July birthdays

There are so many July birthdays in our family. It is so much fun!!!

Happy third birthday Mac!

Mac is a pro at singing happy birthday to Mac. He occasionally gets angry if we sing to anyone else... So when July 10th came along he was thrilled!  We opened presents and had cake and a party with cousin Mitchell. 

Mac at age 3 is a deliciously wonderful threenager. He is so sweet and loving and can throw the biggest tantrum I have ever seen. Hahaha.  Mamas kisses fix everything. He always has time for a hug and a kiss. He loves the missionaries and his best friend Alex. Recently he told me his best friend was Mitchell so that is pretty awesome too. He loves trains and cars and the iPad. 

Mac is a super picky eater right now. Toast, pop tarts, granola bars and fruit snacks are usually on the menu. Other than that it is totally hit and miss on what he will eat. We love our supermac. 

Girls room

A few days over the summer I talked to Ryann and Cara about having Shelby share a room with them. They were super excited about the idea. I was working and sleeping and rich was recovering from surgery so he told Ryann that if she wanted it to happen she needed to put the crib together all by herself. 

Well ladies and gents. She did it. With rich giving her instructions she found the tools, brought it inside piece by piece,put it together, and decorated it all by herself. 

Shelby sleeps in it about 3 nights a week and for most of her naps. 

Baby Aria

This is shared with permission-  my friend Alexis who I helped have a baby shower for- had her baby! I was lucky enough to be there and help her and then later Come back and take care of her while I worked. It was amazing and she was a rockstar having this baby. Such an exciting story to tell and all natural. 

4th of July parade

While rich continued to recover from surgery he missed out on some fun stuff- like Ryann and Cara being in the Napa parade for the 4th of July. They loved throwing candy. 

Happy 3rd of July

Still trying to play catch up. Per tradition we went and celebrated at Silverado country club for fireworks. 

Cara did not want her picture taken. 

Rich stayed home with Shelby and the rest of us had a blast. 

Pelotas payasos

A good friend of ours brought the kids pelotas payasos "clown suckers"

11 months

I took these pictures when Shelby turned 11 months. Just late posting them on the blog. 

Oh boy this girl is fun. We always have to keep the bathroom door closed but she has figured out how to open our sliding bathroom door- we caught her playing in the toilet yesterday! Icky. 

She loves to climb and purposefully makes messes. She also "cleans" with diaper wipes and tibia hilarious. 

Surgery #52398

Or maybe only number 3 since we have been married- but who is counting? 

This surgery was the best of all because 1. It was planned 2. Outpatient 3. At the hospital I work at (fabulous medical insurance coverage) 4. In our home town and not on vacation 

Rich has been such a trooper getting his hernia repaired. It was an open repair with mesh so the recovery is a little longer than a laparoscopic one- but he is getting there. It has been 2 1/2 weeks and he can now carry Shelby for short distances and he is moving around a lot easier now. 

Thanks for all the love and support and prayers during this hard time for our family. 

Missionary mom

I 100% know that I don't know what it is like to have a child out on a mission. However, I do know what it is like trying to act like a pseudo mom for these missionaries serving their missions in our branch. I cook for them, make them do chores (haha. Sometimes they offer to do my dishes or sweep!) , and I sure do love them. They bring such an amazing spirit to our home and I love having them around. 

Every 6 weeks there are transfers and I miss them all so much when they go!!! These guys are the greatest and I always make rich remind me that the new ones are great too.