California Trip!

A few months ago, Brad was scheduled to leave for a business trip to India on April 1, the day my mom & the kids were leaving to head back to San Diego.  So we decided that the boys and I would join them!  At the last minute, Brad's trip was postponed to May, so we bought him a plane ticket for a few days later and made a little vacation out of it!  Driving down to San Diego with the boys was so easy since I had all my helpers!  Taryn did great feeding & playing with Porter, and Grant kept the DVD's coming for Owen.

 Owen got to sleep in his own bed in California... we had a few early mornings with the new freedom. More time to play, I guess!

 Porter's first avocado.  Yum!

 Owen's first trip to the dentist.  He did great!  

After Brad flew in, we stayed the night in Coronado.  The next day we grabbed breakfast, walked along the beach, and then headed back to see our boys (but not before grabbing some rolled tacos for lunch!).  It was a fun little getaway! 

 Coronado beach

LOTS of park visits to enjoy the warm sunshine!!  My boys were sporting their BYU pride!

After the park Owen got his first slurpee.  That thing was gone in no time!  He loved it!

This cute girl had her baptism while we were visiting (part of the reason for the trip too!).  Hard to believe she is 8.  I just love my cute little sister!

Mom, Taryn, Dad

I was so happy that my Grandparents were able to make it to the baptism so they could meet Porter and we could visit with them.  

We made sure to get a picture with my other grandparents too.  

We love them all so much!

We had one free day that we decided to make our beach day.  Can't visit California without a beach day, right?  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and it was the only cloudy/rainy day of the trip.  Owen was sooo excited to go to the beach, so he and Brad walked along the water for about 10 minutes while I stayed in the car with Porter.  After they were officially cold, we headed over to see the sea lions at the Children's Beach, and then walk over to the La Jolla Cove.  It was still a fun day, despite the uncooperative weather.

Owen freezing by the water

 Checking out the sea lions 

Bundled up for our walk down to the cove.  Porter was slightly confused about the whole thing, but he was a good sport.

Owen loved playing on the trampoline.  It was very (VERY) dirty, hence the black marks all across his face, but it worked well to get out some wiggles in between Conference sessions.  

Fresh fruit, avocados, sunshine, beautiful flowers, friends & family.  Aaahhh.  I always love visiting home.  

Easter visitors

Keeping with tradition, my mom and 3 youngest siblings came up to spend their Spring Break with us again.  We love it!  My mom is such a huge help with projects I just can't get the motivation to finish (like painting my office!) and my boys love having their aunt & uncles to play with all day long.  We had a blast exploring Scheels, going to the movies, fishing, going to the Fly Fishing Expo (the boys), getting our hair done (the girls), going to a BYU Basketball & Spring Football game, and celebrating Easter.  What a fun trip.  I didn't take any pictures except of our annual Easter decorating at the Hardcastle's.

 Owen 2 1/2...only smiling because of the forthcoming bribe:

 Taryn & cousin Bailey hard at work

Luke

Grant and his Redneck egg

T-i-double gg-er

Homemade orange julius' with Grandma & Grandpa Fox's oranges!  Nothing better!

Susie's "egg".... hmmm....

Angie's butterfly egg

Mimi, Owen & the minion.  Cute!

I love that we can get both families together to celebrate this special time.  I'm so grateful for Easter and the knowledge I have of a Savior who lives and will come again & the hope I have for that day.

6 months & a haircut!

Porter turned 6 months old on March 21!  Wow.  How is that even possible?  Feels like his first year is flying by.  He is finally on a set schedule eating solids & oatmeal at breakfast and dinner.  I have a feeling that I'll be adding in lunch pretty soon.  He has 4 6-ounce bottles a day, sleeps from 7 pm-7 am (can I get a hallelujah!!), is rolling around, and is interested in anything and everything his big brother does.  He still isn't quite able to sit on his own, so lying on the floor is getting a little frustrating because he wants to be up where the action is (ie: steal all of Owen's toys).  He cut his first tooth just a few days after turning 6 months and is working hard on a few more.  He is a very smiley little boy and loves to flirt with strangers, especially anyone sitting behind us in church.  Perhaps the biggest milestone of this month-- he finally got a haircut!  It was very needed!  Yikes!  Didn't realize it had gotten so out of control.

 Real life going on right here-- messy hair, messy faces, and perhaps the most unflattering picture ever snapped of a baby:

We have a roller!

And now some post-haircut pictures... 

Thanks for keeping us smiling P-man!

Lately...

The weather has been beautiful the past two weeks! Thank you March! Between daily walks, park trips, riding the tricycle, and playing in the backyard we have loved being outside!

Throw in some potty training, and we've been busy! The best busy!

February

Between winter colds, croup, stomach flu, 2 1/2 year old woes, & a traveling hubby...February was a looong month!  We have spent over half of it sick!  So while I had visions of library story time, play group, lunch dates, etc. to keep our mind off of the gloomy, cold weather-- it just didn't happen. Instead we had lots of pajama days, LOTS of Despicable Me (per Owen's request) and lots of long nights.

But!  We are on the mend and hopefully back in the swing of things by next week.  Here are some picture of the past month:

Porter all spiffed up and ready for church.  Can I just say that 11:00 church has been amazing for his nap schedule?!  He is usually awake for Sacrament Meeting (but happy, which is good since I play the organ and Brad is flying solo), then falls asleep on the way to Sunday School and snoozes the rest of church.  I am loving it!

Porter turned 5 months old on February 21.  He is such a sweet baby.  Content to chill on the floor with his toys, jump in his exersaucer, and hang in his carseat while we walk at the gym or drive around town to run errands.    He sleeps from 7 pm-4 am, eats a quick bottle, and then is back to bed until 7:30 am.  I'll take it!

Owen ready for "work" in Daddy's jacket.  Notice the lunch pail.  Silly boy!

He is really getting into trains, especially Thomas the Train!  He will entertain himself for hours with these 2 little trains.  Bless you Thomas...

Just this week Porter has figured out that the exersaucer is much more exciting when you jump around.  He's been loving it!

Owen has started coloring for longer than 30 seconds at a time!  I sat with him the other day for almost 20 minutes.  If you know Owen, you know that it is hard to get him to stop for anything.  I love my "Busy Bag" activities, but he is 1-and-done with them.  It is hard to keep his attention for longer than a couple minutes on anything "quiet" (ie: not toys or food or TV or playing outside), so I am excited to see this progress!

 Here's a fun comparison of Porter & Owen in the same outfit.  I'll keep saying it-- these boys definitely have their own look!

The weather is finally warming up and my family is coming into town soon-- I have a feeling March is going to be a good month!