May - The Beginnings of Summer

May was an awesome month! We had loads of fun and enjoyed new places and new summer activities. I'll begin with our at-home highlights. Jay got his first x-ray's and first out of the routine doctor visit. He was favoring his right foot for about a week. I kept an eye on it and when it wasn't getting better I called the doctor. As he examined Jay, he determined we should get an x-ray based on Jay's response to applying pressure. Jay was as wiggly as you would imagine for the x-ray techs. One tech couldn't handle him, was getting angry at him for moving and I was grateful when the other tech took over for her. They presumably got the best pictures they could and we went home. I was relieved later in the afternoon when they called to say nothing seemed out of the ordinary on the x-ray and to keep watching to be sure he improves. Jay has a high pain tolerance so I knew he could have broken it without us knowing. I also knew him having a cast would have been awful. Our prayers were heard and answered that day! Continuing on the Jay thread, I'll share some pictures of Jay moments. 

My two handsome men getting ready for church

Jay loves loading his truck and driving it around, he was troubled he could get both boxes of diapers.

Jay's sleeping habits are interesting and usually involve taking off clothes or unloading the dresser. This time, he could only figure out how to get one leg out.

And, here he was wrapped in a pair of pants.

Another fun highlight in May was M's work BBQ. We got to meet a few of the people we hear about all the time, which was fun. Jay stole the show, as usual, and everyone loved him. There was even one lady who asked Jay if he'd accepted his internship offer yet. Jay got a bubble gun, which he continues to think is the best thing in the world. We also signed up for the family races, where M and Jay competed in the three-legged race and the potato sack race. They crushed the three-legged race!

A bubble gun, makes a kids dreams come true

Potato sack race

The 3-legged dream team

Jay loved all the fun things to do and explore.

Mothers' Day is always special when you're married to M. He's always great at remembering, and spoils me silly every year. I love him and I am so grateful for him! I love being a mother, and it's even a sweeter holiday this year for me because I get to spend every day just being a mom. I've always wanted to be a mom, a stay-at-home mom. My dream became my reality this year, thanks to a loving husband who has worked really hard to be able to provide solely for our family. This year for Mothers' Day he made me a delicious peanut butter pie, and gave me some of my favorite other treats. 

Sometimes motherhood looks like this.

Other times it looks like this, and it's all I can do to hold on.

Someone in our ward donated flowers, and they've been so fun to have on our porch!

I also learned how to make bibs. I had a couple of friends having babies, and decided the best gift would be a bib and it would be something new to learn. Oma was an excellent teacher, and took pictures of every step to help me along the way, I could not have done it without her! I enjoyed learning a new skill and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. 

Towards the middle of the month, we got to watch Kade for a day. Abby had surgery, so Kade got to stay and play with us. He was a super trooper, and happy almost all of the time. I enjoyed watching the boys play together and I look forward to the day when they enjoy playing with each other. Right now, Jay is more of a nuisance to Kade than a friend but I know in a couple years that will change and they will have so much fun playing. 

I also tried some other new projects. I made this measurement board. I love measurement boards, and I want to be sure we are documenting height on something we can take with us wherever we go. I love how it turned out. I also started a garden! I transplanted right before our trip to AZ, when the weather was still very volatile. When we got back, everything was dead except my pepper plants and one squash. It was a little disheartening, but I definitely realized they might not survive the transplant and the little gal who watered for me did a great job caring for everything.

Measurement board

The little garden

We were blessed to be able to visit Arizona for a couple weeks again this year. It's a great way to escape the cold Colorado weather and start summer early. Klaire picked us up from the airport and took us to her beautiful home in Tartesso/Buckeye. I love seeing my siblings homes, I can now much more easily picture her in her place. We enjoyed hanging around the house and chatting most of the afternoon. Jay and Stanton had a great time in the water on the porch, and Jay introduced Stanton to a whole new set of toys, including the broom, shoves, and other tools which Stanton usually never touched (oops!). We made delicious treats, a yummy dinner, played a game and hit the hay. Klaire and I went running in the morning, and then we headed to Oma and Papa's house during nap time. 

Jay carried this suitcase around the house the whole day before we left.

The early morning rays of sunshine brought so much joy as we embarked on our vacation!

We take up a whole row now

Jay and Stanton, learning to play as only-children

Aunt Klaire is so fun!

M worked several of the days we were at Oma and Papa's, but was also able to take some days off. He tried to stay as close to Mountain Time as possible so he got off earlier every day too. We loved the pool time, helping Papa clean up the grounds of the church, relaxing in the new misters on the porch, and watching Jay and Stanton run around like crazy kids. Our time was slightly tarnished by the stomach bug. I got hit first during Sunday dinner, it got Matthew the next morning, and Klaire the next afternoon. It was awful! I haven't had a stomach bug in over a decade, and it was worse than I even remember. Luckily, because it rotated through us one at a time we were able to take turns taking care of the boys. I am also incredibly grateful for Oma and Papa who took care of Jay a lot for us. Papa would get Jay when he woke up, which was usually around 5 AM AZ time and take him outside to play and work with him. The extra sleep exponentially increased my healing, I am sure of it. By the time we started to feel better, we got one last swim in and then headed to Kara's house. 

Stanton and Jay, living their best lives on right-sized chairs

Papa, Papa Ross, and Jay - Jay just finished playing in the wet tree well

A better angle of the messy boy

M, Jay, and Stanton

Oma helping Jay do some coloring

Jay loved having a little friend 

Giggles with Aunt Klaire

Water time was the best time

Me and Stanton, it was so fun to get to play with him while his mama was sick

Uncle M working some magic

Jay helping Papa put away dishes, he wanted to do anything Papa did.

These only bloom once a year for a day, and they are beautiful AZ cactus flowers.

Jay, Oma, and Stanton - we spent every morning outside for at least an hour

Jay helping Papa take his stuff back to the office after getting home from work

Jay and Stanton watching Papa work on the sprinklers.

Kara's family got hit with the bug too, and fortunately we didn't get it again. Kara was due any day with her little guy. We were on baby watch and baby call, but sadly the baby wanted to stay inside while we were there. We even walked all the way to the grocery store for nail polish remover just to try to get him to come...no luck. We loved our time at Kara's. M taught the boys how to play the game of LIFE and they enjoyed it so much! Kara's boys think M walks on water, and he pretty much does with them. Hank even preferred M a lot of the time, they were buds. They played frisbee together, read books, and enjoyed just playing. Ross went with us on some of our earliest morning walks with Jay, when we left the house to not wake anyone up. We got to see Ross and Levi at their swim lessons, where they tried extra hard to do good for us. We took the boys to church when Kara wasn't feeling well, and they were super champs at being reverent. I am grateful we had the time at Kara's and enjoyed all of our moments! 

M and Hank

Levi, Ross, M, and Jay playing the game of LIFE

Aunt Kara being super cool with Hank and Jay

What a fun fort we built! It did get pretty hot up there though!

Hank and Jay enjoying the water

Jay and M trucking their way through the airport in PHX.

Best part of the whole month of May was I found out I am pregnant! I can write that now because I am writing a couple months after May. We have been praying and fasting and praying some more for a little baby to join our family. In April, I did a bunch of medical labs with a new OBGYN in the area to be sure nothing was wrong. Before I had my follow up appointment in June, I knew I was pregnant and truly the only thing wrong about sooner than now was timing. We are so incredibly grateful and excited for this little one to join our family!