Zoo

I bought a zoo pass this year, which was totally smart!! It was the best deal and we've already used it multiple times. Both Reese and Ivan love seeing the animals (as do I). The best part about the pass is that it allows you to bring a few guests with you. 

Terra is my friend I met in Heber right after Eric and I got married. I get along with people really easily but I've always only had few friends that I'd consider "best friends". It's not that I'm stuck up, it's simply that there are certain people I really click with and it feels effortless to hang out with them. Somehow I'm completely at ease around them and feel like I can discuss even my most secretive thoughts with them. Terra is one of these few. She is what I miss most about living in Heber. She and her kids, along with her sister, and my friend, Kristin came to the zoo with us last month. I love seeing Reese and Terra's girls play together and I'm excited for when Ivan and Ryker start showing more interest in each other (they are only 1 month apart).

 Reese got a bag of pom-poms in her Easter basket this year. I thought we could use them for a craft or something but she LOVES to make shapes with them on the floor and will stay entertained with them for quite some time. This is her and a heart. Don't mind Reese and her usual outfit (only undies).

Ivan, why the rambunctious face?

 Oh, because somehow you were able to climb up onto the computer desk and climb behind the entertainment center.

Happy Birthday Eric

This year was a big birthday for Eric. 35!! So, I thought I'd try to make it extra special by making it a weekend celebration. On Friday I threw him a surprise party. Normally I invite friends for dinner on his birthday, but seeing as it was an extra special birthday we had games too. We played Minute to Win It and it was a blast! It was seriously so funny too!

One game consisted of putting a speedometer on your head to see how many steps you could get in 1 minute and another required you to put nylons on your head with a ball in the end to knock over cups on the ground. There were lots of competitions/games and each of them provided a good laugh.

 On Saturday, his actual birthday, Eric was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, which is the National Honor Society at the University of Utah. The ceremony took place at Rodizio's so we got a babysitter and made a date out of it. On Sunday we celebrated one last time, at my parent's house, with a BBQ and triple berry pie.

I'm so extremely in love with Eric. We've faced a lot of trials over the last couple of years, ones that I feel have made our love run a lot deeper than I knew possible. We've also had a lot of good times and made some GREAT memories!! I'm glad he's the one by my side as we go through this crazy adventure of a life, because honestly, with him by my side, even the craziest days are filled with happiness! I love you birthday boy!

sometimes I just need to type...

April has gone by fast! 
- I'm reading "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson. It is a lovely book and makes me really grateful for my life, especially for Eric, our kids, and the gospel.

- Now that Eric has a job we go on one date a week. I love spending uninterrupted time with my man! ...And coming home to kids that are excited to see me!

- Eric is loving his job. He got to fly on a black-hawk helicopter the other day. Dream come true!! He is busy but enjoys the challenge and the constant list of things to get done.


- There are so many things competing for my time! Some WAY more important than others, but all interesting to me, and thus, in the competition for my attention. I'm trying to learn how to focus on my family more than anything else. I get annoyed with a cluttered house, but I've decided that each day I'll un-clutter something but not fret about everything all at once all the time. If you have kids that are at the age of (and excited about) dressing themselves, climbing on cupboards to get food, getting art supplies out, and capable of finding buckets of toys and dumping them out you know houses don't stay organized for very long. My goal is to spend my time on/with the most important things in life. I want to feel confident that I'm doing my best as a mother. Who knows, maybe in the long run, my house will be better off since I can spend a small amount of time really focusing on one area and get it thoroughly organized before moving onto the next task.

- I'm excited for the May Ensign to come out with all the conference talks in it! I love reviewing them and having them in a 'take with you - readable' format so I can really ponder things as I go through.

- Eric's birthday is this weekend!

Easter 2012

Easter was a lot of fun this year! Reese watched the movie "Hop" 6 times in the 3 days leading up to Easter so she was super in to the idea of the Easter bunny coming to her house to leave treats. She even asked on multiple occasions if the Easter bunny was going to poop jelly beans on her car. Sure enough, he did!

We watched Mormom messages about Christ's resurrection and had an FHE on the Monday before Easter to talk about his resurrection and what it means for us. I love watching as Reese grasps these incredible truths! So, on Sunday, although we did do Easter baskets in the morning, we then went to church and continued to focus on the true meaning of Easter as well.

That evening we went to Lindsay's house for an Easter dinner/ Easter egg dying & hunting/ Birthday for Linds! I'm so glad all of our kids get a long so well. I swear Reese LOVES Oliver! They played together the most that night!

 The dads all got really involved in the egg dying! Eric even searched the web for a while on Easter morning to see what we could bring to make it more fun. He came up with: rubber bands, white/clear crayons, paint, and stickers.

Ivan is OBSESSED with keys. He has a MAJOR breakdown if he finds keys somewhere and I take them from him. It is serious! The plastic keys are fun for a while, but real keys keep him entertained - well - probably all day if I were to allow him to have my keys for that long.

All these ladies are extremely amazing people. I enjoy being around them and learn so much from each of them. It is always a great time when we all get together.

And the kids....they all play really well together, and are each so stinkin' cute!




 
We all adore Lindsay! I'm sure anyone that knows Lindsay adores her. She is such a genuine friend! Happy Birthday Linds! Thanks for sharing your birthday with the Easter party, and always welcoming us into your home!

Wheeler farm in March

The weather has seriously been such a blessing!! Maybe not to the water table, but definitely to moms! I have SO enjoyed having such a mild winter and spring so we can spend so much time outside.

 Ivan is at the age where he has no fears. He is mister friendly, and is totally comfortable chatting and blowing kisses to the gangster in line at the grocery store. This also transfers into his dealing with animals. He thinks all animals are nice so isn't the least bit scared sticking his fingers into the animal cages or walking up to the mean geese roaming the farmyard.

Hanging out

Mid March was full of excitement. Mostly because Jeremiah convinced Eric to go into a certain canyon while snowmobiling :) It ended in both of their sleds getting stuck in the heavy wet snow, them hiking up a mountainside and along a trail for approximately 8 miles until their rescuers (Micah and Dallas) picked them up on different snowmobiles and took them the remaining 13 miles to their vehicle. 

Then.....they had to wait a week or two for the snow to melt a little and then for it to become cold again so that they'd be able to get their sleds out. So while Eric, Jeremiah, Dallas, and one other friend were slowly winching the sleds out of their stuck positions, me and the kids relaxed at my parents. My kids LOVE their cousins!!! And their papa and grandma!

These two are moving to Alaska for the Summer! So exciting for them! I get a kick out of hanging out with them. They are filled with young love and high hopes! SO refreshing!!

Volcanoes and Bikes

We learned about volcanoes the other day. After watching some youtube videos on them we built one out of salt dough. We walked around the neighborhood and gathered "greenery" and such to make it more fun. Reese quite liked the baking soda/ vinegar reaction.

I look at this face and think, "how do I ever get upset with her?" 

She learned last month to pedal! The motion clicked and now she LOVES riding her bike all over. Thankfully the weather has been nice so we can spend a good portion of the day outside riding bikes. Ivan gets jealous of Reese's big bike, so she is nice and lets him have turns while she races around on his little tikes bike.

And yes, she dresses herself most days. I don't know that I'd put these 2 patterns together myself, but it actually turned out kind of cute. If this skirt is clean she picks it without fail. Good thing it is size 6 - 9 months :)

We bought her a princess helmet this week because she is getting pretty quick on her bike now, and thankfully she loves wearing it.

Feeling Blessed

This last week was filled with a new adventure for our family. Eric started a new job!

Last August Eric finished up the coursework for his Masters in Public Administration at the U of U. We have job searched all over the U.S. and Canada ever since, and even after multiple interviews, nothing ever came to fruition. Although we were grateful for the employment Eric had during the interim, we were hoping and praying for something that would put his newly acquired degree to use and allow him to start in the career path he had chosen.

At times when I'd get frustrated with the job hunt, I would feel that Eric was simply being saved for something our Heavenly Father had in store for him. The past few months have been really trying. Although the job hunt was stressful, that was only a portion of the trials we have been facing. Thankfully arm in arm, and with the help of our Savior, we have trudged through the messes. I feel that we have endured well for the most part, and that we have been blessed for that. At the end of February, things with the job hunt finally came together. The timing and perfect lining up of the events that led to the job were more than coincidence, and we know the Lord's hand guided us to this very unique job opportunity.

Eric is now the Special Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Utah. It is and will continue to provide Eric with experience far superior to any he would have gained in any of the other jobs we applied to. Although there are still messes that need our consideration, it is nice to have the financial side of our trials laid to rest and invigorating to have Eric so excited about this new career.

Discovery Gateway

For our ward playgroup a month or two ago, we went to the Discovery Gateway Museum. It was so cool! If I had prepared better, I think my kids would have spent the entire day there, totally entertained. But I was SO hungry after 4 hours.

 Reese was in heaven going grocery shopping, taking the groceries to the little house, putting the groceries away, and then mothering the babies.

 Ivan wanted to try everything. He especially loved all the bikes, cars, trucks, and the garden area where you can pick the veggies.