Birthday Parties

Before we left Pleasant Grove we had a couple little parties to celebrate my kid's birthdays with friends and family. I know it was a bit early (as their birthdays are over the next few days), but on the 21st we had a party for Savannah and on the 29th there was a family gathering for both Savannah and Jaxon. Savannah wanted 3 people at her Toy Story party; her cousin Eli and her friends Reed and Maddy. She made the requests, so I planned accordingly and invited them. Savannah's cousin Kaden was my helper and between pizza, a couple games, presents and cupcakes I think every adult helped at some point. I knew we were missing all of our guests birthdays and that kids love opening presents, so we played a little present game where each kid opened a present. They were all wrapped 6 times with different paper, so they were a little confused, but it was very fun to watch. I am really going to miss all of Savannah's friends, so more than anything I wanted to have the party so they could all play together one last time. Savannah had a major melt down when I handed out party favors. It reminded me of last year at the little gym. Here are some pictures from the parties.

My awesome nephew Kaden

Savannah's buddies: Eli, Reed and Maddy

A few party pictures

Jaxon got a few presents too. He loves his dishes, books and his Perry the platypus. He sleeps with his Perry every night.

Alien cupcakes

The very happy birthday girl. This reminded me a little of her party last year at the Little Gym. She did not want to give party favors to her friends and between that and nap time, she was not happy. She did pass out 3 minutes after my sister left. She was on the couch and fell asleep sitting straight up. When she woke up she was SO happy and first thing she put on a party hat and wanted a cupcake My dad put together the party on the 29th. I love my dad! He got "stick the tail on the donkey," some party decor and a really yummy cake. Jaxon was a big fan of the cupcakes around the cake. I let him have 2. Sugar high

Savannah loved her presents from my parents. She got 2 pairs of Jesse pajamas from my parents and Jaxon got a Cars play mat with 3 toy cars. We all have fun with the cars. All in all we had a fun time celebrating our kids a little early. Savannah now thinks she is turning 10 from all the candles she has blown out, but I dont mind because I love celebrating my kids with the people I love.

Zoo Boise

On Friday we took a little trip downtown to the zoo. It was an interesting day to go because there was a huge "Art in the Park" thing going on which made parking horrible, but the zoo was practically empty. I had read reviews that it was small, but I thought it was a perfect size. We saw every animal and were there a little over three hours. It was sad to see quite a few animals alone in the exhibit, but there was a decent variety to look at and we loved that the eating area was surrounded with animals. The petting zoo part was really fun. I made Savannah feed a goat. Jaxon did not like the goats very much. I think he thought they were biting us (pictured above).
Note: I almost had a panic attack when we walked into an exhibit that looked like it had a carnival theme and the door shut behind us, leaving us in a dark room with large bats behind a thin and very close sheet of glass... brought back some memories from my trip to Chicago.
Here are a few pictures and my favorite videos.

Savannah and the pheasant

Pretending to be a bird in the fake nest

Found the Tiger

The Elephant

Savannah loved the Giraffes and was very interested in their living arrangements

Jaxon and the bobcat

We moved!

So I know most everyone that reads this knows we moved, but I thought I should post it anyways. On the 28th of last month we got the truck and started loading, Sunday I worked and Monday we turned in our keys and headed to Boise. We actually live in Nampa, which is about 25 minutes to BSU in downtown Boise. It has been some adjusting. Our place is too small for the half of our things we brought out here and we are already repacking boxes and trying to find places for them. We live in a nice, but small apartment. I am enjoying the garden tub and newer appliances, but it doesn't make up for the friends we left behind. I really, really miss my friends. Savannah finally stopped asking if we could go home a few days ago, but still asks to see her grandparents and her friends. This is the longest I have gone without being employed since we have been married and it is weird. Noah's schedule changes from week to week so there is no way for me to get a job. I am enjoying sleeping in my bed every night, but I feel like a drain without bringing in money. Its going to take some adjusting too. Our kids are happy and are getting used to sharing a room. They are nice to each other most of the time. Here are a few pictures. More will come when everything we brought has a place and it doesn't look like a bomb went off. Savannah insisted on holding her sleeping brother while I held her baby doll

Temple Square Visit

Yesterday morning Savannah and I started talking about Temples. She loves them and the fact that there are to many around here lets us stop and look at different ones. Savannah loves the Angel Moroni statues and always has to point them out. Well yesterday I had her sit in my lap and we were looking at some pictures on Google. We came across the Salt Lake Temple and Savannah asked to go see it. After running a couple errands I decided we should go. After all the tears and fights between us the last week, we both needed it. Both the kids fell asleep on the drive up there and woke up not knowing exactly where we were. I parked under the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and stopped in the Distribution Center first. I wanted one of the nursery manuals for family home evening and then we wandered around and I showed Savannah the pictures of all the temples. She loved it! She asked for a small picture of the Orlando Temple after I told her that's where her dad and I were married. She loved the chandeliers in the foyer and then walking outside I could tell she was getting excited. She loved the reflecting pond and had to throw in some pennies and take some pictures.

(Savannah kissing Jaxon)

We then walked the to northern visitors center and Savannah was so good! She loved the model of Jerusalem, and she asked to look at the large portrait wall of Christ's life. I felt a little peace for the first time in a while. She was so excited to go up the ramp to see the Christus statue or "Jesus in Space" as Savannah calls it. We then had snacks out front and fed some birds before some Sister Missionaries sat and talked with us. Savannah loved it. She showed one of the Sisters the birds, the pictures she had taken and then took out the Nursery manual and started looking through it. It took us about 30 minutes to walk to the very close south visitor's center because Savannah took more pictures and had to take some "reading breaks." I think the highlight was the 6 ft replica of the Salt Lake Temple and being able to see what it looks like inside. Savannah was so excited and I had to tell her what every room was. I think how she says Celestial is my new favorite word of hers. Jaxon was so good too! I love my little boy. He really is an amazing little baby and was so happy wandering around and smiling at people.

Not sure why, but I love this picture

I really love my kids and I REALLY needed this little trip to remind me of that. Life has been hard the past few days and between little sleep and Savannah fighting me on everything, I had shed far too many tears this past weekend. This was my little reality check as to what is most important and I so grateful for my kids. I really love my family and I love that we will be together forever.

Some of Savannah's pictures. I think the first one is very good

Savannah's bird friends are in there somewhere

Goodbye car

So about 30 minutes ago I sold my car. I really did not think I would be this sad. It really is a great car, just not the prettiest. It got me where I needed (and wanted) to go for the past 5 years. I got it to make it through the crazy winters of Rexburg and to not have to walk a mile in a couple feet of snow to Walmart. It was my escape from the craziness of life. I would drive my friends to look out points to embarrass couples, diary queen for blizzards, drive in movie theaters, trips to Sam's club in Idaho Falls, random tanning sessions at Rigby Lake, etc. As ugly as my spotted car was, with it's missing paint and plush red interior... it was my first car that I paid for all on my own and this was the first car title I signed over.

Some of my favorite memories with my car:

• Trips to Denver (2x), San Diego, Utah (oh so many times).
• Being pulled over 5 times and getting only one ticket!
• Happy meals...
• Pulling into an exit of a bank in Rexburg with Noah and Dean... both of them screaming at me
• Many dates with Noah
• Driving without a rear view mirror for almost 3 years
• My windshield before I replaced it.
• Pretending to smoothly roll down my windows so people would think they were electric
• Spray painting the missing paint spots
• Paint flying off in giant pieces when I would drive on the highway
• Random drives with Amy and Lauren
• Going to Yellowstone
• Running out of gas... over and over and over

Here are a few pictures

Surviving

So I know it has been a while since I posted. Savannah has become more demanding, and life has been very tiring. Well, we have been up to a lot. We spend some time with family when my sister Kara was in town, have gone to the Dinosaur museum with my sister Erin and her kids, church was an adventure, and we took a very short trip up to Rexburg to get a paper filled out so I can get a new title for my car we want to sell. Less than 2 weeks until Noah gets here and 2 weeks from tomorrow we leave. Luckily I found a guy selling a dual screen dvd player on ksl that saved us on our trip to Rexburg and I am sure will do the same when we go to Boise.

On a happier note, my kids are doing some great things. Jaxon is walking more and more. He is 11 months old today!! He is being a little more independent and is also figuring out just how to press his sister's buttons. He laughs all the time and loves to come up to you and blow raspberries where ever he can. Jaxon is drinking whole milk now too! I really love him and am so happy he is in our family!

Savannah has been having some trouble adjusting to Noah being gone. When we leave most places she tells me we forgot her dad. She loves temples, so I drove her past the Idaho Falls temple when it was all lit up. She told me we had to stay in the parking lot to wait for her daddy. She has been great some days and other days she wont listen at all. Her diet has also been pretty fickle, but she is starting to get the potty training thing down! She is great at peeing in the potty and actually stayed dry the entire way up to Idaho even though she had a pull up on. The pooping thing has gotten better the past couple days too.

Dinosaur Museum

Savannah and Eli (I think he was eyeing her bink)

Jaxon passe out with Perry the Platypus

Kaden and Savannah

Kaden, Eli and Savannah playing

Outside Time

Our way home from Rexburg

Jaxon and Savannah after we left my friend Stefanie's house and started heading home (yes I know he should not have his car seat flipped yet, but it was just needed for this long of a day of driving)

Single Motherhood

So it has been 5 days and a couple hours since Noah left for Boise. Luckily he only had 2 weeks of unemployment! He is now working for Hastings and is in the MIT program. After 6-9 months of training he will be running his own store and we will be possibly moving again. Until then, I am still here in Utah for August. I am working on picking up and packing up life. Noah will be here on the 26th to load things up and finish the deep cleaning before we are off back to Idaho. I am very excited!! I am super sad to leave some of the amazing friends I have, but I am not loving this single mom setup. Jaxon getting sick, feeling drained this weekend and then wondering how still going to work would go... pretty much did me in, but things are fine now. Jaxon is better, I am finally feeling like I have some things checked off my to do list, and my amazing sister in law Megan watched my kids while I went to work last night and it went fine. My kids love her!!

Noah and I talk everyday for a little while on the phone (I vent, he listens). Savannah asks about him and today began to scream "I want Daddy!" I know its hard on her, but it's only for a little while. My house is a mess and the laundry has been clean and unfolded for days, but we are surviving. I am trying to pack at least a couple boxes a day. Life is interesting. I am trying to get out of the house often so I dont go nuts. So far its working.