Dreamer

My sweet Dax has always had a wonderful imagination. He loves to read and drift off into the wonderful world of make believe. My friend said to me once that she can just picture a Dax-ish cartoon theme song running through his head as he plays. He is so much fun to watch run around and see his mind run wild. It makes it so much fun to play with him. He often has me pinned as a wild animal, a superhero in disguise, a submarine man exploring the ocean he has created, and a taste tester of all his magnificent cakes, to name just a few. My favorite though is to hear the latest of his many dreams when he gets bigger. Usually, bigger means the ripe old age of thirteen. Let me tell you, this boy has some major things to accomplish by age thirteen, but that's a whole different post.

The other day he was laying in the grass staring up at the clouds dreaming away. He propped himself up on one elbow and looks right at me and says, "Mom, I know something that will make you happy." I was curious. I asked him what it was. He said, "When I grow up I want to be a surfer and a Missionary."

I couldn't be prouder of my little guy. He was right; that did make me happy. I want him to keep dreaming, imagining and making goals for himself and do the things he loves. I want him to be anything he wants to be and to work hard to be the very best at it. I know this idea of "what you want to be when you grow up" will change many, many, many times over the course of his life, but I had to tell him that he was one of those things already, and I hope that never changes.

I love this boy.

Baby Cakes

Over here we're getting ready for our baby girl. We're all pretty smitten with her already. We've painted the room, we've taken polls on her eye color (Wyatt thinks red), we've decided where she will sit at the dinner table (a major concern of Dax's), we're car hunting (seriously...dreadful), we're (as in me) are shopping for anything pink, we're (as in Austin) just keeps rolling his eyes at anything I purchase in pink, and we're excited as can be to have "three boys and two girls" in the family.

Except we're NOT okay in one area. She is nameless. Utterly, completely, nowhere close, to having a name. I tend to lean a little more towards traditional names. On the other hand, Austin doesn't want a name where he knows anyone with it. You wouldn't think, but that causes quite a discrepency. We have no list. We each have one we like. And right now Austin's front runner is Torrance.

I beg you, give me some suggestions to help me convince him to name her anything but Torrance.

Ready or Not

We Arizonians have welcomed the month of April with a high of 98 degrees. Seriously?! We're four days into the month! We've already dug out the bathing suits, sunscreen, Toy Story 3 slip n' slide and water balloons. But let's be real, they weren't packed away that far...this is Arizona after all and the start to a long, long summer.

You see, because the start of April means the start of my third trimester. It's only been four days of the retched heat and I've already considered wearing mumu's.

That's totally acceptable for a woman under the age of eighty, right?

hmmmm.

What should a mother do when her three year old's favorite phrase is booyah.

Booyah. Really?

Awesome.

Superheros

Batman and Robin. The boys' heroes. And mine. You'll see why. They completely self-created their costumes. They perfectly acted the parts. They absolutely had me dying laughing. And I'm totally showing their future wives one day. At least I know I am well protected at home by my favorite Superheros!!

Ballpark

I can not remember a Saturday from my childhood not being at the ball park. No, really. Every. Saturday. For years. And years. And years. Even when I was too young to be playing, I can remember being woke out of bed and carried to the car to get to my sister's early games on time. I started t-ball young and by the time I turned 9 and we started to play "travel ball", every weekend from then on out was spent at the ball park until I was 19 years old. Four hour practices, two a-days, 5 games in a row, washing uniforms late at night to be worn the next day, packing lunches to last the day, it all came with Saturday's at the ball park. I enjoyed it then, but looking back, I miss it more than I would have imagined.

Luckily I married someone who spent his youth the exact same way. But, to be clear he was a soccer player and spent his Saturday's at the "field" rather than the "ballpark". When we first got married we would find ourselves relaxing at the park, any park, on Saturday's just in hopes of catching a game; any one's game. We just loved to watch and it was what we knew. Then when our nieces and nephews started to get old enough to play in organized sports on Saturday's we would catch ourselves traveling 25 miles to see a game. We would race up and down the sidelines and yell behind the backstop like all the other crazy parents.

Finally, Dax has reached the age where he gets to play sports on Saturday's. Hooray! Austin coaches and Wyatt and I sit in my hot pink beach chair being his biggest cheerleaders! I try not to get to intense and yell too loudly from the sidelines, but it's hard. I definitely recognize a piece of my dad in my blood now that I am the parent. Dax played soccer last season and now we are starting t-ball. It's my favorite part of spring. Forget that AZ can't decide if we need A/C or the heater, flip flop or Ugg's, sunscreen or umbrella's, we are enjoying what spring here has to offer. Baseball and Spring Training!

We live by the Angel's Spring Training facility, so we headed out to the season opener a few weeks ago with my entire family and of course...wore our Dodger Blue! We collected some autographs, got a ball, sat in the grass, had a picnic and cheered. It is what Saturday's are all about in my book. And the most important part of that equation? Being with my family. And I have the best one.

GIRL

Picture taken by our ultrasound tech and paintings courtesy of Dax and Wyatt (don't worry, they painted a boy sign too!)

I don't know if you heard...but we're having a girl!

It's been a few weeks since we found out. It's been a little wild. It's taken a few weeks for it to sink in. I'm not sure I will even be entirely convinced she's a girl until I am holding her in my arms. But we've had a few ultrasounds and they're 100%. It's a girl.

I really thought it was a boy. And, if I'm being honest, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed it wasn't. I know boys. My boys are the world to me. Our home is what it is; crazy, rambunctious, wild and loud, because of the boys. Throwing another boy into the mix wouldn't mean much change. I think there is something special about family's who have all the same gender. I could totally picture myself strolling around with three little boys. OK, so I'm sure I'd look like a frazzled train wreck going about daily errands rather than enjoying a leisurely stroll, but still, I could picture it. I loved the idea. In my heart of hearts I thought it was another boy.

But now, he is a she. Wow. Here we go! The shock has worn off. The overwhelmingness at starting with nothing, has not. But the excitement and joy has grown and grown. We are thrilled! The boys were hoping for a sister all along. I wasn't sure how that would be for her having these two as older brothers. One of my sister's already said, "She better be tough". At first I thought she was right. But seeing the way they have loved my growing belly, giving her daily hugs and kisses, talking to her and planning her name (so far we have "Girl" from Wyatt and "Marah" like Sarah with an "M" from Dax) they are totally smitten. They will be her protector, her defender, her number one fan, her older brothers. And it is that thought that has me even more in love with them and even more excited for her. She will be one lucky little girl!

Let's be honest though...I don't speak girl! All's I know is superheros, dinosaurs, race cars, wrinkled clothes, shaggy hair, bruised knees and dirty fingernails.

So tell me, what do I need to know about a girl?? I need all the help I can get!

flying.

This is Austin's Grandpa, Ralph Eyestone. Isn't he handsome? There were few occasions where I was able to sit and visit with him before he passed away. I met him for the first time the summer Austin and I got engaged. We met at one of his and grandma's favorite places to eat in Torrance, CA. Subway. It meant so much to Austin that I meet his grandparents before we got married. I loved that about him. I can specifically remember Grandpa Eyestone at our sealing in San Diego. He lovingly pushed his wife around the temple grounds in her wheelchair and posed for pictures in his dark sunglasses and blue sweater. The Grandpa Eyestone I knew was quiet and sweet but he had a wonderful presence. It was comfortable to sit in a room with him and not have to say anything at all.

He passed away in California the same weekend we were blessing Dax in Utah. Instead of Austin's family traveling to Utah for Dax's blessing, they traveled to California to attend the funeral. Austin flew to California on Saturday morning, attended the funeral Saturday afternoon, then flew back to Utah on Saturday night and blessed Dax on Sunday morning with only my family in attendance. It was a bittersweet weekend that I will never forget. I was so sad that I couldn't be there at the funeral and I was so sad that Grandpa never met Dax. I knew it broke Austin's heart.

Out of all the wonderful things I knew about Grandpa Eyestone, the thing I know most was his love for flying. Not just planes like the picture above, but kites. It's one of the things that Austin talks of most when speaking of his Grandpa. He spent so much time flying kites with his grandchildren and it's one of Austin's fondest memories he has.

Even though Dax and Grandpa Eyestone never met, I like to think they share a special bond. They definitely share a love for flying kites. Dax has been asking for weeks to fly kites. There is never much of a wind in AZ, but this week, things cooled down and yesterday was a perfect kite flying day. We headed to a big open park when Austin got home from work and called Austin's dad, Grandpa Mac, to come join in the fun. Dax is a really good kite flyer, a total natural. You should have seen him driving that red baron plane through the sky. He could have stayed out there for hours, and I could have watched. Wyatt on the other hand was bored after two minutes and happily played at the park. I was so touched as I watched Austin, his dad, and Dax, three generations of boys, fly kites.

I know I wasn't the only one thinking of Grandpa Eyestone yesterday. I love that wonderful people from the past can live on through the lives of our children. I can't wait until Dax realizes how special that quality truly is. I love that Dax, even without knowing, has this passion for flying kites just like his Great Grandpa. And because families are forever, that one day they can talk all about it.

five.

More tiny toes are coming our way! And we couldn't be more thrilled!

Birthday Boy(s)

This picture pretty much sums up our Wyatt boy. A little raggy. A little unexpected. A little spunk. A lot of fun and laughs! He is such a character who I can't even believe is three years old today. Dax kept asking him all week, "Wyatt, can you even believe you are going to be three?" I wanted to burst into tears every time he brought it up. How can my baby be three?! It has been the most fun having TWO boys. I feel so blessed to have two little knights in shining armors to love and spend each day with. Wyatt has such a fun personality that you just smile when he comes around. He has been such a joy in our lives and I love watching him learn and grow. Here's a few things you should know about him:

His favorite color is red. And whenever he tells anyone, he makes sure that they also know that his lion's favorite color is orange. Yea, we're still working on breaking those two up.

He asks for eggs every morning for breakfast. Every. morning. Note- he only gets them about twice a week.

He loves to wear sweats. He is a big time lounger who wears sweats and warm up pants any chance he gets. I think he may have even worn them under church pants once or twice. It just wasn't worth the fight.

His favorite phrase lately is, "Holy moly guacamole". It's adorable.

He idolizes his brother. And his dad. I hope that never changes.

We must keep apple juice and crystal lite in this house at all times or there are problems. This kid does not drink milk. Juice is it.

Despite every effort to break him of this habit, Wyatt wakes up every, no really, every morning by 6am. No matter how badly I don't want to open my eyes and see him, every time I do I think how stinkin' cute he is.

When he grows up he wants to be a police man. He has never said anything different.

He loves to read to me. It's the best because he starts at the back of the book and gives an excellent cliff's note version of each story. It makes bed time way fast.

Every penny he finds he sticks in his pocket and says he's saving it for the "naquarium". I think he has saved enough. It's probably time to take them back.

He can spot any Target a mile away. I have taught him so well.

He has been potty trained since March, but every time he goes to the bathroom he forgets to put his underwear back on, his pants go on backwards, he forgets to flush the toilet and he locks and closes the door on his way out. There have been many times we have been out an about and I finally realize my two year old is going commando. Makes us laugh every time.

He has told everyone that he is turning five today just like Dax did last month. I haven't done a birthday post for Dax yet, but he had a wonderful Dinosaur party with lots of friends and has told me countless times that he does things better, faster and is smarter now that he is five. Except yesterday he told me he missed being four. I think I kinda knows how he feels. I miss my twenties too! :)

Happy Birthday my sweet boys!

Christmas Recap

Christmas this year was a piece of cake. Well....it should have been. The boys very humbly asked for one thing each from Santa. They knew far in advance what they wanted Santa to bring them and there was no deterring from it. If you asked Wyatt what he wanted for Christmas, he'd say as fast as he could in speedy language, "a lego Batcave". If you asked Dax what he wanted he would recite every single word from the commercial, "the Criss Cross Crash race track from Hot Wheels." Man, was I lucky!

I have this thing. If they ask Santa for it, I better well do anything in my power to make it happen because I don't ever want them loosing faith in good ol' Saint Nick. I was pleased as pie that these two things could be found at Target, Wal-mart or Toys R Us and I should have no trouble tracking them down. Little did I know...

The Trio Batcave went on sale at Target the month of November for 50% off. Wouldn't you know there wasn't one in the state of AZ? My sister in law covered at least 10 Targets in CA with no luck and my mom was in Timbuktu Kansas with my sister and couldn't even track one down there. Online was a flop and the two Wal-marts I checked didn't even carry them. It wasn't even Thanksgiving yet and I was feeling doomed. Then, like an angel sent from heaven my sister spotted one at another Wal-mart, and although I payed more than I would have liked, we got it, hid it and I was so happy to cross that off my list.

All the while hunting for this Batcave I had seen the Criss Cross Crash race track a handful of times. But each time my boys were with me and there was no hiding this huge thing in my cart. So, the weeks pass and suddenly, like the lame-o that I am, I go to Target to buy it and it's sold out. As is the case with every Target within a 60 mile radius. Wal-mart doesn't carry it. I am left to facing Toys R Us. Not my favorite. We call and call Toys R Us all around town to no avail. It is now the 22nd of December and Austin and I are in complete panic mode. We laugh at ourselves that we are making ourselves nutso over a silly race track, but like I said. It was the ONE thing he wanted from Santa. I wouldn't be able to face him Christmas morning if Santa didn't bring it! We end up calling a Toys R Us about a half hour away and they have six but they won't hold one for us and neither one of us can get up there until that night. Austin calls when he gets off work and they are gone. UGH! To make matters worse, the race track was on sale (which as pricey as the silly thing was, was a good thing) and when you buy it you get a 10-pack of Hot Wheels cars for free. What a deal, but this is just plummeting our chances of finding one! Our only saving grace at this point was the fact that the week of Christmas, Toys R Us was open 24-hours. Lo and behold I find a store in north Scottsdale, about 50 minutes away, that has four. Austin and I are on our way home from Phoenix from the Forgotten Carols, it's December 22nd, raining cats and dogs, and it's 11:15 at night. He takes the babysitter home, and bless his heart, drives to Toys R Us an hour away and actually gets it! You would think at midnight he would be safe. Oh no! The place was packed! He arrived home close to 2am and we laughed our heads off at the crazy things we do for our kids.

I gotta say, these are the fun stories we can tell our kids about years and years down the road. And Christmas morning sure was magical around here.....for being so simple! HA!

I had great intentions this year. Really I did. But these puppies never made it in the mail. I hope no one has been cursing me under their breath for not getting a Christmas card this year. Trust me; they were printed, just never sent. I even went as far to email all my favorite people who I didn't have addresses for and updated my address list. It was rearing to go! Then sickness came. Then Christmas party after Christmas party came. Then shopping came (but that's always the case). Then preparing for the new year of Primary came. Then Christmas came and went and I figured a New Year's card would be the ticket. I thought, "That's a brilliant idea and gives me some extra time!" And now New Year's has come and gone. Yup, I pretty much suck. Please forgive us! We love you and still send our best...through the always reliable world wide web.

I know, I'm pathetic.

New Year's Resolution #64: Get Christmas Card done by November this year

Disneyland 2010

I have some major blog catching up to do! I think I'll start back up at the beginning of the month when we spent a great two days at Disneyland and California Adventure. I am a firm believer that Disneyland is magic. No really. Magic. I grew up in California and I have NEVER seen it rain there. I think there is an invisible bubble around it. It truly is the happiest place on Earth. And nothing is better than watching your children experience that magic first hand. It was a perfect trip! It all started last February...

Austin and I volunteered to play softball with families who were less fortunate and who were trying to get back on their feet in Phoenix on Valentine's Day. They were families who were living in small apartments maintained by the Salvation Army and it hardly seemed like service spending two hours with such fun people playing a sport we both love! Austin pitched and I played outfield and we had so much fun playing with these sweet humble families.

In return, we received two free passes to Disneyland and held onto them tight for this special up coming trip. My parents treated us as a combined birthday and Christmas present for our family. We stayed at a beautiful place in Carlsbad and spent day one at California Adventure and then one of my sisters family joined us for day two at Disneyland.

Here are just some of the highlights and fun!

Dax LOVED Soarin' Over California and Wyatt was too small. While Dax rode the ride four times, Wyatt didn't mind waiting around in Radiator Springs and making pals with Goofy.

How perfect to sit on Santa's lap at Disneyland! The boys got to tell him what they wanted, a Bat Cave and a Criss Cross Crash Hot Wheels Race Track (more to come on that), and I got to avoid the hundreds of people and the madness at the mall. Plus, I thought he was the best looking Santa I had seen in forever!

This picture cracks me up. What the heck does he think he's gonna find?!

Thankfully my mom and I had my dad and Austin to take the boys on all the crazy, crashin', spinnin', make us puke kinda rides in a Bugs Land. They had a ball!!
We started the morning off at Disneyland with the famous character breakfast. It's a buffet style breakfast with Minnie and 15 of her closets friends and it was FUN! I have no idea where Wyatt was. Oh! Probably stuffing his face with one of three plates of scrambled eggs he made Austin get him!! My mom found a old friend, Eeyore. Years and years ago when I was eight our family went on a 4-day Walt Disney cruise to the Bahamas and we have this classic picture of my mom with Eeyore during the last night of fancy dinners on the ship. When we saw Eeyore was eating breakfast with us we had to recreate this picture. Even all these years later my mom still looks the same! One of my favorite pictures from the trip! So cute!

Another one of my highlights of the trip. It was one of those rare, tender moments when I could actually see the brotherly love between these two funny boys. Dax was being such a great big brother and lovingly introduced Wyatt to one of his heroes, Aladdin. He was a great Aladdin and was so sweet with the boys. I think it was one of their highlights too!

We could not have asked for a better trip or more fun! I love Disneyland at Christmas time and it was a great time spent with loved ones! Thanks again Mom and Dad! We love you!!

Gilbert Arizona Temple Groundbreaking

I wish I could put into words what a wonderful experience we had yesterday at the site of the future Gilbert Arizona temple. We drive by this spot (less than 5 miles from our home) weekly. It's en route to Costco, the mall, the freeway, JoAnn's, Old Navy, In-n-Out....basically all our favorite places. The boys know the massive field of dirt as "the temple" and look for the big trucks and construction workers each time we pass. As we walked onto the site yesterday it had been transformed with 5,000 chairs, a stage with a beautiful choir, a cute old man playing the organ under a rainbow colored umbrella, lawn chairs and blankets and thousands and thousands of people. I was simply overcome with the spirit. At one point I bent down next to the boys who were happily playing in the dirt and explained to them that on the exact dirt we were standing and playing, there was going to be built a house of the Lord. I hope they know how truly special that is. Throughout the services as the speakers spoke at various moments Wyatt would look up with excitement in his eyes and repeat words he had heard over the speakers. "Temple!" he'd exclaim. "Book of Mormon!" "Faith!" "President Monson!" Each time he would grow more and more excited. I was so touched that he could feel the Spirit and was recognizing the words being said. He was so adequately expressing the joy I was feeling listening to the speakers and wonderful authorities who were there to preside at the meeting. As we were packing up to leave I could tell he was thinking about something. He looked around at all the people in the field of dirt and then at me and asked, "we build a temple?" I had to chuckle. "No" I said, and explained that we didn't build a temple right then, but they were going to start. That fills my heart with so much happiness. I am so grateful we have this rare opportunity to see that field of dirt transpire into a sacred holy temple.

I love how the umbrella is duct taped to the side of the bench. I think it was a little warmer then expected!

Multi-Stake Choir

There were at least 30 "gold" shovels each with a picture of the Gilbert Temple on the shovel and each was engraved on the handle that read "Gilbert Arizona Groundbreaking November 13, 2010"

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Margareth

My sisters, Nicole and Jennifer

Gilbert Arizona Temple