Ryan's Birthday

Ryan had a birthday! I am obsessed with birthdays and I swear to spend the rest of my life making Ryan more fond of his. Anyways. We started celebrating Saturday with a delicious trip to La Jolla Groves (you seriously need to try that place if you haven't yet) and then went to Comedy Sportz, where I believe we laughed until we cried. That place never disappoints.

Then Sunday we kept the celebrations alive with Ryan's favorite dinner. Tacos al pastor, and chocolate cheesecake. I still have some kinks to work out with the tacos (if you love an al pastor recipe send it my way!) but I hope to be an expert by his 50th birthday. We went with a BYU theme (duh) and my parents were able to join us! After dinner we put on our comfies and went for a walk, where we happened upon an adorable cow.

Then on his REAL birthday we had some fun too. We started (really early...back to school!) with some eggs and a smoothie before heading out the door. Then after work we headed north a bit. You might not know how much Ryan loves our cactus garden, but wow does he love it. Well, we recently lost a cactus to disease and Ryan was pretty sad about it. SO we headed up to Ikea for him to pick some new plants. I found it hilarious that a home made ham and cheese and a trip to Ikea were Ryan's birthday requests. Oh, and a night of watching the US Open of course, along with some brownies and Haagen Dazs.

I think it was a good one. He also has a few more family celebrations coming up, so this is really the birthday that keeps on giving. That's a wrap! See ya at 28!

Llama Llama

If you have never seen where we live this might seem a little weird, but having new llamas move in across the street is fairly normal around here. We live in a farmhouse in Orem, and that brings with it a lot of interesting things. For example, the time a police barricade was set up in our driveway looking for a missing miniature pony, or the time I was eating my lunch and another pony was randomly standing right outside my window, or how about the pig family we visit regularly, or complete strangers coming to our door a million times a week asking to rent your barn for events or take family pictures in your yard...or sometimes asking to rent a room in your house? We love all the weirdness of being here, as well as how BEAUTIFUL it is year round, and feeling "away from it all" when all conveniences are really within about a two mile drive.

Anyways, back to the llamas. The farmer that leases some of the land we live on recently took on a group of llamas. When we heard the news we new we had to visit asap, so last night we went down with my parents. Oh the joy on Kyle's face when he saw a heard of llamas to befriend. We had a fabulous time, until a skunk leaped out of the bushes, tail up and aiming right at us...we decided to run away...quickly. It was a beautiful evening!

We rode down in the back of the truck...next time I need to induce labor I know what I will do:)

Texas

We just got back from spending almost two weeks with my sister and her fabulous family in Texas. We had SO much fun. Ryan has never been able to join me on my trips to visit Michelle, so this was a treat. He was able to go to Chris's office everyday and work from there while Michelle and I partied with SIX kids at home, then in the evenings we could all hang out together, or take turns living it up with fewer kids along. I was bummed Ryan had to work so much on the trip, but since that made it possible for him to come along at all, I was grateful.

I took fewer pictures on this trip than I normally do, and it was kind of nice. I just didn't worry about it most of the time. For the sake of avoiding a too forever long post, I think I will list my favorites....bullet style.

• Meeting baby Miles! He is so delicious and loved to snuggle with me. I couldn't get enough. And hello...perfect baby! He is a dream.
• Michelle had a three week old baby when we arrived, but was still out and about like nothing had happened! What a champ.
• Spending time with all the kids.
• Getting to do the girls hair every morning.
• Watching Kyle have so much fun with his cousins.
• Watching how sweet Kyle was with baby Miles (except for the marker mural he drew on his face...oops)
• Being with my sister around the clock
• Eating Blue Bell Ice Cream...I hope all Texans appreciate that delicious stuff being in their stores.
• Ryan getting to play tennis at least once a day with Chris.
• Getting our teeth cleaned....shocked I enjoyed that one...
• Going to a sold out MLB Rangers game with Ryan...SO magical.
• SHOPPING.
• Outings with Michelle
• Crafting and adding some love to their walls
• The thunderstorms
• Michelle's mashed potatoes.
• Leaving all the kids with a sitter for an adult night out.
• Best shrimp platter with grilled veggies ever. Seriously. You have to go to Logan's Roadhouse.
• Sonic happy hour when the kids were going a little too crazy for us:)
• Buffy's Cupcakes on Main...Kyle's favorite part of the trip for sure.
• Chuck E Cheese with everyone. Again...I have never seen such joy on Kyle's face.
• Swimming at the Lake. SO pretty.
• The magical mall in downtown Dallas...and the American Girl Doll Store...I so need a daughter someday.
• Loved the beautiful green landscape there, not so much the humidity.
• Cruising around town in a minivan...those things are seriously convenient.
• Laughing with Michelle.
• Being introduced to some fabulous Disney Channel shows
• Honey Boo Boo
• The runway show
• Everyone getting to know Kyle
• Kyle's attachment to Myah
• Ryan teaching Kam to play video games
• Hailey's outfits each day
• Introducing the girls to What Not to Wear
• Sam Moon wonderland
• Being with my sister
• Exploring a new city with Ryan
• Baking with Kam
• Climbing the Eisenhower head
• Amazing outlets...and Ryan finding a Lacoste prize.
• Steak n' Shake
• Doing some hair
• Taking a break from home for a bit. My phone didn't work most of the trip either...and I rarely got online. So peaceful.

We already want to go back. We love these people, and we love Texas too! Thanks so much for having us guys!

(they have actually lived all of those places)

20 Months

Only a few more months before it sounds way too weird to count months. I can't BELIEVE how grown up he is these days. Love each month more than the one before, though I miss my baby boy sometimes.

• He repeats the last word of any sentence you say. 
• He loves cake more than any other treat. Mention a cupcake and you will have an insanely enthusiastic little man on your hands,
• He likes to dance, particularly this little stomping number and a little shoulder shimmy.
• He gives the best kisses. Ever.
• He can count to ten unassisted.
• He loves to sing songs with us, especially ones with actions.
• He has gotten a bit aggressive with pinching, swatting, and biting...but only when provoked (usually).
• He is always talking. I need to a whole post on the things he says. 
• He announces when he wants to sleep and promptly falls asleep.
• He loves water, but mostly only in nature. Lakes and oceans are way more his thing.
• He loves mirrors more each day.
• He loves attention.
• He likes to wave and say hi to everyone he sees out in public.
• He likes to have a bracelet on always.
• He flashes his teethy little smile when he wants to be charming.
• He loves to say his own prayers. He repeats the last word of what you tell him then aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen.
• He flirts with everyone possible.

The older Kyle gets the harder it is to really capture him through writing. I wish I could just bottle him up and save him how he is right now. Creepy? But seriously he is just so funny, sweet, adorable, and amazing. Yes, I am his mother. He is so full of personality I can't even stand it. He is such a treat to spend my days with. 

Right Now

I often talk about trying to embrace our current phase of life in regards to location, student life, and embracing the unknown future. But tonight I am thinking about our stage in relation to having one child. Most likely, it won't always be just us and Kyle (though you never can be sure or anything, right?). Anyways, for some reason this has really hit me tonight. This part is unique to now. It is something that will be forever changed sometime.

Right now he has all of us. It is just us, and him. We are like this little group or friends that no one else really has a pass to. We are tight. It is an exclusive club. I feel like I want to soak up every second of this. I want to fully embrace the dynamic duo of Kyle and I against the world during the days when we are alone. I want to appreciate the evenings with just the three of us hanging out. Too often you can't appreciate your current phase until it has passed you by. I don't want to take our family of three for granted. I can't really tell how long this phase will last, but I am taking an oath right now to realize it, value it, and appreciate it. One day, it might be different. Not worse, but different.  I too often take for granted what a gift Kyle is to us.

Kyle is so special. It is terrifying to have the weight of being good enough for him on my shoulders. I don't know that I ever can be, but I sure will try. I just want to express my gratitude for a sweet boy, who completes our family. I hope to never take him, or this phase of life for granted.

A brother.

Today is my brother's birthday. He passed away as a baby before I was born, but has often felt like a big part of my life. His absence is often felt, and my Kyle is named after him. As I was chatting with my sister a lot the past few weeks (more on that later) we got talking about Kyle (our brother).He fills the seven year gap between Michelle and I. It left me feeling sadder than usual that I never got the chance to grow up with him, or even to meet him. I would have loved to have him present by my side as we grew up. 

I can't imagine what my parents went through when they lost him. My dad recently told me it is something they have never gotten over, but they have learned to live with. Today I like to day dream about what might have been if he had been able to live, but also to dream about the day I will get to meet him. I think we will be fast friends. Happy Birthday Kyle!