Every Kid Needs a Dad

We got home the other day and neither kid had taken a nap. Matt managed to get both of them carried into the house and they all three crashed out on the couch together while I made dinner. I could never sleep with both of them sprawled on me like that. Every kid needs a dad to be strong enough to always hold them!

Father's Day 2013

This Father's Day was a little different than others. Matt's first Father's Day without his dad :(

We met up with his bro, Zac and his wife and all our kiddos and headed up to Papa Don's favorite camping/hunting spot. It was a LONG drive...... and unfortunately Gabriella and I both get car sick so we were driving very slowly. But, we finally made it!

Xander eating some lunch in the car

Zac made a memorial cross and the guys took turns digging a hole to put it in while the boys watched. 

Levi was filling in the dirt around the cross and the kids all helped get rocks to put around the base to help hold it in place. 

Zac and Matt also got a can of Don's fav beer, a pack a cigarettes, Noah added an American flag, Ely and Gabriella picked some yellow flowers and Matt and Xander found the rhododendrons to leave. It turned out really nice. 

Matt talking to the kids about Papa Don. 

I can see why he liked it up here so much. It was so beautiful!

The kids had a snack and a juice box while Matt and Zac took a little walk. 

Xander has only seen Levi a handful of times, but he sure was snuggling up with him today. It was so cute!! 

The kids crashed out about 5 minutes down the mountain and Matt and I had a really nice talk. 

The kids woke up fussy when we got on the freeway so we decided to make an icecream run!

Gabriella was giving hers kisses, lol!

Xander's first ice cream cone!

The kids were crazy sticky when we got home so we turned on the sprinkler. They had fun playing in it with Matt!

After dinner and a bath, the kids were in their jammies and discovered a fun new way to play with daddy! 

Weekend Fun!

We had a great weekend! Here are some of the highlights. 

Gabriella being herself!

Xander had a poopy diaper so Matt plopped him on the toilet while I was getting the wipes. Xander wanted to go ahead and wipe himself. 

We went and visited Grampa Ace. Xander was pointing to Grampa's sandwich because he wanted Grampa to share another bite with him!

One of the many ways Gabriella sleeps. 

Saturday evening Gabriella insisted on wearing the cap I wear under my wigs. She wore it inside of Walmart and Fred Meyer. When Matt told her that he liked her hat hat she responded, "It is a tan hat, daddy, so you cannot see it."

My dad gave the kids some money to get a treat with and Gabriella picked smoothies from Dutch Brothers. Xander did not complain about her choice!

The kids loved their treat! Thanks, dad!!

Xander wearing some ear muffs. The kids loves accessories! He loves to wear hats, scarves, gloves, etc. 

We took Gabriella to watch Iron Man 3 in 3D on Sunday afternoon. It was her first time in the theater. She LOVED it! It was so fun!! I am so enjoying doing more big kid things with her!! She is a delight to be with!!

Mommy's future NBA star???

Gramma's Birthday!

We (finally) got to go see my mom yesterday, which was really nice because it was her birthday!

The weather was amazingly nice and we spent most of our visiting time outside.

Gabriella loves picking wildflowers!

Just crawling around on the front steps. My little man LOVES to be outside!

We found a baby frog in the garden.

Of course he ran right over to play with the car Grampa is fixing up. 

When Grampa Ace came outside Xander ran up and gave him a HUGE hug. Then he grabbed Grampa's walker and proceeded to march around the driveway pushing it for a good ten minutes. It was adorable!

Playing in the rocks

Grampa Ace and Uncle Lowell

Gabriella wanted to ride in the car with brother

little boys.....

Going for a ride in the wheelchair

Nap time!

After nap/rest time (we watched Arthur and the Invisibles with my mom) we headed outside again to "help" Grampa build the fire-pit he was making for mom's birthday. 

Gabriella was shoveling dirt into a pile and Xander was stomping it down. 

Xander loves to help

Helping Grampa shovel

All done! (mom called it a "Xander cage")

I think it turned out great and we are planning a hotdog roast on Saturday to try it out!

Xander got on the scooter all my himself. This picture was about 5 seconds before he tipped over sideways. 

Gabriella barely stayed awake 5 minutes in the car on the way home

Me and my sleepy head girly!

Such a fun day! It was so nice to be able to see mom and let the kids play with her. I am so thankful that we live so close to my parents and that we get to spend time with them. Growing up next door to my grandparents was awesome and I still have such a great relationship with them. I want my kiddos to be friends with their grandparents and for them to be involved in their lives. I loved the picture of Xander copying my dad shoveling because I am thankful for good role models for my kids to look up to and to want to be like!

Resurrection Day

We woke up early this morning and got the kiddos up!

Gabriella being silly when she was looking in her Easter basket

Yep, still being silly. And Xander loved his Veggie Tales movie!

After a quick couponing trip we headed to church. 

Sleepy snuggles on daddy

Our family! 

Me and my dad!

Mom and I. Dad said we should take a picture with our glasses off so we humored him. 

Gabriella said, "now a picture of the girls. They are boys but we are girls!"

Mom and I were busy getting lunch ready and then Amy and Ariella showed up. 

A picture while Ariella was slicing veggies

Crazy picture!!

After some good laughs with Ariella, it was time for lunch. 

We tried something a little different and made our deviled eggs with plain organic greek yogurt instead of mayo. It had a sort of weird tang to it. Half of us liked it and the other half didn't. 

Xander LOVED his egg and yelled for more!

After lunch we celebrated Amy's birthday and then the kids hunted for Easter eggs filled with money!

We had to hunt inside because it was so rainy out. 

Gabriella and Ariella looking inside all their eggs. 

Mom and I switched wigs! 

Gabriella missed her nap today so she fell asleep after about 2 minutes in the car on the way home. She fell asleep holding the Happy Napper monkey that my parents had given her. 

It was a great Resurrection day. So nice to be with people we loved and just have some good laughs. 

Here is a little status update I shared on Facebook yesterday of something that happened Saturday night at our house that really humbled me and made me feel so blessed to be a parent:

Last night we sat the kids down and I talked to them about Easter and what it meant. After I explained about Jesus rising from the dead so we could live forever with Him in heaven, I told them that Jesus lives in Heaven and He can live in our hearts too. Gabriella closed her eyes, and said,"Jesus will You live in my heart? Okay." Her face turned bright red and her eyes lit up instantly. She got a huge smile on her face. I asked her if she could feel Jesus inside her and she nodded her head and laughed! We had talked about Jesus dying for all the bad things we do and how much He loves us. And she just asked Him into her heart. It was so awesome to get to watch the way she felt when He came to her as soon as she asked.