Beach trip: Part 1

This past weekend we got to go to the beach as a family!!  We had such a great trip!  So let me just preface this trip by saying that Eric persistently tells me he's not a beach kind of person.  He doesn't know how to swim and never grew up around water of any kind so it's just clear out of his comfort zone.  On our drive home, even Eric said that he'd had a wonderful trip.  We have gone to the beach together once before before we had children but there is something about experiencing things with our children that makes everything way more exciting than we'd imagined.   The look on Peyton's face as the sand sifts right through his fingers, the squeal of our little girl as she dips her toes into the cold waves, or the look of triumph at his first sandcastle.  The beach was a completely different experience for us.  Full of wonder and joy and many firsts!!

Crossing the bay bridge on our way.  I HATE the bay bridge.  There are not many things in this world that I use that strong of word for but I truly hate that bridge!!!  But we got through it.
We stayed at some friend's from our old ward in Delaware's house.... the Lorrhfinks.  We met up with the Shahan's, Poquita's, Lorrhfink's, and Helen, and Leann.

That house is set up to party hard!!  There are sooo many fun things to do in the garage.  All sorts of bikes, motorized scooters, go karts, toy bins, outside games, croquet, etc.  We arrived Friday evening just in time for a crab fest!!

Peyton was not quite sure what to think of the idea of eating a crab.  We've read a few books with crabs in them but the idea of eating one was not working out for him.  But thankfully, he was one hungry boy and is usually up for trying anything at least once.  After I gave him his first bite....... that was the end of that.  He ate 4 crabs all by himself.  He would help me by smashing teh crab apart with the mallet and I'd tear the meat out for him.  Definitely a fun experience with him!!

We stayed up wayyyyyyyyy past our bedtimes laughing, playing games, and just enjoying each other's company.  We have always loved playing Pounce together, and tat night was no exception.  We had a blast bringing out the Pounce cards once again. 

The next morning we started the morning out right with an awesome breakfast made by Rachelle.  Egg gravy over biscuits!!  This is soooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!  There are no words for that deliciousness!  Then we were off to the beach.  Peyton was chomping at the bit to get there

The beach was a hit all the way around.  From Eric, to Sadie.  Everyone loved it!

Sadie's favorite thing to do was to climb up into the camp chairs all by herself and sit there like a boss.

Sadie's first time in the water! 

 Peyton would giggle and giggle as the tide would sweep over him. 

 This is Peyton's surf board.  He did fall off one time and that kind of ruined it for him the rest of the tirp..... at least the surfing part.  He definitely preffered the sand part of the beach over the water.

 These two get pretty serious about their sand castle building moments.  They tried and tried to get the perfect sandcastle. 

 Until finally.............. success!!!  Eric was pretty darn excited.  This was an art I tell you.  You had to put the right ratio of dry to wet sand.  Tamp in down with your hands ever so gently, etc.  But they did it!

 Good friend Rachelle, and I. 

 After teh beach the kids still partyed it up with all the fun stuff to do around there. 

 Sadie would get on and off of all the little cars around the garage.  And the awesome big news with her over that weekend.  She started WALKING!!  We were all sitting around in the living room when Kerri said, "Oh, that's so cute."  I look over to what she was referring to and it was little Sadie waddling across the room.  I start screaming..... "SADIE, YAHHHHH!!! SHE'SS WALKING!!"  So Kerri proceeds to yell for Eric over me. "ERIC, SADIE'S WALKING.  GET IN HERE QUICK!"   It was awesome!  She looks like a drunken zombie but it's oh so cute!

Unfortunately the Poquita's couldn't join us at the beach because of family coming into town from New York.  And Helen and Leann left early to get Helen home to take her medicine.  After the beach... the Shahan's had to leave as well.  Bummer.  The Lorrhfink's were still there though and we had such a great time getting to know them better and enjoying their company!

Continued in Part 2......................

My mom's trip

I was asked to be the camp photographer for Girl's Camp this year!  My mom was a champ and came to babysit my kids for the week I was gone!  She's the greatest!!  So supportive of everything I do!  While I was gone, of coure they had a blast!  Yard saling, library trips, all kinds of fun stuff that I'm not going to be able to measure up to.  Ha, jsut kidding!  That's a grandma's job after all!  I loved being at girl's camp but I sure missed being at home with everyone, enjoying my mom's company!  The truth is, the kids were better for my mom than they are for me!  Or so she said. Ha. 

 Dropping her off at teh airport is always saddddd!  We sure are gonna miss her!  But..... we will be seeing her in two weeks so that's our consolation.  After the airport we were really close to Hershey so we just swung by to do Hershey World with the kids. 

Thanks for all you do mom!  You are the greatest!!!! MISS YOU!!!

Birthday Party

We attempted cupcakes the day before Peyton's birthday!  We ended up with unfrosted cupcakes... which are still delicious so it's all good.  Our cupcake frosting tube squirter wasn't working and I was just not in the mood to make real frosting.  Maybe because it intimidates me since I've never done it!  Oh well, Peyton had just as much fun playing with the sprinkles on a paper plate!

 The morning on his actual birthday we put candles in his scrambled eggs.  Don't you just love his Superman costume.  It's a staple around this place, I'm telling you.  It's actually is 2T costume from Halloween last year and extremely little on him.

 So the candles didn't stay up in the scrambled eggs so the banana came to the rescue!!

 And he got his much needed New superman cape!!!!  Hallelujah!  No more of the, "mommy, help me get on my superman cape."  At least 20 times a day.  Not going to miss the fussing that the velcro pieces are scratching him.... or that the cape keeps coming off.  I think this new cape was more for me than him.  Ha!

 And the long awaited BUBBLE GUN!  It lasted 5 minutes.... maybe.  But it was a fun 5 minutes!  Our other cheap bubble solution didn't work in it so there was def a tantrum that ensued buttttt..... remember, we had that 5 minutes.  Have I mentioned that tantrums will be the death of me? 

 I left for Girl's camp for a week a day after his birthday but when I returned it was off to Chucke Cheese's for Sadie and Peyton's combined party! 

 Peyton was in heaven!!!   He loved just running around and around. 

 This horse was his favorite ride!!  He loves all things horses. 

 Sadie did a good job unwrapping her gifts!!! 

 Peyton was a very meticulous, slow and steady unwrapper!

 We had a great time!  Both grandmas were there, Pappy, and Bam-bam.  We ate pizza, played lots of games, won lots of tickets, and got some cheap... I meant, cool prizes!!  The important thing is that the kids loved it.  Sadie slept for most of it but that's ok.  We followed Chucke Cheese's with a trip to Coldstone for some deliciousness!  We are so grateful for supportive and wonderful family!  And we were especially grateful to celebrate our little ones' birth with some partying!!

3 year old!

Peyton is three!!  What a fun little boy he is!!  He is such a tender hearted soul!  He brings so much joy and laughter into our family.

His favorite foods:  popsicles, chocolate, noodles, corndogs, strawberries, watermelon, milk, smoothies, and PB&J

His favorite things to do are:  adventures with mommy, vacations, hanging out with family/cousins, playing with toys, reading books (would have me read to him all day if we could), getting dressed himself or dressing up..... being a cowboy, firefighter, bull rider, etc.  He has such a great imagination!  Cuddling with mommy, playing with the hose, watching tv, etc. 

To think that this was just one year ago!  Now he's three and talks up a storm daily.

And just one year before that!  Turning one!!

Peyton changed our lives forever the day we found out we were expecting!  He continues changing our life.... for the better!  Love you little man!

6/9/13
I told Peyton thank you for something tonight and he told me, "My pleasure."
The other day we were doing dishes and we saw a bird out the window.  I tell Peyton, "I think that bird wants to talk to us and tell us he wants to do the dishes too."  Peyton looks at me and says, "Actually....... birds don't talk, they say tweet."

5/31/13
The other day out of nowhere Peyton told me that he wants to be a fireman when he grows up.  Tody I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up to see if he remembered and he told me, "A teenager."  Mercy!

Peyton loves to just randomly tell me, "I love you mommy." 

I always tell Peyton, "You're my bestest boy."  Now he'll tell me, "You're my bestest too!"

1 year Old!

My little one is already ONE!!  Crazy!  My Sadie is so vivacious and full of life!  She is always on the move.... crawling, trying to walk, and climbing up stuff.  We just love her bright blue eyes and fiery red hair!  She is beautiful as can be! 

 Her favorite things to do: playing with Peyton, playing the piano, dancing, playing with toys, climbing things, being carried around by mommy or daddy, splashing, getting dirty, taking naps, drinking her bottle, etc.

Her favorite foods right now are:  spaghetti and cottage cheese.  Spaghetti is a newfound love but she alwasy loves cottage cheese.  She'll eat that stuff like candy!

This little miss will sleep and sleep and sleep.  She takes 2 naps everyday.  Usually 3 hours long a piece.... and still sleeps 12 hours at night.  People think I'm lying when they hear this... but it's da truth!  She just loves her sleep. 

 We can't believe that one year ago we were taking this precious little thing home with us.  That first moment she was placed in my arms I didn't think I could love her any more.  My heart was nearly bursting with joy and love for her.  Yet each day that goes by.... my love grows and grows.  I love her little personality that we're just getting to know.  I love the relationship she has with Peyton already.  And I love the way we can't imagine our family without her!!   So grateful she's mine forever!