MAX meets the Tulips

My little Max met the tulips for the first time today. Did I tell anyone how happy it makes me that our tulips are up and that my little boy can enjoy the outdoors for a few days? It doesn't make me happy that Max wants to pick all the tulips; I guess that's something we have to work on. Ryan got out this weekend and today and got the fertalizer down, the sprinklers turned on, the garden tilled, the lawn mowed...oh, what a glorious day. Forecast: 80 degrees tomorrow with wind gusts...the warm before the storm. Typical.

In A NEW YORK Minute

One of my dreams has come true. I've always wanted to go to NYC and to go to a Broadway show. About a month ago, my mom pitched the idea of going to NYC with her if the non-profit group she is a part of got an appointment with Glen Beck set up. I was so excited and immediately started looking for tickets (as soon as Ryan agreed, which didn't take long). Sadly I was disappointed a few times as she called and said that it probably wasn't going to happen. I finally put it at the back of my mind, telling myself that someday, someway I would make it to the Big Apple and see Wicked on Broadway. Well, just about a week and a half ago, she called me and said that they got the appointment with Glen Beck at CNN and we were for sure going. After two days of scouring for tickets and hotels, we landed some great airfare, my old roommate Lyndee offered her pad to us for two nights, and mom and I were off on our New York adventure. Oh, wait. Nothing is that easy. As I was packing last Tuesday (our flight left Wed at 6 am), I got a call from Jolea saying her water had just broke and her husband was an hour away. I dropped the cleaning, the packing, the organizing, and rushed her to the hospital and 41/2 hours later, little Cole was born. So, at midnight I resumed my packing and cleaning and with 1 1/2 hours of sleep under my belt, we headed off to NYC! We were only there for 2 short days, but we had an amazing time. Not only was the meeting with Glen Beck amazing and productive for the few minutes he had to squeeze us in, he had us come back that afternoon and watch an entire taping of his show in the TIME WARNER building. The highlight for me of course was seeing WICKED! We stood in line for 3 hours to get the cancellation tickets and we landed seats somewhere in the 12-15th row area! The night before we saw CURTAINS with David Hyde Pierce (Miles from Frazier) which was incredible as well. We somehow figured out the Subway (well, at least for our purposes), we ate lunch in CENTRAL PARK, we did TIMES SQUARE, RADIO CITY HALL and ROCKEFELLAR PLAZA. Being there with Mom was so fun and catching up with Lyndee was a little piece of heaven. I am already planning my return!

Introducing Cole Beatty

A new little member of our family came last night at about 10:23 pm; after about 5 hours of laboring, Jolea gave birth to this little beauty about 2 1/2 weeks early.He was 7lb 12 oz, 19 inches long. He's got some of his sister's red hair, maybe not quite as red but definately a tint.

One proud Aunt!

JOEY VISITS

A few weeks ago, Max's cousin Joey came all the way from Nebraska to visit. Uncle Steve let Joey spend a day at our house and we had all kinds of fun. Max and Joey share a special love for the Wiggles and for bathtime!Uncle Mark steals a moment with Joey.
I think I almost have an album of pics of Jeff reading to the neices and nephews. Here's another one! What a good Uncle he is! We can't wait until we see you in August Joey!

Refrigerator School

When I was yet a wee little thing, I seemed to have a fascination with all things imaginary (so I'm told), particularly, things that had to do with the life I so badly wanted to be living, but that I was still too young for.

When I was about 3, it was the life of my older brother and sisters that I coveted. They all had what I wanted. They were the privileged. They got to go to school. Not only did they get to go to school, but they got to get there by bus. And to top it all off, they got to have friends, a desk, a pencil box, sack lunches, and field trips (I'm not quite sure where they went; we literally lived miles from the rest of civilization).

Determined not to be outdone, I formed my own school...in the refrigerator. For as long as my mother would let me (and as long as the milk would stay cold), I would pull up my desk in the open fridge, and so began my early tutelage.

As we gathered for dinner, my sisters and brothers would all begin to expound on the happenings of their day at school, only to be outdone by my school day. While they had to settle everyday for a yellow school bus, it was not uncommon for me to ride a black, purple, or pink bus to school. While they had the same teacher and friends everyday, I had a myriad of choices; some days Mr. Catsup was my teacher; other days it was Mrs. Milk. I was always selective about the friends I let sit by me, apples and oranges. Unless of course we were on the outs, then lettuce was my playmate.

I had forgotten all about my refrigerator school days until the other day when I saw Max doing the following.

Although it seems that for the time at hand, Max is mostly interested in consuming what is in the fridge rather than reading and spelling with all of them, I am already having happy thoughts of saving hundreds on preschool.

Like Father, Like Son

DISCLAIMER: Ryan told me that if I posted any of these pics of him running (I couldn't resist; the XANGO headband was just too much) that he would black mail me. But he has no idea how to blog so I'm not too worried, except for the fact that he will see this.

On occasion Ryan will bring home all kinds of useless Xango swag from work. But a few weeks ago he seemed particulary excited about this little item, so much so that he brought home 4 of them--the XANGO sweat headband.

Ever since he saw his daddy wearing them to run, Max has taken a particular interest in wearing headbands. He will bring them to me when he finds them and have me put them on his head and he wears them around all day.
I suppose there are worse things my boy could want to wear. He seems pretty happy about this particular new trend in our home. Maybe Mom will jump on the headband wagon!

BLOGGING SHORTCOMINGS

After perusing blogs and hence the personal lives of both people I know, and some I don't (you've all done it), it is apparent that what you're currently reading, listening to, doing, working on and loving are all vital blogging information. My apologies for shorting my blogging audience of such obvious and essential information.

Currently reading:
Currently Listening To:Doing This:Working on This:

Loving This:

FOOLED

April 1 made a fool out of someone in our home yesterday...my husband would say that fool was me because anyone who participates in such a lame tradition is a fool in his mind. I say that is only because people with such sour attitudes are the ones who end up getting fooled! Our family loves pranks...thanks to my mother. One time she went out back in our alley way in TX and left one of those fake bloody appendages that you get at Halloween sticking out of the bottom of the dumpster...and I'm not even sure that it was April Fools Day. Yes, my mother is to blame for all of our insanely ridiculous but rather amusing antics. My husband happens to hate all things ridiculous or even remotely surprising so it is especially fun to fool him. Yesterday I called him at work and this is how I made a fool out of him...

Me:"What is Max's happiness worth to you?"

Ryan:"It's worth a whole lot."

Me:"Then you won't care what I got him today."

Ryan:"What?...More clothes?...Because that doesn't make him happy, that makes you happy."

Me:"Nope. I was at WalMart and this cute little family was selling these adorable puppies for $20. They have floppy ears and Max went nuts over them."

Ryan (after a long pause):"Tell me you didn't buy a dog."

Me:"Oh honey but it's papered and has it's shots and everything and Max just loves it."

Ryan:"You bought a dog. You really bought a dog."

This conversation went on for about 10 minutes with Ryan getting ever more silent and me explaining how much it would mean to Max. Anyone who knows my husband knows that the purchase of any pet, including fish, would constitute the need for serious conversation...of which would consist of his rationale of all reasons why we shouldn't have pets followed by negotiations of taking Max to the Zoo or Aunt Jolea's if he needs to be with animals.

Yes, there was no better way to fool my husband. Just as he was no doubt searching for the appropriate way to tell me to take the floppy eared mutt back to the WalMart parking lot, I reminded him of what a gullable fool he was on April Fool's Day. He didn't even care. He just said "Oh good. At least there's no dog." Today however he has reminded me more than once just how lame April Fool's is. Which makes it all the more fun for the fooler...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

MISS SARAH KATE TURNS 3 YEARS OLD(...YESTERDAY)
i don't know when her mother will get around to blogging this important event, so albeit late, i thought i should share this monumental occasion with the blogging world. our little red headed princess is now a mature 3 years and counting. i love you sarah kate!
(also, a very late happy 8th birthday to seth who turned 8 on St. Patricks Day; we are looking forward to your baptism day buddy!)

Addie Jo

My darling little sister Carrie has been sending me all sorts of cute pics of her baby girl Addie, and I realized that while I had announced her birth on the blog, I haven't posted any pics of my adorable niece.

Addie on Easter

Already accessorizing!
Even though she is a spitting image of her dad, Addie has her mom's style and spunk!

I love you Carrie! Hopefully soon we'll actually get to see you guys!

15 Months Today

How time has flown by. You have brought so much joy to our lives. We love you MAX!

EASTER MORN

I was really excited for Easter this year because I wanted to start some new traditions.

Ryan didn't have many Easter traditions as a child (although he does remember coloring eggs) so playing the Easter Bunny has become even more of a thrill for me! We also started the tradition of doing an Easter French Toast Brunch. It was a big hit! Ryan caught on pretty quick to it all as I was very surprised when there were 3 baskets in our family room! We have been sharing one iPod and it really belongs to him, so I suppose the gift was as much of a gift to him as it is to me. Now he can take his iPod with him when we works out at his on site gym at work.

I really want our kids to have fun memories as they grow up. I can still remember the 8 easter baskets lined up in the family room every Easter. I remember always getting lots of treats, a surprise of some sort, and a chocolate bunny. At some point, we always watched the Easter Dream as a family. Hopefully I can help create memories and teach my children why we celebrate these days in a way that will bring happiness for years to come!

EASTER ROCK HUNT

Max participated in his first Easter Egg Hunt in Tooele on Saturday. Every year, Grandma J. puts on an Easter party complete with delicious assortment of food (in which we always overindulge) and an egg hunt for all the great grand kids. He had no idea what to do. Still not quite sure what it's all about...I think I'll try to eat it.

Forget this...the rocks are much more interesting. I think I'll hang out in this rock bed for the remainder of the hunt.After the hunt, all the great grand kids gather inside and we discover who found the "special empty egg", symbolic of the empty tomb.

This year Camilla found the special egg.After the hunt, all the kids had fun playing with their bouncy balls Grandma J. got for each one. Max wanted to be right in their with all the kids. We had a great time, despite the lack of enthusiasm on Max's part for egg hunting...as long as there are rocks and dirt, I think we will be fine.

Wreaths & Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

Last night my good friend Michelle invited myself and two of my favorite other gal pals, Jolea & Emily, to make some these awesome wreaths. She taught all 3 of us the proper plucking of greenery, bunching technique, and how to successfully operate the wreath binder. The results were just amazing! In true Michelle fashion, these chocolate cherry cupcakes were awaiting us, the presentation as sweet as the cupcakes...and honestly, I don't know which I enjoyed more...the cupcake or the wreath making. The finished product
What happens when three moms get away for a night without their children
Thank you Michelle...my kitchen door has never looked so great!

Aunt Michelle and Uncle Dean

Before Max was even born, he had already become the adopted nephew of two of our favorite people...Aunt Michelle who lives in Provo and Uncle Dean, who hails from Boston. This past week Max had the fortunate opportunity of hanging out with both of them. Max took his Aunt Michelle for a belated birthday lunch on Wednesday and caught up with her on all of life's adventures since we last saw her...we heard about her travels, her new friends, her marathon training, and her busy job! She in turn heard all about Max's new teeth, his new found vocabulary and mobility, and how much he loves his daddy and uncles. As Max and Mommy were perusing the new merchandise in Aunt Mickey's store, who should drop in but Uncle Dean, who had just flown in from Boston! What a party in was at the CC&F!

Then on Sunday Uncle Dean came to our house for Sunday dinner. Max was just a few months old the last time Uncle Dean was in town so he had to show off all his new skills. Uncle Dean was so nice and brought him a new pair of PJ's and a BYU basketball. The PJ's were of course sporting the baseballs and bats as Uncle Dean has high hopes of Max being a "lefty" and making it big in the MLB.

Even though Max has 12 biological Aunts and Uncles, we couldn't be happier that these two are a part of our son's life. How lucky he is and how fortunate we are to have such great friends!