Family time!

Like mother, like daughter. 

I guess you can call this bonding time.

Thoughts

I don't know why but this is how he feels comfortable in his high chair. He always has at least one foot up and he eats like a champ! This picture was taken a month ago or so.

I just want to say that I love my boys and they make me truly happy. The other day I was feeling a bit old... I mean I will be 30 by the time I graduate from dental school! and then I realized how accomplished I feel NOW in having a spouse and 2 adorable kids.  My biggest accomplishment in my life thus far is my family. 

Videos for Grandmas!

I know how videos can be soooo long and sometimes.... " Well it's just a baby" kind of comment! LOL
But our blog is kind of a journal for us and we can't help it but keep posting videos of our children. I don't think I have any videos this young and I think it will be awesome for them to see how cute they were!
The more videos I make the more I want a HD recording camera! We take these videos with a digital camera I bought 7 years ago and they quality, well..... is not that good, it helps that our babies are cute though.
The other day for FHE we interviewed each family member. I think it will be interesting to have those videos at least once a year so our children will know our struggles, how much he love them and what we looked like "before" wrinkles! haha

Sam is wearing this shirt that grandma K gave him. It actually has blue stripes instead of green. I don't know what's up with the colors.

I just LOVE his laughs and seriously he is the happiest baby I know! He is always smiling, and even in between his cries he'll give you a smile. This is pretty much what I tend to do the ENTIRE summer before the grind (school) starts back up. I mean... last year we were put through  48 credits of science, that is just CRAZY!!! Hopefully second won't be as bad. 

A Budding Artist

So you probably thought this was a post about Luke and how cute he draws. Well, he does draw really cute pictures and he is a budding artist, but this post is about me. Recently, I started painting watercolors with Luke. I discovered that I really liked it and sort of have a knack for it. Most of my paintings are just simple doodles that I would create in one sitting at the same time as Luke. Well, I decided to try my hand at a harder painting. This is my first official painting of hopefully many! I copied a picture I found off the internet painted by an artist named Behr. Now, I know mine is not as good as his, but he's a professional and I was using Crayola washable watercolors! So, I think it's a pretty good copy-cat considering. 

Original:

My Painting:

Francisco has a dream of the future where we have a large house with a balcony looking out a beautiful landscape where I can go out and paint, like in the Notebook. haha ;)

Luke and Sam's Papi

My children have got to be some of the luckiest kids in the world because they have Francisco as their Papi. Here are just a few things that we love about him.

1. Francisco is so warm and kind-hearted. He really know how to make you feel loved and special. He is always giving hugs and kisses and saying words of admiration.
2. He is playful. Oh it is so fun to watch him with his boys. They play so hard and laugh so much. It is awesome. I've never seen a dad play with his children the way Francisco does. He really connects to his children and they have fun!
3. He is funny. I love to hear his laugh and we hear it often! Francisco is always cracking jokes and making people laugh. He also finds humor wherever he goes and keeps life fun and up-beat.
4. He is the hardest worker I've ever met. I don't think there is a lazy bone in his body. He gets up before the sun and will work all day if he needs to. He goes to school all day then comes home and helps with the kids, dinner, or cleaning; whatever is needed at that time. Even weekends, he steps up and does some of the deep cleaning that I just don't have time/ don't make time to do.
5. He is caring and selfless. He makes sure that others are taken care of before himself. He is always thinking about what will make me happy and does things just because I like it that way, even though he prefers it another way. For example, he loves onions in his eggs, which I hate. Ever since he learned that, he hasn't added onions to the eggs that he makes us in the morning. So sweet.

I have a lot to learn from my husband. He is a wonderful companion and I am the lucky one that gets to spend eternity with him. Thank you for everything that you do for us. Francisco, I love you. You are amazing!

Things I've learned from my Pa

So, I sat down yesterday to write a post about the wonderful father's in my life and as always got side-tracked with day to day stuff; like nursing. I swear I am constantly feeding someone!

Anyway, I want to write a tribute first to the man that raised me; Pa. My dad is so incredible and I owe a lot of my good qualities to him.
1. Patience. He has taught me a lot about patience. He almost never lost his temper to us kids growing up and because of this, I think I do a much better job with not yelling at my children when they get in trouble. Thank you for teaching me how to parent without yelling and getting out of control.
2. Love. Pa has taught me how to love others unconditionally. He never gossips or judges others and he has been such a good example to me to love everyone for who they are and not to focus on their flaws.
3. Humor. My dad is really a funny guy. At first glance, you might not see this because he is so quiet, but he does get goofy and silly sometimes and it just makes you love him even more.
4. Faith. In a round-about way, my dad taught me a lot about faith. All growing up he was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the faith that my mom and all us kids are. Every day I would pray that Pa would start coming to church or that he would read the Book of Mormon or that he would feel the spirit and soften his heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I always had faith that he would eventually come unto Christ, and the day after I was married, almost exactly 4 years ago, he was baptized. So, Dad, even though you didn't mean to teach me this one, I thank you for giving me the answer to my prayers and strengthening my testimony of prayer, faith, and the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. My dad has also taught me a lot of practical life information. I still remember our family home evening on interest and teaching us to start saving when we are young so that we can retire with  a lot more money! I remember him teaching me how to change a tire and check my oil, how to properly paint a room, how to drive stick shift (still working on that skill though...) how to row a boat, how to fish, put up a tent, start a fire... the list goes on. He know how to fix practically anything and that amazes me.
6. How to make work fun. I just remembered a fond memory I have of when we were younger of smashing the tin cans for the recycling bin. My dad would use the can opener to take off the bottom of the cans and me siblings and I got to smash them so that they were ready for recycling.

Pa, I love you so much and I am so thankful for everything that you have taught me over the years. You continue to be a good example to me and I continue to learn valuable life lessons from you on a regular basis. I love you!

Our little Luke is growing so fast!

2 1/2 years old.

Little video of Sam walking

He might not have powers like Luke yet, but he is working really hard on his squeals, walk, blowing kisses and jumping!

Thank you to Emily's friend Bekah for the bouncer! Sam loves it.

Pear Shaped Thoughts

I just want to say that I love this blog and it is really funny!

Luke's bed time routine

I can't believe that the other day I complained to Emily that it's always me who puts Luke to bed (I'm aware that she does a lot of stuff that I never do). I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to put Luke to bed everyday and have that time to bond even more with him! Our precious little 2 year old bed time routine has gone from a 30 min session to an hour and sometimes even  MORE! Not only have I discover the new meaning of patience but I've also learned that my 2 year old is a master in holding his pee and just letting it flow in certain quantities at a time. I mean he has it down, even his bowel movements! Once we have read at least 2 books, sang a couple primary songs, prayed and tuck him in and some time has passed in peaceful quietness and  I think that he is totally out he says 'pee pee! pee pee!' and off we go to the bathroom AGAIN! Our bed time routine use to have one visit to the potty! Now it ranges anywhere from 2 to 4 times. I'm  just amazed that every time we go, he actually does something.

I don't know if you noticed but our little Luke has special powers. He uses his finger to point at the reading lamp and turn it on (while I sneak my hand in there and actually turn it on). He is awesome! You should see his big grin once it turns on.

The other day while cleaning I accidentally broke the bulb of the lamp and that night I told Luke that it was broken and that I was just going to snuggle with his OSO, until he falls asleep. While peeking through my eyelashes and pretending to be asleep I could see the little rugrat sneaking out of the room. A few minutes later he whispers in my ear : "papi, broken, fix it" while handing me the scotch tape. He was so proud of himself that he came up with the idea. It was adorable, all I could do not to crush his magnificent idea was to put some scotch tape around the base of the lamp and said that it will take time to fix it.

I'll spare you from the potty pictures, but here are some pictures of our precious boys.