A Beachy Day

 Lexi and I are so excited! A new friend moved into the ward.  She has twins and one on the way.  Lexi adore her kids and I love her!! She is an amazing cook, fantastic baker, and a great friend.  We have had lots of fun together the past few weeks.  Here is one of our adventures.  We decided to head out to my cousin’s house in Newport for a beach day. 

(Gauge was all ready to do a little surfing!)

Although we were both pretty intimidated by the thought of taking three two year olds and one infant to the beach with no help from the hubs (I love it when Ty comes with because then I don’t have to get into that freezing cold water and can focus on getting a nice even tan ;) ),  it turned out to be a fabulous sandy day.   

(Kya and Cruz.  The trick we figured out was to keep the kids up by the boardwalk so they didn't even realize the ocean was only a short jaunt away)

(Snacks, toys, a blanket, and perfect weather...what more could you need for a perfect day?)

(This is Lexi's "dancing" face.  She takes dancing very seriously.)

(I am so happy to be playing with my girl in the sand.... too bad the feeling isn't mutual.)

(Cute Cruz and sweet kya playing away in the sun)

Two Months

The past two months have been tough, well mostly the first four weeks of the past two months.  The last two weeks or so have been awesome!  I have my kids back on some kind of schedule and routine.  We do well on routines, not so much without them.   When we’re not on a routine I feel stressed, the kids both cry more, and I feel like I can’t catch my breath.  I guess overwhelmed is the word to describe it.  Since I got them back on track I am finally feeling productive and happy again.  I’m even thinking I could handle having two more kids (eventually of course, but that’s a big step because up until recently I had decided I couldn’t handle having any more kids… life with two kids really rocked my world).   My house is clean,  dinners are made, and crafting has commenced (Lex and Gauge both take a 2hr nap in the afternoon and are asleep by their 8 pm bedtime, which gives me a good 4 hrs a day to get things done).

At two months, Gauge is a 12 lb 3 oz, 24 inch long, happy boy.  He only wakes up once to eat at night and eats at 8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm, and 7:45 pm.  I love having a schedule with him.  It keeps him happy and helps me know what’s wrong with him when he isn’t.  He likes being held but is content to sit in his bouncy chair, play on his play mat, or sit in his bumbo.  He loves his big sister and will watch her play.  Gauge smiles and laughs a lot these days.  His laugh is one of the cutest things I’ve ever heard!  We think he is a lot of fun and of course, the most adorable little man we’ve ever seen.  We are truly enjoying his presence in our family. 

No matter how hard we tried to help Lexi understand the real reason for Easter and the sacred holiday that it is, I'm pretty sure all she heard was candy, Easter Bunny, and Easter egg hunt. I understand that she is two years old and that she probably won't really understand what Easter is about until she is older. We decided to roll with it and give her every possible opportunity to indulge in Easter egg hunts and other traditional Easter activities.

Our Easter extravaganza started with an Easter egg hunt in the company of about 10 or so of Lexi's (and mommy's) friends from church. I organized a little gathering at the park where everyone brought a dozen eggs (filled with healthy snacks) to hide and a snack for the mommies to share. It turned out great! The kids had a blast finding all the eggs, devouring the healthy snacks, and playing at the park, while the other moms and I had a blast eating all the unhealthy treats we brought to share amongst ourselves.  I truly feel blessed to have made such great friends in the short amount of time we’ve lived here.

 

(poor lexi kept losing her skirt.  I swear the skirt is size 12-18 months.  She is just too stinking skinny!)

Sunday morning brought a delicious breakfast of home-made muffins, fried eggs, and bacon, Easter baskets, and another opportunity to hunt Easter eggs…All before 9 AM church.  After her practice round at the park Friday, Lex was ready to hunt eggs like a champ.  There were 20 eggs, all of which were hidden really well (I think daddy really wanted to challenge our Lexi girl).  She did a fantastic job with only a few hints from us until last egg. She got totally stumped.   It was a pink egg hiding on her pink car.  She kept walking around it.  We’d say, “Look behind you!!”  She would start trying to look at her bum, and say “I don’t see it, I can’t find it.”  Finally, I told her that maybe if she rode her car around she would be able to spot it.  No such luck.  The egg was literally between her legs and she still didn’t have a clue.  Eventually, she crashed into the fence and the egg rolled into the grass.  She spotted it and said, “oh, I found it!”  No clue that it was ever on her car to begin with. 

(Lexi found her basket, Gauge wasn't too interested in the festivities yet)

(the easter bunny brought him a few things anyways... some new sunglasses, binki's, and a bottle)

(lots of puzzles, a matching game, easter dress, books, and lots of candy!! Woo hoo)

 

(so fun doing our hunt outside this year!)

(I cannot believe I am such a slacker.  This is the ONLY picture I got of either of the kids in their outfits.)

We had our last Easter egg hunt at cousin Brandon’s house when we went over to eat Easter dinner with Ty’s family.  There were a bunch of kids ranging in ages from one to fourteen, so we split up into three groups, 1-3 year olds, 4-7 year olds, and eight and up.  Our family loves being close to family for once since we’ve been married.  Brandon and Dixie are always planning fun stuff to do.  Every time we tell Lexi we’re going to their house she starts chanting, “PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!”  Really, she’s right.  It is always a party at their house J 

Overall, we had a great Easter.  The activities were awesome, but the spiritual uplifting that I felt this season was even better.  Easter is all about new beginnings and the atonement.  I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and his atoning sacrifice.  I have used the atonement a number of times in my 23 year years here on this Earth, and I can promise I will probably use it many more times.  It is so great to have the knowledge of the atonement.  I am so blessed to know that I am never alone.  My brother, Jesus, knows every feeling of my heart and has experienced every pain and sorrow my heart has ever felt.  He has also felt every joy and happiness I have felt.  It is wonderful to know that at every moment there is someone I can turn to who knows EXACTLY how I’m feeling.  I’m glad I am never alone.  I love my savior with all my heart and I am grateful for the blessing of his love in my life.