Break out the Pool!

Jer has been prepping our swimming pool, so we'll be able to use it shortly. I can't wait! I keep thinking of all the hours of fun . . . and also of how tired the kids will be after we swim (a very good thing). I found this random pic taken a year ago before one of our swimming adventures. Holy cow! I'm a little maudlin. The kids were so little!

Okay, Vegas friends . . . I'm extending an official invitation to anyone wanting a fun, free dip in my backyard (that goes for my non-Vegas friends, too, but the drive might be a little longer). The pool isn't operational, yet, but will be soon. As those temperatures climb, remember what I'm offering. :)

Okay, I realize that's a funky suit Jayce is wearing, but he loves it! Don't you love his fancy earplugs? After he got his tubes inserted, my customized earplug guy advised me that brighter was better. Between the plugs and the suit, he may be a victim of some serious mocking.

New security measures

After a virus-filled comment below (which I deleted), I've decided that I need to moderate future comments to avoid a similar posting. I know it's such a pain (I added word verification, too)!! Hopefully this will just be a temporary thing. I would privatize the blog, but a lot of my readers don't have Google accounts. We'll try this for now, and hopefully it'll all be fine.

Thanks a lot, you virus monger out there! Boo! :(

Easter fun at Grandma's!

Jeremy's parents do a wonderful job hosting the grandkids on holidays. My own parents are extremely low-key, so it's always kind of different for me when others go all out. How fun! The Pikes created an Easter Egg Hunt with all sorts of surprises for the kids. Jayce and Alyssa always enjoy their cousins, so that was an added bonus.

Jayce, Alyssa, Eliza, Uncle Eric, Aunt Amber

Bubbles and candy . . . the signs of a rockin' party! (Eliza's head and Abbey in the background)

Jayce is still looking, while Alyssa and cousin Carson seem content to observe the surroundings. Poor Alyssa! When will those bangs grow out? I can't contain them!

A 3 year-old boy can never have enough cars!

So contemplative . . . hopefully she was reflecting on the true meaning of Easter. :)

Alyssa

I haven't had time to upload the Easter pictures, yet, so they will be forthcoming. However, I was tagged by Kellie to list eight interesting things about Alyssa. Here goes:

1. Whenever she wears a onesie she collects various things in it -- normally hair accessories. When I change her clothes, elastics, barrettes, and bows will come tumbling out.

2. Alyssa talks in an unnaturally high voice -- very feminine. I think most people address her in a sing-song way, so she imitates it.

3. She is a talker. She probably says 30 words (at least). At 17 months, Jayce had said four words and a few animal sounds (although he understood everything we said). Her current favorite saying is "Good Girl."

4. She is tough! Jayce must have trained her well. She has certain ideas and stubbornly sticks to them -- regardless of the risks of a rough and tumble older brother.

5. She loves to accessorize, which boggles the mind. I'm not an accessory person, so is this need for necklaces, sunglasses, hats, shoes, barrettes, costumes, etc. innate? She also loves wearing socks on her hands.

6. She pretends to count. If Jayce and I are counting out something to 10, she'll say "uh, uh, uh, uh TEN." She repeats the last digit with gusto. She's also fascinated in his potty training routine and tries to do it herself.

7. She's a social butterfly -- constantly waving and flirting with various passerbys. She's also really silly. She loves making faces, shaking her head, and spinning around when she's in a hyper mood.

8. She chases dogs, she loves to sing and dance, she loves to sleep (yay!), she might be a leftie, and she has the biggest and best smile. Quite the character!

Hopes are dashed yet again! :(

The pain of being a Cougar fan continues . . . what a sad loss! Why can't we get past the first round? Why? Why?

Rise all Loyal Cougars!

Okay, I am instructing my blog readers to watch the BYU game at 4:25 (MDT) or 5:25 (PDT) on CBS. I am so nervous, and I really, really, really want them to get past the first round. Looks like UNLV will do it, so now we need the other, better MWC team to do it as well.

GO BYU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"On we go to vanquish the foe!"

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me

Jayce attended Gabe's pirate-themed b-day party last Saturday, and he was the only child who kept his eye patch and bandana on the whole time. He enjoyed playing the part. However, I think he enjoyed the drama even more . . . a microburst tore through the park and blew over the gigantic bounce house. Luckily Jayce had just gotten out mere moments before, but he had fun chasing it down. Very exciting!

Cruisin' with the sib . . .

Alyssa loves the idea of the battery-powered car. However, her legs are too short to push the pedal, so in order to ride she must be a passenger. Unfortunately, a passenger seat is lacking in Jayce's truck, so we've been experimenting with lap riding. Don't try this at home! (Seriously . . . can I get in trouble for allowing such risky behavior?).

Easter Egg Hunt Playgroup

I'm a bit behind, but last week we did an Easter Egg Hunt for the young uns'. Here are the highlights . . .


Poor Jayce -- his mom (me) forgot an Easter basket, so we had to wing it with a Target bag. Oh, well. It appears he had fun anyway.


If you look closely, Alyssa has pen mark all over her legs. She's become quite the body artist lately. Please! No future tattoos!!

I need to thank Kellie -- I stole this pic from her blog. I just wanted to include a good shot of Jayce's friends. Another highlight of the day . . . Jayce and Jackson (the one wearing the light blue collared shirt) chasing imaginary deers with sticks.

BYU Blues :(

Yes, we lost the MWC Championship game. I witnessed the carnage firsthand. Jer and I were so stoked to go together, but sadly, our babysitting situation didn't work out so I went solo (so typical for us -- we've had a mere two times in the last three years when we've been out without the kids). I just couldn't stand the thought of watching the game on TV while the actual game was being played a mere 15 minutes away. I braved the sea of Rebel Red so I could cheer on my Cougs. Anyway, we may have lost the game, but here are some BYU highlights:

1. Overall, BYU had the best-looking crowd. :)

2. The Cougarettes were skilled, talented, and wholesome during their half-time performance (national dance champions). The Rebel Girls, however, were doing moves I refuse to describe on a family blog. Maybe I'm glad Jer wasn't there after all.

3. A BYU fan won $66,000 in a free-throw contest. So impressed!

4. The BYU fans I sat with were spirited and civil. The Rebel fans seated three rows behind me were crass and profane. Granted, I'm sure some BYU fans sunk to that level, but I witnessed good behavior in my section.

Okay, my Rebel friends -- I had to spin this experience somewhat positively because I'm bummed about the loss. You won fair and square, although you were on your home court . . . . :)

What was I thinking?

"Life is pain! Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something." -- Wesley from "Princess Bride"

Hopefully that quote is accurate, but it's certainly true for me right now. I've been working out at the gym the past couple of months and decided to shake things up by enrolling in a boot camp M-Th, 6-7 a.m through the rec center. On Monday morning, as I was running with my group under the dark, star-filled sky, I wondered "What the heck am I doing?" Actually, I confess, I really wasn't thinking of the word "heck" (the other "H" word). The sentiment grew stronger while doing various lunges, squats, crunches, push-ups, and any other pain-inducing exercise you can imagine. As the week has gone on, my perplexity at why I keep going increases. My muscles are so sore I can barely move. I'm exhausted because of the time change and wakeful nights with the kids. I leave when it's pitch black and everyone else is asleep. Why aren't I sleeping, too?

Anyway, something keeps me going. Maybe it's the tone body I envision in my head. Maybe it's the need to feel strong and able as I chase my toddlers around the house all day. Maybe I enjoy suffering, in a way. Maybe it's a combination of things . . . not sure.

If you notice me hobbling, wincing in pain as I pick up my baby, or making strained expressions as I make any sort of movement, now you know my secret pain. Just, please, no hugs, slaps on the back, or even high fives. I don't think I could handle that right now.

Gratitude!

Last week I took Alyssa to see the cardiologist for her EKG and ultrasound. The previous visit had seemed pretty bleak . . . according to the doc, the hole in her atria would probably not close and we'd need to be prepared for surgery and all the other risks associated with her heart defect. Even though I knew she'd be fine, I had this underlying worry. With Jayce being so sickly the first two years of his life, I was used to the stress, but I was kind of tired of it, too.


Alyssa at six months

During a wellness check two weeks ago, her pediatrician detected the murmur. I was pretty dejected because at that point I figured the hole was still there. As I trudged to the cardiologist's office a week later, I expected that the news would be the same . . . hole, surgery, no improvement. I also dreaded the whole procedure wondering how Alyssa would possibly sit still. Surprisingly, she did wonderfully! She certainly wasn't happy, but she fussed quiety and was still during the ultrasound. Thankfully, the doc had wonderful news . . . her heart was perfect!!!! I was in complete shock. She reiterated that the hole was closed and that Alyssa would never need to come back for a repeat appointment . . . because her heart was perfect. I've been focused on her imperfect heart for so long I couldn't quite believe it. Immediately this huge weight lifted and I was filled with relief. I was bracing for bad news and didn't get it. I have a healthy child, and I couldn't be more grateful or appreciative. We had lots of prayers in hopes that her heart would get better, and now we have lots of prayers of thankfulness!

Called to Serve

Mom, Dad, Elder Meyer, Bryan & Scott at the MTC. As far as I know, Elder Meyer (Steven) hasn't escaped, yet. It's hard for the Provo boys . . . so close to home, yet so far from reality.

Disneyland post #10,000!

Okay, I failed to mention that when I went up to Utah with Alyssa, Jer took Jayce to Disneyland. Again, so many Disneyland posts, but seriously, Jer got some cute shots of my son. By the way, even though I was really glad to see my brother off, I was a bit jealous of my boys. Jer had a blast because the whole day was about what Jayce wanted. He didn't have to worry about Alyssa, Alyssa's nap times, carrying all the toddler gear, being so quiet in the hotel after 7 because she goes to bed so early, etc. The boys just did their own thing. As much as I love my little girl, she is definitely difficult when we go. She has fun, but only in doses (like a typical 16 month-old). Jayce can enjoy the whole day but is usually hampered by his sister. I'm glad the boys had a chance to bond. I just want to know when Jayce and I can go together. Jer? Want a weekend with Alyssa? :)


Seriously, I think Jayce is looking more like his dad everyday. Very Jeremy-like pose as well.


Jayce loves the Haunted Mansion. He especially loves the line, "I am your host . . . your ghost host. Waa ha ha."


Chillin' on the California "C." Very appropriate for that casual California lifestyle.


Jayce loves chocolate milk, so that's his special treat when he goes.

No passenger seat?

Improvise! :)


Jayce really wanted to ride his truck, but he was nice enough to share with our neighbor, Devyn. When he couldn't handle the separation from his vehicle, he jumped on the hood to ride. I think he had more fun that way!

Steven, watch this!

Okay, so maybe I fed him the lines, but he was sincere. He was sad that he wasn't in Utah to say goodbye, so here's the next best thing. Translation -- "Goodbye, Steven. Have a good mission. I'll miss you!"

Bowling . . . is it worth it?

Well, we playgroup gals were so excited to try bowling with our toddlers last Wednesday. What were we thinking? :) Grumpy management, distracted kids, crazy babies, the slow-moving balls inching down the lanes . . . hysteria! Actually, it was fun, but I think we'll try a different strategy next time: bring the spouses for help with the kids, and don't let the kids bowl all 10 frames (they get bored after three).


They were more enamored with the nachos than the actual game.


Alyssa . . . also loving the nachos.

During a stressful, competitive game, Jayce found solace with the fan.

. . . the reason the game took so long. :) He definitely lacked finesse -- his drop made everyone nervous. So cute, though!

Final Score: Jayce, 51 (with bumpers); Lisa, 70 (without bumpers AND holding a toddler the whole time).