Utah Trip (Take 1)

This summer has been one for fun and vacationing. We were able to take a few days in July to go up and visit with the Johnson/Gurr families in the Salt Lake valley. This little trip could not have come at a better time, as we were all exhausted from moving just a few weeks prior. We stayed a few days with Aunt Lori and her family in Orem. While we were there, my girls were inseparable from her cute little Abbey. We took a day to go swimming at the Linden aquatics center, and another day to go to the Children's Museum in Salt Lake. The last night before we came home, we drove down into the canyon to stay at the Mutual Dell. It was absolutely beautiful! The girls played hard with Wyatt, Cade, and Mason. They enjoyed a taste of freedom, running and exploring everywhere. We thoroughly enjoyed being able to chat with family, and reconnect with many we haven't seen in years.

Easter 2011

This year's Easter was the best one to date. Not only was Rae old enough to understand the Easter Bunny, but she was also old enough to listen to and care about the atonement. She loves listening to stories of Christ, and she really enjoyed the Easter pageant this year. Even though we were in a terrible spot, and could only see if we stood up, she watched most of it, and was even able to tell parts of it to her Sunbeams teacher the next day. I hope for better behavior from Laynee at the pageant next year...

This was the first year that both girls hunted eggs, and they did so good! The Easter bunny put an R on all of Rae's eggs. When they found eggs that belonged to the other one, rather than leave it where they found it, they would pick it up and take it to their sister...and then celebrate it's finding together. It was so cute.

San Diego Zoo

We decided to take a long weekend a few weeks ago and go to San Diego to use our zoo membership one more time before it gets hot there too. It was the best decision ever! The girls were AMAZING the whole drive there and back. Santa brought them a dual screen DVD player for the car for Christmas, and they were so happy to just watch movies the whole six hours there. We stayed in a hotel in La Mesa about 10 minutes from the zoo and were put in room 111. The whole time we were there, and still at least once a day, Rae talks about the One's and how badly she wants to go back. As we would walk down the hall she would say "one one four, one one three, one one two, and here's ours, the ones!" It was seriously so cute!

The next morning we woke up and went to the zoo. We started off by riding the train tour around the whole zoo because we knew there was no way we could ever see everything without it. Our first mistake was sitting on the bottom level of the bus. Rae really wanted to ride on top,and she was a stinker for almost the rest of the day. She whined and refused to look at ANY of the animals, but she stayed in the stroller so we pretty much ignored her. Laynee wasn't about to let a cranky sister ruin the zoo for her. She got more and more excited with every animal she saw. She was so happy, and totally in her element. She has always loved any animal, and it was cute to see her try to say all the new animal names. When we were worn out, we rode the Skyfari back to the front of the zoo to leave. Both girls LOVED it. For the first time since we got to the zoo Rae was smiling and laughing, and Laynee just tried to hang over the edge screaming "whoa" at the top of her lungs. Neither one wanted to leave when Jeff and I were ready, but both were sound asleep in the stroller before we even got to the car.

The next day we got up and went back to the zoo for a few hours. We started off riding the Skyfari back to the back. We saw a few exhibits, rode the Skyfari back to the front, looked at the snake exhibits, and decided to head home. We were so happy to be able to take our first vacation without extended family. It was nice to not worry about toddler tantrums slowing everyone down. It was so nice to be able to take things at our own pace and just enjoy being together. It was so nice even, that Jeff and I were able to laugh through most of those toddler tantrums. I can't wait to go back in October!

Not what it should be...

******DISCLAIMER: LONG JOURNAL POST WITHOUT PICTURES*******

I can't believe it has been four months since I posted. So much has happened since Halloween. Thanksgiving was here at our house, but it was just my mom's family so that was no big deal. Even with all my siblings and their kids, my aunt's family, and my parents and grandma, we still had nowhere near the number of people we have for Jeff's family's Sunday night dinners that we host monthly. My MIL is a SAINT for doing it weekly, because it really is alot of work.

Christmas was SO BUSY! Between parties and sickness we were busy what seemed like every night in December. Luckily, we were all healthy on Christmas. Within about two days we all had the "true flu" though, which WAS NOT how we had planned to spend Jeff's week off work (although it was kinda nice to have him home to help with kids while we were all so sick).

I was really hoping that things would slow down with the holidays behind us, but that has not been the case. It seems like there is always something to prep for, or some family function to attend. As much as I LOVE to be busy, I am ready for a vacation from busy. We gave up Rae's naptime a few months ago, so she is my constant companion and shadow. She was having a hard time going to sleep at night, and no nap has definitely remedied that problem. I am just grateful Laynee still takes a good nap. She has had such anxiety the last few months when I am not an arms length away, that I REALLY relish my moments that she isn't in my arms or screaming to be in my arms. With kids constantly in my grill, it takes me longer to do anything. Cooking, cleaning, but especially blogging are often overwhelming when I decide to try to play catch up. (I only write this now, because I broke to broom trying to kill a bee Rae let in the house. It really dampened my resolve to mop tonight since I can't finish sweeping.) If for some reason you have read this far, look for updates on each of my kiddos in the next week. They are growing up too fast, and I am afraid I am going to forget how fun they can be at this age!

Halloween 2010

The year of Tinkerbell. My little green fairies were by far the cutest I have ever seen, and I am most surely NOT biased! This was our first year really getting candy. Last year we didn't think Rae was old enough so we only went to a few trunks. This year we went to two trunk-or-treats and came home with the motherload of candy. Unfortunately for the girls, most of it was taken to give out to our cub scouts and most of the rest of it will be used to bribe Rae to sit on the potty (and maybe someday she will actually WANT to). All in all, a fantastic Halloween full of good food, great company, and really cute kids!

Children's Museum of Phoenix

Turned out to be So.Much.Fun! I am so glad I decided we would give it a try even though our Culture Pass couldn't get us all in free!

Out of the mouth of Rae

The other night, Jeff and I were laying in bed talking to Rae before we put her to sleep. We were talking about hair. I was asking Rae what color everyone's hair is, naming people one by one. That turned into "Does baby CJ have hair?" and "Does Laynee have hair?". Jeff then asked her, "Does Daddy have hair?". Without hesitation, she replied, "yeah, but just a little bit." She meant that Jeff has short hair, but we were both incapable of stifling our laughter!