Weed patch to no maintenance bliss (AKA cement)

We've done a lot of house projects this year.....new carpet, new tile, and now CEMENT!  yipee.  We've been wanting to get rid of our weed infested side yard for a long time but our friend was looking for odd jobs and gave us a good deal!  So this is our last big project for the year....I promise!   I didn't think to start taking pictures until the bulldozer had leveled all of the huge weeds.  Doesn't the cement look great!!  Allen even thinks we might need a basketball standard in the front yard, even though it is quite the hill.  (might as well, since we already have hoops in....let's see....the backyard, trampoline, front room, bathtub, back of the boys door in their room...)  

I love the picture of Miles ready to work because it is so him.  He is our worker bee!  

And of course, we had to get our handprints in the cement somewhere....Porter had to have a footprint...his hands were too wiggly!  

The DADS in my life

I am so grateful for all of the dads in my life.   

Of course I must start with my own dad.  Doesn't he look the same as he did 15 years ago? Okay, except for the gray hair...he claims I did that to him!  I am so thankful for my dad.  We have been through our share of struggles, but I am so grateful for the love and support he gives 

me and my family.  It is so fun to watch him be a grandpa.  He loves it so much, and the boys absolutely adore him!  It breaks my heart to see Miles standing at the window crying as Grandpa Hansen pulls away to drive home. (Miles and him are especially close) I love you dad...and look forward to more frequent visits once you retire!!

I love this picture of Tom directing his band and Allen sitting in the foreground.  Tom is such a great dad in our family.  No matter how long it takes them to drive, Tom and Carol are at most family events...we appreciate all they do to make it to pretty much everything.  The boys love spending time with Grandpa Matthews (the grandpa that plays the trumpet)

My Grandpa Hansen (Grandpa Paul to the boys) and my Grandpa Bradford are so much fun to visit.  Although they like to bug me about the "kitty cup" incident when I was 3 and they were babysitting me and couldn't figure out what I wanted, I love them so much and am so thankful for all they do for my family.  I get a weird habit from my Grandpa Hansen.  When I was a kid, he introduced me to a fruit I had never tasted before, a kiwi fruit.  He taught me to eat it with the skin still on it...you know the furry skin.  Now, I realize he just didn't want to peel it for me!!  Grandpa Bradford and I share the enjoyment of gardening.  I love you guys!

Last, but not least, is Allen  AKA daddy at our house.  I didn't know which pictures to put on here because there are so many.  The boys have so much fun with their daddy.  He is so good with them and I thank Heavenly Father all the time that my children have such a wonderful daddy!  I love you hubby. 

 Happy Father's Day all you wonderful dads! 

Hiking the "Y"

Miles has been talking about hiking up to the "Y" for a long time, so Allen took the boys on a big adventure the other day.  They made it all the way up...Miles wanted to keep going!  Quincy was a real trooper and only needed help on the way back down.  There was a group walking up as the boys headed back down to the car, and Miles found $2.00 on the trail and told Allen that maybe one of the kids dropped it.  So they backtracked a bit to give the $2.00 to the group. Way to go Miles!! Good choice buddy boy!  The boys were SO excited when they got back!  They were both standing right in front of me talking as loud as they could at the same time.  I caught words here and there. :) Thanks daddy for the fun adventure!

It's all about moments!

In the last general conference Elder Ballard gave a fabulous talk to the Daughters of God.  I absolutely love the whole talk, but this adorable picture of Porter reminded me of one part in particular:

"...recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments.  There will be hard times and frustrating times.  But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."

What an adorable picture of my baby Porter!  Of course all moms think that their kids are the cutest...that's how it should be.  But pictures like this are reminders to me that it is all worth it...the pregnancy, delivery, sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, crying, and trying to deal with all 3 kiddos at once.  But there are moments that help me forget all of that.  Moments like this one.  Porter is so happy and we enjoyed that moment together.  He will only be a baby once and I keep telling him to "not be so big".  I love being a mommy and try to remember those "shining moments of joy and satisfaction", especially when I am having one of those days that is not so joyful. 

Thanks Porter for the shining moment! 

Porter is 3 months old!

I can't believe that Porter is 3 months old!  He weighs 15 pounds and is quite the cutie! 

 

 He loves: cuddling, eating, his activity mat

 He hates: the carseat, being hungry

 Nicknames: Portly, PT

Miles is so good with Porter.  He talks to him all the time.  Sometimes I even have to tell him to stop talking with Porter so he can eat!  Quincy is soft with Porter!  If you know Quincy, you know why this is amazing.  Quincy isn't soft with anything/anyone. This might change when Porter starts getting into Q's stuff, but for now we are so thankful that he is soft with baby brother.

We love you Porter and look forward to getting to know your sweet personality better in the months ahead.  You are so special and we are thankful you are a part of our family.

Love,

Daddy Mommy Miles and Quincy

Time to hide the winter clothes!

Quincy loves his hooded sweatshirts and mittens.  He loves them so much that I need to hide them for the summer.  Yesterday he went to his room and came back out dressed like this!  I kept asking him who he was but he wouldn't answer and just walked around looking proud of himself.  Time to do some organizing and cleaning out! (AKA hiding stuff)

P.S. This outfit would have been even more impressive with his Thomas snowboots that are already "hiding".  :)

Garbage Pail Kids!

Oh what fun the boys had helping daddy smash the boxes in the trashcan!  It's so fun to watch the boys and remember how much fun the little things can be...throwing pennies in the fountain, sprinklers, playing in small tight areas, swings at the park, etc...Yesterday we had a day that was not so good...so I am glad Allen caught these pictures today...now I can laugh and say how cute they look...yesterday I might have shut the lid and let them duke it out in there for awhile. :)

Porter talking already!

Porter is such a cutie...and starting to be such a talker!  He needs to be to keep up with our other talkers!  I can't believe he is 3 months old!  WARNING:this video will most likely be cute for grandparents only!  

Remember: Mute the music to hear the cute baby!