Portland Zoo 2011

Mike took Monday off so we could go to the Portland Zoo together. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time. The zoo has a dinosaur exhibit that we walked through. This was a big deal because last year I took the kids and Hayden didn't make it past the spitting dino! This year he was a little nervous to go past the spitting dino (first dino on the path), but he was brave and went through. I am so glad he did, because we loved it! The dinosaurs are large mechanical ones, so they are pretty cool to see. We also took the train to Washington Park, where the Rose Gardens are, and the kids loved being on the train! The kids loved seeing the Elephants, the Giraffes and the monkeys the best.

Multnomah Falls 2011

Mike had to work in Portland again, so we made a trip out of it! We stopped at Multnomah Falls, of course, and it was beautiful! I love the cool, wet weather. The kids wanted to hike up toward the top of the falls. We didn't make it all of the way, maybe each year we will get a little further!

Hayden's First Fish

Grandpa Barbour took Hayden fishing today and he caught his first fish!!!! Hayden has been fishing with Mike a few times, but they have never had any luck. Every once and a while he will ask to go fishing and say things like "I really, really want to catch a fish." He got to reel them in and was very excited!!! 

Mike and Maria = 9 years!!!

**Disclaimer: in this post you will see lots of close up shots :) **

For our 9 year anniversary I tried to surprise Mike with a weekend to McCall. I should have known that he would find out because he saw the hotel reservation while balancing the checkbook. This guy is on every penny- no surprises for him :) Even though he found out, we were still very excited to get out of town alone. We dropped the kids off with Grandma Barbour and headed out of town!! Thanks mom!

We made it to Banks before I got car sick, so we pulled over and walked down to the river. Ahhhhh fresh air.  

We ate lunch at the Pancake House and wandered around McCall. That evening we took a drive back toward Donnley to Gold Fork Hot Springs. It was a beautiful drive there and we saw elk along the way. The next morning I slept in and Mike brought me breakfast in bed! 

It was pretty chilly and windy while we were there, but still tons of fun! The next day we went to Ponderosa State Park and ice skating. We had lunch at Toll Station Pizza and Mike ordered Beef Stroganoff (what was he thinking) and he didn't like it!! Not that I am knocking safety, but we had to make fun of the flags that they have at the intersections! I was laughing so hard at Mike carrying the flags across.

We didn't spend much time at the lake because of the weather, but we did take a walk around it. I am so grateful to have Mike in my life. I love you sweetheart!!

I like to paint

 ...and then eat it. McKall is our little artist. The other day she was painting with watercolors and I left the room for a bit. I returned to find her with blue all around her mouth. It surprised me at first, so I gasped, or something like that, so she knew she had done something wrong. She crawled under the table to hide! Mike and I couldn't help but laugh as she was trying to hide her face from us.

Hayden Spring Soccer 2011

 Another season of soccer for Hayden

 Go Number 15!!!! Hayden is playing soccer again! His skills have really improved and he is doing great this season. He has the same coach, who is great, and he has learned a lot from him in the last year and a half of playing. I still remember when he was only three playing (adorable) and think about how far he has come.

On a side note... They were UNDEFEATED!!!



I love being a MOM!

Today is Mother's Day. I love being a mother. I loved being a mother from the first moment I learned I was pregnant with my two sweethearts.  Sometimes I feel like all I do is take care of other (little) people's needs, but I wouldn't have it any other way! There is nothing in this world I would rather do- Mr. Hayden and Miss McKall. I love you both with all of my heart. I always will.

To Hayden... you are growing up way too fast. I can't believe you are going to be in kindergarten this year. Today I watched you in Primary and you made me so proud to be your momma. You didn't want to go up and sing with the rest of the primary in Sacrament, because sometimes you are a little shy, that's ok, because you sang to me this morning, in my bed, after you gave me the picture you had drawn for me. You thought it was so funny that the three of you had to "do everything for momma" today! Thank you for cutting the olives up for the yummy taco dinner you guys made me! You are so forgiving of me and are always there to give me hugs and kisses and to "snuggle with mimi." You like to ask lots and lots of questions. You are very smart. You all did a great job making me feel special today. I love you Beany.

To McKall.... you are growing way to fast too, my princess. You are talking a lot now and it is quite entertaining. You told me today, in your cute little voice, "happy mother's day." You can be fierce and stubborn. I think you take after me a little bit :) I hope you use this to your advantage someday! However, underneath that stubbornness and drama you have a tender heart... my little sweetheart. You love to try on shoes, wear pretty clothes, have your hair done and say, "look at me," to Hayden and Daddy after you have been dolled up. I love this about you. You like to be held. I love to hold you. You mostly only want me to help you do things, not daddy. I wish you would let daddy help you more sometimes!! Someday I will miss not helping you with everything. I love you Peanut.

To Mike... Thank you for being a great daddy to these two precious babies. Thank you for all you did for me today. I love you!

Family Fun Day!!

 

Mike took a much needed Friday off of work so we could go play together!! We started our day with a puppet show at the Boise Library, the kids love the puppets shows there, and they both like to read. After the puppet show we headed to the Botanical Gardens. It was a perfectly beautiful day to walk around the gardens. The kids loved running up the stone stairs and exploring the paths. It feels so good to have Spring here, although it has been a bit cold still. We lucked out on this day though. After the gardens we went to Idaho Pizza for lunch. Hayden ate a ton- I think he is growing, a lot, right now! Grandpa Barbour has been marking their height in their garage for a while now, and we just measured him the other day and he had grown about an inch in a month and a half!! Some day maybe my yard will look like the Botanical Gardens. What? A girl can't dream a little :)

Easter

We had lots of fun Easter activities this year. Hayden and McKall really loved coloring eggs! Hayden was much more organized in the way he did his eggs, while McKall was just dunking them in where ever sher could! It annoyed Hayden the way McKall was doing it. We also had a preschool Easter party at our house. No pics... we were having so much fun that I thought about it when the party was over :(  

 My cute kids all dressed up for Easter!

 Hayden on his egg hunt.... a little stressed about the hunt?? Love you!

 We went to Grandma and Grandpa Wyler's for Easter dinner and the kids had an egg hunt. Here are the kids looking at the loot!

 The weather was beautiful! Hayden took McKall around in the wagon- she loved it!

McKall ate chocolate nearly all day long, as you can tell by her really clean face!

I celebrated my 32nd birthday this year! Still feel young :) Mike and the kids took me to Olive Garden and got me a ding dong so I could blow out a candle ( I didn't want a cake!).  I got lots of fabulous gifts and had a great time!!

My awesome friends took me to Louie's and we had some fun afterward! This is myself, Katrisa, Chelsea, Kristen, Susan and Anjela (both sitting in the back) out having fun after dinner. Annie and Aja had to head home after dinner, we missed them.

I. Love. You

Some days I feel like all I am is a referee between Hayden and McKall. Ug. However, some days they play great together and have a great time! They were being goofy, and getting along this day. P.S. Most days they get along great!!

 

On another day I walked into the room to find them

 giving each other hugs and being so sweet to one another.