Walks

Everynight after dinner we go on a walk, the kids love to go on them and it is a good way for me to get a little bit of much needed exercise. We used to just push Ella in her stroller while Jaxson rode in his escalade but lately she has decided that it's fun to ride in the escalade with brother. It is hilarious to walk behind them and see the backs of their little heads as they drive down the sidewalk. Ella will put her head on Jaxson's arm while they are driving or put her arm around him. This always makes Nick and I laugh, it is so cute! I think this is one of the things I am going to miss the most about summer. Our walks have been such a fun thing for our little family to do.

now thats what I call ridin in style


silly kids!

how cute is this!


look at that little face

Bathtime

Jaxson and Ella love their bathtime. Now that Ella is bigger her and Jaxson can have baths together. Jax thinks it's pretty cool to have his baby sister in the bath with him, except for the time she pooped in the bathtub. He didn't think that was funny at all! However he does think it's funny to pour water on his sisters head, must be a big brother thing. Fortunately for her she doesn't mind having water poured on her head, but when she learns how to do it back to her big brother I don't think he will find it very funny. Jax also thinks it's funny to splash water on mommy and daddy, Ella is quickly catching on to this fun trick. I don't think I ever make it through bath time with my clothes still dry. I have learned to not wear nice clothes while bathing the kiddos! I love the way they smell after bathtime, it is my favorite time to snuggle with my babies.

Don't they look cuddly?

How does he think of these things?

We were in the car driving home from the bank today, and Jaxson said "Mom, how does the water in the ocean get salty?" Before I could even come up with an answer for him he came up with his own answer. He said "I know how da water in da ocean got salty. Someone was cooking on da beach one day and dey had a big thing of salt to cook with, and a big huge wave came up on da beach and it took da thing of salt out into da middle of da ocean. All of da salt from da salt thing poured out into da ocean and dat is how da ocean got salty mom!" This of course made me laugh! HARD! Then he said "mom, do you want to know how I know dat?" I said of course I wanted to know how he knew that. He grinned and said "because im soooo smart mom!" I said you are REALLY smart buddy! He said "yep I know mom!" That little mind of his is always working and he comes up with some of the funniest things to say!

For everyone

So I figured since I have blogged about my best friend, my sister and brother that I should probably write a little something about all of the other important people in our lives. I must apologize in advance because this blog could get rather sappy. But I don't want to leave anyone out, and we want to make sure that everyone knows how much we love them! So here goes....

To my amazing hubby for treating me like a princess (even when I don't deserve it) and for being such an incredible daddy to our two beautiful children. I love you so much!

To my absolutely adorable Nephew Gabriel. I love you so much Gabey! You always keep us entertained with all of the funny things that you say and do.

To my brother-in-law Derek. I am so proud to call you my brother, you are so good to my little sister (thank you for putting up with her) and you are such an incredible daddy to Gabriel. We love you!

To my mother and father-in law. I cannot tell you how much it means to me that you have accepted Jaxson and I. From the day Nick and I started dating you have been so good to us. I am so grateful that I not only found the perfect daddy for my little boy, but that the perfect daddy came with such great grandparents. Jaxson and Ella love their "Papa George and Grandma Bonnie" and Nick and I appreciate everything that you guys do for us. We love you guys so much!

To my dad for being the "dad he didn't have to be". You have always been such a good dad, and you have always been there for me. Thank you for everything that you do for us and for being such a good "Papa Kirk" to Jaxson and Ella. I love you so much dad!

To my mom for being there for me no matter what. You are not only an incredible mom but you are my best friend. I know you will always be there for me. You are the strongest woman I know. I would not be the mommy that I am without you. Thank you for everything that you do for us. And for being such a good "Soma" and whatever name Ella comes up with for you! I love you so much mom!

To all of our grandparents and all of our other family members, we love you all so much!

And last but certainly not least...
To my two beautiful babies. Mommy loves both of you so much! You both mean the world to daddy and I and we can't imagine our lives without both of you.
To Jaxson for always being my big helper and for being such a good big brother to your sissy. You will always be my baby boy no matter how old you get! I love you buddy.
To my little princess Ella. You are such a beautiful baby girl and you are growing up so fast! You will always be my little princess. Mommy loves you so much!!

18

My little brother Colby turned 18 on saturday. I can't believe that he is already 18! I remember the day that my parents told us that we were going to have a new brother or sister. It was Christmas Eve when they told us, and a few days before we were at temple square to see the christmas lights. My parents gave me a penny to throw in the pond and make a wish, after I threw the penny in they asked me what I wished for. I told them that I wished for a baby brother, my mom had found out that she was pregnant just a few days before but they hadn't told my sister and I yet. When they told us that she was going to have a baby I just knew it was going to be a brother. I was right of course (I usually am, just ask my husband) and I could not wait for him to get here. When he was a baby I would wake up in the mornings and go into my parents room and get Colby out of his bassinet and just hold him. I couldn't get enough of him. I don't think Colby has ever been in trouble a day in his life. Maybe he just figures that my sister and I into enough trouble and he should give my parents a break. Or maybe he really is just perfect! I don't think he has been late for anything ever in his life, no tardies NOTHING! When parent teacher confrences roll around he isn't sweating bullets like my sister and I used to because there is no reason for him to be in any trouble. Im not sure how he does it but I am so proud of him! He is such a good responsible kid and he is such a good uncle to Jaxson, Gabriel and Ella and they love their uncle "obeey"!

Happy Birthday Colby. We love you!

Here are a few pictures from his birthday bbq we had last night. Birthday boy Jaxson loves baby JaygenBrecklyn and EllaElla and JaygenSilly faceBrooke and Phil (neiner neiner neiner) Jaxson helping uncle obeey make ice creamThis is what we call a pissed off princess.

Jaxson is pouting because mommy and daddy told him he could not have more root beer (he is sooo neglected).

Sassy

This morning Ella was a bit of a sassy little princess. I made her some rice cereal for breakfast, which she will rarely eat lately because she wants to eat food that she can pick up and feed herself. But I decided to feed it to her because she really does like it. When I was fixing it she was pointing at it grinning because she wanted it NOW. But when I tried to feed it to her, she threw her head back and started shaking her head. I finally got a bite into her mouth and she realized that she really did want it. But apparently I was not feeding it to her fast enough! Between bites she would start kicking her feet and pointing at the bowl. She hadn't even swallowed the last bite before she started flipping out! She ate the cereal in about 2.2 seconds and then she was mad because it was gone. So I got out the bread (which she usually loves) she looked at it and started shaking her head "no" and tried to hit the bread out of my hands. Until I put a piece of it into her mouth, then she realized that she really did want the bread. She quit throwing a temper tantrum long enough to eat about 5 bites, then she decided it wasn't good enough. So she started throwing a temper tantrum AGAIN. So I got out her little yogurt bites that she usually loves. Once again she started flipping out and trying to hit those out of my hands, until she put one in her mouth. When all of the yogurt bites were gone she once again began to throw a temper tantrum. I gave her some milk and this was apparently acceptable for little miss princess because she took it and grinned. I have NO idea who she gets this from.... Dont let this innocent little face fool you!

Two places at once

Yesterday while I was getting ready Jax was in my room watching sponge bob on my bed. Or so I thought. I had just poked my head out of the bathroom to make sure he was ok, and to make sure he was still there watching his show. Two minutes later Jax came walking in to the bathroom drinking from a sippy cup. I looked at him and said "what are you drinking and where did you get it?" He looked at me and grinned and said "I was thirsty so I went downstairs and made myself some ovaltine." I had to laugh because he was so proud of himself for doing this. I said "how did you make the ovaltine by yourself." He just looked at me like "DUH" mom. He said "I climbed up on the counter and got out da ovaltine, den I got da milk out of da fridge. Den I got a sippy cup out of the cupboard and I got out a spoon and put da ovaltine into da sippy cup. Den I poured da milk in to da sippy cup, den I stirred it!" I said "how did you pour the milk without spilling it?" He said "because im big mom." This comment was followed by an eye roll. Then he said "well, I sort of spilled da milk a LITTLE. But dont worry mom, I cleaned it up with a paper towel." I was having a difficult time keeping a straight face through this conversation. I asked him if he put the milk back in the fridge. Again he rolled his eyes and said "ya mom." I don't know how he went downstairs and made the ovaltine so fast. But since I cannot be in two places at once, I just had to laugh. He is getting so big and he just wants to do things himself, except when it involves cleaning up hisplayroom.