A Fun Afternoon

    After a battle with the stomach bug, these boys were ready to play! Luckily we joined some friends at the Phoenix Children's Museum. 

Kyle was happiest on the motorcycle. I love that you can see him making the appropriate sound in this pic:

Kyle is usually very reluctant to look and smile at the camera so this picture is gold to me:

Kyle's pals Catcher and Bryson:

It took Bear a bit to warm  up to walking around without holding onto me. He reminded me of Tim-- just a bit more timid than I :).

His favorite spot was the noodle maze. It was basically a bunch of pool noodles hanging from the ceiling. Sort of makes me claustrophobic, but I took one for the team for Nolan.

It was hard to take pictures without noodles slapping you in the face, but these smiles made it so worth it!

 Love these puckered lips! My goal is to snap some more photos of him doing this before he outgrows it.  Try puckering your lips. It's hard! He does it all the time.

I think my point-and-shoot is on it's last days. This makes me sad.

Thanks Megan for letting us tag along! You saved our day!

Is Pre-school for Mom or for Kyle?

At the beginning of August Kyle started pre-school! The weekend before school started Tim and I bought Kyle new shorts. I had Kyle pick a pair to wear to pre-school and now he considers them shorts that he only wears to school. When he gets home he changes into a different pair of shorts. It was quite the dramatic morning getting him ready for his first day. I quickly realized the morning would go smoother if I let him choose his shirt for school.

  Next we did his hair. I hate to admit how long it took to do his hair, so I won't. I thought I could get away with spiking it in the front but he started crying, "No! I don't want hair like Joseph Smith!!" Tim and I looked at each other and just about died.

After trying to get his hair to look like Papa's, Catcher's, Dada's, "pre-school hair," and whatever else he had envisioned, we finally settled on something that was new to all of us.

Kyle chose his own prop for the obligatory picture:

And he chose his own poses:

* As a reminder to myself I have to add in that the night before school he prayed that he would learn about saying, "please" and, "thank you." He was very upset the first day that he didn't learn about it and would tell me each time that he still didn't learn about saying that. He has finally forgotten!

Kyle enjoys going and singing the songs he learns there. I enjoy running errands with only one kid! There were no tears when I dropped him off, I was just too excited for us him! 

We love you Kyle! 

Celebration of Ruby's Life

Late Thursday evening, in the middle of the night, we woke up to Kyle crying. While Tim went to check on him I checked my phone to see if there had been any update on Baby Ruby and a possible liver match. Instead my heart sank as I read the words, "Our sweet Ruby went Home tonight."

I cried. And cried. I cried for Ani, for Matt, for Kate. I cried for Ruby that she had to go through such a big trial at such a young age. She was only 7.5 months old. I can not explain the impact that precious baby had on me right now in my life. I will forever be grateful.

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. I know that Ruby was given the best parents she could have had. I know that Ruby's mission on this earth was complete. She united so many faiths in prayer, from all over the world. It was truly amazing to be a part of it.

Her celebration of life is being held this Tuesday, August 16th at 11 am. The address is:
30522 Via Con Dios

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

I encourage anyone to attend who can. I wish so badly I could be there. An online auction is being held to help the Taylor family with the medical bills. You can look (and bid!)  here and here.

I can't get over how inspired her parents were to name her, "Ruby." She is truly a precious jewel. Thank you to so many of my friends who have prayed for this family. I know it means the world to them.

Nursery Treasure

Yes, Jesus did say, "Love everyone."

 And (thankfully) that means even the grumpy kid.

What's Important

I've mentioned her before, but have you read the story of sweet baby Ruby? Ruby is awaiting a liver transplant and could use a transplant yesterday. Yes, I wrote that right.

Because of Ruby's story I've had a different perspective lately. Ani, her mother, is amazing and such a great example. Through the stories she shares on her blog I've been reminded about what's important.  I've learned to give Nolan a few extra hugs before I put him down to nap. I've learned that Kyle throwing a fit in preschool does not make the day "hard." "Hard" is when you can't even take your kid to preschool or to the beach or to the mall to ride the carousel because you are in the hospital waiting by the side of another kid you love. I've learned to spend more time reading books with Kyle during the day instead of always telling him, "I will later, I have to clean right now." The cleaning always waits for me, but I know the days Kyle wants to recite Hop on Pop to me with a dramatic, "Ask me tomorrow but not today Zurg!" finish will not always wait.

Thanks Ruby for inspiring me and making my days and prayers more meaningful. Thanks Ani for opening up to everyone and helping a mom like me remember what's important.

You can read about Ruby here.

"Walker" Texas Ranger

Our little Bear walks! Kyle started walking right before he turned 14 months and I had my doubts Nolan would start walking by then but he is all over the place now!

My sister-in-law Candace was watching the boys for the weekend and sent me this video. It was the furthest we had ever seen Nolan walk. I think we'll send him over to her house to potty train too :).

The other night while getting ready for bed we put some new shoes on Bear and he grabbed the hat. The outfit was fabulous.

Nolan always walks with his pointer fingers out. Perhaps it helps him balance? Here he comes!

Love these two laughing together.

 If you can't tell, I think his walk is the cutest thing! But really, how did he grow up so fast?

True or False

1. I had a mini-panic attack during the finale of Bachelorette

2. Tim (who was watching a movie with noise-canceling headphones on next to me) had to tell me, "This isn't reality." In which I responded, "Yes it is! It's reality tv!"

3. I shed a few tears.

4. I'm so happy I won't be watching Ashley anymore.

Sometimes quizzes can be tricky. That's the only hint I'm giving.