Oh Dear

We had the pleasure of visiting Patrick's family in Utah last week and boy did we have some FUN! Plenty of adventures, and lots of pictures. So enough with the chit chat... here you go.

Calvin did GREAT on his first flight. Fell asleep during take off and woke up as we pulled up to the gate. Bless you my child.

Uncle Cameron and Uncle Dave celebrating our arrival with Paigey - Poo.

And Aunt Summer soaking up some nephew time.

We went to the Heritage Center there in Logan for baby animal days - it was so great! And so GORGEOUS!!! Curse you Arizona, why can't you be a little more like your big brother Utah??


It was seriously so cool, you just got to throw, ahem, place your kids in with the cute little baby animals and they could just mosey on up to them. With heavy supervision of course...


Calvin explored his beginning of manhood. Stick. Man. Good.


We also got to see some of Patrick's grandparents. Here's Grandpa Ernie and his wife, Patrick's dad, Dewain, Patrick , and the kiddos. I love getting generation pics.



We also got to take a day and head up to Rexburg - home of our college and meeting grounds. SO MUCH FUN! Talk about a trip down memory lane. So many great changes, especially the new beautiful temple. Way to go Burgtown. And ya, Calvin was SACKED.

Walking around campus was a JOKE. I felt so old with all the little 18 year olds running around. I felt like I might as well have been pushing a walker in place of a stroller. Good times. No, but we did had a great time seeing some of our old professors an friends and catching up. Good to go back, but good to be gone.

Got to snap a quick picture in front of our first house... well, apartment. Nevertheless, there were some great memories in that place.

We also took a day and drove down to Ogden to this amazing children's museum - The Treehouse. LOVED IT!!! It is seriously by far the best place for kids that I have EVER EVER been.

Dr. Paige... Paging Dr. Paige.

Checkmate again??? Dang, I gotta step up my chess game.

Paige caught us trying to sneak some action in the Germany house.

Gutan Tag!

"A little tea in the Great Britain house before our departure Sir Daddy?"
"Why yes Miss Paige, I would be delighted!"

I also got to see my long lost friend Kelsey and her ADORABLE little baby Hallie! We had such a great time being together and reminiscing about the good ol' days of Culinary Arts and so on. We just needed our third Musketeer, Dawn - we missed you!

Within our gathering we decided to be trove Calvin and Hallie to one another. Sorry kids, that's the way things work around here. Get ready to love each other. I think their faces say yes.

And this is how family prayers went. Who knew we had a mountain goat for a child??? Thanks Forbis family for having us - we loved every minute!

AMEN!!

My Apologies...

I know that I said I was back from a break, and technically I was, but only for that one second. Truth be told I've been on a huge food storage kick for the past few weeks and I am BOUND AND DETERMINED to complete the majority of it by the end of the month! Including menu planning, organizing, purchasing, and storing. So yes, I have been placing that well ahead of my blogging cause I am a horrid multi-tasker.

So this is what's been going on...

I had a Bday, 25th to be exact, and I feel like such an OLD FART. Blaughk. Before I felt all cute and fun in my young 20's but now it's like, "No Amy, don't even think you relate to those college and high school days anymore... you're 25 now. A woman." Guess I should stop playing my Nintendo DS now too. Dang it.



Peter-Patrick did throw me a fantastic Bday junk food and movie festivity night and it was AWESOME!! I'm pretty sure he ordered the ENTIRE Taco Bell menu - oh snap! Thanks P-Diddy, you're the best.

"Princess Paige" (that is her new name, princess everything nowadays even though I vowed I would NEVER do the princess thing) also had a Bday - 3 YEARS OLD!!! Ahhhhhh! Didn't we just bring her home from the hospital yesterday?!?!?

(poster made by Uncle David, she loves the thing)

We had a great time, however I am wondering why it's the "terrible two's" and not the "tumultuous three's" cause let me tell you what, Paige's entire year of age 2 was FAR BETTER than these past few weeks of 3. Love the little booger all the same.

And Mr. Calvin, still a little stud just growing like no other and being quite the Mamma's boy. LOVE him.

And now off to completing our food storage. So now you know why I'm ignoring the bloggy-blog world. Wish me luck!

Break and Bangs

I was sick of blogging so I decided to take a break, but rest assured, I'm back. And in the meantime I did something I vowed I would never do...

BANGS!!

I decided it was time to step up my mom game.

Dapper Dan

Who says boys aren't as fun to dress as girls???

Not I my friends...

Most girls I know don't get to wear ties

Vintage Reebok track suits???

Pretty sure those are just for the men

And classy pick-up line shirts...

(reads: "Whale you be mine?" thanks Gma).

Not too many chicks can get away with that.

And I don't know many girls bold enough to dress to match their ferocious man eating lion.

And I'm pretty sure it ain't too kosher for the ladies to be flashin' the boobies all day long.

Oh ya, life is SWEET as a man.

It's Just a Love Machine

My cute little sis Meagan has this cute little boyfriend Preston and he has this cute little VW Wagon...

So 6 of us, all 20 and older, piled in and went for a joyride. It was outrageous - I almost forgot I had kids for a minute. That thing has a table, fridge, oven, stove, sink, 2 full size beds, and more! I never knew the wagons were so amazing! I'm not kidding, if that puppy had more than 1 carseat able chair we'd be all over it!

P-Daddy gettin' CRAZY!

Bee's hub Alex gettin' ready to POUNCE - YOWZA!

Meags and Preston - of course they love it, it is a love machine after all...

Bee and Alex feeling the affects of the grooviness

Good News, Bad News

Good News: Calvin is crawling!! Hello baby independence!



Bad News: Calvin is crawling. Goodbye cute interior decor.

New Kid on the Block

We have a new little niece! Sophia Marie Forbis.

Patrick's brother Cameron and his wife Tiffany had her just a few weeks ago and I was FINALLY able to get a hold of some pictures - what a babe little Sophie! Can't wait to spoil my first little niece - watch out Paige, your time as the only granddaughter has come to an end. Congrats Cam and Tiff!

My Buddy... My Buddy!

I hope you all sang that little 80's doll "My Buddy" jingle in your head when you read the title, so classic...

Having two kiddos has it's ups and downs but I have to say that I absolutely love having them together. They always get along great and do really well at entertaining each other. They really are such a blast - and then I realize that I really do have two chiquitas - when did that happen??? sheesh.

It's nice to have each other when your mom (me) makes you take cheesy pictures all the time.

And someone to share the wagon rides around the block with.

And who wouldn't love double booty time in the tub??
Ahh the bike trailer - so nice to have someone else to share in the humiliation.

And the best... story time in the buff is always better with two!
(or three when I'm in the mood, haha!)

HELP ME PLEASE!

Dear Readers,

Okay, I'm not one to take my troubles to the web... but I AM DESPERATE! Calvin has always been an excellent sleeper, but it's been about 3 weeks now and he is just plain REFUSING to sleep at night. He'll go down pretty good around 8 but then wake up screaming at 2ish every night and be in and out of screaming fits for the rest of the night. Ugggg!

So... I am BEGGING any and all of you to give me some tips 'cause I've tried just about EVERYTHING (doctor visits - they say he's fine, crying it out, nursing, holding, co-sleeping, humidifier, heater, night light, singing, teething pills, and on and on...) and I am still a zombie.

Sincerely,
Moping Mommy

Be Still My Heart

THIS...

is what my 28 year old husband and his 29 year old brother David are doing as we speak. This is following the weekend long expedition at the Arizona ComiCon. For those of you who don't speak nerd - that stands for Comic Convention. My love grows stronger still...

Calveeno

Since Paige has had the spotlight for a while I decided to showcase our little man so he doesn't feel left out... 'cause he reads this blog faithfully and all, haha.

Here's right before his first haircut we gave him the other night. He HATED it. But now he's even more handsome... so watch out all you ladies out there.

Just showing some pureed food love.

Just can't get enough.


Made some good buddy time with cousin Gus over the Christmas Holiday. I'm pretty sure they're going to be quite the pair...

And this is where he spends a hefty amount of time. This kid is a CRUISER in this thing. Now I know that doctors say to stay away from these walkers so when my mom asked if he would want one for Christmas I kind of shuddered at the thought. But lo and behold - it is the BEST THING EVER! He seriously loves it and now they make them extra safe with brake pads and everything... FANCY!

A Peeculiar Day

Potty Training - Day 3

We added the undies and a skirt today because ready or not, we had things to do and places to go. She went once before we left in the morning no problem, then we were off to music class and Grandma's house and she did great! No issues whatsoever.

We headed home for some movie time (still not allowed on the couch-sorry Paigey) while Calvin took his nap - wanted to see if a distraction of a movie caused issues but nope, still clear. Then we walked to the doctors for Cal's flu shot and walked on over to see her cousins, "The Boys" (thank you Power Ranch for making everything in walking distance!). I was worried that all the walking would wiggle it out of her or catch her by surprise but again, she was fine. About 15 minutes into the visit I just hear a faint "Mommy?" and I turn around as she says "Me need to go potty" and poor girl had just completely soaked herself. COMPLETELY. I felt so bad for her but couldn't help a little chuckle cause it was kind of cute in a wet your pants sort of way. So we just cleaned up and went on - trading out our Cinderella roos for some robot ones (thanks Tate). When I asked her why she didn't use the potty she just held up the little rubber bug and said "me want to keep playing!" I guess we'll work on that concept.

But other than the one accident (which I am SO GRATEFUL was not in public) she did pretty well for first day in clothes post potty training. I'm sure there will be many more "moments" to come but I'm pretty proud of the little bug. Way to go Paige - we ALL survived (so far)! And that my friends concludes the potty training diaries.

L-M-N-O...pee

Potty Training - Day 2:

It went perfectly! She had no accidents whatsoever. Just went on in and did her thing and then moved on all throughout the day - HOORAY FOR PAIGE! Now we'll see how today goes with adding clothes and a few outings...

*DISCLAIMER- Before you go thinking that my life is perfect (in the potty training area) you should know that I tried doing this a year ago and it was A TOTAL DISASTER.

Princess and the Pee

Well, today was the official start of our official potty training and it went surprisingly well. Decided to strip her down stark style (thank you for the tips/inspiration fellow bloggers) and just go for it. Now, I write this in detail not because I expect you to want to read everything about my life... but for any of you who are thinking about doing this terrible task anytime soon and are completely clueless such as I.

Paige got up and first thing we did, off with the diaper. Gave her a big pep talk on how she is a big girl now and no more diapers, etc. Asked her if she needed to go but the answer was no. Went about our daily business - breakfast, dressed(only shirt today - she was bugged and confused but we pushed through) and cleaning/laundry cause that's what we do on Tuesdays. I just kept asking her every now and then if she needed to go and she just said "no... not yet". It had been a while so I decided it was time to sit on the pot even if she didn't think she needed to just so she could get the idea that it was an all day thing. She was a little apprehensive so I decided to show off my skills (yes, I am admitting to the blogging world that I did this, love me anyways please) to give her a little encouragement and sure enough she hopped on right after me and tinkle town was marked! Since it was the first of the day I made sure to teach her the whole process in detail (lifting the lid, how to climb on, going, wiping, flushing, hand washing) so that when she needs to go she doesn't have to depend on me for anything and she can do it all by herself. Nothing worse than having to wipe a kids butt who you don't even know at church. So we had her Peep treat (cause peep and poop get different treats) and she was happy as could be.

I decided to load her up with some water/juice to get things going so she could get some more practice and just kept watching her. Now our house has some tile but mostly carpet. So the rules went: no getting on the couch or beds and if she wanted to sit down to play she had to stick to the designated towels I had strategically placed around the house. It may sound stingy but be my guest if you want to clean up peed on carpet all day - NO THANK YOU!

So about an hour later I'm in my room and she comes running in saying she needed to pee. She hopped on and went perfectly! Huzzah! But I did notice she had a tiny stream mark on the top of her leg so I asked if she had gone and she replied "just a tiny tiny bit but then ran to the potty". Good, I have my proof that her being naked is serving a purpose - she felt the peep going down her leg, stopped it (impressive I thought), and ran to the bathroom to finish up. Got her the peep treat and life was good.

A little later I was putting Calvin down for his nap so I told her to stay on her towel and play. Mid nursing I hear the bathroom door open, toilet lid slam up and just think "oh boy, please please please". I walk out a minute later after putting him in bed and she rounds the corner "POO POO!!" Sure enough, she had done it all by herself! I used a wipe just to make sure her bum was totally clear but she had done a pretty good job herself. And glory be... she finally got her poop treat she's been wanting for weeks now.

Next instance... I'm putting away laundry and I just hear "Mommy where are you?!?!" Run into the bathroom and there's poor Paigey standing in the middle of the most gigantic puddle of pee I've ever seen. So I asked her what happened and she just told me she didn't make it in time. But progress knowing that she was headed for the toilet. We cleaned it up together (which I've read is important so they know it's not all fun and games) and continued.

To make a long story short (too late), we had two more perfectly successful peeps and then off to bed with a diaper on. Sorry, I'm not woman enough to tackle the nightime battle yet. So if you're still reading, there you have it. Potty training day 1. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Christmas Ketchup

Not much to say other than the holiday was WONDERFUL!! We had a jolly good time so here we go...

On Christmas Eve we bundled up (yes bundled up even though it was only 50 something degrees- gotta use our winter clothes SOMEHOW) to go to the Mesa Temple to look at the lights and attend a little outdoor concert that my brother Jordan did - which was awesome as always.

Snuggle buddies

Us too

Then headed home to open up our traditional Eve present - Christmas Jammies!

Group jammie picture - not too bad for a timer shot eh?

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!

Piage was more than happy to help little Cal out.

And Cal is STILL trying to get a hold of the topple pengiun he got from Santa - so amusing to watch that.

And Paige couldn't be more thrilled to finally have her very own kitchen and tea party set - and she better be cause that dang thing took 4HOURS to put together...

Complete with chef outfit thanks to Grandma Forbis - I'm thinking of whipping mine out for a matching picture - haha!

Anyways there are plenty of more pics but they are all on our NEW CAMERA - HIP HIP HOORAY!!! But I'm still figuring it out how to upload so the rest is yet to come!