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.

Just Another Park Day

We get our daily dose of fresh air at different parks nearby.  It was a good park day because I went down the slide with Kate for her first time and Capri conquered the rock wall.  I recently read an article about today's parents not letting their children take enough risk and the negative consequences.  When we helicopter we aren't allowing our children the great feelings of achievement and confidence that comes when they do something that involves risk. The article dug a little deeper and even addressed risk taking in young children and how it related to less reckless teenagers.  Anyway, the article was on my mind and I decided to let Capri play at her own risk.  The things I usually stand close by or help her with like the tall fire pole, rock wall, and monkey bars were things I let her do on her own today. There's a little video of our results at the bottom :)

"I did it! I did it! I shout to the crowd.  Climbing up the playground makes me feel proud!"

We learned this phrase from a book and insert various accomplishments.  She really did chant this on her own without being prompted; I caught it the second time around. 

Children's Museum

We bought a membership to the Children's museum this year and Capri seems to be just the right age. It's so fun to watch her explore and create. Kate had a great time too as you can tell by the picture of her sleeping in the sling, actually she really did like the birds.  

Now let's just hope we remember to go now that we have the pass!

Girl's Trip

 I am so lucky to have great friends here in Texas.  Last weekend a few of us took much needed, sort of spur of the moment, girls trip to San Antonio. It was nice to get to know these lovely ladies better and it was especially nice to get out before Lyza and I have these babes.... that was kind of the point for me!  I've only left Capri overnight when I came house hunting here in Texas by myself and Landon and Capri stayed in Utah.  We still don't leave her very often with a babysitter.  Capri is 19 months, I hope it's not that long before I get away again!  Even though Capri cried a little, it was good for both of us and the welcome home was so sweet!   Thanks Landon for being such a great Dad and husband.

I feel like the drive with Christi, Melissa, and Lyza was as fun as the actual time in San Antonio.  Lyza found a sweet deal at the Embassy Suites right on the river walk, and we ate good food, played games, shopped, and visited.  These ladies are great examples to me, I don't hear them say negative things about others and they are always pointing out the good. Besides being positive and uplifting, they have great taste in music ;)  I thought I was done with posting giant pregnancy pictures, but I had to document the fun weekend, swollen and all.  Only 6 more weeks to go as of today!