A Few Favorite Photos from the Wedding

My dad with all of his daughters after Corey's wedding ceremony.

Corey with her nieces and nephews.

Maddie after the bouquet toss.

Off to their honeymoon!

Davis @ 2 Years

• Like most toddlers, Davis is full of personality at 2 years old. His current motto seems to be "Go Big." Big tight hugs with his chubby arms wrapped tightly around your neck. Big excitement when his dad walks through the door at the end of the day. Big tantrums when he doesn't get exactly what he wants when he wants it. 
• One of the ways that he seems to charm people is by remembering their names. He has a knack for remembering not only all of his friends and all of his brother and sister's friends, but also all of their parents' names. He will go running to any of them and give them big hugs and he often asks me about my friends when we aren't with them. "Where's Miss Diane, mommy? Where's Miss Becca?" And he is still asking about all of our family in Utah. A couple of days ago he was curious to know if his Aunt in Utah would make it to his birthday party. 
• He is very opinionated. Just this morning while listening to the radio in the van he declared emphatically, "I don't like dis song, mom! I don't want it!"
• Davis is a pretty good eater, though it is impossible to get him to try a food once he makes up his mind that it's "yucky-yuck." Most vegetables are yucky-yuck unless they are hidden in pastas or other main dishes. His current favorites include yogurt, oranges, bananas, grapes, macaroni, chicken nuggets, quesadillas, and eggs.
• He only knows one volume, and it's super-ultra-borderline-eardrum-bursting-LOUD.
• He warms up to people really fast and has been known to give complete strangers big bear hugs or climb up into their laps at the library or McDonald's play place. 
• Davis is very affectionate and will reach his arms out to you multiple times a day and plead for "un bes!" which translates to a big fat kiss and a super long bear hug. He will often ask for 3 or 4 in a row before running off to play. It's adorable.
• He still loves to read and will often carry around a book and demand that you read it to him---"Sit down, mommy! Sit down here and weed me dis book!"---only to jump up as soon as it's over---"I be wight back! I go get anodder one." His current favorites include any book with trucks, Donde Esta el Perro? and Piggie and Gerald's Should I Share My Ice Cream?
• He is great at kicking, hitting, pulling hair, and biting to get what he wants. 

• Davis still loves to play with cars and anything that goes. 

• Maybe he's contemplating whether or not to share his ice cream.

• D loves to play dress up with Isaac and Maddie. He picked out this getup all by himself.

• He recently made the switch to a toddler bed, though we find that he prefers to sleep on the cold floor instead since that's where we find him most nights. He is pretty proud of his recent transition.

• Like most younger siblings, he insists on doing everything his older brother and sister do and is devastated when he can't be a part of something. Here he is at a Kid Yoga class at our local library, pulling energy from the sun. He isn't technically enrolled in the class but that doesn't stop him. Free Kid Yoga classes---just another reason I love CT libraries.

• The park is pretty exciting for the D-man this time of year.

As his mother, my insides just swells for this little man with such a big heart. I am thankful to be his mother. Love you, Chancho!

Two

Our littlest man turned two yesterday and we had fun celebrating his special day. 

It began with a little snuggle time with his dad. Ryan's current rotation isn't too intense and he was able to spend a  little bit of time with the d-man before he headed off to work. 

He was pretty excited about this dump truck from Grandma and Grandpa. He had fun opening his presents and eating donuts for breakfast. After spending the morning playing with his toys, we had a few friends over for cupcakes.

"Cheeeeeeese!"

For at least two years I have relied exclusively on Sam's Club to make my children's birthday cakes, so for his birthday I got my domestic diva on and made these fun little treats for the kids. Since Davis is our little monster, I thought these cupcakes were appropriate for the occasion.

And these raspberry lemon ones for the moms. They are a must-try for spring! They better be because it just might be another two years before I make homemade cupcakes again. The recipe can be found here.

Our green monster.

After a nap and some time at the library with Aunt Brookie, we ended the day with Happy Meals at McDonald's. It was fitting that Davis learned how to climb up to the big slide at the play land on his big day. I guess turning two really does make you bigger.

Happy Birthday, Davy!

Spring day in NYC

When Isaac and I were invited to spend today in Manhattan with our friends Mark and Deborah, we jumped at the chance. 

If you look really close, you can spot Angel Moroni in the skyline above the Manhattan Temple.

From Columbus Circle we took the subway to Times Square and let the boys enjoy themselves at Toys R Us and The Disney Store. 

Isaac's "hurry-up-and-take-the-picture-while-I'm-fake-smiling" face.  He thought it was pretty sweet when he got to pick out a Finn McMissile toy with the birthday money his grandparents sent him. 

After playing with toys we headed to Central Park to play and eat lunch. I don't think we've ever been to the same playground twice in Central Park. This one had a particularly awesome slide. Ike said it was his favorite part of our day. 

Superhero moves in front of a beautiful blooming (Magnolia?) bush in the park. 

Since we ate a simple lunch of hot dogs and granola bars, we thought we deserved to splurge on dessert. 

And splurge we did...on a chocolate fudge ice cream cake sundae...

and of course on a famous frozen hot chocolate. 

On our way back to the parking garage we made a quick stop at Dylan's Candy Bar. A very Wonka-like experience. Mark found a huge Darth Vader lollipop and Ike chose an overpriced Superman PEZ dispenser for himself and one for his brother and sister.. It was totally worth it.

Nothing like a little pole dancing on the subway train.

What a great day with friends and my Isaac! My favorite line of the day was when Isaac reminded me not to touch anything in what was quite possibly the dirtiest subway restroom in NYC.

I think Maddie deserves a day in The City with her dad sometime soon. 

Lucky Boy

Isaac was able to spend Saturday morning with a bird's eye view of Springfield, Massachusetts. Jeremy, Ike's uncle, is a helicopter pilot and was gracious enough to take Isaac and Ryan for a ride this weekend. In the words of Isaac, "it was awesome!"

I thought he would get a little bit nervous before take-off but Ryan said he was too excited to be scared. 

I think Isaac really enjoyed having some quality time with his dad.

Ready for take-off.

The headsets were a hit with both of my boys. Once Isaac figured out how to use them to communicate with the other passengers he pretty much dominated the airways.

Now my big 5 year-old boy has done something that I haven't! Thanks so much to Brooke and Jeremy for making it possible! I think it's safe to say he'll never forget his first chopper ride.