Yee-haw

I have too many funny Blake stories to remember them all, but yesterday, we were at Coscto. We were walking down an aisle and Blake sees an older gentleman wearing a cowboy hat. At the top of his lungs he yells, YEE-HAW!

Oh Blakey.

Willing Spring ...

We had a spring teaser last weekend. It was beautiful, like 60 degrees beautiful. After church we took the kids over the playground at the school. Mylie took her scooter, though she got the scooter when she was two and a half, she is a bit too big for it now. But she still had fun.

She was so proud of herself trying the monkey bars. I love this look on her face!

Blake stayed pretty busy on the playground.

We took Blake's bike and Jeff was helping him ride it. I love these next two pictures.

Of course, the spring teaser was just that, a teaser. It has snowed, been windy and cold for the better part of this week. Sigh. It was fun while it lasted.

Happy Birthday Blakey!

Three years ago it was superbowl Sunday. Instead of watching the game at home and partying, we were watching it at the hospital. I don't remember who played or anything about the game, except that during the 5 o'clock hour a big bundle of joy came into our lives. Blakey (AKA Bubba) was a whopping 9 pounder who stole my heart and has not given it back.

Before having Blake I could not imagine how I could love another baby as much as I loved Mylie. I couldn't comprehend how my heart could hold that much love. But it does, it just happens.

Today we celebrated Blake's 3rd birthday. He got to take cupcakes to school to share with his friends. When Daddy got home from work tonight we opened presents.

Taking a call from Papa.

Wondering why Lila got him a bike bell?

Mylie was so excited for him to open his presents from her. She got him batman silly bands, books and a coloring book.

THIS is my favorite picture from the whole day. We told him to close his eyes while we got his other presents.

Then he decided to just cover his eyes, except he was peeking.

Daddy brought in two surprises for him. A new big boy bike!! He was so excited.

And a new gun. Let's just say that Bosco may need therapy someday. He is Blake's favorite moving target.

Apparently all boys like guns that make noise and light up.

Blake picked Carl's Jr. for his birthday dinner. So after opening presents it was off to there. The kids had fun playing. We came back home for birthday cake.

I think Blakey had a great birthday. He certainly has added so much to our family. He is such a funny little boy and I can't help but laugh every single day. He is a cuddlebug and a momma's boy, and I like that. He is also a daddy's boy and his sister's best friend.

Trying to hold up 3 fingers ... its kind of tricky!! Happy Birthday Blake!

Professor Breach!

It has been an exciting week for me so far. On Monday, two days before my 35th birthday, I started my absolute lifetime dream job, as a full time college faculty! I am so excited to be teaching at College of Western Idaho and excited to continue to interact and inspire my students.

Between inservice meetings I have been decorating my new office.

Granted, my new office is a cubicle, but that cubicle is only 11 minutes from my house. I could have had an office in Boise, 45 minutes from my house, but the Nampa cubicle won hands down. I had such fun over the weekend crafting some decor to help make my cube feel like home.

I am so very excited to begin this phase of my life! Excited to teach, to work with the community, to interact with my colleagues, and to pick up my kids from school EVERY DAY!! Whoo hoo!!

Dear Internet ...

Dear Internet,

It is 10:59 on the last night of Christmas break. Sigh. I found the last bit of hidden Christmas candy (pretzel M&Ms, sorry Jeff!) and am munching away and uploading a few photos. My little space heater is working away keeping my feet toasty warm. Next to me is a stack of textbooks. I am quite excited to start my new position at the college in one week (1/10/11) ... it is just the week between now and then that makes me want to break out in hives. I have two online courses to finish (AKA start) developing (hence the reason I am at the computer instead of tucked into bed reading the Outlander series, sigh).

This week has some mixed emotions as I will be finalizing all my work with Youth Court and wrapping everything up there (the reason for the hives!!). It isn't so much that I am sad to say goodbye to Youth Court, I enjoyed my time working there and had a great experience, and feel ready to move on. I feel like I am saying goodbye to more than just Youth Court, but to a phase of my life that is ending. The phase where I was a mom with babies. My babies aren't so baby anymore.

{Yes, I realize that Blake is sitting in the ottoman. He's a strange one.}

I am in the process of giving away the baby stuff. Soon there won't be a swing, an exersaucer, or a bouncy seat shoved into the closets. Soon my baby won't be in diapers anymore. It is a strange feeling. I really feel like we are entering into a new stage of our lives. And it is strange.

Looking Back. Looking Forward.

2010 was really a wonderful year for our family! Jeff tested for and received his Black Belt in Kenpo. We went to Disneyland with the Ritchies and Mylie got to meet her favorite princess. Blake started and finished speech therapy and is a completely different little boy now. I was hired to my dream job, a full time Criminal Justice (and also the program head) for Criminal Justice at College of Western Idaho. Mylie started Kindergarten and Blake started preschool. We travelled, we played and watched soccer, we watched lots of movies, we laughed (and laughed some more). We were grateful for our families and friends and enjoyed all the time we were able to spend with them. We were busy.

My word for 2010 was EXAMPLE. I have been thinking about it the last week, trying to gauge how I did. I tried ... does that count for something? I feel like I have tried to be calmer with my kids, to be a better example of handling emotions. I try to be an example of a good person with all people I come into contact with. I believe that this word is something that I should always work on.

And for 2011 ...

There are so many things I want to SIMPLIFY - my priorities, my house (major purging), my diet, my finances. I believe that a lot of how complicated life is depends on how complicated we make it. This is the year I turn 35. I have so much to be grateful for, we have so many wonderful things in my life. I want to slow down and appreciate all those things, not always worrying about the next thing.

I feel optimistic that this is going to be a great year for me and a great year for our family. Happy New Year!!

New Ear's Eve

According to Mylie, tonight we are celebrating New Ear's Eve! We were at the mall this afternoon and on a whim we decided to get her ears pierced. I have asked her before if she wanted to do it, but she was always a bit nervous about it hurting. She must have been feeling extra brave today, because she jumped at the chance. She used part of her Christmas money from Grandpa Jack to have it done.

She was so brave and only cried for just a minute and then hurried to wipe the tears away so I could snap a picture with my phone to show everyone.

She is growing up!!