Spring time at Temple Square

Mom came down to visit the Bares and attend Jared's concert. So we were able to meet up with her and Stephanie Tuesday and enjoy a few hours at Temple Square. It was so beautiful, and so much fun to be with these two favorite people. I'm glad they invited us and that the kids did so well. 

We met some feathered friends...

Easter activities

 This year we decided to attend the Hill Air Force Base Easter Egg Hunt. We were shocked how many people were there and how far we had to park, by the freeway, to get there. But I really wanted them to meet the Easter Bunny, so it was worth the effort. Probably the last time we go to that one. Jojo was all in and enjoyed gathering eggs and candy. He was loving the Easter Bunny, but kept a safe distance.

Addie was not wanting to participate at all. I have learned that she doesn't like new things and being put on the spot. So, although she will miss out in many cute pictures and opportunities to look back on, I can't force her. It's a learning process for all of us.

I decided to make a cake for our family gathering in Arimo. Joe had to work at the hospital, so I made him a small one too. It was a hit, especially with the kids.

Last year we waited to color eggs until night time. And my kids were tireed and unhappy. So i decided to have my kids color during lunch time. And they LOVED  it! Easily could have colored a dozen each. It's so fun to see them enjoy in these traditions. Over half were cracked, but hey, they had fun.

Easter morning we woke up to Easter surprises. And we went to church, which is always a great thing to remember why we celebrate Easter. There were touching hymns that I have heard many times, but really touched me due to the significance of Easter.  I wish I could remember what hymn it was that I'm thinking of. I feel like it was a Christmas song.....

We came home to an Easter Egg hunt, where each kid had 10 eggs hidden just for them. Grandma was so helpful with the kids. She was my lifesaver. So grateful for her.

Jeff took this picture, perfect!! So cute, I'm going to have to blow it up. Love it!

St. Patrick's Day, Kiss me, I'm Irish!

We woke up to mischievousness!! Little green footprint throughout the house....

Green peepee?!! Oooh, gross!! Lol, funny since Addie is potty training.....we kept finding the potty full, and even her potty chair..  .

And at the snd of a rainbow treat, gold candy was found! Along with a tiny bowl the leprechaun used for breakfast....and a letter to the kids to watch out dor his gold.

I will always love St. Patrick's day and hope that we can invlude more traditions. I especially want to add in family history stories of the Loyd family wgen the kids get older.

We have also enjoyed living not quite a half a mile to a park. So we like to go for walks there. And we can't cross the road without holding mommy or daddy's hand. Sometimes they like to keep holding eachothers hands. Melts our hearts!

And Jojo liked all of the flowers and was excited to be allowed to pick a beautiful yellow dandelion.  Who knew they could be so beautiful? I guess only to a mommy seeing her child holding them.

And we have really been enjoying Disney movies!! And the snuggling that watching entails! Best friends!!

Dr wellness visits

Because of moving, new jobs, and therefore insurance taking time to kick in, we've been a few months late for Addie's check up. But, she is doing really well and we have no concerns for her.

Addie: weight 39 lbs  93rd percentile
and height 3 ft 3.5 in 90th percentile

We are potty training again, and really hoping for great things. Again with moving a lot the last 6 plus months, we've held off trying again. We've been practicing during the 6 months with pullups and potty sitting, but now she's going diaperless with only panties. Thank goodness for linoleum and wood floors.....!! We are on day 2 with 3 accidents and no successes day 1. And day 2 we've had 2 accidents and no successes yet. We've sat on the potty for 5-10 mins every 20 mins, trying to catch that first success......it will happen!! I know it. The joke is no kid graduates from High School with diapers.....I don't find that encouraging or funny!

Her panties are "Frozen", her new obsession due to her love of snowmen. So Olaf is a big hit in our home.

Jojo is also "potty training " with his big sister. He is wearing pullups due to mom's sanity of not wanting to clean up after 2 toddler's  messes. His undies are "Paw Patrol", we've never watched it, and therefore it has doggies, so he's excited about that. So she sits on a seat that fits on the toilet, and he has is separate potty he sits on, and the three of us hang out..... I'm starting to have a revulsion to bathrooms!!

He is also doing well with milestones. He speaks really well and is able to climb up playgrounds like the big kids. Anything his sister does, he's bound to do it too. Evdn the bad things....but luckily they are pretty good kids that absolutely adore eachother, for the most part. The other day we were at Del Taco, and their playground is a little big for Jojo. So Addie pushed him up each playform for 6 trips. So sweet! But then she got tired and encouraged him to do it himself, and he did!! It was pretty sweet to watch them.

JoJo: weight 32 lbs 80th percentile
And height 36 in 85th percentile

Them in their undies having fun while they are potty training.

February 2017

We moved into a home we're renting in Washington Terrace. We were sad to move from family, but so eager to have Daddy in our lives everyday. Having him gone 7 days in a row really got old. 

So now we're happy to have a place to call home! It's perfect for us. We have rooms for everyone upstairs. Then we have a big bonus play area downstairs where the kids can roam free. We have a fenced in backyard that we can't wait to play in when it geta warmer. 

Addie riding my mom's rocking chair her maternal grandfather Joseph Francis Belnap made for her  children. We are borrowing it while our kids are young.

I think this is the first time we've taken a picture of Jojo one it. 

One day at the playground, Addie came to me and said she wanted "snowpies" while pointing to her toenails and fingernails. I don't know if a kid called them that or if she came up with it on her own. So when she got up before Jojo did, I helped paint her snowpies, and she was thrilled!!

She is helping her panda bear potty train. Too funny!

Jojo finally enjoying his Christmas gifts of dress up.  

Addie doesn't have a big enough places to place all of her dress up things. Too funny too!

Jojo's 2nd birthday

It sounds so cliche, but it's crazy to think that 2 years ago, I was in the OR room, waiting to see my baby boy for the first time. To be honest, it seems like forever ago. A lot has happened in those 2 years. 4 moves later...one of them was 2 months before he was born...well, I think that about sums it up why it seems like such a long time ago!!

Our Jojo Bean is such a sweet, cute, and friendly boy. He is so easy going meeting new people, usually smiles but can often give intense serious looks. Often he looks at me with a deep scowl, then breaks into a big grin with giggles. He loves balls of all kinds and enjoys "playing catch". To me, his vocabulary is advanced for his age and he has learned a lot from his big sister. He knows the colors blue and pink, the shapes of circles, triangles, and squares. His favorite song is "Silent Night". One day in the car he just started singing it out loud, so cute! He had a high singing voice, makes me laugh. What a character.  He also likes "I Am A Child Of God" and requested it in Portland every night when we put him down for bed, " want God, want God!" So sweet. He is a pretty good sleeper,  usually sleeping 10-11 hours at night with a 2-3 hour nap during the day. His favorite thing to wear is zip up foot pajamas. He's a big eater and especially loves fruits, vegetables, and even green salads. He enjoys playing on the playgrounds, and our cautious little boy is actually the more daring of the two when climbing around the McDonald's type of playgrounds. The only thing that holds him back is his height (these are built for older kids), but with Addie giving him boosts, he keeps up with the rest.

He got 2 big balls, sunglasses, a few shirts and pants, and balloons. The balloons were a bigger hit and received days of attention, more then anything else we could have gotten him. Oh, and he felt pretty cool with his glasses. We've decided to hold back on yhe toys because they don't play with them very well anyways. So we're going to keep an eye open for a basketball hoop to complete his gift.

He also got a card from the Bare's with money, a phone call from the Hebdon's, and a blue, red, and white plaid shirt and teddy bear from grandma and grandpa Hebdon. What a lucky boy!!

I decided to do a 3 layer cake with his favorite balls: football, basketball, and baseball. He was very excited about his cake! He wanted to touch it after he got up from his nap, but had to wait until daddy came home from work.

Earlier that day we went to McDonald's and ate, then played in their playground. With the cold winter, we do this often. And the kids love it!!

We love this kiddo! He adds a lot of fun to our home. Addie adores him and makes sure he is included in things. He is always willing to give hugs and kisses when someone is sad or hurt. He has a big heart, and loves his sister Addie. They truly are best friends. Although it's hard to have them so close together, I'm grateful in many ways. They're almost like twins, doing many things together, helping one another, and we always have to have 2 of everything. There's a lot of competition too. 

My blue/green eyes handsome boy! Happy birthday!! We love you so much!!