Simon's blessing

Easter weekend was an extremely special weekend for us. We were able to go to Colorado to have Simon's baby blessing. All of our family was there-- ALL of our family. One big giant family. We were so grateful for everyone who traveled to be there. One of my brothers even flew from Phoenix to Denver, then made a three hour drive to Ryan's parents' house, only to turn around less than 24 hours to go back home. My sister-in-law drove with her family from Idaho to be there only 1.5 days. Seriously, Simon is loved.

Simon's first plane ride at 10 weeks. He rocked it like a champ, although this picture makes him look a little unsure. HA! He slept the entire way there and back. I think the airplane onesie from Lincoln's first flight brought us some good luck, as well.

you know your child loves you when they are willing to share their food with you. 

the men branding cattle. correction: the shideler men branding cattle while my dad and brother watched from a distance. they're not quite used to the country life.

all the cousins doting on Simon. I pretty much love all the "love" in this picture.

We were at Ryan's family ranch, which is down-right beautiful. Even though we were running on little-to-no sleep, the time we all had together, talking, laughing, eating and eating-- those are memories we will never forget. I'm so grateful that all the men in our family are worthy priesthood holders and wonderful examples to my boys. I'm so grateful for all the women, who love my boys like their own, and who help keep me sane with all the laughing and girl-talks. And I'm also grateful for all the cousins who dote on my boys, play with them, and even sneak candy to Lincoln when he can't reach the candy bowl. They say it takes a village to raise a child-- Ryan and I definitely have the best village to help us.

I'm so grateful for the gospel and for our Savior. I know God lives. I'm so grateful He has trusted us with his children to raise here on earth. I'm grateful for our little growing family and that we are sealed for time and eternity. And I'm especially grateful to be the mother to these beautiful boys.

And now my little newborn is suddenly 3 months old and I'm like, "WHAAAA?" How'd this happen so quickly? Maybe the lack of sleep made the first 2 months seem like one really long exhausting day that would never end.

Before Simon was born, I looked forward to the end of the day. This meant Lincoln was going to bed soon and I could finally unwind after a long day.

{Insert Braveheart reenactment..... "FREEEDOM!!!!"} 

Then Simon was born and the evenings would roll around and I would find myself absolutely dreading another night that was coming my way. I don't think anyone was as happy to see the sunrise as I was.
Those nights are finally fading away and I'm finally able to look in the mirror and not see a zombie looking back at me. This Simon of ours is pretty much a stud and is so freaking smiley, I could stare at him all day, or at least until Lincoln is pulling on my arm wanting something.

Here's Simon's three month pictures, with Lincoln, once again, wanting to get in on the action. The top picture is him throwing a tantrum because I asked him to scoot away from Simon so I could get Simon by himself. Lincoln thrives on having the spotlight solely on him, can you tell?

Instead, I have to zoom in really close to get Simon by himself, Isn't he handsome???!!!

And a favorite when Simon had more hair...

camp mabry

We went to Camp Mapbry the other weekend for their open house and airshow. I "knew" Lincoln would LOVE going-- which he did, but not really. He didn't care to go inside any of the aircraft and pretty much refused to leave Ryan's arms the entire time. Well, I guess not the entire time. There was a short stretch when he agreed to walk only because we bribed him with a dum-dum (we are those parents). Apparently, Lincoln prefers seeing helicopters and planes flying high over our backyard instead. I learned something that day-- 1. As much as I think I know Lincoln, he will still surprise me and 2.  Air-crafts are only cool if they're in the sky.

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They did have an air show scheduled, but it was canceled due to poor sky visibility. Doh! 

However! We did see the K-9 demonstration with the police force. I don't think it was the smartest thing to have Lincoln witness a guy being chased and taken down by a dog. I'm hoping we didn't cause any serious traumatic fears of dogs now. 

I love this picture^^^

It cracks me up how Lincoln has to get up close and personal with the camera. 

you know you're a texan when...

you plan your family pictures around bluebonnet season. BAM! We're officially Texans now.

sweet berry farm

One of my good friends and I ventured outwith the kiddos to the Sweet Berry Farm by Marble Falls. You know you have a good friend when the weather is supposed to be rainy and the drive out is a little over an hour, but still agrees to keep you company in case the trip becomes an epic fail-- which it wasn't.

The drive out did start off pretty rough, though. We hit some terrible traffic that left us at a complete standstill. With another 40 minutes of driving ahead of us and cars piled up for miles ahead, I was ready to call my friend and convince her to cancel the whole thing. Instead, I called my mom and told her the plans for the day. She was extremely excited for us, like almost overkill happy for us. At first I thought she was being slightly sarcastic, but she kept saying how wonderful it was that I was making these memories with my boys and that it was an awesome way to spend the day. Mom's are always right.

Here I was, only moments before, subconsciously cursing the traffic with Lincoln in the back crying "POOOOP!" I later found out he was slightly constipated and things were looking really ugly. But after hearing my mom, my whole attitude changed. I was really blessed-- not with the constipated-child-part, but of all the things I could be doing, I was able to be outside on a beautiful day, with my boys and with our friends at a strawberry farm. And even though my boys are still too young to remember these things, I'm grateful I get to be their personal chauffeur and guide on our little field trips.

See this full basket of beautiful red juicy strawberries? That basket was not ours. We ended up leaving with none. Lincoln either ate what I picked or threw them out of the basket. I pretty sure the farm would frown upon people coming out, picking their strawberries, eating or throwing them, and then not buying any. 

 Was the trip still worth it? Of course. I mean, look at this kid's face.

breakfast club

My breakfast date growing up was my dad. Before school, I'd  wake him up so we could go downstairs and eat a bowl of cereal together (okay, maybe several bowls of cereal together). Sometimes we would talk and sometimes we would sit in silence because we were both in the process of waking up. Either way, it was time I got to spend with my dad, just the two of us. We were our own little club, the breakfast club.

Right now, Lincoln doesn't wake up until I put Simon down for his morning nap. First thing in the morning I get my one-on-one with Simon. It's usually just me talking to myself while we lay in bed and I try to get him to smile. Once I put Simon down for his morning nap, Lincoln wakes up. And then it's time for breakfast.

I always ask Lincoln what he wants for breakfast, but 90% of the time it's our oatmeal. We usually sit at his little kid's table with the chair that's way too small for me and way too hard on my butt. I'm in my robe and he's rockin' his bed-head. We say a little prayer and have our little conversations.

One morning, I decided last second to eat outside on our patio because the weather here is simply perfect. Lincoln was pretty stoked, which made me ridiculously excited to see him so thrilled about our breakfast date outside. And then it hit me; I realized I'm making those same memories I had with my dad, but now, with my own kid. Naturally, I had to run inside to grab the camera. One day, I will look at these pictures and think how our little breakfast club was pretty dang superb. Maybe by the time Simon is on solids and he can wake up at the same time as Lincoln, he can join our club. :)

Honest Lincoln

According to Lincoln, he apparently turned "4". Actually, every time you ask him it's a different age. By the time we finally teach him to say 2, he probably will be 4. Silly kid.

Lincoln is quite the stud muffin and continues to crack us up EVERY stinkin' day. His smile, his laugh, his facial expressions, and let's not forget, his hair, which has yet to lay completely flat. We still get many comments from strangers on it. Although I'm getting tired of replying, "Yeah, it's pretty crazy," I know the day will come when it no longer sticks straight up and I'll more than likely have an emotional breakdown.

He loves waving and saying hello to strangers. He's ran up and given hugs to people he has never met and sometimes people I don't even know myself! It's incredibly sweet, but causes for concern down the road. I think the stranger danger talk may come sooner than later.

Now, quick embarrassing story.

I went in for my postpartum check-up a few weeks ago. The doctor had to check my downstairs to make sure everything healed up okay. I had taken off my bottoms and covered up with the sheet they had given me. Lincoln was running around the room trying to entertain himself while we waited for the doctor. The tongue depressors in the drawer must have lost their excitement because he ran over to me, lifted up the sheet covering me up, and peeked underneath. He looked at me with this expression of concern and said, "YUCK!" Then, like a bully, he laughed and ran away.

Well, that didn't help me feel better with my body image... but it was humorous, nonetheless. You can always count on a child to be honest and say what they're thinking. Just wait Lincoln, for the day I tell you that you were born out of my "yuck". Then we'll see who's laughing!!

Oh, this child of mine.

Thrilled to have sprinkles on his pancakes and even more so thrilled when a box of cupcakes and balloons were delivered that afternoon from Papa and Nana Z. 

Yep. Face dive into the frosting. 

Probably the 10th time he blew out the candles. Once is never enough. 

And lastly, to feed off his current obsession of Thomas, his little train fort. 

We love you Lincoln! Thanks for bringing some major spunk into this family.