Day trip to Cherry Creek

Since Jared was laid off from his job two months ago, we've had a lot of time to spend together as a family. With the lack of normalcy and routine we sometimes feel quite agitated and stressed. So when Jared suggested a day trip to Cherry Creek it was a breath of fresh air. A yummy lunch was packed with a blanket, camp chairs, and extra clothes if needed. The boys LOVED throwing rocks in the water - it never got old. Since it was pretty hot that day we went wading through the water. Maddox wasn't so sure about the cold temperature of the water but being outside was so wonderful.









There's something about watching Jared play with our boys that just makes my heart melt. Pure joy and happiness right there. I love him!












What would a trip out to the desert be without a little shooting? With earplugs plugged in, Garrett and Brexton drove cars in the dirt while Daddy tested out some of his guns. Somehow in the shuffling of packing up their bucket of cars was left in that pile of dirt. We didn't realize this mishap until we arrived home 50 miles away. It was too late to turn around just for those cars, but Jared had already planned a varmint hunting trip the following day at about the same location. Those cars are REALLY important to those little boys and they worried that someone might take the cars away. We had a family prayer and asked Heavenly Father to watch over them and prayed that Daddy would find them there safe and sound in the morning. It was a great opportunity to teach them about faith and the power of prayer. I was happily relieved when Jared found the bucket of cars right where we'd left them.

Let's have a PARTY!

Garrett and Brexton are developing quite the imaginations. They regularly "make a party" and invite me to join them when it's all ready. Locations for their celebration include chair arrangements, Brexton's bottom bunkbed, strewn out blankets and pillows, and under the kitchen table.



Notice how Garrett has swiped my boppy pillow and is "nursing" his puppy dogs - that is no rarety around here. They do it ALL the time. :) This line of chairs is their way of making a train. One of them was the conductor and they packed all kinds of stuff on the extra chairs for their trip to Grandma's house.

Silly Brexton...

My Mom got these gloves for Brexton for Christmas (and Santa left the beanie, which is clearly too small). It's funny how he didn't wear them in December and January when it was actually "cold," but now that it's March and April he wears them everyday! Brexton, when it's 100 degrees outside people think you're crazy to wear those. The grocery cashiers always get a good laugh!

Post-baby Crisis

After each baby I find myself in somewhat of a "Post-baby Crisis" where I just need a change, a fresh start if you will. One way that it manifests itself is a dramatic haircut. Maybe it's those grabby baby fingers that inspire the change. I'm not sure that the cut is quite what I'd invisioned and even now, 2 months later, I'm still adjusting to it. A fresh haircut though... it's good for the soul.

Time flies...

It's crazy to think that Maddox is now 6 months old. I don't know if it's my memory that has faded since Garrett and Brexton were babies, but it seems that Maddox is in an extraordinary rush to catch up to them. He was crawling at 5 months and within the last week he has been pulling himself up and standing at whatever will hold still long enough.

2 months old


5 months old


5 months old - for a while there I wondered if Maddox was going to skip the crawling stage and just up and walk. He always did this "stink bug" position and was quite good at balancing on those little toes.



Maddox has some unique mannerisms.
He opens his mouth as wide as he can and proceeds to growl and growl - makes me laugh so hard.
He loves to sing. I'll sit with him in my lap as I play the piano. He joins with with some resonating squeals.
He eats a ton! He's been known to eat 8 oz of pureed veggies with 1/3 cup rice cereal. He's LOVING cheerios these days. And I'm pretty sure there are two teeth on the bottom that are begging to come through.
I love catching him talk to his reflection on the dishwasher.
He and Garrett have a special bond. Somehow they communicate with each other on a frequency I have yet to master :)


6 months old





Now that Maddox is mobile I love seeing how he makes his way around the house looking for his brothers. He often makes his way into their bedroom and enjoys the bustling activity and noise. When Garrett and Brexton were gone last week for the Fathers and Sons outing, I'm pretty sure that Maddox noticed they were gone but kept looking for them to return. I love my boys!

Sweet Family

{Pictures taken in February by Jamilyn Baker -a Tompkinson family friend and local photographer}




We are blessed to have such wonderful family on both sides. I'm looking forward to an nice Easter weekend with the Tompkinsons.

Now that it's Spring...

It's about time that I post these pictures that we took last fall! Who doesn't love a big pile of crunchy leaves? These boys were in HEAVEN!

Maddox - 3 1/2 months old

Because sometimes you can't pick just one...

Made me laugh...

So, you always see the shorthand "LOL" - Laughing Out Loud. Well, this sight really did make me laugh out loud. I had asked the boys to get ready for bath time and as I walked past their room I caught sight of this. Reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. Seriously hilarious!

Practice Writing...

I've (finally) started trying to teach Garrett and Brexton how to write their names. Garrett can do his name all by himself now. Brexton (as should be expected since he's barely 3) still requires lots of help, but they enjoy "practicing letters" for the most part and they're developing some fine motor skills. Garrett is also working on sounding out words and we're learning about rhyming words.

Quick Bathroom Upgrade...

While our Master Bathroom has elements of modern luxery the cabinets are not one of them - they must date back to the 60's or something. Though they may be old, they are seriously sturdy, but atrociously ugly. A little Cottage White Dunn Edwards paint and now they're a little less ugly and the bathroom is a little less "completely tan." I know I drive Jared crazy with my constant desire to paint something, I just hope he likes the changes.

BEFORE



AFTER

Fun with Grandparents

After Christmas we headed to Thatcher for more family fun. It was great to spend some time with my Loveland grandparents who were also visiting.

Christmas 2010

A few pictures to share... I keep thinking about how I need to catch up to the current day, but with the craziness of everything blogging just isn't happening. So here we go with short and sweet posts.

With having a newborn who's a terrible car traveler we convinced the Tompkinson family to come to us this year. It was possibly the most relaxed and enjoyable celebration. From crockpot meals for Christmas Eve (Stew) and Christmas day (Sweet Pulled Pork) we got to spend quality together time without being stuck in the kitchen all day - just might have to make that a tradition.


Other things we did: played at the park Christmas Eve, read and "performed" the Nativity, all the boys (toddlers and men) went to the archery range Christmas day, napped, read, watched movies, etc. The "hit" of all the Christmas gifts were the foam dart guns Santa brought - everyone wanted a turn :)

THE PARK




NATIVITY







Counting out 8 carrots for Santa's Reindeer


CHRISTMAS MORNING






FUN AT THE ARCHERY RANGE