Lucas hears! Anyway... we had a yummy dinner of Flank Steak, homemade rolls, cheesy potatoes and asparagus. Then we had Scrap Cake for dessert-my favorite. Trevor and Fern came over for dinner which is always a fun time. Love those two!

When I asked Andy what he wanted for Father's Day all he said was "A Bike Ride". We have awesome trails by our condo that follow the Provo River and Andy and Lucas take bike rides together every weekend. I was feeling a little left out of their fun and asked for a Bike for my birthday. 

So Andy gave me my birthday present early this year (a bike!) and for Father's day we went on a family bike ride from the top of the canyon all the way home. 7 miles people! But it was so much fun!! It was through the mountains, along the trail, by the waterfall... Jane is still too small for the bike, so Trevor and Fern watched Jane. 

Me and my bike... I put my pre-pregnancy jeans on and they buttoned- but there is definitely a muffin top... please ignore :)

 The Boys

 This is what the trail looked like... completely lined with trees. It was so pretty!

 Andy yes... Lucas has a Thomas shirt on. 

We can't wait to ride again... It will be so pretty this fall when all the leaves start changing colors--my favorite!! Plus Jane will be old enough to ride with us. 

Happy Father's Day! Andy really is the BEST father a kid could ask for. He takes Lucas on adventures every weekend. He can't wait to come home and hold Little Jane. He genuinely loves being a dad and we are so grateful for him!

Friday

Sick of my Friday posts? Yes, it is our favorite day! We didn't wake up until 9:00 which is always a great start to the day in my book :) Lucas was so happy to be in his Thomas PJ's, courtesy of Auntie Ashy!

 After a blow-out Jane was all smiles in her birthday suit

 We started off at Seven Peaks for some pool time. Utah offers the "pass of all passes" where you get free admission to several parks in Utah. Perfect for us! It's not Disneyland, but it is better than nothing :)

Jane took her morning nap

 While I people watched... honestly the best thing ever.

 Daddy and Lucas going down the slide

 After swimming we headed to the local favorite "Ripples" for some hamburgers, onion rings, and diet coke with crunchy ice. Lucas was killing me in his new flip flops. He could not walk in them to save his life and it just kept making me giggle.

 Lucas and Mommy

 Once the kids were napping I made a jewelry organizer. I have needed something desperately and after searching pinterest for a solution (and finding nothing for our small space) I took matters into my own hands. Best part? It was free because I used everything I had in my craft closet. 

Jane is finally big enough for her Bumbo and she loves it. Plus it is an alternative to tummy time, which she hates! 

 Lucas also thinks the Bumbo is fun. 

Tomorrow we have Father's Day preparation and maybe a little mini golf is in our future :)

Animal Sounds

We recorded Lucas saying his "sounds" the other night. My personal favorite is the Frog :) Please ignore the ginormous pile of laundry.... I did like 10 loads that day. Having a sick little one puts a damper on laundry :)

  

Family Pictures

We had an impromptu family picture session today. I have been wanting a family picture and at the moment a photographer isn't in the cards... so the good 'ole tripod came into action- and here is the best one!

Andy and I look cute... Lucas REFUSED to smile. Jane was ready for a nap. 

I tried my skills at Photoshop to put a smiling Lucas on his body...

Not too shabby?

Better luck next time! 

Great Grandparents

Maybe it is just me, but I think it is really cool and fun that Lucas and Jane have great grandparents. Lucas loves his Grandpa Honey and we were so fortunate that they came to see us this past week. My Grandma Glenda was so excited to meet little Janie girl and within minutes of her holding Jane she was asleep! :)

 My Grandpa Honey is a fabulous artist. When we were younger he would paint murals on our walls of disney characters. My favorite to this day was mine and Ashley's Little Mermaid room with all the characters painted on the wall-- not to mention the Little Mermaid sheets! Anywho, Lucas and Grandpa drew trains while the girls chatted. Their drawings are still on our fridge and probably will stay until the train obsession fades!

Later in the week we headed to my Aunt's house for a little fun in the sun with all the cousins. They had a blast! We went to McDonalds for breakfast and kids played in the play place for 2 hours! Then we went swimming, played in the sprinklers and ate pizza for lunch. Lucas LOVES his cousins. And I LOVE hanging out with my own cousins and living so close.

We got in the car at 4:30 (3 hours after our usual naptime) and Lucas was asleep by 4:35!

He slept until 8:30... ate dinner, took a bath and was back in bed by 10:00. He was exhausted from all the fun!

My "Ah-HA!" Moment

**Disclaimer... this is really long and mostly for journaling sake**

It is no secret that Andy is a great dad. He LOVES being a dad. When he gets home from work he is so excited to see the kids and play with them. When we lived in Las Vegas his schedule was flexible. Usually he would leave the house by 6am or so, so that he could be home by 3 when Lucas woke up from his nap, giving him enough time to see and play with him. This was super nice on me because I had him to help watch Lucas while I made dinner, ran any last minute errands, went to church functions, etc... One might say I was spoiled :)

Along came Jane and I continued to be spoiled in this regard. Andy was pretty much done with work and it we were preparing to move. So I had Andy to help 24/7.

We moved to Utah and literally my world came crashing down. Andy was at work and school 24/7, the physical aspect of moving 2 weeks post baby hit, and I had 2 kids who needed me all day long. I honestly felt like I was losing my mind. I was yelling at Lucas all day for not listening, I was frustrated that Jane wasn't falling into a schedule, and Lucas wasn't napping or going to bed at night. And all this was happening and Andy wasn't home at 3 to relieve me.

After about 2 weeks or so of this I had my "Ah-HA!" moment. It was a Wednesday and it is Andy's really long work day. I always dreaded Wednesdays because we don't see him all day. I woke and was bound and determined to make today a great day. I got ready and got the kids out the door by 10 to go to the park. We met up with some friends in our ward and Lucas ran free. When we got home it was time for lunch for both kids. I would typically hurry to get Lucas' lunch ready, then feed Jane while he was eating, then put Lucas down, then Jane. But that day I did things different.

Instead, I fed Jane first. Then once she was happy and content, I made both Lucas and I lunch and we ate together. At that time Jane was ready for a nap and so I put her down. Then Lucas and I read stories, sang songs, and I put him to bed. For the first time in 2+ weeks Lucas went down for a nap! That was when I had my first "Ah-HA" moment! Lucas just needed some one-on-one time with me. Before I would be dealing with a fussy baby so I didn't have time to read or sing with Lucas, which in turn was causing him to feel left out and not wanting to nap. Once I switched the routine, Lucas started napping.

After Lucas' nap it was dinner time (he slept for 4 hours... and has ever since!) so we packed up dinner and headed to Andy's work. We decided that on Wednesdays we would have a picnic dinner so we could at least see Andy. It was so great to see him, Lucas was in heaven... and we all needed that pick me up.

After dinner we went to the library and checked out some new books. By this time it was 7:00 and bedtime was approaching. I bathed the kids and we started our bedtime routine. I had been putting Lucas down between 7:30-8, not because he was tired, but because I was exhausted and I was ready for him to go to bed. Well no wonder bed time wasn't going well. So on this particular night I decided to let Lucas play in his room while I put baby to bed and cleaned the house. Around 8:45 I went in to the kids room, Lucas and I read our new books, sang a song, and within 15 minutes he was out. WHAT? Bedtime had been taking an hour plus for the weeks prior... and on this night he didn't even fight me.

Not to mention when I came out of his room, both kids were asleep and the house was completely clean. Cue, second "Ah-HA!" moment.

Needless to say, life since that Wednesday has been glorious. I have been so much happier. I feel like such a better mom because I am not yelling at Lucas, he listens to me and has stopped telling me, "NO!". He is happier because he is sleeping again. And Jane is now on a perfect schedule. Every night I put Jane to bed and Lucas and I play together until he is tired. We have so much fun together! Of course we miss Andy, but Lucas is my little buddy. Here is a collection of random pictures from the past few weeks of play time.