the beach, a black eye and the bay

This last week was fun.  Ben had his spring break, finally!  Although it was 2 weeks after Easter.  But it was fun to have him home with just our little family.

Monday and Tuesday we just kind of hung out.  we decided to go to the beach one day and fly Olivia's kite.  that lasted about 15 minuted until the wind was too strong and broke the string of the kite.  but we had fun and olivia loved being at the beach.  it was a cold wind too, so we decided to head back to the house and just play outside.

 

This little guy is just getting so big.

 

 This is Braxtons black eye.  he now stands up all the time, even in the bathtub.  he slipped and the water spout won.  he cried for about 20 sec and was ready to go back to playing.  He loves the bath now that he is in the tub with Olivia.  He is crawling so fast now too.  if you make ANY motion to the bathroom, he is there within seconds.  all he thinks about is the bath.

 the beach was really pretty that day too.

Wednesday Ben had a track meet in Willits, so we decided to make a trip to Jan and Lou's house.  me and the kids hung out for the day and ben went to the track meet.  we had dinner, then came home.  it was short, but really fun to see them and grandma donna.  sorry, no pictures.  i am working on that.

 

Thursday we headed down south.  we had a stake temple day on saturday and we decided to just make a weekend of it.  we left thursday morning and had good intentions of making it to the childrens museum in san jose, but that didnt work.  Olivia decided to pee her pants about 2 hours south, then once we got to Santa Rosa, Braxton woke up and screamed.  so with all the stops it took us about 5 hours to get to oakland.  but it was still fun.  we scrapped the CM, and stayed at the hotel.  they had an indoor pool.  well worth it.  Olivia loved it and it was the first time B had been swimming.  again, no pictures, but they loved it.

i was determined to get pics at the zoo.

friday we headed to SF to the zoo.  SO FUN!!!

 



 rented a stroller at the zoo, so we didnt have to pack one, and the hotel had a crib.  another bonus for packing a small car.
Olivia just loved it.  she loved being there and seeing what was going to come next.  we made it about 1 hour before braxton had a blow out in his diaper and distroyed his pants.  thanks to the spirit for prompting me to pack an extra pair of pants...because i never do.  so we changed those suckers and then had lunch. 

 there was a train that went around the zoo.  we took that and olivia was having a lot of fun the 2nd go round.  she was a little shocked i think, the first time.  she didn't really say anything and was just kind of staring off.  pretty funny.

 

 There was a petting zoo area.  Olivia was having a lot of fun.  she would follow the goats around and try to hug them.  we definately had to keep an eye on her so she didn't get hurt.  these animals were sure spoiled.  they didn't really want to have anything to do with you unless you had food.  there was even one goat that was laying under the food dispenser.  they had food in candy dispensers.  you put in $.50 and you got a handful.  once the goat heard that dispenser turn, she was on her feet!!

 This one came running when he discovered Olivia had food.

 right before the train took off.

 Us in the front

 These two in the back.

 during the ride, you can see B had fun!

 near the apes, we all saw how we measured up.

 Then the temple.  it was so nice to do a session with ben.  we hadn't done that in over a year.  they provided babysitting for us while we went in. 

 These are just some pictures of yesterday.  it was so nice outside that i put braxton in this outfit when we went jogging.  it is a 6 month outfit and he barely fit into it.  i wanted to take a picture before he couldn't ware it at all.  he smiled at first with the hat, but then broke down.  he is not a fan of hats.

all is well.  we have 7 weeks left of school, then summer.  i can't wait for ben to be around a whole lot more.  it sure is easier to get out to the beach or anywhere when i have help with the two kids.

No big deal...just a turkey!

 

 

This is what happens when Braxton wakes up from his nap crabby.  He will actually cuddle with Olivia.  I LOVE IT!!  He thinks it is so funny when we put his pacifier in our mouths and not his.

 

 We went to Jan and Lou's for the saturday before Easter for an early celebration.  I brought the camera for good form to try to get some pictures.  i took this one, and my battery died!!  as LaNell would say... FAIL!!  this was one of about 4 games of settlers played that day.  we really had a whole lot of fun this day with all the extended family.  especially joel and michelle and their kids taylor and seth, as well as ty and his little one, Autumn.  Olivia had so much fun playing with the kids.

 Easter came after Olivia and Braxtons afternoon nap.  when Olivia got up, she came and out was a little out of it, but she had fun.  it was raining, so the Easter bunny hid the eggs in the house.  not too much fun, but she loved it.

 The next day, coloring the eggs.  That is right folks.  we just did not have enough time this year to color the eggs before the Easter bunny came.  Luckily, LaNell came to stay with us for 3 days and she colored them with her later that evening.

 Olivia's picture taking skills.

 yes.... there were eggs in the bathtub.

 Big Braxton with his big boy teeth.  He has his two bottom teeth, and then got his two top teeth.  now he has a third one to the right and one more coming in on the left.  makes me want to cry.  he is just getting too big too fast!!

 He now stands up as well.  just turned 9 months and is just shy of 20 lbs.  and in the 75th percentile for his height.  he sure is getting big.

 I LOVE THIS LITTLE HAT ON HIM!!!  such a big boy!

 This is what happened this morning.  i thought i heard the kitchen table rattle when i was sitting at it, and so i tried to move it, and nothing.  then i heard it again.  so i thought it might be my chair.  nothing...then i heard it again.  i opened the blinds, and low and behold i see this turkey running through our yard.  we dont have turkeys, neither do our neighbors as far as i know.  kind of crazy!!

 Bubba at the dr today.  i couldn't keep him still.  he was all over the place and so happy to be playing, even if it was just in his diaper and cold.  he loved it!!

with child???

These two have been such a handful this week.  They are both sick, and so am I!  i have to sing this Sunday, Easter.  i am kind of nervous about it, and yet weirdly calm.  i have never sung a solo on Easter before.  and of course, i am sick.  i have tried to sleep as much as possible and rest.  but with these two kids, it is kind of hard to do that.  Ben even stayed home yesterday to help out.  he watched the kids so i could sleep in until 9am!  Man, I love him!!!  Braxton has his top two front teeth coming in.  I think, on top of that, he caught my cold.  Olivia has been sniffling all week.  i bought some Vick's Vapor Rub for me and the babies.  Today, Bubba has a fever.  it has been really hard on him.  he just  wants me to hold him, and while i hold him, he just climbs all over me.
He is standing now.  trying to walk, but even content just standing.  i love it and hate it all at the same time.  i have never wanted to be "with child" more than now that i am seeing that he is not a baby anymore.  i think we will wait a little longer though, so i can enjoy at least his first year.  He is getting to be so big and CUTE!!  i definitely have a different feeling with  him being my little boy.  But it sure is fun that he is getting bigger.  Olivia loves playing with him.  and he loves watching her play.  sometimes he gets into her play area, and they do OK.  he is still a little small.  i would give it maybe 2-3 more months and he will be at her pace for sure. 
we have had some nice weather this last week.  but with all the sickness coming and going, no running here.  i think we will shoot for next week for sure.  it is even supposed to rain this weekend.  i sure hope not.  or at least, no rain long enough for us to have a Easter egg hunt outside.

now we are just waiting.  Ben has applied for quite a few jobs in Utah, the bay area and we are waiting to see if a full time job surfaces in Oroville.  i think we will know as the year goes on, but it sure would be nice to know now.  i am sure everyone says that, but i guess that is why Heavenly Father teaches us Patience.  I am just really hoping that we aren't here another year.  it is really stretching our budget and our savings.  it is frustrating as well, because i know we are moving this summer no matter what.  i just don't know if it will be to the other side of town, out of town or out of state.  i hate the waiting game!

Now, about this whole Gay marriage thing.  i have just one more thing to say regarding this topic.

I have my beliefs.  There is a member that describes how i feel really well...
http://middle-agedmormonman.blogspot.com/2013/03/simplify-my-thoughts-on-marriage.html

but the church also says the official stance here:
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction

but more importantly, i feel like i am getting involved.  I am not holding up a sign and fighting with people, but i am more than willing to let people know how i feel and who i support.  i will not be ashamed of that, nor will i back down.  This is what Heavenly Father wants.  and I am on His side.

Some might not agree with that, but i can say that i respect that.  that is their choice.  but, this is mine.
so i will not sit back and let others bully me!!  thats all on that topic.

delete

well i was trying to clean up some of my drafts and i deleted the last year and a half of posts... ANNOYING!!!!
so that is why the last post is so long ago....
will post soon

trip to utah in a nutshell...

well it started out good....we left saturday night and stayed in a hotel in sparks, nv. we left the next morning and drove to rexburg. that was the longest day of my life and i never want to drive that drive again!!! seriously. i won't! i might fly to SLC and then drive there, but not ever again straight from Chico. we then visited my sister who just had a baby. it was fun to visit with her family. We went to Provo and stayed with LaNell. it was great. it was fun to see family and hang out. We went to a water park, Seven peaks....great fun. and then went to a cabin for 3 days outside of heber city. that was really fun too.

This is the view from the front porch of the cabin. it was beautiful. three stories high and TONS of deer, moose, bear, and every other animal that you can hunts heads all over the walls. We just played games and hung out...i am sad that i didn't take more pictures...next time.

This is my best friend beth....it is amazing to say that we are still best friends after all these years. We sure don't talk enough, and we rarely see eachother, but when we get together, it is like time never lapsed! I miss her and wish we lived closer, but it was great to hang out with her so much...i definately didn't get enough of her though.

Seven Peaks. Olivia had the best day of her life, by far. she loved it so much we are going to venture again to another park in Redding. i hope she is just as much fun.

I took this picture because i have one just like it when i was about this age and let me tell you, we are looking more and more alike. I love her. She did SO SO good on this trip. There was very little whinning on the drive to Idaho. But whenever we got out of the car she definately had a skip in her step. i could tell that she was happy to be out of the car, but she sure didn't cry much. and her naps and sleeping was great. we sure do love you little miss Lily!

We have been quite busy.... it is the end of the year, and now we are finally going to have some fun! This is Ben and Lily playing after his graduation. it was fun to go play in the grass. She loved kicking the ball.


Lily loved the Lai i got for Ben at graduation. She pulled the whole thing apart all over the front room. This is right before church.


We went to the Sacramento Zoo. She was pretty entertained, except for the fact that she somehow peed through her pants on the way there, and we had NO extra pants. so we took them off. yet she still had fun.

Daddy and Olivia. She wanted to play with the camera.

Mommy and Olivia and the "cheese" face.

Ben Graduated. We are SO happy!!

Molly Graduated as well with her Masters. Molly and i are both holding her diploma to demonstrate how much i helped her through her program!

Olivia got really sick the week before. Fever, throwing up, tired, cranky...you name it! Daddy even stayed home one day from work, so I could work and he took care of her.

We FINALLY hiked Feather Falls. it was really fun, we went with Ben's outdoor education class. It was pretty cool. 10 mile hike round trip.

The Falls....this is all backwards, sorry...but i am sure you all know how that goes with blogger.

We have had a fun semester, and i can't wait for all the fun this summer. Next year, ben is in the credential program. he will be student teaching at Oroville high school, and then working full time at the Juvenile Hall in Oroville, and class 2 nights a week at chico state. It is going to be rough, we won't see eachother much, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel..... right??

17 and Blonde

Well i found my camera. Ben hid it in the car when we went to Sacramento. THANK HEAVENS!!!
Olivia is getting bigger by the minute! She can now climb onto the piano bench, open the lid and start playing. Yet, she is still taken into another room when i put music away. She is not allowed to know that the bench opens....not yet at least.

I went back blonde. This is about 3 weeks ago. The most recent picture. We have been busy.

Did i mention that i lost 17 lbs. Yes....that is right. 17! I am stoked about this. I have been doing weight watchers and working out 2 hours a day. i am dedicated. Only 40 more to go, and i have hit my goal. This summer. I am loosing about an average of 2 lbs per week. LOVE IT!

Olivia now knows how to take her clothing off. It is really annoying. but she sure is cute.

Playing at the park. She seemed a little scared of the slide. when ben let go, she just clenched on and hung there for a little while. we finally peeled her fingers off, and she didnt seem excited.

Other news:

Ben got into the credential program. It is going to be tough. BUT they are totally willing to work with him. His supervisor was really impressed that he has all A's and B's at Chico State with a wife and child at home, while working full time. He told him that and pretty much asked him where he wanted to student teach. AWESOME!!! the un-awesome part is that he still needs a few classes before he gets in, which means summer school. They decided not to tell him until after it was too late. So this summer he will be taking an aquatics class, tennis, health, and Magic, witchcraft and religion. It is going to be a tough year for me and Olivia. BUT i can't wait. i am SO happy that there is only one year of school left, i could almost cry. I am just tired of being in school(well ben being in school). it has been a Large stress on our marraige. He is never home, and when he is, he is usually doing homework. He works so hard. i am excited for him to finally do something he wants to do.

She is not a huge fan of the camera but she will stare at you until you take the picture.

We went to the mall and let her have a ride. she DIDNT like it. but loved climbing.

carmera, camera, anyone seen it??

i can't seem to find my camera...i think we left it in sacramento at the hotel....THIS SUCKS!!!

silly girl.

some days i get really sad thinking about how much Olivia...now calling her Lily, has grown up. she really is turning into a little girl. she is fun! SHE LOVES RUNNING!!! I mean, running. she doesn't walk too much. she is usually running.

She is being silly here, she likes wearing my beanie.
Being silly here again.

And even though we are REALLY busy, we found time to go to the park on Tuesday in between rain storms. She had a ton of fun on the swing. She really didn't want to leave.

She also loves saying... Daw Daw.....rrrroooooorrrroooo

loves those dogs....now just have to work on getting ben to let us get one!