The rest of April

How do the months fly by?  Here's a bunch of randoms from April 2014 that didn't make it to their own post.

 ^Landon's view from the 37th floor of the Exxon building on Bell St.  Sometimes Houston can be beautiful.  Notice my early bird is there as the sun is rising, I don't know how Landon does 5am every day.

 ^Capri doing physical fitness with the scouts.  Her push ups are looking awesome!

^Oh Kate, that smile is my fave!  Can't believe how much she plumped up in the month of April.... these are the before pictures.

 ^This outfit was a baby gift from Leslie Dao and is one of my all time favorites, isn't it precious?

^Our Thai Friend Panya sent Landon home from work with some Easter treats.  Panya and Mauy are always spoiling us.  Landon took the foodie pic.  We are becoming pros since we grill at least 3 or 4 times a week. I don't think we could ever get sick of grilled veggies.

^ We did a little road trip to Dallas.  The Valenzuela's had us up to their new place for conference weekend.  I don't know why I didn't take any pictures!  We had the best time and always do.  Gabe and Abby should be professional hosts, they have the most wonderful way of treating you like their special guests (ex: leaving pretty treats in the guest room) and like you are family and can raid their fridge at the same time.  Capri loved Londyn's toys and Londyn was a little sweetie for patiently watching Capri go from one thing to the next.   I can't count the number of times Capri begged Londyn to ride horseys with her!

 These handsome men went to "Brisket and Brethren" (the priesthood session of conference) and us gals went to a cute pizza bistro "Sisters and Salami" if you may, then to Hobby Lobby, and back to make spring wreaths. I love the way they turned out!  Abby always makes the cutest crafts, she is really just the best homemaker. Don't mind my front door being taped off, it's been there forever because I need to freshen the stain.

and as always there was good food involved with our visit with the Valenzuelas.  We feel so incredibly lucky to be in Texas with some of our besties.

^ "SURPRISE!" one of her favorite games to play. She really did want to pack herself up and go back to Dallas.

Love me some matching snuggle babies.

^Timing dinner and the house being picked up before Dad gets home is tricky because usually messes are being created while I'm making dinner.  I've heard about the "five O'clock scramble" and now I totally get it.  The days when dinner is all prepped and the house looks clean we go to the park to keep it that way for a few extra minutes!

^These two love baths together. 

 If Capri had any idea how much Kate loves Capri's attention she might give her a little more.  Kate literally beams when she thinks Capri is going to play with her.

^Two baldies!  Usually I can comb Kate's hair so it isn't this bad haha!

^ This girl.  I put a ribbon on her hat so she could tie it under her chin like "just like Mary Poppins" (in the chalk paintings scene) and she insisted on wearing her dress up skirt on her walk with Grandpa.  I was probably so happy to have her walk off some energy I didn't care that she looked like a character.

^Date night selfie.  Grandpa please don't go, best babysitter.

^ One Sunday morning Landon let me sleep in and took this girl to the park in her pjs before breakfast! Kate woke up minutes after they left, but Capri had a good time.

^We had a girls day and went to lunch with Melissa and Lyza.  I forgot to snap a picture at lunch but tried to get a selfie while Capri finished her gelato.   Some nice man came by and offered to take one, not sure if it's much better since my girls still aren't looking.

^ These aren't my favorite pictures to look at but they are still kind of my favorites.  I found them on Landon's phone when I loaded his pictures.  I didn't know he took either of them, but this is our day to day reality.  I really do love being a mom.  

We went bowling for Christi's birthday the Saturday before Easter.  We usually go out to dinner to celebrate birthdays with our friends so it was fun to switch it up.  See that score?  161 is probably my all time high, I got really lucky.  No pictures with the birthday crew dang it!  Christi is one of the most thoughtful and beautiful people, happy birthday lovely lady!  Bowling with babies makes you feel really dirty so Kate just chilled in her carseat most of the time.  Isn't Lyza's Alec an adorable little man?  He's about 6 weeks younger than Kate.

^those upside down glasses, she's too cute!

^Kate isn't nearly as fussy loud as Capri was, but she sure likes to be held and needs constant attention.  I do a lot of baby wearing and tried this wrap Mary Jane gave me since the sling was getting a little warm for Kate.  I think it's going to be our new routine for vacuuming and mopping. 

Notice that chubby bath time baby.... that's the April "after."  All that plumping up happened in mostly one months time!  The pictures below are my of two of my favorite baby poses 1. Sleeping like an angel 2. Baby stretches. So stinking cute.  Even her little fingers were stretching.

That's all the randomness of April! Few, maybe I should break it up more next time.

Nap Time

Capri sure loves having Grandpa here! (He recently got a job at the University of Houston and we insisted he stay with us while my parents decide what to do about relocating etc.)   The poor guy rarely gets a moment to himself as long as Capri knows he's home.   As soon as he walks in the door she follows him to his room asking for some of his secret trail mix stash, colors in all of his notebooks, and then counts his spare change.  My Dad's too nice to send her away.  I came across this situation and found it hilarious.... I'm sure my Dad won't when he see this but it's just too cute.

Great Grandparents are Great

Grandpa Bud is Landon's only living grandparent and he keeps himself busy driving around Cache Valley doing locksmith favors.  The first photo is him holding every key to Smithfield city, his sharp mind can tell you which key goes to what all the way down to the electrical box on the baseball field.  Grandpa Bud showed Capri where the toys were and Landon loved finding all the same toys he played with when he was young.  "Glad you got to see me!" is how we leave our visits with this jokester. 

My heart hurt a little bit visiting my Grandpa Stuart.  He was recently moved to a rest home because he was just too much for my Grandma to take care of and the family can't keep up with his accidents.  Right now it's a temporary home while the family decides what to do.  My poor Grandpa just wants to go home and I don't blame him.  I hope I'm never in this position with my parents or myself. My Grandpa doesn't remember me anymore, but still gave me the sweetest hug and kiss like he knew exactly who I was.   Capri and I were able to go back and attend sacrament meeting with him one of the Sundays.  I'm telling you, one hour of church is perfect with Capri, and the Seniors enjoyed seeing a little one running around waving and blowing kisses at them!  This picture of my Dad, Capri, and Grandpa shows that Capri's love for ice cream was passed down through the generations.  My Grandpa and Grandma Stuart had a bowl almost every night (and Landon's late Grandpa Boyce sometimes 2X day) so loving ice cream is inevitable! I hate leaving him to go back to Houston feeling like it could be the last time I see him, but then again he could surprise me and go for another seven years. 

^I snapped this at Jackie's wedding and think these two were happy to be together that day^

^My Grandma Stuart hasn't been feeling well herself, but managed to find the energy for Jackie's wedding and have us visit. She got that cute rocking horse and dog right out for Capri because she knew she it would make her smile as much as it did the last time.  It was fun watching Capri figure out that the life size poster in Grandpa's Senior home was the same Grandma standing in front of her.  I need more of my Grandma Stuart's creativity to keep Capri busy, she always had a fun project or experiment when I was young and knows how to make learning fun.  Wish Capri could have to opportunity to know my Grandma like I do.

Isn't my Grandma Garrett lovely?  I think she is such a pretty grandma and hope I age like she does.  Capri always likes to see what Grandma Garrett has in her closet to play with and this time discovered her organ!  My Grandma Garrett was so patient with Capri and played at her request, over and over again! I love my Grandma's energy.  My Grandpa Garrett passed last December and she has been finding all kinds of ways to stay busy. My Mom and Grandma met me to say goodbye before we flew back to Houston. My Mom found Capri a dancing slip for her dress ups and we had her try it out right away.  Not very many little girls get to dance the Polka in the parking lot with their great grandma.  These videos with my Grandma Garrett and Capri will be treasured for years to come.

I am so grateful Capri has been able to spend some time with her Great Grandparents, I know not everyone is that fortunate.  Capri would have loved playing in Grandma Neva's makeup and beautiful jewelry, eating ice cream with Grandpa Boyce, watching basketball with Grandma Rhea, and being sung "My Baby Bunting" by my wonderful Grandpa Garrett.  I guess she'll get to know those grandparents better later, but for now be comforted knowing she has them cheering her on in this mortal life from the other side.  We have a heritage of service, hard work, generosity, and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ passed down by my incredible grandparents.  I am inspired by their examples and hope Capri is too.