Just for Grandpa

Just before we moved to Albuquerque, Grandpa gave Bradley a task to fulfill, "Bradley," he said, "I want you to take a picture of a lizard for me." As adults, old and long since desensitized to requests on our time, we would probably have thought, "Sure, maybe someday, if I happen to come across a lizard." To a young 3 year old however, a request from Grandpa is like a sworn in mandate. For several months after we moved, Albuquerque occasionally reminded his parents that he needed to take a picture of a lizard for Grandpa. 

Well, today, Grandpa gets his wish. Bradley, with a little help from Titan, who we think brought the lizard into the house, and a lot of help from Mom (Mom couldn't bear the idea of living, sleeping, etc. with a lizard running around), managed to capture a lizard for Grandpa.

Doctor Mike

Yes, that is right. I am now married to a doctor. The best kind. The kind that isn't on call, and doesn't work strange hours. A math doctor. And it feels good.

We were able to go to Utah for Mike's graduation. It was so good to see family and especially just to celebrate all of Mike's hard work. And he did work hard. I was amazed at what a good dad and husband he was even as he spent his days working at a new job and his nights and weekends working even more on his dissertation. Despite that, he made time for his family. Most of his work was done in the wee hours of the night so he could play with the boys while they were awake. I don't know how he did it.

Mostly we celebrated the fact that his PhD is over. Oh happy day. Mike smiles now, and actually laughs, and cracks jokes, some of which are quite funny. :) He even gets a full 8 hours of sleep on occasion. He still gets up at 5 am though. Perhaps some of the side effects will take awhile to wear off? It is just so nice to have him home on the weekends and to see the weight lifted off. I am so proud of him.

Mike being hooded (I think that is what they call it)

Mike receiving his diploma. Luckily, they just give you the cover, because I later put it in the diaper bag, which got stolen. I was pretty smug about the fact that the people that stole it got absolutely nothing of value. Unless they have kids and needed some size 4 diapers and wipes. :)

That stick really needed to be a part of this picture.

Us jumping in excitement. Don’t judge me. Jumping when you are pregnant is not an easy task.

Pretty much the coolest beard ever, which makes this my favorite picture.

My dad just really needed a picture of him shaking hands with Dr. Mike.

Oh, I also have to mention that Mike's sister also graduated the week before him with her Master's degree. Mike wasn't able to go to her graduation because he was funding the party (working). But the boys and I were able to come down a week earlier and it was awesome.

Mom Law

You all know the Scout Law, but did you know there is a Mom Law? Don't worry, I've copied it below just in case you forgot.

A Mom is...

Nimble...

Hazmat qualified...

A Hazmat trainer...

Is Mother to all...

Has genuine style...

Is always listening...

Is daredevil trained...

Is the ultimate competitor...

Is the best place to sit...

Knows the value of sleep...

Is wildlife trained...

Is an expert gardener...

Is a daredevil at heart...

Is as pure as two clean babies wrapped in white towels...

Is capable of 9 months of anything...

Points her families tent to the prophet...

Has a PhD in patience...

On this day for the Moms and always, I am most grateful for my wife who lives the Mom Law.

Easter

Easter was great this year. Our first holiday all by ourselves. But it went well, and I think the boys had a great time. We went to an Easter egg hunt with some friends. The boys liked picking up the eggs and they LOVED eating the candy out of them.

Getting ready to go...

Sunday morning, the boys got to find eggs that the Easter Bunny left. They loved finding the first 3, then they just wanted to eat candy.

Noah was super tired. He normally wakes up much later but we just couldn't make Bradley wait that long. (I think mom and dad were excited too...)

My first holiday meal that I made all by myself. It was a lot of work, and it was good. :)

My handsome boys in their cute Easter outfits, compliments of Grandma and Grandpa.

We also dyed easter eggs, but I somehow failed to capture that with pictures. We do have a movie, posted below.





Also, in church, the primary kids sang “Gethsemane”. It was the first time Bradley has gone up to the stand to sing. Noah also tried to go up. I had to chase him halfway down the aisle to stop him. :) Bradley didn’t really know the song, so he didn’t sing. But he stood up there and looked adorable. Then, as he came back to his seat, he yelled, “I did it, Dad!”

All in all, we had a pretty good Easter Weekend.

Bradley

Wow, I have not posted for a long time. Ah well. This post is about Bradley. He is growing up so fast, I hardly even have time to capture his cute personality. But I have taken some pictures so hopefully that will help.

He is now 3 and a half. He weighs 28 pounds. A lightweight, yes. I haven't measured him recently, but soon I will. He loves to talk and mimic phrases that he hears. Here are a couple of my favorites that he uses often: "Oh, I see what's going on here", "Let's make it happen" (when we are about to leave),  "Let's just do it" (after I've told him no), and "here's the question we need to ask ourselves" (he uses this one pretty randomly and normally in the wrong context. :) I love it.

He is such a good brother to Noah. He hates it when he is awake and Noah is asleep. Occasionally, he will run into Noah's room and wake him up. (this is not awesome. Luckily, it is more rare than not). They love to play together.

Bradley reading to Noah

He is also sort of going through a phase where he likes to put his clothes on backwards. I normally don't fight it too much. I'm hoping it is short lived. He is starting to realize that it is harder to keep his pants up when they are on backwards.

He is also just starting to get to the age where he really wants to push his boundaries. He loves to jump from high things. He loves to ask questions. He loves to eat breakfast on the windowsill. He particularly loves to empty bookshelves, desk drawers, and other assorted things. This is actually normally instigated by Noah, who loves to empty things and then put those things back. Bradley mostly just likes the emptying part.

Mike and I were having a deep heart to heart talk. In the meantime...

Bradley and Noah were also taking the opportunity to bond...

All in all, I'd say it was a successful night.

You might have to look closely, but Bradley bit the end off of every carrot.

He is also starting to not take naps. This is a very sad time for me. But he does love taking his quiet time. I set him up on his couch and he reads and plays for an hour. He still takes a nap if the quiet time thing isn't working.

Bradley taking quiet time

Bradley and Titan seem to be pal-ing around a lot lately.

 

Funny moment tonight. We went on a walk together, and right before we got home, I said, "When we get home, it will be time to get ready for bed", to which Bradley responded (like he does every night) "But I don't want to go to bed! I'm not tired!" And this is what we found when we got home. (about 3 minutes after this conversation)

This is why I wish we weren't forgoing naps. This picture was taken at about 7:15 pm.

All in all, he is just such a fun and happy boy to be around. His sunbeams teacher always raves about how reverent and good he is. I just love him so much.

Pictures

So, I was just looking for pictures to post of my children and I realized that I never take pictures anymore. This is not good. I will repent. In the meantime, here is what we do have.

And, as pathetic as it is, that is all I have.

Poop: The Ultimate House Cleaner

This is a post about poop. If you don't want to read about poop, you are welcome to jump over to any of the blogs on the right. I'm confident that they are not posting about poop. But, for those fearless souls that want to hear why poop is the ultimate house cleaner, read on.

Yesterday, Noah stepped in poop. (long, boring story about where the poop came from, but that's what happened) After stepping in said poop, he proceeded to explore mom and dad's room, and then ultimately ended up in Bradley's room playing with toys. All this in about 5 minutes while I was cleaning up after a snack. Bottom line: poop all over the house. So, I did what any sane mother would do and locked my children in Noah's room (the one room I was positive he didn't go into) and called the carpet cleaners who came over and cleaned all the carpets in our house, after which we sanitized all of the toys in Bradley's room. My house is now more clean than the day we moved in.