My mental camera

There are days in motherhood when your constantly taking mental pictures and storing them away in your mommy file to reflect on at a later time. The moments when you look at your kid and wonder "when did he get so big?" "did he really just do that by himself?" today was one of those days, and my mental camera was ready for the many little moments.

We went to the park today with his tennis ball in tow. He was so cautious not to lose it and made sure that ball was in sight at all times. "play wis me mommy," was said over and over and so we bounced the ball together and ran around till we were sweaty and hungry.

We went and visited daddy at work. It's such a special occasion to visit daddy's office and Sawyer was so excited. We were leaving his office and Sawyer tugged on my hand and said, "mommy, look!" The Elevator. Usually I would tug him in the other direction and try to convince him that the elevator wasn't working. But not today. Today was a day for mental pictures. So I walked with my boy to the elevator and rode it up, and rode it down. It made his whole day. We practically skipped out to our car.

He made up a game today. All by himself. He takes his tennis ball and throws it, then runs to his cash register and types in numbers and then looks at me and says, "I Won!" and so of course I can't help but join in with him and throw the tennis ball while he types in numbers only to tell me that "mommy, you didn't win." it's ok son, today is a day for mental pictures, you can win today.

I made some "moon sand" today with some flour and baby oil and gave him some tools and he was so happy to play with it. It was a great sensory activity and he thought it was the coolest thing ever that I was letting him have free reign with it. As in it got everywhere and I didn't so much as bat an eyelash. He kept looking over at me with those eyes of astonishment, probably thinking, "when is she going to stop me?" I wont stop you today son, today is a day for mental pictures.

And to end our day my sweet boy and I went to the park again. Tennis ball in tow and enjoyed ourselves a most beautiful sunset. I can feel fall teasing us. I can sense the change that is coming. I like change. The street lights came on which is our cue that it is time to go home. He grabbed his tennis ball and we strolled on home. In the red stroller of course, because that's the one he wanted to ride in.

Makin memories. Takin pictures and makin memories. My mental camera is full of wonderful moments with my little. I love makin memories with him.

Happy thoughts

After days like today, I couldn't help but scroll through my phone and find happy pictures. My patience was worn pretty thin today. Sometimes after hard days I need happy thoughts. And these pictures that were taken recently provide plenty of happy thoughts.




























You know Peter pans secret to flying was happy thoughts! Hope we send some happy thoughts your way!!

Conversations with a two year old

Mom: "we are out of milk buddy."
Sawyer: "it's ok I'll run to the store"
Gets in his car and rides around the house. Stops at the fridge, puts something inside, and comes back over to me.
Sawyer: "I got milk, mom."

I opened the fridge a little later and found this. Sure enough, my boy went to the store and got us milk.

A child's prayer

As we were going through our bedtime routine, we knelt to say our prayers and Sawyer told me he wanted to say them by himself. It was such a sweet prayer. So simple. And in return, I said my own prayer of heart felt gratitude that he wants to say his prayers. You hope with all your heart that your kids will have a desire to have a relationship with their Heavenly Father. To see his little self knelt in prayer by the side of his bed just about made my heart burst.
"Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day. Thank you for mommy and daddy. Thank you for Heather and Janie (we had just facetimed them, so they were fresh on his mind). Help me listen to daddy. Say these things (mumble mumble mumble) Amen."

Disneyland Adventures

Let me preface this Post with this: I've had my moments of "mommy guilt" when I feel like I'm a horrible mother for working part time. But then there are moments when my hard work pays off. This past April my branch won a trip to Disneyland. They put us up at the California Adventure Hotel and spoiled us on Friday-Sunday. This is the time when I really love my job.

I love making memories with my little family. Nothing warms my heart more than spending time with people I love. And my two boys have my whole heart.
We decided to head down to California on Thursday so we could spend some time with my childhood friends. I love them like my sisters. And their two girls... Well they had my heart at hello. We're trying to work out an arranged marriage for Sawyer;). We just needed Kylee and Baby B there and our twin posse would have been complete. (picture credit goes to my hubby, how did he get all the chillers to look at the camera? He's a Baby whisperer I tell you)


Sawyer had so much fun there, he fell asleep like this. I couldn't resist taking a picture, I haven't seen him sleep like this side he was a baby.


The next day was Disneyland. And oh behold the magic of Cars Land. My favorite thing on this trip was watching Dixon and Sawyer together. They are such buddies.


The carousel was my little's favorite ride. He's a simplistic kind of guy, he needs spinning around and around, not such big crowds or lines, and he likes to have his own horsie. I was lucky enough to get to ride on the back of the horse after promising him an ice cream cone.


I was so impressed with his patience in lines. The Toy Story Mania ride was the longest line we waited in. 50 minutes. But he knew we were waiting to play a video game, so that somehow made it ok? Boys and their video games.





And oh his face when he saw Lightening and Mater. Forget the rides, forget the popcorn, and music, and parades. This boy was all about his friends.


Again with the horsies. How can you resist a face that looks like that? Why yes son, we can go on that ride again and again and again.


Don't even get me started with the fireworks show. That show and the world of color get me teary. Something about the music and the lights. It just gets me thinking how wonderful that Walt's dreams really came true. He has truly created a place where everyone can connect with the child within. Jeepers, I'm embarrassing when I ramble.


Back to my boys. Sawyer was beyond excited to ride the tea cups. What is it that makes those cups so appealing? I mean, I loved them too as a kid. And then I got old and suddenly I feel a little green in the face when the ride is slowly spinning to a stop. For the love of your kids.





We ran into Donald at Toon Town. Sawyer ate that place up. We spent a good hour and a half doing absolutely nothing other than walk around and look at all the houses.


I love this picture. He just wanted some time to play with his guys. He made sure they had breakfast and took naps, and even took a few on the rides. Cracks me up how much he loves them.


See, he has Sarge in his hands... Couldn't let Sarge miss out on the ride, this is us at 8:30 pm. As in, the boy that didn't take a nap. He was that happy all day long. Where did he come from, and how on earth can I bottle up some of that cuteness?





Oh and you should have seen his face when he saw his name on the sign. He was positive it was because he is that awesome. I told his to stand there and say cheese. He stood there and said "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese". Longest cheese ever. I've trained him well.


So that was that. I have soaked in some California sea breeze, had my share of laughs, connected with the child within, and am grateful as all get out that those boys are mine. I mean really, how am I so lucky?

Sawyer loved Disneyland. But his happiness there, had nothing on when he got home and saw Lyla. The boy went to high heaven. Took his pants off, and ran straight outside to play soccer with his puppy. Or as I say, he was so happy it knocked his pants off.


Favorite memories from our trip in no specific order:
- on our way to CA we took a potty break. 5 minutes later comes a voice from the back seat, "daddy, I gotta poop." oh geez.
- Sonic Diet Coke run and catching up with my dear friend
- getting out of the car after the long drive and Sawyer saying, "good job Daddy, I'm proud of you."
- Racing down the hall to our room in the hotel. I've never seen Dixon run so fast
- while waiting in line Sawyer would quote his favorite books. His favorite quote was from "Are you My Mother?" it says, "down down down its a long way down."
-making his car dance to Captain EO
- making sure to tell me after a ride that was a little scary, "it's not scary!"
-seeing Donald, "hi Donald, what doin today?"
- telling me to "take a picture"

Bonding with Dad

I love watching Dixon be a dad. It's like he was born to be a dad. It comes so natural to him, and Sawyer is his little buddy. I especially love that he is constantly finding fun things to do with Sawyer while I work on Saturdays. They are always on some adventure. Last week Dixon took him to an exhibition game and my boy was on cloud nine.


Just warms my heart to see my two boys having fun together doing manly man stuff.

Baby Boyhood Happenings

It finally happened. He ran through the sprinklers.

I've been trying to teach him to be a boy and that boys run through the sprinklers. Well, that would probably be easier to teach him if I ran through sprinklers too. But I don't. I don't ever. As in, I never ran through sprinklers as a child because I hated to be wet in my clothes. Cue crocodile tears at Sea World because I got a drop of water on me.

Ya. Glad he learns how to be boy from his dad.




Also, boys take off their shirts when they run though the sprinklers. Once again, glad he learned that one from his dad!