Children's Museum

We usually go to the museum several times each year. This time Rockwell was old enough to enjoy it and get down and play. Its always a fun place to go, especially when it is cold outside and we need to get out of the house. 

The grocery store and register are always one of their favorite parts 

If there is a wheel to turn, Rock is happy. He stayed at this car and turned the wheel for most of the time we were there. 

Mac fixing the car! Just like Grandpa R :) He seems super interested in learning how things work and using tools. I am hoping he really does learn how to do his own handy work some day! 

Found another steering wheel...

Daddy Daughter Ball

We love to take Lyla on special one-on-one dates. She loves to have the attention and time to herself so we try to do it about once a month. I had been thinking about wanting to send her and Dad to a princess ball, and it just so happens when it came to my mind I looked it up and it was only a few weeks out! So I got the tickets and immediately started looking for a princess dress for her. I found one online and got so excited to show it to her! 

To start the date off Josh left the house and while he was gone I gave her my camera that had a pre-recorded message from Josh saying he was taking her to the ball and a gift was on her bed for her. She ran upstairs to find a box wrapped up that I had snuck onto her bed when she wasn't looking. She unwrapped it and inside was her dress, sparkly shoes and a bracelet I made her. We got ready, curled her hair, and found her tiara from her birthday and waited on the couch. I text Josh to let him know she was ready and he showed up with a suit on and a tie to match her dress. When she answered the door she was beaming and you could tell she felt very special and excited. Josh brought her out to the car and they first went out to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and requested to sit in the train, which she thought was super cool. 

Then they were off to the ball which was at a reception center in Bountiful. When they got there, they got to take a carriage ride around the building. 

She got a little chilly, so here she is wearing Daddy's jacket :) 

When they went inside, there were princesses everywhere! She got to talk to and get pictures with lots of them. 

When the dancing started, she got to dance right along with Belle 

They also had treats and cupcakes to top it all off

Didn't get a picture of it, but she also got to dance with her own prince (her Dad). They ended the night with a Daddy-Daughter photo shoot. Lyla loved every minute and it was definitely a special night for both her and her Dad. 

Lyla Turns 5

Lyla's Birthday started with the donut and balloon! After all the festivities she had to endure for Mac last month she was super anxious for her own birthday. 

We played during the day, and that night we met with the family at Brick Oven to celebrate 

After dinner we went back to our house for presents and cake.

She got this purse and tiara from Aunt Cindy and loved it! 

That Saturday (two days later) was her party day. She decided she wanted to pick a few friends and go do something instead of just party at home. She chose to go to Airborne, a trampoline park. 

I think this is my best cake yet, of course it had to be Frozen. She LOVED it, and was so excited to show it off to her friends. I really enjoyed making it too. 

Her cute little friends that came. Kate, Leila, Miles and Gavin. 

Pizza, cake and ice cream afterward. 

I think overall Lyla had a great birthday and party. I can't help but go all out and spoil them rotten every year.

As a 5 year old update, Lyla in the last few months learned how to snap, swing by herself, ride her bike without training wheels and swim. She is very good at learning new things and picks up on everything quickly. She surprisingly gets shy when asked to perform or is in a new situation with large groups of people. She gets nervous about new things, like 4-wheeling or going down the slide at the pool for the first time, but once we convince her to do it she usually loves it. Two things I love that she says- I love that more than the holy world (instead of whole). And will say sprinklers instead of sprinkles. She has gotten to the point where she sleeps every night with no problems, never wakes up and can even be moved from room to room with no problem. It is so nice to never ever worry about her waking up at night! Her favorite things are Frozen, dress ups, princess dolls, sour candies, anything mint flavored, her brothers, reading books, swimming and playing outside. She is the BEST helper. 99% of the time if I ask her to help me with something she does it, especially if its help with her brothers. She is great at cleaning and keeping things organized. Some days I don't know what I would do without her help. She is stubborn as all get out, and pushes my buttons to the very limit most days, but can also be incredibly sweet and helpful and makes up for the stubbornness. 

Valentine's Day

We spoiled the kids and got them Valentine mailboxes, candy and balloons. 

Here is my "5 senses" gift for Josh. Each gift had to do with the senses and was fun to put together. 

The kids opening their stickers that were inside the mailbox. 

We even had heart waffles for breakfast

That evening Tyler watched the kids and we went out to Benihana's. We didn't have reservations so we were there late enough that dinner was all we did. It was nice to get out on the town for awhile though. 

Tyler Moves In

Tyler has had some back pain since his mission and just recently got worse. They found out he has a bulging disc, so he would need a surgery to shave the bone down a bit. We decided he would move in with us while he recovered. So at the beginning of February he got the surgery and came to stay. The kids loved having someone else home to entertain them and I loved having a live-in babysitter and an adult to talk to during the day :) 

Tyler is an amazing uncle and the kids adore him. I love these two pictures of him and Mac together.

Kid Cuteness

Rock has discovered how to get into EVERYTHING and can open just about any drawer and cupboard. Time for the baby proofing! 

Lyla and her best buddy Kate. These two love to match :) 

Poor Mac can't quite make it some days til bed time. Although he wont go to sleep on time if he takes a nap so its a daily struggle to get him to stay up until 7:30! 

At the library peeking through the books

 I just loved this picture of Rock's little body standing up to the table and looking at Lyla and Mac watching their every move wanting to know what they're doing 

Preschool field trip to the post office. They had a few poems and songs to sing for the parents. Lyla is second from the right.  

Mac at the post office on the field trip, wanting to be involved in it all. He will be so happy to start preschool this next year. 

I came in to Lyla's room and Mac had fallen asleep on her. So precious

House Project

I have a list of projects I want to do on the house. A few completed, and a ton more to go. So far I made shelves in the basement storage room, Josh did a work bench, and we did some stone edging in the yard. But my favorite project by far has been our entryway. 

I found a stencil online and painted it on the top portion of the wall. Then we put wainscoting on the bottom. Neither of us had done a project like this before so it was fun learning how to do it together. It turned out even better than I thought it would. 

Ta-da! Isn't it beautiful?! I love that it makes such a bold statement as soon as you walk in the front door. 

McKay Turns 3

Somehow my baby Mac has turned 3. He is the sweetest little boy. He lights up our home and family and just listening to him talk with that sweet little voice could melt anyone's heart. He is very good at showing everyone and anyone affection and love. He still will kiss or hug me on demand any time. I hope it never stops. His favorite things to do are play with Lyla, go outside and drive his car or ride his bike, play with his cars or swords, playing with grandpa, playdoh and basically anything that is one-on-one playing. This year I have really seen his imagination come to life and has been my favorite part of watching him grow up. 

Although we already had his big part last weekend, we still had to celebrate on his actual day. 

We did the tradition of a donut and balloon first thing. He popped his balloon in the van on the way home :( but he is trying to hold it up. 

Devouring that delicious donut 

Later that afternoon we went to the mall and rode the train

In the evening we had my parents and Cindy come over to celebrate. It was a nice, fun day for him.