This one's for Lance

These kids (and their mom) miss Lance something fierce, but it won't be too much longer until he gets to come join us in the beautiful, yet frigid weather in Idaho. Hopefully the weather cheers up a little by the time he gets here, or he will freeze on his mandatory fishing trips. Keep studying hard, honey, because that's about all there is to do. How boring! Jaycee has been completely worn out keeping this rigorous schedule of playing all day. She has been taking naps, and not even fighting it. We start driving and she is out like a light.
Rydge is sleeping better because we've been wearing him out as well. In fact, last night he slept 12 hours straight. I couldn't have been prouder.

It's nice having cousins so close. Lots of giggles going on...

I took this video right before we left, and thought it was so cute. Rydge misses his daddy even though he can't talk. I just know he does.

I love my mom!

As my journey of motherhood progresses with each passing day, I am more keenly aware of the love and sacrifice my mother has given and still gives to me. I can't believe the ironies that I have found since I have become a mother. When you're little you think that your parents just shouldn't yell at you. It's that easy. Now I really have to make a conscious effort to stop yelling and remain patient. I don't know how many times I've said, "How many times do I have to tell you!?", which is a phrase that I heard a couple times when I was younger ;) Not to mention all the times I have to ask, "Are you even listening to me?" (husband included in that question). What can I say? I have turned into my own mother, which isn't a bad thing at all. My mom is a very talented woman. I just wanted to write about a couple things that make her so endearing to me. She can play a very mean game of racquetball; she's an excellent spinster (the exercise class); she could wear anyone out in a shopping day, or even in a regular day; she's an amazing grandma to my kids (and her other grandchildren as well); she's an amazing saleswoman--she's the only one I know who can sell temple clothing and lingerie at the same time; she's so ticklish that my dad can't even attempt to tickle her without risking the loss of his favorite appendage; she's willing at any time of day or night to play games; I've always been jealous of her because she's allergic to make-up, and still looks gorgeous; and she stayed up into the wee hours of the morning waiting for me (and all my siblings) to come home from parties, etc., sacrificing many hours of sleep. She's an excellent example of making the effort it requires to keep family ties together. She has done so much for her brothers, sisters, and her own parents. Most of all, she is an amazing example of anything gospel related. She's got such a strong testimony, and taught us all so much about remaining true to your testimony. I love you, mom, and hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day (and belated birthday on Cinco de Mayo).

A lot has happened...

First things first, Jaycee just celebrated her 4th birthday last Sunday. She was so excited, and couldn't wait to open her presents. She actually tried bargaining and making deals with me to see if she could trade a pair of her shoes for the flip-flops I bought her for her birthday. She'd say, "But I don't want the flip-flops for my birthday, I want them now. You can give these ones for my birthday." She is such a thinker. I can't believe I have a four-year-old. She starts school in junior kindergarten this September, and I've had very mixed emotions. I never imagined she would grow up so fast, and it just keeps getting faster, but I also think she is ready to learn from someone else besides me. So, I would have taken a ton more pictures of Jaycee on her birthday, but my camera's batteries were dead, and we were totally out of new ones. I did get the video of her blowing out the candles, though, which took forever. We were mentioning in the video that she was going at a Master Uguay pace (Kung Fu Panda) and we needed Master Shifu to come blow them out with his Kung Fu fury (forgive the spelling of the names, I have no idea what it would be). As a sidenote: I bought Jaycee a little cake from the store, but it wasn't that exciting, and she told me she didn't like that cake. She wanted another Dora cake like last year. I decided to try and make her a Dora one, and it really looked a lot better in real life than in the video. Not to mention the fact that Jaycee decided to poke her Dora's out with the candles, which makes it look really creepy. I also know that there are eight candles on the cake. Jaycee just wanted to keep putting them on, and it's not like we'd be able to find those candles next year anyway.

The other day I heard Jaycee in her room laughing hysterically. This is what I found...

She thought she was hilarious.


Rydge has had thrush for a while now because I can't remember to give the medicine four times a day all the time, so this syringe has become his playmate. I'll give him the medicine, then he'll crawl around with it in his hand and suck on it. Speaking of growing up, doesn't he just look so grown-up. I can't believe he's going to be one in a month and a half.

This happened a couple weeks ago. Normal bathtime routine, but I decided that Rydge was having so much fun that he could stay in while I washed Jaycee's hair. Bad mistake. I wasn't thinking about not letting him stand up, and of course he slipped. I couldn't believe he split his eye open on the bathtub. Lance had just left to go study at the school, and I had to flag him down from a window frantically while the blood was pouring down Rydge's face. I was so glad Lance saw me and came back. We debated back and forth about whether or not to take him to the ER, but decided not to. Afterward I decided that the feeling of guilt you have when you think you should have taken your child in to a doctor and didn't outweighs everything else. I couldn't believe how bad I felt. We didn't want to take him anywhere because we could just hear the comments: "Whoa, and you didn't take him to the doctor?" Anyway, now there's just a thin pink line, and he will have a scar, but I don't think stitches would have made it any less noticable. This kid is so tough. He only cried until I picked him up, but then he stopped. He was very wiggly, and wouldn't let us touch his eye, but he hardly cried at all.

Just playing at the park. I love warm weather.

I had to take a picture of Rydge's cuddle moment with daddy. He's always cuddly with me, but hardly ever cuddly with Lance. He plays with Lance.

More pictures of Jaycee's dance recital. I'm too lazy to put them onto the other post.