Gus Philip Meets Grandpa Philip!

Today we took Gus up to meet the man he was named for. They got along quite well, And I love that they have the same hair-do. None on the top and a little row in the back. Or at least that's what Grandpa used to have.
Gus talked up a storm to Grandpa. Seriously a storm. And Grandpa even said what I was thinking: "If Grandma were here she'd say you're just like me--talking a lot of bologna!" That makes my heart smile.
Grandpa treated us to McDonald's for dinner. It doesn't get much better than hamburgers and tunnel slides. We really, really love Grandpa.
Oh, and if you're wondering why Gus is crying, in the picture taken moments before this, Jack is poking him in the eye. :)

Utah Happenings

We are having so much fun in Utah. Here's what's been happening:

We celebrated Tony's birthday. He is getting old. Good thing he had some helpers to blow out the candles.
Grandma splurged and got a pass to the Discovery Gateway. It's so much fun.

And of course we went to the zoo. Dawna came with us and the last time she'd been was when I was little. Max showed her all around and I think she liked it. Max even brought his train whistle from Grandma's house to blow while he was on the train. We finished our outing with lunch from Hire's. It doesn't get better than that!

Oh yes, and Baby Gus has been with us the whole time, too.

We love Utah!

Last of Gymnastics

I decided to put Jack in another session of gymnastics since whenever Max left for school he asked if it was time for him to go to gymnastics. Plus, I was starting to feel like I had a little more control over my life and could handle getting everyone out of the house early in the morning. Well, today is the last day of gymnastics, but we're in Utah playing on Grandma's new swing set instead, so here's a shout out to Jack The Gymnast!

Jack's favorite thing was still the trampoline and rings. He especially loved the rings when he realized he could climb up and swing off all by himself.

But his biggest accomplishment this session was going from sitting on the side lines and observing

to actually following instructions and participating. And participating the entire time. In one lesson he went from one extreme to the other. I couldn't believe it. He shook the parachute, pounded on the ground, touched his toes, did alligator chomps, made a table with his body, rode the parachute motor boat, and even did a somersault. There is hope for this boy after all. :)

Jack's two biggest fans are so proud of him...but they're also a little glad this session is over. Gus is glad because he is no longer happy just sitting on the side in his carseat during the lesson and me because Jack decided to start taking my picture instead of letting me take his.

Grammy

On Sunday, April 11, Blake's Grammy passed away. She was 94 years old and had been missing her sweetheart for 12 years. Like Blythe said, she really was sweet but sassy. During one week of the 2002 Olympics, Blake and I decided to get away from the craziness and go visit Grammy in St. George. Before we left we took these pictures with Grammy. I remember Blake suggested we do something to liven up the pictures, like stick out our tongues. And that sassy Grammy was all for it.

We didn't see Grammy nearly as often as we would have liked, but when we did it sure was a treat. I loved hearing her stories and her little laugh, and the boys really loved her candy! The last time we visited her house, Blake told Max he couldn't have any more of her candy, so Max took the candy tin and hid in the kitchen eating all those lemon drops as fast as he could. Another of my favorite things about Grammy was the Christmas card she always sent. I loved seeing her scratchy writing and then reading her little note apologizing for the scratchy writing.

On Saturday, Gus and I attended her funeral in Delta. And what a sweet, happy funeral it was knowing that Grammy is finally where she wants to be--reunited with Grandpa. Four of her grandkids spoke and shared their favorite memories. I loved hearing about Grammy's mission in New Zealand and service in several temples. And I had no idea that the candy tin was Grammy's "thing" until each of the grandkids shared similar memories of eating the candy. I loved being with family and several of Blake's cousins I haven't seen in quite a while to celebrate Grammy's life.


Till we meet again sweet Grammy.

Crazy

Today I braved the airport with three small children. By my little own lonesome. I'm crazy. But I like to think I'm really, really brave. And actually, the flight couldn't have gone better. See, we were on a flight with the Genealogical Society of Sonoma County. Which translates to--we were on a flight with a lot of grandmas who passed little Gus around while the other two boys licked their lollipops and watched a movie. Now all I have to do is get back home...

Accounting: It's Accrual Profession

Every year on this wonderful day, I can't help but think about the Phillip's Building on 246 1st street where I spent the first three years of my time in San Francisco. I really love that I had a big city work experience. And I even love that I got to ride the bus to get there. I loved doing the audits and sometimes I miss it. But I 100% do not miss the hours. I loved the Otis Spunkmeier sugar cookies, listening to show tunes on launch, and my very, very messy cubicle. I love that I got to travel all over--Texas, Vegas, Virginia, Mississippi, So Cal, Utah and Arizona. I love the team that I worked for and I really love the friends that I made there. These friends shared their General Hospital recordings, taught me how to do the butterfly on late work nights, unknowingly lobbied for fair housing at the state capital with me, and knew what it was like to go take a crying break in the bathroom. And I really love that I still consider some of these girls my best friends. So, Happy Tax Day and remember to love your accountant!

Two and a Half!

Today Jack is two and half. And this boy has definitely hit the peak of two-ness. He is such a stinker. Even he knows he's a stinker. For example, after we got done having these pictures taken and we were getting in the car, Jack said, "I am such a stinker--I would not look at the camera!" And he's right. He wouldn't. But between all the "never-evers" and "don't want to's" Jack is really a sweet, sweet boy. He loves playing with trains and dinosaurs, and he really loves playing with his brothers. Jack is Max's little shadow and copies everything Max does. Well, not everything. He is still very cautious and when Max exerts his daredevilness, Jack either calls for me to help or does the play-it-safe version. And Jack really loves Gus. It is my favorite thing to hear Jack say, "Hello handsome!" and "You're okay" while his pudgey little hand pats Gus's belly. Lately Jack has been finishing many of his sentences with "silly." Like, "It's not time for bed, silly" and "I don't want to go in the toilet, silly." And even though he's been paci-free for about 2 months now, his "yes" still sounds more like "yeth" and if he chooses not to talk, instead of his "yeth" he gives the cutest, most deliberate head nod I've ever seen. His little body is getting so, so big. Many people comment on how big his head is and his feet are too wide for many of the regular shoes. I love this little stinker, so so much!
{We did get this one smiley picture when Jack was caught off guard by a bag of gummy bears. His hair is all messed up because he had been laying on the floor refusing to have his picture taken just minutes before. Seriously--a stinker!}

Fussy Gussy

At about 6 weeks, my sweet baby turned into, well, Fussy Gussy. He is just so, so gassy. Gassy Gussy, if you prefer. The doctor even told me that this is normal. At 6 weeks sometimes babies break out of their newborn, sleep-all-the-time habits and realize being alive isn't all it's cracked up to be. But really, this little guy is so fussy. The doctor recommended mylicon drops but I was a little skeptical since they didn't work on Max or Jack. Well, they work on Gus. They turned this little baby into an old man. This kid can really rip one. But still, he was fussy. So, I did it. I made the plunge--no dairy. That was about three weeks ago and things have been going a lot better.

Now fast forward to this week. It's Easter. Blake makes homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. So, of course I had to try it. And a lot of it. I didn't want to make Blake feel bad. And this was a double whammy dose of ice cream--dairy AND chocolate! Well, nothing changed. Gus was the same. So Monday I ate some cereal with some real milk, a quesadilla with lots of cheese, and maybe a few milky way eggs. And still no change. I thought I was in the clear and went on my dairy-eating ways. But Thursday night it hit. I was up all night with my screaming baby. So Friday I went back to my fussy baby diet and today things are finally back to normal. It's like magic.
So, goodbye Fussy Gussy. At least until someone tempts me with some homemade ice cream again!

I Spy

Some classic I-Spy moments from recent road trips.

Jack: I spy with my little eye...a giraffe.
Blake: Is it an elephant?
Jack: No.
Blake: Is it a giraffe?
Jack: You got it!

As we're driving through an area with thousands and thousands of smelly cows near the freeway...
Blake: I smell with my little nose something that stinks.
Max: Is it my socks?
Blake: No.
Max: Is it Jack's diaper?
Blake: No.
Max: Is it outside the car?
Blake: Yes.
Max: Oh, then it's the cows.

Why do I think these boys are so funny?

Little Puffer

Hillary took pity on our car-less situation today and piled us up in her fabulous minivan for a day at the zoo.

But this wasn't just any trip to the zoo, it was Gus's FIRST visit! So, we decided to go all out and ride the train.

And I just had to get a picture of Gus by the Little Puffer sign. Afterall, it's tradition.
But to actually get this picture we only lost 4 of our 5 children. And that's only because I holding Gus. A small price to pay for tradition, I say! We did eventually round everyone up and then smashed some pennies to remember another successful trip to the zoo. Thank you so much friends!