May Events

Highlights:

- My brother, Cade, hit his one year mark on his mission!

- We went out to dinner at Bandera with the Worthen's who were in town for a work retreat!  We laughed and joked all night with them.  

- Kasey's fourth had his first birthday!  

- Cinco de Mayo party at the Rubalcava's with some families from Brandon's work.  No surprise to anyone that Brandon dressed the part.  We had lots of delicious food and two pinatas chuck full of candy for the kids.

- Mother's Day!  I had a lovely time and got the best gifts ~ a break from being a mom (ironic, but it's the best) and a coupon book from Brandon full of chore coupons - yes!  

- I found the nastiest, and largest centipede ever in our front yard!  The body was the size of a twix bar, and even a bit longer.  I covered it with a tupperware and then called my bug guy to make an appointment and then had him tell me how to kill it.  He was funny, because he patiently gave me step by step instructions, which was essentially just to beat it with a shoe.  My heart was beating so hard and I felt like it was the bravest thing I've done all year!  :)  The mom inside me knew Rachel would want to see it, so I killed it without destroying it's body, so that I could scoop it into a ziploc bag and save it in the freezer to show Rachel when she got home from school.  She loved it of course, and showed all the neighbor boys!  

- Kendall turned into a toddler this month and has become like every other 18 month old - all of a sudden she is clingy to me and has wanted to be held.  She is also talking up a storm and has the cutest little voice.  I know that she's kind of late to the party (third child), but she just discovered that she has a belly button, and she shows everyone.  As soon as daddy gets home from work, she lifts up her shirt and points to her belly button in complete elation as if to say, "It's still here, dad!  Best day ever!"  

- All the kids got haircuts.  Andrew got a buzz and still thinks haircuts are pure torture, but it's nothing that a ring pop and movie can't solve.  Rachel wanted short hair again, so our friend, Mandy worked her magic on both the girls.  

- It's starting to get hot around here!  It hit 107 a few times this last week.

Happy Hump Day, Elder Parker!!

The Worthen's came to Arizona for a work retreat!  So fun to catch up!

Blake Perkinson's first birthday party

Cinco de Mayo Party … no words

Kendall's turn - she thought she was supposed to ride the piñata!  

Piñata treats!!

Happy Mother's Day, 2014

Not even a sucker could keep her awake!

Hugest, nastiest centipede ever!

She has been whining at my feet all month - hello 18 months …  when you all of a sudden don't want to be separated from me!  

Dress ups are a hit over here!  I love seeing Kendall in her high heels tapping all over the house!

Snowcone season is here!!  Brandon has about 5 per week.

One of our last cool nights at the park - shirts optional

HAIRCUTS!

Weekend Away - Chicago

Brandon and I were lucky enough to get away for a weekend without the kids at the end of April.  Nancy came down and watched the kids (we are so grateful), and we went and played.  The kids were in such good hands, I did not worry about them for one second.  We only facetimed with them once, and Kendall once again was ticked that we were in the phone and not with her - funny girl.

The reason we went is because Brandon had a five year reunion, which we normally wouldn't think is a big deal, except that his firm will pay for him to go to the reunion every five years (for networking, etc.).  Score for me - I told him that he was going and that I was coming!

It certainly wasn't a relaxing weekend, but it was jam packed with all things that we love!!
- tour of Cubs Stadium
- drank Goose Island root beer
- tour and wine mess at the Chicago Cultural Center
- shopping & Garrett's popcorn
- run along the beach front
- saw the movie "Divergent" which is based in Chicago, so that was fun (not so fun that I was totally chicken to walk through downtown at midnight - Brandon was patient with my panicked nature - especially after just having watched that movie)
- church in Hyde Park & lunch with friends

Chicago makes my heart so happy!  We made sure to stop by and visit our favorite doorman from Regents Park, who now works downtown at the same building where Vince Vaughn lives.  Brian is our favorite (I should have taken a picture!), and he was so happy that we stopped by to say hello.  He is doing so good and is such a force for good on the south side.  He is currently working on a non-profit organization focused on teaching kids how to eat healthy, and we feel lucky to call him our friend.

Church was a blast, as always!  So fun to see families like the Cannon's, Shurtliff's, Nydegger's, Woodson's, Parker's, etc. I also got to see Ali (headed to BYU), DaSha (preparing for a mission), Tashara (two kids now) & Lorena (braved brain surgery), who were all my young women while we were there (and Lola caught me up on Iman & Tilah and her crew).  We had lunch with the Cannon's, Charlotte, & Shurtliff's afterwards and could have talked for hours!  Bishop Joe unfortunately was out of town, but we absolutely love their whole family.  I was especially impressed with Ali & Dita who have grown up tremendously and are doing amazingly.

One thing I will say about the trip was that I was semi-relieved that it didn't still feel like home.  I still loved every minute of it, and I loved all the memories it brings back, but I can finally call Arizona home.  The last time we went was 2011, and I dare say that it still felt like home to me, and I was a little nervous that Chicago would always feel like home.  And no offense to Utah - you are still my childhood home and I love you dearly.  But Chicago was mine and Brandon's first "home" together, and it will always have a piece of my heart.  But I traded the wind for the sun!

We were definitely out of walking shape and we were sore and tired.  I also have never taken so many selfies in my life - I am new to the smartphone thing, so selfies still feel very silly.  We also didn't leave any time to relax, but it was so worth it and fun to be there!  Brandon gets to go back in August to conduct interviews at UofC - lucky duck.

Selfie at Cubs Stadium!

The cubs bench - I was totally underwhelmed - not too impressive, but Brandon reminds me that the history of it all is what's significant!

We came during a good year!!

Press Box - Chicago Cubs Stadium

Our first time through the Chicago Cultural Center and the ceilings were breathtaking!!

Brandon's all-time favorite root beer that you can only get in Chicago - Goose Island

My favorite view of the city - not sure why, I have just always loved the riverfront building and views

A lakeshore run made me in such a happy mood!

I can't remember if I had ever seen the bridge at Wacker & Michigan open up before - it was pretty cool and the mom in me was wanting my kids to be there to show them  :)

Ali wanted a picture of two of her YW Presidents - love that girl!  Now off to BYU!

Bye, bye, Grandma Nancy!  Thank you so much, we love you!  Rachel is red-faced because she is very tender about goodbyes.  

April, Part 2

Our friends from law school, the Trendler's, invited us up to their cabin in Christopher Creek for General Conference weekend.  Our kids had a great time with Paul & Kate and they played hard and explored the outdoors!  It was fun to be "cold" and stay in a cabin with friends.  

We also spent a Saturday at the Zoo with Brandon's firm.  The most memorable part of the day was when Rachel saw a family of geese and started crying because it reminded her of "her ducks" at our old house (which are actually all dead, but don't tell her that).  She has such a tender little heart when it comes to animals, and I love her for that (she got it from her Nana, not from me!).  

Phoenix Zoo with Osborn Maledon

  

April-ness

We had a very happy Easter!  I took the big kids to the Easter Pageant in the Mesa Temple, we had an impromptu Easter egg hunt with friends, ate tons and tons of candy and even held a real bunny.

Our Easter Pageant Miracle!  It doesn't start until 8pm and I got both Rachel & Andrew to take a nap that day.  We needed a pillow barrier on this afternoon, but whatever works!

Mesa Temple Easter Pageant

Andrew, Sydney, Rachel, Macy, Gracie, Kendall & Brynlee (the Schmidt's & Johnson's both have 3 girls each!)

Easter baskets - the same ones from my childhood that my mom made and I am slightly obsessed with them!

Easter Sunday best

Andrew asks me everyday if he can have a playdate.  Thankfully, there are lots of friends his age, so we can switch between Maddox, William, Ben, Emmet & Fisher.  Lately at our house, the kids have been loving dress ups - both their costume dress ups and they also love to tear apart mommy & daddy's closet and play dress ups when we are not closely watching.

As this school year is quickly coming to a close, it makes me happy to think about how Andrew & Kendall have become such good playmates while Rachel is at school.  We are all a little nervous about having Rachel home all summer, but we are excited to do lots of fun things all together!

They both love their twinner blankies!

We try our very hardest not to eat on the carpet, so the kids sit right on the edge!  I have a picture of me and Chad doing this same thing when we were kids!

Homework time!

Cheap entertainment - watching the construction on the house being built across the stress

Rachel's poor teeth this year!  She fell on the cement at school and chipped her tooth (it's hard to explain but she was swinging her legs while hanging onto a bench and just fell and chipped her two front permanent teeth.  Rather than put some bonding on them, we decided to just have them shaved down and then once they are fully grown in, then we will get a better idea of what the shape will be.  She has also had two cavities filled and has already been to the orthodontist and has an appliance in the back of her mouth to help her six year molars come in the right spot.