confessions

First a few confessions:

1. I do not like school breaks.  I dread them.  I find myself counting down the days until they are over before they even start.  Call me a bad mom but it gets a little overwhelming trying to entertain 2 very energetic boys with no school distractions.

2. I love, love, love waking up in Las Vegas in the spring.  Windows open, breeze blowing, birds chirping.  It is the perfect way to start the day.

3.  If I could wake up and snuggle with my husband and babies in the morning, every morning, I would be one very happy mom.  It just brings joy to my heart.

So this morning I wake up to a little person saying "mom.... mom.... moooooom."  I groggily come out from under my blankets expecting to settle yet another spring break disagreement.  But to my surprise I see a beaming Beckam holding a plate overflowing with eggs and toast and hear an excited Cade on the other side of the bed doing the same for Jared. 

Those little men woke up, cracked, scrambled and plated 18 {yes 18} eggs for us and made multiple pieces of toast.  Cade was proud that he had made all the eggs and Beckam was proud that he had handed Cade all of the eggs.  Love it.

When I asked them why they decided to make us breakfast Cade replied, "just because of all the nice things you do for us."  ::sigh:: melt my heart.

After we had choked down eaten all of our eggs {while the boys jumped back and forth over the bed and Capri squawked until she had just as many bites as I did.}  I headed down to view the damage.  Not bad considering a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old had made breakfast but it did take a good amount of time to scrub yolk off of... everything.

So back to my confessions.  

1. Those little turkeys proved me wrong.  School breaks are not half bad... except for the cleaning up part.

2.  Windows open, breeze blowing and birds chirping is even better when accompanied by kids.

3.  Snuggling with the family is even better when accompanied with eggs.

Still smiling.

Dance Party

 Last week I decided that our family was in some desperate need of some good 'ole fashioned f.u.n.

I had no idea what to do and not many resources to pull from so I decided that a dance party was in order.

The boys were not to thrilled to hear that we were going to be dancing but once the word party was introduced they were totally on board.

Beckam insisted that we had cupcakes for the party so we spent the afternoon working on some rather unsuccessful cupcakes that needed to be eaten with a spoon... but he was happy.

Cade is now convinced that he is the best dancer in the family {and reminds us of it every day} and Becks is convinced that he is the best DJ ever... and he kinda is.

We had a blast with the music up loud, kids dancing crazy and laughing our guts out.

Gotta love Monday night dance parties.

Truth

Jump for joy...

Christmas is here.

How lucky

That I get to call these 2 little men mine!

They make my life crazy.

They make my life loud.

They make my life happy.

They make my life.

They are learning {in small steps} to really enjoy each other.  They are definitely brothers and like to "love" each other like brothers {punching, kicking, bugging} but they are really starting to have fun together.

There is nothing like watching your children learn to love each other.

Brotherhood: defined

I love my little men and they love each other... most of the time.

It has been interesting to watch their relationship grow and develop.  To watch them try to figure out where each others buttons are and how to push them just enough without getting into trouble.  But in the same breath, be the one they turn to when they do.  

When I lay in bed at night and think of them I picture them as they are above. 

Holding hands.

Looking to each other for guidance.

Laughing together.

However, when I wake up and am actually in the throws of life with them this is how it R.E.A.L.L.Y is...

I will take it.

It is real.

And it makes me giggle.

So there you have it... 

Brotherhood in real life.

One Lazy Saturday Morning

One of my very favorite things as a mom is snuggling in bed with all my boys. Very rarely do we all actually end up there at the same time, especially since Jared started coaching football at the high school. However, this one lazy Saturday morning was just what my soul needed.

Lots of jumping and acting silly...

... lots of laughing...

... and lots of my family.

It is amazing how the small simple pleasures in life are the things that embed themselves so deeply in our soul that it gives us that extra umph to keep trudging through the not so simple things in life.

There is lots to share. More birthdays, an ever expanding belly, lots of traveling in different directions, new school, new routines, more work, more, more, more. But for now my little guys in their skivvies will have to suffice.... And lets be honest, that is a lot more fun than stories about "mom duties."

Down... set... hike.

A few months ago the boys pulled out Jareds old football jerseys.

They loved them.

They ran, they threw, they caught, they tackled, they thought they were hot stuff.

Jared was loving every minute of having his boys wear his gear... and think that their dad played for the "orange BYU cougars."

I decided that it was as good as time as any to head out with my camera and capture them walking running in their daddys footsteps.

I love that they both have such different personalities. Such different ways of approaching life.

Beckam is cool, calm, collected. If something bothers him he can brush it off until it really gets to him, he will have a major blow up for a minute, and then is done and moves on.

He loves to observe life. Take it all in. Soak it all up and then act.

Cade on the other hand runs into life head first, doesn't think, just goes.

Sometimes it works.

Sometimes it doesn't.

But there is never any shortage of entertainment and excitement in his life.

He is all competition. Working hard to do better than the last time. Taking life by the horns and living every single moment to its fullest.

Needless to say we are VERY excited to meet this little girl and learn more about who she is.

She is already a wiggler... especially at night... all night.

She loves to sit as low as she can possibly get. I am hoping it will maybe make getting her here a little faster :)

And she is already loved, adored, and cherished by her crazy older brothers.

26 weeks and counting. Can't wait!

Update

It has been a crazy couple of days months around here. I feel like I have spent a ridiculous amount of time on the computer and yet have done nothing with my blog. You can check out my photography blog to catch a glimpse of what I have been able to work with... I know. don't be too jealous.

So here is a quick recap of what is happening over here in our neck of the woods.

Cade

Cade has been doing well and keeping busy. He has already spent many hours in the pool and is really excited to start swim lessons on Monday. He is convinced that he will be teaching the class but none the less is excited to spend more time in the pool. He has recently decided that he is a "model." Every time my camera comes out, which is rare these days for my own family, he will bust out his GQ face and give me all sorts of poses. It is hilarious. So needless to say, the only way I can get a real smile out of him is to mention something about boogers... gotta love little boys! So predictable.

Cade also just graduated from preschool. I cannot believe that he is growing up so fast. He was not a fan of letters but LOVES numbers. He is now starting to realize that letters actually make words and so is warming up to the idea of actually learning and remembering all his letters. It makes me laugh to hear the things that he comes up with for me to tell him how to spell.

September '09 May '10

Beckam

Beckam is doing wonderful and still as sweet as ever. He truly makes my heart happy. He will always hold my hand and loves to give hugs and kisses to everyone. One of his true loves is food. He loves to have snacks and take them around in a plastic bag along with his sippy cup. He is quickly nearing his 2nd birthday and I cannot believe that he is not a baby any more. He still doesn't use many words but is oddly one the best communicators and listeners I have ever met.

He has recently discovered how to pack things around. His 2 favorite ways to haul his "trinkets" are either his dump truck that he will push all over the place or his pockets. He gets so disappointed in the morning time when he has jammies on because there are no pockets for his toys.

The other day when I did all of our laundry I came up with 3 cars, 2 army guys, 1 bakugan, a mini water gun and a binki out of his pockets. He loves his pockets and it always makes me smile.

Baby #3

Baby #3 is on its way and making me bigger than ever.... the things we do for these little ones! I am currently 16 weeks and the baby is the size of an avocado. So far this pregnancy has been the easiest of all... don't know if that is good or if it means that I am in for a child to make up for the ease but either way I feel blessed to feel good. We find out on the 27th of June what this little "avocado" is. Jared and I are both betting boy but I thought the other 2 would be girls... so much for my "mothers intuition."

Jared

(yes the picture is blurry... another one of cades discovered "talents" is a photographer. He is a little shaky but I love the picture and he is a crack up to listen to "direct" photos.)

This handsome young man turned 31 in May.... wow! We had a small birthday celebration for him and the boys truly enjoyed shouting "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" to him every chance they got. We also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary in May. Jared surprised me by taking me to the JW Marriot for the night and treating me to a night out on the town. He is such a good husband. He has been busier than ever and we couldn't be any more proud of him. We are all looking forward to the evenings we will get to spend with him at the pool now that it is light and hot when he gets home from work.

Lacey

(Once again, Cades photo. He directed me to be a ninja... here are my punches. He was happy and it made me laugh.)

I am doing well. I have spent a great deal of time with my camera and some amazing families, lots of fun. I have also spent a lot of my mental energy on trying to figure out, "what's next." We have sold our condo and have been trying to find a house to rent for a while. I thought that it would be so easy to just pick something... I was wrong. I know we will find something but in the mean time I feel like I am touring all the homes and neighborhoods of Henderson.

I have also been stressing over what to do with Cade next year. Although I am SO ready for him to start kindergarten we both know that he isn't quite ready yet. So that leads me to solving another dilemma... where to take him to preschool. Still don't know. Oh the decisions of a mother.

Now that summer, and 110 degrees, are upon us I have been trying to be creative and take the boys on adventures. We have recently gotten snow cones, (lots of them),

visited the pet store (Cade leaving in tears because a dog didnt leave with us)

and spent a great deal of time at the pool (hello sunscreen and chlorine).

We are all REALLY looking forward to our summer vacations and being able to spend time with our family!!

Happy Summer to everyone!

Leprechaun Day

A sneaky little Leprechaun visited our house this morning and left some surprises behind. The boys started the morning off with Green pancakes, Green eggs, Green milk, and "golden" banana coin slices. Beckam wasn't too sure what to do with the green eggs but they both pounded the milk all day because well... it was GREEN! They then headed off to a Green bubble bath because that silly little leprechaun "ran through the tub and made the water turn green."

The boys had a ball and were so excited about this days celebration that we decided to take Jared a green leprechaun snack. We arrived at the office with a green apple, green yogurt, green sobe drink and green junior mints.

The boys played outside all day long. It is finally so beautiful out doors and the boys have taken full advantage of the weather. They no longer play guns, football, lacrosse, light-savers, good guy/bad guy, baseball, and army inside.... they just haul it all outside.

After playing we were surprised with green frosted cupcakes from Jared.

Beckam preferred to lick the frosting and poke the cake...

Whereas Cade just inhaled the whole thing.

All in all we had a great St. Pattys day full of green surprises.

I have realized how much fun celebrating all the holidays can be with little ones around and I look forward to many more years of green pancakes and Leprechaun hunts.

Happy St Patrick's day!

Christmas in the Snow

I have been looking forward to Christmas for a LONG time.... I think that our whole family has. Cade loved pulling the rings off of his paper chart he made at school(even if that meant more than 1 ring a day was "accidently" ripped off), Beckam loved looking for Buddy the elf every morning, I couldnt wait to see my family, and Jared was looking forward to a much needed break from the craziness of life.

We loaded up the car...jam packed the car really... and headed out to Utah. We told my family we wouldn't be in until the wee hours of Christmas morning so I was brimming with excitement to surprise them early. We were all happy and smoothly sailing... until we hit Beaver... Dang Beaver.

Jared and I were just about to switch driving duties when I heard him mutter and pull over. I looked in the mirror and my heart sank... police lights. The police officer came to the passenger side of the car and started to lay into Jared. I was totally baffled that the officer was on such a power trip and neither of us had even said a word. We did as he asked, some nicer than others, and waited for him to come back. He found a few other issues to exhort his authority, handed over the paperwork and then started back to his car. I was SO irritated that he had been so mean and did everything in my power not to slap the guy. As we walked away I said, "Merry Christmas," and started to roll up the window. He then, TURNED BACK around and made Jared get out of the car to "talk about issues". I was livid. They spent 30 minutes outside, in 11 degree weather, Jared without a coat, so that the officer could continue his power trip. I may or may not have gotten out of the car and told him we was being ridiculous... Once the officer was done scolding Jared for saying that he was "a good mormon boy from provo" he (the officer) grabed some plastic badges out of the police car and brought them to the boys. Using a nice, friendly, I am the good guy tone. I hate Beaver...

Needless to say we listened to Cade for the next 2 hours talk about being a good guy. He would stick out his chest with his badge on it and say, "look, I am a police officer. I am a good guy!"

Anyway...

Once we made it to Salt Lake the party started. My mom was near tears and my dad was speechless when we walked in... the tears happen often the speechlessness does not. It was so exciting and I could barely wait for the morning to arrive.

Cade was so excited that Santa had come. Everything was an excitement to him... even opening underwear made him jump for joy. (It did help that they were transformers)

Beckam wasn't too sure what to make of it all. He mostly followed Cades lead but didn't understand that he had his own boxes to open... he just wanted to open Cades.

Cade was pretty pumped about his star wars costume that a very clever Santa picked up after Halloween for practically pennies. However, Santa seemed to out smarted when we realized he had grabbed a boys Large rather than a small like he thought. Oops... it will last for a long time :)

Beckam was beyond excited about his bouncy ball and football. He did not put them down all morning. Once he had the balls he was not interested in any other gift. So much for wrapping all of them.

Cade practiced being a Jedi all morning. Pretty sure all of us got hit at one time or another "accidently."

Beck spent the morning in his football stance saying "down, set, hike" and then running in circles dodging everything in his way.

Beck also got a pretty sweet ride that I am not sure if he or Cade was more excited about.

Cade-o got his Leapster and has gone through 3 sets of batteries already.

After the gifts were all done we headed to the kitchen for some traditional buttermilk pancakes for breakfast... There might have been a diet coke or 2 enjoyed by everyone except me. I really do need to catch onto the craze...

Cade passed on breakfast... due to the ridiculous amount of candy he consumed while opening presents and headed out to the snow. The whole drive to Utah he kept asking me if we were going to "the sunny Utah or the snowy Utah." All he could talk about was making a snow angel.

My mom got the grandkids matching jammies. She was so excited to put them on the boys and had talked about it for weeks. The boys were rather happy to be nice and snuggly and really enjoyed just being together. Beckam couldn't get enough of Maddux and just wanted to squeeze him. Which I cannot say I blame him... look at those cheeks... so squeezable.

We had a fantastic Christmas. It was so nice to be together as a family, to relax, to eat, to laugh, to enjoy. We couldn't have asked for anything more.