Kyle

Kyle is the best. Here is what he has been doing and saying lately.

• He now greets Ryan and I every time he sees us by saying "Oh hey guys". He always calls us "guys"...makes me laugh.
• After the tennis match the other night this was his prayer, "Thank you for tennis. Thank you I find a ball. Thank you for balls. Thanks you for Kyle's balls. Thank you for Daddy's balls"....and continued to say thank you for every person he knows balls'.
• While one the phone for about 20 minutes with Mick Mouse I hear him say "Oh you know those muppets. Those craaaazy muppets."
• In the car with Emmett on the way to Chuck E Cheese a Taylor Swift song came on and he yelled. "Its Taylor Swift! Its Taylor Swift Emmett!"
• If you change the song in the car from one he likes he shouts, Hey! until you turn it back.
• He is constantly singing his own songs, the lyrics are always different combinations of Mickey Mouse and Elmo.
• He uses our egg slicer like a guitar, carries it around and strums it while he sings.
• He sings the ABC's and always hold out the last note until you start clapping.
• He asks to play with cousins and friends daily.
• He loves to cook and be in the kitchen.
• He throws tantrums like nothing I have seen before, but usually only for me.
• He gets a bit violent if you take something from him.
• He insists on getting in his car seat all by himself now.
• He asks for his hair to be combed every morning, then closes his eyes and asks for spray.
• He is constantly talking about something. Anything, just always talking. 
• He loves finding money and saving it to go on rides when we go to the store.
• He is a total Daddy's boy. Always wants Ryan. To play, to cuddle, to carry him, everything is better with Ryan around. I have to say I agree.
• He loves cars, tractors, planes, and tools. 
• He also loves to put on chapstick with a brush.
• He clears his plate after every meal. So sweet.
• He loves flushing the toilet.
• His favorite food is melon of any kind. 

Lately

Lately. Lately I have been feeling like I am treading water to just barely keep my head afloat, but the good news is, I am yet to go under! I miss doing smaller posts on single events, but for now these recaps will have to suffice as my journaling. SO what has our little family been up to as of late?

• Most exciting news is the first thing that comes to mind....we got a new oven! In case you are one of the lucky people I haven't complained about my oven to, just know it was bad. It has never worked properly for the two years we have lived here. I have lost so many dinners and treats to the curse of that oven. We also only had one functioning burner on our stove and it took like an hour to heat up. No good folks. So this last week the long awaited event of a new oven and stove happened! BEAUTIFUL. I just want to cook all the time. OH! And did I mention it is a gorgeous GE double oven? Cha. Life changing. I have been literally hugging it, and Kyle sits and watches things bake (because there is a light you can turn on inside!?)
• We baked a delicious chocolate cheesecake to celebrate the fact that we could.
• Valentine's Day was fun! The actual day of I only saw Ryan for about 10 minutes, but we had a fun date the next weekend. We go to Outback every year because we always have a gift card. I always order lamb because it is the only time it is an option. And I love it.
• Kyle and I did a little vday craft. And when I say little I mean it was a $3 pre made banner kit from Walmart we put together. He LOVED it. It was a good lesson to me that sometimes going simple (and maybe tacky) is best.
• Ryan and Kyle have been spending a lot of time flying the rc helicopters. Kyle is obsessed.
• We went to a BYU tennis match and Kyle got some one on one time with Cosmo.
• Ryan has taken on some consulting jobs on the side, which he loves. 
• Kyle keeps getting cooler like every.single.day.
• We got our bedrooms painted thanks to Kels! 
• I made the baby girl a quilt for her new room (third trimester has arrived eek)
• I make wings. A lot.
• Kyle has been going on more tractor rides with Papa.
• Ryan and I took Kyle and his friend Emmett to Chuck E Cheese the other night for a bit. I have never seen them happier.
• I got my very first A on a test at BYU. Like ever. 
• Ryan saves my behind daily. Really.
• We started decorating Kyle's new room.
• The new salon is working great so far!
• Kyle spent an evening with Brynn and Trevor and had a fabulous time.
• Kyle made whipped cream for the first time. He found it fascinating. 

Humor Me

I feel like I have been going off on tangents a lot lately...so just skip this if you are sick of me. But I feel like I have been learning a lot lately, and I wanted to share a common theme I have been feeling the passed few weeks.

Before I started back to school I felt like my life was full. My to do list was always long, my days were busy, and I had quite enough going on with being a wife, mom, and working a little bit. I didn't feel like I had loads of unoccupied time. Because of this, when I thought of adding a 17 credit school load to my life I was a little overwhelmed. Where would it fit? I knew it would require a lot of time and work, and I honestly did not see a place for it in my life. But I knew it was what I was supposed to do so I went forward.

I just have to say it has been so amazing for me to watch it play out. Not only have I had time for everything, but I feel like I am doing better at getting it all done than I was before. My menu planning, dinner prep, cleaning, laundry, and fun activities with Kyle have all improved and somehow I am still juggling my clients and schoolwork. Now don't get me wrong, my house isn't always clean, sometimes we eat meals that can hardly be called meals, and most of all, I have had A LOT of help. I have had babysitting help while I go to class, and Ryan has been such a champ at making sure I succeed. It has blown my mind, and means so much to me that people in my life are so supportive of me doing something I find important.

I was chatting with my wiser than I sister in law the other day and she said some things I really liked. She has A LOT going on in her life and was also pointing out that it is amazing how you just learn to make the important things fit, and by doing so you really learn what is important. That is when I really started thinking about it all. I am learning so much about time management and how to be the most productive person I can be. Last time I was in school I was a constant stress mess always barely getting by, but now I have my assignments done and am doing better on tests than I ever did before. It is all such a new world to me. Aside from finishing my degree and learning the things in my classes, I have already learned so much about priorities and how to be better for my family. I can't believe it is all a coincidence that Kyle often wakes up from napping as I type the last word of a paper, or that I have been able to understand and finish assignments so much faster than before. The only time I have to take away from Kyle is the actual class time, and the actual work time. I have been able to fit all my homework in while he is sleeping...and when I am away from him he is either with Ryan, or other family/close friends. It is all falling into place, and though I am really tired, I am so grateful for this whole experience. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and discouraged, but I really try to remember to just count my blessings and realize what a miracle this is for my life. I just try to forget I have to keep this up for another year and three months:)

Papa's Tractor

It has been amazing to me how drawn Kyle is to "boy things" without any real encouragement. This little man is OBSESSED with trucks, tractors, dump trucks, and airplanes. He goes crazy. As luck would have it, both his grandpas (Papa) have some fun toys. Between the two of them Kyle gets rides in 2 big trucks, a tractor, 4 wheeler, razor atv, and a dump truck. He asks constantly for rides, and must be pretty persuasive because he gets them pretty often. It is so sweet. I can't help but love watching Kyle explore the farm. You don't get this kinda stuff living in an apartment or cul-de-sac. It is a little boy's dream down here. So here is to Kyle getting to be a farm boy for a few more years, and to being a Papa's boy.

Lately

I feel like I haven't done a "what we have been up to" post in a while. We haven't done anything too crazy, but here is what our lives have looked like lately.

• Cheesecake Factory and Les Mis with some of Ryan's siblings. We don't hang out without everyone's kids very often, so this was great! Cheesecake Factory might be the happiest place on Earth too...
• Skipping class to have lunch with Ryan. It takes me back to the first 6 months of our marriage when we were both students...love it.
• Moving the salon downstairs, Kyle to the salon, and prepping Kyle's old room to be a nursery again.
• Some crafting.
• Ryan has been playing lots of tennis and basketball.
• Watching the Australian Open
• I got to help Kate at a Bridal Fair. Love it...AND they stayed the weekend. Love even more. AND we watched Downton Abbey. Love. Love. Love.
• Kyle has been painting.
• Ryan and Kyle do lots of dishes.
• Eating a lot of new Paleo food. So far so yum.
• I attempted buffalo wings for the first time in honor of the Super Bowl and LOVED them. I only started one small fire in the process...
• Some Ikea shopping.
• Prepping to have a girl come into the fam... ya know, the important stuff like buying pink glitter shoes.
• Late night homework parties. I would die without Ryan, he is so much help when it comes to school.
• A lot of clients for me, I have had fun with creative color lately.
• Watching The Lorax. Often.
• Story time at the library.
• I have been expanding.
• Lots of dancing, singing, and making up songs with Kyle.
• Lots of driving back and forth to BYU.
• Ryan has been shoveling a lot. (yesterday morning he looked out the window and yelled,"I am so sick of living in this white abyss!"...spring fever anyone?)

So nothing too exciting or crazy, but worth updating anyways. This is life. Life is pretty good.