Family Photos 2016

I am SO behind on blogging lately. I haven't blogged Crew's 4th birthday yet, or some trips we have gone on, or just those funny daily pictures I take of the kids. Photo season is almost over, and then I will play catch up! Here are some of family photos for now. We are skipping Christmas cards this year...and I'm so sad about it, but also a little relieved. There is nothing I love more than Christmas cards this time of year! 

Once again outfits are always a struggle. I still wish I would have worn my long flowy dress! Changed my mind last minute, but these are still so cute and my friend who took them, is SO talented. 

Five

Five years already with this guy! How does that happen so fast? I remember when we started our first summer selling, we agreed that by year 5 we would be done. Oh how funny is that. There is an end in sight---but it's going to take a bit. However, each summer we have grown leaps and bounds! Maybe it's because we have been so far removed from family which has made us so much more grateful for our little family.  I just remembered that we made that little agreement early on, and it's weird we are already in year 6 of our marriage.

Daily I am more and more thankful for him. He makes the crazy days over here so much better. He knows how to laugh at the really horrible/exhausting days. He knows me so much better than he did 5 years ago, and it's kind of cute? Not to sound cheesy. But I swear he knows me better than I do sometimes! 

He is so focused on his goals in life that it pushes me to try harder each day. I love learning from him, and studying Gospel topics with him. I love that he shows me daily how much I'm loved! Sorry for the mushy post---but I feel like I'm allowed to celebrate our marriage/love at least once a year :)

He's such a great dad. Obviously some things come more natural to me than to him, but he has come so far in the dad department. (Today I left him here with all 3 kids AWAKE for 2.5 hours. That's progress ha ha)

I just really really love how fun he is. We can be and are SO goofy with each other. Something I wish other people could see more of sometimes. I'm just looking forward to the future when we have been married for years and years. We will look back and feel so much gratitude for our life, and for how close we grew together. I already feel much closer now with him than I did than 5 years ago, so I can't imagine what it will feel like when we've been married for 35 years! 

It's just exciting. We've had our down moments too---but they don't have to last forever, and the good times make up for it.

 I'm just a girl in love! 

Happy 5 years love.

*Yes, he reads this blog.*

Chicago Day 2

We woke up Sunday morning and went to sacrament meeting. It was tough waking Peter up for church...is he already a teenager?!

Attending church alone the last couple months hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. We have a pretty incredible ward. I have had a lot of help. We have a couple who saves us a bench every week, and my kids sit with them most of the time. 

It was so nice to finally go with Alex though in Chicago. 

We then met up with my dad and brother downtown for some good Chicago deep dish pizza! Nothing better. 

Gosh this boy is darn cute. I'm loving the stage he is in. 

Then we headed off to sight see...

 I quickly showed my brother how to use my camera, and we were set to go! 

 Kinda wish I grabbed Peter in a different place, but hey, it's still a cute picture. 

 Every one of my kids love their Grandpa Tom. 

 I made him stop talking and take this picture because he's darn attractive! How did I score this one?!

 I had to document Peter's first uber ride in a big city, NOT in a car seat. I was as relaxed as I could be. I knew we were obviously going to be fine..but I am the annoying carseat mom. He loved riding in the car free!

 Donuts are my thing. Always have been--so we stopped at a cute donut shop to partake!

 Alex wasn't here because he was too busy riding his longboard somewhere...yes he brought it will him to the city all day. So we saw him here and there... :)

 He's been trying to suck his thumb more and more each day. Kinda hope it sticks. 

After a long day, we finally made it back to our hotel!

We loved seeing the city lit up.

 I have a similar picture of Crew like this one. ^^^ They look the same.

 I can't get enough of my chubby babes. 

 It was a very fun day, and we were all so ready to hop right into bed when we got home. We loved having our alone time with Peter boy. When Alex left for summer sales, Peter was hardly 3 months old. Still in the sleepy/non smiling stage. Al was happy to spend more time with just him! 

Then it was off to work for Alex the next day...

I think he was pretty sad about it.