Navuoo and Carthage

This past weekend my brother and his family came to visit and we went to Nauvoo and Carthage with them. Nauvoo is only an hour and a half from our house, so we figure we better take advantage of it while we still live so close.

The temple was closed while we were there, so that was a bummer, but it is still so amazing to see. They are cleaning and getting ready for the summer rush that is just around the corner.

Russ took this picture while we were on the wagon ride - a beautiful sight!


Carthage is one of my favorite places and has such an amazing spirit there. It testifies to me of Joseph Smith and the life that he lived and the sacrifices he made for the restoration for the gospel.

In front of the statue of Joseph and Hyrum -- I love their brotherhood


A bullet hole from the mob in the door is still there


We were able to see some of our family friends that are in Nauvoo on their mission. They were in a play called "Rendezvous" which we really enjoyed. It was fun to visit with them after and see how much they are enjoying their time there. Garrett was fascinated with the songs - they kept his attention, which is really saying something!!




It was so fun to be with family on this little trip. We are both moving separate directions the summer, so this is the closest we will probably ever live from each other. Our kids are the same ages, so it's lost of fun to have cousins around.

Cole, Garrett, and Sarah making a rope (with a little help from Russ!)


Munching on popcorn at the hotel after their swim in the pool -- doesn't swimming make you have the munchies?!

Mommy Time Out!

This past week was Spring Break. Russ was in Utah exploring practice opportunities and I was here with the boys. My friend Katie and I decided to take our boys (she has three and I have two) to Chicago to see Shedd Aquarium and the Science Museum. The places were fantastic, but my four year-old wasn't!! I have never seen Cole so defiant. He wouldn't even look at me, so listening was out of the question. He wouldn't walk by me, do what I asked him to do, or listen to a word I said. I was so frustrated that I started crying at the aquarium. The next day he was a little better, but he still was not listening like he should. I kept thinking to myself, "This is now what I signed up for!" and hoping it wasn't a foreshadowing of how Cole will be as a teenager. It was a rough couple of days. Then, the next day I took the boys to visit their cousins in Minnesota for two days. We went to a fun park and to a fun toy store with a carousel and unique toys. We were having a great time, but the second day Cole decided to bite his cousin in the back to see how he would react. It was the last straw -- I put the boys in the car and went home right then. Russ got home late that night. I was so glad to have him home and to have a little help. We have put the boys on "Boot Camp" and hoping that their behavior will improve.

Friday I had a day to myself. It was fantastic and much needed after the week I had had. I got my hair done, followed by lunch by myself and a good book (Eclipse) and I didn't even have to worry about cutting food or spills. It was lovely! Then I got a pedicure, got stuff for Easter baskets, bought new running shoes, and went to the scrapbook store. I seriously loved every minute of it and didn't miss the boys once! Not that I didn't think about them, but I needed a break!! I'm so thankful for Russ for taking care of the boys, cleaning up the house and even fixing the table while I was gone. I think having a little time to myself is something I will have to do more often, not just when it's associated with my mental breakdown!!

At the aquarium -- checking out the amazing creatures!


Pretending to be penguins and playing (this is where my crying began after Cole was so rude to me and Garrett ran off and I couldn't find him)


Mirror maze -- the boys loved it!


This is how the whole trip was -- me yelling and chasing the boys while they aren't listening - looks fun, huh!


With the cousins at the toy store (it had llamas too!)

Happy 9th Anniversary, Russ

Nine years -- I can't believe it's been that long, and yet I can't remember my life without Russ. I never thought that our life together would take us to Virginia, then to Iowa, and who know where next, but I'm so glad that we were able to experience all of those things together.

Russ is such an amazing husband and takes such good care of me. He puts up with my moodiness (which is saying a lot!), lifts me up when I am down, gives me confidence when I don't have any, loves my silliness and imperfections, doesn't think my fetishes are all that crazy anymore, is the best father to our two little boys, works so hard to provide for our family and to secure a good future for us. I love that he is a dreamer and dreams big. I love his hands and how they work hard and hold me softly. I love the sparkle in his blue eyes when he's excited. I love his passion for fishing and hunting and being in the mountains. I love the way he fits perfectly with my family and loves them like his own. I love to see him with our boys - laughing, playing, wrestling, hugging, loving.

I look forward to many, many more years with you, Russ. I'm excited for the next chapter of our lives and the adventures that awaits us. Happy Anniversary! I LOVE YOU!

Cole turns 4!

Cole had a pirate birthday -- Aaarrgghh Matey! Cole's two little friends, Hunter and Cael, came for the fun. We had pizza for dinner with pirate drinks (shark's blood and pirate's ale). After dinner the boys decorated telescopes to help them on their treasure hunt. The boys loved the treasure hunt and ran from clue to clue until they found the treasure -- a bag of gold goodies, a sword, eye patch, skull and cross bones necklace, and a ring pop. The evening wrapped up with cake and ice cream and more of the boys playing. It was a lot of sugar filled fun!!

Cole is such a fun little (or not so little) guy. He has a great imagination (you should hear the way he talks to his trains!), he loves preschool and his "preschool friends", he is reading the "I Am Sam" series and surprises me with new words he knows every day (he is great at sounding them out!), he can hear a candy wrapper being opened if it is within an ear shot and will exclaim "What have you got there?" and ask to have some, he is fascinated with money and putting it in his football bank, he sleeps with as many stuffed animnals that he can fit on his bed which usually means he has a tiny sliver of bed to sleep on, he loves to tease Garrett and know how to push his buttons (and mom and dad's for that matter!), he loves to cuddle and have "mommy and daddy time". He is such a great son and we are so happy to have him as our oldest. We love you, Cole!!

Our little pirate family


Blowing out the candles (he left one for his friend Hunter to blow out -- too sweet!)


The treasure...


And James... what would Cole's birthday be without a Thomas Train? He told us his favorite present was James -- I could've saved a lot of money and worry if I'd known that!!

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

I can't believe Garrett is already two! I catch myself calling him my "baby", but when I look at him I can't deny the fact that he is growing up. He is talking like crazy, singing songs all day (humming the words he doesn't know, emphasizing the ones he does), and teasing Cole whenever he gets a chance.

Here are a few fun facts about Garrett: he loves the nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle Diddle"; his favorite books are Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Alphabet Rescue; he knows all of his letters (capital and lower case) and can recognize numbers 1-10; he loves to stick out his tongue (which is embarrassing when he looks at a stranger and instead of saying hello sticks out his tongue!); he loves going to the children's museum and exclaims, "Balls at the museum! I want to go!"; he loves pushing buttons -- any where, any time and usually pushes things he shouldn't be touching; he loves his chocolate milk (instant breakfast) and raisins (but doesn't eat much else!); he loves reading books and will sit and listen as long as I will read; he is full of life and spunk and keeps us laughing!

Garrett's birthday was pretty low key. He opened gifts from his grandparents in the morning, played at the children's museum in the afternoon, opened presents from us before dinner, had pizza for dinner, and finished it off with "snake cake" and ice cream. We are so lucky to have Garrett in our family and look forward to many, many more years with our special little guy! We love you, Gary-Beary!!

Opening his present from Grandpa and Grandma Jake (thanks for the outfit and book!)


Sitting in the blanket that Grandma Guymon made, holding the Great Outdoors DVD she sent, while talking to her on the phone!


The "Snake Cake" - Garrett was so excited about it and loved blowing out the candles (we had to light them twice it was so much fun!!)

Water Weekend

One thing that our family wanted to do before we moved was to visit Wisconsin Dells and swim in the indoor water park. We went with my brother's family and stayed at the Kalahari Resort. We shared a hotel room, which was fun for the kids to play together. Russ got the 24 hour flu bug, so he spent a lot of time in the hotel room (and bathroom!). The kids slept great to my surprise -- I was worried about getting four little ones to sleep at the same time. I think we wore the kids out in the water, so they were ready for their beds (plus it was at least 10:30 PM when we got them to bed, so being tired and worn out helped a lot!).

The indoor resort was amazing! There were several play areas for the kids, including small water slides that Cole absolutely loved, and small slides that were perfect for Garrett. Cole is like a fish in water and can't get enough, while Garrett is a little more hesitant and doesn't like water spraying on him. The first night we went down the "Lazy River" on tubes (a small water way that moves along with a man-made current and you sit in tubes) - Cole was splashing and loving it, while Garrett sat on my lap, covered his eyes, and cried! Garrett did warm up to the water because the second day we went down the Lazy River and I heard him singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Because Russ was so sick, I was with the boys by myself most of the time, so I didn't get a chance to go down any of the big water slides. Russ' stomach didn't feel up to being tossed around on a water slide, so he didn't go either.

There was also a small indoor amusement park that we went to with a Ferris wheel, carousel, play area, miniature golf, go-carts, and other games. We spent a little time there and had fun, but enjoyed the pools so much more.

It was a great weekend and I'm so glad we went. It was a great break from the cold -- we almost felt like we were on the beach!

Cole zipping down the water slide (with a huge smile!)


Garrett sliding down the elephant and feeling so big!


Mom and Garrett on the go-carts -- he was mesmerized by them!


Garrett and cousin Sarah sitting together on a go-cart


The cousins getting ready for bed

They've Got It All!!

Since it is so freezing cold that even playing in the snow seems ridiculous, we decided to do what any Mid-Westerner would do -- head North and visit Mall of America! We even convinced my brother and his family to come along (it was my brother that took the convincing -- he isn't much for crowds, but he came along anyway). It happened to be the Saturday before a holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), so it was especially packed, but well worth it!

I have never seen so many stores in one place in all my life! Though I didn't really get to shop (I only walked onto the Children's Place - exciting, huh!), I was still amazed by the sheer number of stores and size of the mall. The middle of the mall was filled with amusement rides, which is where we spent most of our time. The kids had a ball on the rides, even though they were a little tired at the end. Just before leaving my sister-in-law, niece and I took a stroll through The American Girls store. It was so fun -- pink and dolls everywhere, a parlor for the dolls to get their hair done, a restaurant upstairs with seats for the dolls, every doll accessory you can imagine. I was in heaven, reminiscing about when I was a girl. Hopefully I will have a daughter some day and get to take her.

Cole, Garrett, and I riding a "Big Rig" -- the perfect ride for Garrett!


Cole and I on a hot air balloon ride (with cousin Ross and Aunt Jan)


Cole and Russ on a train roller coaster -- yes, this is an action shot so it's blurry!


Russ, Cole and Garrett rode this bus that went up and down, up and down. Cole was thrilled and laughing, while Garrett was screaming and crying to get off. It's so fun to have such different boys!!


I am hoping to return to Mall of America some day with a big allowance and group of girls so we can do some SERIOUS shopping. Any takers?