Some exciting news for Aubrey

She has finally faced her fear and can officially RIDE HER BIKE!

Hint...Hint!!!

Look how happy he looks Jake!!!

P90X

So I have been doing P90X off and on as my workout. For those who don't know what it is, it is just a series of REALLY HARD workouts that progressively get EVEN HARDER! Anyhow, I haven't been doing it much lately and usually do them at night when Jake is home to do them too. So, today after dropping Aubrey off at school I was asking Weston if he thought he could do a workout with me. I was feeling motivated, but needed a friend. He said he would try...so we did CARDIO X together today. It was so cute. He never quit and did the yoga, kick boxing and plyometrics with me!! I was so proud of him. He was actually a lot more fun to work out with than Jake, cause he would give me high fives and stuff! (Jake is a little grouchy working out...)

He told me during some of the cool down ..." Mom I want to do this every day, this was way better than watching a kids' show!" That's my boy!

A few minutes after our 45 minute workout....we played "Pretty Pretty Princess!" LOL We are well rounded at this house!

My boys!

This week it is finally feeling like Spring again. We have our wonderful warm weeks, but then it rains and is cold all over again. Anyway, this week the weather has been perfect so I have spent almost every day taking my kids on walks or to the park to play. We of course miss Aubrey (who is in first grade) but Weston and Spencer and I have had a lot of fun. I just wanted to remember a few things about "my boys."

Here they are playing in the sand. They love to get dirty and I am so lazy about baths. You should see their feet :(

Weston is just so adventuresome. He really will try anything. Yesterday on our jog back from Walmart. I ran there to get doughnuts...don't ask me why... Anyway, Weston stated that he wants to "play basketball, football and soccer this year." But not "T-ball" because, "I can already hit the ball like a big kid."

Yesterday Weston shouted from the computer room "Shoe Shoe....MOM!!" I actually couldn't hear what he said...I thought he said..."shut up MOM!" Which actually wouldn't completely shock me. So I just ignored him and he came out later and said..."Shoe Shoe MOM..." with this cute little face. I was like..."uhmm what does that mean dear?" and he said that means "I Love YOU in Chinese!" Very cute kid.

Here we have little Spencer. His personality is so great! He is full of life and laughs. He really does laugh a lot. He finds everything funny. His favorite thing is to be outside or taking shoes out of the shoe closet.

His stats at his last appointment were 30.5 inches long 50% something percentile and 26lbs which was like 80% or something. He still isn't talking. He likes to make sounds though... Like ahh ohhh and ok, (but the sound.)

Randomness!

My new word! Randomness. Anyway, I haven't been blogging at all lately because I didn't think I had any pictures. Today I took the few off my camera and put them on the computer and realized...I have a little bit to blog about. Random albeit...but something nonetheless.
So first we have...
This is little Spencer playing at Amazing Jakes. We are like a walking advertisement for this company...but we for sure love it! This last time we went we even got to try out some bowling. Jake and I tied for first place...if that matters. Anyway, it was just so fun to see our oldest two run around holding hands going from one ride to the next. Spencer got left behind, but there is a little play place for him. I only took this picture which is weird. But I wanted to remember that night. Playing with our family!

So next we have this picture of Jake and I! We went to a "Couples Bunco" night at a friends house. It was super fun. The theme was Saint Patrick's Day as you can see. I love that Jake has made such an effort to take me out on dates. It means so much to me! I am for sure a quality time kind of gal and I enjoy every second we get together...without the kids!

And here we have little Miss Aubrey Jean! I just loved this picture. Her school had an "80's"day and this is what we quickly came up with. (Since I remembered last minute.) It just cracked me up because Tina and I were just discussing how horrible the clothes were when we were kids and that is why we think we looked horrendous in our early years. I was saying how at least our kids won't have to look back and be horrified....and let me tell ya, I am sure they will too! The best part was Aubrey loved it all. She loved the bracelets, side pony and the belt to top it off. It was like looking at a little me!

The Young Women's Program

Here is Weston and his Best Friend Makai H. Chilling at a recent Young Women's fundraiser!

Then here we have Aubrey and her friend Alyssa B. doing the same. Here are some of my BFF's that are in the Young Women's program with me in our ward. I have loved my calling so much. I love the young women that we work with as well as the chance to become friends with the ladies I serve with. I have received so many blessing by callings that I have had in our church. I think I have the most fun in Young Women's though...

New Beginnings!

The FREAK Accident!

So yesterday I had just jumped out of the shower and was putting in my contacts...(naked by the way...) when I heard a crash and turned and saw Spencer in a pile of shattered glass!!! I just threw my contact and grabbed him and picked him up. He was already bleeding like crazy...but I just kind of stood there...realizing what had happened. I think he slammed the shower door open and it just shattered... anyway. I then just stayed in the same place and put in my contacts (gotta see.) Next, I walked through the glass and wiped up Spencer and put him in his crib then ran and got some shoes, all the while not clothed. (I bring this up only so you know how awkward I felt trying to maneuver threw all the glass...I definitely felt exposed.) So after running downstairs to get some shoes, I was then able to walk past the wreckage and get some clothes on and attend to Spencer better. I wanted to take a picture, but I was rushing like crazy.

Every time I would clean Spencer off...his whole face would be covered in blood within moments again. He kept freaking out when it got in his eye or in his mouth. I knew that head/face wounds bled a lot so I wasn't too worried or anything. In fact, I was really calm. Looking back on the whole experience I realise that I was totally calm and I am definitely someone who doesn't freak out with stuff like this...

So the reason I was getting ready that morning to take Spencer to a well check at the Pediatrician. I had a slot scheduled so I just decided to go. I put the boys in the car, dropped Weston off at preschool, and took Spencer to his check-up. I figured it wasn't that bad, but I wanted to make sure he didn't have any shards of glass in him or need stitches on his nose. I walked in and it hit me how horrible me and Spencer looked...blood all over etc. The receptionist looked soooo shocked..."Are you here for a well visit?" she said with a strange look. "How is Spencer today?" I quickly informed her of what had happened and she seemed relieved. Anyway, they cleaned him up really nice and of course it doesn't look like much happened at all. It did slice a very small piece of the side of his nose right off though...and it will scar. Poor kid! I do feel really lucky for both of us considering how bad he would have been cut if I wouldn't have been so close. I got a few little scrapes and pokes, but nothing bad. Especially since I walked through that glass bare footed. (My calloused feet paid off.)

Here are some pics of the glass while I was cleaning it up. I looked a lot worse before I swept it all in a pile...the glass flew clear into my bedroom and into my closet. I spent a good 2 hours trying to clean this up; not to mention we need a new shower door!

Here is little Spencer after he had been to the dr. and had a bath. Today it looks worse! This is a hinge...that is all that was left.

Mommy Daughter Date!

Jake and I have decided to start taking the kids out on dates...and Aubrey and I were the lucky ones to try it first. We had so much fun!! I let Aubrey pick where we ate and of all things she really wanted STEAK! I just found it so funny that my six year old wants steak, when I think I tried for the first time when I was eighteen...but that is another story. Anyway, we went to Outback Steakhouse and shared a wonderful steak dinner together. According to Aubrey the "best ever!" Then we went to a little pottery place "As You Wish." Aubrey chose a heart shaped jewelery box and we painted away. We were there at least two hours. Aubrey is really a joy to be with. She is funny...she said, "truth or dare mom?" I said "truth" and she said, "no pick dare..." so I picked dare and she dared me to do the "best job in the world," with regards to my painting! For dessert we went to Marie Callendar's and bought our favorites these days...pie. We brought it home to share with the boys. Tonight we just picked up the finished project (the pottery needed time in the Kiln...) and it looks amazing!

Aubrey I love you so much and had a blast on our DATE! Wish I had more pictures to remember it by. Love, Mom

3 day weekend!

We just had such a fun weekend. Of course I didn't get a lot of pictures but fun non the less...

On Friday I picked Jake up from work and we went to the mall and let the kids play. Spencer was feeling much better (recent phnemoia) and just loves playing on those little kiddo playgrounds. I could watch him for hours play. I got my favorite Gyro (which I still cannot pronounce,) then later we went to our favorite little yogurt shop in Gilbert. It is called Ocean Blue and I love the "tart" flavor.

Heart Shaped Pizza for Valentine's Day!

So then on Sat. we decided not to do anything for us on Valentines, but to make it more special for our kids. We had yummy whole wheat blender pancakes with homemade buttermilk syrup for breakfast. We played Wii and just spent the morning riding bikes and being together. That afternoon we got to go see a dear friend get baptized and hang with friends. Later that night (after some meltdowns by our kids ) we decided to go to Pei Wei and take the kids. We told Aubrey and Weston that they were "on a date" with us and to be on their best "date" behavior. Weston and Dad opened our doors and we ate politely. Aubrey was so cute, she really got into it...As Dad was getting our door she says, "these guys are both so cute, I don't know which one I will choose?!" Ha ha, I told her that Dad was my date and that you can't really chose on dates which one you are with.

Kids on our "Date."

Anyway, Sunday we went to Grandma and Grandpa Watkins after church for a lovely Valentine/Uncle Chris's Birthday dinner. As always, it was great to see the Watkins family and all their little cousins as well. I must be obsessed with food, but I just would like to add the Hawaiian Haystacks were wonderful as well as Marie Calendar's Pies.

So then today: Another family day together. We had decided ahead of time that we wanted it to be a fun day, not where we spent money or just sat around watching TV or something. We ended up going to our local Pacana Park with some friends and playing Tennis. We packed a fun picnic lunch and played a couple of tennis matches (something we haven't done in years!) The kids were good sports and we ended up playing kickball and touch football with them later. It really has been such a great 3 day weekend. I wish we had these more often. Jake is an amazing father and has really made such an effort to be with and enjoy our kids! We are very blessed to have wonderful family and friends who make our life that much sweeter. Yeah for kids that weren't sick this week and beautiful weather. This totally is seeming like a brag kind of post, but I just wanted to be grateful for the good times and remember that even with all the work involved...life really is fun!

Tracy, Ella and Alyssa Badger!

Those who hate brag posts...well...Last week Spencer was sick and miserable, and he still doesn't sleep through the night. Does that make this less annoying??? Ha ha

L.O.V.E

Love is a funny thing... There are so many types and ways to show love. Anyone who has been married a while knows this and knows that although you love each other, sometimes you lose that little "spark" or just giddy fun feeling you get when meeting someone for the first time. You love each other...don't get me wrong, but it seems still different. Not that this silly/giddy love is lost, but it becomes more rare at times. So, here is the Question. How do you get that kind of feeling back?

Well....here is the answer:

Take your "wonderful" wife to a Karaoke club with some of her good friends. Warn her you probably won't be singing...not really your thing...but have a good attitude! Then be totally HOT and fun to be with. (This is easy for Jake!) Laugh and interact with those you are with. Hold her hand, smile, flirt...then surprise your lovely wife by getting up and singing to her one of her favorite songs. "Your body is a wonderland." Of course, you must look at her affectionately the whole time like she is the only girl for you, sing amazing and then follow that with kisses and hugs! This is what Jake did last night...and I tell you, IT WORKS!!!