shoveling sand in the mouth!

Ben and i got a chance to go on a much needed date last weekend.  we went to star-trek and to ice cream.  it was really fun and i actually took time to get my hair and makeup done.  it is a rare occasion when that happens, especially both hair AND makeup.  it was nice to spend some one on one time with him.  usually our time is spend in bed after the kids are asleep with our door shut because if Olivia hears us talking, she will  yell and want to come out.  so we have to be quite for a while until they are both asleep.  it is the same in the mornings.  if we get up later than 5 to go to the bathroom, she hears us and wants to come out.  super frustrating.  my kids are early risers.

 mothers day...  these are just too cute.  i love it how Braxton looks like he can smile on command...not there yet, but he is getting better at it.

 my mom came to visit this weekend.  it was really fun to have her here.  we went to glass beach and then to pudding creek bridge.  Friday was really windy and cold when we went to glass beach.  Olivia loved being able to collect shells though.

 the terrain was a little rough for this guy and his stroller.  we stayed up top while the two above went below to get treasures.

 it sure was a pretty day though.

 the next day we went to pudding creek and played in the sand.  Olivia loved it.

 this was Braxtons first time in the sand.  i was a little nervous but after a while of me just convincing myself that sand would be EVERYWHERE and we couldn't  control it, i let go and it was super fun.  he loved just being able to play in the sand.

 we had fun and it got closer and closer to his nap time.  i was thinking about how nice it was and how good he was being, then when i looked  at his face, he was shoveling sand in his mouth with that spoon in his hand.  once i took that from him, it all went sour QUICK!!  it then was obvious that he was tired and absolutely ready for nap time.

 Olivia stealing the toys from Braxton...  it has started already.

i took this this morning.  he is just getting so big.  he is trying to walk now and when he pulls himself up, he hits his head on the bottom of the dinning table.  it is so fun to watch how big he is getting.

 not to mention he LOVES Olivia's cartoons.

nothing special today.  i am just glad track is over and Ben is ours for the summer.  we are going to Ukiah today for our monthly Walmart trip and maybe going to Ross.  it is raining here so there is not much else to do.  plus daddy is home today!!

Skunk Train, CHOOO CHOOO

This last weekend we went on the skunk train.  it is a train ride here is fort bragg.  they have a few engines that they take out for about 1-3 hours.  I have wanted to go on it since we moved here.  in fact, I have wanted to go on it since I started coming here for camping 5 years ago.  we got lucky.  Normally the tickets are $50 each.  too rich for my blood.  there was a tunnel that collapsed and we were able to benefit from that.  they were giving rides this weekend that was for 1 hr total.  and it cost us $27 for everyone.  we even got half off since we live here.  Braxton slept most of the way and Olivia loved it.

  it was really a peaceful ride.  the train only went about 5 miles per hour.  not too fast.  but enough for us to see everything.

 

 

This is Braxton climbing up the stairs.  Yes, we are to that phase now.  just today, he started standing up on his own and balancing.  it is only a matter of time before he starts walking.  I love seeing the milestones.  I feel like this year has gone by so fast.  just a year ago, ben was getting ready to graduate from Chico State for good, and we were looking for a job.  Braxton will turn 1 in less than 2 months.  I love him so much.  it is fun to be home with him.  I caught his coming up the stairs and he was so proud of himself for getting as far as he did.  silly boy.

 

 

Ben has 2 possibly 3 weeks left of Track.  and I can't WAIT!!!  it has been a long year.  but every night, he comes home and we eat dinner right away since he doesn't come home until 6pm.  them after dinner and before the bath, actually while Olivia is in the bath, he comes out and plays with Brax.  I LOVE IT!   and so does Brax.  he can't get enough of him, and loves when he comes home.  funny, cause every time I say dada to get B to say it, he just smiles.  it is fun to watch.

 

 I know that ben is going to have a lot of fun with his little boy.

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