Family pictures

Growing up every year my mom made us get family pictures taken. Trust me there were plenty of years we did not want to, and it shows. Now that I'm the mom I want yearly family pictures taken as well. Well besides just a couple we've taken we haven't had family pictures taken since Febuary of 2009. These kids are growing way too fast and they are out dated now. So yesterday Derek asked what the plans were for Saturday and I quickly suggested going to a park. So that's exactly what we did today. I'm grateful our kids were happy to get pictures taken. I'm also grateful for a tripod and remote control for our camera.

Sorry for the picture overload but we took nearly 200 pictures and there are even more cute ones.

Zoe's pigtails

Zoe has some pretty funny hair. Her hair on top and the sides is not growing very fast. However her hair in the back is growing just fine. This means she is sporting the baby mullet as we call it. I know I should take her to get her hair cut but part of me thinks its crazy to cut off the only hair she has.

From the back her pigtails are pretty cute.

See the little pigtail poking out from the back.

Or here you can see both.

I love this little girl. She brings so much love into our family. And she is full of spunk.

Her nursey leaders on Sunday told me she is trying to do the actions to the songs. She loves making animal noises, especailly cow and monkey noises. She is alsolearning more words but isn't talking too much yet.

Daddy's Girl

I have been trying to teach Zoe how to say I love Mom for quite sometime with no success. When I say I she repeats. Then when I say love she quickly says Dad! Often she even laughs after Dad. She knows what she's doing. Well yesterday she was crying a lot. I'd ask what do you want Zoe and her reply, Dad! Little stinker she did that 3 times. She has become quite the Daddy's girl and I'm okay with that.

Memorial Day weekend

We had such a great weekend. It started off by going to visit my sister Marie. We love going to visit them and it had been way too long since our last visit. We we ended the day by having a movie night and watching Cheaper by the Dozen. Sunday Derek did a duet playing his violin at church. Many people came up to me or him saying that they had no idea he played, and played well. What was more funny was that nobody in my family remembered that he played. Monday we did some shopping. Maeley and Chase really needed summer clothes.  Maeley is hard to shop for. Shirts we have to be careful because she has a long torso so often they are too short. And shorts are even harder. She is so skinny that the girl section is much too big and the toddler section doesn't have much to choose from. She's not a baby or even a toddler so finding something that looks older has been difficult. Derek found Chase a new red, white and blue outfit to replace his from last year. It's been his favorite outfit but its way too small for him now. He's very happy to have one similar that I think he likes more. For dinner we had a BBQ. Derek made some amazing ribs. Seriously they were the best we've ever had. He also made homemade mashed potatoes. Actually Derek cooked all weekend. I loved it!  We were all wanting something for dessert so we went out for Gelato. We will definitely be going back. It was delicious!

Wild life

Since we have moved into this house we have seen more creatures here than anywhere else we've lived.

What we've seen:
- mice in the shed
- bumble bees that Zoe tries to catch -she's not afraid of anything
- a gopher snake
- snails
- Cardinals - I've come to recognize its chirp. I've tried to get a picture but haven't manged yet. He always seems to fly away.
- a squirrel- I've seen one twice and think its the same one, it may or may not be living in the shed
- black widow- also found in the shed - the kids and I no longer go in there
- lizards- I'm not talking about small gecko's I mean larger lizards
- Coyote- this wasn't on our property but in our neighborhood Monday morning

Chase

Chase is a sweet little kid. I love the way he gives Zoe kisses before her nap. Or the way he and Maeley carry on conversations that sometimes are pretty darn hilarious. I find it so funny that he insists on getting a blue Jeep and driving himself to Disneyland. Maeley did convince him that he needs to take her with him. Or how often he talks about camping and wanting to go again as a family. Or how this morning he told me the reason he slept in was because he was dreaming about his Buzz Lightyear birthday party and his cake. He is wonderful  kid. He has been really emotional lately and driving us crazy. But we love him regardless.

Zoe's new shoes

Now that its summer time Zoe really needed a pair of flip flops or sandals. Because her feet are pretty small (size 3) its been hard finding a cute pair. I just happened to be near Tuesday Morning so thought I'd stop in. Surprisingly I found some there, who would have thought? And for only $4 I couldn't pass them up.

She was being grumpy at the time.

Zoe loves these shoes. The first couple of weeks she wore them during her nap and sometimes at bedtime. We finally started hiding them after we took them off for bath time. Immediately when she wakes up though she would ask them to be put on. I love that Maeley will put them on her. I just love this girl.

Crazy Maeley

One of Maeley's favorite things to do is to tie things up. She has been doing this for quite sometime now. It first started with her stuffed animals, then on to her toys. Luckily she hasn't tied up Chase or Zoe.  She often ties up her toys in a way that she can then carry them around as if they were a purse. I don't know were this obsession has come from.

Seriously! She used the hose to tie the trees together. She's completely crazy!

Father & Son's Camping

This past weekend was our ward's Father and Son camping trip. Derek and Chase were very excited about going. I'm not sure who was more excited actually. Chase was so sad at lunch time on Friday because he was thinking that Dad had left him. I had to explain to him that Dad was still at work and he most definitely would not be forgetting him. Derek came home around 5pm. I helped load up the car and they were gone pretty quickly after that. Saying goodbyes was hilarious. Maeley and Chase were so cute. Saying how much they loved each other and Maeley told Chase "Have a good time. Be safe. I love you." And they gave each other multiple hugs and kisses. It was very sweet. We are so happy that our kids love one another.

Chase bundled up in the morning.

Because it was just the two of them it was easier to sleep in our car than to pitch our large tent. Derek added the tarp for privacy.

Chase and Daddy - I love them.

In the morning they made paper airplanes.

Doesn't Chase look so cute?

They both had a great time even though it was a short trip. Now I'm anxious to go camping again.

While the boys were away the girls and I had some of our own fun. Maeley picked out a movie at Target the day before. She chose Princess Protection Program. I'm not sure if it was because the word princess was in the title or because it came with matching BFF necklaces. Zoe and Maeley love the necklaces. The movie was pretty cute and I was shocked at how well Zoe sat and watched the whole thing. In the morning I painted Maeley toes and fingernails. I could tell Zoe wanted hers done too. She sat so still while I was doing it. I could tell she loved every minute of it. She is such a sweet girl.

Maeley's haircut

Thursday Maeley got her haircut. She was so excited to get it cut. We went to "the hair cut store" as she calls it and sat so well as it was being cut.  I had to come to terms that Maeley had my thin hair that is hard to work with. Her hair was just so stringy and and uneven. But now she loves her hair cut and so do we.

Dresser makeover

Like I mentioned in my previous post Derek and I started refinishing our dresser. We're finished now. It's wasn't hard at all just took patience waiting for coats to dry. Here's before and after pictures.

Yes we forgot to get a picture before we removed the drawers. Whoops. We were so excited to get started.

After

I love it! This picture doesn't even do it justice. It's amazing!

If you want to see more picutres you can check out this blog.

Random

For Mother's Day before we ate dinner Derek had everyone say some things that they loved about me. Its was very sweet and definitely unexpected. Derek did a wonderful job at making me feel extra specail on Mother's Day.

Chase told me the next day that he loved that I call him "my little buddy". I never knew he loved that nickname. I'm glad he told me.

Zoe has found that if she steps on the wet wipe container then she can get climb onto the couch. It's pretty cute to watch her.

A few days ago I took the kids to the store and bought some work books and games for them. We now have a school time. They are really enjoying it. I cannot wait for Maeley to start preschool.

Derek and I have started our dresser redo. It's going to look awesome! We are also planning on refinishing our table and making two benches for it. We have a great time doing projects like that together.

Derek and I are also cutting out sweets during the week and allowing one on Sunday only. It's been hard but I'm glad we're doing it. Oh and we're doing without soda.

For about a month now I've been consistantly working out. I'm not seeing results and its very frustrating but I'm not going to give up.

I made the best chicken enchiladas ever last week. Yumm Yumm. I have realized that when Derek is making me a specail meal I choose something mexican.

Last Saturday we went to the Gila Valley Temple openhouse. The kids were very well behaved. I don't think we heard one peep out of Zoe. At the end they had some cookies and bottled water. A few days later Chase told her wanted to go back so he could have some cookies. Yep, the kids have been asking all week for me to make cookies and I won't give in.

I'm in a really blah mood today and am so happy its Friday.

Zoe's 18th month dr. appointment

Yesterday I took Zoe in for her check up. She was pretty funny. This time she tried so hard to be brave. She held in her cry until the doctor moved her ever so slightly then she lost it and began bawling. What was the funniest thing was when the nurse came in to give her a shot. Zoe gave her the death look. It was hilarious and the nurse definitely noticed.

Weight: 22lbs (between the 10th and 25th percentile)

Height: 31.5" (50th percentile)

Head: 47cm (50-75th percentile)

Some random facts about Zoe

-She is left handed

-She has 8 teeth but is about to get her bottom molars any day

-She loves books (she's sitting near me now with a book in her lap)

-Loves being one of the big kids

-Doesn't talk a ton but can easily get her point across

-Loves animals

-When she really wants to be held she will hang on tight

-Her favorite foods are macaroni and cheese and baked ziti

-Still won't drink milk, rarely will drink juice but loves water

-Just like Maeley and Chase she will sometimes walk on her tip toes

-Loves her bed, her blankets, and dogs she sleeps with

(the other night I counted 2 blankets and 6 stuffed animal dogs she slept with)

-I wish I could say that whatever her breathing problems have been in the past are no longer but I can't. Just last night we had to give her 2 breathing treatments because she was wheezing so much. Can you believe it's almost been a year since she was hospitalized? Overall though that doesn't happen very often but we have to be careful when she gets a runny nose and cough.

Zoe brings so much love and laughter into our lives. We love you so much Zoe.

Family fun

Last Saturday was a great day. Weekends are always the best because daddy's home which makes the kids happier, which in turn makes me a much happier person as well. We took the kids to the zoo. They have been asking for quite some time when we can take dad to the zoo and we finally made  it happen.

I love how Maeley becomes our tour guide.

Chase's favorite animal, the giraffe.

This rhino I think looks weird.

This was the best shot we got. Sadly Derek was taking all the pictures so there's not a single one with him.

Maeley's favorite animal, the polar bear.

There were lots of cool birds.

We loved watching how excited Zoe was when she saw each animal.

I love Maeley's pose.

Zoe did a lot of pointing.

Still can't get them to look at the camera at the same time.

I love doing fun activites together as a family.