Grandma Great and Granky

I was so lucky growing up. I had four wonderful grandparents. Some people don't have any interactive grandparents. My mom's parents now live in Texas so we don't get to see them much. My dad's parent's, however, live in Carlsbad so every time we are in San Diego we get to go see them. They are OBSESSED with my kids (and my siblings kids, but I'm SURE they love mine the most!! :) ). Grandma is my most faithful blog reader. (Bryan gets on my case to keep the blog up so Grandma won't be sad.) I call them regularly because I just love talking to them.
Granky is so darling. He was "Grandpa" to us when we were kids but when us kids started having kids we wanted a more fun name. So, we adopted the name that Kelly used when she started talking. When she was learning to say Grandpa it came out Granky. Isn't that the cutest name?!? So, that's what all of our kids call him. I LOVE the name and it completely suits him. (We do occasionally tease him by calling him Cranky Granky, though.)
Granky starts chemotherapy today. As he starts this more-than-likely painful part of his life, I hope he knows how much we all love and adore him. Both he and Gigi have given us and our children more than we have ever deserved. They have spoiled us monetarily and emotionally and always make us feel like they live and breathe to hear from us and read our blogs and talk to our kids. When we go visit them they ALWAYS show off the kids to all of their friends. They make sure their friends know all the cute things our kids do. They always laugh at my Mommy Stories. They constantly tell me that I should publish pictures of my kids because I am just so very talented as a photographer (only a grandparent...) and because my children are so very cute. (they're right on that part!)
I could never truly tell them how much I love them and how grateful I am for all they have done for me. What a wonderful opportunity my children have had to get to know them. They are both in such great health overall so my kids know the REAL them. And my kids love them. LOVE THEM! My life would be incomplete without these two doting grandparents. Thank you for taking such an interest. It means the world to me. I love you both and we pray for you everyday... with extra prayers for Granky right now.

Valentine's Day

When I was growing up every Valentine's we would get doorbell ditched. Waiting at the door would be candy and balloons for all of us. It wasn't until we were a little older that we realized that my Dad was NEVER home when we got visited.... but he showed up about 5 minutes later. So, when we finally figured out it was him, the game changed. We would hide in the bushes and wait at the door to try to catch him. I'm sure my mom would call and tell him where we were because he never did catch him. He would park on the street behind our house and leave it all at the back door and knock on that one and run. I don't really know why we couldn't catch him but we loved it and looked forward to it every year.
Because this is such a great tradition from my family it is one that we have carried into my family. The kids loved it this year. Addi just kept saying "balloo" and wanting the balloons. Carter was going to town on the candy. It was so fun. It's just too bad Daddy wasn't home to enjoy it.... but he got home a few minutes later. :)
(Addi was so mad that I was making her stand by the candy for a picture. I know, the nerve of me, right?)

ALWAYS

Carter INSISTS on wearing socks to bed. I mean, even if it's August and I try to take them off of him in the middle of the night he yells at me. (And that's saying something because the kid is such a heavy sleeper that you could bang him against the wall and he wouldn't wake up.) Anyways, he always puts his own socks on and they NEVER match. NEVER! He just likes to wear one red sock and one white sick. Or one Spiderman and one Batman. It's just one of those things that makes me smile. One of those things that when he is 50 years old I'll still remember. I LOVE that kid. He's so awesome!

Carter's Prayers

Every night when Carter prays (and at meal times for that matter) he says the most adorable prayers. I know every child says cute prayers so I'm not offended if you don't read on. But I don't ever want to forget these prayers and it makes me sad that someday (all too soon) they will change. Here are some of the things he says in his prayers.

Please Bless:
the Holy Ghost (he ALWAYS prays for Him... never thought of doing that...)
my toys
the snowboard with feet (bindings)
space
that my mommy and daddy love me
Addilyn won't hit me anymore
my books
my name that is C-A-R-T-E-R
that Mommy and Daddy can't talk when we go to Nona and Papa's
my Puppies (he sleeps with two stuffed puppies)




Thankful:
that Daddy will fix my train set while I sleep so I can play with it tomorrow
for my toys
for my friends
to go to Nona and Papa's house

I love his prayers!! They are so innocent and pure. He just honestly prays for what he wants and what he feels.

Third and Final

Just thought we'd share the news. This is why I've been a little slack with the blogging lately. I'm due August 13th (so I'm 14 weeks into this) but already look 8 moths pregnant. :) At least that's how I feel. We're excited even though this one was a little more... prompt than the other two. I guess it's just extra anxious to come. (That, or it's the fact that I struck an ultimatum with the Lord... He again proved to me that HE is the one running the show.) We should find out in a few weeks what it is so we'll keep everyone posted. We are 99.9% sure this is the last one. (Bryan's 110% sure) so we're calling it "Third and Final."

(Sorry about the crappy scan. Swear there's a baby in there. The head is on the right below the black spot.))

Time Out

Addilyn is the QUEEN of wrapping people around her little chubby princess finger. (Not mentioning any names, BRYAN.) Anyways, she is really into hitting Carter (among other people) right now so she is constantly going to time out. It's the funniest thing you've ever seen (and by "you" I mean Mommy or any grandparent). I tell her to go to time out for X,Y, or Z. She walks herself over to the wall, puts her hands up by her head, and leans against them. After about 20 seconds she'll work up some tears and look back at you with her big doe eyes pleading wordlessly to be released from this awful punishment she did nothing to deserve. Don't fall for it. It's a TRICK!
That being said, I couldn't resist taking pictures of her while we were in Idaho doing her time out drama. It's Broadway worthy.

SERIOUS Picture Overload

For New Years we headed up to Driggs, Idaho. Bryan's sister, Nicole was way too pregnant to travel (had the babe the day after we left). It was so fun to take the kids to the snow. Addi wanted NOTHING to do with it. Far too cold for the princess that she is. Carter however, absolutely loved it. We had to tell him a million times that we weren't in the North Pole and that we weren't in Canada (where Uncle Bradley served his mission). There was tons of snow and the weather was surprisingly nice.

Of course Addi (and Daddy) fell asleep once we were almost to Idaho. She was rearing and ready to go during the flight to SLC and then for the 3 hour layover. All tuckered out. Carter and Evelyn in the snow. Those two had a BLAST together. Slide, Carter, slide!!
Deep snow...
Addi, Blake, and Hannah jumping on the couch that was keeping them in the basement.
Christmas Story, anyone?
Snow angles. He was so excited to make one.
I'm pretty sure this is the ONLY picture I am in. (aside from family pictures that were taken.)
Making a snow man with Grammie, Aunt Nicole, Aunt Noelle, and Evelyn.
Blowing on the glass.
All the cousins. From the left: Tyler (Matt and Natalie's), Evelyn (Ben and Jess's), Carter, Blake (Matt and Nat's), Hannah (Ben and Jess's), and Addi.
We had a game night on New Years Eve. One game required Bryan to wax part of his leg. It was pretty nasty but he took it like a man. ;)
Another game Naomi, Noelle, and Bry all had to put as many marshmallows in their mouths as possible. Naomi got a whopping three. Noelle did a little better, but they didn't stand a chance against Bryan.
Sitting in the hot tub surrounded by, that's right, snow. I don't know how well you can see Bryan (bottom towards the left) but that is his signature face for pictures. Makes me nuts! He thinks it's funny. (Sometimes I think he's still 12.)
Beautiful, cloudy Driggs.
Aunt Nicole and Addi.
Playing London Bridge with the kids. Uncle Ben and Grammie were champs throwing the kids around. They loved it!! (Crazy Arizona boy with his gloves on...)
Evelyn and Carter made sugar cookies with Grammie and literally ate spoonfuls of sprinkles.
Thanks for an amazing vacation everyone! It was seriously so much fun.

There's Always Next Year

Ok, so this isn't exactly how Bryan is feeling right now but this is for sure how he was feeling a few hours ago. For those who don't know my husband, he is and has been for the past 20 years a die hard Cardinals fan... the ONLY Cardinals fan. The Cards aren't... the best NFL team. But this year their true talent came out and they made it to the Super Bowl. Bryan went to watch it with his high school buddies while I stayed home with the kids. We were "invited" to come but it was kind of one of those "You guys can come, really. It would be fun." Meanwhile in his heart he's PRAYING that we don't come and spoil his good time. I didn't mind. Today was more important than our wedding night to him and I'm ok with that. I knew when I married him that he loved football, especially the Cards. So, I just want to say that there's always next year and the fact that they made it to the super bowl was icing on the cake. The fact that they made it an awesome game is even better. They gave the Steelers a serious run for their money and next year, you never know... they may go all the way. Poor Bryan. I am going to be comforting a very depressed husband in a little bit. :)