{Catching up}

Here's my attempt on getting all caught up.

First of all, I'm feeling really bad that I didn't do a special post for my sweetheart on
Father's day.


Logan has blown me away. When I married him, I always imagined that he would be a good father, but he has gone above and beyond my wildest dreams. Our children adore him. Not only is he fun and carefree, but he is patient and kind. He is an example to me every day and I am honored to have the opportunity to raise a family with him.

The day before Father's day we had a nice BBQ with our neighbors to celebrate and all the fun just tuckered this little guy right out!

{Sleepy tates in Madi's polka dot chair}

Crazy Soph. Need I say more. Many things have happened since she turned 2 just a mere 2 weeks ago. First of all. . .


She's in a big girl bed! (ghetto, I know) For your information this is not by choice. She started climbing out of her crib and I was so worried that she would hurt herself that I decided to bite the bullet and put the crib away. We have had a crib in our house (2, at one point) for the last 3 1/2 years. It does feel good to be crib-free, but having 2 mobile children in the night is going to take some getting used to.

And last but not least. . . Spring Concert!

About a year ago I started teaching at the Jazz Dancer Studio here in Layton. My good friend Courtney owns the studio. I only teach one night a week, and I only teach the advanced girls (my requirements) and it has been an absolute blast! I have really grown to love these girls.

Last night was our year end concert. It was a long night, but we had a great time! Here's some pictures of my little stinkers:


{Express Company}

{Senior Company}


{Elite Company}

{the big day}

Saturday was a big day for us. Not only was it Sophie's birthday, but it was Ayden's preschool graduation!

The night before the big day, we were lucky enough to have the Hall kids spend the night. These cousins sure love sleepovers.

{These 3 couldn't decided who got to sleep on the floor}

Logan was in heaven when he realized that Josh brought his new PS2 game. He used to play video games more and he has mentioned that he misses it. Josh was also pumped to have someone to play with.

{These 2 crazy guys stayed up past 2 am!}

On the morning of the big day, the house was shaking with all the noise and excitement. We had a breakfast party (scrambled eggs and donuts). Once the boys were up, we sang to Sophie and let her open her presents.

{That's right, we had cake at 9:21 am}

After the party, the Hall kids left with their Papa and we headed to the graduation. Ayden was exited because his Nana, Papa, Aunt Jenny, and Uncle Mike all came to see him graduate. He did a good job considering how shy he gets in public.


{We even talked him into riding his scooter for his talent.}

I can't believe my little guy did a whole year of preschool. He is so smart and it has been really fun to watch him learn and grow over this last year.


After graduation we had some delicious cafe rio with our guests and then headed off to build-a-bear workshop! Ayden has been begging to go there for months, and I told him that it had to be a special occasion. And it definitely was.

{The kids had an absolute blast making their new stuffed friends}

{Carrying them around in their cute backpacks}

{And even sleeping with them}

The perfect ending to a wonderful day.

{haPpy bIrThdAy SoPh!}

Today is our little Sophie Lynn's 2nd birthday!

Here are some things you should know about Soph:

1. We definitely call her "crazy hair Soph" for a reason. No matter how hard I try. . . at the end of the day she inevitably looks like this.


2. This fearless girl spends most of her day on the counter. (despite my desperate attempts to keep her off it)

3. Sophie has the most adorable dimples you will ever see. (thanks daddy) Her smile can catch your eye from a mile away.




4. She is the ever changing girl. When she was a baby her hair was brown, and now it's blond. And when she was 1 her eyes were blue and now they are hazel.




5. Sophie LOVES shoes!! She loves to wear other people's shoes as well as bring your shoes to you. . . in case you didn't know that you aren't wearing any.



6. Sophie is one of the happiest little creatures I've ever known. She loves to play rough and to get dirty. She loves babies. The other day she spent 15 minutes straight pretending to change her baby's diaper. She loves her brother and she is talking more everyday. Every time she gives you a kiss she always says "lobe ou" right after. She loves to snuggle, sing songs, dance, wrestle, make huge messes for mom to clean up, and get into any kind of trouble she can find.

She is a girl after my own heart. . . she loves Diet Dr Pepper! Now when she asks for a drink and I go to get a sippy for her she says, "NO! Uh Mommies jink!"

Sophie has brought so much joy to our family. I can't believe she is already 2 years old. She's not my baby anymore, but she is turning out to be a really fun big girl.

We love you Foofie! Happy Birthday!

{snug as a bug}

{CTR}

About a month or so ago, my mom gave Ayden a book called CTR Boy. It's a story about a boy who makes a wrong choice and so his mom makes him a cape and a badge so he can be a good boy. He goes around doing good things that day and learns to choose the right.

Well, it's one of our favorite stories of which we make reference to quite frequently.

We are trying some new parenting techniques at our house . . . trying to get things a little more under control and I thought maybe having a little reminder might help.

{the forch}

I glanced over at my house while driving some girls home from Young women's Tuesday night to see a strange sight. Once I arrived home it all made sense.

You remember when Daddy turned the kitchen table into a tent? Well that is old business. This time he built a Forch. (fort on the porch)

With every blanket and pillow we own . . . the kids were having the time of their lives reading books with their Daddy.


Doesn't get any better than that!

{mystery ingredient}

Spaghettio's? What do they put in them? There must be some kind of sleep-aid . . .

Lesson: if your kids are having a hard time napping. . . spaghettio's for lunch.

Works like a charm.