Treehouse Museum

On Monday my friends Jamie, Becky, and Michelle and I, along with our excited kiddos, took a trip to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. It was too funny to see how Alexis ran from each exhibit with an excited fervor, never stopping to take a breath! And when she couldn't find her friends she made new ones! Tommy had so much fun playing with the trains and his favorite thing- the BIG fire truck! He did freak out though at the big stuffed dinosaur (thanks Jamie!) I highly suggest taking your kids! Mondays from 10-12 am parents are free and kids are $3. Don't you just love a great deal?!

Tommy and his best buddies Abby and Bryson (too busy to look at the camera!)

Tommy navigating the huge map of Utah

The future President?

Alexis sailing on the Mayflower

I couldn't get the kid off of this BIG fire truck!

Alexis jamming on the bongo drums in a life-size tee pee

Cruise to Me-hi-co!

This last week Nate and I left the kiddies with my parents and took a cruise to Mexico! Mind you this was the very first time I have ever left the kids- the only other time I have been away from Alexis is in the hospital when Tommy was born! I braced myself for hysterics but as we boarded the ship all I felt was excitement! We had such a great time- I have never been so lazy in my life! We would wake up around 9:00 am, eat breakfast, lay out by the pool, eat lunch, lay out by the pool, eat ice cream, read a book or two, maybe have another ice cream, head to dinner, and return to our room where our bed had been turned down for the night with little chocolates on our pillows and towels formed in animal shapes! We also toured Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. I'll tell you I could get used to having all of my meals cooked for me and having a maid service! At the end of the week I was ready to see the kids and be back on land- although I will miss the soft serve machine and told Nate that once he hits it big we should get one for the kitchen!

Puerto Vallarta


Mazatlan


Cabo San Lucas


At Dinner on the ship


View from our balcony on the ship

Thomas' One Year pictures

So here are Tommy's one year pictures actually taken at thirteen months- but whatever! I want to thank my very talented, awesome, and generous friend Jamie for taking and editing the pictures! I must say-though very biased- he is completely adorable and very handsome!

Spring Fever!

Raise your hand if you are soooo sick of winter! That's what I thought! These days we have been having to get creative to keep our selves busy. . . The laundry basket is the new "it" toy.

Making my favorite childhood treat Frosted Graham Crackers has kept us busy for awhile and satiated our sweet tooth. It's really easy just make your favorite frosting ( butter cream, cream cheese, etc.) and frost between two graham cracker squares making a "sandwhich." I recommend putting them in the fridge for awhile to harden the frosting up a little. My personal favorite is chocolate butter cream- it tastes a little like smores without the marshmellow.

We have taken several trips to Target which just results in me buying something I didn't really need! So, I'm running out of ideas. What do you do to keep yourself and your kids entertained on those cold, snowy, boring winter days? Well, for now we will have to make do, but until spring

comes I will be dreaming of this . . .

Happy First Birthday Tommy!

Yesterday was Tommy's first birthday. I can't believe how fast this last year went, and how fast my baby has grown! We had our families over for cake and ice cream. Tommy didn't quite now what to do with all of the attention! He was a little timid with the cake at first, and then he really got into it by smushing it in his hands and pretending he was rubbing in lotion (it's so funny-whenever he sees me rubbing lotion on my hands he rubs his hands together too!) I just want to tell my sweet little boy how much I love him, and how grateful I am to be his mommy.

Here are a few things about Thomas at age 1:

• He loves to cuddle and when I pick him up he always gives me pat on the back


• He always has a smile (well, almost always) on his face and loves to laugh


• His favorite toys are cars and he loves to drive them on the ground


• He also loves to look at books and point to the pictures


• He is a very good eater and will eat just about anything I put infront of him


• His hair has awesome body and will not lay down no matter what I try!


• He finally started crawling on new years eve!


• Most of all he is a little angel who brings me so much joy

I love you Tom Tom!

The Birthday Boy!

Not quite sure what he should do . . .

Now he's got the hang of it!

Opening his super cool digger truck!

Taking the truck for a spin just he before he tipped over!

Mele Kilikimaka (very belated!)

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was so fun because it was Tommy's first one, and it he had a great time with the wrapping paper! I ( "Santa") did indeed get Alexis what we call a "pogo stick ball." At first sight she did not want anything to do with it, it was not indeed a "stick", but after telling her that Santa thought this one would be a little safer she warmed up to it! The day after Christmas my whole side of the family flew to Maui. It was my first time to Hawaii, and we had so much fun! The Kids were in heaven! It was a little overcast and rained a couple days, so we didn't come home with a tan, but we did come home rested, relaxed, and in need of a vacation from our vacation!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth and a pogo stick?

It looks like Tommy has gotten an early Christmas present! His top two teeth have broken through, which is a sigh of relief because we had a few sleepless nights full of inconsolable crying! He also has gotten his bottom two teeth and his two incisors. This is completely foreign to me because Alexis didn't get any teeth until she was about 13 months! Tommy is really funny right now. Instead of crawling he steam rolls wherever he wants to go, and he is super fast too. Watch out or you will get run over! He is constantly giggling and thinks he has a funny sense of humor- he laughs at all of his own jokes!

The other day I asked Alexis what she wanted Santa to bring her and she said she wanted a "cogo stick!" I asked her "what's a cogo stick?" "You know Mommy, you jump up and down on it?" "Oh a pogo stick!" I'm not sure what to do with that one. I think she is too young for a pogo stick-heck I don't think I'm coordinated enough for a pogo stick! She has her heart set on it, so if anyone has any ideas! I thought maybe one of the balls you sit on that has handle so you can bounce on it ( I have no idea where to find that! And time is running out! ).

Well, I hope Santa brings you all everything you are wanting. Most of all I hope he brings us all peace, love, and happiness! Merry Christmas!