Monday, May 12, 2014

So it has been a busy few months with vacations and trying to get our basement finished before summer decides to arrive so we can turn our focus to the outside projects.  Addy also turned 4 this spring and in true great mom fashion I forgot to take any pictures but she had a great time so that is all that matters.  I will try in the next few weeks to do my annual Addy update post.  Now onto the pictures:


Addy and Graham found a new play place one Sunday morning while Josh and I where getting ready for church.  They have toys everywhere but playing in the cabinet under their bathroom sink is way more fun!!


Grandma and Grandpa also took a trip to the Dominican Republic and brought this back for the kids so Addy had to break out her modeling skills and give it a try.  So far it has gotten some use in the bathtub.


We also took advantage of my parents place in Lake Havasu, Arizona this spring and took a family trip before we had to pay for Graham to fly.  We didn't do a lot but it was a nice relaxing, low-key vacation in the sun.  Every morning we would get up and have breakfast and pack a lunch.  Then we would head down to this great park by the lake and let the kids do whatever they wanted and then have a picnic lunch before heading home for naps.  Then just a little shopping before going out for supper and then a little more play before bed.


This boy makes me smile!!


My sassy girl getting a ride on her Daddy's shoulders


We spent lots of hours here and the kids played great together.





Graham thought the water was to cold but Addy loved it so one afternoon, her and I stayed to swim while Josh took Graham for a nap.  She found a little boy by us to play with and had lots of fun playing in the sand and swimming.




Got a family pic-in, down on the beach that we spent most of our time at.



Grandma and Grandpa came in on our last day there and stayed to get the place closed up for the summer.  Grandpa got the kids' car seats in his Razr and took them off roading in the desert.  Graham was in heaven and Addy thought it was pretty fun too.


Both kids where pretty tired on our trip back to Las Vegas to fly home and were out before we got out of town.  Graham had to copy his big sister so they both slept with blankets over their faces.


Addy playing at our play area at the mall


It is time for Addy's spring dance recitals.  This was at a retirement home in town to help the girls get ready for their big performance in a week.  They did so great.


One song they do is about a bumble bee so they all got these cute wings and antennas to add to their costumes.  She is the cutest little bumblebee I have seen.


Graham also had surgery to have his adenoids out a few weeks ago so Auntie Stacey sent this super hero costume for him, but he wasn't in the mood for it at the time so Addy was happy to model it for us.


These are my two little artists.  They both love to color so this is a frequent sight in our house.


Graham showing off his "guns!"


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

There was a photography company that contracts with Whitefish Mountain Resort to take pictures of people while they are skiing or taking family pics if wanted.  They take pictures of all of the kids that are taking lessons and then we got to look at them and buy a CD with some of the pictures on them.  We couldn't pass up documenting her first time skiing!!


She is pretty much the cutest ski bunny I have ever seen but I may be a bit biased!!



Here is Addy with one of her instructors learning to ski.   In the second picture if you look close you can see the "worm", as they call it, that they put on the front of skis to keep the tips together and help them learn to control their skis.


This is one of my favorites cause it just sort of looks like an action picture and shows the snow that was falling most of the time that we were there.



Just some more cute ones of Addy during her lessons.



Just hanging out.


This is our little dancer.  She is in a dance class once a week and loves it.  I had to take a picture cause it was a bit of a throw back to the 80"s but much cuter.


I came back from putting Graham to bed and found Diesel like this.  Addy said he was drooling all over her spot so she had to put a bib on him.  This poor dog puts up with a lot from these kids.  It is amazing she was able to corner him to do this cause he usually keeps his distance as much as possible.

We went for a skiing trip to Whitefish, MT with Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Brenna and Uncle Eric.  We took the train which was both good and bad (no potty breaks but late trains).  We rented a house and went skiing.  We had great weather and had an amazing time.  I think we will be doing this again in the future.


Graham was loving life cause the weather was nice enough to allow him to be outside playing.  He would live outside if we would let him!!  Grandma didn't ski and Grandpa only skied one day so Graham got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa.  The last day, when Addy stayed home as well, they went swimming so Graham got to do his two favorite things.


We also had good snow to make a snowman so Addy was super excited.


This is the townhouse that we rented.  It was nice to have separate sleeping and relaxing areas and allowed us to save money on eating out.


The day before we left on this trip I took Addy to see "Frozen" so she named her snowman Olaf and was giving him a hug.


Graham was our Sven (for those that have seen Frozen) cause he kept trying to steal Olaf's nose so he could eat it.  This boy loves his carrots!!


Graham finally won and got to eat his carrot!


Addy loves to eat her snow


I am also a very proud mama right now.  My girl went skiing for the first time and did amazing.  We put her in a half day lesson the first day and when we picked her up she wanted to go up the big chair lift (she had only been on the Magic Carpet in the ski lessons).  So Josh and I took her up and on the way down she kept saying "go faster" and "let me do it myself."  Even when she fell she was ready to get back up and go again.  She was so mad that it was time to go that we got her a full day lessons the next day.  


The next morning she said she didn't want to go again but we made her come with and once she got their again 
was so excited.  By the end of the day she was skiing without a thing on her skis that helps keep them together when you are learning and went down the chair lift ski hill twice.  The instructors were so impressed with how well she did and her amazing attitude.  She never got mad or frustrated from falling.  When we picked her up she had skied for a total of 5 hours that day so she didn't want to go anymore, but she said she wants to come back when she is 4 and go again.


The first two days it was very foggy and snowed all day which made for good skiing but did not allow us to see the beautiful views being on top of a mountain gives you.  The last day it all cleared and we were able to see this at the top.  One of the most beautiful views I have seen in my life.  Great trip.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014






Christmas Eve at Jill and Russ's place.  We had a great time and great food.


Kiera and Addy got along great.


Addy showing off her cute Christmas dress.




Graham going through the tunnel (also known as a big long box Josh got from something).


Addy and Graham got shovels from Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas.  They were both so excited.  I need to keep this for when they are older and don't want to go out and shovel!



Addy got some sparkling juice for New Year's Eve in a fancy cup.  She was so excited.


This is what happens when you refuse to take a nap.  You fall asleep waiting for Mom to put Graham to bed.



One of their favorite places to play together, behind the rocking chair in Graham's room


Addy and Daddy sharing one of their favorite treats


Addy decked out in her morning gear, her new robe and slippers!!


Graham being Graham



This is the kind of moments every parent treasures, when their kids are happily hanging out together with the oldest "reading" books to the youngest.  The last picture is what Josh likes to call "assuming the position."  It is how Graham falls asleep a lot, especially in his car seat, and how he relaxes.  It is the cutest thing ever!!