The Days are Long...

There is a saying that goes, "The days are long but the years are short." Some days I feel like the days are long and the years aren't moving fast enough.  When I found out that I was pregnant again after just having a baby and taking care of that 3 MONTH OLD at the time, I knew it was going to be crazy but I don't think I really knew. We are definitely in the thick of it right now as they just had a birthday, Finn turned 3 and Trey turned 2, which unfortunately happen to be two of the most difficult ages in my eyes.  It's not all hard and crazy though. They really are pretty darn cute little boys that are full of energy and personality. It has been fun to watch them grow together and start to actually play together. They love to wrestle and get into mischief together.  For brothers that are so close in age they are really quite different.
Finn looks a lot like my side of the family. He is beautiful big blue eyes and the cutest dimples in the world.  He is starting to get little freckles on his nose which really melt my heart, I am a sucker for some freckles.  He is a fairly serious little guy. He has a surprising amount of patience and focus for a three year old boy. He likes to study things and figure them out.  He would listen to me read all day to him if we had the time. He loves to snuggle and watch movies or have me snuggle and sing to him while he falls asleep. Finn really likes to sing and has learned a lot of songs since he listens to a CD as he falls asleep most nights. He has a hilarious little lisp which makes the words 'awethome' and 'thilly' some of my favorites to hear him say.  His favorite things right now are monster trucks, curious george, paw patrol, trains, hot wheels and play doh.  He is generally a really sweet big brother and tries really hard to be patient with Trey.  Finn is my little helper, he always wants to help me bring in groceries or to put Trey to bed.  He has a big heart and I really love that little guy so much. He is also his Grandpa Terry's little buddy and shares a love of John Deere tractors and gummie bears with him.

Trey is a beautiful baby boy. It's sometimes hard to get mad at that little fella because he is just so darn cute!  He has big beautiful brown eyes, which thrills me to no end since I always hoped we would have at least one kid with brown eyes. He looks a lot like Mike did as a little boy, he is definitely a little Voorhies. He is a snugly and sweet little guy.  He likes to read books and point out animals or trucks. His two front teeth are chipped from hitting them on a flower pot, it's kind of cute and looks kind of redneck.  He has one ear that pokes out and one that does not. He lucked out with his dad's beautiful dark, long eyelashes.  He is starting to talk quite a bit and make all sorts of animal sounds and sound effects when he plays.  Trey follows Finn around everywhere and wants to do just what his big brother is doing at all times. He likes to get into things he isn't suppose to and once he has been found he likes to quickly make a mess before you catch up to him.

For the boys birthday we picked a day in between both of their birthdays and celebrated together.  It was a tractor birthday. We got them both small little play tractors and then a big tractor they can drive and ride in.  They LOVE it! Finn was excited because it looks just like Grandpa Terry's lawn mower. He calls it his John Reindeer Tractor.

 The boys were pretty thrilled about their tractor. Trey can hang out in the back or next to Finn.

 Tractor cakes filled with pudding and oreo dirt and some worms.

The first video is when the boys first saw their tractor and then the next is of them driving. Sometimes when the weather isn't very nice outside we let them drive inside.

Happy Birthday to our sweet boys, we love you so much and wouldn't have our life any less crazy!

Level 6

Kennedy was able to move up to level 6 after one competition in level 5 since she scored high enough. She is thrilled to be a compulsory which means that she gets to pick her music and make up her own routines.  

Quick update

 Just a quick update with some new pictures. Here is Mikey with Mr. Trey, Trey Bug or little one...his various nicknames. Mike loves babies, I really lucked out because he always wakes up with them at night and is very helpful with them during the day.

 Sophie is an amazing big sister. If Trey is awake she is usually making him laugh and playing with him. She loves to chase Finn around and make him scream.

 This was a picture I happened to grab of Trey sucking his thumb at night. He hasn't ever repeated it but I thought it was so darn cute!

 Twin brother jammies.  

We broke down and finally got me a new car. We are growing out of our old one when we travel and as the kids get bigger the Pilot just wasn't cutting it. So we got my dream car..honestly this is what I would wish for above all. I love it.

School days

 The girls started school last week. It's a new school for them, we have been on the waiting list and finally got in this year.  Sophie started Kindergarten and Kennedy is in Third Grade.

Sure love these two!

The girls rooms

We recently fixed up the girls room, I am really excited about how they turned out.  My dad and Mike did some board and batten in their rooms and then we had them painted.  Above is what they looked like before.

 This is Kennedy's room. Zebra is not my first choice but Kennedy loves it so...whatever. I love the paint and board and batten.

 They both got new chests of drawers and Kennedy got a desk.

This is Sophie's room.  We did pastel colors for her room and some cute pictures of a carnival I found on her walls. Both girls got chandeliers also.

 

Summer 2013

 So far this summer has been wonderful but it's going much too fast!  One of the best things about the summer has been that Mike got me a sitter twice a week for three hours each time so that I can run errands and do whatever I need to do without kids. It has been heavenly!  Grocery shopping without kids is amazing!!!!!! Kennedy has continued to do a lot of gymnastics, I've been landscaping and gardening like crazy, the girls have played with our neighbor non stop and we have tried to keep cool in the heat. Here are a few pics of what we have done to keep busy. I can't believe it is almost August!!!!

Bear Lake 2013

 We just got back from our trip to Bear Lake with Mike's family. It was so much fun!  We first headed to Salt Lake to pick up my niece Sydney and her friend and to quickly say hi to my family, never long enough to spend with anyone :( We brought with us our friends the Richardsons that live here in Colorado right up the street from us.  This year at Bear Lake was particularly fun because Mike bought into a time share on a boat with some docs at his work. 

 Here is the group of kids that were there. The majority of the family stayed in the main cabin. David and Ben's families stayed in a nearby place as did James, Janice, Boston, Savannah and Uncle Newell and his son Mason. It was such a fun group of people. The kids did great and all got along.

 Here is a picture of the side of the cabin. The playground was used pretty much constantly.  Next year we want to stay in this place 

 This is the Richardson family minus their two boys Ike and Emmitt.  Collin, Sarah, Macey and Elle.

 One of the days we rented a trampoline for the lake. The kids and adults had a great time launching each other off of it.

 One morning while in Salt Lake we took the Richardsons to Silver Lake for a walk.

 Sarah, Emmitt, Ike, Ken, Sophie, Elle and Macey.

 Here are my parents with our little Trey.

 Kennedy at the top of a mountain all the kids climbed.

My Mom with Trey and my Dad with Finn.

 

 Finn and my Dad, most people think they look alike. If he grows up to be like my Dad he'll be a lucky kid.

 Collin and Ike with Mike and Sophie.

 There really is nothing better than the Utah mountains, they are so close and so beautiful!

 Here is a pic of our little bud Cooper, my brother Tyler's little boy. He is such a beautiful baby boy!

  The cabin had a lot for the kids to do. Along with the playground it had a volleyball net and a game room downstairs with pool, ping pong and a double shot basketball game.

 The darling little twins swinging away. I gotta say watching Amber with those twins made me glad that we are done with babies and that I never had twins. My mom kept Trey for a few days for us so we could have a break, it was wonderful! We were all in one room and having Finn and Trey sleeping in the same room  for even a few days was interesting.

 Such a beautiful view of the lake.

 Here is my darling sister in law Kinsey, pregnant with her second little girl and my wonderful mother in law.

 Here the kids are all lined up learning how to play mafia. Shane also taught them how to play kick the can. It was so fun to see them all play together and get along so well.

 Ben swinging his little girl Sloane.  

 Kennedy had a great time in the water and building things in the sand.

 The beach was a little boys paradise. Finn could not get enough of the mud and throwing the rocks.

 Kinsey and little Sloaner.

 Grandma Janice and Grandpa James, and yes those are ski poles....hum?

 My little Sophie, always up for anything and always having a good time.

 Elle, Macey and Kennedy playing in the dirt.

 We do most things with Shane and Jenna Gardner so it was fun to have them up there with us as well.

 Here is Jenna and their darling little girl Hazel.

 We took the kids on a bike ride which turned out to be quite the workout for the adults. Needless to say, the kids weren't exactly pulling their weight.  It was a lot of fun and ended in gigantic snow cones.

 Savannah, Josh, Kennedy,Boston and Morgan putting on a little gun show!

 Hanging out on the boat with Mike and Sophie.

Sarah and the kids on the bike ride.

 

 Shane, Jenna and Hazel.

 My niece Sydney and her friend Ashlynn.