My Valentine/My Family

Of late I have been accused that I don't actively review our family blog. Shay has posted several sweet comments about me, but it takes me a few days (after her hints and encouragement) to review what she has written. She has even asked me to make a few posts on my own, but for some unknown reason (actually, I don't want to come across as lame) I have not taken her up on her offer. Well, now it is time for me to provide some quick comments on what a lucky life I live. I am extremly grateful for Shay and her desire to be such a great wife and mother. She challenges me to be a better person. I adore her ability to simplify when I tend to make life's obstacles more complex. She worries about the well beings of others and truly understands what it means to be charitable. She encourages Tyson to be silly and have fun, but at the same time guides him when a life lesson needs to be taught. I know that she loves me and wants our family to be happy. I love her and I am so grateful that she allows me to be her husband.

Alright, cheesy stuff is now over. Yesterday, before Tyson jumped in the shower he came up to me and said, "look Dad, if I jump up and down my wiener wiggles." He then ran to Shay to show her the same fancy trick.

Welcome back my love....

Since having Lily I have had to stay away from chocolate for nursing reasons. It didn't agree with her little belly. And for some reason I can't nurse for more than 4 months before I run out of milk. (We learned with Tyson the hard way, I was starving the poor kid, he only gain 1ounce from his 2month visit to his 4month visit!) So we gave Lily one formula bottle a day from the get go.... Long story short, I am done nursing.....WELCOME BACK CHOCOLATE!!!! It was probably a good thing I had to stay away from it to help loose the baby weight, but I am sure excited to enjoy it again! (It was hard to go through Halloween and Christmas without chocolate!)

I would crave things with chocolate, so I improvised....chocolate chip cookies without the chips.

Tyson called these "clean cookies" He liked them better than the ones with chips in them. Brandon thought it was gross, but it satisfied my sweet cookie tooth!

Other "Clean" things...

Banana's without brown spots

Cereal without milk

Tyson is one funny kid!

OUCH!

Brandon is in a weight loss competition at work that started just before Christmas. (He is doing excellent by the way, he has lost 18lbs and 1 pant size! WAY TO GO B!) We have been trying to eat smaller and healthier portions and we have been working out! We started the P90X program (thanks Ange and Cam!) and man is it awesome! There are some downfalls though...two days ago I did the legs and back workout (which I have done before...) and I must have worked really hard this time because I am still sore! Today is a little bit better, but yesterday was killer (doing Kenpo yesterday probably didn't help!) The worst was when I had to go to the bathroom, the toilet is just low enough that it would kill me to sit down and get back up! The stairs haven't been my friend either, especially when I am following Tyson, because he thinks it is fun to do crazy things and go slow up the stairs! Crazy Tyson!
The upside to it all is "No Pain, No Gain" I am going to have one hot body when we are all done!!! YAHOOOO!!!

8 Years!!!

8 Years ago today we got married! It was a perfect day. There was fresh snow on the ground, but the skies were clear and blue. It was a beautiful day! Don't we look so young in these pictures...oh... we were young! I really can't believe it has been 8 years. Some days it seems longer, but most of the time it feels like it has flown by!

We have done a lot in these 8 years...3 college degrees (one for me, two for Brandon)...had 2 beautiful kids...bought a home...Brandon has had who knows how many jobs...I can stay home with our kids...and most important, we went to The Price is Right! ;)

It has been a great road and I am sure it is only going to get better!

We celebrated our anniversary on Saturday. (Thanks Nana, Papa, Zak, Colin and Cori for watching our kids! It takes an army ;)

I have to give a shout out to the Shane Company what a great jewelry store. There warranties, prices, customer service I feel are unbeatable! The reason for the shout out is we went to Shane Co. and got me a new ring. I have been really hard on my ring (already replaced the crown around the center diamond because the prongs kept moving, and lost a side diamond because I broke a prong) We went with the intent of finding a new setting and putting my diamond in it, but the ultimate result is a new ring and either fix the old ring and give it to Lily one day, or take the diamonds from the old ring and make a pendant and give it to Lily one day. I am still deciding! I was pretty set that I didn't need a new diamond, but Brandon was pretty adamant that he wanted us to upgrade. ( I think he feels bad that when we were getting engaged he told me that if I wanted side diamonds my center diamond was going to be small!;) I loved my first ring, and the center diamond was perfect! I am very excited for my new ring though. It is just a simple band, no side diamonds, and a beautiful center diamond! I get it on Friday!

Then we saw the movie Marley and Me we were laughing hysterically! At the beginning of the movie it made me want to get a dog, very shortly after it

made me never want to have a dog, especially with babies at home! It was a very cute movie. I highly recommend it! Then we finished off the night at Pei Wei for dinner. It was a fun day!

I love you Brandon! Happy 8 years!!

(Tyson took this picture of us! Isn't he such a good photographer!)

Photographer Tyson on a Jungle Safari

Tyson was watching cartoons the other morning and one show did a jungle safari so, Tyson decided that we needed to go on a jungle safari too. WARNING: It got pretty dangerous...

Self portrait of my tour guide Tyson! We saw a zebra...

A lion and a turtle.....

A frog and a lion...

A bear and an elephant...

A big bear and a baby giraffe....

A crazy monkey and a daddy giraffe...

I was a great safari!

Our Lily is 3 Months!

Our cute little Lily is 3 months old today! I know everyone says it, but I can't believe how fast it has gone!!

She is the best little baby! She occasionally sleeps through the night, but if she wakes up it is only once! If she is not hungry we can put her down anywhere and she will hang out! She is great when I am working out, she just lays on the floor and watches!

She is smiling more and more everyday! We almost got her to laugh the other day!

She loves her big brother and is constantly watching his every move! (Although sometimes he moves too much or too fast and scares her!) She is such a fun baby, We love her to pieces!!! Happy 3 months Lily!!!

Random Stuff....

Here are some random pictures that I wanted to post.....

When all of Brandon's family was in town for Thanksgiving we went to the zoo. These are all of Tyson's cousins on Brandon's side (and Uncle Zak). Zak, Chandler, Addie, Paige, Tyson and Brinley. (I was feeding Lily in the car ;) What gorilla's!

Lately Tyson has been falling asleep in the car. He has been missing some of his naps because of the busy holidays! We thought this was so cute, both kids asleep and Tyson using Lily's car seat as a pillow!

The other night Brandon was getting Tyson ready for bed and I was doing laundry with Lily on the floor. I put some clothes away and noticed that Lily wasn't were I had left her and this is what I found...Dad reading stories to his cute kids! I love it!!!

Our cute Lily in her exersaucer! She is still too small, and I have to prop a blanket around her, but it was too cute!

This is Tyson's new favorite thing to do... play computer games. We go to PBSKIDS or PlayhouseDisney and he goes to town! I am shocked at how smart little kids are and how quickly they learn to use the computer! It is so much fun to watch him think and play!

Random, I know, but I don't care!