Birthday Girl Big 04

Xelly woke up and ran into my room. She climbed on my bed and smiled then stood up and said "mom look how big I am- I'm 4!!!" Then he showed me how her Pjs were to her knees and now are not. (They are just to small)

We played and made necklaces and bracelets- are yummy cereal and waited for Q to wake up... He didn't till 11:50. 

All xelly wanted for her birthday was to go camping. So we went to the grocery store then home to start packing. She didn't even open her gifts and still hasn't. She didn't care about them because camping is what she wanted so campin is where we went.

Xelly at 4.

Is amazing. Is the sweetest. Has the best imagination. Loves her brother. Thinks moms the coolest and dads the funniest. Loves the park, riding her bike, coloring and anythig artsy. 

She is a night owl till she hits her pillow. She lives for bedtime stories and playing dolls. She's a sweetheart and I love her. 

3 was super hard so let's see if 4 is easier!

5 years-2014

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary on January 31st

It's my favorite day all year! 

We have always stayed local for anniversaries so we decided to go on a short trip to Vegas for the weekend.

After not realizing how far away our dinner destination was we ended up walking 1.4 miles each way. It was freezing and the wind was blowing so so much.

We wandered around a mall where we ate- I believe planet Hollywood maybe?  

It was a rad mall we kept getting lost but the roof was cool. I got a sweater because we didn't pack for cold and I lived in it all weekend

We got back to our hotel around 11:30pm and were so tired.

The ride to the 47th floor was a dream. 

The next day we planned to go see some fun places. 

We didn't wake up till about 11 so we skipped breakfast and ate at Burgr. Yumm!

The Oreo Shake wake to die for. I could eat the burger every other day. We were both so full we didn't eat the rest of the day.

Gordon was as excited to see me as I was to see him! Bucket list check! 

Next was Mandalay bay to the shark exhibit. I am obsessed with sharks so this to me was perfect! 

This guy was some Russian, German, or something man. I can't remember but Jacob knew about him.

We headed back to the hotel to go hot tubbing. It was my first time in 4 years thanks to pregnancy and no hot tub!

We checked out a casino and tried our luck.. We didn't have any. It was lots of fun to blow $20 bucks though. 

We left with our .17 cents and maimed stuff we could if used that $20 bucks on.

Later that night we hit up the hot spot. Okay I think I was the only excited one. The m&m store! 

And finally. The reason we went to Vegas. The blue man group.

This guy was my favorite. His eyes were extra buggy and I might have a slight crush. 

The show was rad but I wish there was more paint splash!

Vegas was fun, we laughed a ton and it was nice to be there together. we agreed it was probably the last time we will ever go there. We got our Christmas tree decoration and headed home to see our kids! 

Till next year!

My Xelly girl

"I have lots of nipples"

Today has been the hardest day for Xelly and I in a long time. Lately we have not been seein eye to eye on rules. I feel like she is 17 telling me she's going to date who she wants and I can't stop her. 

No matter what I ask her to do I have to ask 3-5 times before she listens. It's driving me crazy. 

She is the sweetest little girl and has the biggest heart but today we were just not ourselves. 

I tried to explain to her that I was in a off mood. She could no figure out what I meant. I said "I'm a little happy, a little sad, and a little angry today" and she just looked at me confused so I made a happy, sad then angry face over and over till she started giggling. Then she told me "your just crazy". She couldn't of been more right! 

After Jacob got home and the non listening continued I got so upset I told Jacob "I'm glad we're not pregnant right now because after today I don't think I could handle another kid" after I said that my heart hurt because I knew that's not how I felt.

Not every day is a bad day but thankfully the bad ones are soon forgotten and replaced with happy giggles and jokes. 

Xely is my best little friend. Every day she will randomly say "I love you mommy" then I reply with "I love you more Xelly" and she says "I love you ebent more" then we continue to say we love eachother more than something really big till we both give into laughter. The other day she ended with "I love you eben bigger than my baby toe" that one got us both laughing!

Bring a mom is hard. Putting my kids before me is hard some days. Having to take away a fun activity or reward because she didn't listen breaks my heart as much as her own.

I am glad I get this opportunity to be a mom and to grow with my kids. They sure teach me every day. 

Powell 2013

POWELL 2013

Powell 2013

I am 24 years old and I have been to Powell almost every year of my life

It is my favorite place. I will pick it as my vacation every time

storms, sunken houseboats (truth), concussion, big fish, sunburn, and cuts have been worth it

If you have never been- I feel sorry for you

This year it was only 17 of us but was still a blast!

Xelly and Quinton were in heaven.

Xelly was convinced we were living there forever. She was so confused when I told her we were leaving the next day. She responded with 

"Mommy this big housesboat and little boat are ours houses now"

Oh I wish!

We swam. 

Cliff jumped (even xelly off a10 footer)

Paddle boarded

Wake boarded

Tubed- Jacob and I won with the best air. Jacob got 14 feet I got 10. He ended with 3 chipped/broken teeth I ended with 2 bruised ribs and a swollen/bruised leg- we were laughing so hard!

Built a underground house aka the heart room

Fires with s'mores

Canoe trips

Fishing 

Trip to dangling rope to spit by the fish and eat ice cream

Lots of good food

Late night card games

Nothing beats being on a houseboat with no service for a week with people you loved at the beginning of the trip. I countdown each year to this vacation

So glad I get to share this beautiful place with my husband and kids

I hope it becomes as special of a pace to them as it is for me. 

Till next year

💙🐚🐟

so ready to find a beach and get in the water

Cliff Jumping! 

Xelly was not thrilled about her first cliff jump.

a day or two later she thought it was cool.

Swimming back after jumping

Best night!  

No such thing ask clean dry clothing

nothing better than some wind burn/ jacket rub

paddle board fun

Xelly loved the tube!

 splash

6 hour drive back to the marina. 

The kids- all of us- loved it. 

I cant wait till next year!!