Ways to have fun...

We woke up to a what the crap surprise snow storm this morning. I am grateful for kids today because while I'm nursing Eden I hear Taj saying, "It snowed! We have snow boots and our snow clothes!" He's bursting and ready to go out and play. I instantly felt a little less depressed about the lingering winter and went out to play with Taj. Bless his heart.

Taj loves to bowl. At least he used to. Lindsay and I planned an awesome outing to the bowling ally for Taj and Bennet. The boys enjoyed bowling for a total of about one minute and spent the rest of the time running around in the cute tiny bowling shoes. Meanwhile Lindsay bowled for the kids and tried not to look too bad next to the 5 and 8 year olds practicing for their bowling league. What the?

Not much to say, and yet so much to say

Do you ever stop and realize how quickly time flys and feel like there's not anything really significant to say about the time that is now gone? I feel like that a lot, yet there are always lots of seemingly insignificant things that occur. It's the kind of stuff that happens that if someone were to ask what you've been up to, you wouldn't really mention them, but they were kind of special.
So here are a few of the little things I might not have mentioned, but decided to anyway.
-We went for a walk to "the Duck Pond". On the way Taj and Eden got a hold of each other and melted my heart. When we got to the pond there really weren't any ducks. We threw bread anyway, and two ducks found us. Yippy!
-Eden has found her feet! Is there anything cuter than a baby playing with their feet?
-We love to get out. Here's us living it up at a park just up the street from us. We like it because Micah and Taj can get back to our house on the skateboard without pushing since it's all downhill on the way back. And isn't Eden so grown up now?

-Taj has been taking some awesome monster naps. Love growth spurts.

- I have managed to figure out how to get both kids bathed and in bed all by myself. I've only had to do it on my own a few times until this week when I've had to do it three nights in a row. I feel like a real mom of two now.

-Eden doesn't really like peas, but I found out that I kind of like them, and I really like the color.

Easter

Easter is my favorite holiday. Its got the food, the family, the excitement, but not all the fuss of Christmas and not as stuffy as Thanksgiving. It's the best. This year seemed really early to me, and I was not complaining. I did some research and it turns out that this was the earliest Easter celebrated since 1818, and it wont be this early again until 2160. Pretty neat-o. I couldn't help myself and dressed the kido's like easter eggs and really went overboard on the junk food. Guess what game we played about 700 times today.... easter egg hunt! I know it sounds crazy but it really can be just as exciting after the twentieth time- just ask Taj.

Bragadocious

So, Taj is a genius. I'm not too sure about what's appropriate for his age when it comes to smarts, but this kid is definitely the smartest kid in the world (I'm a mom). He found this movie at the library and really wanted to borrow it. I humored him thinking he wouldn't really like it, but I was sooooooo wrong. He loves it! Anytime we would let him watch a movie he would choose this one and before we knew it Taj was reciting the whole movie. No big deal until we noticed the other day that he was pointing to the letters on the dryer saying what they were, "h. e. a. v. y. d.u.t.y. What these words say?" Whoa! Later that same day he sees the letters on a car in the parking lot, "L. A.N.D." Holy moly. This kid is learning to read all on his own. Turns out he can spell and recognize his own name and mom and dad and eden. Nerd alert. Just kidding. I'm obviously a little proud.

Hooray!

Today there are three things I am really happy about.

1. Girl Scout Cookies are back!!!! My loving husband hooked me up with a supply of Thin Mints and Samoas. They are one of the things to like about Utah (they are pretty hard to get in HI).

2. "Flight of the Concords" are on their way!! Micah and I are huge fans of the show and put it on the top of our Netflix list back in November. I just got the good news that we're finally getting our turn!

3. Got the kids out of the house! I love going for walks, especially to the nearby stream and bridge featured in the pic.s. As you can see, Taj also really enjoys it, but Eden is still "warming up" to it.

Buddies

Micah has been taking Taj for rides on the skateboard since before Taj could walk. I still get a little nervous, but love to see them share activities like that. Skateboarding is one more thing that only Dad does with Taj, and is therefore very special.

When we moved into this new house about 6 of the neighborhood Mom's knew of me as the Mom that let her little guy go on the skateboard, and told me that they thought Micah must be a big brother taking the little brother skateboarding without their mothers permission. Oh no, it's the Dad, and Mom didn't have much choice in the matter, but truly loves it.

A Day at the Mall

While wasting time at the mall this afternoon Micah and I came to some realizations. First we realized that we kind of hate the mall. Surrounded by people dressed in the latest fashions, shopping for newer things they have to have so they can come back to mall and shop for more new things. Yuck. It has a way of making a person feel bad for wearing jeans that are starting to tear and for not getting around to brushing their hair.
Next, we realized that we are getting old. Seriously, old. When a high school kid greeted us at Zumiez we asked each other if we are allowed to go into stores like that anymore. When a sales person referred to Micah as "Boss," we decided that no, we are not allowed to go into stores like that anymore. Passing more trendy and flirty high school kids it dawned on us that we have joined the group of adults that take their kids to the mall to shop and our lives flashed before our eyes. How long until Taj has an opinion about what he wears and Eden is begging us for new shoes she has to have, or worse, they don't want to be seen with us at the mall.
I think the most profound realization that came from that trip to the mall was that we really really need to try harder to find things to do on a Friday afternoon.

Ouch!

Torture

About a week ago we had some great weather. When that happens in Utah after a long winter people get really excited and put on their shorts, do some yard work, and shop for swim suits. We got a little caught up in this excitement I guess because we finally put together the trampoline we got for Christmas. Taj and Micah played on it for hours, and I even got on with Eden in the Baby Bjorn.

The next day it snowed.

Now we have to tell Taj that it's too cold to jump on the trampoline about 6 times a day. We've sucked it up a few times and got on with all our winter gear. The rest of the time it's sitting out there looking at us through our kitchen windows torturing us. When is the warm weather going to come to stay?

FHE

Here's the parenting problem this week. FHE. I think I've exhausted my three ideas. I love the expression on Taj's face when we try to explain things like the golden plates. I feel like I've done something right when he stands on top of things and says he's the angel Moroni. Any ideas out there? We need help. Thanks in advance.

Frazzles

There's no denying that Eden is rocking a baby mullet. I love it! In the tub she's got a real mermaid look with her hair swimming around her chubby cheeks. The only reason I mention her hair today is because during a feeding Taj was entertaining himself with a butterfly hair clip of hers that he found. When Eden was done eating Taj decided to do her hair then comment on how beautiful she was. It was one of those moments as a mom where you kind of melt a little and realize for the five million and eighth time that you wouldn't want to be doing anything else than growing up with the little ones.