Family pictures

There was approximately an eight-hour span during which all members of my family were in the same place, when Tommy and Brandon flew into town on Friday night and we were planning to drive back to Texas on Saturday morning. So with that very short window, we managed to get some beautiful family pictures in! My mom scheduled a photographer to come and take pictures of us, and they turned out so so well. I am really happy we got these--and that we managed to get a few really cute ones with our little family of four too. Before this trip, the ONLY picture we'd gotten of the four of us was in the hospital room the day after Graham was born! So I'm not feeling so bad about that now. We've got some good-looking people in our family--and I'm not even posting some of the embarrassing model shots all the individual kids took :) Thanks to mom for organizing this and making sure we got some good pictures of all of us!

I just wanted to comment on the fact that for the first time, all six kids look like we're adults. Cole is only 14, but he looks as grown-up as the rest of us. This is weird! And super fun at the same time.

Possibly going to be our Christmas card picture. Look at Graham's face!!

So cute, I just wish Dane were in it.

My other favorite of our little family.

Auntie B

Even though we just left California a week ago, my sister Bethany had a free week with nothing to do, so my mom decided to have her fly out and spend the week visiting her two sisters. We were lucky enough to have Bee the first half of the week, and we all had a blast with her. I felt (still feel) bad that we did basically NOTHING exciting for her--but what are you going to do when you're working around two babies napping and its 101 degrees outside?! We just had a great time talking with her and Dane especially loved having her here to boss around and play with.

She got to our house just in time to read bedtime books with Dane on Sunday night.

We used a coupon for free ice cream and got some slushes at Sonic.

Dane rode on yet another carousel with Auntie Bee--at our mall. (Then he ran away and Bee had to chase him halfway across the mall.)

We asked her if she could babysit for us so we could go out for a date for our sixth anniversary next week--and we splurged and went to the Melting Pot! So delicious!

Dane made Bethany do picnics with him many times.

Watching out the window for the trash trucks to come... Just like any other Tuesday at our house!

We did manage to go swimming at our fun pool.

I introduced Bee to project runway and totally got her hooked!

We of course had to play some monopoly deal--I said, "ok, one game." And then we couldn't stop!

Taking naps together.

We did a free game of bowling--Dane loved it!

Tommy took a picture of us...

It ended like this. Too much sun! Haha!

We had a great time with Bethany visiting. Thanks for coming B! You're a favorite around here!

G at four months

I'm so happy these days because Graham has reached the beginning of the best stage ever. EVER. I mean, newborns are perfect and cute in their own way, and so wonderful and tiny and sweet. But once they hit four months, babies are officially out of the cute baby alien phase and are ACTUALLY cute, with their chubby round faces and are starting to be in control of their hands and faces, and they laugh and smile and show you how much they love you. He's still a lot of work, and some stress with his sleeping and napping, but it's a billion times easier than the super intense newborn phase. He smiles and laughs and tries to chew on my shoulder like he just can't get enough of me so he wants to eat me. He doesn't cry much unless he's hungry or tired and he's grabbing toys and trying to eat our food and sitting up, looking around at everything, so aware of all the exciting things going on in his world. 

I'm telling you. Four months old is my JAM. I feel like this is the time where I really, really, really fall in love with my babies.

I mean, LOOK at this:

He's always looking at me like, "Hello, Mom! I just LOVE you!"

He's rolled over a few times already! Ahhh not ready for him to be mobile!

This was the day after we got home from our trip and Graham immediately became happy again.

LOVING his hands right now, and starting to find his feet. This is my favorite.

He's super interested in everything we're eating and tries so so hard to partake himself.

I just want to eat him up every day. He's so squealy and chatty these days too, and he just lights up with this huge grin every time he makes eye contact with anyone. 

We seriously love this boy!

Good times in Irvine

Well, our computer's hard drive crashed a few days after we got home from our epic trip, and it's still getting fixed, so I am just blogging straight from my phone (the joys of all of a sudden having a smartphone!!). We spent two weeks in Irvine with my family after our two awesome family reunions, and by "we" I sadly mean just me and the two boys. Tommy had to head back to Texas to work--imagine! No more unlimited vacations! We are kind of still mourning about that. But it was still well worth it to get to spend some quality time with my siblings, especially Dallin right after he came home from his mission in the Dominican Republic. Don't get me wrong--these pictures are not quite an accurate depiction of my stress levels while we were there. I was not sleeping hardly at all the first week (thanks to Graham) and I was totally, totally frustrated with life taking care of these two kids out of our element by myself (even with my family's awesome help). The day we got back to Texas, I had a dentist appointment and asked him why my teeth had been hurting the last few weeks and he asked if I'd been under any stress lately--and it was probably just that I'd been grinding my teeth with all the stress. And they haven't hurt since we got home! So although our trip was so awesome and we loved seeing family so much, we are starting to learn how much really has to go into it when you have a couple of kids and man! How hard it can be to go places with them!

There were still tons and tons of fun moments this whole time we were in California. It was nice to just relax and not feel like we had to go go go all the time. We spent most of the time just around the house or at the park--or in the driveway eating Popsicles.

Lots of park time--and Dane loved that all the parks there have SAND! 

We went to Laguna beach to see the sea lion animal shelter place (I have no idea what it was called now...)

I chopped my hair off while I was there and love it!

Graham and Cora got some good baby bonding time in.

We brought Dane to the Santa Ana zoo to see the monkeys, and of course ride the merry go round too! I love his cute excited face.

This boy was so hard and so cute the whole time we were there. My family all kind of thought he was a tough, screaming baby, and I was thinking he was totally turning into one too. And then the DAY we got home, no kidding, he got so happy and sweet and content to play and snuggle all day long again. I don't know what it was, but seriously something was wrong for him there--maybe his naps, or it was too loud and overwhelming, I don't know. But I'm just glad he's happy back at home!

M n M babies!

One evening we went to balboa, rode the ferry, went to the fun zone, and got balboa bars and tacos for dinner. It was a really fun evening!

Graham could not keep his eyes off the ice cream. Boy after my own heart!

Dane LOVED the Ferris wheel at the fun zone!

Another day, another merry go round... At the great park in Irvine.

We went swimming a few times, and even Graham got in the water!

Lots of walks on the trail. Or wagon rides.

They have an awesome kids museum that Dane just loved! He walked around pulling this mater wagon for maybe 25 minutes.

The babies were so enthralled with the museum.

We had to try to go to the beach while we were there.

Graham really liked watching the waves. It's so cute how aware he's getting these days!

Riding on the train at Irvine regional park.

And having a picnic for lunch afterwards!

Communal laying around.

Such good uncles playing and singing to the babies.

I came out to the garage one day and saw this.

This was the reason I'm so happy we put up with the crazy kiddos and stress. All six siblings in the same place for two weeks! We haven't been together since Austin left for his mission 3 years ago. It was awesome to see everyone together and to get some good time with the whole fam.

And this is the thing I love about pictures... I'm looking at these and already forgetting the bad moments and just feeling grateful we got to have such a good time with my family for a while. Memory is such a good thing! We miss everyone already now that we're home, but it's so good to be home at the same time. That's the best way to end the trip.