I'm convinced there is no sweeter sound than 2 brothers in the backseat giggling at eachother.

We got home last night. Lots and lots and lots of pictures to come...

Caden was in an especially good mood tonight when we said his prayers.

B: "We are thankful for our many blessings."

C: "NO!"

B: "We are thankful for our family."

C: "Nope."

B: "We are grateful for the gospel."

C: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Awh, Happy Birthday sweet, sweet, two year old.

Are you Kidding me?!?

We are all sitting at dinner and Caden says, "Done. I done." I tell him we will finish our food and then get him down. He waits for a few seconds and then says it again, "Done. I done." I repeat what I said earlier. He waits a little longer, then throws his arms in the air and says, in a tone all too familiar, "Are you kiddin' me?!?" I was laughing too hard to answer.

Invision it. I'm walking down the stairs balancing Parker, a blanket, & a bottle on one side and on the other, holding Caden's hand as he JUMPS down the stairs. Barely holding it all together, Parker pukes down the front of me, e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Caden looks up, "Yuck, mommy," then continues to jump down the stairs dragging me with him. Thanks buddy. Always so helpful.

I'll leave you with that for a week. I'm off to Monterey for some sun and sand between the toes time while the husband gets scuba certified. (Let's be honest--it's more like chase Caden out of the ocean waves so he doesn't die, stop him from eating too much sand, apply 30 layers of sunscreen time. It's sure to be a good time either way.)

Happy Mothers Day.

I have always thought of my mom as my best friend (and twin), but it wasn't until I became a mother myself that I more fully understood and loved her for all she did for me. She has always been my example of selflessness in motherhood, eternal patience, and loving each child unconditionally. I love her for the hours she spent helping me organize stuffed animals on my bed to protect me from the monsters, for taking me to dance lessons every day of the week, for letting me go to mutual with her before I was even old enough, for not only cheering me on in school, but also being a vital part of my success, for driving me the 24 hours to Utah so I could start BYU, for always just being a phone call away, and for making me a better mother. For these things, and so many more I love her!When I got married I was blessed with another wonderful mother and example in my life. Obviously I think Jolene is a fantastic mother because I love the man she raised and am eternally grateful to her for him!! She is an example to me of many things but some that really stick out are teaching in the moment, keeping persepective, & having a life centered in your family. I love to laugh with her and am so grateful she is my mother-in-law and a grandmother to my children.
This is one of my favorite journal entries on being a mother:
Whenever things get hard around me I try to focus on the blessings in my life, on the many, many things that I have to be thankful for. Everyday, always, I am grateful to be a mother. I love my little boys more than my words have power to say. I found out that an old friend lost his little boy just weeks after he was born. My heart aches, in the deepest way, for him and his wife. Tonight I had to spend extra time just squeezing my boys and feeling grateful for every second I am blessed with to be their mother. I spent an extra long time just smiling with Parker. He gets so excited that he shakes from smiling so hard. It's adorable. It's my Parker. Bryan was at scuba class so Caden and I stayed up extra late watching Imagination Movers and eating colored goldfish. As soon as his show ended he yelled, "Again, please, now!" When I finally made him head to bed I laid next to him giving him ticklies, just like my mom used to do for me every night. (My mom was a saint, she spent so much time with us each night singing, tickling, and delivering drinks of water.) I'd tickle his face. When I'd stop he'd say, "arm," and hold it out for me to tickle. "Again, again." I think the ticklies were a big hit. I adore my boys. I cherish the simple moments with them. I thank my Father in Heaven for each of those simple moments we are blessed to share, and pray that there will be a life time full of them.
And lastly, Happy Mother's Day to all my incredible friends who are mothers. I am grateful for your example and encouragement as we go through similar experiences together. xoxo.

Visits.

This last week we have had the pleasure of spending lots of time with friends and family. With graduation it has really hit me how much I have taken for granted having my incredible extended family so close by.
I can say without hesitation that I have one of the most amazing extended families EVER! We get together, laugh til our sides hurt, and smile til our cheeks ache. We reminese and genuinely miss our cousins that aren't with us. We support eachother though the good and the bad. We celebrate eachothers accomplishments, and cheer eachother on though the different stages of life we are each in. I love these folks, and am so lucky to call them my family.
{This was us celebrating Cinco de Mayo with the best steak tacos I've ever tasted!}

This week we also got a visit from Erin & Liam. Bryan's college roommate, Matt, married the cutest girl ever, Erin, who is now one of my dearest friends. We've been so lucky to spend time with them each time they come to Utah to visit.

Liam & Parker. Caden & Ella

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -Elizabeth Foley

These two played by eachothers side for hours--doing seperate things. That's true friendship.

Smiles: not gonna happen.

Buh-Bye Jungle.

Hello Backyard!
Bry and he loyal assistant, Megan, worked all of last week to take out the existing jungle and replace it with beautiful green grass and a sprinkler system!! They toiled in rain & snow. I'm convinced this man can do just about anything. Caden's reaction: "WOOOOW daddy!"

Now are just waiting to see if we'll be around to use it...