RV Double F C

Presidents Day weekend we went down to Medford for the long weekend. The Schmidt's parents were out of town with their oldest son so my parents were "babysitting" so to speak. I think Ty loved having the extra friends to play with. Saturday night we headed to my old work from back in the day- the RVFFC (Rogue Valley Family Fun Center) 

The kids played for an hour or longer in Catcus Jacks Playhouse. 

 Ty and Evan.

 Ty lovin' the big slides.

 Maylee all the way at the top!

 Emma and Me, she's just hangin' out. Can't she get any chubbier?

 Maylee loved having her own friends to help he with everything... Halley and Lindsay

 My mom even got us all TOKENS to play a few games too! The kids were all super excited.

 Matt and Breanna played a few "grown-up" games then they went on to help the younger kids with their tokens.

 Matt did a few tokens then went back to Cactus Jacks that we couldn't coax Ty to come out of, he had a BLAST running away from his Dad. Ty can FLY through that thing. I think Matt really did have a tough time catching him.

 All the kids running away from Matt.

 THey had a little Air Hockey Table. Ty liked it.

 I think Matt even let Ty win, that's saying something.

 Maylee liked the racing games.

 My Dad followed her around to help her get up on the big stuff.

 Gotta feed the Hippos and Croc's!

 Hal hit the JACKPOT! She was SO excited.

 Ty actually made quite a few baskets!

My Dad helped May with some Skiball. I don't think she ever figured it out.

We had a great night there with all the kids. All of them put their tickets together and everyone got 80 tickets to spend! Ty got a Grab-nabber (his name for it I think we've been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss) some suckers and bouncy balls. Maylee got a snake and a sucker too.

Next up the "Cookie Grilling Experience"

Sink or swim - fallin' behind!

I feel like I am sinking rather than swimming! Life is SO busy!

I am taking a few minutes to blog, it's been too long. Probably the longest break I have ever taken and for no real reason! Hopefully I can get into a good bloggy groove now.

These pictures are before and of Valentine's Day, yeah that's how long it has been...

We painted Valentines for our friends and family.

 Matt works out in the Garage while the kids play out there. Matt brought Em out there too, I brought her back inside when I started to make dinner. Look at that FACE!!! I love this one I tell ya.

This is what Ty likes to do while Matt is exercising... The kids were playing during lunch time and Matt joined in the fun. 

 Valentine's morning! I made special heart shaped cinnamon rolls that I didn't photograph because they ended up looking like something else inappropriate other than hearts... Ty and Maylee were SO excited to eat Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast and open their chocolates from Grandma Kay and Grandpa Harvey. Matt and I got the kids some new "Guess how much I love you" books too.

 After breakfast we cleaned up and got the paint stuff back out for a few finishing touches. I couldn't find Ty's art bib so he just went shirtless.

 We brought Matt Valentine's at work and delivered to a few friends. Ty even suggested we drop some off to his favorite babysitters Karsyn and Cassidy. They are sisters, I think they loved them. During the day we were low key, babysitting for some friends and making dinner. I made Lasagna, Cheese Rolls, Steamed Broccoli and Cheesecake stuffed Strawberries. It was a very tasty dinner!

For Matt and my's Valentine's date we (drum roll please) did our TAXES!!! Yippee!! With the help of a friend of ours that works for the IRS we got them done and we're expecting our return any day now. :)

Valentine's evening I went and checked on the kids I found Ty like this. I almost woke him up I was laughing so loudly. What's so funny you ask? I had Deja Vu...

 Here he is just shy of 3 months old...

See, he still sleeps like he did when he was a baby. He's still my little baby boy.

We had a wonderful Valentine's day and we hope you did too!

No Nap = Sleeping at Dinner

Remember how I mentioned a few posts ago that Sunday was a tough day?

Yeah here's why. This is Maylee near the end of Dinner. Matt and I, the terrible parents we are decided to video instead of sweetly take her to her bed for a little nap.



Yeah we're terrible, but it was hilarious and the second time she has done that after church.

Spreading LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day! 

WE LOVE YOU and hope you have a special day!

My Girls

Never thought I would say it, But I LOVE having TWO girls. They are both SO different but seem to compliment one another so well all ready. 

I love them both. I have a feeling in a year or two people will be asking me if they are twins. 

I unintentionally dressed the girls in similar outfits one day. So of course I took pictures of it! 

 "Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted Sisters, never had to have a Chaperone, no sir, I'm here to keep my eye on her. Caring, Sharing, every little thing that we are wearing..."

 I hold one on each hip. It's the best getting double snuggles from my ladies.

Can't sleep...

Do you ever have those moments that you wish you could freeze time? That you realize that life is moving too quickly, things are happening so fast that you feel you don't have enough time to truly soak up the moments? 

I had a moment like this tonight. I don't know why. I was making my usual rounds before I got into bed, locking the doors, turning off lights, picking up stray cars, dolls, socks, shoes, hair bows as I made my way up stairs only to remember I forgot my phone and Emma's bottle. So I go back down stairs and come back up stairs put my things down and check on the kids. I go into Ty's room first. He still sleeps like he did when he was a 6 month old. All over the place, mouth wide open, eyes half open. I kissed him, told him I loved him then walked down the hall to Maylee. She falls out of bed about 3 times a night and whimpers until you come get her and put her back in bed. She sleeps just like her brother, mouth open, eyes half open. I kissed her and told her that I loved her and I started to cry. 

Ty always wants me to "lie down with him for a little bit" at night or before nap time. Maylee will put her little arms around my neck every afternoon at nap time and at bed time pleading with her eyes not to go. All my kids love to hold my hand, they love to give me kisses, they all LOVE to sit on my lap and give me big hugs. They come running to see me when I get back from going any where alone. They follow me and ALWAYS want me to play with them. They always want me to read to them. Ty tells me all the time that I am "his best girl" and Maylee spontaneously runs to me and gives me a big hug and a kiss almost hourly. Man those kids melt my heart and it leaks out my eye balls. 

I struggle a lot thinking that I just want FIVE MINUTES alone, I just want to go somewhere with out the kids. I just want to be by myself! Then I realize in a few short years, Ty won't think it's cool to hold my hand anymore, he'll be too big to sit on my lap and we probably wont both fit in his bed for me to scratch his back while he falls asleep. Maylee wont always be clinging to my neck pleading for me to sing her one more song before she has to sleep, she wont always let me dance with her in the kitchen on my hip. 

I just want to stop, just freeze, right now, this second. I want to try and remember what its like to be a Mom of three babies really. I hardly find time to get things I want done, my house is always just on the edge of messy that it drives me insane, new toys are spread all over the house in a moment. I am constantly wiping up Peanut Butter faces, washing out stains in clothes and the carpet. I am always saying things like "Please be kind to one another" or "Please be careful with that." and noticing my shirt blotted in little sisters tears from falling off the bench. I'm always hand washing the favorite spoon because I'm behind on the dishes. I'm almost always holding one of the three telling another that "I only have two hands and as soon as I am done _______ then I can help you with your __________" I am ALWAYS exhausted but you know what, doing it all for them and always being there for them makes it worth it. I love my little family so much. 

p.s. just while writing this, every single child has started crying in their sleep and the two that can talk both called for mom. Love those munchkins, and I always will. 

Valentines games and fun

The first Monday of every month month we do a little skype session FHE with Jordan, Michaela, Calin and Carpi. It all started because Michaela and I are convinced Ty and Calin would be BESTIES if they knew each other. But since we live out of driving distance from one another we don't see each other that often. I think it's been almost 2 years since we've all been together. We've skyped before but that gets kind of weird after 3 minutes when the kids just stare at each other. So we decided to do FHE. I think it's worked out quite well these first few months. February was Michaela's turn to plan she taught a lovely lesson and we played minute to win it games for our activity. We stacked conversation hearts, threw mini marshmallows into cups, moved conversation hearts from one plate to another with chopsticks (or pencils in our case), did the cookie on the forehead and have to get it to your mouth with out using your hands and lastly we did the mummy wrap. As you can see Maylee wasn't thrilled to find at the end that she couldn't move very well. 

 Ty was excited to wrap up Matt. 

 Matt wrapped me up, and I spun so fast that I was dizzy and sick for a long while afterwards. 

We've also been working on puzzles. The boy has become addicted (yet again) to screen time so we are trying hard to avoid the TV being on ALL day. He did this one all by himself and he wanted me to take a picture so we could show Matt when he got home from work. I don't know why he posed like that but... 

 Sister had to pose the same way. She works on her Minnie puzzles too. She good at jamming them together really. 

 I didn't clean up the streamers from the night before so I was a cool mom and let the kids shred them to bits, run through them, throw them etc etc. They played for quite some time! The only rule was to keep it in the kitchen. Clean up wasn't bad at all. 

Tender Mercies Tuesday: You thought I forgot edition

No I haven't forgot I just have a stinking hard time blogging all of them all the time.

I did want to note a two though really quickly.

Sundays are tough days this year, church is from 1-4 so we get to miss nap time. I have meetings in the morning some days, both Matt and I have to prepare lessons and getting home is always a free for all in starvation... so long story short, missed naps + busy parents = a long, tiring, crazy day. Last Sunday was particularly tiring for some reason. I about had it when I was about to hastily put the kids to bed and call it good. BUT I was prompted to remember to read the scriptures and say prayers (like we usually do but I had HAD it!) I open up the scriptures and wouldn't you know it, the chapter (we usually read a whole chapter) was 6 verses, HALLELUJAH! I literally said out loud, "Thank goodness for that Tender Mercy!" Small things that make a big difference. The Lord helps those that are trying to Choose the Right.

Also, I took the kids to the Doctors yesterday morning, it wasn't bad at all besides poor Emma getting 3 shots and an oral vaccination. We went to the Library afterwards and let me say the parking there is horrendous. They share a parking lot with the Community Center. I drove around for a minute or two just looking for A spot, not just a close spot, ANY spot. I kept passing another truck as we both looked for spots. I was beginning to realize that if I didn't find a spot fairly soon I would be pressed for time since I had a meeting for Primary stuff just a short hour from then. I promised the kids we could go to the library and those with kids KNOW how bad it is to promise something then not fulfill. I quickly said a prayer that we could find a spot. I turned a corner and the Truck blocked me, he looked at me pointed behind him, made a 1 and an L with his hand then waved me on. I gave him a thumbs up and he moved. I went behind him and sure enough there was a spot. I parked unloaded the kids and made it all the way into the Library before it hit me that my prayer, though half heartily said, was answered. I very quickly said a BIG time thank you prayer in my heart and got a warm fuzzy feeling seeing the smiles on my kids faces as they picked out books.

Again, it's the small things, the Tender Mercies that we receive every day that let us know that our Father in Heaven knows us, he hears our prayers and he loves us. But most times they are so small that we don't recognize them. We chalk it up to coincidence, luck or chance, I can tell you, it's not... it's a gentle hug from up above.

She's growing like a WEED!

She is getting SO chubby! Matt accidentally put her in Maylee's clothes, and I didn't even notice until I took her out of them the next day. He also decided Emma needed a little exercise so we started her in the jumper. She's okay sitting in it but hasn't QUITE figure out the jumping part. 

 Maylee, Ty and Emma. SO cute! Ty still likes holding her even though she is so big. Maylee likes it because she thinks she is holding Emma too, even if it's just her legs. 

 Matt takes naps at lunch time, this time Emma was sleeping on the couch so he just put her on top of him and they slept. Emma SURE LOVES her Daddy.

Here the little lady is, in her 6 month clothes. All I have to do is roll the sleeves a titch and they fit just right. She is almost too big for her size 1-2 diapers from Costco. We put her in Maylee's size 3's sometimes and they fit just fine... i'm thinking Em and May will be sharing diapers in about a month. 

Lastly here are some videos I FINALLY got of her laughing with Matt. She likes him best I think. Whenever he comes in the room and she can hear him talking, she lights up with all smiles waiting for him to find her. It's adorable. 

Of course right as soon as I stop Matt does something else and she SUPER laughs, so I try again and get the same giggles, which are cute too. Yeah I know Emma's head is a little flat in the back. Maylee was the same way, I think worse, but it rounded out once she started sitting up on her own so I'm not too worried. 

Tomorrow is Emma's 4 month appointment, i'll inform you on her stats soon! 

Basketball game!

Okay I guess I did build up the babysitting story a bit, it's nothing crazy, just funny.

We got home from the Restaurant at 6:30, we needed to leave at 6:30 to drive the 35 minutes to the Chiles Center, park on the street somewhere and walk to our seats. Our babysitter Carson was at her dance competition and was going to be to our house around 6:30, she was running late so we asked the Johnson's if they could stay with the girls for a little bit while Carson come so we wouldn't be late to the game. They agreed (aren't they awesome?) and we took off, in a flash.

I think poor Maylee and Emma weren't adequately prepared for the sudden change in management. I started getting texts at about 7:30, asking where diapers were and if the girls cry themselves to sleep... from Ken. Carson's mom text me 45 min. previous saying they would be to our house by 7. What were the Johnson's still doing there?

Apparently all 3 (they have a little lady who is about 2 months younger than Emma) had poopy diapers ALL at the same time right when Carson came. All three were crying like crazy too. So the Johnson's took pity on Carson and did a little Man to Man defense instead of leaving her with Zone. Apparently Maylee ONLY liked Ken, WHAT? Yeah, she rarely likes Men and she chose KEN to put her to bed and ran away from anyone else. HAHA Apparently Emma was preferential to Ken as well. So thanks Ken for wooing our ladies so, Carson couldn't have done it with out you guys.

Carson put Emma to bed and I guess she cried for quite a while before going to bed. Poor babysitter(s) rough night! We did come home to find both the girls peacefully sleeping.

We on the other hand had a LOVELY time at the game!

We got there about 10 minutes before the game started. We love going to the Chiles center when BYU plays Portland because there are usually a TON of BYU fans, more than Portland fans usually. The arena is quite small, almost the same size as a nice High School. So even if you get SUPER junky seats you are still in AWESOME seats. We were on the 14th row. Also, as we were walking to our seats I ran into Coach Rose! He was coming from the locker room, they don't have a separate entrance. I said " Oh my gosh!" and got a hand shake.

Ty always gets a kick out of the beginning, once the game started though he got restless and by the middle of the second half he was asking to go home to bed. I think he's hit that "I don't know what is going on and it's not important to me" stage. In about 3 or 4 years he'll probably be excited to go with us, for next year though, he'll probably stay home.

 We watched the warm ups just an arms length away from the players. So crazy.

Matt and I during half time. I snagged Matt's BYU shirt and he threw it on over his red t-shirt. 

 BYU was trailing for just a little bit, they are always slow to start but then they kicked it into high gear and got a good lead in the second half.

 Something crazy happened near the middle of the second half. Tanner Riley for Portland got a little feisty. As you can hear, a ton of booing. The Portland fans got a little crazed about it all too. It was uhh fun to watch fans from both sides yelling about it all. The clip is a little long but the very beginning shows it all.

Anyway it was a fun game!

Sunday my mom sewed on a few buttons for me on the girls Valentine dresses that I am sewing and my Dad looked up a few things for our upcoming trip to Ireland. Then we went to church and my parents left right afterwards.

It was a good weekend with my parents and Ty is all ready asking when they are coming back or when we can visit them again.