Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Because of my race McKay took the day off which we LOVE! After a doughnut shop stop in Salt Lake we headed home to listen to conference. In between sessions we headed to my Moms for our annual hunt there.





























As always Peyton made out great! He needs more kids to have to share the wealth with!




















He tried so hard to get that thing in his mouth!




















My Mom makes it fun for us too and hides money in our eggs! I made $20 this year!



































Chayce quite enjoyed his presents this year...my Mom got him a darling puzzle he's showing off here.















This is Chayce's new friend the Easter Bunny. He jumps up and down and sings a song. Chayce stares at him for awhile and then tries to knock him down. Wants to show him who's boss!




















For about 20 minutes Peyt was entertained by Daddy throwing his Easter baskets at his head! This was a pretty good shot in the action!































We headed over to Grammy and Papas after conference on Saturday for the second hunt! Thanks for the fun Easter presents! The boys love their toys, candy and cute new outfits!


































Checking out the new stuff!















Sunday was spent relaxing and enjoying a delicious ham and potato dinner at my parents. What a great holiday to reflect on the Savior and his perfect life. I hope everyday I come a little closer to being more like Him. I have a long way to go but at least we have a great pattern to follow.

Inspired

McKay and I watched this last night and I loved it! I'm grateful for movies that inspire you to want to be a better person...especially when they really happened. I love Leigh Anne Tuohy...sassy with a genuinely good heart. If you haven't seen this yet I highly recommend you do!

10 Miles

I ran my first race of the season on Saturday...the Salt Lake 10-miler and oh was it an experience. The forecast called for snow Saturday morning so I was doubtful to run it anyway. I've been dealing with a cold for a few weeks now and just didn't think I had it in me to run in the snow. Lisa, Mandy (Lisa's sister) and our friend Ashley were planning to do it so I was contemplating it. After not getting much sleep the night before I figured I'd just get up and do it. There wasn't any snow down here so I figured it couldn't be too bad.

We got up there and the roads are pure ice...and it was freezing! The wind was blowing and I couldn't believe I had actually decided to do it! No giving up now though I guess.

The first two miles were uphill and the rest was downhill. Once we started going it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Once we got up the hill the winds sure kicked up and it was COLD! It got much better as we came down the canyon. I'm surprised the icy roads didn't affect my run as much as I thought.

Besides trying to get over the cold and not feeling well about halfway through the race I still finished in an hour and a half...a little slower than I'd hoped for but considering the circumstances it wasn't half bad! Thanks for the motivation Lisa to still go! I sent my application in for the St. George marathon on April 1st...can't wait to hear!

March Highlights

Of course I failed to write down our highlights from February...so here's March at least:

*Celebrated my Dad's birthday
*Went to Thanksgiving Point with Grandma
*Watched BYU FINALLY win an NCAA tournament game against Florida in double-overtime
*Took Peyton to the play "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" at the Scera...he loved it!
*Cheering for the Jazz to take the 2nd spot in the Western Conference into the playoffs!
*Getting ready to get our backyard redone! YEAH!
*Took a few trips to Jump on It and the Lehi indoor pool with friends
*My little boy turned 3! He's preschool age now! Went to Jungle Jims and Cheesecake Factory to celebrate!
*Excited that our little twin nephews are doing so well...they are so sweet!
*New Relief Society calling is in full swing
*Books read - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Party!!!

I love any excuse for a party and birthdays are the best time for them! McKay took a Saturday off which is somewhat rare. It was SO nice to have him with us! We took Peyton up to Jungle Jim's Playhouse in Midvale (I went there once as a kid also). A little ghetto and we saw all kinds of interesting people, but they have a handful of kiddie rides that Peyt thought were pretty cool!















The first time around on the bumper cars the worker kid put Peyton on a broken car! Poor boy was trying so hard to get it to work and it just wasn't. He eventually got a better car and had a great time crashing into kids and driving the car in circles.






























Even Dad got in on the action! They went on this together a few times.




















Sunday night we had the family over for a BBQ.















Peyton had the "cheese" fake smile the whole night. I guess its part of the memory making to get your toddler's faces of "I don't want you to take my picture, but hurry up and do it!" I found his plate of food about two hours later with everything still on it except the pickles and olives. He's usually a burger fan but must have been too busy playing to enjoy it.














Opening the presents was more fun for him than actually finding out what he got. He was done in about five minutes this year instead of 30 minutes the previous years!




















His first big boy bike! He's a little unsure about it. It tips a little because the training wheels aren't completely level to the ground. I'm sure he'll end up loving it eventually!















Peyt now shares his birthday celebration with Uncle Kurt, Angel's husband. He's a good sport to share his big day with a three year old!















We had a puppy party with a puppy cake. Thanks to my friend Marnee, I had a pattern to make this cake. Cake decorating is not my forte but I try to make it fun anyway!













































This has become a tradition to remember what years and where all the toys in our house came from! Again, he was given so many nice gifts! Thank you to everyone for your generosity! He will love it all!















To finish off the festivities my Mom took us up to Cheesecake Factory yesterday for lunch. Too bad Peyt didn't touch the Mac and Cheese we ordered him but he was fine to have some dessert! Thanks Mom!

What a fun weekend honoring our Peyton Buddy! Love You!

THREE

Three years since I held this little man in my arms for the first time.
Three years since I buckled him into his car seat for the first time.
Three years since I tucked him into bed and sung him his first lullaby.
Three years to be lucky enough to have him call me MOM!




















Peyt kicking back in his new big boy car seat. He's a little concerned with Chayce taking over his seat, but I'm hoping the cool cup holder will convince him his is better.




















Picture taking is a new adventure with a toddler. Some days I can catch him in the right moment and get a candid, great smile. Most of the time its a posed, "hurry and take the picture Mom" smile. At his party last night that's about all we got!




















For the few challenges being a Mother brings, I could write lists and lists of blessings and gifts Peyton brings to my life. I watch teenage boys with their Moms and can't wait to watch our relationship grow and develop. Peyton has so much excitement for life and loves to learn. Many days are filled with playing cars, reading books, coloring, watching movies (more than we should!) and soon to be playing outside. One of many things I love about Peyton is when he says to me, "I'm so glad you're happy Mom" and proceeds to give me a hug when he perceives I'm not so happy.

I can honestly say I don't have any regrets through the first three years in raising him (aside from wanting to improve on my mothering skills!). Sometimes its hard to believe time goes by so quickly, but I look forward to him growing up and becoming a strong, independent person. I just hope I'm doing everything I can to lead him in the right direction.

Peyton...you are so loved and appreciated by your Mom and Dad. You add so much to our family and will be a great leader to your younger siblings. We look forward to watching you grow up and become a handsome young man!

Museums and Chayce Update

Again thanks to Grandma, Peyton has been exposed to visiting museums. We decided to take a quick trip to the Bean Museum a few weeks ago with Tyke. I hadn't been there in YEARS and it was nostalgic to go back and walk around. I think they boys had the most fun playing in the children's room with a bunch of random toys...at least I'm trying to help Peyton understand and appreciate higher learning!




















I had to post the evolution of getting Chayce to smile in a picture. Sometimes it only takes one shot but other times I think the flash will make him go blind because I keep taking them due to half smiles and funny faces like the first two below...







































But alas we usually get at least a pleasant face :)




















This child has been great in many ways and a little stinker in a few ways. He needs attention and love continuously (which is mostly just great...except when dinner needs to be made or laundry folded!) When Mom or Dad walk out of the room he makes sure we don't forget about him. His scream/screech will pierce anyone's ears (yes, even deaf people!) I can't believe he's 10 months and we'll soon be letting him dive into his own birthday cake! He is finally loving solid foods and can't get enough Mac and Cheese!

I need to get a picture, but his bottom two teeth have FINALLY cut through. I've been saying he's teething for months now and they've finally decided to appear. Maybe having teeth will make him feel old enough to crawl!

He's also been clapping when we clap for him which I love! He's so much fun! LOVE YOU CHAYCE!

Grandma Day

I am very lucky and have a wonderful mother who believes in "Grandma Day". She takes Peyt about once a week to do something fun just the two of them. He looks forward to it and so do I :) This time Chayce and I tagged along...






























One of his first encounters with a live animal...too bad it was an ugly turkey!















LOVE this handsome man...and the cheeks!






























Peyt loves to feed the goats.

Thanks Mom for making so many great memories with Peyt and giving me a few hours one child less each week!

Pro's Birthday

Yesterday we had a balloon send-off at the cemetery for Grandpa's birthday. Although it was windy/snowy/slushy/cold, it was a nice reminder of his life and the great man he was. I think Grandpa was celebrating with us because...















A cluster of balloons drifted their way into Pappy and Ilene's tree (they are Grandma Shoell's parents who have been gone for a number of years). Their home is a few blocks south-east of the cemetery and it just so happens these balloons ended up there. A sweet reminder that Grandpa is not very far from us :)

UHHHH

Just finished watching the BYU/UNLV home game in the MWC Tournament game and I am TICKED! I'm so sick and tired of that situation. I think I'll be complaining about this every season's end until something changes. I'm BUGGED! They play that game in the Marriott Center, BYU wins. DUMB!