Yo Ho Yo Ho

Birthdays are my favorite days of the year...it's so fun for me to celebrate another great year of life with my kids. Our first all about me poster for Peyt's preschool.

Grandma Neiger sent money for us to get Tangled! Peyton loves it almost as much as Mom does :)

New hat and sunglasses from Mom and Dad. He picked the hat out himself...glad he has pretty good taste in clothing and accessories!

Our big four year old! We threw two parties for Peyt...our annual family party and his first ever friend party! Peyt decided on a pirate theme this year and it was so fun for me to plan! Thanks to Oriental Trading we found lots of great things to do!

Party favors and cake!

Here are nine cute little boys ready to go on the treasure hunt!

And nine cute little boys dying to see what Peyton got for his birthday!

Thanks Lisa for the idea for the cute cake! I ordered the finger puppets from Oriental Trading and they worked perfect for the cake decor!

Also made x marks the spot cupcakes for the family party...Friday night we had the Erks and Neigers over for a celebration.

Thanks to aunt and uncles on the Erk side for this fun scooter and MegaMind! He loves it!

Aunt Chels and Nick! They brought him the Sleeping Beauty sword and shielf from Disneyland! He loves it! Also thanks to uncle Jack for the Buzz flip flops and car!

Grammy and Papa got Peyton a wiggle car! It's a really fun toy! Lucy had fun pushing Peyton on it :) Thanks to my Mom and Dad also for the cute towel, cars, Nike jacket and puzzle!

Peyt with birthday buddy uncle Kurt!

I guess I slacked on family pictures this year and this is the only group shot I got!

And the gift overhaul. Thanks family for all the great gifts! Peyt also loves his new lego sets from the McArthurs!

Crazy to think another year has come and gone. I learn new things about myself and these sweet little boys each year (I must admit I learn the bad in myself too sometimes...) All in all its been a great four years so far and can't wait for what the future has in store for us as a family :)

He's FOUR

Can't believe Peyt turned four yesterday. Pictures from the celebrations to come but I wanted to post his birthday video for grandparents to watch :)

SWEET!

Round of 64...Goodbye Wofford (whoever you are anyway)
Round of 32...Goodbye Gonzaga (you got Jimmered, Jacksoned, Hartsocked and yes even Andersoned)
Sweet 16...Florida...we'll see if we have another one for the history books.

Either way, what an amazing time its been watching Jimmer Fredette and this team play the way they have this season.

3.6.11

I'm marking the day for you Dad. Today he was called to be the Stake President of the BYU 17th Stake in Orem. He is such an incredible, humble man and my Mom is just as great. They will do a fabulous job for the young married couples they serve...they are lucky to have them.

Life has been so good. I've put off updating our life here lately so I was determined to do it tonight. I'm so grateful I've been blessed with good health and can chase around my two crazy boys all day. We are getting so close to finishing the basement which I will share once it's all finished! It will be heaven to enjoy that extra space where all the toys will be!

Love you all!

Brothers

These two love each other. We get about most of the day unharmed (besides a few pushes and shoves here and there). Peyton loves to dress up...this day included playing Peter Pan and Captain Hook with kitchen utensils.

I'm pretty lucky :)

Peyton

Are you seriously almost four! Hard to believe. You have taught me so much as a Mom and a person and I'm so grateful for your strong, happy and imaginative personality. It's so exciting for me to think what the future has in store for you!

Peyt always has great questions to ask and wants to know the correct answer! He says so many funny things and I need to be better about writing them all down. The minute his Dad walks in the door he's ready to play (mostly pretend where he is He Man and Daddy is Trap Jaw or some other weird character from that show!)

He's done well in preschool this year and loves it! The other day he told me it was a lion day (rainy outside) but hopefully it would turn into a lamb day soon. So fun to watch his little mind work and understand the world better!

One thing I love that Peyton does is he asks me to "lay down for a little minute" with him every night. He appreciates the company and protection of his Mom and Dad which I am grateful for...I need to remind myself of that every night. No minute spent with my boys is wasted :)

Chayce

What a joy this little guy is! I love his sweet, mild (mostly) spirit that helps us to be kind and loving in our house! Here he is with "MiMI" whom he cannot go to bed without.

He is quite obsessed with "nonos" (particularly the small white powdered ones) and would eat 10 a day if I let him. He can spot that blue bag a mile away! Good thing he also loves to "brush" and would walk around with a toothbrush in his mouth all day!

One thing I really love about Chayce is he is very obedient. When I ask him to do something he rarely ignores me but immediately listens. How lucky right! I hope it's a trait he has his whole life! He also loves to sing and will sing along to almost all his nighttime songs. He is my little cuddle bug and I love him for it.

You bring so much happiness to my life Chayce. Thanks for being my little man!

Things that go bump in the night

About a month ago I heard Peyt wimpering in his bedroom around midnight. I thought he was just tossing and turning and didn't pay much attention. Eventually it got a little bit louder so I went up to check...he was laying in an awkward position on the floor with something all over his face. I brought him to the light to find blood everywhere! Panic set in and I rushed downstairs to get McKay's help.

He had fallen out of bed and knocked his lip/chin on the corner of his end table. The gash was pretty deep and didn't want to stop bleeding so we headed into the ER for stitches. He was such a brave little boy! We made it home about 2 a.m. that morning for some much needed sleep.

So we've conquered our first ER trip which I fear will not be the last. I just hope late night accidents don't happen too often because they are not cheap!

Discovery Gateway

I'm rewinding back to December...I never posted about our great day at Discovery Gateway. My boys loved it and we will be returning someday soon.

Growing up my Mom took us to the Children's Museum all the time. It has since closed and Discovery Gateway is pretty much the same thing. It brought back lots of memories walking through with my boys. These family memories are what life is made of :)

After the museum we drove home in a horrendous winter storm, but made it home just fine. Thanks McKay for taking some time off during the holidays to spend with us. We love being together as a family!

Sorry another basketball note...

...but I have to document how deflated I feel. I take this BYU team way too much to heart and I am well aware I care way too much...last night was a big punch in the gut.

With that being said, I'm not giving up or counting out the Cougars! Can't wait to cheer them on to victory on Saturday and hope for the best in the MWC tournament :)