Happy Birthday to Me

We were able to celebrate grandpa's 93rd birthday! It was nice to be there together with a few family members, and we were especially grateful for Livy to be there to help him blow out the candles. Boy does she love birthdays. We have been so fortunate to spend so much time with grandpa this last year. He is such an incredible, kind and gracious man. I am so lucky to be part of his family. 

I also had the best birthday week ever. We started out with a birthday dinner at the Jackson's Sunday night with the traditionally awesome chocolate cake. We went to Macaroni Grill with the Farnsworth's on Monday night, and left with a grand exit of both girls crying and screaming, it was our family at our finest. On Tuesday I went to lunch with Sue and my little family at Malawi's. That night my mom came out to our house to watch the girls and help put them to bed while Ryan and went to see a movie (Captain America 2). It was really good, and was so nice to have a night out with just the two of us. 

On Wednesday, my actual birthday, I went to lunch with two of my new favorite people, Erin Poulsen and Taylor Allred. They are my neighbors, and are both so kind, and so fun to be around. They both make me want to be a better person and mother. 

That afternoon our sod came for our yard! It was a day early, so we were thrown off guard a little, so we hurried and rounded up some ward members and neighbors. We went to scouts, and when we got home about 30 people showed up to help, it was incredible. We felt so blessed and so lucky to live in such a great area. I unfortunately, already had plans with my friends, it was my monthly Bunco night. So I selfishly left and went to Bunco. I felt guilty leaving a yard full of work, but I also was looking forward to this night with my friends, on my birthday, so I went! 

Ryan also got me an amazing Garmin running watch. I told him all I really wanted for my birthday was sod, and I was so grateful to get that, but was so thrilled about my new watch too! I have such a great husband, family and friends. It was such a great week. 

First Dance Recital

Putting Livy in dance this January was probably one of the best things we have done for this girl. She has loved her dance class. She loved her teacher Ms. Erika, and we were so excited to find out that she is building a house, with her studio in the basement, just down the street from us! I am excited for the next few years with her. The last class, Livy had played hard all morning, and we went right to dance class, and as soon as she got home, she crashed on the couch. This never ever happens. I loved her sleeping there in her cute little tutu.

A few weeks ago we got to get Livy all dressed up in her costume, did her her hair and make up for the class pictures. She was so excited to get all dolled up again for her actual recital. She loved looking at herself in the mirror, winking at herself, and dancing around so she could look at her reflection in the fireplace. I took way too many pictures, and couldn't decide which ones to put on here, so I just did a lot. She was just so cute and happy. 

The dance recital was such a huge proud parenting moment. It was so cute, and so hilarious all at once. The girls were on stage waiting for the music to come on, so Livy started waving, and saying "hi mom!", then she gave me a big and confident double thumbs up. She looked like she was having so much fun, and was so confident. 

We had so much fun watching our girls' first dance recital. I hope our kids can always find something that makes them so happy and shine like Livy did in this recital. 

First Zoo Visit of the Year

After a long week apart from each other, we picked up Ryan from the airport and went straight to the zoo. It was a beautiful spring day, but also Spring Break for most of Utah, so it was pretty busy. But the girls didn't mind. The elephants are always a favorite. We love finding the time to do fun things together as a family. It makes me so happy to see my girls so happy. We are looking forward to more warm weather and making many more memories. 

Round Rock with Baby Pen

I may or may not have just copy and pasted this blog post from Jen's blog. No shame. I kind of like it in her words, and that just means I don't have to re-type anything! 

I do have to add though how amazing Penny was on the airplane! Both ways! It helped that on the way there I sat by a sweet old lady, who was thrilled to be sitting by the baby on the plane. On the way home I got the only empty seat next to me. It was a huge answer to my prayers! She slept for at least half the trip each way. She is darling, and was a great traveling companion. 

Ryan was traveling for work, which was the main reason I decided to go in the first place! He went to Boston, Raleigh, and Philadelphia. I also had Skymiles so I only had to pay $5.00 for my ticket!

Livy got to go on vacation to Mimi's house. She was in heaven. She got a surprise for every day that she was good, as well as some surprises from Mimi too. She didn't want me to come home because she was having so much fun. I missed my family and was so grateful we all had a good week and were able to get back together safely. It was the perfect week with may amazing sister and her cute family. Love my Jen. 

Anyway, here's my plagiarism:

    I was so excited to have Becca and her younger daughter, Penny, to come  visit! Becca had visited exactly a year and a half before, with her older daughter, Olivia.  Penny and Trey are only 6 weeks apart, so we were curious how they would interact together, and they were so adorable! Tim, Trey and I had just gotten back from Dallas, and I hopped right back in the car to go pick up the Jacksons.
    When we got back, we just ate some dinner, had some cookie dough, and played us some Nintendo 64 Mario Kart. That's the way to party right? The babies also stared, sat, and smiled a lot at each other, trying to figure out who this other little person who kind of looked like their twin. We laughed when we realized they were kind of picking things up from each other, whether it was Trey starting to sit up on his own, eating a little better, or one would start crying or babbling, and the other would follow suit. I guess monkey see monkey do!

   The next morning, Becca and I had RR Donuts, and packed up the babes to go to Mount Bonnell. We met a family up there, where one of the men asked about Trey, and I told him that "we" had 2 babies with us. I then clarified that the babies were cousins, in which his response was "Oh, you're SISTERS" (as opposed to the other kind of "we" Becca and I could've been). It was a funny moment.

    We headed back and picked up Tim for lunch at Torchy's. Baby Ruby has awesomebackseat space, and Becca was a champ to sit in between the two little munchkins and their ginormous chariots.

   It was nice having two babies the same age, because they were pretty much on the same schedule. After their naps, we had a little photo shoot, then went to the store.

    As we were walking into HEB, we just KNEW that people were going to ask if they were twins. Becca made the decision ahead of time that she was just going to go with it. It was hilarious how many people asked, and Becca just went on to talk about her fraternal twin babies (mothers of boy and girl twins, I also can laugh now at how many people ask if they're identical...no...boy and girl is the big hint there!)

        Then that night, Becca and I went baby free to the outlets, while Tim stayed home with the sleeping babies. We got some good shopping in, even though it was nice and stormy outside. The next day, Becca and I went to take some Texan pictures of Trey and Penny in the Bluebonnets. It was really windy, but they were able to sit there for a few pictures. I love how they turned out! (including the picture fail where the wind blew Trey over...) Afterwards, we went to lunch at Potbelly. I had never been, but she had it by her in Minnesota and LOVED it, so we decided to go there so she could remember the goodness of it! 

   When we got back, babies napped, and we went for a walk when they woke up. It was still windy, but besides that it was a perfect day! We went and laid under a tree, and just hung out to enjoy the Texas warmth. And seriously, mothers of twins, you're awesome.

   We made some guacamole, played some more, and gave the babies a bath. The first time we tried the babies in a bath together, Penny was having a rough time, due to Trey smacking her in the face, and a bowl being dropped on her. The second night went a LITTLE bit better...but still didn't last very long. We'll have to try again when they can both sit on their bums.

   The next morning, we let the babies play together a little more, then Becca and I headed down to Austin to go to Gourdough's, and just hung out until she had to go to the airport.  I loved seeing the two little babes in the back together.

   It was a great few days, and much needed sister time. Thank you Becca and Penny for coming to hang out for a few days. We miss you!