Our 24th of July

I've been playing around with videos more, they're so much fun to have! This is our evening of fireworks with the Jex fam. It was totally last minute and very laid back, but it was still a lot of fun!

Tonight...

Tonight, while at the Church, someone asked "oh, do you blog?" I had to clarify... "well, I HAVE a blog." Totally not the same thing. I keep getting subtle hints from my mother-in-law (oh, I wish I could see more pictures of my beautiful grandsons!) and not-so-subtle hints from my own mother (Did you know that it has been 17 days since you have posted anything? I may die lonely and miserable and then wouldn't you feel awful for not updating your blog as my dying last wish!)

So uhm, here's my update?

Grant got a new job a couple of weeks ago, he doesn't start for 2 more weeks though! Its in the same company... the same building... the same floor... different department though. He will sit 50 feet away from his current desk and making $2 more an hour doing it! I am very glad for this move, make things a lot less tight around here. We may actually go on dates now! *Snort*

Colby starts kindergarten in T minus 56 days. Not that I'm counting down or anything! He graduated preschool (erm, did I never post pics of that? whoops!) and then graduated his other preschool ( I didn't even take my camera to that lol). He recently got a bunkbed, which he thinks is the most awesome thing in the world. (also no pics of that... I'm on a roll!) He is very responsible with his new bed, he treats it almost with reverence. And here's a pic of graduating preschool, in case I never actually post all the pics of the real thing.

Parker is now 2.5. He is so stinkin cute. I wish I could capture his adorableness and stick it in a bottle. Dani, the little girl I babysit is potty training, so just for kicks one day I put Parker in underwear. Imagine my surprise when he did GREAT. I did not want to start this yet, but he's doing so good that I guess he's ready. One of my favorite quotes lately, while sitting on the potty, he asked me "Jesus go pee in the potty?" "Uhm, yep, I'm pretty sure..." "Jesus go pee in potty! Jesus get stickers?!" He has definitely earned his fair share of stickers for going potty. :)

Me? Busy busy as usual. Lots of photo shoots, not very much time left for myself. I love it, I do, its just very draining! I recently got released from my calling, which was RS Activities Coordinator, aka Cruise Director (ahem). At first I was very bummed, I really enjoyed it! But I just got called into Young Women's, as the Laurel Advisor. I am so excited! I miss YW, you can't beat the discussions and spiritual moments for sure. I am thrilled for the next couple of years as I settle into this calling!

Tons of things to blog: camping trips, 4th of July festivities, etc I may or may not get to it :)

Amy

Happy 4th of July!

This is one of those traditions that I just love. Photography plus my cute kids? Awesome! So without further ado, our yearly firework pics!

COLBY

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

PARKER

 2011

2012

 2013

I made my first printable!

There's lots of cutesie things going around on pinterest, adorable printables, etc! Well, I thought for sure they would have what I needed for Father's Day, but nothing that I really liked. So I made my first printable!

I just printed this out (adding my kids' names) and then tied it to a t-shirt! A bit corny, but I was proud of myself :)

Pic of the Day, June 2

The boys with their Grandma and Grandpa Smith. The sunset was gorgeous so I pretty much dragged everyone outside! I can't remember the last time either of my boys had a picture with them!

Pic of the day- June 1

During Parker's bath, he gave me this funny look and I just had to love it!

Pic of the day May 31

We had a BBQ with some of Grant's school friends tonight. It was a lot of fun, chatting and letting the kids explore. This was towards the end, when a cuddly and tired little boy snuggled with his daddy. Melted my heart to goo :)

Pic of the day, May 27

We have a field nearby my house, so I took my kids out to get a few pics. Oh, I love this sweet boy!

Pic of the Day- May 26

We had a small bbq in our backyard, just the four of us! This pic cracked me up :)

May 24- Pic of the Day

I may want to frame this one. Oh how I adore this face!

May 23rd- pics of the day :)

Overheard at our house...

Parker is a funny little guy. He is full of odd sayings that he'll just spout off whenever.

Today, he turned to Colby in the car and said "Colby, what happened you face?" We were cracking up in the front seat :)

As he's running down the hall chasing Colby he shouts "Colby! KNOCK it off!"

And my personal favorite, tonight as I'm getting him ready for bed, he has a Batman in one hand and a Robin in the other. I'm changing his diaper, and his hand goes down south. Never would I have ever expected to say this in my life, but I tell him "Parker, Batman does NOT touch our pee-pee." He looks up at me, and says "Ok mama. How about Robin?" "No Parker, not Robin either." Without missing a beat he says "Maybe Green Lantern?"

Oh how I love that kid :)

Special request for grandma mitchell

Grandma Mitchell bought these shirts for the boys, and felt they needed to be immortalized on the blog.

The big Three Oh

Grant, 

You turned 30 today! You are awesome. I love you. 

But I am not going to write a huge long letter to you about my love and devotion. Because you know, just as well as I do, how completely exhausting today has been. How both the boys have been crazy and how we didn't enjoy a lot of our evening. So, uhm, happy birthday. Maybe they'll be good tomorrow? 

Love, Amy

(P.S. here are pictures of your very cool birthday present that took me forever. You liked it. I think. Each paper sent you on a hunt for a present, you got 30 in all. Did I mention that I love you?)

Special Project Today

Its been a long, hard week. I love being a stay at home mom, but the stress lately is phenomenal. So many days, I think I am such a horrible mom. I focus on how much I'm not getting done, how naughty my kids are, how clean my house isn't, and the million things on my to-do list. And if thats not enough, I have so many goals with my photography business, things I want to learn, sessions I need to do and edit and sort through... sometimes it feels like there's no end. Earlier today I read a challenge saying "film part of your day, every day for 30 days!" and I decided to take it. I thought I might be crazy, taking on another project. But I grabbed my camera, shooting a bunch to maybe get one decent clip. While viewing them tonight, seeing what was in focus, what was cute, I kind of broke down. I realized how perfect my day really was. How I have the best buddies in the whole wide world, and can those smiles be any cuter? It was so wonderful and yet bittersweet, realizing I was missing so much in my stress. So I said, NO, this is not a 30 day challenge. I will finish this video NOW, so I can enjoy the sweetness of my life. I will miss these days terribly one day, and now I have a little glimpse of what it really was like right now. Stay little, boys. I want to hug you forever.