The Reward

We've been doing sticker charts for Paige and Cal this summer (thank you Mom, for the many many many summers of this) to give them something to do.  Oh, and to stop the "I'm Bored!" disease.  It seems to run rampant in our home...

Anyways, they had earned enough to have their date with Mom and Dad, so we went today!  It was so much fun!  I'm pretty sure I was looking forward to it more than they.  A sticker or two may have found it's way on to their charts when it may or may not have been officially earned... it's just excess love, that's it, excess love.

Jack stayed home with a sitter so it was just us and the big kids.  Fun!  We started off with a fantastic lunch at the ever-so-delightful Cheesecake Factory (I will NEVER get sick of that place, Thai Lettuce Wraps anyone???  They will change your life).  And of course, we ended that portion with the new GIANT Reece's PB Cup cheesecake.  INSANE people, it was insane on the delicious meter.  My tummy is still sighing of delight...

Then we went and saw the new Winnie the Pooh movie all together.  It really was so cute, despite the grumpy faces posing for this picture that was suposedly the happiest day of the summer.  But I agree, it is hard to pose happy in 110 degree weather.  A for effort kiddos.

But yes, sticker charts = success! 

The Update

There's much to say and much to do, but instead of digging up all the past, I'm just gonna dive right on in to our current status and go from there.  Much easier.

Well, we are a family of five now and life is NUTS and FUN and sometimes I'm not sure I'll make it through another day... but somehow I do, phew! 

We're still in good ol' Arizonia and right about now is when I start cursing the sun.  It is SCORCHING!  But, we love our home, our neighbors, our friends, our family, and we feel pretty darn blessed to have all of the above.  Here's the news on our fam:

Paige is 5.  Seriously.  And is counting down the 13 days until she (GULP) starts Kindergarten.  Seriously.  I die.  She's crazy, goofy, and dramalicious.  She does her best to keep up the little girl steroetype with princesses and playing pretend.  Success!

Calvin is now 3.  He's our own personal little Jekyl and Hyde... one minute he is the sweetest, cutest, kindest, gentlest little kiddo that you ever did lay your eyes on and it makes you want to just squeeze him forever with endless kisses and hugs... and then, in a split second, he is the absolute definition of The Hulk.  Throwing everything in a mad rage, screaming at the top of his lungs at anything moving in sight, scratching, hitting, biting, smashing, brutal destruction of all things living or non-living.  For reals.  Life with Calvin, well, it's a learning process.  But as is life, eh?

Jack Attack is almost 10 months!!  Whaaaaa???  How did that happen?  Where did that little infant I was just rocking yesterday go???  Oh yah, that's him, the 27 pounder crawling everywhere, wearing 24-month clothing and putting everything possible in his chubby little mouth.  He is hilarious!  I just love that goofy little goober!  He is for sure our family heart-throb.

Peter-Patrick is still da bomb.  Work, school, play with the kiddos, kickin it with me, read any comic/teen fiction book in sight, and repeat.  Keepin' it real.

As for myself, I have one word.  Crazaziness.  Yup.  Oh, and a whole lotta good times thrown in with it.  You know, that's just how I roll.  Crazy life, crazy fun.  Lovin' it!

So that's us as of Summer of 2011.  Now let's see if we can keep this blog thing goin' on...

Back in The Saddle

Forbis Fever is under construction and will be back from its two year hiatus shortly.

Be excited.

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