Friday, April 24, 2009

An Eventful April

This April has been full of fun and exciting events. this will be a long post, so don't say I didn't warn you!

COMPANY

Lets start with the (Randy) Fife family visit.

Randy and Jenny and their four kids drove all the way from Wisconsin to California, and were able to stop for a day on their way home. We had a fun time playing outside and going to the pool. I don't have any pictures of that, but I am sure I will have pool pictures eventually, we plan to return a lot because we had so much fun. We even took the boys down the slide.


Here are all the kids trying to pose for a picture:
Connor, Joshua, Alan, Skyler, Elizabeth and Rebekka

EASTER



For Easter we went down to Las Vegas and celebrated with Cassie's family. We had an Easter Egg hunt at Grandma Carma's. We let the toddlers go out first to get the eggs that were just in the grass and stuff, and then the older kids got to go out.


Skyler immediately went for his new slide (I got both those slides and a mini swing set off Craig's List while we were there for SUPER cheap, and the boys love them). Once he figured out the eggs contained special treats, he was a little more interested.


Connor LOVED the egg hunt, he found about 3 eggs, parked it, and sat there and ate all their contents. He was so fun to watch. His mouth was so full of candy the whole time. Then he had to start sharing with my nephew, Aiden.


After all the eggs were accounted for, and the sugar kicked in, the older boys all decided it would be fun to jump all over their Uncle David. What a good sport to let them abuse him like that.



On Easter we went to Erica and Heber's house for the Easter Bunny. Again, the boys didn't realy get it, but they REALLY enjoy their new sandals and sidewalk chalk.


Another egg hunt, and Kale was SO helpful


Not much of Easter dinner made it into Connor mouth! That was fun, good thing Grandma Carma was around to clean him up!

ABOUT THE BOYS


This month Connor is starting to talk a bit more, and sign a little more as well. I think he is learning quite a bit from Skyler. He became a master at climbing out of his crib. His hair is groing in thicker and longer since the "BUZZ" a few months ago. He is such a cuddler, and ever since his we have tried putting him in nursery at church, is even more so clingy than ever. Which is odd, since he goes to daycare three days a week. He also discovered corn on the cob, which is what he is eating above. He seriously eats it until it is JUST the cob left, and then he tries to eat that. He is a good eater, but at snack time if you hand him a snack, he will gum and and chew on it for as long as you let him. But once he knows there is more coming, he will shove the whole thing in his mouth and ask for more. He tought Skyler a new trick the tub where they jump in the air and land on their bumbs. Water, of course goes EVERYWHERE, and I am soaked, but that doesn't stop them. The first time he did it, Skyler was already out, and just laughing histarically at Connor doing this, I had to film it it was so funny. Every once and a while there is a collision, but that doesn't slow em down!


Skyler is seriously our little ham. He is talking more, and every time he sees the camera, "CHEESE" with a HUGE grin on his face. It has been making it hard to get candid shots of him. He is doing well with his sign language and can really communicate that way. He learns the sign, and then learns to say the work. So his vocabulary grows through the signs he learns. It is kinda interesting. He can also count to at least 3, though he skips 1. "Two, Tree, GOOOOOO" and down the slide he goes, or off on a run, whatever. But yeah, he counts a lot, and that is fun. He also loves to read books, and takes them to bed with him. I wish I was better about taking the initiative to read to him more, he is seriously a little sponge, and learns so much. He is also SUCH a tease, and loves to do things just to get a reaction, or fake like he is going to do something, to get a reaction.... the spanking....totally worth it to him. Maybe we should think of another form of disciplin. He is also a tough kid, I can't tell you how many bumps on the head or scratches, whatever he has gotten this month, and it is just a little cry, and off he goes.

NEW BEDS

Well, as was mentioned above, Connor became a MASTER at climbing out of his crib, sometimes I would find him asleep on the floor. We would have to put him back at least 5 times a night sometimes, despite our efforts in training. Skyler likes to climb out as well, but isn't nearly as skilled, to him it was more of a game, to tease us like..."looky here, I am climbing out" and then back in bed he would go. Well, he fell out once, and started crying, so we went and put him back, and didn't think he would do it again. That lasted a few days, and out he fell again, and started crying. The next day we decided that was it. If they were going to be climbing or falling out of bed, we should move them into their toddler beds (which I purchased off Craig's List in Vegas for super cheap about a month ago). I (Cassie) took apart both cribs, all by myself, and brought these in (they were already put together). The boys thought it was SO fun to watch mommy do all this, and they would jump on the mattresses, it was so fun. Once everything was ready, they LOVED it, and went back and forth running and jumping from bed to bed. Life was good until it was time to go to sleep. Lets just say it has been a hard adjustment, and one of us usually has to stay in the room until they are almost asleep, keeping them in bed. They wake up earlier because they can go play with their toys. It does get better every day. And now their room is a place they enjoy and love to play. They can stay in there unsupervised, and it makes it nice for us as well. The cribs just took up so much space the way we had to have them in there...dang blinds!!!!




Connor's Bed


Skyler's Bed

TRIATHLON

Cassie had her first triathlon. We were supposed to go to Phoenix this weekend for Dana's boy, Ty's Baptism, but weren't able to make it. Which now I feel bad about because my mom, Erica and Jen all went with their kids. Jen is in an arm sling due to a fall she had a couple weeks ago, in addition to by brother somewhat being out of commission due to his torn ACL. Anyway, my mom has been doing what she can to help the two of them out. Well, while in Phoenix, my mom fell and broke her arm in two places near her sholder. So she wasn't really able to help Jen out with the kids during the trip. Well, anyway, I felt REALLY bad I wasn't there.

Anyway, back to the point... We decided not to go to Phoenix that weekend, and I was pretty bummed about it. I saw this triathlon was going to be that same weekend, so I signed up for it to cheer myself up, and started training. It was a Sprint triathlon with a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride and a 3 mile run. It was a LOT more competitive than I thought it would be, and I felt quite ridiculous doing in on my free mountain bike, and $20 Wal-Mart helmet and people with thousand dollar road bikes and helmets that make them look like aliens, passing me like I was standing still. Either way, I had a LOT of fun, and finished very strong, I never hit a wall like I thought I would. I felt good about my time until I saw the rankings, and then felt rather stupid. I really want to keep doing them, but don't want to put money into it by getting a road bike. So I kinda have to let my ego go, and realize I am in this for fun, and to accomplish things, and not care about how stupid I look. I really did enjoy it, and would love to do more of them. Utah Summer Games....here I come!!! (Assuming the ego thing passes)



David and the boys made it out during the run portion, here I am starting my second lap of the run (the course was the same for the beginner and the sprint, with the beginner being 1/2 half the distance, so for the sprint, you just did 2 of everything.)


Crossing the finish line


Checking my final time of about 1 hour and 40 minutes. I was pretty average on the swim and run, but the bike ride KILLED my time.


See, I told you this would be a long post, so thanks, if you made it to the end, for sticking around. If you didn't read everything, I am not offended....It really is about the pictures!

Friday, March 27, 2009

What is going on here?

Isn't it odd that last week I boasted about getting to put my kids in shorts and flip-flops and how cute they looked. Well this week, they are in jackets and beanies... What's the deal?



Is it just me, or does my son somewhat resemble Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? He always was my favorite, I always thought he was cute!



So, today as I was con my computer, I had to e-mail my boss, the kids were playing so quiet and good, I thought I would check my facebook. Then I realized the kids were too quiet. Which means they are in trouble, so I went to check on them, and this is what I found. Them totally covered in soil from this plan, the moss everywhere, the soil covering the WHOLE counter and the floor. These picture really do no justice to the mess they created. So what did I do... I did what any good mom would... wanted to get mad, but couldn't help taking advantage of the photo opp. Stripped the kids down, threw them in the tub and left them there while I cleaned up.



Thursday, March 19, 2009

Good weather = Fun times

Last weekend on March 14, the Fifes did a 10K. Teresa went walking while David, Bryan, Craig and I ran the Spectrum 10K. The twinkies had fun with a babysitter. Craig finished around 43 minutes, David at around 46 and Bryan was kind enough to hang back with me and finish at 1 hr 5 min. This was an improvement of about 6 minutes off last years time for me. Unfortunately the camera didn't have batteries, so we have video footage, but no still shots, and our computer isn't smart enough to do videos. Anyway, zazoosh was there taking pictures, so on the link below you can see pictures of the four of us.

http://www.zazoosh.com/events/searchPhotos/187?evtId=187&query=fife&x=0&y=0

The weather has been so great lately. Still kinda cold in the morning, but by about 10 AM it is great. So Wednesday I broke out some of the kids new summer clothes (I bought on clearance last fall) and their new flip flops, that they LOVE and can't wear enough. Skyler wears them until I MAKE him take them off to sleep, and as soon as he wakes up... he wants them back on. Anyway, these pictures are all inside, but we did go to the park and have some fun.

We have this little car, and if I push them, I make them put their feet up, so I don't run over them.... I think Skyler wants a ride :)



For a very brief moment, they figured out they could push eachother when mom is busy.


Here they are just TOO cute in their summer clothes.



Connor LOVES his food, he was real hungry can you tell?



Skyler LOVES to give kisses! MMMWWWAAAA



They both LOVE their daddy!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

New blogs....

I am trying a few new blogs.

www.thisblogisforjenny.blogspot.com

and...

www.therunningdad.blogspot.com

The first blog is for my sister-in-law Jenny...Happy Birthday. You will have to check out the jokes I played on her and vote on them...

The second blog will be motivation for me running and beating my Dad. Also getting that awesome body.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Busy Days

We have been so busy this past month, I don't even know where to begin. I (Cassie) went to Houston, TX for work for 4 days. I got to see my cousins, Lindsey and Brad Poff, and their 2 beautiful girls (pictures on a disposable camera, I haven't gotten developed yet). Seeing them made the trip totally worth it. On the way home I had a 2 hour plane delay in Salt Lake City, making me late for a Valentines Day date David and I had. The next week we went to Cedar City on Saturday for a day trip then David went to Salt Lake on Sunday for work, getting home on Wednesday, and I left on Friday for Colorado. More plane delays on Sunday, making my trip home VERY long ( I had to drive home from Vegas). This week I leave for San Francisco with my sisters and mom for a girls weekend we have had planned for a while. I am going to Colorado one more time this month, and in April we have trips planned to California and Phoenix.

Like I said.... Life has been busy.

Anyway, I thought I would post a little info on the boys, who are so incredibly cute!

Food is always better from my brothers tray


They have started feeding eachother food/snacks... it is kinda cute to watch!


I wanna be JUST LIKE DAD

Skyler finds David's stuff around the house and uses it the same way he does. The main ones are carrying his scriptures, wearing his Chargers hat, and putting the tie around his neck. He is so cute with the tie, but this was the only picture I had.

Skyler is also doing well with his sign language and his vocabulary is going by doing this. It is awesome.

My NEEDY one

This month Connor has spent a lot of time at our legs whining and being cranky. Still such a CUTE kid, he is always wanting to be held and loved.

The other day Connor got real quiet... which obviously means he is getting into trouble. I found him on his trampoline chowing done on a solid chocolate Easter Bunny from last year.

Connor is REALLY in to balloons right now.

The boys are learning how to "cheeze" it too.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Fun Times

Race Day:




David and Craig had their half marathon, they both did well, getting in the 1 hour and 40 minute range. They accidentally switched their chips, so they are flip flopped on the results. I (Cassie) had a 5K and had a personal best time around 30 minutes and 50 seconds. In my pictures I look like I am really struggling, but I actually felt pretty good. I know that time is not impressive, but for me it was, I am such a slow runner.

RESULTS
Cassie
David and Craig

PICTURES
Cassie
David and Craig

The Boys:


The boys are really liking the park, we take them on the swings and on the slide. They both like the slide, especially Skyler, who can go down them all by himself. Connor likes to just walt around and observe things at the park. He is still a climber. The boys are starting to watch TV a little. We let them watch Veggie-Tales sing-alongs and Baby Einsteins the most, and they dance to the music, it is so fun to watch. They also like books and will bring them to you and want to sit on your lap to read....for about 5 seconds, and then they move on. Sometimes it lasts longer :)

Skyler is taking to learning sign language pretty well. I started working with them on it about 2 weeks ago, and am NOT as disciplined as I should be, but he is picking up on it. Ever since we have been working on it, it is so funny how aware he is of his hands, he wiggles his fingers and just watches them move. He currently knows more and dada, he is working on milk, all done, cereal, eat, drink and kisses. Like I said, I am not doing all that great teaching him, but it is nice when he can come to me and say "more" and hand me what he wants, like crackers, milk, marshmellows and of course... ORANGE TIC-TACS. If you tell him you want kisses, he will go: "mmwwaaaa" so cute. Skyler talks... a lot, we just don't understand what he is saying. Though doing sign language is helping with his vocabulary I think. He is also obseessed with shoes still. He has figured out that if we are not around to put them on his feet, he can put them on his hands and crawl or walk around like that. He likes to sleep with stuffed animals and use them and pillows, it is kinda funny.

Connor likes to watch everything. He is such a little cuddler. It is so nice to pick him up in the morning or after a nap and enjoy having him just sit on my lap until I put him down to get them milk. And then once he has his sippy, he comes back to you and wants to drink it while sitting with you. He also LOVES blankets and chewing rags, which is kinda annoying sometimes, but hey, he likes to chew on them, and is happy with them, so we let him have them. HE also loves keys, so we had to get him some of his own to stop him from stealing ours. He isn't as fast to pick up on the sign language, but I can tell he is trying. He is such a good eater too. To think the boy who all I could get him to eat was avocados this summer, now is a garbage disposal! He seriously eats just about anything I put in front of him. One favorite is eggs, and not just eggs... loaded eggs, like scrambled eggs with cheese, onions, ham and peppers, or quiche with spinach or something. He also likes to tease. He will come to you like he wants you to pick him up, and then turn away from you and laugh.



Both the boys are doing very well, and are such a pleasure as they are growing up.