Stuff we've been up to

We got free tickets to go to the River Roots Music Fest and Rib Fest. There was good music, THE BEST bbq I've ever had (from Texas!) and no kids. It was awesome.

 
 
 
The best way to entertain three boys is to take them to an air show.
 
 
 
 
We love our walks on our bike trail (all of us but David).
 
David loves the base of our stairs. Any suggestions for how to baby proof these stairs?
 
 
And we've been swimming. The cold doesn't stop Jack.
 

A social media fast, a sleep fast, and potty training

For the past 7 days, I have not been on facebook or instagram or on any blogs because I am a compulsive fb/insta/blog checker and I need to stop being a compulsive fb/insta/blog checker . Instead of social media this week, I have been reading a little more, listening to this podcast, being still when I have a minute to myself instead of checking something, and being more present with my family. Yesterday, I listened to Elder Bednar's talk on social media at Education Week and I LOVED IT. Perfect timing for me. Hashtag because of Him, hashtag did you think to pray, hashtag meet the mormons, hashtag flood the earth with truth.

Also for the past 7 days, David decided that he wasn't going to sleep longer than two hours at a time - day or night. Due to Jack and David sharing a room, we have rocked or nursed him to sleep since he was born and rushed to his side in the middle of the night when he cries so that he won't wake up Jack. As a result, we accidentally trained him to be a night crier and an incredibly needy baby and we are working hard to change that because our sanity depends on it! Three 2 hour naps at night with an hour break in between does not equal 6 hours of sleep!!!

I am now going to be one of those mommy bloggers and tell you about potty training - I HATE IT. That's all I got.

Potty training plus sleep depravation looks like this:

If he wasn't running around naked, I let him choose his outfits.
 
9 a.m. ice cream cone runs.

Making "snowmen" while I'm nursing David.
 
 

*Not pictured - David, because he is in trouble.

#flashbackfriday aka catching up after a blogging break part 4

Two weeks after we moved to Iowa, my mom and Elizabeth and Isaac came to stay with us. It was so fun and so crazy! We did the water ski show, the John Deere Museum, the Family Museum, and the splash pad (that's about as epic and touristy as it gets in Davenport) and we also went to Nauvoo and Chicago.

Nauvoo Pictures:















Chicago Pictures:

Day 1: Driving with Elizabeth, Isaac, Jack and David is equivalent to driving with 3 toddlers and a baby... it's a nightmare!!!
 
Gino's East Pizza

Garrett's Chicago Style Popcorn... Sooooo good!

 
American Girl Doll Place
 
Walking along Michigan Avenue. Jack and David were sooooo tired. (I am loving those rolls on David's legs - my first baby with FAT!;)
 
Day 2: Shed Aquarium
 
 
Don't be fooled by that cute smile - as soon as she touched the sting ray she had a freak attack!
 
Jack loved dressing up as a penguin at the penguin playground
 
My mom couldn't not buy the picture... typical Elizabeth ;)
 
We enjoyed our sack lunches overlooking the beautiful Chicago skyline
 
 
We drove by the place my mom and dad lived when they were first married and got Giordano's pizza for dinner. It was delish!





We finished the night off in the crowded cloudy hotel pool





  

I was so sad when they left. I wish my family lived closer!!!!

Confessions

Jack was awakened by David at 3:30 last night and he never fell back to sleep until his nap at noon. Therefore, Jack tore apart our family room by 6:30 am, he watched 4 hours of TV by 9 am, and by lunchtime, I threw in the towel and let him have Doritos for lunch.


 
 
Instead of beating myself up or mourning that I may never not be tired again, I am trying to celebrate the small victories - like going to the park, letting Jack make "snow angels" in the sand, and letting Jack ride with the windows rolled down the whole way there and back.

I can't decided if I should celebrate or curl into the fetal position knowing that I still have the rest of the day to endure redeem myself.

David is so getting the boot to the basement tonight because a 6 month old and a 2 year old sharing a room really isn't working for us. How did the pioneers do it?!

Things I'm loving

• Julie, who drove all the way from Kansas City to visit us for a few days! I am SO GRATEFUL that she did! I had so much fun catching up with her and Jack was in heaven. We went to the water ski show, the John Deere Museum, the splash pad, and just played at home. Fingers crossed that they officially move to Kansas City next year so we can get together more often! Did I ever mention that I have the best friends ever?

Jack called Nathan and Bristol "the boys" up until the last day that they were here. Then he established that Nathan was a boy and Bristol a "grilo". Ha!

 

• This picture of Jack

• And this picture of David

• And this quote: 

"Sometimes I get so scared about making THE WRONG LIFE DECISION. Like I’m on that game show- what was it? Where you can risk everything you’ve already won for WHAT’S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER TWO. And if you do risk it all, there might be a CAR behind door number Two. WOOOT! OR there might be nothing but a big sign that says LOSER! YOU HAVE CHOSEN UNWISELY! YOU HAVE LOST IT ALL! And you must hang your head and leave with nothing and spend the rest of your life wishing you had chosen door number ONE! ONE, dangit!!!! LACES OUT!

That’s how I usually feel about big decisions. Like there is a bit RIGHT answer and a big WRONG answer.
But that’s not right. That’s not how the God I know would work. He would be waiting behind both doors. He will be ready to walk beside me on whatever road I choose.
And then if I decide to change roads, He’d change with me." - from this blog post