Addie's B-Day

My little niece, Addie, turned two and her mom and dad put together a great little party at the park! This post is really just a gazillion pictures of the celebration with minimal captions...

Haley Homemaker whipped up this banner and these cupcakes!

Auntie M and her mad skills are responsible for the majority of these pics.

Whit and Vi

Two hooligans

The dainty little miss and her new puzzle.

New lippies

Tickle guy and little hippo teeth

Who doesn't love having a ball chucked at their head?

New baby doll, whom she insisted be undressed within 5 minutes.

Giving thank you hugs

Such a beauty

My favorite pic of the day!

Enjoying the cupcakes

So much so, that clothes became optional

Our barrel chested boy

WT 4 Life

Second fave

So happy to call these two family

Wouldya look at that pregnancy glow!

Goodbyes are never easy

For reals

Happy Birthday Addison Michelle!

Little Bits

I've become an phone camera whore, and more importantly, an Instagram whore. So, unfortunately none of these pictures were taken with my real camera, therefore resulting in the poorish quality.

Mallory and her niece, Lucy, came over to bbsit one day, Lucy dressed to the nines, and when Samson woke up from his nap he immediately donned her feather boa. I find it quite becoming.

"Westward Ho!"

I just love to watch him sleep. Like, I'm creepy or something.

Oh, he's just brilliant. NBD.

I think we've discovered our little bug is allergic to milk. I took him off of it for a week, and just gave him soy milk. Then after about a week I was at my MIL's and I didn't have soy milk to give him before his nap, so I figured it would be as good a time as any to test our theory. Two hours after giving it to him, he woke up upset, and within 15 minutes had started throwing up. It just killed me to hold him and feel his poor little body shake and heave as he threw up. The above picture was taken before he threw up. Doesn't he look sad next to Papa's homemade root beer?

It took me about half an hour to calm him down afterward, and then he fell asleep on me, which is a sure sign he feels like CRAP. I have to admit I did love lying there rocking him as he slept. Reminded me of his newborn days.

Doesn't he just look miserable??? I just hate sickness.

His new "whoa" face

Enjoys SYTYCD just like his momma

First nap in his big boy car seat. I took this pic at a stop light after leaving Riverwoods, and then noticed he was headless about a mile down the road on University Ave, so I glanced back at him to see that his head had just flopped down, and then........I rear ended the car in front of me. Awesome.

Let's just say I'm grateful for no harm done to any passengers in either car, (although the hit did jolt Samson awake which scared the poor little dude), finding out the girl I hit is my good friend's sister in law (!), honest car mechanics, car insurance, no damage to the other car, tail hitches, only a $500 deductible, and my trade (knockin' $100 off and trading for hair). $4,000 worth of damage later...and all is well.

Fourth of July Part IV

Just a lonely draft I forgot to post!

Dinner at Tadd's parents, testing his limits with the waterfall in the backyard, watching the Cul-De-sac of fire grand finale, a nakie bum (couldn't resist)

Festive wear!

It was a stripe infested holiday! Another reason it's my favorite holiday!

Wrappin' up July

Our month of July as told by Instagram

It's a Create-Your-Own-Captions sort of post

The Little One

14 months. For reals? It's wild how fast time goes by. Cliche, as that might sound. I've started to stress that I'm going to forget things Samson has started doing, and when he did them, so here's a little "for the record" type of post.

.Recently started hiding behind corners and coming out from behind them saying "BO!" Not "boo", "bo"!

.Also says cookie, hi, bye, woah, wow, Lyla, papa, mama, dada, thanks, baby, book, bonk

.Has begun to repeat and mimic a lot of sounds and actions

.When asked what a lion, dog, sheep or duck says he says roar, bow-wow-wow-wow, baaaaa (this has actually turned into haaaahaaahaaaa), and cack-cack

.Has discovered he can screech among the best of them, and performs this "talent" of his o.f.t.e.n. It's getting so bad that I have to leave stores early because I'm so embarrassed. It's really tough to ignore in public when everyone is staring at me wondering why I haven't slapped the kid yet. Our newest thing has been spraying him with a water bottle when he screeches. Yes, much like a puppy dog. So far, he just says "whoa" and laughs. Tadd said he discovered how to spray the bottle tonight and sat there soaking himself for 10 minutes. Something tells me this discipline technique will not be fruitful.

.He loves fruit, and it can be a battle to get him to eat anything else. Except for the fruit puffs. He'd eat a whole container of those in one day if I'd let him.

.He's super active, and can't even stand to swim for more than 5 minutes at a time since he'd rather be exploring around the pool.

.Is perfectly content to sit in his crib for 15-20 min with his books while I get ready in the morning. He especially likes to jump in it and land on his bum.

Will probably add to this later on, that's all I can think of for now!

Fourth of July Part III

Clearly the fashion theme for the weekend was stripes (as I feel every day should be).

We went to my parents on Sunday for some good ol' fashioned family fun. My parents had flown Lauren in from Reno, and were so excited to spend time with her, as were we! Aunt Lo had really missed little Sam, so I tried to dump him on her for the evening, but she had other plans with her friends. Geeeeez!

Tadd took Samson on his first 4-wheeler ride, which he loved (contrary to what his face might express). I tried making him wear a helmet, but the weight of it on his head was too heavy, and his head slowly drooped down until it was resting on the quad in front of him. It was hilarious, but I felt too inhumane leaving it on there long enough to get a picture.

Also, I had festive nails. Yay me!

Fourth of July Part II

Saturday evening was spent down at the Provo High football practicing field waiting for the Stadium of Fire fireworks, as is tradition.

Tadd's parents brought down their pool trampoline for the kids to play on, and also a pack-n-play for any babies that might fall asleep. Lately Samson has loved to play in his crib, so he was content to hang out in there for awhile and play. Naturally, he wanted to sport some sweet shades as well.

The firework show was one of the best I'd seen the SOF do in a long time, so waiting until 10 PM was totally worth it!

Four Parts of the Fourth

What a holiday! Stretched out over the weekend; we were more than exhausted once it was all over.

The 4th has always been my favorite holiday, but I quickly realized this year that having a kid definitely put a hampering on festivities, and it's so easy to get stressed out with the details and traditions. I just need to remind myself to let my hair down and ENJOY!

We kicked off the weekend on friday night at Chris and Tysen's gorging ourselves on quintessential summer sweets and treats and enjoying fireworks.

As I write this post, my heart is heavy for Chris and Tysen and his family. Chris' dear father, Larry, passed away last night. Although he's struggled with health issues the last few months his death was such a shock, and I cannot even imagine the heartache his sweet wife and kids are experiencing. As someone who has only known him about ten years, and has only experienced a small amount of the love, kindness and generosity he had to offer, I am so sad, so I cannot imagine what they are going through.

Larry was somewhat of a second dad to Tadd, and was there for him a lot in his teenage years. Larry is a lot of the reason Tadd made it as far as he did with his golf career, and I cannot thank him enough for all the support and encouragement he gave to Tadd over the years. He has deeply influenced Tadd, and will be sorely missed by the both of us.

Samson really enjoyed the little push car, and beeped that little horn to his heart's content!

Every time I turned around, Samson had something new in his mouth. Whether it was watermelon, ice cubes, sno cones or popcorn, he was well fed that evening and happy as a clam!

We were the party poopers of the evening, and left before dark. I figured missing one night of fireworks to put Samson down for the night at a decent time was well worth it, so we weren't dealing with a grouchy monster all weekend!

Midway Cabin

A couple weeks ago the girls and kids headed up to the Coxes cabin in Midway for a week of mountain air, crafting and good times.

Samson and I only went up one night, since I'm at the salon most nights. We went up with Shaley and Lucy on Wednesday without the intention of staying over, but Kecia coerced us into staying. And besides, before we knew it we had chatted and played so long it was late and dark out, and the canyon is pretty scary at night!

The kids love to mattress surf at the cabin, so I sent Samson down with Mazie a couple times to see what he thought of it. No change in expression. Sometimes this kid is SO his father.

Shaley, Lucy and I went down to a cute fabric store/boutique and a bakery Wednesday afternoon for a little outing. It was Lucy's first time in an umbrella stroller; she looks so tiny!

Sam loved to roam around the cabin getting into things we shouldn't, of course, and playing out on the back deck. The surroundings are so beautiful up there, and it was so nice falling asleep to the sound of the river below the cabin through my open window.

Unfortunately my sleep was short-lived. Sam decided to wake up at 4 AM, he doesn't do so well when he isn't in his own bed, so I tried to let him soothe himself back to sleep, but he wasn't having it, so in hopes that he wouldn't wake anyone else up, I picked him up only to find out he had soaked through his diaper, pajamas and sleepsack, and he was freezing from being wet. It was a nightmare trying to get him into new clothes, give him a bottle, and get him back to sleep all while trying not to wake anyone else up in the nearby rooms and in the family room. Then by the time we were back in our room, I had to sneak around in the dark and lie very still so he wouldn't know I was in his room with him.

Samson loves cousin Madi, and the two of them always have a great time together. She is also always such a great help to me!

Giving grandma a brief cuddle before bed.

Poor Bug

Our poor little bug has asthma. Whether it's cold induced, allery induced, or just plain asthma, it still just makes me sad!

We've got ourselves a nebulizer now, which is loads of fun since it's basically a wrestling match for five minutes when trying to give Samson a breathing treatment. Here's to hoping he only has bouts like this a few times a year!

Be Still My Heart

This is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen my little munchkin do.

Vegas Round Two

I am a spoiled, spoiled brat. Two trips to Vegas in two months? Granted this second one was for a hair show (hello tax write off), but it was still enjoyable. I am incredibly fortunate to work with great people who I geniuenly enjoy being around.

Driving down to The Vegs with Chelsea and Julie. Oh, you don't know this slang? It's totes all the rage.

We stayed at my friends, Jessie and Erica's, house Friday night and stayed up into the wee hours of the night acting like three girls in high school, giggling and chatting.

First item of business on Saturday? Hit the pool, of course. My goodness, Vegas produces some real weirdos. We had the pleasure of watching two strangers meet up at the bar and dirtily dance together. All the while in bathing suits, might I add. Guh-ross.

Saturday evening was shopping at the Forum shops and Cheesecake Factory. Isn't it glorious that H&M doesn't close until midnight!?

I want this elephant.

Hair show the next day, which was loads of fun. We attended a few classes, learned some new techniques, and explored all the booths. And yes, I witnessed a Nick Arrojo hair cut. I looked all around for Stacey and Clinton, but was disappointed to see that the three of them just aren't a packaged deal.

We were completely overwhelmed with the number of feather, tinsel and bling extension booths. Did I say overwhelmed? I meant disgusted. I basically want to rip these out of every head I see.

Dinner that night with all the stylists. See why I freaking love these girls?

We returned home on Monday, and the next day I couldn't keep this little one off of me, it was pretty much the most adorable thing.

Pool Prep

Summer...the most glorious time of the year.

BBQs, 4th of July, sun tans, sno cones, watermelon, diet coke (year round)...ahhh I could just keep going and going.

But what's summertime without a pool!? (Sorry Mom. Soon, very soon), and what's a pool without a proper cleaning? So the Cox family gathered together one Saturday (oh wait, I wasn't there. I'm useless when it comes to physical labor, OR actually I was at the salon), and helped Papa Steve get the pool and backyard ready for summer enjoyment!

Miss Mia is HOME!

Our newest niece is finally home!

After six months of planning, waiting, fundraising, praying and longing, and five weeks of Kris and Kecia away from home and family in Eastern Europe...they are finally home with little Mia.

She is the sweetest little thing, and such a joy to be around. We find ourselves just watching her every move; she is so dainty and full of life! It's so fun to be a part of her new life, and be able to experience some of her "firsts" in this new world she is experiencing.

We were able to catch glimpses of her perfect little personality and sense of humor through Kecia and Kris' blog while they were overseas, and boy was it just a tiny peek. She has so much to offer in this new world, and we couldn't have been prepared for what a little angel she truly is!

Awaiting their arrival! The tears started flowing even just when we saw their flight had landed (as Adrie points out above); we just knew we'd all be such a mess when they walked through those doors! The anticipation was almost tangible!

It was so neat seeing Kris and Kecia reunite with their three girls, and introduce them to their new sister! I so admire my BIL and SIL, and all they have done to raise awareness and give a litle girl a home and an eternal family!

A couple videos definitely worth watching!

Gotcha Day

Homecoming Day