Baby Green Thumb

She reminded me daily that the plants needed water, and those plants lasted a million times longer because of it. This was our first time actually being responsible and trying to own plants. Jake's uncle supplied us with some veggies from his greenhouse (pictured in the diaper box) that I planted into the ground. INTO the ground. They thrived, and I was shocked. That will be another post of its own, but we actually ATE vegetables from our garden last year. Say WHAT!

That pretty yellow flower plant was given to all the mother's on Mother's Day last year and Annabelle took such good care of it. //I really loved those flowers and hope to get lots more this spring.//

She loved filling up her water bottle and spending a solid 45 minutes on the porch drowning watering her plants. 

I'll put her in charge of the watering again this year and let that green thumb of hers expand. Maybe she can teach me a thing or two about keeping a garden :)

Lucky

//Six-month old Henry, you are the chunkiest!! I love you!!//
Before he was a wiggly, crawling monster baby, he used to sit in his swing and watch me make dinner. And if he ever got fussy Annabelle would rush in and make him happy again. He adooores her. And I adore her too! She loves that baby boy like he's her own baby and is always so sweet with him. 
I'm thankful every day that my Heavenly Father sent me her to love and lookout for our Henry-Boy. And soon she'll have two chunky boys to love on :) //She might actually think this 2nd one IS her baby.// She asks me every day when he's coming out so she can hold him. 

I don't think there have ever been luckier brothers! :)

In Her World

Wearing every single tutu she owns.
Playing tea party.
Telling me her letters.
Dancing on her tippy-toes.
Jumping like a fairy on her bed.
Baking something yummy in her kitchen.

I followed her around with my camera one day so I could capture her little two-year old world. She was so happy and proud of herself to have situated all 4 tutus on her hip. And while watching from the corner of her room she'd occasionally offer me a cup of tea, or a deeelicious potato :) She was so content to quietly sit and play knowing I was in the same room. Henry must have been napping so this girl time was extra special. I love the way the sunlight hit those chubby cheeks so perfectly that day. 

She's my girl and I hope we can always share happy moments like these.

Boating in June

    ^^^ This face!! I die.

We didn't go boating a ton last summer, but the times that we did were super fun! Our good friend Drew took us out on Utah lake one Saturday and it was great. Well, everything but touching the bottom of disgusting Utah lake -- Haha. It felt like you were digging your toes into guts and brains. Seriously so gross. But I did get to go tubing with Lissie for the first time ever and that was a blast! Feels pretty good to just scream for 15 minutes non-stop sometimes. Haha. And both babies were lulled to sleep while jetting through the waves, so the whole day was pretty relaxing. I think we all enjoyed ourselves. Oh, and Henry's cheeks plus that lifejacket were pretty entertaining. //He may have thought otherwise though!// I'm excited to get back out this summer. I can't believe how blonde Annabelle's hair is in these pictures - I didn't realize how dark it gets in the winter until looking through them. I think we're all looking forward to some sunnier days!!

Happy Father's Day -- 2013

First of all, yeah I know. I'm lightyears behind on my blogging. But I'm also noticing that the time I stopped blogging was just about the same time I got pregnant -- so it was to be expected... right? :)

Here goes!

Happy Father's Day, Jake! 

I remember getting up an hour or so early to make him this yummy breakfast - German pancakes, fresh whipped cream and strawberries, hash browns and sausages. (Yum -- I think I'm starving!!) We spent the morning enjoying it together and then headed off to church. I remember he even took wiggly Henry for the 3rd hour that day so I could enjoy Relief Society in peace -- truly a super dad!

That's not the only reason why he's super dad though (but really that hour of silence once a week is one of my favorite acts of service he does for me.)

After long days on set when I know he wants to walk through the door and collapse on the couch, he always makes sure to play with our babies. If they've already gone to bed, he'll often sneak in and hold a sleeping Henry for a few minutes. And I can't even tell you how many times he sneaks a dreaming Annabelle into bed with us cause he just wants to hold her. (Makes me a lit-tle crazy!!) He takes that sweet girl on daddy-daughter dates, which I know she loves. And so do I!

He's taught Henry to make car noises (cutest little boy noise!!) and how to make funny faces. Henry loves to pat his scruff and he always gives him the longest hugs. Those two truly adore each other.

I love listening in on him when he puts the kids to bed. He always sings their bedtime songs so beautifully and reads them books with such animated voices. He gives them horsie-rides to the bathroom to brush their teeth, and makes tents so they can cuddle and hide from "rombies" (zombies). //I assure you the kids don't know what an actual rombie looks like.//

He's taught the children to always thank me for dinner each night and take their plates to the sink - I guess at this point I'm just talking about Annabelle, but I know Henry will follow right behind her when he's ready. 

These all seem like such little things, but they've made all the difference to us as a family. I know he's a man of God and always listens to the spirit's promptings. I know he's constantly thinking of me and doing what will make me happy. I really love him!

He's an incredible daddy and my heart is full of love knowing that he's ours forever!

Heaven

Just looking at these pictures makes me feel a little closer to heaven. Tanya has always been one of my favorite people to take pictures of. She has such a fresh, unique face that is so photogenic. And taking pictures of newborns will  a l w a y s  be my favorite. So I guess what I'm saying is that taking pictures of Tanya  p l u s  a newborn was a dream! I took close to a thousand pictures, I just couldn't stop! :)
Julian is such a beautiful boy, and Tanya's love for him is just as stunning.

Welcoming Sweet Baby Julian

I got to throw  t h e  beautiful Tanya an openhouse-style baby shower a couple weeks ago. 

She let us use her lovely backyard and all her catering dishes. 

(I'm telling you -- I  s c o r e d  with this friend!!)

She also had the brilliant idea of having the baby shower once she had an actual baby to show off. 

It's my new favorite kind of baby party -- one where you get to come and hear the birth story 

a n d  hold a precious newborn. 

Who wouldn't love that?

^^^ My talented sister-in-law made those adorable stuffed animals for tiny Julian! Love.

^^^ Homemade mini apple pies made by my sweet friend, Julia. They were  s o o o  good!

^^^ Meet precious Julian. I love him so much!

It was such a fun evening. Tanya is a beautiful mother and I look up to her so much.
She is always so kind and welcoming. And funny. She's always making me laugh, and I love her for it!