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!

Organ Donation

My Dad's amazing brother Steve FINALLY received a kidney and a pancreas last Thursday. Our family has been praying and hoping for the last FOUR plus years for this day to come. Steve has very patiently gone through dialysis three times a week for a number of years, hardly a complaint coming from his mouth.

Steve has lived with diabetes since he was a little boy and over time his kidneys had worn down to nothing. Now with a new pancreas, they say it basically means he doesn't have diabetes anymore. We are SO excited for him.

He has been called up two separate times for the transplant and both times they haven't been able to get the pancreas out in working order...so he's been sent home. This time was the charm...everything worked out perfectly and his body has accepted the organs. We feel so grateful his opportunity has come.

While our family is so excited right now, his new organs mean someone has passed away. I am a believer in organ donation and would gladly give my organs to someone who needed them should something ever happen to me. I have strong feelings about this because of my uncle.

We love you Steve and are so happy for you!

Go USA

I love it when Americans win gold medals...

The Front Porch

I really love the new additions to my front porch. I asked McKay if I avoided sweets for the month of January if I could get two black rocking chairs for the front porch. On February 1st my sweet husband came home with them! He is so thoughtful...thanks babe!

I then took my Christmas money (can't believe I still had it...I take the first opportunity with gift money to spend it!) and bought the little black table and accessories to go with it all. It was a fun little project for me. I can't wait to sit on the porch with McKay on summer evenings after the boys are in bed!

Chayce is my little chomper. I really feel like he's been teething for four months! I've felt little bumps where teeth should be coming up for a few months now so I'm guessing anytime they'll be coming in! He's also quite the little screecher and never lets us forget he's around! For the most part he is a great baby and makes us all very happy!

"Jesus Gives Me Huge Hugs"

I love Peyton's little voice and wish I had a recorder at all times when he says cute things. They always sound so much cuter repeated directly from him :) We're at my Mom's today and this is what he says...

After walking past a picture of Jesus on the floor..."Mom Jesus laughs at me". I look at him with a very confused look not sure how to respond, which he then follows up with "Jesus gives me HUGE hugs." Loved this moment of the day and needed to write it down.