Many Thanks

So I have to say that we are pretty *sad* to be home from Las Vegas :( 68 degree weather in January? yes please.

We had such an amazing time and are so blessed with amazing friends. (The words "thank you" cannot even begin to express our gratitude for these people...you know who you are...Dave and Leyla :) Love you guys.

We are also so blessed to have Paul's parents who were more than willing to have the kiddos at their house for a few days. It means so much to us to know that the kids are safe and so happy with Grandma Joan and Pop Larry. We didn't worry about them at all.
Madilyn wanted to stay forever!!!
We are STILL trying to recover from it and trying to get back into the swing of things.

We had so much fun catching up, drinking amazing beer, eating great food, gambling a little, playing with the cutest pups ever Kaya and Sadie, and laughing our asses off at a comedy show. Such amazing memories and we can't wait to do it again!

More adventures and pics of our trip to come soon. I was having too much fun (and then I was too exhausted..haha! to take as many pics as I wanted to.)

"Aunt-o-claus"

"this is my funny face!"

Madilyn is at that age where the funniest things come out of her mouth.

There is a new home being built on the lot next to us and it was painted yellow (canary yellow!?) last week. Madilyn was pretty disappointed as she really wanted it to be green. So she said
"Mom, let's go over there and wipe that yellow paint off!!" haha..yep, that is exactly how I was feeling. I kinda think the yellow is growing on me now though...seems kinda coastal and that is a good thing :)

Yesterday evening, we were playing outside and one of our neighbors stopped by with his son and we were all talking while the kiddos played. Our neighbor asked if one of the toys was a Christmas present and Madilyn replied "yep, from aunt-o-claus!" The toy was from their Aunt Jessica. It was so funny :) Gotta love it.

Gotta go put some nutella on a waffle for this little "funny face!"

Some Stuff that we REALLY Like Right Now :)

I am really loving researching, reading blogs, and just overall learning about whole, healthy living. I really believe it makes all the difference in our health and happiness. There is SO much to learn on this topic and it makes me happy :)

Paul and I are working on fitting more "date nights" in. Most Friday nights we have one at home after we put the kiddos to bed. We both look forward to it so much. Tonight is a movie (Eat, Pray, Love...my choice :), beer (his choice), ice cream...healthy right? Goes with my first thing doesn't it? haha.

Cowen is LOVING "Bob the Builder"...he is obsessed with heavy equipment. TV never held his attention until he got a load of this show. He is glued to it right now (for the 1st time!)

This is definitely a passion of mine. Fun things to come with blogging for me...stay tuned :)

Oh yoga, you make me so happy!!! I am so thrilled to be back in the gym again. I love yoga and step aerobics...I also love going and zoning out on the elliptical trainer. Going to add in weight training soon. Ahhh, it makes all the difference in my life.

I just love this pic :) And I am always calling my babies this. And that hair just kills me.....this is awesome.

Madilyn is obsessed with this happy little train. We play trains all day (at least it feels like that).

OH yes, and we can't forget beer. Paul's hobby and love. It is definitely a staple in our house. He just ordered stuff for his next 2 batches...YUMMY. We are planning a beer and food pairing party with our friends soon as well. Ultimate dream is to have our own brewery and coffee shop...awesome idea right? Now for the funding........ ;)

Last but not least...the kiddos could LIVE on this stuff. And the microwave just beeped and I must go and get it out for them now :) I swear my homemade version is better, but sometimes the convenience of this stuff out weighs mine by a long shot.

So that is what we are currently obsessed with in our home right now. We are off to enjoy our mac and cheese! :)

Happy Friday!

*January Blues*

Oh January....it is always a hard month here in Utah. We have the w.o.r.s.t. air quality ever and we don't see the sun very much---hence January Blues for me. Oh yeah, and have I mentioned that I HATE the cold and the ice?
At least these 2 little boogers are here to brighten my day...that is when they aren't fighting and taking toys away from each other.......haha.

This January started out particularly yucky as we packed up and headed to Reno for Great Grandma Dorothy's funeral. The kiddos were great helpers while we packed :)

and it wore them out* but before we knew it, it was a crazy hour of the morning and we were loaded up in the car and on our l.o.n.g drive to across Nevada and to Reno.

It was an emotional and whirlwind 3 days for us. We spent 2 days driving sandwiching the 1 day that we actually spent there. It was especially hard, as I had been pretty sick with a cold/flu and fighting a major infection.

On the bright side, it was pretty awesome to see all of Paul's cousins. It was especially fun to see our kiddos play with them as well. Here Madilyn is with Gabe. He danced with her on his feet and taught her to twirl. She loved him :) It always means so much to us when people spend the time to get to know our kiddos and develop relationships with them.

Madilyn and Lane became friends right when it was time for us to go back to our hotel for the night (of course). They were pretty silly together. Here they are licking a salt rock that they found at Lisa's house :) haha. It was totally hilarious to watch them interact with each other and show off.

Madilyn threw a huge fit when we had to leave...then came the monster fit that happened back at the hotel.....oh boy. I am counting down the months until this 3-year-old turns 4...I am just sure that it will get better at that point...right?

We saw this funny sign at a gas station by the UNR campus and just had to take a picture because it is so true. Gas here in Utah has been around 2.65, so it was A LOT more in Reno.

We were happy to get back home.
We have pretty much been homebodies since our trip. It has been nice, but last weekend Paul and I were both so stir crazy....again a total January thing for us.

But, we have some fun and great things in the works. I can't wait to see what the next few years brings. I have a few things up my sleeve......

Upward and Onward!

Today, the weather was clear and sunny (hooray!). It was SO nice to see the blue sky and the sun so I bundled the kids up and we went to the park. It was freezing, icy, but so fun. The kids do so much better overall when they get outside time to play. It was long overdue.

after swinging for a long time (their favorite) they wandered around on the frozen ground and collected leaves for me.

and we just enjoyed the fresh air.

counting down the days until January is over...seriously the longest month ever for me.
Oh yeah, and Paul and I are taking our very first ever trip together without the kiddos next week (WHEEE!). We are going to Las Vegas for a couple of days to stay and play with our good friends Dave and Leyla. We are elated and just can't wait. The kiddos are "Over the Moon" to be staying with Grandma Joan and Pop Larry for those few days. It will be so fun for all of us :)

Is it February yet?!?

Kiddos Update

A little update on what the kiddos are into lately.....

MADILYN: Getting into more "girly" things.
Likes to have sleepovers with her Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella princess dolls.
Talks about Disneyland daily.
Still LOVES trains and watching Thomas the Tank Engine.
Ballet dances all over the house.
Loves "cooking" in the kitchen that santa brought her.
Loves playing Candyland with Paul and I every night.
Loves helping shovel the snow off the driveway.
Picks out her own outfit.
Is 99% potty trained!!! (FINALLY!!)
talks about and wants more brothers and a sister too...is really interested in babies.
Loves doing puzzles and coloring and helping me with projects around the house.
Loves being out and about and shopping. Any new adventure.
Her favorite color is pink.
She tests my patience and sanity about 300 times per day.
She loves to hit, scratch, and pinch her brother....especially when he isn't doing things her way.


COWEN: Is so happy!
Loves helping his mama with dinner and sweeping the floor
Is such a cuddle bug (when he is in the mood..haha!)
Loves the snow and helping shovel the driveway.
Is obsessed with diggers (eat dirts).
Loves cats and animals.
LOVES books and reading time.
Loves being naked :) haha
loves playing with cars, heavy equipment toys
he is in love with his dada and can't wait to see him each evening.
Is talking more and more. He now says "one more" when it comes to reading books.
Can climb on tables and loves to get on the stool and play in the sink and wash his hands. (he could seriously play in the sink ALL day if I would let him).
Smiles when you point the camera at him.
Loves to hide and giggles when we pretend that we can't find him.
Absolutely loves his sister no matter how mean she is to him

and so much more! They really keep me on my toes and completely busy. It is craziness, but the best thing all at the same time.

It's been a {CRAZY} New Year so Far......

I started this year off by getting really, really sick (again)...yuck.
Paul and I spent New Year's Eve at home with movies, pizza, and beer.

It was perfect and just how we wanted to spend it. As the night went on, I felt myself feeling pretty yucky. I barely made it to midnight.
I woke up with a horrible cold.
and that wasn't all....
my belly button piercing hole had been hurting for a few days. I didn't think too much about it, as I hadn't had a ring in it for 4 years and it was pierced for 9 years before that. Somehow, that justified in my mind that it would just take care of itself and I shouldn't worry about it.
Well on New Year's Day, I couldn't let it go any longer and went to the Insta-care clinic. Good thing I did, as it was a pretty serious infection. I was put on heavy duty antibiotics and spent the next 2 days in bed.
I am just now starting to feel back to my normal self. In the middle of it all, we took a whirlwind trip to Reno, NV for GG's funeral and I barely remember any of it. Crazy.
The antibiotics took their toll on my body and gave me a rash all over as well. (the day after I was done with my 10 day course). It is almost gone now, but not quite.
Now I think things are finally ok. What a way to start off a new year....haha.
I will post pics and update more soon.