Maddie's Stuff

Maddie did a presentation on Sacagewea on Famous American Day at school.

 She wanted to find a book on fractions at the library. I don't know how to explain it, but I like it.

I took her and some friends to a 3D movie.

She wrote this hilarious report on a very special incident that happened last year. (click here)

She loves to organize and sew things. Just like her mama.

She is never more happy or silly than when she is with her Sister Cousin in Utah.

Except maybe when she is doing artsy things with her artsy Grandma.

I love these pictures.

Somehow, despite my rule that we don't have pets, she always seems to sneak some in. (I blame Josh. He always feels bad and says yes even though I say no.) She now has these lovely pet fish, with the even more lovely pet names of Fabulous and Unique. 

Mother Daughter date to the Smith Center for Beauty and the Beast. She looks so old, and I look fabulous in my faux fur sweater. Haha.

She has been taking voice lessons for a while now, so I am doing exactly what my mom used to do and volunteer her to sing at baptisms and sacrament meeting and anything else that I hear of.

She made this awesome "fort" under the stairs. It's her most favorite place in the world.

Josh's stuff

Snowmobiling in Yellowstone with the boys in his family.

Flying a plane at his pilot school.

Taking very good care of his pet turtle.

Playing drums in his U2 cover band.

 Running in the Ragnar Race in southern California with his cousins.

And because his life philosophy is "Work Hard Play Hard," he is still a lawyer too. When he started at Rick's law firm during law school, there were only two lawyers at the firm. Now there is this whole group. Pretty cool to watch.

Daddy Daughter Duo

I used to have to encourage - very strongly - these two to hang out. But not anymore. They are very close and great friends. I am so grateful for this, because I know there is nothing that instills confidence in a young lady as much as being adored by her dad.

Getting ready for the Daddy Daughter Valentine's Dance at Maddie's school. Looking older, and yet still so little.

Magical Moments

These are the magical moments when my heart is overcome with joy. I tried desperately for many years to get a sibling for my Maddie to grow up with. Who knew that even with eight years and a gender difference between them, they would still be best friends? My heart just can't handle this bursting feelings of happiness and gratitude. 

Watching cartoons together.

Jack helps Maddie put her clean laundry away by wiping his nose on everything.

Nowhere Jack would rather be.

They're all dressed up and looking adorable.

Of course, part of having a bigger sister is being forced to accessorize sometimes.

Jack spends lots of time playing with dolls.

But he doesn't seem to mind too much because he has a crush on one in particular.

The best part about having older kids is that I sometimes get to outsource chores I don't want to do.

Maddie informs Jack of the rules. He looks like he isn't too concerned about learning them.

Jack's favorite moment of the day is getting a bedtime story from big sister Maddie.

 A sweet moment when my heart really almost burst.

New Cousin Brother!!

We were so happy to find out that Josh's sister was pregnant with a little guy the same time that I was pregnant with Jack. Maddie has a sister cousin who is her same age, and they are the best of friends. We were so happy when Jack's brother cousin joined our family.

Jack and I got to hang out with big sister Scarlett while her mom was having the baby.

Meeting cousin Harrison for the first time.

Doing a celebratory brother cousin dance at Harrison's blessing.

Getting bigger and looking more and more like troublemakers. 

Trying not to gag while Mom is laughing hysterically

I introduced Jack to solids. Holy crap, I forgot how funny this is. Baby's faces can be so dramatic sometimes. For a moment there I thought that I must have remembered wrong. Feeding solids to babies is fun!

Then I remembered, nope. It still sucks. But at least he is adorable in all of his messiness.

Spring Time

So far, spring has meant insane, insane allergies at my house. I have probably sneezed more in the last two weeks than I have the rest of my life combined. It especially hit my little Jack buddy hard. Poor little dude can't even open his watery eyes.

But Spring has also meant lovely weather for us to use our backyard. Dad and Maddie playing croquet

while Jack and I cheer from a blanket on the grass.

Springtime also means Easter. Maddie suddenly turned on me this year and doesn't want to share her Easter candy with me which, of course, makes me have to steal it when she isn't looking. She only has herself to blame.

Josh felt it was important to introduce Peeps to Jack on his first Easter. (blah!)

First things first

I try to keep up on my blog so that this exact sort of thing doesn't happen. I now have about 100 pictures I need to download and now I'm annoyed.

So here goes....

First things first. My mom and dad both married in the last month. Do not underestimate me when I say that this makes me very, very happy.