Many Updates

When I first started a blog it was with encouragement from many others. I did it mostly so our family that doesn't live nearby could keep up with our lives. I have now realized that I am never going to scrapbook my pictures and so I have decided to use my blog as a family journal/scrapbook. I am going to try my best to post as much as possible because I know that years from now I will be happy I did. I have just posted many new updates below. Please don't feel obligated to read through them all but you can scroll down if you would like. I had a lot of updating to do since we had Lyla starting with Talens 4th birthday. I put the most recent at the top.

Big Boy Bike Riding!

Talen learned how to ride his bike without training wheels today.

He was so excited, he went up and down the street over and over.

He doesn't quite have the stopping part down. When he decides he wants to stop he takes his feet off of the pedals and hopes for the best. With a little more practice he'll get it down.
And there goes my little boy, who is not so little anymore.

I can't believe how fast they grow up.

Trip to Payson-December 6th

Derrick woke up one morning and decided he needed to get out of the valley of the sun (although, it was actually cold and overcast that day) so we packed the kids up and headed for the mountains. We don't have a lot of cold weather clothing so we found whatever we could and layered up so we could go for a hike.

This is for all you women out there that want your husband to experience at least one day of your pregnancy pain. If you can't tell, Lyla is in a front pack inside Derrick's sweatshirt. He was complaining less than an hour into it.

Talen had to climb every large rock that we passed.

And Ava , as always, posed like a princess!

They had to have a funny face picture. Ava always copies whatever Talen does.

Halfway through the hike Talen said he had to go #2. We begged him to hold it but he said he couldn't so we strayed from the trail and let him go. It was a family affair as Ava stood to the side observing, while I held Talen up. I was gagging the entire time which turned into full on dry heaving. Derrick was behind the camera laughing.

In order to make things fair I made Derrick do the wiping. We had no toilet paper, so yes, we became one with nature and used a leaf. Derrick wasn't laughing anymore:)

After an eventful day we headed home.

Ava Rides Her Tricycle-Dec. 4th

Ava learned how to ride a tricycle today. She was so excited. She could never quite figure out how to make it move like her big brother. With a few quick instructions from daddy she picked it up with no problem.

Although, I think she could use some practicing with her steering.

The neighbors next door were having a birthday party for one of their kids. They had some clowns come and do some jokes and face painting so Talen and Ava went over for that. They were both somewhat scared of the clowns at first but they warmed up to them after a while.
Talen wouldn't allow a full face Spider Man mask but allowed one around the eyes. Ava is a little kitty cat. When she got back home she went straight to my bathroom to check herself out in the mirror. She stayed their for quite a while.

My kids drive me crazy with their cuteness!

Lyla June-2 Months Old

Dear Lyla,
At two months old you have taken over our house but I don't mind. We absolutely love you and we are glad you are hear. You are NOT sleeping through the night but have begun to give me one 4-5 hour stretch each night which is awesome considering you've been eating every 2-3 hours until now. I love to snuggle you and I could hold you all day long if life permitted. Generally, you are a happy baby till 8 pm and then you love to exercise your vocal chords for a few hours. When you lay against my chest you love to look up at the wrought iron home decor above the couch. Not sure what is so fascinating about that but I think its adorable. You have started to smile at me and it just melts my heart. I spend hours of my day just trying to trigger a smile. Talen and Ava love to play with you and Ava loves to wake you up. When I ask her to let you sleep she replies "but she loves me". At two months you, like your big sister, already have your daddy wrapped around your little finger. You bring so much joy to our home.
Love,
Mommy

At your 2 month appointment your stats were
11 lbs 1.5 oz -50%
20.75 inches -3-5%
so basically your still short but you've gotten a little chubbier!

We have realized that Lyla looks a lot like Talen did. Below are some comparison pictures.
Lyla @ 2 months

Talen @ 2 months

Talen was a little chubbier @ 13 lbs. 3 oz.

Halloween

CARVING PUMPKINS
Derrick helped Talen and Ava carve pumpkins this year. I've decided to stay behind the camera since I just had a baby:) He made a cute girly one with Ava and a mean scary one with Talen.

I was actually very impressed with his carving skills. The kids had a blast.

Talen always insists on taking a silly picture after the forced smile pictures.

HALLOWEEN DAY-VISIT TO GREAT GRANDMA'S

Every year we go to my grandmas house with the cousins to show her the costumes and eat her cookies.

Of coarse, Ava is a princess this year and below you can see Talen as a Ninja in action.

Very tired daddy with very tired butterfly on his chest. Lyla loves to sleep on our chests and I love it too. It's my favorite part of having a new born.

Lyla sure got passed around. This is the first time a lot of people have seen her. Below she is with her Great Grandma and then with her cousin Skylar. Skylar wore this same costume when she was a baby.

Heres a picture with all the cousins and a few parents that were dressed up.

After Grandmas house we headed home to get ready for trick or treating. The Monson girls came over to walk the neighborhood with Derrick and the kids while Lyla and I handed out candy.

Happy 4th Birthday Talen! Oct. 5th

This year we decided to have Talens Birthday party early since we were expecting Lyla to arrive but obviously I am late posting it. We had his party September 19th which beat Lylas arrival by one week (that was close). Of coarse, he had to have a spiderman cake so I thought I would just purchase one this year since I was on semi bed rest, but I couldn't resist when Talen asked me if I was going to make him a cake. So, he and I went online to find the perfect cake to make. Below was the cake of his choice. There were many more difficult cakes out there but I'm not gonna lie, I may have slightly directed him to this one since I knew I could make it.

He and his friends swam for a while but strangely Talen was one of the first out of the pool. I think he was pretty tired since his day started with an early soccer game.

While all the kids went to dry off he sat patiently waiting to open presents and that's NOT normal! I think it was the exhaustion sinking in. He loves to sigh and say "I feel so exhausted"! I don't know where he gets that from:)

We ended the day with cake and ice cream...

and a good nights rest!