egg hunt

Granny and Papa had their annual Easter egg hunt.  Dare was the youngest to attend.  He "found" 7 eggs, and one golden egg (had $5 in it).  He sure loved the jelly beans and other candies inside.  I tried real hard to bite my tongue and just let him enjoy.  Up to then, he had never had even remotely that much sugar.  That is what this time of year is all about though, and I want him to indulge and have fun! 

 

 

hunting for eggs with CC

 

It can't be better than this!  2 Balls!  An egg and a basketball! 

Caleb and CJ showing their loot

 

Mands with Emma and Will 

 

Caleb, CJ, Will, Coleson

 

Emma and D 

 So much easter fun!

 

Coleson cracked me up with his cute little sunglasses!  He is such a good boy, and so handsome. 

more.

In the past couple weeks our growing boy has become more and more active.  More talkative.  More mobile.  Closer to walking.  Taller.  Heavier. (aka Heavy d).  Louder. More stubborn. More awake. (not napping as much). 

More interested in his books and blankies.

 More hungry.  

This is what he ate for dinner the other night, plus he also had a bunch of cut up grapes, and 2 bottles.... and THEN about an hour later his night time bottle.  That was a bit crazy, and not so normal, but still!! He has been hungry!

 More aware of his ability to sneak away and out the door.  And, more aware of his friendship with his little buddy brother bogey. If he could just learn how to be "soft" with him, and pet not pull, Bogey wouldn't be so tentative about getting close to him. ;)

And, the poor baby had a pretty bad virus 2 weeks back.  He was trying so hard to be happy here, but you can see in his eyes how he was just sick and not well.  He rallied through it.  It lasted from a Wednesday until a Tuesday.  So, almost a week.  We are so glad that is over, and I just look at it as one more virus that has made his immune system that much stronger so that he won't be a sickly toddler and child.

saturday run

Carmen has been training very diligently for her first marathon on 17 May this year.  She and her friends decided to run the SLC half marathon this morning instead of their normal Saturday run that they would have done.  Their thought was "why not do our run, and get a medal for doing it?"  

She did great, and Dare and I were there to see her cross the finish and cheer her on.  She is so good.  And, so dedicated!  I have always admired her determination and self motivation.  

thirty eight year old mama

Ryan and my friends made my 38th birthday real special this year. 

And, it was especially cool because it was the first one for me to ever celebrate as a mama. 

 

Enjoying some cheesecake b-day cake from the girls.  I am glad they wanted to share! 

a sibling tribute

Apparently it was national sibling day on the 13th of this month.  I wasn't aware of that fact until Raenie posted something about it on Instagram.  So, in honor of that, I put a shout out to my sibs that I love very dearly.  

These photos of the sissies are from some of my archives.

 Jake and Spud. 

 And, I love my sis in law Mands like a sibling too.  

xo xo  

I. AM. GRATEFUL.

insta pics

The most recent of my Insta posts. 

 So happy to be outside in the sun.... on one of our random Utah sunny 70 degree days in between snow and rain.

 Mister Mister is not having fun in his playroom unless he is destroying it!

 A first encounter with baby Finn who was born in January

"Helping" mom organize her receipts for taxes is so much fun!

he brings only smiles

Dare found a play spot UNDER the table.  So much fun to "hide" from mom! 

 

His thin swaddle blankets that I used to swaddle him in, are now his most favorite blankies.  He loves them, and is like Linus on Charlie Brown...dragging it and carrying it with him everywhere.  It is really sweet to see him when he takes a little piece of it, like in this photo, and rubs it under his nose.  It is exactly the same way his Auntie CC did it with her blankie when she was little.  So tender.  

 He loves to make the motorboat sound with his lips, and spit lots too!

 Dare has started making MORE funny faces.

I hope he always loves books like he does now!  It is so nice when I can catch him in a more mellow state, and actually get him to settle in and read on my lap.  These moments are few and far between with our little mover and shaker, so I had to ask Ryan to capture the moment!

behind the scenes

Hi! My name is Dare and I have a little secret.  Here are some things I have been doing when my mom leaves me to be tended by someone else REALLY FUN!! 

 

Dad lets me eat all the peanut butter I want! 

 

Auntie Mij lets me play in her makeup, and wear my jammies with holes in the toes! 

 

Granny and Papa gave me a balloon to play with, and I LOVED it!! 

 

Auntie CC lets me organize her pantry! 

 

Cousin Caleb loves me to pieces and gets down on the floor to play with me before he has to leave for school.  

 

Papa watches me play while he rests on the couch!  I probably wear him out! 

 

I am so lucky to have so many people love me and spoil me. My mom thinks I am turning into a very opinionated and stubborn little pickle because of it, but I know it makes her happy too!

you are my sunshine

Dare has had his fair share of visits to our favorite weekend breakfast joint.  The good 'ol neighborhood Sunshine Cafe.  Even still, his parents are so NOT the regulars that they used to be before he came into the picture.  But, when we can make it happen, it sure is a good way to start a lazy Sunday morning. 

He is already learning how to "put a sock in it"  even if it was by accident.  

Such a silly baby.

swim lessons

Dare started swim lessons on Saturday.  I had to wake him up from his morning nap to take him, so for the first little while he wasn't so sure about the whole idea.  But, he warmed up to it and I am sure that each week we go he will get more excited and lively and want to engage a bit more.  Baby steps...