Cement

My darling farmer of a husband loves projects, they keep him sane in the 'big' city. We've talked about putting in a RV pad since we moved in, and it is finally done. It was a multi step process (which I don't have pictures of) but Carl made sure everything was as perfect as he could get it. I can't count how many hours he spent trying to level the whole thing. I can tell you I am excited for it for a couple of reasons; the grass over there looked like crap all the time, and we were able to add an extra sprinkler line in the back for my garden. Garrick also now has somewhere to ride his trike, which he can finally ride himself. Doesn't it look nice!

The Kids

It has been a while and I still don't feel like anything extremely exciting is going on so here is what is going on with the two most fun people at our house:

MARLEY:
Is so sweet and seems to be getting sweeter and with time. She lays on my shoulder if I'm talking to someone and they address her. She is a crawling maniac, but only to get somewhere where she can pull herself up and stand, walking is in the near future. She loves her dad. And Icky is her favorite person on the planet, she imitates him and everything. She sings and talks like crazy and she just started dancing (she has surprisingly good rhythm). Her hair is getting long and I think she would look cute if I could figure out what to do with it, the barrettes aren't working very well. (I'll take any suggestions, the piggies in the picture are cute but not all her hair fits.) She is also getting a little chunky, which is adorable.


GARRICK:
he is our little powerhouse. Still as big as ever but with more energy. He has been really cute and is learning to help around the house so that he can earn money for his next "Thomas" train character. He has three so far. He is getting better about interacting with Marley, since she adores him she'll follow him and they play follow the leader. He loves to get in her crib when she wakes up from naps and always wants me to take a picture. He still tells everyone that he watched the Polar Express even though we haven't since Christmas, and he sings the song and tells the story. He is way too smart for his good and remembers EVERYTHING! He also had his first dentist visit and loved it. He got a sliver today and I said if he didn't let me get it out I'd have to take him to the Dr. He replied by saying he wanted to go to the dentist.

CAPITOL Reef

We aren't a big 'commercial' Easter family, so this year instead of traipsing off to far away lands (London and Paris last year), we went to Capitol Reef with Carl's family. I haven't been to the Reef in 20 years and it is a bit a of a blur, if you haven't been, go. It was so cool. I really forget how beautiful this great state is, people wouldn't be so cynical if they went. We had a couple days of amazing weather, which Garrick loved because what kid doesn't like (staining red) sand to dump on their head? And then the great Saturday snow storm, but all in all it worked out perfect. Camping with kids is definitely difficult, it was sure fun though. Garrick still asks whenever we get in the car if we "Can go hike?" and Marley cries every time I put her in the car seat for fear we'll be there for hours. We had a great time, and doesn't Garrick look like a character off of Space Balls with that helmet on?





Space Balls

Icky Birthday!

Icky turned 3 today. It is completely unbelievable that he is that old. We had a great day he is getting too smart. Grandma Gatherum came and took him shopping for a birthday outfit, which he loved, though he really just wanted her to stay and play with his Hogwarts Express with him. After lunch I bribed him to nap with a present, a Thomas the Train blanket, and the promise of more gifts. Now anyone who knows him or keeps current on my blog knows his obsession with trains. The only thing he specifically asked for (multiple times) for his birthday was a Thomas that would run on his tracks. When he woke up from nap time that is all he asked about, he actually found the wrapped gifts and figured out which one was Thomas and until we let him open it he was impossible. He also got a couple of puzzles and a pair of cowboy boots for when we ride horses at Grandpa Benchs, which he actually put on and wore for a while. I made a cake with blue frosting, just like Thomas, and green writing on it. He could have cared less about the cake itself but only wanted the frosting. Carl said the cake was his and let him pretty much eat most of the frosting off the cake.






I can't believe how much I love my boy. He is getting so smart and is a charmer (except to Lindsey, who he always tries to kick out of our house). We are so incredibly blessed to have him in our lives.

My top 10 list of my favorite Garrick things
10. Tells people we watched the Polar Express when we haven't since Christmas.
9. His obsession with trains.
8. When he tells me to just say "What?" when he says my name.
7.How friendly he is, not at all afraid of strangers.
6.He says "I'm not handsome (or whatever you've just called him) I'm just Garrick."
5.When he gets his way when I didn't want him to because he schmoozed me.
4.When he makes Marley laugh
3.How much he loves people, it is amazing.
2.Look he gets on his face when he is excited, very dramatically surprised.
1.When he (uncoached) tells me he loves me

My Man is. . .30!!

Today is Carl's (and his twin, Scott's) 30th birthday! Yeah for the old men. Unfortunately in the real world we don't get our birthdays off so he was working. But I skipped out of teacher work day a little early and took the kids and we surprised him at work and took him to lunch. When he got home the birthday present that he got for himself came in the mail so we looked at that and hung out in Icky's room for a minute. Not the gun, the holster. But all of it is so he can "protect" us.

(The present. I obviously didn't pick it out.)

(Hangin with the kids)
Tonight he is going for his favorite treat a 90 minute massage at the Sego Lilly Spa (no he isn't girly, I just really, really suck at massages).

Carl is, along with the little ones, the best thing that ever happened to me. Thanks babe for everything. Here is the Top 10 things I love about Carl list,

10. He loves little kid snacks, he'll drink all of Icky's Capri Suns before Icky.
9. When he sings to musicals that I don't know the songs to.
8. He is really intense about his life and thinks everything through.
7. When he dances it is hilarious.
6. He has an opinion about what I wear and he wants me to look good.
5. How devoted he is to his family
4. When I am crying in a movie and I look over and he is too but hiding it.
3. He gets really excited about stuff that most people don't
2. The look he gets on his face when he sees the kids, he really loves them.
1. He loves me regardless.

Happy Birthday Babe!!! Oh, you too Scott!