Bunny OB-1

Bella loves this bunny and has announced that she has adopted it and is its new mommy, but she didn't grow it in her tummy. lol

Royce also adores this little creature and wants to snuggle and hold it as much as he can. As you can tell he is still learning to be gentle but he really does well for a one year old

This is what was left of the pizza after Royce got a hold of it. Either he was really hungry or it was good!

Horse Riding Lessons

A few weeks ago the kids had a horse riding care lesson with a sweet girl named Alee. Turned out she was a member of the church and the kids had so much we scheduled another lesson. They both actually road the big horse solo, turned and backed up. Seriously this teenager has teaching talent, I don't know if I have ever even done that on a horse.

I just had to throw these on here. In the one below, a sweet lady at church gave the kids Easter Ring pops. I was letting them eat them in the car on the ride home. This is how we found Royce when we went to get him out of his seat. We had a good laugh.

 

Royce is growing up, he is getting so smart and is still just a walking smile. It is hard for me to believe sometimes that he is my child, he is so beautiful and so tender and sweet. I am blessed to be his mother.

 

Easter 2012

We had a really nice Easter weekend. It started Sat, we went to two Easter egg hunts which the kids loved! They totally loaded up on eggs filled with candy.

 James bought the kids cotton candy man do they love their Daddy!

 Royce couldn't get enough of this stuff he made a total mess of him self. It was dripping down his chest

 At the first Hunt some friends from our ward showed up and were selling baby bunnies. My sweet husband bought one for the kids before I had time to interject. So we have an adorable new little pet. It actually is really low maintenance we just have it in the back yard in dog crate. We feed it hay that is growing around our yard. The kids named him O-B 1 Keno-be.

After this picture my camera died and I didn't get the new charger till Monday (Royce has a thing with charger cords, they magically disappear) So this is it for Easter but we had a great peaceful Sunday. The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Royce was so funny, while the kids where discovering there baskets and new toys Royce walked around opening up all the hidden eggs and eating the candy out of them (Some wrappers and all) I'm not sure how much candy he ate but it was a lot.

Spring Break March 9 - 23, 2012

Our first stop was Oklahoma where James had a work appointment. The kids are playing at the mall at the coin operated ride things.

Silly face Royce looking at me through one of the play cars front windows.

On our way to FL we got to stop in and visit some of our favorite people. James cousin Jessie and her husband Brad in Fort Rucker, Al. We got to stay two days and loved it! We caught them just in time because they are moving back to Utah in a few weeks. Brad was in the process of finishing up his Black Hawk training for the National Gaurd.

The kids had a blast with there "cousins" they were making pizzas in this picture. SO fun!

Sweet beautiful Jessie with baby Bruce and Kate

They got to go down and see the Black Hawks flying one day. I think they even saw Brad land one!

Whoo Hoo the magic kingdom. The children really had a wonderful time and are still talking about it.

One seriously happy little girl!

Royce had the giggles on this ride. It was so sweet to see his little face light up.

We met Rapunzel and Ariel (my camera died during Ariel). These are Bella's two favorite princesses and she was so excited to meet the real ones. After waiting 30 min to see each one she was too scared to actually talk or touch them so Luke did the work for her. What are big brothers for!

At Cocoa Beach, it was a really nice beach minus the crazy spring break parties going on. Lol, James nor I had ever seen anything like it (except on TV). Next time we will try and find a less popular beach.

It was beautiful water and nice sand with big sea shells.

Hanging at the hotel pool. We went almost everyday for several hours.

I love this girl!

Classic Royce happy face. He loves the water! and is very adventurous in it.

This is Royce waving hi during a driving break at Chick-fil-A


Eating ice cream (chocolate covered potatoe chips in vanilla with salted carmel, disgustingly good) in the bath tub in Lafayette, LA on our way home! We drove over the Mississippi river which was beautiful, and we also went over a huge bayou which the kids loved cause they were looking for alligators.

Berry Family 5k

We ran our 5k March 24th. It was such a fun Saturday morning. The event was really geared towards families and it was for a really good cause, its called the Berry family 5k and was for a foundation started for a family who got in a car accident last summer. Both of the parents were killed and the 2 oldest boy 8 and 6 were left paralyzed from the waist down, the four year old girl only broke her leg, it helps raise money for this family and others in similar situations.
I ran it with Bella and Royce in 27mins and James and Luke came in at 40 mins. Poor James had his stroller wheel fall off a couple times while running and Luke actually ran some of it! He was such a good sport, thanks for supporting me babe! Over all those are really good times for both of us, and we hope to do this event again next year.

It's A BOY!

It's a boy boy boy! We are so excited for this little man to join our family. Bella was a little disappointed that she wasn't getting a little sister (she teared up and ran out of the room) but she has recovered and although someday she really wants a little sister she is happy heavenly father sent her a little brother. I think it will be so fun having him and Royce close in age, and what can I say, I love my snugly, chubby sweet baby boys. Oh course James is very happy he is working on that football team!

Baby #4 is???

I had my first dr. apt today. I am about 17 weeks and due the first week in Sept. They did a sonogram and everything thing looked good. They could even tell what the gender was. Unfortunately James wasn't with me so I asked the technician to put it in an envelope so we could find out together. Friday after Luke gets home from school we are going to have a little family party and open it up. It will be like Christmas! Whoo hoo should be fun. P.s. baby is weighing in at about 6oz right now.

Houdini Royce

Royce, Bella, James and I laid down for our regular Sunday afternoon nap (luke hasn't napped since 18 mos so he just had quiet time). We woke up to our neighbor knocking on our door to bring Royce and the dogs home. James and I were both confused and dazed how he got out of his crib, out side, let the dogs out and got out of the yard. We later figured out Luke got him out of his crib when he woke up from his nap. Luke then went outside to play letting royce out of the house. Royce has figured out how to open the gate to the dog yard letting them out. Either the other gate out of the yard was left open or he figured out how to open that one too, he then,pl
wandered over to the neighbors house. I am just greatful our neighbor was out and found him instead of the multiple other fates that could have befallen him. Once again heavenly father was watching over our sweet baby.

We're okay

The kids and I made it to our hotel safe. They are asleep and I am relaxing a bit. As I am, I am realizing what a reality check what happened today was. The Tire didn't go flat it explosively shredded, so much that it ripped half the bottom driver side panel off, which the AAA guy fixed with some plastic ties so it wouldn't flap around the rest of the way to Texas. Just last week I took the van in to get it serviced and replaced 2 tires. I know our heavenly father is watching over us and answering our prayers for safety. I am grateful for that. When I replaced the two tires last week a gentleman in line suggested it was best to put the new tires in the front (its standard to put the new tires in back), I agreed to his suggestion. Now thinking about it with the van being front wheel drive thing could have turned out differently if the tire that blew out was in the front. (the rear driverside blew out).I was going 75 miles per hour.  I sometimes forget how fragile this journey in life is. It prompts me to cherish ever minute. Especially with my sweet husband and children. I was so focused tonight on getting the situation taken care of that I took for granted the moments I was spending with my kids. They are so precious, more than I can say. I am grateful to know we are a family forever. I hope we all have safe and joyful journeys.

Blow out

We are on our way home from Florida and bummer one of the tires blew out which really stinks cause I just had all the tires inspection and 2 replaced. I'm waiting for AAA right now about 65 mins from our destination Pensacola. So far the kids are being patient with staying in there seats with belts latched.

Running

Our 5K is this Saturday! We should get back Friday from our spring break adventure so if all goes right everything should work out perfect. I have been running almost everyday. I did 3 miles in the exercise room this morning. I took the kids which is usually no problem but they didn't have any kid networks on the tv so they were just wild the whole time but hey we got it done. Took 31mins. I think that's about as good as its going to get.

Disney World

We went to Disney World last Saturday! It was mine and the kids first time. I was shocked at how similar to Disneyland it is. The kids had a magical day and can't stop talking about it. Bella got to meet Rapunzel and Ariel (which of course she was to scared to talk to). Luke's favorite was space mountain and splash mountain. It's was an exhausting blast we spent 13 hours there and were leaving just as the fire works shot off. Better pictures will be uploaded when we get home.

Luke funny

We are in Orlando, FL and the water here is kinda yucky. Yesterday I gave Luke a cup of it. He took a drink and said "this water isn't very good I think its rotten". Lol

Royces first real tantrum

We r at Chick fil A and Royce just threw a really good tantrum! For at least 3 minutes! He wanted to go out of the play room and I wouldn't let him. To be honest I'm a little shocked. It's so weird to see my happy go lucky baby enter this phase and I don't remember it starting so early. Maybe he really is picking up on the other kids behavior. Here are the best pictures I could get of him, he was really mad.

Awesome kid

Tonight for dinner we had broiled tilapia, red bell peppers, and zucchini. Which I was sure was NOT going to be a hit with the kids but hey you can't have mac n cheese or chicken nuggets every night. Luke more than impressed me by not only cleaning his plate but asking for seconds! Royce took one bite of fish and spit it out, and was done. Bella took one bite of fish, gagged, said "yum that was good" and refused to eat more.

Running

5k on the treawdmill 31:30 mins

Running

I found an odometer app for my phone and  I really like it. It's called Endomondo. I used it today at the park and it keeps track of distance, speed, and time. I kept Luke home from school since we had a stomach bug this weekend,  I just brought the double jogger and a bike that Luke and Bella take turns on. We r taking a break at the park but have gone 2.3 miles with 1/2 mile till we get back to the car. Time is slow cause the kids want to stop every couple mins for a break. I guess they r out of shape from lack of exercise all winter. Lol. I think we at 35 mins but hey we will get it done.

Our first Apple tree

Let's hope it survives the summer

Royce Outside

Royce's new favorite place to be is outside, he just loves it! If he is awake and the weather is nice 9 times out 10 you will find him on the porch or in the backyard, and for the most part he stays out of trouble. He actually goes to the door and pounds on it, sometimes calling DaDa sometimes he just sqwauks to get my attention. If I don't let him out he gets so sad and walks around the house mopey. If I let him out he gives me his million dollar Royce smile. His favorite is going and sitting by the dog kennel, playing with the kitty, collecting every rock he sees and sword fighting with sticks (which Luke taught him how to do, lol). Just a side note the poor kid has just cut one tooth on the bottom and has four coming in on top. He has been running a fever on and off and when he has the fever he has been throwing up. Poor guy! let's hope these teeth push through soon.

Running

Just did the 5 k on my treadmill. 32 mins

Running

Took the kids out and ran 1.5 miles on the dirt road. It felt good to b outside. Didn't time it.

Running

I recently signed me and James up for a 5k this month and a 10k in April. This is my attempt at staying active
And somewhat fit during this pregnancy. So I have decided I want to keep a sort of journal of my daily workouts here on my blog feel free to skip over or ignore them they will be titled running. Lately I have been running 3 miles about 4x a week at about 35 min sometimes slower sometimes faster and that includes warm ups. To be honest I kind of feel like a slug while I run my body just doesn't move like it normally does, but that's ok I am just going to keep going until I can't anymore or it gets to uncomfortable. Now that the weather is warming up I will be heading out doors more which is what I really love. So here we go!

Bye bye chickens

With me being pregnant again and James gone, oh about 70% of the time, I have been trying to simplify our life a little so I don't feel overwhelmed and can focus on the most important things like out children, so we sold the chickens this morning. Sad but a good thing, next we are going to try and sell Oscar our male golden retriever. I feel like right now instead of having two adult in our house at 100% I am here at about 50% (because of nausea and fatigue) and James is at 30% (because he is gone). It leaves a lot missing. I do need to count my blessing I have been less sick this time around and I have been able to exercise which has help me not feel as depressed as I have during other pregnancy. I told James the other day that yeah its a bummer we have to sacrifice some the things in our life that we want to do or like but that we are sacrificing to bring a child into the world and that the most important thing.

Smoking

Just my thoughts. Why is it still legal to smoke in restaurants in Texas? Why would I want to risk my health breathing in someone's second hand smoke just so I can eat out, sorry not going to happen.

Kindergarten

It was time for a change. Today is Lukes first day of kindergarten. I cried for about 10 mins last night. I am pretty sure it was just baby hormones.

Bella funny

Last night while the kids were sleeping James shaved the beard he had been growing for about the last month. When Bella notice it was gone this morning her response was. "Dad you need your beard so you can be handsome, how are people going to know your James??? Just put it back on." Lol

Royce's 12 mos checkup

Weight 24.3 (90%).
Height 31.5 (95%).    
Head 18.5 (77%).  
He is developmentally right on track and is a very healthy, happy young man.

If 3 is a crowd 4 will be a party!

Big brother to bee!