Our Anniversary....

1 Blind Date at Red Robin led to:

3285 days together

2 high school graduations

6 school dances

11 trips outside of Utah (3 times to Vegas)

1 college graduation
2 amazing boys

6 different jobs
2 places we called our own
1 perfect day

5 living room sets
3 dining room sets
and
1 complete family After 9 years together (4 being married) Scott and I have sure had our share of joys, sorrows and miracles happen! Everyday I'm grateful for my two little boys who truly bring the most joy into our home, and I have Scott to thank for that.

I think everyone should get married over a holiday weekend. I'm so excited for this weekend because Scott has 4 entire days off to finally relax, hang out with us and spend some quality time together. (The holiday also makes it really hard for Scott to forget our anniversary.) We have some fun plans for this weekend, so stay tuned for the next post...

As days go by, things seem to only get better for us, right now life is Fabulous!

Our Brax....

Braxton is the best thing that has happened to our family! He has made Scott and I realize two things:

1. How awful of an infant Carter was because Brax is so happy and has no health issues like Carter did

2. How well-behaved Carter really is because Brax is such a trouble-maker!

Though he gets into everything, is not content to chill and already makes more of a mess than Carter ever did....you can't be mad at this little guy...

He is the greatest kid ever! (Though I'm so bias) He loves to be outside, moving on his own and loves to watch soaps! (I'm thinking channel 4 is just easy for him to push. Because everytime he gets the remote, on comes the latest soap opera.)

I am looking forward to the day that I can put him in his front-facing carseat though, this kid HATES his infant seat and screams everytime I put him in it! The funny thing is, he can be screaming for so long and then once you get him out, this what you get...

What a precious little guy he is! I'm so glad that our two boys are so different. (in looks and personality) but they still play so well together. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for these 2 amazing guys.

Our First Garden...

I know it sounds really crazy coming from me, but Scott and I planted a garden this year! (I'm a complete city girl, so this is a HUGE step for me)

We have this area next to the garage that was used for a dog kennel (a really bad one I might add) but it's huge. It's the length of the 2-car deep garage and about 5 feet wide. We have been working on this project for awhile now and finally have it finished (for this year anyway.)

We had to clean out about 15 years of junk, cut down trees, pull out weeds, till the soil and add good soil to the mix. (I even bought a bag of steer manure, that's right fold I carried a gigantic bag of crap from the store to my car and then spread it out over the garden area!)

We didn't plant the whole area because it's just really big and we have no idea what we're doing! But we do have strawberries, pumpkins, peppers, green beans, sunflowers, peas, carrots and tomatoes growing! Let's just see what actually comes of our very first garden this year....

Carter's Last School Field Trip...

Carter's school had their end-of-the-year field trip to Classic Fun Center on Wednesday. I hadn't been to Classic since I was in junior high, so I wasn't sure what to expect....all I can say is WOW! It has been completely remodeled. There were so many things for the kids to do. (and it was all included in our tuition, gotta love that right?!?)

Carter played on the Pirate Ship (aka the Pirate's Cove) which is like the playland area in Boondocks. It was very well designed too with 4 slides, 2 swings, lots of ways to go and all sorts of pirate gear.

The next stop was the Bouncy Place. Which is like Kangaroo Zoo but about 6 blow-up things. It was pretty cool though, Carter seemed to really have a blast (though you can't tell by the "lovely" smile in these pics)

Though I knew it wouldn't last long, I did have Carter try the skating...

He was a good sport, but we only kept them on for a few minutes before heading back to the bouncy area.

The Gateway with Grandma Margaret...

My mother-in-law is one of the best people to go to the Gateway with. She has a tradition of taking the grandkids to Build-a-Bear and helping them add to their collection of stuffed animals. I love that Carter has such an amazing grandma with the patience, creativity, and love that she does. My sister joined us too. (Julia has totally claimed Margaret and Tom as her adopted parents.

Carter already knew what he was going to make before we even got there. The owl that his cousin and best friend both have....

Once we made "Puppy" (I know, it's an owl but what can you do right?!?) we stopped at a few stores. Carter picked out a caramel apple with M&Ms on it (he's so weird with treats like that) and loved every minute of it!

My sister ran through the fountain with the boys...

I got watch Carter and J get wet while Brax, Margaret and I stayed dry...

We went to so many stores, had lunch at Rumbi and enjoyed being together so much that sweet little Brax zonked out!

Thanks Grandma Margaret for such a fun day!

Double Family Outing....

Steve and Annie will be moving back to Iowa next month, so we thought it would be a fun treat to get the two families together and have a fun family outing.

We started by taking a trip on base to eat at one of my favorite restaurants, Popeyes. The cousins really liked it because it's a Lousiana based restaurant and was decorated like the movie Princess and the Frog.

We then made a stop at a way fun yogurt place in Syracuse. The boys got their ice cream while I got my favorite Boba juice. (It's Asian, and my best friend Jimmy turned me onto to these drinks)

Though I'm not a big fan of minivans, I will say that their Odyssey is very nice. It worked out so well to have everyone fit in one car. And though there were 8 of us, it was still very roomy inside.

I'm glad we got this chance to hang out with our little families of 4. Annie and I are the only ones married, and the only ones with kids in our families, so getting together is fun with the Morris' because these boys are the only cousins they have.

Thanksgiving Point...

My cute friend Ashley moved to Saratoga Springs a few weeks ago (and took Carter's best friend Hunter, and Braxton's girlfriend Brinley with her!) Though I will admit, their condo is amazing and the area is so nice. Everything is so new and they are so close to anything you could want. We decided to get the kids together and take them to Thanksgiving Point.

I've been there before but not lately, I have to admit the gardens are just gorgeous! The flowers are in bloom, the grass is so green and there are so many places for the kids to run around.

We had lunch in the gardens (a picnic was the BEST idea) it was such a nice day and it was such gorgeous scenery.

Then we took them to the "barn/farm" area where you could feed the animals, learn about farming and ride horses....Carter chose the BIGGEST one to ride!There was this adorable area to teach them what happens when you grow veggies, harvest them and send them to the store on the trucks....they had the cutest tractors to ride too....We were there for about 4 hours and I will say, though these boys fight like brothers sometimes...it's moments like these that are priceless...
I'm so glad Carter's best friend isn't that far away, because they really love each other.

Rewards and Mischief...

Carter got a motorcycle powerwheels last summer....and hated it! It went too fast for him and he didn't like the feeling of riding it (he wanted to be more secure in a car one) so we've been keeping our eyes out for a good deal on a car version for him ever since. Well, the DI came through for the little guy.....I found this cute "go-cart" version one for $10! I can't even tell you how excited I was.

The best part about this one is that it doesn't go very fast (it's almost too slow sometimes) but Carter seems to LOVE it! He likes the feeling of being clost to the ground, and having a steering wheel. Brax even got to "test" it out....

Speaking of Brax...this little guy is a total trouble maker! I went downstairs to get dressed (literally like 3 minutes) and this is what I came upstairs to find...

We have had this buffet in our dining room since Carter was about 3 months old...and not once did Carter try to open it without me! Well, Braxton is a little mischief boy and he opened the doors, got out every piece of paper and marker and had a "hay-day."

I love how different out two boys are with their looks and personalities, but I'm so not ready for Brax to grow up...I can only imagine.

Boys....

Our life seems to be going so fast lately, it's hard to even squeeze in time to relax. Scott and I haven't been taking the time to appreciate the little things in life, and we've both decided it's time!

So, what do you focus on when your life is hectic and crazy? Your kids, and we have to admit our boys are amazing! They are sweet brothers to eachother, and though they look nothing alike they are the cutest ones around (we're totally bias but that's expected right?)

It's amazing how fast they grow up...especially Brax!

Braxton was about 6 weeks old above and about 9 months old below...

I'm one of those cheesy moms that dresses her boys alike...but I have to have some joy in life with being the only girl in the family right?

Another one of my favorite pictures is this taken on my phone so it's not the greatest quality but I still love it....

Ikea is one of those places where it makes you happy just walking in the door. Carter has always loved it there (though I'm not sure what kid wouldn't) and we spend hours looking, playing and getting ideas there.

Though Brax's little personality is very different from Carter's he still is a fun little boy to take places just like his brother! (Thank heavens!)

It's sad to see how fast they grow up...but so excited to see what the future holds for us. I'm so grateful to have these two boys in my life! Being their mommy is the most rewarding job ever.

Seussical the Musical...

My sister's school put on a play this weekend that we knew Carter HAD to attend. It was all based on Dr. Seuss's books and of course had Horton the elephant! It was the first time in awhile that Carter had been to something like that (he's been to his share of band concerts, graduations and other school functions for his aunt and uncle) but never a play....

In the very beginning of the play Brax and I were sitting in the seats while Carter and Julia were getting popcorn and drinks, when they cam eback in to sit down it was dark. In the middle of a dead silence Carter goes, "I can't see where I'm going, Ju Ju you're going to have to hold my hand." And I'm sure you can guess it was not a quiet voice, everyone was laughing.

Brax absolutely LOVED it! He was such a good boy. In the beginning I was holding him in my lap and he stared at the stage with his mouth wide open and his little heart was racing....once he realized what was going on this is what we got from him....

(Don't mind the missing shoe...I found it tucked under one of the seats)

My sister's friends (and Carter's adopted aunts) were in the play and were so excited to see him afterward....
I really thought Carter would love Horton but he didn't seem as thrilled as I thought....

I have to give my boys credit...Carter was such a little stud hanging out in his seat with his popcorn and water. My mom tried to ask him a question during the show and he said, "Grandma, we have to be quiet." PRECIOUS.

Brax really was such a good boy. He was pretty quiet and really liked watching what was going on. I will admit it went a lot better with my two little guys than I thought it would.

Treehouse Fun with the Cousins....

Annie and I got the boys together and went to the Treehouse. I have to say, they had a blast! It was so much fun watching them play together (which they did so well I might add)

Having 4 boys in the family is the seriously the BEST. They are all best friends!

The big boys had fun playing with the foam blocks together...

They all had fun playing doctor together...

I am a big fan of the Treehouse...and obviously my boys are too...

Great Grandma's 80th Birthday....

Scott's Grandma Morris had her 80th Birthday party last week. Carter absolutely adores his Great Grandma and Grandpa Morris. They have this toy Hummer that Carter is obsessed with and everytime we go over to their house he has to go in basement and bring it up to play with.

Surprisingly, Grandma Morris only had two kids (my father-in-law and his sister) but there were over 35 people there representing the immediate family to celebrate!

All the great grandkids got together and sang a song for Grandma....

The "cousins" had a great time playing with eachother. I know it's not the greatest picture but things were a little crazy with so many little kids!

It was such a special party to go to. It really was an eye opener for me because 2 kids is pretty much it for me...but it's comforting to know that I can still have a huge family in the end!