Exciting times

Nate: Still loves his schedule of working 7 on and then 7 days off. He is currently teaching the gospel doctrine class on Sunday and enjoying a new calling that has him really studying the scriptures. This is the year that he turns 30 so we started celebrations a little early on Father's Day so that we could really make sure he get spoiled. He is a fantastic father and hubby. I am constantly amazed by his honesty, devotion, and goodness. Each night I am in awe by his positive outlook on life and the Christ-like love that he constantly gives our family.

Mellie: Oi I've been in learning mode this year. Despite the challenges that seem to come I feel like every year that I have been married to my bestie life just keeps getting better. I have struggled a little with feeling lonely and sad during the weeks Nate is working. I have also been trying soooooo hard to change my attitude and move out of my comfort zones.

K has been a challenge for me. He has so much to offer the world and I just feel like I really need help to parent him. If his energy is channeled correctly I'm certain he will be a positive influence and go so far in this life. I am reading lots of parenting books and I plan to even take some counseling sessions in order to get the skills I need to parent him.

I have been doing lots of yoga and plan to continue to do even more. I am doing an online 200 hour yoga teacher training and when completed I plan to actually use it this time to teach. I am technically still certified from when I did it at SLCC 5 years ago but I really needed a refresher course.

The oboe has come back into my life. It is a prompting that I have put off for years but finally no longer can shove away. I don't know why I am supposed to play but I'm making it a focus. Honestly I think that good music can invite the spirit so quickly into the home and because I never learned piano this is my way to fill our home with music. It still makes me nervous to play in front of people (even little people) but I hope that eventually by following the prompting to practice that this feeling will subside.

Kendrick: He just did a mini summer camp of oceans and sea creatures. He came home disrespectful and exhausted each day but loved it none the less.

Nate and I decided that him getting out of the house every single day is a NEED! Now that we have a 2nd car I plan to make hiking my new hobby with the boys. The first time I took him he ended up being sick and spiking an extremely high fever mid hike. I plan to regain confidence and try again soon.

Garrett: I am convinced that he is still talking to angels. His snoring is so angelic and non rhythmic. He has started doing speech therapy because our pediatrician was worried about him not talking very much for his age. I am not worried. Garrett is incredibly smart. You can ask him just about any yes or no question and he will nod his head with his response. He knows lots of sign language and will follow just about any direction given to him. I can reason with him through tantrums and he is the master planner of most of the boys mischief. He may be quiet but when he decides to speak his words are practically flawless.

He does still have a binky. I have been keeping his hair long and not taken away the binky because it is the last of the baby look I have to hold onto. He is my baby and I just am going to prolong it a for a little longer. He LOVES the binky. This is where some of his master planning comes into play. He is incredibly smart at where he places it when getting out of his crib and if asked to go put it away he will... but then wait until we forget and then go and try to sneak it again.

So we are building a house! :) It isn't our dream home or anything but we are still excited. We decided to build because we wanted sidewalks, parks, cul-de-sac, place to go swimming, bigger yard, biking trails, while still being relatively close to Nate's work. We looked at it as the purchase of a first house feel and not an end all live here forever until we die house. It has been fun watching it each week change and we are sooo excited to finally be home buyers in the next few months. I never ever ever thought I would say that but recent events with renting has made buying a house seem like such a great option. We are thrilled for when it will finally be completed.

Life is challenging but joyful! I am grateful for all the challenges that keep me learning and progressing in this life.

To my Mister

Dear Kendrick,

You had a Birthday last month and it is only fair that I remember the precious mile stone of you turning 4. Why? Because I want you to remember that the statistic of an average 4 year old asking why over 500 times in a day is completely spot on and you possibly exceed that. I'm not sure how you know to drastically change a personality trait on your Birthday but both you and Garrett seem to do just that. It is like you need the entire world to see you as older.

You aren't 3 anymore you are just 4 as you proudly will tell anyone who asks for your name. You get dressed and ready for the day faster than I can get out of bed. You absolutely love LOVE cold cereal. If I ever would let you have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner you would probably still ask for it during snack time. In fact when asked what you wanted to have as your special Birthday dinner cold cereal was clearly the only option (I should have known).

You are terrified of getting cavities. I mentioned it one time before you were even old enough to pronounce the word cavity but you will brush your teeth anytime I ask because of this fear. You have been known to cry and scream at me when I try to rush you and take away your toothbrush to get you to bed faster. While you brush your teeth to prevent cavities Garrett has learned to brush his teeth out of love for the toothbrush. Garrett loves your toothbrush the most and we have had to switch yours out often due to him finding it in the bathroom and then wondering around the house happily brushing his teeth.

As a baby you loved it pitch black in your room and now that is just the opposite. You have to have a night light in your room. You also really like having your blue blanket and baby dog with you. In fact you have woken up many people (including guests) with a flashlight in the eyes looking for either your dog, blanket, or asking why we forgot and turned off the bathroom light.

You have a heart of gold. You are the most forgiving and loving openhearted boy I know. I forgot about your very first friend birthday party (terrible Mommy moment) and you immediately started consoling me and hugging me saying "Oh it's okay, we can just go tomorrow. I'm sorry that we forgot it is okay though." We had spent all week telling you about it and using that party to get you to help us around the house. You were very very excited to go and yet you just immediately tried to make me feel better. That my boy is Christ-like love that I hope you always carry.

Potty training. Oi! Um it has been a challenge. You are potty trained -ish. You will occasionally relapse with poop skid marks from trying to hold it in for too long. Your Dad and I have turned into very creative people in order to try to find out what will motivate you. We have the hardest time wrapping our heads around why you will wake up in the middle to go pee in the toilet for weeks and then randomly not care and just decide that peeing in your bed is an okay thing to do. I don't get it buddy. You have officially ruined our motivation to ever want to potty train Garrett.

You love many things so lets sum up what you love most: Biking, walks, park, fire truck, any truck, toys, matchbox cars, preschool (when we do it), milk, chocolate milk, cereal, plasma car, shows, ipod, motorbike game, library books, scriptures, flashlights, guns (not your Momma's fav), and everything else because you are just happy and love everything.

Shows have been interesting. You LOVE them and I do not love that you love them. You are so smart that you can quote just about every show you have seen. While this does mean that you are incredibly smart it also means that we have had some very real adult conversations. We have had talks about being a bulling, privacy, swear words, etc. Elf and Fireman Sam are seriously on my naughty list this year along with many many other kid shows. Our rule is that you get to watch a show as long as you are nice to Garrett. It has worked really well and will probably always be a house rule.

I hope that you always remember just how special and loved you are mister. You saying I love you too, thank you, I love you, over and over again when saying goodbye will never grow old. You are constantly teaching me how to be a better mom and I hope I can figure it out fast because time is slipping. Thanks for being so forgiving and loving while I try to figure out parenting.

Here is what your 4th Birthday looked like:

Garrett wouldn't sleep at when we pulled into St. George just before midnight. He had slept in the car and loved that we were all having a slumber party. Defeated I finally gave up and decided to take him for a drive around 1:30am. We ended up at Walmart getting a few things for our trip and your Birthday. We forgot your shoes so we picked out some new ones along with various things on my list. I was so sleepy that the trip took much longer than necessary.

While we were checking out Garrett saw the yellow advertising Walmart balloons and started going ballistic. After asking around we found out we could buy some birthday balloons for you (who knew?). We bought you mostly blue balloons along with one Happy Birthday balloon. Before returning to Great-grandpa's house we I filled up the car with gas so we could leave early and not have to make any stops.

-The alarm went off way to early your Birthday morning. We had breakfast (cereal your all time fav) then chatted with Great-grandpa before starting our trip up North. You were a great sport about traveling on your Birthday.

-Drove to the Mona house for some brunch. Had a few minutes to play with William and Charlotte. You even shared 2 of your balloons with them.

-Took Grandpa Crow to SLC so that he could pick up a truck that he was buying there. You opened a couple of your gifts (books) in the car and had Grandpa read them to you.

- Stopped at G n G Hall's for haircuts and dedicated time for you to open your gifts. Being debt free meant that you were officially spoiled!!! You opened your bigger presents (Firetruck and a door basketball hoop) a few days before leaving for Utah. At Grandma's house you got a few preschool activities, books, and some Nerf guns that Daddy was sooooo excited to finally give you.

-After we were dressed up we headed to The Habit Burger for your Birthday celebration with all of Mommy's siblings. Uncle Jared, Uncle Nathan, Uncle Matt and Aunt Heather, G n G Hall were all able to come. :)

-Made a quick stop to It's Sugar and let you pick out a few different candies. The few moments in that store were absolutely the best part of your birthday for me. I felt like it was really the first time where I got to spend some quality time with you and really just make the day only about you.

-Great-Grandpa's viewing was next. You probably just thought that everyone was there to see you. While I absolutely loved seeing all my cousins and family it was incredibly hard to see my Grandpa. You just kept telling me that I didn't need to cry and that everything was okay. To be honest your Daddy mainly watched you and Garrett while I attempted to have courage to actually walk into the viewing room. It wasn't until my friends parents (The Carrigan's) came through the line that I was finally able to make it up to the front and hug my Grandma. I was holding Garrett and my Aunt Linda took him halfway through the hug. That hug with my Grandma and the last conversation I had with my Grandpa will be something that I cherish for the rest of my life. I hope it is a memory that never ever fads.

-After playing with all the kids and Mommy being emotionally exhausted we headed to Matt and Heather's for the night. You and Garrett were seriously angels. We had your birthday cake the next day but we probably could have skipped it all together and you wouldn't have cared.

Kendrick I love you so much my little 4 year old. While your birthday was shared with the sadness of my Grandpa's passing I hope you felt the love that everyone has for you. We are so blessed that you are in our little family. Love you forever and always!

Love,
Mommy

G helps with dishes

This happens multiple times a day. He is a really good aim usually but I already closed the soap compartment because he had filled it up earlier in the day. I tried hiding the opened bottle toward the back of the cupboard and putting the sealed bottle up front and that lasted all of 2 minutes (I have another video of him trying to open it). Love my little helper. Teach them young right?

Photos... The advantage to blogging

So the best part about living in Prescott is that we now get snow (Feb 1st). This is the first time it has snowed this season and stuck for longer than a couple hours so we had to live it up. Garrett was a little unsure about it but I was proud of him for getting cold and figuring it out. 

 This photo of K was taken this morning and even though I stared at him for over a minute I had to capture it so it would last forever. I absolutely love that he has bed head and baby cheeks with the eyes of an old soul. Oh how I wish I knew what he was thinking while looking out the window.

Oh hey I forgot that I even had a blog...

So  this blog is pretty much non-existent. I use 2 other journals that are much easier to use on a daily basis than this one. Let's just say that 2015 was amazing and 2016 had already been a roller coaster.

I have experienced some heart ache from my Grandpa unexpectedly passing away. He has always been healthy so it has been hard for me to accept that he is no longer with us on this earth. My hope is that I can figure out my purpose in life so that I don't waste the time I have left here on this earth and can one day see him again.

My goal this year is simple. Find balance and purpose in life. Every goal I have made this year is to hopefully make that overall goal a reality. I feel like the more I try to find balance the more off balance I seem to get. One simple step I am starting off with is to enjoy each moment more. I have been loving the quote: "The only way to be truly happy is to connect with the present, connect with the moment."

I have 3 of the most wonderful boys in my life and I want so badly to learn how to balance the precious time each day that I get to spend with them. I can honestly say that while I have experienced sorrow and heart ache it is my wonderful husband and boys that have brought more happiness than I thought I'd ever experience. I'm so grateful for what they teach me.

This blog post is random but basically we are happy, healthy, busy and anticipating the adventures ahead. We are semi house hunting but are in no rush to find our dream home. We love our area and if I can convince my siblings (and friends) that they should live here too than I could see us living here permanently.

I am hoping to still write on this blog at least once a month but my other journals are my main priority.

To my baby

Garrett,

Today you turned one. I was reluctant to have today come. I put off all birthday planning and gifts until the last possible moment. It was not that I didn't want you to have the most perfect day of your life but I just couldn't bring myself to admit that I would no longer have my baby.

You learned to walk so early that you have just bumped right up to toddler. In my mind I was okay with that because at least you were still under one so clearly you had to still be my baby. With you actually getting to one I realize that I no longer have anything that will hold you back and keep you in my arms.

You are determined to discover the world. It is so rare that I get snuggles. You are clearly too busy. I have however convinced you in the last few months that snuggles aren't so bad right before naps and bedtime. I treasure those seconds. Each day those snuggles are a reminder that I have an angel in my arms and if I hold tight enough time will stand still.

When time isn't standing still this would be a typical Garrett exploration:

*The toilet. Something about it just excites you to put your hand in it. Gross!! Actually it makes me want to gag when Kendrick forgets to flush and you still enjoy sticking your hand in it.

*Your room when Kendrick is trying to take a nap. If you aren't sleeping then no one should be right (my motto too buddy)?

*Toys toys and everything boys. I think balls might be your favorite. You especially love it when we hold you while standing in the kitchen and you bounce the ball while we catch it and hand it back to you. The ball just bounces higher with an adult so it makes sense. I think cars, trucks, etc are a very very close 2nd and maybe even a tie with balls.

*Your constant need to clean. You are the first to start putting away toys and once when I was particularly mad at Kendrick for not picking up toys you quietly snuck into your room and picked up his blocks for him (like 10+ blocks). It was seriously the most angelic moment I have ever witnessed. -Today we gave you a box of Kleenex for you to enjoy pulling all the tissue out of. Once the box was half empty you stopped pulling them out and starting trying to put them back in. Thanks buddy! You somehow already know that cleanliness= calmness.
-Tuesday I found at least 4+ items shoved into the hamper. They weren't clothes but at least you found a soft spot to put things away in.

*Food. Oh how you LOVE food. You only have 2 bottom teeth and you can eat like a man. You will eat anything and everything. The only food you used to dislike were eggs. I then discovered that you like the yolks in eggs just not the egg whites so back to eating EVERYTHING. Food is when you become vocal. You are so calm and chill unless food is involved and then unfortunately you become hangry like your Mamma. I understand though so no worries.

*Pens and socks. If you don't have a toy currently in your hands these are your go to items. You can find pens out of thin air and if we take away your treasure oh boy does that make you sad. Socks are stashed in your drawer and Kendrick's so you switch off between drawers. You will walk around with the socks for 10 minutes or so just grasping your soft love.

*Kendrick. I'm not sure if this one counts as an "exploration spot" but you sure love him. You just love having him as your best friend. You may not talk much but you have learned vehicle noises. You follow him like it is your job. He has been more aggressive toward you lately which has been rough on you (sorry buddy). Don't worry though the moment you are out of his line of sight he always misses you too.

So you turned one despite me wishing I could have a baby forever. This is what our day today looked like:

7:30 Woke up to Kendrick sliding down the table slide we got you. You were all shy when I walked in singing Happy Birthday to you. You and Kendrick played for awhile on the slide and occasionally touching the wrapping on some of your other gifts.

8:30 You and Daddy headed to Walmart for b-day balloons while I started breakfast. I tried making blender pancakes but apparently if you blend to long the blender thinks it is soup and will start heating it up. I was hangry at this point and did not appreciate having my breakfast half cooked but not edible. We ended up having homemade applesauce and cereal. As long as I fed you bites fast enough I don't think you cared a bit.

After breakfast was nap time. You slept 3+ hours while Daddy and I caught up on bills. The garbage truck passed by without picking up our trash and we soon realized we somehow missed a payment (Thank you auto pay for preventing future repeats of this incident. Why didn't we get an e-mail? Sheeseh!!). Kendrick enjoyed playing with your toys and getting out the fishing game during this down time.

12:30 We were going to go to the zoo but decided to save it for next week. We like stretching out birthday activities and enjoying them all month long.

1ish - 4ish We headed for Lowes. We got some hardware to fix the riding dump truck. You will now have a vehicle to drive and try to keep up with K on his plasma car. We then searched for a cupcake shop with no such luck (Sweet Tooth Fairy in Ut now makes sense). We tried to get the foam tires for your balance bike replaced with new ones at a bike shop but apparently 10 in diameter tires are not common.

4ish We headed to Red Robin for a birthday dinner. It was easy to decide on a place because as long as where we were going had food we knew you would love it.

5:45 Went to Walmart and bought you your next car seat and some cupcakes. I also got my flu shot from Daddy. I was holding you in my arms and you were so wiggly that the needle moved far more than necessary. My arm is sore but now I will remember to give you extra kisses next week when you get your shots. No fun!

6:50 Driving home just seconds away. Your new car seat was in the front seat so luckily I got to sit in the back next to you and reminisce about the time you entered this world and brightened my life by so much.

7:05 Cupcake time. You love food so yes you shoveled it into your mouth loving crumb you catch. I think you especially loved the icing. Daddy had to blow out your candle quick because you really really wanted to touch it.

You are now in bed snoozing away. Kendrick put himself to bed saying he was tired. You were happily enjoying cleaning up your tissues that you had pulled out earlier and then went to bed without a peep. You don't cry much and I'm starting to see why... life is meant to be happy right? You and Kendrick know that. Well buddy thanks for always reminding me. You and Kendrick are the happiest reminders of why life is truly a blessing with angels all around us.

I wanted to write you this letter because I need you to know that I love you. You are a very special boy Garrett and you have a lot of places to run. I know you won't always be my "baby" but you will always be my boy. Explore little buddy! I don't want to stop you I just want to cherish it and you are moving faster than I can keep up with sometimes. I'll try to keep on journaling so just maybe I can keep these special moments close. Love you little love, angel, Garry berry, Gar bear!

***I have stepped away from blogger for awhile because I keep a journal calendar by my bed and I can usually only focus on one social media site at a time. Recently it has been fb instead of blogger. I haven't been great at keeping up my other journal this past month so I have just had a lot on my mind about my sweet little man. I thought it would be easier to type than hand write so bravo if anyone other than a future Garrett reads this.

Halloween and 1 Month

Kendrick was a Tiger. Thank you to Aunt Jan for letting us barrow a costume! :)

Garrett was a cute baby and I went as a Mommy (So creative yup yup)

Our Camera turns everything so yellow but I love my 2 boys. 

1 month! This is the only decent picture we got. Garrett was having a spit-up/ gassy day.