Waterton trip and Canada Day

 Just a cute sleeping picture of Noah to start off.

We met up with the Robinson's in Waterton for our first trip of the year. We hiked up to Crandell Lake (and it took a while to meet up... michael and I learned that there are two trailedheads haha) and the kids did pretty good. Noah fell asleep in my arms on the way down and by the end I was dyyyyying. 

 The littles trailing behind their Dad's.

 The kids getting into the snacks, like always... and Michael, getting his camera ready. 

 Riding on Daddy's back in the water.  

 We went back to the townsite at the park and ate the BEST dinner ever... fruit and veggies, teriyaki chicken salad, chips, and these AMAZING peanut butter cookies Jessica made. They were HUGE too. The Robinson's head home and we headed to Cameron Bay to relax and do our usual... throw rocks in the water. 

 Canada Day was about the same as every year. :) The usual family photo, parade, a stop by my Uncle Reeds to say hi to family members, then to the Orrs for a big lunch and games.. we played water baseball this year.. the bases were pool of water. Lots of fun. Then we went to Grandma Janices to celebrate her birthday with some family and Michael head into Lethbridge to take some photos for Dusty's business... I was lucky and my mom watched the boys while I napped, and then Michael came back out for some more visiting. Then we head home and watched the fireworks at Henderson from our front step, which Ty was so excited for he didn't even go to bed for the night until after at 11:30!!!

 

HAIRCUT and friend trip

hallelujah!! Michael had asked me once after church if I wanted to cut his hair (about a month before this happend) and I was SO tired and had just gotten the kids down for naps and was so looking forward to napping so I told him I just had to have a nap. The next day I asked if I could cut his hair and he said I lost my opportunity. It was soooooo long and I like it long, but not THIS long. So I was getting ready to go to Boot Camp the night before we went on a trip with friends for 4 days and he said "want to cut my hair?" So I skipped out on boot camp and cut that hair like it was my job... oh wait.. it is. ha! He wanted it flat ironed before and holy, that just made me want to cut it even more. Now he is looking so so handsome and manly and I am LOVING it. He is still trying to figure out how to style it best, but it's such a nice change.

So we went on a trip with the Gundersons... SO DANG FUN. We were wanting to go to West Ed Mall and do the fun stuff but we had done a camping trip with them years before near Silverwood (Spokane area), and so once the suggestion to go there was made, we didn't even think twice. I found a condo to rent and we stayed for 3 nights. It backed onto this beautiful golf course in a valley of mountains and it was SO beautiful. So quiet and peaceful at night too. We spent a FULL day at Silverwood, without kids. It was amazing. We shopped a bit and ate out lots. It was so fun to hang out with food friends and even be with Michael without kids for a while. Trips away from the kids are just so good for a marriage I tell ya. It just gives you time to focus on one another without the stress of kids. There were tennis courts and we played doubles every morning.. an amazing pool that we had a synchronized swimming competition in (we won!!), and the guys golfed the last night.

Ty's 4th birthday

This year we decided to just do a friend birthday party for Ty. He has so many friends so it was hard to narrow it down to enough that Michael and I could handle on our own. We had the kids wear their swimsuits and we filled the pool, jumped on the trampoline, and played with water balloons. I had to ask Ty what he wanted to eat for his birthday he said pizza and oreos, instead of cake (because he doesn't like cake....), and I said "what will we put your candles in?" and he said "in the pizza". It was a pretty clever idea. The kids kept asking when we were going to have cake so I think next year I'll have cupcakes for the kids, or maybe even just ice cream.

 All of Ty's little friends.

He got a water gun, a fishing rod, some books, a Big Hero 6 activity book with little figurines, and more stuff that I can't remember because it's been a month. We got Ty some Lego, a bike that wont fit him until next summer probably (it was given to us), and some garage sale finds- Hungry Hippos and Mouse trap. He loves games but I have a love hate relationship with them. Pieces everywhere and having to always set them up. 

We love our little 4 year old.

I guess this post features Noah.

 Sometimes Noah wants to be held all the time and this did the trick. We haven't worn him in the Ergo for a loooong time. 

 When we had Easter Dinner at our house with my Dad, Kristi and family all the adults wanted to play games, so on went a movie for the kids. 

My little bunny. We went to "Big Bird Little Bird" at Helen Schuler and we learned all about bunnies. Ty wasn't very into it but Noah enjoyed it. 

 He always wants his boots on... now he always wants his gumboots. I'll give him his sandals and he will throw them behind him because he loves wearing boots so much. 

 This boy is very snuggly... especially with Dad when he gets home from work. This is how they snuggles after Michael was finished work one day... so cute. 

 First BBQ of the summer! The kids enjoyed being able to eat outside... it was even Ty's idea. 

 Noah trying out the potty. He peed a few drops... I'm not potty training until he's at least 3. Or at least until Ty is 100% for sure totally completely absolutely potty trained. 

We spend a lot of our days on walks or at the park lately. Ty gets so excited if we ever get to go to a new park... I am really enjoying these days of being at home with the kids. I will miss it when they go to school full time and I no longer have an excuse to be outside with them all the time.

Noah's 2nd birthday party

I hadn't planned to do a birthday party with family for Noah this year... mostly because I am not going to for Ty, but then I thought Noah was still young enough to have a family party before we start the friend birthday parties next year. So we had alllll the family (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and 3 sets of Grandparents) come over for a celebration. Luckily it was a beautiful day (20 degrees with no wind) so we did the party out side, and thank goodness because there was a big turnout. We had watermelon and chips and ice cream cake and it was just perfect. We love having family so close and are so lucky to have so many people love our little Noah so much. He was spoiled with clothes, toys, books (from Aunt Jody), a Boogie board (a drawing board), a blow up pool for summer, a foam couch, some matchbox cars, and a cute bowtie. It was a lot of fun. Now pictures!!

 Ready for his guests to come. Check out his pinky toe poking out. 

 Trying it out. 

His new bowtie and some toys.

The yummy DQ cake. 

One candle blown out.. check out the smoke, ha.

Testing the icing while Dad cuts the cake. 

haha this is basically how Noah ate his cake. He loved it. 

Noah, Nate (5 days apart) and Aiden. Lots of rides by Auntie Cass and then Auntie Jody ran across the lawn pulling Ty and Noah and they loved it. 

Those blue eyes, Noah's crossed leg, Ty's arm around Noah... These two are just sooooo cute. This was after a day spent outside in Noah's new pool. 

Noah is 2!

Noah has been in our family for 2 years now. I still call him my "baby" and I just adore him. He gives the best kisses.. If you play hard to get he will grab your face and pull it towards him desperately for a big smooch... I live for that. He loves to snuggle. When Michael gets home from work he will often ask to be held and put his head on Michaels shoulder and lay there for even up to 10 minutes sometimes. Noah is such a happy boy. He says "hi" to everyone around him all the time. I will even look over at him and he will give me a sweet "hi" with a big smile. It is just the cutest thing. He doesn't talk much yet, which still makes him seem still so young. I am cherishing this age he is at. So sweet and independent. When he doesn't want to hold our hand while walking, he will put his hands in his pockets. Noah adores Ty. If Ty leaves the house he calls for him over and over. He just loves his big brother so much. Lots of mimicking. Noah is such a joy in our home. I cannot imagine our lives without him. He has just enriched our lives so much and I am so thankful I get to be this sweet little boy's mother. Happy 2nd Birthday our sweet Noah.

Here are some photo's Michael took of Noah over the past year.

 One of my favorites ^^^ We cut his hair shorter and I just miss his longer hair so much. I love the back of his head here with his little neck. 

 Smiles allllllll the time. Look at that beautiful face.

 This one had to have been around when he turned one, but no one usually sees the film photos Michael takes. 

 Those blue eyes!!

I am so sad Ty blinked in this photo. I had to still post it. 

Noah folding his arms.. Ah, so cute. 

puzzles, speech, haircuts and more

I just wanted to do a little update on the boys.

 The boys have been doing puzzles a lot lately. I've been working on teaching Noah how to do puzzles and he is getting the hang of it. Sometimes the kids will get out a puzzle and Ty will show Noah where the pieces go. It's such a nice activity because it keeps them fairly quiet... though Noah can get pretty frustrated sometimes. The puzzles in this picture aren't even all of the ones we own. 

They love to play in our bed. In fact I made the bed this morning and they have pulled all the covers up and are playing underneath and the pillows are on the floor. 

Noah's speech hasn't been progressing in the last few weeks and on the evaluations the Dr sends out of where he "should" be he is really behind... as in he doesn't check off anything on the vocab part of it. I read at Ty's speech appointment that sometimes if kids hearing isn't good they might not be able to pronounce certain sounds or their speech can be delayed. So I took the boys in for hearing tests and they are good! I think I will wait a few months to see how Noah's vocabulary progresses before I make a speech appointment. I am not super worried, but I just wanted to be sure his hearing was fine. 

 This never happens. 10am and just fell asleep on our bed. 

 Michael did Noah's hair for church one day and I couldn't stop laughing.. so nasty!! haha.. I love his forhead/hair to face ratio. Don't worry, he didn't leave the house like this. 

 This picture and prayer is on Noah's wall. It was a gift to me when I was 2 from my Great Grandma Nan (Larsen)

 haha Ty took the photos on the right. Ty was telling Noah to lay down so he could take a picture of him. LOL

I decided last minute to give the boys haircuts. This is Noah's shortest haircut yet and I have to say I am missing his longer hair... I think he looks adorable no matter what but I just think his hair longer in front is so "noah". I think I'll grow it out a bit now. Ty likes his short hair but he says I took so much hair off. haha. Ty's hair is just so straight it's hard when he moves because his hair doesn't hide any mistakes... it was going to be shorter but I was kind of sick of blending so I just buzzed it all off. 

I have been working lots lately and I cannot get over how good my kids are when I work. Sometimes my clients will bring their kids and it's like a playdate, and sometimes they watch a movie, or just play together. They get a little irritable around mealtimes but I find it so easy to work at home with them around. I am so blessed to have a job where I can work and have my kids at home too. 

Ty has become so helpful around the house. I can ask him to clean the living room (puzzles everywhere, books on the couches and floor, pillows all over, cups or bowls on the floor) and he will clean it up without a fight (most of the time). He helps me unload and load the dishwasher, he cleans the front entry, he cleans the toy room, he puts his diapers in the garbage and laundry in the basket. He will wash his hands, and get "ingredients" out for meals (taco chips, milk, apples, cucmbers, etc). He will go down under the stairs to get a food storage ingredient, he will put his coat and shoes on and get in the car and buckle himself in. He gets his own PJs out, diapers for Noah, cleans up the bath toys, puts recycling where it's suppose to go.. I could probably go on. He is just so helpful and I'm grateful for his independence. Noah has started helping out with the dishwasher and laundry and garbage. I'm training these boys well to help out with bigger chores someday. I grew up doing chores my whole life, and I don't plan to be the only one cleaning up after the whole family all the time. I was doing most of my own laundry by grade 7 and I want my boys to be capable and responsible around the house. 

I took Noah to his first movie the other day. It was a spur of the moment decision to go with the Gundersons. We saw Paddington Bear and it was cute but a little boring for Noah I think because it wasn't fully animated. He spent a good amount of time staring at the projector behind us, haha. 

We are back to working on potty training (#2) with Ty. He was bad for about a month and the last few days he has made a bit of progress but it's especially frustrating after he had been fully potty trained for 3 months. 

That's all I can think of right now. Noah will be 2 soon and we have something fun planned for his birthday for just our little family. Our plan is to take them to the Calgary Zoo (they have never been) and spend the day there and then eat something for dinner and then go play at chuck e cheese for a few hours. We took them last April in Edmonton and Ty still talks about it so we can't wait to go back. Ty loves watching Wild Kratts (he used to call it Wild Craps) and so he learns a lot about wildlife so I think he will love seeing all the animals at the zoo. Noah will probably mostly enjoy any birds because he is obsessed. He will be silent and when he sees a bird he will yell it so loud and continue until you acknowledge that he saw it. BIRR BIRR!!! We are so excited to have a nice birthday with Noah and just enjoy it as a family.