Mother's Day

Mother's day this year was super simple. Since Jacob was gone it was pretty much a regular day for me. My dad did try and make it a special day for us he made us a yummy breakfast. I enjoyed playing with the boys and packing for Milwaukee since we left in the morning. Jacob sent me a nice e-mail that I got all the way from India. It was very sweet and thoughtful. Also before he left he told me I could buy a new SLR camera for mother's day. I am super excited about my new camera and I used it to take pictures of Aly's birthday party. I think my pictures already look great.

Aly's 12th Birthday!

I can't believe it but Aly is 12 years old now, and that is a BIG reason to celebrate. Jacob has already left for India so I volunteered to help out. We started off the night by going to the mall and breaking up in teams. Each team was given only $5 and told to buy Aly and unique gift for that small amount. My group ran off and got her an owl ring and necklace. The other groups got things like stickers and jewelry and one got a funny toy. The group with the funny toy won. However I felt the should have been disqualified because they were not back in time...just kidding.

After the mall we went to the Gilmore's we ate spaghetti tacos and fruit. Then we broke off into teams and played double 007. Stephanie, Eli and Liam were in the hunting car. Eli loved it and would yell we have to hurry and find the girls! Liam liked it too and was giggling having fun when all the sudden he was quiet I looked down and he had fallen asleep. I guess the excitement was too much for him. Then we went home and had freezes for dessert and opened presents. It was a fabulous party!

All Boy

Today the Irriagation came. I looked out the window and I saw Eli running back a forth with Marley following right behind him. I also noticed that he stripped off all of his clothes to do this. I watched Eli run around for a long time with Marley then stop to play throwing around some balls that he found. If that doesn't sound like an afternoon with a little boy. I don't know what does!

Another Year, Another Swim lesson

Just before Eli turned one I put him in swim lessons. He turned out to be my little fish. Last year swim lessons did not go so well after I had Liam so we stopped. I was worried he wasn't gong to like swimming again this year, but I was wrong. He loves it and is doing great. I am pretty sure by the end of the summer Eli will be a swimmer!

Easter and a Eggslalent Surprize

Happy Easter Sunday. I love Easter. To me this holiday is the most inportant of the year, and I love everything about it. We had a lovely Easter. It started out waking up and finding out that we got a new pet. Jacob got his dream and we are now the owners of Labrador dog. Then we looked for eggs. Eli was more interested it finding the plastic eggs and opening them. He would find one and then open it get so excited about what was inside he stopped looking for eggs. Needless to say that took forever and we actually looked for eggs for over a week after Easter. Liam and Eli found their big Easter Eggs which are their Easter baskets and had so much fun with the surprises. After finding everything we watched a movie with Eli while Liam napped. We all laid down in the toy room. The dog didn't want to lay on his bed so Eli did and we all layed around him. We all feel asleep and this resulted in a very very cute picture that my dad got.

The story of Marley...
Jacob was so excited about the dog he actually slept in the toy room with him. Then that morning he was helping my dad and went outside for maybe 2 minutes. When he came back in he saw Eli in the toy room playing with the dog. I didn't know Eli was awake so we BOTH missed Eli finding the dog. Jacob knowing he would be in trouble (because two minutes before that I told him to hide the dog in the laundry room, which he did not) told Eli to pretend like he didn't see the dog. They came back to get me and Liam and the first thing out of Eli's mouth was we got a new dog mom. Jacob's face went white. I would be lying if I said there wasn't a little argument after that. Then I realized we both missed it. it was what it was and I needed to get over it. Both the boys LOVE him so much and they get so excited and play with him. The dog was named Brinkley before we got him, but when Eli saw him he said he was Marley. It was at the moment we realized he looks like that naughty dog from Marley and me. Eli would not call him Brinkley so that is why he is called Marley.

The Secert Garden

Today we went to an Easter brunch we were invited to at my Uncle Ronnie's and Aunt Carma's. They live in this darling home right across the street from the temple. Everything about this house is charming and just too pretty. They have an amazing garden and the house it's self has been remodeled and so pretty. I thought we were having brunch it in the secret garden. Eli loved it because there were even baby chicks! He held them and tried so hard to be careful. We had the yummiest food, hunted for eggs, and visited with family. I had the nicest visit with my cousins. It was such beautiful pleasant day. The only thing that would have made it perfect is if Jacob was there. He was unable to come because he was on a camp out with the scouts. The good news is Carma said they will have one next year, I am so excited.

Easter Eggs!

Since my mom was going into surgery for her colon we decided to dye our eggs a little early so she could be a part of it. Eli had a lot of fun because all of his cousins (on my side) just so happened to stop by so he was able to have fun with each of them. Eli really liked his dinosaur one and would walk around the house roaring! He was also much more gentle with the eggs this year and only one was cracked!