Our boy, Jace

Jace is our 3.5 year old. He turns four in August. He's tall for his age. He's a miniture Justin- looks, personality- the whole works. It seems like he's had a lot happening lately, so I thought I'd dedicate a post to our Jace boy.

For the last part of this school year, Jace was in speech therapy. He's had trouble with some sounds, so we got him evaluated and he qualified. This was on his last day before school got out for summer break. He loved this Bob the Builder game that they got to play. They usually incorporate a game or activity along with flash cards, mouth exercises and pronunciation type of stuff. I love his speech therapist, she has been so good with Jace. He went 2 days a week for 20 minutes each session.

I am seriously so proud of Jace for all of his progress. it takes a lot of patience, focus and consistency as parents, but it so worth it when they get it right. I know to some parents it's no big deal, but this has been a challenge for us & we're so glad Jace's speech is improving. We look forward to returning this fall!

This spring, we inherited a bike from one of my nephews, strapped a pair of training wheels on them (that don't exactly fit because we got them at the D.I. after hunting the whole town of Rexburg for a set & not finding any! No surprise) Jace has been a speed demon on this thing ever since. He can cruise on this bad boy- even with rickety wheels.

Pretty typical Jace here. He loves to pretend stuff. Every day he wants to play house or church or school or something. This day, he got into the bathroom cabinet and decided to build something. Yes, you're seeing it right, a long train or something created by toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. He gets so meticulous too- I love watching his face as he puts things "just so".

Jace went to the dentist for the first time this month & it's not good news folks! He has 8 cavities! (Gasp- yes you saw it right). We have to put him under just to get all the work done. Geez you'd think that I've been feeding this kid spoonfuls of sugar by that report. I swear it's more because we got negligent on his brushing- pretty much just letting him do it alone. (& because he likes sweets too much). Despite the bad report, Jace loved going & did really good. He couldn't be more excited about his dentist bag, mini toothpaste & the dino flosser.

And finally, Jace with his "grow a pirate" toy. Found these at Michaels for $1. They start out really small & then you stick them in water & they grow (supposedly up t0 600% of original size). This was the finished product.

Oh..I don't know what I'd do without this little guy. He gives me a run for my money & a heart full of worry at times, but he truly is a tender heart. I can't believe his life as a 3 year old is already almost gone. I've only got him home with me for another 2 years & I'll be so sad to send him out on his own.

The Best Things in Life....Are Not Things

Lately, I've just been feeling this overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the simple things in life. The stuff that puts a smile on your face and sometimes a tear in your eye. These are some of my more recent simple joys.

Okay, kids & their outfits can entertain you for quite some time. A few months ago, Jace & Justin had a Father/son outing. Jace picked that they would go to Rexburg Motor Sports & to Broulims to get a donut. He went to get dressed & came out in this get-up. He was so dang serious too- "Okay dad, let's go!" Justin was like, "Are you ready, is that what you want to wear?" To which he replied(in a tone that suggested that he saw nothing wrong with his outfit), "Yeah, let's go." He was so excited, we couldn't kill his spirit & just let him go with it- pants tucked into the boots & all.

Another great example of kids & clothes. I was folding laundry, Rylee loves to mess up laundry piles. She grabs Jace's clothes (including underwear) and brings them over to me, sits down and starts trying to get the shorts on. She wore the whole outfit (including the underwear/minus the hat & shoes) for the rest of the night. And yes, we did go somewhere.

Jace & Rylee playing, giggling, having fun. First off, Rylee climbed in the thing herself and got stuck, feet up. So Jace decides to give her a ride around the house in her baby stroller. Just everything about this picture makes me happy. Rylee always wants to wear that little sweater around the house. She pulls in down from her closet for me to put it on her. This is just typical- Rylee enjoying the ride, sitting up so nice in it & Jace being the big brother, giving her a fun ride. He just pushed her down the hall & round & round. Good times!

This was just too cute. Rylee's expression when Justin woke up & came to the kitchen one morning. She jumped right up & was so exicted to see her dad- she just kept saying, "Oh, Oh.." really anxious. Then he picked her up & she layed her head on his shoulder & bit it for like 15 minutes. Loved it.

The kids have so much fun when they bath together. Usually Jace acts like he doesn't want to, but they love it once their in. It's so cute cuz Rylee will soap Jace's back & rub the shampoo in his hair & Jace just giggles with delight. He always calls Rylee his little sweetheart. How precious. And she gives some big, wet, slobbery kisses.

Again, playing around the house. But I love how she's got a cart full of crap & Jace's backpack on. Sometimes I don't know what they're playing, but Jace was being a construction worker or the dad and she just kept pushing her cart along. I wonder what she was pretending in her mind.

Both of these guys love to sit inside the fridge. They also love to see each other in the morning. If Jace is up first, he can hardly wait until Rylee wakes up, then he goes in there & says good morning to her, takes her binki out (tells her she doesn't need that) and rolls around in her crib with her. If Rylee's up first- Jace will come running out & Rylee will get all excited & then he'll come right up to her. He also has to take inventory such as: "I didn't even get to see dad this morning" (if Jus is already gone), wants to know who's eaten & what we had & will go immedietly to the TV to see what's on, what he missed and what's coming up next. He's very observant.

This was pure joy. Seeing fearless Rylee fly head first down the slide & laugh the whole way down. When she'd get to the end, she'd close her eyes & just giggle. She did it over & over again.

And lastly, this was our "project" that we made for FHE awhile ago. Jace always wants to include a project in FHE(and no..this is not his art, it's all me). Anyway...the lesson was on loving our family/being nice/love one another. So we start in on our acappella version of "As I Have Loved You", when Justin suddenly breaks out into his own impromptu sign language to accompany it-taking small bits of the actual sign language & exaggerating it. Just picture Napolean during the Happy Hands performance on Napolean Dynamite. It was hillarious- I wish so bad I would've recorded it. What's worse is that once Jace sees that Jus is doing the signing, he tries to join in all serious. Seriously funny! It cracks me up just thinking about it.

These are the kind of moments that I'll cherish my whole life. I feel so blessed to have simple abundance- health, happiness & loved ones to share the joyful journey with.

Enjoy the simple things today!

6 years down...An eternity to go

On May 24, we celebrated six happy years of marital bliss! We took in a movie (Maid of Honor), ate at Stockman's Steakhouse, got some frozen custard & took a cold little stroll around Porter Park. [Disclaimer: I'm sharing some pics from the archives, but since this was pre-digital age, I'm apologizing ahead of time for the poor "take a picture of a picture" quality.]

It's crazy how long we've been together. Jus was the guy that totally changed things for me...life as I knew it was never the same after him. I couldn't have ever imagined that this boy I've know since Jr. High would eventually become my everything. I mean seriously, he wrote like "You're a cutie, have a good summer" in my Jr. High yearbook. And I'm guilty of some dumb comments myself like, "Justin let me borrow his CD- I like him so much." Wooo- how gay! Straight out of the h.s. journal. Who would've known?

High School Commencement Dance 1997 (Jus had a broken leg & had a walking cast, hence the cane)

We have been through so many seasons of life together & I love that we share that history. We've been a part of each others life in one form or another through high school, college, mission, jobs, marriage and parenthood. I don't think there is a friend/roommate who didn't either know Justin or know of him, every guy I ever dated was compared to him & in the end, I had to fight a good fight to finally get him!

From my Ricks Days/Jus pre mission- outside of my apt. at Brookside {1998}

Saying our goodbyes when Jus left for his mission. {1999}

First date post mission- {Feb. 2001}

Long distance dating- me @ Utah State, Jus @ BYU-I {2001}

A few days after we were engaged! {March 2002}

At my Utah State graduation {May 2002}

Our engagement Picture

Baby #1

Baby #2

And there's been so much more in between. I definitely married my best friend & can't imagine life without him. So glad that we've got an eternity to go! Happy Anniversary to us!

San Diego, Here we come!

Okay, so we've got a little family vaca to San Diego planned for July. Justin's got some CPA classes there, so we're going to take the kiddos and make some memories.

So...I'm looking for any tips/suggestions on what we should do when we're there. We're still trying to iron out details like how long we want to stay, etc. If you live by there or have vacationed to San Diego before, let me know what we should definitely see, good restaurants, best beach, etc. For instance, it's looking like there are quite a few options for "marine" life type of stuff- what was the best to hit Sea World, Scripps Aquarium, SeaLife (by Legoland-new), museums, etc? Also trying to decide between San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park. I figure that one of each kind of thing will be plenty for the kids. We want to have some big stuff planned as well as allow for some down time- pool, beach, etc. You know how some stuff is so hyped up and then it's a let down or just too much to do it all once you're there? I love word of mouth so let me know what's worth it. Remember, we'll have the kids in tow, so I'm looking for kid friendly.

I've got a ton more updates to do, but another day folks!

I like to look for rainbows...

Jace took this picture a little earlier this month. I think it was the first rainbow that he's ever really seen. Our rainy day today made me think of it. I've

always liked the rain.

Workin' Hard & Hardly Workin'

Lately it seem that Justin's been working hard & I've been hardly working. I've had so many fun things going on- Women's Conference, a friends reunion, my Shade party, lunch dates, pedicures, out and about with the kids, etc.

Meanwhile, Justin's been busy with our yard. Hauling dirt, leveling it all out, digging trenches, pounding curbing in and not to mention dropping "The little giant" ladder on his toe!

Here's Jace & Justin out working hard. Loving Jace's true farm wear- complete with cowboy boots & his John Deere hat. He loves to help Jus with projects like this. True farm boy at heart (just like his dad.)

AHH & nothing like a boy and his dad riding off into the sunset on a tractor. Love it!

It will be so nice to get our yard in. I swear I'll start stepping it up & pitching in here soon.

Forever Friends

Ahhh, there's nothing like the company of an old friend. My good friend Alish & her two kids came for a visit May 15-17. Alish was my roommate at Utah State for 3 years. I have loved this girl from the moment I met her. She's full of ideas, organization & is just pure fun!

Jace had so much fun playing with her kids, Lexi & Cole. They played dress up, we took them bowling, had a picnic and played at the park, walked/biked/strolled/scooted around our neighborhood and of course, snuck in some girl time with pedicures and a late movie. (Thanks to Jus for taking on the kids!)

Saturday, we attempted to have a little college friends reunion, but Jenny was in Las Vegas, Nicole got sick kids at the last minute & couldn't make it, but Julie still showed! So the three of us enjoyed some time to visit & for the kids to play. It was so good seeing Julie & her kids again. Unfortunetly, I don't have any pictures of the three of us together, because it was a little chaotic when we went out to lunch. First, Cole smeared ranch dressing all over the table & his chair, so Alish was busy cleaning that up. And closely following the ranch disaster, Rylee managed to throw up all over me, herself, the table and the floor. I feel so bad for the person who had to clean up after us. Such is life! Next time, we might try the childless route.