Chase Turns "Forty-four"

I'm catching up on a few things I didn't blog in the past couple of months. Chase turned four years old and had a Rock'n'roller Puppy Party! (Yes, he chose the theme and had a hard time choosing between two different things...) He also refuses to say he is four years old...he says he is "forty-four". Whatever. I've tried everything from "what comes after three" to counting fingers, and he still won't say four. He knows I'm trying to get him to! Little smartypants.

Anyway, the puppy cake took way too much patience, but he loved it. We also did face-painting, swimming, and crafts for fun at his party. Later that night we had cake and ice cream with some close friends and neighbors as well. We sure miss having our families close by, especially for these special days in his life. He received lots of cards and MONEY from the fam.

This picture with Daddy is a birthday tradition. It's supposed to show how much bigger Chase gets from year to year!

Girlfriends

So, I'm reading this book called "The Girls from Ames, A story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship" and it's got me feeling so grateful for my girlfriends! It mentions a lot of studies that show women are healthier and happier because of our friendships with other women. Sounds to me like a great reason to have more girls' nights!

I have always been blessed to have fabulous girlfriends and lots of them. I am really grateful. I thought all of you "girls" might find it interesting to see pictures of each other too. The top photo is of a bunch of us at our girls' weekend getaway to Tahoe in June. A HUGE thank you to Kristin for the planning and beautiful condos we stay in! An even BIGGER thank you to the rest of you for the love and laughter! (Lisa, Jan, Lisa, Stephanie, Raimi, Kristin, me, Stephanie, Keila, & Holly-not in photo)




The bottom photos were taken in July at a girls' night out with my best friends from high school. Not all of our "clique" could make it, but some of us that did hadn't seen each other in thirteen years! That is way too long. I think we stayed at the restaurant for over two hours and we probably started more than a couple rumors in town! It was just like old times...only I think we've all gotten better.

After dinner, we ran to Kent's to pick up some munchies...(go figure, we needed more food?)...and headed to the game room at my parents' house to talk until early in the am. I love these girls! Maybe we'll actually get back to our Christmas party tradition like we always promised...
(Jamie, Rachelle, Heather, Natalie, Heidi, me)

We've almost survived another June

June. Greg's birthday (hubby), Scott's birthday (nephew), Camine's birthday (bestie), Father's Day, 13th Anniversary, LaRon's birthday (brother), Katelyn birthday (bestie's baby), Jen & Tyler's birthdays (sister-in-law & nephew), Chase's birthday (4 years!), Camie's birthday (friend), Sara's birthday (niece), placement anniversary (Chase at 4 days old!), Melina's birthday (niece), and Debbie birthday (sister-in-law). Add into all of that a girls' weekend in Tahoe (fabulous), a Family Temple Day (also a jet-skiing day for us), a friend's apartment damaged by fire and subsequent move, piano lessons, a visit with out-of-state friends, and another jet-skiing day and you're pretty much caught up with us! It's been a wild month, but we always enjoy it...looking back. I hope Chase always remembers June as a special month. We are so blessed to have him. He IS our life, our love, our miracle family. Here are some of our favorite pictures from Target at his 4th birthday sitting. (You guys were right...Target was great for photos. Thanks : ) )

Hard Work

In case you've been wondering where I've been lately....this is it: our backyard! We've been working so hard to get our landscaping done in time to enjoy it the rest of spring and summer. Thank goodness it cooled down. Those couple of 90* days I about fried!

Spring has sprung

Spring is officially my favorite season of the year! We've been working really hard in the back yard to regain control and finish our landscaping projects that sat all winter. I love the hard work and the sunshine. I also have a really great little helper this year that loves to do everything right alongside me. We'll see if anything in my garden survives! Between Chase's digging and the fact that I plant it and water it differently each year, it's always an adventure to see what makes it to our table. Here's a couple of pictures of my favorite flowers (peonies like the ones that my mom grows and grandma always grew) and Chase getting ready for Easter. Happy Spring everyone!

Disneyland 2009: Take 1

I know what you're thinking...Disneyland again? WE LOVE IT! And by WE, I mean all of us, not just Chase. We decided to make Disneyland our vacation spot for the year because we could get "cheap" tickets through Greg's brother in Southern CA...or so we thought. We should have known this was not going to be a bargain trip when we started off our first day paying DOUBLE for our shuttle bus pass. (Greg claims technical problems at the machine...technical or operator?) Anyway, then we meet his brother at the gate and they won't let him buy the Southern CA pass for us. We didn't work it right, and by then we were just wanting to get in and play. Long story, short: we are now full-fledged annual pass holders and will be spending a few more long weekends at Disneyland to make it worth our money! It was a standing joke for the rest of the trip that we might as well pay double for everything...why change now?
We started off with Chase's favorite rides from last time: Dumbo, tea cups, it's a small world. There were absolutely NO LINES. It was awesome. It was also a Tuesday in February and a little chilly. We had gone on four rides in seriously less than an hour.
I guess a lot can change in a year, because Chase's new favorite ride is officially the race cars. You can just barely see him hanging out the side of this one. He had to ride with daddy every time (go figure) and said he was taking daddy and Pluto on a dew run in the car.
Pluto went on every ride with Chase. The poor dog was carried all over Disneyland and California Adventure. The nice part was that Pluto's blanky has handles so Chase could wear Pluto almost like a purse and not drop him all of the time. Maybe that's one favorite that will never change. I had tears in my eyes watching Chase hug Pluto on our last day. It made his whole trip, and mine too.

Wannabe Runner

I've always been impressed by all of you runners out there that can just lace up your shoes, head out the door, enjoy the weather, and get a workout at the same time. So, I finally decided that Gold's Gym stinks...I'm not nearly enough of a musclehead to work out on their weights by myself every morning...and their group-x classes are now often fee-based...and cancel my membership. I decided that I'm just going to be a runner and get my cardio that way. The first couple of days I'm sucking wind before I even hit the corner. After a few days I feel AWESOME to be able to run all the way to the bike trail/greenbelt (less than 1/2 a mile). Then, a couple of days later I feel a little discomfort in my left ankle when I walk. Luckily for me, the flu hits and I'm off of my ankle for a week. Try again this Wednesday. WOW! I must really run retarded because my ankle has been killing me ever since. I probably should have stayed off of it yesterday, but decided to stand on it for two hours at the park, run to the grocery store, and also the library! I'm not very good at sitting still.

Anyway, long story short: I've got to stay off of it until we go to Disneyland next week or I'll never survive the happiest place on earth for three days. I'm feeling like a huge, lazy, blob. Does anyone have an exercise DVD that they absolutely love? I like anything from step to cardio kick-boxing to pilates. I just don't want to buy one that looks good and have it turn out to be lame. I'm sorry, but the background music on the Total Body Workout on the BYU channel does not do it for me. OK workout, happy people that don't sweat, boring music.... Help!

Handy Helper & Gym Class

I guess it's a good thing when your three-year old wants to do EVERYTHING you do. Of course, I think it's darling when Chase pulls out his tool box to help Daddy attempt to fix the washer...at the same time I KNOW it takes ten times as long to do anything with him right at your feet (that's where he usually is...but under me, not Greg!).

Chase has always wanted to go to the gym like Mommy & Daddy too. (At least maybe that's one GOOD habit he's seen?!) So, I signed him up for his first "gym" class. It is a Tot Gymnastics class and he is one of about 3 boys and 23 girls. Great odds! It's nice to see that we named him properly (he has a tendency to run away occasionally), that he doesn't really listen to directions from anyone (not just me), and that he's adorable, curious, and energetic no matter what!

We are counting down the days until our next Disneyland trip. I don't know who is more excited out of the three of us. Greg is helping Chase put a Mickey sticker on each day of the week until we go...only one week left! Chase wakes up each morning saying "weekend", "go to Disneyland", and "pack my backpack". We probably should have waited longer to tell him we're going. We couldn't help ourselves!

The FLU...

So, about an hour after my last piano lesson on Tuesday my week came to a screeching halt. I haven't been this sick in YEARS. I thought maybe I had food poisoning, but then Chase came down with it a day later and Greg a day after that. Doesn't food poisoning hit everyone at the same time if you eat the same foods? Anyway, I literally didn't leave the house for two days, put my new front-load washer to good use, and have watched about 13+ hours of Australian Open tennis. I think I'm almost recovered now, I'm just not sure how long it will last in the boys. I'm still waiting for Greg to say "I told you so" because he wanted to get flu shots in November/December and I just never found the right time or place to do it. Maybe he's right, but PLEASE don't tell HIM that!

Spring in January

We are loving this spring-like weather in January! Did Santa include warm weather for Christmas so that Chase could try out his new trampoline? We are having so much fun on it as well as THREE hours at the park today. Who knew that they made 12' bouncy playpens for three-year olds, wink-wink?!

Holiday Gratitude

The holiday season is over and it's already a new year! As much as I look forward to it, I always dread it getting here because then it's quickly over and gone. This year, however, I have decided to look at the end of the holiday season with a sense of gratitude instead of grief! I am overwhelmingly grateful for the many blessings my sweet little family has enjoyed in the past year and continues to enjoy. We have a cozy, warm home, Greg has a steady job, good health, loving friends, fabulous families, fun,and happiness.

Christmas always gives me a chance to focus on the spiritual gifts that we have as well. Our family is a gift, to begin with. We wouldn't have our "Crazy Chase" if it wasn't for years of prayers, fasting, and faith on many people's parts! And we're grateful to also know that we can be a family forever through the blessings of the temple. Chase kept reminding us as we wrapped presents, decorated, etc. that we were getting ready for "Jesus' birthday". What a great reminder that was! He was so excited to celebrate the real meaning of the season. We're grateful to know of not only Christ's birth but his life, death, atonement, and love for us.

Wow, I could go on and on. Just a couple more things I'm grateful for: the quality time we get to spend with our families during the holidays, and the notes from friends we don't get to see or hear from near enough. We love you all. Here's to a fabulous 2009!

Two Tag

I think I'm a little behind! I got tagged a couple of days ago, but it's such fun that I will still pass it on.

Two names you go by:
Besides Patti
1. mommy
2. "muffin"

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. black capris
2. jewelry (love it!)

Two things you want right now:
1. to be done potty training
2. new video-making software (suggestions anyone?)

Two things you did last night:
1. went to LAST/dress rehearsal for youth musical
2. ate half a bag of kettle corn (from Apple Hill) for dinner

Two things you ate today:
1. french bread, out of the bag, on the way home from the store!
2. homemade mac'n'cheese

Two favorite drinks:
1. Mountain Dew (worst habit!)
2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

I am tagging Tiffany, Miranda, Caitlin, Tif, Jen, & Jamie! You're all it!

Our "Almost Perfect" Saturday

We took all day today to spend together as a family just having simple fun. It seems like it's been a long time since we've done that! We headed out about 9am for Apple Hill. What a gorgeous fall day. The colors are beautiful right now and yet it felt like summer. Chase went on his first pony ride of the day at High Hill. This cute little pony is "Bubbles".
Here is the outrageously priced fishing pond. We enjoyed yummy apple fritters by it while we watched people, dogs, and soaked in the sun. Of course, before we left, one of our "not quite so perfect moments" happened with Chase wetting everything from his waist down. HELP with the potty training already!... Wardrobe change #1.
Chase and daddy went on a little nature walk to Eeyore's house (not sure where that came from, but that's what Chase told me) while I checked out some of the jewelry booths at Abel's Acres. Chase also rode another pony, "Blacky" (original!) and LOVED the hay maze here. Little did we know why he was hiding behind that hay bale....it made for the perfect restroom...again, only worse. This time no more clothes for a wardrobe change and it took all the wet wipes in my purse to clean it up! UGH!

We love to see the temple

We had time on the way home to stop by the temple and take a stroll around it. Here's me loving my son and my husband and trying to be a photographer. I want my pictures to look like I didn't take them, but like a good photographer did.
I just love this little man! Just ask him who mommy's favorite little boy in the whole wide world is...he'll tell you... CHASE! He loves to be told that every day.
I was trying to set the camera up and use the timer to get a family shot here. Chase couldn't resist and crawled right up to it. Just look at those gorgeous brown eyes! How can I resist? I think I have a picture that looks just exactly like this one, but he was about 6 months old.
I wonder if the temple gardeners would come help me with my new planters? I wish...

I hope he'll go inside someday

Our family is forever. Thank goodness for temples and the blessing of being sealed together in it. I can't imagine life without my boys. I literally hit the timer on the camera, ran to grab Chase before he headed around another planter, and sat down just in time! Not bad...
Everyone knows I like my trademark kissing pose in front of temples. Lucky for me, Chase likes to kiss at the temple too.
My absolute favorite photo of the day...
Splish, splash! See how Chase's feet are off the ground? He's lucky he didn't take a header right into the fountain. He loves them. At this point, we realized that accident #3 had happened...thus the "almost perfect" day. He is just getting worse and worse at the potty thing. We really HAD to head home and get him in the shower. After that we went over to the aquatic center to watch a good friend's daughter play in the High School sectional water polo championship. WOW! It was exciting. 10-9 in overtime. Too bad Rachel's team didn't win. She scored a couple goals (is that what they're called in water polo?) and played awesome. We're glad we got to see it and love her and her family to death!

School, play, & cute things we say

Chase went to his first day of preschool on Tuesday, October 21st. He was a little bit of a late starter because of the potty-training thing, but he's FINALLY ready. (Not that he's perfect with the potty thing yet, but good enough for an hour and fifteen minute preschool!) I'm trying to make certain pictures a tradition, like the first day of school, birthdays, etc. I read somewhere that if you take your child's picture at the same place (leaving the front door) you'll be able to look back through each year and see how they've grown. Also, for birthdays I try to get one of blowing out the candles and one back-t0-back with daddy to see how much bigger he is. He already seems bigger to me because he thinks he's such an independent preschooler...

This is how we work & play at our house! It starts out with a rake and ends an hour later with happy smiles and a bigger leaf mess than what we started out with! You should have seen the pile we had in the backyard...

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...Chase knows it's his chance for a little trampoline action when I change the sheets on our bed. A couple Fridays ago one of his favorite little friends, Ava, got to join in the fun. Ring around the rosies...

I almost forgot! The normal things we say just come out of a three-year old's mouth cute! Some of my recent faves:

"Dora song is stuck in my head...(while pulling at his ear)...I can't pull it out!"

"Thanks, dinner, Mommy."

After wiping applesauce on his arm, "mustache on my arm!" (Like a milk mustache...)

Trick or Treat

For the first time in 12 years, Greg and I dressed up for Halloween too. It was a lot of fun, although it takes two engineers WAY too long to make costumes! Maybe we're a little TOO "square" to get creative. Anyway, I was "Mrs. Rodeo Queen", Greg was my bullrider boyfriend, and Chase was the rodeo clown. Chase got loads of candy and still expects more "prizes" to come in the mail! (He loved the packages he got in the mail. Thanks Auntie Vicky and Auntie Lisa!) Guess I'm done, another three-year old melt-down in the works...