Sunday, July 20, 2008
Busy Summer
So this summer has been a pretty busy one for us. It started with not one but two trips out to Arizona (at least for me- one with the boys one without), trips to the zoo, trips to the library, swimming with friends, a trip to Miami, watching fireworks, and a trip to the train show. That not even mentioning work, keeping up with the house, Scout camps for Tj, and trying to keep up with two very active boys. I know it's so obvious but Joel and Vance are so distinctively different people. I love my boys. They both have their strong points and challenges. But they constantly keep me busy and often times entertained (if not a little crazy).
I love how they constantly surprise me. Lately everything has become a cape for Joel. I love that he is getting into the whole pretend stage. The other day he was running around holding a dish towel around his neck. Of course Vance wanted to play to. So a couple of hair clips and another dish towel later and they were super heroes.
Joel's latest obsession has been with trains. He LOVES trains. He has a couple of trains at our house and Nama's house. He loves watching the Thomas & Friend's series and reading the books. He has bathtub toy trains and if all else fails just about any toy can substitute as a train. We saw an add on the TV the other day for a train expo in Orlando. We knew we had to take Joel. He had a blast- even if he was feeling a little under the weather.
Vance is just trying to keep up with Joel. He's so determined. In some ways that is great. He refuses to crawl and LOVES to walk and run around with Joel. He also wants to eat whatever is on Joel's tray and play with whatever Joel is playing with. It becomes quite the challenge keeping him occupied with more age appropriate food, toys, etc.
I am so fortunate that they are such good boys. Joel is so good at sharing- including with Vance and me. Vance just loves Joel and wants to be with him. They play together so well. I love watching them and playing with them. I know I was a little hesitant when I first found out we were expecting Vance. But I am so grateful that he's part of our family. Even on the days where I feel like I may just go crazy and I want to lock myself in my shower (the only place the boys haven't figured out how to get into) I feel so blessed to be a mom and wife. No matter where our family ends up or what the circumstances are once we're there we're a family and we'll be together. That is such a happy thought.
Arizona Trip
So I haven't gotten to post about our trip back in May. It was such a fun time. The kids all had a great time either playing together or driving each other crazy.
We traveled most of the day on Tuesday with the help of some very kind Samaritans who helped get us through the airports. We got in very late and spent the night at Brody and Sandy's house.
Wednesday we hung out with Sandy and Emma. We went to a play date at the park. The kids all had a pretty good time. Later we picked up Matthew from school and met Brody for dinner. Once the kids were put down to bed Sandy and I stayed up way to late chatting.
Thursday was quite the adventure. We picked up Aunty Ra Ra (RiKenna) from the airport and met Grandma Mony. Then we all headed down to Safford. After quickly catching up with Aunty Jay Jay (Jaron). We ate dinner and then headed to Jay Jay's graduation. Considering the late night the boys did fairly well at the graduation but were ready to go to bed as soon as it was over. So unfortunately I had to race home and put them to bed.
Friday was another traveling day. We headed back to Phoenix. We went straight to the Mesa Temple to go through with Brody and Sandy for the first time. Ra Ra and Jay Jay took care of the kids for us. It was great to be there with Brody and Sandy- not to mention all of my cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Then it was off to a buffet for dinner with lots of our family. It was such a good time. Joel LOVED it! He got to eat macaroni and cheese, ice cream and more ice cream. Then we went to the hotel and swam.
Saturday we got up and headed back to the Mesa temple for Brody and Sandy's sealing. Again we got to see lots of cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Angela was there and I got to spend some time with her. We had some good times. Again more ice cream for Joel. He loves spending time with family that is very liberal with the ice cream. lol Then we said good-bye to Grandma Mony, Pa Pa, Jay Jay and Ra Ra and went home with Brody and Sandy.
Sunday we went to church with Brody and Sandy. Then we headed over to my cousin Kim's house for dinner. It was great fun. My Aunt Sheri and Uncle Brent were there and all their children except my cousin Matthew. Even my cousin Jason was there with his daughter. We ate biscuits with chocolate gravy (sounds strange but is actually quite tasty) as well as sausage gravy (but NOT together). The kids played and we all caught up. It was a fun night.
The rest of the week ran together in a blur. There was more swimming and barbecue at Cousin Kim's house. Playing in the sprinklers at Brody and Sandy's. A trip to the Urgent Care for Joel (tonsillitis). And lots of playing with Emma and Matthew. Joel and Emma were either best friends getting into "trouble" together or arch-enemies. They did have a good time though. Emma was such a good little cousin to Vance. She was just so sweet with him. When we drove around with him next to her she would hold his little hand. It was really cute. Matthew was of course a great cousin too. One night Joel was having a hard time going to sleep. So Matthew went in and read to him. It was so nice of him. He's such a great kid and SO smart too.
We were sad to leave. We had so much fun spending time with Sandy and Brody and their family and of course were sad that we didn't get to spend nearly enough time with Grandma Mony and Papa and Jay Jay and Ra Ra and everyone else. But we did appreciate the time we did get to spend with everyone. We love our family!
We traveled most of the day on Tuesday with the help of some very kind Samaritans who helped get us through the airports. We got in very late and spent the night at Brody and Sandy's house.
Wednesday we hung out with Sandy and Emma. We went to a play date at the park. The kids all had a pretty good time. Later we picked up Matthew from school and met Brody for dinner. Once the kids were put down to bed Sandy and I stayed up way to late chatting.
Thursday was quite the adventure. We picked up Aunty Ra Ra (RiKenna) from the airport and met Grandma Mony. Then we all headed down to Safford. After quickly catching up with Aunty Jay Jay (Jaron). We ate dinner and then headed to Jay Jay's graduation. Considering the late night the boys did fairly well at the graduation but were ready to go to bed as soon as it was over. So unfortunately I had to race home and put them to bed.
Friday was another traveling day. We headed back to Phoenix. We went straight to the Mesa Temple to go through with Brody and Sandy for the first time. Ra Ra and Jay Jay took care of the kids for us. It was great to be there with Brody and Sandy- not to mention all of my cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Then it was off to a buffet for dinner with lots of our family. It was such a good time. Joel LOVED it! He got to eat macaroni and cheese, ice cream and more ice cream. Then we went to the hotel and swam.
Saturday we got up and headed back to the Mesa temple for Brody and Sandy's sealing. Again we got to see lots of cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Angela was there and I got to spend some time with her. We had some good times. Again more ice cream for Joel. He loves spending time with family that is very liberal with the ice cream. lol Then we said good-bye to Grandma Mony, Pa Pa, Jay Jay and Ra Ra and went home with Brody and Sandy.
Sunday we went to church with Brody and Sandy. Then we headed over to my cousin Kim's house for dinner. It was great fun. My Aunt Sheri and Uncle Brent were there and all their children except my cousin Matthew. Even my cousin Jason was there with his daughter. We ate biscuits with chocolate gravy (sounds strange but is actually quite tasty) as well as sausage gravy (but NOT together). The kids played and we all caught up. It was a fun night.
The rest of the week ran together in a blur. There was more swimming and barbecue at Cousin Kim's house. Playing in the sprinklers at Brody and Sandy's. A trip to the Urgent Care for Joel (tonsillitis). And lots of playing with Emma and Matthew. Joel and Emma were either best friends getting into "trouble" together or arch-enemies. They did have a good time though. Emma was such a good little cousin to Vance. She was just so sweet with him. When we drove around with him next to her she would hold his little hand. It was really cute. Matthew was of course a great cousin too. One night Joel was having a hard time going to sleep. So Matthew went in and read to him. It was so nice of him. He's such a great kid and SO smart too.
We were sad to leave. We had so much fun spending time with Sandy and Brody and their family and of course were sad that we didn't get to spend nearly enough time with Grandma Mony and Papa and Jay Jay and Ra Ra and everyone else. But we did appreciate the time we did get to spend with everyone. We love our family!
Monday, July 07, 2008
Quick Update!
So I've been really bad about posting. But here's a quick update about the boys and some pictures. We've gotten to take several trips as a family. We took the boys to the local Zoo and they had a good time. Then we went down to Miami so Tee could renew his passport and we could enjoy some family time. Then we took the boys to the city firework display. It was such a good time. Vance LOVED the fireworks- light and sounds. Joel wasn't so enthusiastic- he was intrigued by the lights but DID NOT like the noise. The next day Pa took everyone to see Wall-E. Vance was a little young Joel LOVED the movie. He kept saying- "One Mo". Anyhow, I guess things are slowing down for us- well relatively speaking.
Joel: Joel is officially a two-year-old. For better or worse. He never fails to make us laugh. He loves music and singing. His newest favorite songs include: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (aka Beam!), The Alphabet Songs (aka ABCs), Daddy's Homecoming, oh and did I mention ABCs?! He also LOVES watching "So You Think You Can Dance", "Backyardagains" and "Thomas & Friends" and "Pinky Dinky Doo". He is always coming up with the funniest things. He is the little boss. He will watch what Vance is doing and then tell him, "No, No, Bance. No No" even if Vance is only playing with a toy Joel wants. He also is continually picking up new words and trying new words. It's late so I'm having a hard time remembering everything I wanted to write. So that's it.
Vance: Vance is growing up SO fast. Our biggest announcement with Vance is that he is walking. Yes, at 9 1/2 months he started walking and has never looked back. He also has 4 teeth and is working on a fifth. He has found his voice and loves to practice raising it. That whole cause and effect thing is hilarious to him. He loves feeding himself and is a huge fan of Puffs and Cheerios. He also loves to clap, wave and blow kisses. He is SO sweet. He is still our little cuddler and sweetie. He has no fear and loves to do whatever Joel is doing.
Joel: Joel is officially a two-year-old. For better or worse. He never fails to make us laugh. He loves music and singing. His newest favorite songs include: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (aka Beam!), The Alphabet Songs (aka ABCs), Daddy's Homecoming, oh and did I mention ABCs?! He also LOVES watching "So You Think You Can Dance", "Backyardagains" and "Thomas & Friends" and "Pinky Dinky Doo". He is always coming up with the funniest things. He is the little boss. He will watch what Vance is doing and then tell him, "No, No, Bance. No No" even if Vance is only playing with a toy Joel wants. He also is continually picking up new words and trying new words. It's late so I'm having a hard time remembering everything I wanted to write. So that's it.
Vance: Vance is growing up SO fast. Our biggest announcement with Vance is that he is walking. Yes, at 9 1/2 months he started walking and has never looked back. He also has 4 teeth and is working on a fifth. He has found his voice and loves to practice raising it. That whole cause and effect thing is hilarious to him. He loves feeding himself and is a huge fan of Puffs and Cheerios. He also loves to clap, wave and blow kisses. He is SO sweet. He is still our little cuddler and sweetie. He has no fear and loves to do whatever Joel is doing.
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