Caribbean Cruise 2015 {On Our Way}



We recently went to the Caribbean on a cruise to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary!  It was such a good time.  But first, we had to say goodbye to our kids.  We had lots of hugs and kisses.  And left them to have the time of their lives with Grandma Bush!  I sure did miss these sweet faces, but it was so nice to have some one on one time with Jason.

Once we were at the airport, we got lunch at the Rogue Pub.  It was really delicious. 

We also had to take a traditional "footsie" picture with the PDX carpet that is currently being replaced.  It is just one of the fun things that keeps Portland weird.

Then we were on our way!  We flew into Houston, TX.  It was a beautiful flight.  I love being up in the sky above the clouds.  It is one of my favorite sights.

Once in Houston, we went to the hotel (after waiting for an hour and a half for the hotel shuttle to arrive.)  There, we got dinner and caught up on some TV.  It was a nice night--kids free!  Super excited to go to the cruise the next day!

Mother's Day 2015

This year I had a PERFECT Mother's Day!  I was pampered from the moment I woke up.  Through out the day, I was given little gifts. 

 

This is how my day went:

 

8:00 am: Piper brought me a little thing of Kit Kats and a cute little card she made. 

9:00am: Jason made me breakfast in bed (since I wasn't allowed downstairs)

 9:30 am: Emerson gave me a card he made in school and a cute little tulip magnet that he made. 

10:00 am: I got some cards and paper flowers with chocolates that my Mom helped the kids make while Jason and I were out of town.

11:00 am:  Went to church and got spoiled.  They gave up little plants and a little fun treat table during Relief Society.

2:30 pm: Emerson gave me a little card and some Butterfinger Bites.

3:00 pm:  I got to Skype with my Mom and all my family.

4:30 pm: I got to be a Visiting Teacher and help my friend that was needing some help.

6:00 pm:  Had a delicious dinner of Spaghetti Tetrazini made for me.

8:00 pm:  Had my last little gift delivered to me.  It was a game we have been wanting to get and Jason thought that this was a good excuse to buy it. 

 

It was seriously the perfect day.  I am so blessed to have the family I have.  Both the husband and kids, and the Mom, Dad and Sisters.  I am so LUCKY!  They all made my day incredible!

 

 

Also, I just have to say how lucky I am to have my Mom.  She is the best!  I am so grateful that she taught me by her example.  I am amazed by the person she is!  I love you, Mom!

 

 

First Lost Tooth

On Sunday afternoon after we got off the cruise ship, I got this message from Emerson. 

Later that day we facetimed and he showed us the damage. He was so proud of it. 

When we left for the cruise, his tooth was just barely loose. I was sure that it would be a while until it would come out. Apparently one day, he was eating some gummies and it became really loose all of the sudden. Grandma Bush told him that she could just hurry and pull it out. But he was insisting the he be taken to the dentist to be put to sleep and have them pull it. 

Later he recalled a story about a girl who feel asleep after she bit into an apple that woke up with both of her top teeth gone. (Which happens to be the story that Grandma Bush told him just a couple days before about how she lost her first teeth.).  So he asked for an apple. He took one bite and the tooth was gone. 

His sweet smile will never be the same, but he is sure excited to be growing up. And especially excited for the toothfairy to come. 

Change of Focus

Sometimes life is really hard. Sometimes I get totally overwhelmed with just two kids. Sometimes after planning fun activities for my kids, my son comes home with bad reports from school and everything has to be cancelled. Sometime after hear "THAT MINES" at the top of her lungs for the 1000 time that hour, I want to pull my hair out.  Sometime I hate going to church and not learn anything. I just have to deal with a bunch of screaming, wild kids that aren't even mine. Sometimes after you start smelling an awful smell in your house you find two dead mice in your garage and a live one...and who know how many more there are. Sometime life is just hard. 

It is so easy to focus on the bad. But today I want to find the good. 

I have two beautiful children. They are such good kids. And that is just it, they are kids. Kids that love to run, scream, play, and laugh!  Oh they love to laugh!  They are the best of friends. I love that!

I have the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  I get to go and renew my covenants each week. I get to go and serve him by teaching his children each week. I know that he loves those little 3-4 year olds and I am lucky to be entrusted to be part of teaching them this Gospel that I love so much!

I have a home!  Wow, I am lucky for that!  I am so blessed that I have a garage full of food to eat anytime I want...even if some of it has to go straight to the trash now. 

I am one lucky girl!  I have really been blessed and need to remember to focus on the good and let the bad be the bokeh that makes a picture beautiful.

Piper Jane {Seven Months}

 

Weighs 16 lbs 9 oz.

Length

• Wears size 2 diapers
• Wears 3-6 month , 3M and 6M clothes
• New foods this month: Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Peaches, Apples, Pears, Grapes, and Bananas
• Nurses exery 3 hours.
• She takes 3-4 short half hour naps during the day.
• She falls asleep about 9 and wakes up about 7:30. Waking up 2-3 times a night.
• She had her first cold.
• She laughs then tickled under her chin and when being kissed on her cheek.
• She loves strings.  If you have one on your shirt, she will have it in her mouth.
• She loves playing with her toys--when Emerson doesn't take them away from her.
• She started sitting up with no support. (4/11)
• She started to “drop crawl”. (04/20)
• We are starting to teach her signs.  She hasn't sstarted using them, but she is being introduced to them.
• She is a major mommy's girl.
 
 

Piper Jane {6 Months}

• Weighs about 16 lbs. 5 oz

• Wears size 1 diapers
• Wears 3-6 month , 3M and 6M clothes
• She still nurses every two to two and a half hours.
• She started eating solids.
• She has tried: Oatmeal, Squash, Peas, and Carrots
• She started rolling over.
• She started playing in an exersaucer.
• She started to like being worn for short periods.
• She can sit supported, but not on her own.
• She started getting very little specks of brown or green in her eyes.
• She moved into the room with Emerson.
• She wakes up two times a night.
• She stared drinking water from a sippy cup.

And she is off...

Emerson {Five Years}

 
This year Emerson:

He started to learn to read. He can read all the Bob Books that we have. He also loves to read all the street signs that we pass. He is always amazing me with the words that he gets right.

He started preschool this year. We decided that he needed an outlet other than at home to learn how to make friends and listen to other adults. He has had a hard time in preschool because he just wants to love everyone.

He loves hugs and kisses. He is probably the most loving boy I know. He just doesn't know how to control it. During Sacrament meeting every week, he has to make the rounds and go give all his friends hugs and kisses. We are currently practicing to only hug for 1-2-3 and then let go. He isn't quite getting the concept because he just wants to hug forever.

He loves Star Wars, Legos, Super Heroes, and the color blue. He loves watching TV especially Max and Ruby, Curious George, and Barbie movies.

He is so inclusive. He will never fully commit to having one best friend or even one favorite color (although we all know that it is blue). He just always says “all of my friends are my best friends.” I love how sweet he is.

He is energetic. I started exercising with him. We go out and walk/jog a mile to 1.5 miles a few times a week. He usually runs to the end of the road and back twice before I get to the end of the road. And by the end he is still wanting to go. He just never stops. I love how great of a motivator he is.

He is so creative. He will make up songs all day long. He also loves to come up with stories whenever he builds new creations as to why something is why it is. Usually it is about some super hero fighting a villains

He isn't very patient. He can't write or color very well yet, but we have been practicing and he is getting better. When we really take the time to do it, he does a fantastic job, but it is rare that he will sit and practice.

He is a great helper. If you want Emerson to behave, you ask him to help. He is always willing to. He will go take things places for me, get diapers for Piper, unload the silver ware, and anything else you ask.

He is the best big brother. He is so in love with his little sister. He goes around saying stuff like “Piper you are just too cute. I can hardly keep my hands off you because you are so cute.” I love that he really loves her. When she is crying he finds ways to help—whether it be giving her a pacifier and a toy or picking her up. He loves to sing song to her too.

Though at times Emerson is a handful, we are so lucky to have him around. He is such a fun, energetic little boy. We have loved having him in our lives these past 5 years.