Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Melissa!

I met Melissa in the fall of last year and we have become such great friends!

She has a 5 year old daughter and a 1 year old son- how perfect is that?!

{It also helps that our husbands really get along too!}

Our girls go the kindergarten together everyday. When it's my day for carpool I always schedule an extra 10-15 minutes because I know that I'm going to chat with Melissa in her driveway!

I love to hang out at the park or chat with Melissa on her living room floor!

She's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet! She would do anything to help a friend.

Happy Birthday Melissa!

First tooth

Ella's two front/bottom teeth had been lose.. forever! Her permanent teeth had even started growing in. Her Dentist told us that she needed to keep wiggling it and get it out. Last night it was hanging on by a thread so Ryan decided that we needed to just pull it out. Ella was freaking out! After about a hour or trying to convince her Ryan just went over and pulled it out. She cried at first but then started laughing, "that wasn't that bad at all Mom!"
Then this is this morning- at 6AM! She was so excited. I just wish that her excitement hadn't woken up her brother.. it's going to be a long day. We are pretty proud of our little lady, she was very brave!

First {real} swim

We HAVE gone to the community pool this year already, but really, it was still way to cold to actually SWIM. Until this week! It was over 100 degree's yesterday! Ella, of course had a wonderful time! Jack, who's never cared much for the pool, ended up having a great time too. He loved wearing his life jacket and the freedom it gave him to walk around the kiddie pool alone.

Well, here's the start to the summer...... It's here.

Doesn't Ella look amazing in her new goggles!?

Something for me to think about

While still contemplating the last post I came across these pictures, taken within a short time of each other. Sugar....

Then this! A coincidence or conformation that this kid shouldn't have sugar?

Black Eye

Just waking up from a sleepy nap

Jack has been working very hard these days on his "baby work". He loves looking in cabinets, climbing on counter tops, trying to get outside, breaking everything and even trying to plug in things! (like my flat iron!) Jack's adventures this week unfortunately included climbing on the back of the couch, which lead to falling off the couch and landing on the coffee table... right on his eye! Poor guy, he was very upset, I would be too. It looked like it really hurt. Soon after he started feeling better, he was back up on the couch, he's a boy I guess. What can I do?
Still a little sleepy
Sheesh, look at all the scratches on this kids head? What do I do? Have him wear a helmet everyday all day long?

Boat Trip

This weekend we got to go and have some fun on the lake Ella, Zach and Tori

Jack chillin This was Ella's first time really being on the lake. She wasn't too scared to try out the big tube! Tori is crazy brave! Everything was great until Ella got dunked. I swear I made some of Ryan's family members deaf yelling "let go Ella!" She didn't understand that when you start to fell off just let go so you don't get dragged under. Freaked me out! She was brave and went on it a few more times after that and remembered to let go.

Jack- watching his sister. He loves her so much and wished that he could do all of the grown up kid things that she gets to do.
Ryan and Ella went together. She loves her Daddy and he loves his EllaBug.

He couldn't help it, he had to try. He fell. Hehehehehehe!

Then Ryan and Stacy. Andre didn't hold back. Ryan's shoulder is still a little sore from some of the times he was flung into the water.
I love this picture. I'm sure that Ryan doesn't think that it's the most flattering, but he's got such a genuine smile. That's my GUY!
He wanted to go alone too. I love the last picture. Just one hand and one foot.

Preparing to wake board. He wasn't sure that he would be able to do it. It's been about 6 years since he's even tried.He made it up first try and did really well, even jumped the wake several times.

(He can't help that he's just that good)

He got to take his turn driving the boat.

Ryan's brother Andre is super good at wake boarding!

THANK YOU Andre and Melissa for having us on your NICE boat. We all had a TON of fun! Ella liked just hanging on the boat!
This is what Jack and I did the whole time. Cuddled! He even fell asleep, TWICE!

My SEXY husband

Ella and Tori/ BFF's

The kiddos

Me and my stud muffin after a LONG day on the water. It was a nice day. Perfect weather. We'll have to do it again sometime. Thanks everyone for an awesome day!

The other morning Jack and I were just hanging out and he was dancing so cute, I thought I would take some video. Well... Jack has also learned how to take some video! I found the second video on my camera with about 13 others very much the same-short, jiggly and with those same little toes! What a STINKER!

Mommy Daughter Date

This week Ella and I had a special evening all to ourselves! Ryan's so good about going on Daddy Daughter dates, but I.. well I've been really bad about it! It's something that I feel really awful about actually. Before Jack- Ella was my little buddy, my cuddle bug, now that we've got Jack it's always about him, he's the baby. Ella kind of got kicked out of the nest. So, I'm going to try and be better about having some good quality time with Belly Bug!
First we went to TGI Fridays and got some dessert! (I had a coupon for a FREE dessert- check it out here! Thanks Lisa!) I let Ella pick anything she wanted- I should have knows- banana split!

Ella was so camera happy, she took about 20 pictures that night!

Then we went to Toys-r-us to spend some cash that's been burning a hole in her pocket! (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa on the farm!) She got some new littlest petshop. (She's so predictable!)

It was so nice to just BE with my sweet baby girl! I hope that she had a lot of fun and that we can do it again soon!

(I thought it was kind of funny, while we were gone Ryan put Jack into the wagon and took him for a walk. They even walked to wal-mart and looked around! He's never done that before.)

Happy Birthday Boys

JOHN- he's one of Ryan's oldest friends.. no, I mean, he's know Ryan a long time. (OK and he's really old too) We went on an awesome trip with him and love going to his "game nights"! He's just one of those honest good guys. Wish we could have been there for your big day buddy, next year ;) BRIAN- he and Ryan met and it was like they had known each other for years! I swear we haven't ever laughed as hard with as we have with him. He's always got a cool story, usually about weird people on his flights! Happy Birthday Bry-guy!

And then there's JUSTIN- If you ever lost and don't know where something is, or are looking for someplace in the Gilbert area HE's the guy to ask. He knows everything and everyone here in Gilbert. He has a HUGE truck. He's our favorite guy to play games with! We should do something for your B-day this week!

Thank you all for being such good friends to us, we hope that you had great birthdays!

p.s. did I try to use unflattering pictures, why yes, yes I did! Heheheheheheh! Happy Birthday from ME.

Is this our president?

I wanted to write this out before I forgot:

The other day Ella and I were at the grocery store. I was reading the label on a box when Ella asked "Mom, is that a picture of our president?" Before turning to look I thought to myself, what on earth would have a picture of Obama on in down this isle?

Uncle Ben's Rice

Well, I thought it was funny. I can see the resemblance, maybe in a few more years.

Easter Sunday/ Zach's Birthday

Easter Sunday we all woke up at 5AM to get ready and drive to Surprise for church! Ryan's nephew Zachary was being given the priesthood! It was very sweet! I remember when he was only three years old! Now 12 and a MAN.

Jack is so naughty in church right now, it's so hard! In sacrememnt meeting he always tries to run onto the stage, screams really loud, tries climbing under all of the pues! AH! Sometimes I feel like what's the point in even going- all I do is walk the halls. But then again, I know that being there is the right thing and although I might just be in the hall I can still feel the spirit. May 26th- Jack will start NURSERY!

After church we all went over to Sasha and Stacy's house for lunch. Zach got this crazy skateboard for his birthday and Ryan couldn't help himself- he had to try! I was so worried the whole time though, that's all we need for him to break a leg or arm!
Tori has two little bunnies! They are so cute and soft! Jack was really stand-offish at first, but over time her gathered enough courage to go check them out. So sweet!

Ella liked them too. I'm trying to figure out a good pet for these guys! So far, not dogs, cats, turtles, birds, maybe fish... what's left!?

Tori, (crazy) Ella and the birthday boy, I mean birthday man Zach

Happy Birthday Zach! We hope you had a good one! We were so glad that we could be there for you! What a wonderful day!All of the family members who came to support Zachary! (Andre, Melissa and Jolie had to leave early, but were able to be at church!)

Then tonight as I finish downloading all of the millions of pictures I find these on the camera. I guess last night Ryan and Ella were having a little fun with my camera. I love that these guys are so close. They have always had such a strong bond with one another. I LOVE YOU GUYS!