We Have A Two Year Old!

Mom! It my Bird-day! He totally knew it was his Birthday and man was he ecstatic! 

We all were. It truly was a very fun family day :)

Even though it was warmer outside he knew this was his birthday shirt and did NOT want me to change it.

So, fun story...I started making the cupcakes the night before. I tried a new recipe and it was a bad idea. The cupcakes didn't set up, like at all. They tasted good but it must have been elevation problems. It was too late to make it from scratch, plus doing all that hard work...I just didn't want to find another recipe so I just ran to the 24/7 Walmart and bought they Devil's food cake box. Thank you Duncan! It ended up being yummy, I surprised Damon by putting a marshmallow filling into the cupcake. What he loved the most though was the designs. When he woke up I brought him downstairs to check out the cupcakes and he went, "Awww, uh football!" I don't think anything else could have made me felt so good. He truly made me feel like he loved it, he was proud of me and thankful that I did it for him. His body language was so sweet and sincere. 

He is such a sweet boy! He's my sweet boy!

So, mom was pretty cool that morning. He got chocolate chip pancakes...with marshmallow fluff...then topped with syrup. He loved it! (Who wouldn't?) I LOVE his determined lips in this picture :)

And look how cute his lips are in this picture too! 

He's just my handsome boy, I could kiss this face all day! 

Nom Nom!

Damon was so excited when he saw the card/$ that Aunt Anna and Uncle Drew sent...

Truthfully though...I think he liked the card more. He carries this card all over the house, starring and talking about it. Super Heroes are pretty rad, for sure :)

After Garrett got off work we went to the most fun place called Kangaroo Zoo. 

Damon loved it! And since Damon is younger they let me go on everything with him for free! Garrett couldn't because he doesn't weigh under 150 lbs (So glad he doesn't, he'd be wayyy too skinny!) 

It was way fun, it made me feel like a kid again!

I loved these action pics of Damon jumping. He loves jumping on our bed and on the couch, so being able to do this everywhere at this place was just the Bomb! :)

He loved going down the slides. He always wanted to go down by himself even on the steep ones. Some were really steep so I obviously when down with him on those ones.

 

Too much fun!

Damon and I would race on this one :) 

We would go down backwards sometimes even.

It was required to have socks on, it was hard climbing up some of these because it was slippery but Damon amazed me with how well he climbed up by himself. Side note: Right before we walked into Kangaroo Zoo, we realized that the drink I handed to Damon in the carseat (which was juice but it was the "Honest" kids organic kid so it has no added sugar so it really isn't sticky) I didn't realize that I didn't put the lid on right so all over it went all over his shorts. So before we played I took him into the bathroom, changed his diaper and blew dry his shorts with the hand blow dryer. In the end he just ended up smelling really good, like apples actually. 

I love this picture :) Just real excited riding on a dinosaur's back!

He went out for dinner and then it was cupcake time!

Yum!

Birthday kisses :)

Love this boy!

My handsome boys!

Bedtime kisses!

I love how he was holding onto Garrett's lips to kiss.

I love this picture because he always does this to me. He always cups my chin when he's being sentimental. It melts my heart.

Knuckles.

High five.

We then do "fingers" then "noggin"

This is Damon trying to give us a thumbs up. 

Haha cracks me up, especially how he places his tongue while focusing.

That's his new gun he got for his birthday. He loves his weapons.

Damon also got a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa Dekorte. He got a helmet too from Nana and Papa Dekorte. He loves them both so much. He'll just walk around the house wearing his helmet like it's a hat. But sometimes you just got to sit on your bike with your "Bear" while wearing your soccer hat :)

Molly was worn out. She's our dog, by the way. She's a 7 year old pure breed Border Collie. She is very healthy and active. She loves sleeping right here by my side of the bed or partially under the bed or all the way under the bed. She sheds a ton but we love her. Damon loves to take her out to go potty or just to go on walks. He's good about helping feed her, brush her, give her treats and throwing the ball around with her.

Sometimes Molly lays on her blanket and when she does she is always in the cutest positions!

My Family! This was actually the day we got Molly which was on Pioneer Day. It was a very fun day. To sum it up, I love us! :)

Grateful for...

I've been having an overwhelming amount of gratitude this morning. I felt like I needed to stop and write it down before I lose it. To do so, I just plopped Damon down in front of the TV. Probably not the best parenting technique but hey at least it is an educational show. I truthfully have been desiring to do this more often because Damon no longer takes naps. Zero. Zip. It's like he joined a "No Nap" club when he turned 2. And he's starting to get into everything! He's peeing on my earrings (He found where I leave my earrings which is in the bathroom drawer. He took his diaper off because I told him he was going to take a shower but then Garrett helped me put the sheets back onto our bed, which distracted us..once finished we walked into the bathroom to find the pre scene lol) He's making murals out of the upstairs bedroom wall, he's starting to throw things into the toilet. I always have to have an eye on him and he's so tired, I know he is, which equals shorter temper and tantrums occurring on both parties :) General Conference came at a perfect time. It's a time that helps me re-evaluate how I want to be as a person and mother. I'm far from perfect and I'm working on my patience level. Damon does give me sweet reminders here and there. After a screaming NOOO session at me, I placed him in time out which brought on tears. I told him he could leave his spot when he was ready to calm down and listen. I asked him if he was ready, he looked at me with a contrite look and said, "Mmm Hmm." He walked sweetly over to me and as I talked to him, telling him what he did wrong he just cupped my chin while kind of patting it, then looked at me so sweetly. It looked as if he was truly listening. Even if he was just manipulating me and trying to get out of the situation..it worked lol. I didn't feel like it was that way though, it was a reminder to me that he naturally has a sweet soul. He's just in a stage where he is trying to figure out his emotions. I'm learning how to work with them too, sometimes I don't understand him. Which doesn't matter, I'm the mother, I understand emotions more so, I need to be the patient teacher. That has really rung true to me lately. What has also rung true is the fact that I am a mother. I get to do the best calling, the best job ever. I get to help guide a human being! And each day I am saving him from the world. Like saving him from running out in the street or just feeding him--he is completely dependent on me keeping him alive. That's a significant statement. What a magnificent calling to give a human being alive but not only physically. Mentally and spiritually. What I teach him now, the knowledge he retains may save him later on in many circumstances. My hope is that I can be what he needs now and later on. It can be overwhelming just thinking about the me I need to be. One of the Conference talks talked about how his life was going perfect but after talking with a friend he realized that he could be doing better. It hit me, how can I be doing better...how can I be a better mother and wife. It's always good to re-evaluate and I'm so grateful for the Savior who has allowed us to start over EVERY SINGLE day. Each day is a new day that we can be better.

I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm going to be an Aunt again, today. Lacey went into labor with her 5th child this morning! I believe they are going to be naming him, Crew. I can't wait! And Charity has her 3rd in November. More babies the merrier! I'm so proud of these girls sacrificing their bodies to play a part in the creation of man. And, both these girls sacrifice their time to be full time stay at home moms. I truly look up to Lacey and Charity, I hope and pray that (especially when it comes Garrett and my time to increase our family with more children) I can be half the mother that they are.

There are so many more things that I am grateful for that I will continue to write in other posts!

Easter Weekend 2014

What a fun and special week it has been. I feel so eternally grateful to have a wonderful, loving husband that makes me want/strive to be a better person. He is such a hard working man and has been such an amazing trooper. He has had night shift after night shift (11pm-7am or 8:30am) this week he will have worked 62 hours just in night shifts. He could...well should have been spending his off time sleeping but instead he has been spending quality time with Damon and I. It makes me emotional that he has sacrificed his time for us, it is a Christ-like attribute that I cherish. Some of the best memories were made this weekend.

 For date night we went to a restaurant called, "Hickory" in good old Rexburg...I must say...It. Was. Delicious! I'm not a big hamburger person but this was a place were I would order a burger again. Damon ate some Burger meat too and that is just a rare sight. He's getting so much better at eating, especially meat! He is a picky eater so I've been real happy with him eating more! Below is a picture of Damon in the parking lot, right outside the restaurant. We had to wait for him to finish up talking to his Grandma Dekorte before we could go inside :) He loves talking on the phone but he loves talking to Grandma even more!

Damon got to experience coloring eggs for the first time. He was so silly! He kepted on picking them up and tried taking a bite of them.  

 

He hasn't quite captured the understanding of this event but he had so much fun watching.

I don't think he could get any cuter. He is such a happy boy!

Damon got some dye on his arm and was trying to show me/the camera.

Family picture!

 Below is a picture of me trying to make the bed :) He was giggling up a storm. This silly boy loves getting into our bed. He looks so grown up to me!

Such a sweet boy. Damon LOVES his Daddy. Everyday he will either run up to the gate, (guarding the stairs) look up and asking for Daddy. My favorite is when he goes to my bedroom door and knocks on it, asking for Daddy...

Above and below, Garrett was leaving to help someone move somethings out of an apartment. Damon was distraught! I've never heard him cry so hard. He just had to stop and snuggle on Daddy for a little bit.

On Saturday we took Damon (for the first time) to the Sand dunes in Rexburg. We had a blast! It was so nostalgic for me. It made me feel at home...also made me feel very child-like. It gave me the satisfaction feel of being on a beach (I miss being close to the coast) but what warmed my heart the most was thinking back to the Daddy Daughter trips I had with my sister and dad. It reminded me of our ATV trips. We would ride around for hours, I could almost taste the lunches we would pack. I was reminded of the rides later on at night...to go build a campfire and play in the sand. It was a very fun trip for me this weekend, for going back down memory lane and for making new memories.

The weather was perfect! I never felt too hot or too cold. The breeze was just right, too. It was so fun watching Damon and Garrett dig around. We walked around and ran up the ledges (I'll tell ya what, if you want an awesome work out, go run up the sand dunes. I felt so out of shape) the best part was watching Damon scoot himself down the edge. Of course it got a ton of sand up his shorts but it was worth it :)

Garrett really got into the digging part for awhile. So cute!

I love the little Damon hand print in the "I love you" picture.

Of course, being my father's daughter, I had to document the date and take a picture. He would be so proud! :)

For some reason, Damon thought it was so fun and funny to throw sand into his face. As you can tell he was throwing sand up in the air in these pictures. Also, Damon even tried drinking the sand from one of his cups. He soon learned that that was a bad idea haha.

Oh, you know, just being awesome like Michael Jackson...

Garrett doing the famous lean :) 

I must say, he did it even better than Michael ;)

Family picture!! 

I love my happy boys!

Muah!

Damon never really played without having this ball near his side the whole time. Even when he was trying to climb up a big sand pile he wouldn't let it go (I didn't have a camera at the moment to take a picture when we walked over there). I had a little spiritual thought as I watched him struggle up the side (Having a child brings out the best spiritual teaching moments). I find it appropriate to share, especially, because it is Easter weekend. Easter is all about the atonement and resurrection. Two objective thoughts came to mind actually. 

1.) Damon was a normal human being. The football was the sin. Life is the sand pile. We can not go through life without having the extra strength to make it through. To do so we have to drop our burden (the sins) to make it through.

2.) Damon couldn't make it up without the help of another which ended up being me. We cannot make it through this life without helping each other out. Also we have to let in the Lord, so that he can carry us when we most need him...

I cherish being a mother. It is the greatest job I can have. Lately I have been asked a lot on what I do. 

Answer: I proudly am a mother and housewife....a homemaker.

These are what make me happy :)

 I am so grateful for the moments, the realizations, or better said--reminders I have had lately. Family always comes first. I am so thankful for this Easter.

On the drive home from the sand dunes we saw this little guy crossing the road! Of course we had to pull over to get him off the road...especially with his slow moving legs. We named him Francois!...

Unfortunately, Garrett wouldn't let me keep him.

Easter Morning!

The Easter bunny brought Damon a rad book for the bathtub and some goodies.

He was pretty excited! We all were :)

Our church is from 1pm-4pm. Damon zonked out during 3rd hour (Our schedule is weird. We have Sacrament last) 

It was a wonderful Sabbath day!

Just getting our photo shoot on. (Damon was fast asleep at this point)

I love us.

Damon woke up real groggy. He just needed his Daddy's love.

Damon does this cute thing when he sees something awesome. I was doing it in this picture. He makes an airy "hoh, hoh" while making the face I'm making in this pic. It's the cutest thing.

Just checking out our Easter baskets again :)

Some of the Best Kisses right here!

Perfectly content

We then drove around (we visited a cementary...I know...it sounds horrible but it was fun for us looking at the different head stones. It felt appropriate to visit these people that we don't know. There's comfort knowing that, because of Christ, they make it back home to him)....

Then we visited the temple. Again, being my father's daughter I had to stop to take pics of Damon in the exact spot where I "proposed to Garrett." I was trying to be cute. Of course, Garrett proposed to me but later on when I got his ring, I gave it to him there. I wanted to make it memorable so I actually got on one knee. When he noticed it made for a good laugh. I'll tell ya though, for some odd reason, just doing that made me feel real nervous! I couldn't imagine how it would feel being in Garrett's position when he was asking for real in the first place....

I wanted to make sure to get some pics of Damon at this temple while were have lived here. We actually move to Centerville, Utah on May 1st!! I know! Surprise! We are actually really excited. We know it's the place we need to be at this time in our lives. That also explains to you why we were taking pictures in the living room on a mattress. We sold our couch, so that's been our temporary couch lately lol. Yes, I feel like a hillbilly.

Too cute. On the steps. A guy walked by and went on about how cute and smiley my boy is. It is very true. I am very lucky. Also, almost daily, a girl tells me that Damon is such a flirt. This I know to be true. He is quite the kisser too! It's so cute now but I know it will be something for me to get gray hairs about later!

Walking back to the car. He didn't want to get back in. But to his surprise...Daddy let him drive for the first time in the temple and stake center parking lot.

The stake center parking lot was the same place that Garrett and I did "donuts" or Garrett would call "cookies" the day we first met. (After snowboarding we peeled out on the snowy ground. Funny thing is that when Garrett asked us if we wanted..."To go do cookies" I literally thought he meant make cookies. At first I was disappointed because I wanted cookies but that experience was way more fun. I love his choices on fun things :)

Studs.

I guess, the reason why I'm talking so much about so many memories I've had in Rexburg is because I love it here. Yes, I'm ready to get out of a college town, I wouldn't want to live here forever....but I feel like this is our place. It is our stomping ground. This is were Garrett and I met, started a family. I love how it is a populated that is broken up by fields. Beautiful fields. I never noticed the beauty of a line of rows on farm land until I met Garrett. I love the open space feel out here. And the sunsets (especially during harvest season) are exquisite. I love the homes we have had here and the parks near by. BYU-I has been too good to us. I'm going to miss it here. (Good thing we have families to come visit here and we will only be like 3.5 hours away)

Last picture of the day, Damon putting on his pajama pants haha! Two legs in one hole :)