March Maddness

I wish I could say that this post was about b-ball and how I was leading in my bracket, but even if I did follow the March madness with Matt, I probably wouldn't be leading in my bracket. Our tournament however began in the middle of February, we have been going non-stop since We have had our fair share of leaps and hurdles along the way, but we have come out better athletes in life:) So what have we been up to for the last month? I'll spare you the stress and fill you in on the good stuff.

March 7th Matt's sister, Mallory, gave birth to our sweet nephew, Braxton, at 28 weeks, almost 3 months early! Tiny little Braxton and the circumstances surrounding his arrival were truly a miracle. He was delivered at Banner Gateway by one of the best neonatal specialist that just happened to be at the hospital when Mallory arrived, and was then care-lifted after delivery to Banner Desert. Mallory and her sweet hubby Jesse have been incredible new parents and Braxton is doing amazingly well! He is now, 3 weeks old and just made it to 4lbs. He is off the ventilator and CPAP and is breathing on his own with just oxygen now! Here are a few pictures....

Every time, I see these pictures, I just want to cry because he is so precious and such a miracle.

Braxton at 1 week old.

Mal and B just a few days ago! Look how sweet and tiny he is!! So beautiful! He is so tiny now, but he will probably be a tank just like Brody and Colby. There were no short genes available for this kiddo! I'll let you know when this sweet boy gets to come home, but as for now we think he will be in the hospital until around his due date mid-May. My guess at Mal's shower this weekend was May 10th...we'll see!

I think one night after taking Mal and Jesse something, we were in the car coming home and it was way past bed time, Brody was so funny. He loves trains, trucks, and all animals now, and on the way to Mal and Jesse's we had seen a train. This little boy couldn't let it go, so on the way home he kept saying "choo choo eeee ahh you?" looking for the train we had seen earlier. Colby was trying to tell him the train went night night and he was yelling "noooo" at Colby. The video is horrid, it was on my Iphone and the every bump of the car made the video blur....but here is Brody in true form; absolutely adorable, indescribably cunning in trying to get Colby in trouble, and very defensive about his choo-choo.

It seemed that amidst all the chaos of what was happening in our lives this month, almost everyday, the boys made me laugh. Most days they also made me fuss at them more than laugh at them, but isn't it amazing how even a few seconds of silliness can make all those grumpies disappear! I especially laugh when I see this picture, because it just captures these too boys as I see them everyday! Colby there with his classic crazy faces in pictures, and Brody looking pudgy and adorable as a little toddler.

Only a mother could love, what I loved most about this picture, Brody's feet, I love those little feet so much, I kiss them multiple times a day...poor kid! And Colby is such a ham, to see him doing this crazy face, makes me love him even more, because his motivation is to go back later and laugh himself silly while he looks at his pictures over and over again.

So what the heck else have we been doing? Well, we really have been trying to stick close to home. I have really just felt drawn to be at home more. I really have enjoyed being a homebody this month. I have always kind of been this way, don't get me wrong, I love to get out too, I have too, but this is what we needed this month.

The weather has been phenomenal so, we have been enjoying the outdoors as much as we can. We have been to several parks, and even got to play on the splash pad several days. I love it, b/c I can actually cook dinner without two whiny boys at my feet, and they have so much fun.

Colby has been learning to read. Thanks to his incredible teacher Jennifer Vanderpool, he has just excelled. He loves school, and he has always loved to read books. There is not a time that we go to the library that we have not checked out more than 20 books. We read him at least 3 books a night after his scripture and prayer and often he is begging for more. This just might be one of my proudest moments so far as his mom. So try not to laugh too hard when you watch the video and hear me saying "good job" every 5 seconds. Last night he even decided he wanted to read his own books and say his prayer alone and then invited us in to do scripture and say good night. He is just getting too big.

I scream, you scream, we all scream, for ice cream! One afternoon we were outside and heard the familiar sound of an ice cream truck. Of course Colby recognized it and went nuts, and I have to admit I got a little excited too, but the protective parent kicked in pretty quickly too, that is until it rounded the corner. It was seriously the cutest thing I have seen, and the ladies selling were super nice and very mindful of the kids safety. Brody now runs screaming to the door if we hear it. What have we started????

If you get bored enough at home you get a little creative...Colby and I used a box we got in the mail to create this little ditty. Who knew that a box could turn into a mansion? We had so much fun creating this little house, and they are still playing with it!

After running one day a few weeks ago, I dared Colby to climb this big rock pile, he had so much fun sneaking up it as fast as he could for a picture before the Power Ranch, landscapers came and shooed us off!

I have been working on projects for what seems like the entire month, sewing heating pads, making baby gifts, and a gift for my niece. The boys were tired of being ignored and shopping for things for my projects so we ate lunch in the park and played for a while to give them a much needed break from me and my projects!

Last Friday night we went to McDonald's for dinner (I know, yuck), but Matt had a meeting to got to that ran late and I needed the boys to be happy and have a break! Brody saw the other kids with these ridiculous hats on, and monkey see monkey do, he had to have one. So we made his happy meal box into a dragon slayer hat and he screamed cheese for the camera. He was so happy.

Even though life was crazy and there seemed to be no time for anything, Matt and I made time to go to the temple a few days before it closed. We had not been in what seemed like forever and good intentions aside, we just hadn't been even though we wanted to. It was fantastic. I was able to put some names in for prayers, and we attended a session. It was great. I really have a testimony that we learn things in the temple that we cannot learn anywhere else, and we came out with questions answered, and with renewed strength to press forward.

Remember the projects? This was one of them. I made a hooded towel for Braxton's shower this past weekend. It was so fun.

One Saturday morning we were at Lowe's and one of the employees in the garden center turned Colby's attention to a new resident. A great horned owl had made a nest in the top of one of the mulch bags. He said that she comes every year. We only had our phones so the pictures didn't turn out, but she was huge! So this week we went back with our camera and took pictures and someone else had arrived too. Three baby owls. It was incredible. If you have a chance you should go check it out.

My dad came in town this past weekend and will be here through Easter. Monday we went to check out the Santan mountain regional park. It was fantastic. Colby was really grumpy most of the time, Brody was an angel, and the weather was incredible. We hiked for a while, and enjoyed the amazing bluebonnets and wildflowers along the trail. On the way back, dad and I heard a familiar rattle....a little too familiar...and wow right in front of us probably less than a foot off the trail was a diamond back rattle snake. Yikes! Had Colby been out in front my story probably would be different, b/c as soon as we figured out where he was it was almost too late. He was already coiled up and ready to strike, luckily enough, we froze and waited for him to chill out, before taking a different path. We were blessed to see him though, and not only not be bitten, but get to explain to Colby what to do if that happens again. It was incredible.

Taking a break, for a snack. Brody just made himself at home.

Some of the crazy beautiful bluebonnets. I didn't even know they grew here.

Yikes here is the snake. You will have to click on the picture to see it, b/c I took it with my phone. And it really doesn't do it justice. We were entirely too close for comfort. Dad said he was about 8 years old. Just in case you are wondering. Of course this is only something Dad would do in the face of immediate danger, count the sections of the rattle on the snake to see how old it was.

So that's it! I think this month the thing I have learned the most, is that when I lose myself in service to others, I forget my own problems, even if it is just for a little while, and life just seems to keep moving. I know that we are truly blessed, and I am grateful for life's little moments of greatness!