Love...

We've been very busy! I've been trying to jog three times a week which means getting up, getting ready and out the door before it's hot. Hopefully I can keep it up while it warms up more (it doesn't hurt jogging to a park with a splash pad!)

These two are so funny together!


J at the splash pad, he had so much fun.


More couch time.


J in Shawn's glasses.


I have to share this picture. I was trying to get a shot of Sarah and her milk, which she loves. And I just caught her at a weird time, when I looked at it I honestly laughed so hard I cried. Hope it gives you a laugh, too! She's such a little crazy baby, she climbs on everything and nearly gives me a heart attack at least once a day. No real words (although she does say "ahhh-choo!") but that's okay, I have one talker that keeps me plenty busy.


This is the picture I was trying to take.


We took J's booster seat off the chair, in our quest to move him into being a 'big boy.' Next step...the bed? We'll see. He can climb out of his crib but doesn't do it unless we tell him it's ok.

Bubbie!

We have Bubbie in town for a few days and we have been having so much fun! We've been to Costco, our local park, and a few other places.

The Cave Creek Regional Park is beautiful this time of year! So worth the drive and the $6 to get in.

Good thing we have an off-roading stroller!


playing at the park (pretty much all we did!)


Crazy slide..


Going to in and out for lunch (of course!)


Cuddling. (Sarah's much more comfortable this time around)


bribing with food for pictures!


playing at the park


Of course, it wouldn't be a visit without a trip to the Farm at South Mountain for breakfast. The flowers are blooming and it is gorgeous there!



We bought some carrots from Maya's farm, which J loves. (they are organic and so yummy!)


And some beautiful wildflowers.

Updates and videos

It's been awhile since I actually wrote out what the kids are up to, so here goes.

Sarah - 1 year. I can hardly believe it! At Easter celebrations this past weekend, I remembered a year ago when we had everyone at our house and Sarah was a wee newborn. She's so different. A smart little cookie, she's not talking, which is fine with me. I'm sure she has words - she tries to imitate sounds - but she doesn't say anything like "mama" yet. She imitates when you sneeze, she barks like the dogs, and I think the other day she said "uh-oh" (Jeremiah's been trying to teach her that one.) She signs like crazy and picks up on them quickly - 'please' is her first big one, which she uses constantly! She also uses 'more,' 'dog,' 'giraffe,' 'airplane,' and 'bird.' She's quite clever, whenever we're outside and I hear an airplane (they are almost constant here!), I ask: "Sarah, do you hear (I touch her ear) the airplane?" (sign airplane) So now when she hears (not sees) and airplane, she touches her ear, then signs airplane. She's also figured out how to jump and is a big time climber. She loves to climb on whatever she can.
She recently had her one year check up - she was 23lbs (75th percentile) and 31.5" (95th percentile). She's wearing 18 month shorts/pants and 24 month shirts.
Here's a fun video of her crying. She discovered she could make this odd sound so now whenever she gets upset she does it. It's like Chewbacca (is that right?)



Jeremiah - 2 yrs, 9mo. I also can't believe he'll be THREE soon. Tonight I was looking at him and he's such a boy! His advancements have mostly been speech related. For instance, up until a few weeks ago he couldn't say "Stop" - he'd say "Fop." Then one day, he just starts saying "Stop." And from the moment Sarah was born he called her "Sa-zah" - but the last two days he's started calling her "Sa-ah." He's also going through a phase of not wanting to eat anything, which I guess is normal...as well as not napping every day. He's learning his letters, not really by anything that I'm doing on purpose, (I did buy an alphabet game today, though!) He loves to hear 'stories' before bed, anything made up about him and Shawn going on an adventure to the car wash or hiking up a mountain. He has such an imagination! He's also started singing songs. I don't think he'll be American Idol 46 or anything, but it's so adorable to hear!

So here are videos of J-bear. First video: singing. Second video: being his crazy self.

Happy Easter!

We had a great and busy Easter weekend!

First, the Laveen Egg hunt that a church and the town council puts on.

The most awkward Easter bunny picture ever. Balloon in J's face, major squint-face on me, Sarah's fat legs hanging out. Nice.


It was crazy - apparently 200 kids for the 1-4yr 'hunt' and 2000 eggs.


J and Sarah got their 10 eggs in record time. Sarah REALLY is an excellent egg hunter!


Church outfits Easter morning.


This dress is amazing. It's so poofy and pretty...I love it.


Kissing Mick.


Light saber!


Actually pedaling. Wow.


Dead peep pile.


Kris ending another peep's misery.


All in all, a great Easter. Sarah's a little sick, but doing ok.

Sarah's birthday party!

I had a friend from Mops, Heather, come and take photos of Sarah's birthday party so I didn't have to worry. She got some amazing shots! This is her website!

Before the party, trying to get some regular food into before all the sugar!


Snack time!


We woke J up from his nap, he was a little overwhelmed with all the people there so he needed some mommy cuddles.


Me and my sweet kids!


Aren't they sweet??



My new favorite picture of her!



J & Grandpa taking a ride in the Vette!


And she's off!!


The cupcakes (homemade, well, not the frosting, I was going to make it homemade but it turned out terrible!)


Decorations...


Singing to the birthday girl.


"All for me?!?"


mmmmm!





What would a birthday party be without a fall? Just after this picture was taken, Sarah, who is normally very cautious when exiting the door, fell totally forward. She caught herself with her hands, but did bump her head a little. She recovered quickly.