O & P

While Brad was in India, I took some pictures of the boys to send to him.  They turned out pretty cute!  I can't believe how fast these two are growing.  They are both so fun, full of personality, and add their own special tone to our family.  Owen is busy, smart, clever, and determined.  He's a singer, a great helper, and an awesome big brother.  Porter is easy going, sensitive, sweet, and attentive.  His sensitive nature keeps us in check with the tone & volume of our voices (a little bit challenging with Owen), and that has been a great blessing to our home.

Porter-- 8 months

Owen-- 2 1/2 years

Sunny St. George

Over Mother's Day weekend I was able to drive to St. George with my cousin and meet up with my mom & my aunt for a Girl's Weekend.  We had a little party crasher in the form of a 7 month old baby boy-- but he was so good, he hardly slowed us down!  And I think he may have had the best time of all:

1.  Bathing in the sink

2.  First taste of ice cream

3.  Undivided attention of 4 ladies

5.  Catching up on all the latest Hollywood gossip

6.  First time in a pool

Yeah, he had fun!

We shopped, ate yummy food, swam, read, watched movies, explored downtown & the farmer's market, chatted, relaxed, and enjoyed the time together!   

None of us were ready to head home come Sunday.   While I drove back to Salt Lake, Brad got on a plane to India for a 12 day business trip.  Yikes!  That was a long time to be on my own with the little guys, but we survived and I'm glad I got a little "Mommy Time" to give me a needed boost right of energy for those two weeks!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven!  

Good to the last crumb!  Yum!

Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival

We love getting together with Marla & her boys.  Marla and I are walking buddies, and try to walk almost every morning together with our double strollers, toys, snacks, drinks, blankets and/or hats, in tow.  It's quite the spectacle I'm sure, but we do it!  The boys usually do great, and enjoy "sharing" toys back and forth, talking, looking for trucks/tractors/buses, and eating/drinking.  We usually walk about 3 miles-- go us!  I really enjoy our walks & our talks.

Now that the weather has warmed up, I've ventured out on a few excursions with Marla & her boys.  In April we ventured over to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival.  The boys always have such a great time together.  And luckily Owen is starting to be less of a runner, so I don't dread taking him out to big, crowded areas as much as I used to.  (Oh man, last summer.  Pregnant mom + Running toddler= Awful.  So glad we are over that.)

It was a fun afternoon!

Porter just enjoying the ride. He is always so good when we're out and about.

Owen & Kaden loved feeding the koi fish.   

 

This picture reminded me a lot of the picture below when Owen was 1.  Can't believe that was almost 2 years ago.

Can't end an afternoon with friends without rolling down the hill.  Maybe the highlight of the afternoon for Owen!

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

The day after we got back from California we all came down with colds.  Since we were detoxing from our 10 days of vacation, and home-bound with colds, I figured we might as well start the potty training!  Owen had 3 accidents over the first 2 days and since then has been accident free!  He even wears underwear at night.  The 2nd night of potty training Brad decided to cut a hole in Owen's pacifier.  (We had been talking about doing this for awhile, but I didn't think doing it at the same time as potty training was the best option for my sanity.)  Surprisingly he did awesome!  A few confused minutes of sucking, followed by the statement "Paci broken....trash."  He threw it away and hasn't looked back!  He fussed a little the first night, but has done great.  My little guy is growing up!

 Owen's been sporting the no-pants look quite frequently lately...what a cute little tush!

The last known picture of "Paci".  RIP.  You were a great friend, but now it is onto bigger and better things.  Like talking without a mouth full of rubber, or closing that open bite!

And one last picture of this 7 month old cutie, just because!