Catching Up

I feel like I am always playing catch up on the blog.  Someday I will update the blog as these events actually happen.  For now, here is what we have been up to recently.  A couple of weekends ago our good friends the Henrys were visiting their old stomping grounds in SF.  We went up to the city for the day to see them.  We met them at the golden gate bridge.  We walked halfway across the bridge before we turned around (we were lucky to get that far with 4 kids).  It was the most gorgeous day, seriously so perfect.  After that we headed north to Sausalito were we had a delicious Thai dinner and ice cream.  We love the Henrys and it was so great to catch up with them.  

Ollie is looking so grown up to me lately.  He had so much fun running around.

Ummm...this is definitely my new favorite family picture.  Thanks Ash!

Ollie and Cal had tons of fun running around together.

Me and Ashley.

Jason and Dan.

Me and Ash with our babies.

Jason's parents came and hung out with us over Presidents day weekend.  We love having visitors and Ollie and Max loved having their grandparents around to love and spoil them.

Me and Jan hanging out.

Ollie was having a bath that was too deep for Max to lay in so we put him in the bumbo.  I love his serious little face.  He is such a little man.

 Jan offered to stay with the kids overnight so Jason and I could get away Saturday night.  I love my mother in law for many reasons, one being her willingness to always watch our kids so we can get out and do things just the two of us.  We headed to the Oakland temple Saturday afternoon, which was nice. After that we tried a Caribbean restaurant, the family of one of Jason's co-workers owns it.  It was really good.  If you are ever in Oakland you must visit Tropix.  After that we headed to our hotel in Berkeley.  We stayed right on the marina.  Our hotel had a lap pool (for Jason) and a hot tub (for Ginny), so we were both happy. Sunday morning we walked around the marina and enjoyed the beautiful view.  It was so nice to get away for the night.  I felt really bad though because Max was up all night, which he has never done before.  Poor baby and poor grandma, I felt horrible.  Sunday night we noticed that he cut a tooth and then today we found out he has an ear infection, poor guy.  Luckily he hasn't had another night like that, but I'm afraid grandma will never offer again :)

Reading my Kindle in bed Sunday morning.  I LOVE my Kindle so much!!

A view of the golden gate bridge.

The marina.

Jason and Ginny :)

Well now I am caught up...whew!  Tonight we were lucky enough to have a friend of ours from our Provo days over for dinner.  Sam was in town for a conference and we are so happy he came by for a visit.  We just wish his lovely wife and their adorable children could have been here too!

Playing Outside

Last week the weather was AMAZING.  One of the days we just hung out around the house and in our front yard.  It was so nice and Jason got some cute pics of the kids.  Thought I would share.

Ok, well this picture is of me before going to the dinner group my friends started.  We get together once a month.   The person hosting sets the table and prepares the entree and everyone else brings appetizers, sides, drinks, and dessert.  It was so fun.  I love cooking and it will be fun trying new things with friends. 

How cute and grown up is he?  We love him so much.  Btw, I'm going to go out on a limb here and saying he is completely potty trained.  It has been multiple days (including two days at the babysitters) without accidents and he goes wherever we are.  We are fully expecting a relapse at some point (we have read that usually happens) but for now we are so proud. 

Don't mind the snotty nose.

Max is teething, poor guy.  He is a drooly mess all the time, but SO cute.  I'm obsessed with him.

Look at that crazy hair.

Ups and Downs

Life with two kids has proven rather busy. Here are a few of my recent thoughts about the good and not so good in our lives. As you can see things are going quite well and the 'not so good' really isn't that bad.

The Good:

-The weather has been AWESOME!!  Seriously, between 65-70 degrees all this week.
-Ollie is thisclose to being potty trained (see below for why he isn't quite there)
- Max rolled over for the first time at 3 months, but it was almost like an accident.  These days he can roll until he runs into something.
- We also started Max on rice cereal and some veggies.
- Jason decided to do the St. George Ironman so we are going to that in May, sans children.  I am so looking forward to this.  I love my babies so much but I'm looking forward to a little R&R.  We also have family vacations planned for Mexico, Napa, and Yosemite.
- Ollie says the funniest things.  Ex:  he was about to be put in timeout for not talking nicely and he said "no mommy, I want to change my attitude".
- Since breast feeding was not working for me,  I have been exclusively pumping for close to 3 months now and I am happy to report it is going so well.  I have found my groove.  I have plenty of milk for the little guy and my ducts problems seem to be better.
- I'm back to working 6 days a month, I love the change in routine, the kids love their baby sitter, and we  all love the extra income.
- Date night tonight with the hubby, Pink Floyd cover band.


The Not As Good:

- It is hard to make major life decisions.
- I realized yesterday that I never just rock little Max to sleep.  I feel so guilty about all the things I don't do for him that I did for Ollie.  Poor second child.
- Max had to get two shots yesterday :(
- Jason is sick again, and I am not feeling so hot either.  I'm sure the kids will be quick to follow.
- When I say we are thisclose to being potty trained, I can't say we are because he won't go #2 on the potty.  When we started potty training that was all he would do.  And he definitely is aware of when he has to go he just won't do it.  Any suggestions?
- Ollie has also been waking up randomly in the night.  It is like he is sleep walking because he pretty much goes right back to sleep when we lay him down, but with Max still getting up once a night it makes for seriously interrupted sleep.
- Along with all the cute things Ollie says, he can say/be pretty bratty sometimes too.  I know it is the age, but I still hate it.  And while he is super nice to Max 90% of the time, he has started being a little rough and aggressive with him.  I know it will get better but I still don't like it.

The things I have to complain about I realize aren't that bad at all.  Life is good.  So busy but so good.

A little light reading on the pot.

Being a big boy is fun!

We went to Happy Hollow last week and Ollie has really started liking feeding the goats.  He opens him mouth to show the goats what to do :)

Me and Max, Carolyn and Andrew, and Claire and Brett.

This shirt would be more appropriate if I could have bought it in 2T

Ollie put his own pants on, backwards.

Max chillin' in Ollie's big boy carseat.