Preschool Graduation

Last week Ruby finished her first year of preschool.  I can't believe how time has flown by!  It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital, but I digress...

Anyway, she has loved going to school this last year and has learned so much.  She recognizes most of her letters and their accompanying names and sounds, can count to 20, writes her name, and has a good grasp on fine and gross motor skills.

I spent a lot of time deciding on a program to send her to and was happy that I chose Wishes and Dreams here in the neighborhood.  It was  a good balance of play, learning, and social skill development.

Most importantly, it was a very nurturing environment and there isn't anything better than trusting that your child is safe and happy when you're not around.

Ruby and Miss Cari and Nimsy (class pet)

To celebrate the end of the year the class had a little graduation ceremony.  All 12 kiddos sang songs about the alphabet and their teacher Miss Cari read their favorite short story and said some nice things about each graduate. Then we busted out some popsicles and busted open a pinata (Wyatt even gave it a good whack.  In fact, he might have whacked it harder than Ruby).  It was a fun way to celebrate a great year.

Baby Bumble Bee Recital

Last week Miss Ruby had her spring recital.  She was in a dance entitled "Baby Bumble Bee" and it was just about the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Admittedly, I was a little nervous after she decided to sit down in the middle of her winter recital; but she performed like a pro. She was front and center and had a great time.  I even caught her singing along to the words-- perhaps she has a little show choir magic in her?

All three local grandmas were there to celebrate with us.  So glad they could make it!  Per tradition, we finished off the night at Sweet Tooth Fairy for a delicious sugar-laden treat.

Practicing using her stinger

Casey and Marta's Wedding

On Wednesday Uncle Casey and Aunt Marta got married!  They had a beautiful intimate garden wedding at Wadley Farms in Lindon, Utah.  Luckily, the weather was PERFECT!  Brandon was the best man and Ruby was a flower girl.  She took her jobs very seriously-- pulling Baby Peityn in the wagon at the start of the ceremony and throwing flower petals at the end of the ceremony.

Brandon escorting Brooke down the aisle

Ruby, Peityn, and the ring bearer.

Marta was a beautiful bride.

Throwing petals after the ceremony.

Wyatt was a little disappointed that he didn't get to ride in the wagon.  In fact, he was a little disappointed that we wanted him to sit quietly in the sunshine during the ceremony; so I watched most of it from the back of the garden while he ran around.

Me and my man

Me and my babies.

Baby Peityn with Grandma and Grandpa Great

So precious-- I could just eat them up!

Hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Flahive.

When the ceremony was over we visited, enjoyed a yummy brunch, and got our groove on.  My favorite memory from the day was dancing to "gangham style" with Brooke and Russell.  All I can say is that decorations might have been used as pom-poms and the phrase "back up dancers" might have been thrown around a lot.  I hope someone got pictures-- it was priceless.

Alyssa and Jason-- to be wed Aug 2013

Dancing with the little folk.

Serious about cake.

I think Chelsea's exact words were, "Can I have some cake?"  Can you guess how Wyatt responded?

Hanging out with Grandma Dona.

Cousins going for a wagon ride.

After we sent off the happy newly weds and packed up we all headed to Grandma's house for an impromptu pool party and bbq.  Good times, as always.  I have to admit, from start to finish it was much more fun than a typical Wednesday.

All tuckered out after the wedding.

We're so glad that Casey and Marta are official.  The score is now 3 married Linford siblings, 1 engaged, and 2 very single folks. It's fun to see the family grow after an 8 year wedding drought.

Chillin at the pool.

Beautiful day for a pool party.

Ruby and Uncle Russell enjoying life.

Look at that delicious baby belly!

Ruby and Brooke and Sophie playing mermaids-- what else would they do?

Russell helping Chris adjust to the water.

Mother's Day

Attempting to get a pre-church picture with the kid lets.

Mother's Day was lovely.  I just wanted to thank my husband and kiddos for making it so special.
Ruby woke me up early (6:30 am) to snuggle and when she and Daddy got up to make breakfast about a half hour later she bounded out of my room shouting, "At your service."  Not long after she reappeared and asked me what I wanted for breakfast.  I told her scrambled egg whites and fruit.  She looked at me and said, "But Mom, I don't like that.  Let's have german pancakes instead."  Brandon offered to make me my request and hers, but when I tallied the calorie content in our recipe I decided that I could afford the calories and got to indulge.

Making German Pancakes

Watering the fairy garden early in the a.m.

 After breakfast I opened presents, watered the garden, and got to enjoy a bubble bath before church.  After church we had lunch and rest time and played outside with the kids.  Then we had a lovely bbq with the grandmas.  It was so nice to sit on the patio and enjoy the perfect weather and company.  I sure love those two strong ladies.  They are pillars in our lives and I'm so grateful to have them close by.

I can't get enough of this picture from Brandon's 80's party.

It was a full, wonderful Mother's Day.  I'm so grateful for the babies that call me their mother and the women in my life that I get to call Mom and Grandma.

Munchkin Update (and a small installment of toddler talk)

My baby nuggets are growing up so quickly!  They are both so independent, and kind, and fun.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stage of their lives.  Anytime I see them play together or hold hands while they walk my heart melts a little bit.

There are no words for how happy this makes me.

They both love pirates, bike riding, dressing up, playing in the pink kitchen, building with legos, and kite flying.

Kite flying on a Sunday afternoon.

They love to throw the ball for Scout, feed him treats and teach him tricks (since he's their "circus dog"), and play "fruit snack" with Daddy (a made up game where they call out what color fruit snack they are and Daddy chases and gobbles them up).

Every time I see this get-up that Wyatt created I burst into laughter.

At bedtime we have a family prayer and hug and then Brandon and I have to tuck each of them into bed.  For Ruby this means that we scratch her back and sing her a song and then rub her nose and sing her a song.  After one of us does this the other has to come in and repeat it.  She used to always request that we each sing "Good Night Baby" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," but she's branching out and letting us choose other songs. lol (I seriously sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" for the better part of a year.)  Tucking in Wyatt means helping him put on his socks and then rocking him in the rocking chair while singing a few songs.  If he doesn't like what you're singing he'll put his hand over your mouth and say, "no."  He mostly requests the turtle song, and "Jesus" ("Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam"), and "bow" ("Somewhere Over the Rainbow").

Little Ruby and Big Ruby taking a nap.

Wyatt's language skills have recently exploded.  Almost everything he says comes in a two word sentence and he repeats himself (with increasing volume) until you acknowledge that you understand what he is trying to communicate.  His "uh-huh"  or "k" response to almost everything you ask is sweet and high pitched.  When we picked him up from my Mom's on Sunday he said, "go home" and "dad car" once we were in the car.

Hanging out with Mom at the Tulip Festival.

Ruby has recently started to branch out and try new foods-- after nearly 4 plus years of refusing almost everything!

Wyatt cleaning ice cream off of Ruby's jacket.  OCD, anyone?

On Sunday she ate roast and asked for seconds!!!  And last week when we went to Chick-fil-a she actually ate her entire 4 piece chicken nugget meal and cup of fruit.  She has even eaten peanut butter a few times in the past 2 weeks.  Maybe she's growing?!  Whatever has spurred this on, I like it.

Best buddies at the zoo.

Here's a few funny things the kids have said over the past months:

Perfecting the smolder at a young age.

Wyatt calls Scout "Dous"

Ruby- Dinosaurs are classified as "steak eaters" and "plant eaters."  Tapioca pudding is pronounced "tapiyoda"

When I gave her a little almond milk in her cereal (because we were out of regular milk) she confessed, "Mom, I don't like this.  It tastes fancy in my mouth."

Ruby and Daddy skipping across the bridge at the zoo.

After using a liberal amount of hand sanitizer she proclaimed, "It smells like purple sparkly monkey!" (Can you guess what was on the cover of the hand sanitizer bottle?)

The kiddos with their baby cousin, Peityn.

And my favorite compliment yet, "Mom, you're the goodest toy fixer in the whole world-- like Doc McStuffins."