Leaving on a Jet Plane--Don't Know When We'll Be Back Again

All our bags were packed, we were ready (but a little sad) to go.

Two boys watching airplanes.

We spotted another LDS looking Mom. Totally had two boys. Totally the wife of a dental student on a military scholarship at Temple in Philly. Oh the things we had in common!! Small world.

Don't let the cute exterior fool you.

Cute oldest boy hopped out of the stroller (he was counterweighting Brad's laptop bag, a diaper bag, a backpack etc....) which promptly flipped back. David ran a good 100 yards or so away from us. As I'm running through the terminal after him he's laughing and I can see that onlookers are trying to ascertain my parenting abilities. Some are giving the been-there-done-that-half amused smiles, others are looking concerned, others like they are about to grab him for me, and there were still those who I could tell thought I was the horrible mother of a possibly horrible kid. What can you do with an incredibly fast toddler who loves the thrill of a good chase?

Fast forward through the not bad but not fun flight...again I'm rescued by my terrible memory...maybe I could do this alone?! Maybe not. Depends how expensive the tickets are and where we are going. :)

Thankful to have a ride from a friend in a van that I covet. Thankful for that the snow had melted. Thankful for the Sunday dinner left in our fridge along with fruit and other groceries.

It was late. We tried to put David and Will to bed but those toys they hadn't seen in two months were pretty attractive. Sunday was possibly the only day I will ever be thankful for 1 pm church. Brad went home teaching while I unpacked and the boys played. I think it was a second Christmas morning for them.

Normally I'd use the just getting back from two months away thing as an excuse to be a little bit of a hermit but not this time! We've been out and about. The decent weather helps. I'm proud at the way we've jumped right back into our real life. You know as opposed to the wonderful and fun but fake life while in Arizona!

David keeps asking for Papa's truck but other than that I think we've adjusted.

Things We'll Miss

Sleeping Under the Bed

at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Really we'll miss the sweet way all the Grandparents loved being around their Grandkids. It was heartwarming to have that experience knowing we may never live nearby again! David will miss "Papa's truck" and "Graa" (Grandma) lots.

The Persian Room.

We had our wedding luncheon here 4 1/2 year ago. It was nice to take a trip back.

I won't lie, it isn't the Persian Room we are sad to be leaving. We'll miss the date nights made possible by the Grandma Noelene and/or Aunt Amy babysitting service. I hope we have not taken advantage but it is hard to not leave when they offer and you know bedtime is close!

We'll miss hanging out with lots of friends and their cute kids.

No he doesn't normally wear an undershirt only. Today was one of those "special" situations where it had to come off. I won't elaborate.

Grandma Kathy playdates.

My Mom's house is the epitome of spotlessness but how to you keep it that way in the middle of play time?

Goodbye Desert View Dentistry

Brad and the kids with everyone at the dental office.

Dr. Patel is next to Brad and Ann Marie is in front.

Thanks Dr. Patel for teaching him and thanks Ann Marie for keeping him in line!

Everyone at the office got a little movie night gift basket with a Blockbuster card.

Brad loved the real life experience in a dental office. He also appreciated the time he was able to spend observing pediatric dentists. Though we are anxious for "normal life" to start again I think we are all sad to get back to BrDad being gone for really long days. Can't beat the work week in dentistry!

Happy Birthday Party Will

Everyone knows you can celebrate your birthday anytime you want. Will decided he wanted his first birthday party with his grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and other special folks so we obliged. It was less than two weeks early and lots of fun.

The new kitchen didn't disappoint--talk about endless entertaining possibilities! We lit the new gas fireplace for extra ambiance. Pretty. The balloons decorations didn't last for long...what can you expect with several toddlers around?

The hat was a no go...

He only kept it on for a few seconds. It did take him awhile to make that mess with his cupcake. He didn't have the yummy food thing figured out in the beginning.

You can officially turn one before you blow out the candle (with the help of Mom and big brother.)

Papa Kent and a yellow balloon.

Both Grandpas talking about something interesting.

Train birthday cake made my BrDad and inspired by a friend. Thanks Jamie!

Uncle Mike--aka the baby whisperer. He will be missed.

He was the first one to make Will laugh will he was a younger baby.

My Mom with Sean and Kimmie. So good to meet Sean and see Kim.

David gives Will a "bite" or the whole thing of ice cream. Note balloon tied to wrist.

Grandma Noelene; of course she was the big helper to get everything just right.

Cousins, helpers, and train cake deconstructionists. Or in Nate's case (second pictured) a really, really good friend for David to get into trouble with. He can act as support and reconnaissance getting and doing things David can't quite manage yet!

Willie. You are almost one. We love you at this age!

Grandma Kathy got David a gift too. It didn't distract him from taking his brother's present.

Grandma Kathy rescued Will.

I think Will liked the bath toys from Aunt Kimmie.

Birthdays usually cause a moment or two of reflection. What I've decided and what so many have said is that time with our little boys just keeps speeding up.

“We should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future…If you are raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled, will disappear all too soon, and that you will--to your surprise--miss them, profoundly.”


Thomas S. Monson

Papa Jack

My Dad took advantage of having us close (relatively speaking) and came down to Arizona to spend some time with David and Will. We had a pretty low key week. Just hanging out and hitting a popular breakfast place. Brad and my Dad enjoyed really good seats at a Suns game. Papa Jack wasn't upset about the great weather or chance to golf.

Drinking their morning milk

Feeding ducks at the park

Watching the big boys play basketball.

So fascinating!

While Mom's Away...

The boys will play.

David decided he likes the sticks in our room.  Yeah, they were fun to clean up.

Uncle Spenser and his fellow dentist Venn came to town the night before Deidre left for Utah.  It was fun having three dentists in the house.

The three dentists

On Thursday night we went to Market Bistro, a nice little restaurant across the street from my APEX (dental internship) office.  Since I walk that way every day I decided to walk with the boys.  Of course Amy's kids thought that sounded fun so we decided to take the short cut through the mountain.  Going that way with Amy's kids reminded me of my trips as a kid to get candy and baseball cards from Osco, ice cream from Baskin Robbins, or a hair cut at the Barber's, especially since none of those stores are there anymore.

Hiking the mountain.  David seems really happy.

On Friday the boys and I went to Spenser's friend Matt's house.  Matt has three little girls who thought David and William were adorable, but we all know who David like best...

The Dog!!!!!!!

Matt also has a racing game for his X-box, complete with racing wheel.  David had to "drive" the cars first and "helped" when Daddy tried to play.

I'll be honest, by Saturday the boys started to get on my nerves a little bit.  After I locked myself out of the house I called in the back-up and met my friend Dan at Chino Bandido's, the best Chinese-Mexican place ever (and possibly the only Chinese-Mexican place ever).  The boys made a big enough mess and enough noise to drive the people sitting next to us to a different table.  Oh well.

Dan and the boys

Sunday was Valentine's Day.  We got Valentine's ready for them, even though Mommy was away.  They both seemed to like them pretty well.

Peeps, ducks from Disneyland, and a number puzzle.

Yay!

By Sunday all three of us boys were starting to miss Mommy.  David kept looking for her in the house, expecting her to come out of her room at some point. Daddy went in to work Monday while Grandpa watched the boys and got ready to get Deidre.  Luckily Dr. Patel got sick and cancelled her patients that day (maybe lucky's the wrong word).  I was able to surprise Deidre at the airport.  The boys were super excited to see her and Papa Jack.  

It was a good weekend but I think we all missed Mommy.

Utah Trip

Another trip without kids. Talk about spoiled!! Thanks Brad and kids. I was sad to miss Valentine's Day. But I never worried. Absent are photos of Dad, Brooke Duffy, Aunt Lavon, and Dustin Cammack all of whom I also got to visit with. Miss those BYU days, Utah cousins, and good times. And most important reason for the trip: it was good to be with Danielle-E. You can't explain a sister to someone who doesn't have one.

You Don't Need a "Formal" Nap

Falling asleep on the couch around 3 or 4 after drinking your milk will do. Argh!

Phoenix Youth Symphony

My youngest sister Brooke is an accomplished harpist. She is a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony and performed in their annual concert "Side-by-Side" with the Phoenix Symphony.

I was delighted to go because I'd forgotten just how exhilarating live music can be.

Brooke with her Mia Maid class--they all came to support her.

Look closely her harp is the first of three in the background.

After the concert

Moving the harp is a full time job!

Papa David

My grandparents came down to see a concert, and meet my cousins new baby among other things. You may not believe it but just before this shot was taken David had his head turned and was listening intently as Brooke played her harp. At least there is something he finds calming!

"Papa Dae-did"

We even got our little David to say Papa David. It was really sweet.

Put Me in the Zoo With Dad

If the Zoo was so much fun on Wednesday why not go back on Saturday with Dad?

Elephant

Pumpkins at the playground

Feeding the giraffe

Letting Mom feed the giraffe instead

A typical family photo

Put Me in the Zoo

Going to the Phoenix Zoo with your cousins is a lot of fun. Especially when you are able to walk instead of ride in the stroller. Having two or three other big people around makes a difference!

David looking at a bird with his NateJer,

I think he is figuring out they are two different people.

I can't get over how much David loves following his cousins. If only I could take the big boys back to Boston. David ignored his photographer auntie. I don't think he tried to look or smile for one shot!

Will enjoyed himself. There was as much running around and playing and of course picture taking as anything else. In fact there might have been more of that than looking at animals.

Love the tractor

Will wasn't so fond of the petting zoo goats and gravitated toward the fence instead.

An angelic pose from Nate.

I'm glad I waited around for a free library pass especially since some of the best animals weren't out. I left my purse at the petting zoo. It wasn't fun walk-running all the way back from the parking lot in bootheels to get it (still there PHEW) and thinking I'd make Amy late for the girls dentist appointment. I can't say this is the first time I've left something behind.

In any case it was a lovely morning. It was nice to have company in the car on the way back. Will and David enjoyed having Nate in the backseat. Hopefully Jared didn't think I was too boring.