Motherhood Is Kicking My BUTT!

So... I am slowly catching up on EVERYTHING, including the blog! So there are 5 posts that follow!

I finally put my laundry away from last Tuesday! Just in time to do laundry again tomorrow.

We did get some yard work done today. Mostly in the back, but my front yard is still suffering.

I've only cooked dinner 3 times since Gage has been born! Not good on the diet, or the budget. Cooking starts Wednesday! (tomorrow is my sister's birthday--so we are goin out!)

Haven't touched the baby announcements yet, but I did finish all of my thank you cards from my baby shower!

Shaun has been on house duty for the last month! Good thing he takes it seriously and cleans up every night, or our house would be totally trashed!

Still on the list of things to do:
Grocery Shopping
Clean Showers
Finish yard work in back and front
I'm sure there are a million other things, but I am too tired to think of them right now!

We have been doing some fun things though:
NW Kids Club
Story Time at the Library
Carousel
Parade and Festival
McDonald's Play Place with Friend

I'm sure I will catch up on things eventually, but until then...

Motherhood - 1
Emily - 0

I'll keep you updated on the score!

First Friend Birthday Party

Maisey went to her first friend birthday party tonight! It was a Wall-e party! There were lots of kids from the nursery there and some older kids from our ward. Maisey had so much fun running around and being silly, and eating yummy food!

Daddy helping Maisey with the pinata!

The fam enjoying a fun BBQ and Par-tay!

Maisey and Porter on the teeter-totter. Maisey was too chicken to sit on the other seat because it went up too high.

Piggin' out!

At one point, she was dipping her doritos in ice cream!

Happy Birthday Aaaron!

Thanks for a great party Winz Family!

Memorial Day a.k.a Labor Day

We took Gage to see Papa for the first time!

Then we worked in our yard... a TON!

We planted these rose bushes in our front yard. The yellow one is for Gage and the pink one is Maisey's.

We planted our garden today!

We planted cucumbers, green beans, onions, watermelon, pumpkins, tomatoes, and sunflowers!

We'll see if any of it turns out!

The fruits of our labors! (or of the labors of the guy who lived here before us!) We also have strawberries and marion berries that re-grew from last year!

We worked really hard today... and I can't wait to see it pay off in a few months when we are eating delicious fruits and veggies from our garden.

My Old Man is 1 Month!

-- Gage's Likes --

• Sleep - and he is awesome at it too! He even puts himself to sleep for naps and at night time!
• Eat - Every 2 hours, except at night!
• Maisey - He loves to watch her, especially when she is being silly
• Toy Mat - He will lay on the floor on this for a long time and be so content!
• Cuddles - Doesn't matter who with, he just loves to cuddle!

-- Gage's Dislikes --

• Swing - Although he is starting to get a little better. He will now stay in it occasionally.
• Bouncy - Cries every time!
• Being Put Down - Except when he is tired or he is playing on the toy mat!
• Chocolate - That's right, he does not like when I eat chocolate! It makes his little tummy so upset, so I have given it up for now. (I know, it's so hard to believe! The sacrifices you make for the ones you love!)

Don't go too far, because he can roll off! That's right, I know from experience! He rolled off the couch last week. (Please don't think I am a horrible mom!)

He loves his play mat. The last few days he has actually started to play with the toys!

Just in the last week, he has lost all of his hair on the top of his head.

He looks like an old man!

Maisey and Friends

Maisey and Gage

Maisey and Porter

Maisey and Madi

Maisey and Kris Allen from American Idol! (I don't know why she likes to sit so close to the TV!)

Daddy, Gage and Maisey

Maisey and Aunt Kelsey

(It was fun to have you home this weekend!)

Maisey and Scott

She sure has enjoyed spending time with all of her friends lately! We love sunny weather because that means we get out of the house more!

Keizer Iris Festival and Parade

For the last 2 years we have gone to the Keizer Iris Festival and Parade. Last year, Maisey didn't really like most of the parade because of the loud sirens and the people in costumes. Well, not much changed between this year and last year, except this year Maisey was into collecting the candy that people threw out! She kept saying "More Halloween Candy!" I don't know where she learned Halloween Candy from. This girl surprises me more and more with what she knows how to say. Takin a ride on a Deere

Like father, like daughter--Carrying around their drinks from Panda Express! (Every time we go to my mom's house we pass by Panda Express and Mais yells from the car, "Panda, Panda, Panda!" Her daddy taught her that one!)

Grandma keepin Gage out of the heat! It was in the 80's! Beautiful weather for a festival and parade!

Walkin to the parade! Maisey was so excited!

Then she heard the sirens and clung to daddy!

Red Licorice + White shirt = Bad Combo!

Maisey got so much candy she had a hard time carrying it all!

This is one tradition that we will continue to do through the years! It was a great day to spend as a family!

We Miss Ja-Nel

Janel came to visit for 10 days and help out with the kiddos! Maisey and her became best friends. She has been gone for 3 days now and Maisey still looks around the house for her and knocks on all of the doors and yells "Ja-Nel"

Janel's time here was spent changing diapers, watching Dora, Sesame Street, Elmo, and Wonder Pets, reading books, singing songs, getting meals ready, cleaning, and pretty much anything Shaun, Maisey, or I asked her to do! She was a big help and we all miss her!

Hope you have a great time in Alaska! I bet you can still hear Maisey calling your name! :)

Sesame Street Live - Elmo's Green Thumb

Maisey was in Heaven!

A Pic of the Stage

Daddy, Maisey, and Janel

"Mom... This is SOOOO Fun!"

"Thanks for a fun Daddy-Daughter Date!"

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has been a wonderful day so far. My sister spoke in Sacrament meeting in her ward, so we headed down to hear her. Then we made it back in time for our church too. It was a lot of church for 2 kids and a tired mom, but we made it. Shaun gave me a dozen roses, Maisey gave me some chocolate, and Gage gave me. . .

THIS!!!

I have wanted an elliptical for a long time, and I finally got one. Main reason: I have 17 pounds to lose before my sister's wedding in July! 11 weeks. . . I can do it!

Also, Happy Mother's Day to the best mom in the world. I am so lucky that she lives so close. She is a HUGE help and a BEST friend! I love you mom!

And, a Happy Mother's Day to Jeanne. Thank you for the way you raised Shaun. He is a great husband and father.

How Great Thou Art

The closing hymn in Sacrament meeting on Sunday was "How Great Thou Art" and as I sung the words and reflected on my life and my family I couldn't hold back the tears. I am "in awesome wonder" when I consider all of the blessings in my life. And I can't wait until I can "bow in humble adoration and there proclaim 'My God, how great thou art!'"

I LOVE these guys!