Living

Today is one of those days where I feel like I need to write. It is 1:09 AM and I should be in bed considering our morning started at 4:30 AM when Gavin decided to wake up! We decided to watch Karate Kid for our movie night. The 80's movie formula is so great! I still loving watching 80's movies.. Why? The movies today are better, but I rarely want to watch them again, even the good ones.. The 80's and early 90's movies I can watch over and over!

In a conversation this week with friends, I heard a phrase that really got me thinking. She talked about how some parents "live for their kids" and others just "survive them". I have felt very frustrated with my boys lately and I guess I feel like I have just been surviving them. I want to live for them, not just survive them.

Today, I decided that I was really going to focus on the kids. It was great day, because I remembered why I am staying at home with the boys and I remembered that my boys are fun, sweet, and charming. Gavin has been extremely whiny lately and today, even though he woke up at 4:30, he was not whiny. He has been on a cleaning kick lately. I told him we were going to be leaving soon for a walk and he went in his room and shut the door. At first I was trying to discover what he was doing, but then he kept coming out to bring me dirty clothes. He was cleaning his room "all by himself." He was so proud and I was so excited that he had taken the initiative. During Eli's morning nap, I decided to just play with Gavin and not worry about the messy house. We had so much fun putting together puzzles and counting pasta shells.

Eli is walking everywhere now and is constantly on the move, but every once in while he'll find me and put is head on my back or my leg and give me a hug. It is so sweet. He loves Gavin and when he hears his voice, he lights up. He doesn't say the words exactly, but he has a baby version of "what's that or who's that?" Gavin and Eli play together.. They fight together, but they are getting better at working it out..

We ended our evening in the park on a picnic with friends. It was a beautiful night..

I Love you Gavin and Eli.

Our Trip Part 1--The Valley-0

I am so glad that I decided to brave the flight to Utah with the 2 boys without Boyd so that I could have a few extra days in the Valley-0 before Loren's Wedding. I wish Boyd could have been there the whole time, but he couldn't take a off that much work. I was hesitant to do it since Eli can't sit in my lap for more that 2 minutes. We survived and It was wonderful... Here is a quick breakdown of our Utah Visit..

• Spending a couple of days with my brother Ben and his family and Grandma and Grandpa. Going on a "big" water slide with Gavin in my lap.. Eating Cafe Rio again. Shopping with Mom. Gavin spent as much time as he could in Nathan's toy car. Whenever they were outside he was in it. Occasionally, he would get out to roll down the hill with Grandpa!
  
• Eating a delicious lunch with my dear friend Gina. We can get together and talk and laugh as if no time has passed since we saw each other. I wish we lived closer to each other.
  
• Roommate Reunion! It was great to spend the morning with my old roommates...

and all of our kids!
The Call Family Reunion! Not everyone could make it, but it was great to see those who did. This is Eli with his Great Grandma Call! This is my cousin Jill and her little boy who is also named Eli and is almost the same age.

• Visiting our friends Dan and Amanda and Bryce and Karen.. Friends who betrayed us and moved from New York! :) Thanks to Bryce and Karen who babysat our kids so we could enjoy a Loren's Rehearsal Dinner!
  
• Spending precious little time with Grandma Miggy and Sherilyn.
  
• Gavin's first trip to temple square!
  
• Loren and Erica's Wedding.. We enjoyed getting to know Erica and her family better. The couple looked very handsome..

Gavin is ready to catch the guarder at the wedding. Thank goodness he didn't catch it!

We then got in a van and made the long drive to New Mexico with my parents... to be continued...

Where have we been?

I haven't posted for over 2 weeks! I don't even know where to begin. We have been here, there, and everywhere! We have been to a family reunions, a wedding, and another family reunion. It was a wonderful trip and I am excited to update you.. I need to figure out where to begin.. So, here a few pictures to get started...

The Call family Gathering.. Grand kids that were there


Boyd's Brother's wedding.. A picture with the siblings..

The Nolte Family Reunion.. All the children under 9 lining up for a chance to swing at the pinata!

Milestones

I have been horrible about keeping a baby book for my boys.. I had one started for Gavin, but Eli has had nothing! So, I am going to record some milestones here. We are so proud of you, Eli!


Eli has been so close for weeks, that I wondered when it was going to happen, but this week in front of 2 friends to witness, Eli walked. It was only about 4 steps, but he did it. We were visiting a park in Chelsea and I am still not sure what motivated him, but I think it was some grapes that Jane was holding! This video was right after it happened and of course I couldn't get him to repeat it for the camera!


He has been pointing for a few weeks. He sticks out his pointy finger and usually without much control directs it towards something he wants. Today, his pointy finger became a wave. He saw me and he got excited and pointed and then started waiving.


So, this last milestone he has been doing for a while, but I haven't said anything because I wasn't sure it counted... But, I have decided it does.. He has been saying Maammamma for a while.. At first, I decided it was just babbling, but then one day I started walking away and Eli started crawling after me saying mmamamammam.. So, that counts, right? He doesn't say it all the time, but he does say it! So, I am putting it in the record books as his first word!


He loves to play, climb, eat, grab anything he can't have, slobber all over his big brother, play catch and throw with his ball, and just smile and have fun. He continues to make us smile. He has an excitement for everything. He looks us at us with squinty eyes and a big smile or a big open mouth. He brings excitement to our little family.