When Daddy Comes Home!

Alex came to visit this weekend and it was much needed by all of us. I noticed that last week I was becoming more short tempered and just all around worn out. This pick-me-up was exactly what I needed. 

We just hung around with family, swam, and caught a date before he left. 

Words can't express how much he is loved around here, and how grateful I am for him. His positive attitude has been needed around these parts. Love him. 

 Papa Lane is the best Lego builder! 

 Laney was attached to his hip all weekend. 

 Had to throw in shots of Peter boy. Gosh he's the best, and so so good. 

 Dinner at one of my favorite places. We love good food, and a chance to just talk without kiddos climbing all over us. Work is going well for him, with the natural added stresses of managing, but he is doing so great! 

Lastly, another little picture of Peter. He's still the worst sleeper, but heck, I can't get mad about it. Love that my boys are so cuddly. 

We miss you Al!

Summer

I've neglected my house a bit because of this thing called "summer." It's taken over our life and we couldn't be happier! We are out of the house most the day...which explains the mess upstairs, and my lack of energy to tend to it once I do get home. We are just too busy having fun swimming and being with family and friends. 

 Loved Haze peeking from the side. 

We adore these cute babies. Life is going to be fun with them. 

Gradulations!

Crew graduated from preschool over a week ago, and we kept congratulating him...so naturally, he calls it "gradulations." So cute and funny. 

Oh man. I had no idea how intense people are about preschools. I thought I would go ahead and do a Joy School program with Crew...which I bought. I never used it. Around December, I knew that Crew needed a school to go to. He needed a social environment that was all for him, lead by another adult. I am happy to say that we made it through a short 6 months of school, and can't wait for him to start up again in August for a full year! Crew made many best friends, and just loved every bit of it. Even on the days he got a behavior slip written up...(yeah he had many) he still had fun. 

I didn't realize that I deleted all the photos off my memory card from this day without putting them on my computer...but I'm glad I downloaded some onto my phone. 

Happy Day for this boy! 

Tender Mercies

This week I have been very aware of tender mercies happening within our life. Of course we have been missing Alex so much around here. Parenting alone for long periods of time is rough. For some reason this week, on social media, my feed has been filled with an abnormal amount of sad stories. Death of spouses, children, and extreme illnesses. I've read through them all and have felt so much love for the Plan of Salvation, and my simple testimony of the Gospel. My heart aches for the families that are going through these tough trials. 

I've been feeling a little entitled this week to certain things because Alex is gone, and this job is just tough alone. After reading these stories, my perspective has completely changed. It's so important to embrace each day as if it were our last, and try so hard to do better the next day. Relationships are extremely important with our family and friends. A goal of mine that I feel is a lifelong process. 

The flat tire I got on Tuesday, Laney's bout of sickness, and other little things are not going to ruin my life! I've been so dramatic about things, but our problems don't even compare to others. (trying not to jinx that..ha) 

I guess I'm just trying to say how grateful I am right now for our stage of life. It is oh so simple. 

 Birthday parties are a huge hit around here. Love their little friends. 

 Sweet Laney got the stomach bug, and seems to be on the mend. I have loved her cuddles the last couple days. That's been a tender mercy. Her little sickness has caused me to slow down. 

 Grateful for Alex's dad who took Crew on his first camping trip. Love that duo. He had a blast.
I'm also grateful for Alex's dad because he came over this morning and killed a giant spider. It was big to me...and there was no way I was touching it. 

 Grateful that Peter boy can sit in this now! Trying to avoid a flat head at all costs :) Laney is a tad jealous that she has to share her baby gear with him now. P.S. I gave her the binky back. #fail. She's so much happier, and I needed her to have it. 

 So so thankful for Crew today. His calm demeanor and creative mind is exactly what I have been needing. He contently played alone today while I took care of sick Laney and whiney Peter. When they went to sleep, he came up to me, and had this brilliant idea to be Peter Pan. I happily put down what I was doing, and we dove into Neverland. He was so happy with the costume we pulled together. I love his imagination. 

He also put new batteries in the remote last night, in the correct way, so he could watch a movie. He did this on his own while I was rocking Peter to sleep. Smart little cookie! 

 He's been into Cat in the Hat too lately and spent all Sunday reenacting a part from the book, where the cat is balancing everything on his body. So funny. I love that his mind catches things like this.  

Lastly, this boy is the sweetest. He knows when I need a cuddle, and he knows when I also need him to take a 4 hour nap. 

We miss our favorite guy so much around here. We see him in 1 week! Can't wait. 

Last tender mercy was a friend of mine bringing us dinner tonight. WHY ARE PEOPLE SO GOOD AND NICE TO US?! I'm so thankful for her tonight. 

Our Week

Our week so far has been pretty low key and fun. I signed up for the gym,the kids love the daycare, and I'm loving my classes. Going with friends really is a game changer. However, being this sore has affected my week so much. I'm so so tired and whenever I move, I'm in pain. So I'm blaming my messy house...on working out. We'll get there someday...when I'm used to working out. Until then, I've lowered my expectations on the house. 

 He loved being toted around like this one day. So funny. 

 Right before this: 

 Her giant fit when I told her she couldn't have ice cream. I've had the same reaction girlie. 

 Crew showed Laney how to climb on the counter by pulling a chair up. I wish he didn't do that. What am I supposed to do though? Hide all of the chairs? (my mother's day flowers gifted to me by a friend. so sweet.)

 A rare moment where these two decided on their own to color...together. Very very rare. Probably won't happen again for a while. 

 He seriously loves the bath. I just need to find a better solution for a darn baby bath. He's outgrown his! 

 Sunday bubbles with Papa Lane

 Bath time is a favorite around here. I love that these littles have the same nighttime schedule. 

 He was still sleepy after a napper one day, so we got to cuddle for a bit. This third child doesn't get held much, but when he does, we make sure to document every bit of it. (hello 10 photos on my iphone of this exact pose)

 We've been swimming everyday. I wish so badly we could go buy a home in a different neighborhood just to have a bigger lot...and it's going to be sad when we do. We have loved living here, it's the greatest! Luckily we signed another year lease, so we are staying put for a while. The pool and parks have been so nice. 

 This was one morning after he slept all night, woke at 6 to eat, and then conked out in my bed. Can he please sleep this well forever? I think it has something to do with how chunky he is. He's got fantastic fat reserves. 

 IVY...we can't get enough. If I could eat her I would! These Payne girls are just the sweetest little things. Can't wait to watch them grow. 

 Peter's giant blowout in his carseat left him naked. It was all over me and the car. So happy it happened at the end of our Costco shopping trip. 

 It's killing me that in 3 short months this girl turns 2. These have been the fastest two years of my life. She was so sweet last summer (she is this summer too) but man alive has she changed. Laney doodle is just the best. She's sweet, sassy, and spunky. We love her for it. 

 Peter's first time swimming! I totally wasn't planning on him swimming...which is why he's only in a swim diaper. He loved it to say the least. We are so excited that he can swim with us all summer now. 

Peter boy is sure loved over here.