The Latest & Greatest

We are all set up in our new place -- it feels great to have our own space to run around and play. And I'm not just talking about Gabe, I need to run and around and play too :) We have been keeping busy by working, going to church, playing, going to daycare (aka "school" for Gabe) and being with our family and friends. I seriously still want lots of visitors, cause have Gabe goes to sleep, it gets kinda lonely in my little place. Seriously, guys, anytime (well, not after 11:00 p.m., sorry). Here's some pictures of us this past week:

We went out to eat for Aunt Jilly's bday on Wednesday night. Let's just say that to keep him up past his bedtime AND keep him happy ... he had to have three Tootsie Pops. It was kinda a bad night though ... he threw up on the way home. Next time I will choose something less sugary to keep him happy :( Bad mommy moment right there.

Me, Lacey Lou, and Stacie at dinner

It just ain't a good day until Gabe gets to play outside in the sunshine. Here he is after we got back from church. We hung outside for a little bit before going in for naps. What a cute Mr. Handsome Pants I have on my hands!!

It looks like he had a rough day at work the way his tie and collar are all ruffled up. It's not easy being 2, let me tell ya! 

The day I get a normal picture of me and him is the day I go to heaven! I do love his lips in this picture, I can kiss them all day long!

Mmm hmm, here he is "texting" away!

In other "growing up" news, he now says "mine" and "no no" to me when I try to take something away from him. When we walk outside, I always hold my hand out and say "Hold mama's hand." He has always held his hand out for me to hold it. Well, earlier this week, when we were walking outside and I said that to him, he said "no no" and pulled his hands to his chest. What?! Where is my little boy that just does whatever I say? He's growing up too fast and is one sassy pants sometimes.

This is also from Jill's dinner ... I think him drinking so much water also contributed to throwing up on the way home. Poor little guy :(

It Ain't Easy Being This Cute

These are a few more pictures from the busy week we had. Things are still pretty crazy. Mostly because I have to study/take this bilingual education test (tomorrow!!) in order to teach in California. It's a mighty big test and its been filling a lot of my free time in order to prepare for it. Then, as many of you may know, I found a teaching job for summer school. It's in Sacramento (about a half hour drive from where I live) and I'll be teaching 7th grade Language Arts. I'm pretty excited to be teaching again and to be using the sweet lesson materials I have stored up! 

On top of those two major events, Aunt Jilly was in town for the return of Elder Vaka from Tonga and we of course had to spend all our time doing fun things with them. AND ... we've both been sick this past week. Who wants to study or plan when they're sick? Not me!

Anyway, here are some pictures from our activities the last week or so. 

Cute picture of mom and Gabe when we were sick together. I know I say this a million times, but why does he have the cutest face on this earth???

This is what Gabe wanted to do when he was sick (and believe me, he NEVER wants to do lay around, so I knew he wasn't feeling like himself!)

Jill getting a special hair treatment when she was home  -- do you notice anything different in her hair?
Haha -- don't ask me how that got in there. 

I zoomed in on one of the nasty slugs that Gabe keeps on picking up in our backyard. Unfortunately, my nephews Zander and Keaton are obsessed with pointing these bad boys out to Gabe. BOYS can be so gross!

We had a water balloon fight over at Aunt Tiffany's and here's Keaton, who insisted on me  "taking a picture of me and my snake."

Hot days (can you tell with Zander's red face?)

One of my new favorite pictures with me and Gabe

Gabe wants/does get into everything!! I actually caught him trying to get my camera batteries while they were charging. Look at his "caught in the act" face he's got there.

My silly boy, who loves to run around, be goofy, and laugh a lot

Gabe is already learning the in's and out's of technology (OH NO!!!). I don't want to be an extremely anal parent, but I really don't even want him to have his own cell phone until he's 16, but I'll see how long I can get away with him not having that kind of technology

Spring Breaksky!

So this past week was my oh so wonderful week off of work (a.k.a. SPRING BREAK!). I enjoyed and savored every moment of it. It was busier than any normal week because of all the stuff we packed in! We went to the Railroad Museum in downtown Sacramento, Wacky Tacky (hugest, most fun indoor playground ever), and pretty much just kicked it with each other. :)

There will be another post covering the Easter activities of this weekend, including Gabe's first Easter egg hunt, meeting the Easter Bunny, finding his basket Easter morning, and his freakin' handsome Easter pictures. Stay tuned! 

The whole crew @ the Railroad Museum ... from L-R: Keaton, Gabe, Zander and Lacie. I love all of their cute faces.

In front of one of the huge trains

Gabe in the "toddler" area of Wacky Tacky. He only stayed there for five minutes ...

How could he stay there when there was a room full of BALLS?!

Don't worry I hit this ball out of his mouth right after this picture. He was obsessed with chewing on them!

Haha ... his face!

Screaming with excitement. Seriously, this place is so awesome for kids! We stayed there for three in a half hours. 

*Love him*

Silly faces  (above: Lacie; below: Zander) ... there's no such thing as a kid being too young to learn ugly faces. 

CAUGHT: READING!!!!!

Mama was very proud of him for "reading" on his own. And that is one of his all time favorite books -- Llama Llama Red Pajama. 

I don't know how this got out of order, but this is Tiffany with Gabe at Wacky Tacky. You put balls in this shoot and it would "shoot" them out all over the place. I wish I took a video of Gabe's reaction. He was pretty much really ecstatic about a shower of balls over him.

A Little Bit of Everything

My life has been pretty busy in the last few weeks. I worked really hard to find a job once I moved to California, and I finally started work last Monday. It's not something I thought I would ever have to do: work full-time and have a child to provide for. It's hard, but rewarding at the same time. I like my job for the most part, which is working in customer service at Gap Inc., Direct. It's the online store for Gap and Old Navy, if you didn't know what that was. :)

Anyway, so most of my days consist of working all day, then coming home to be with Gabe as much as possible before he goes to bed. I miss him more than anything when I don't see him all day, but I keep a picture of him with me so I can see his cute little face. Well, I am sure you guys all wanted to know the run down in my life .... Here are some pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Me with all my sisters and my mom. They are my best friends and the best people I know!

Gabe having so much fun one night before going to bed.

Gabe just discovered this chair that my sister Tiffany has and he LOVES sitting on it now. He looks like such a big boy when he does.

My little muffin getting ready to get out of the bath tub. He loves the water!

Sweet Birthday Fun

We have had some busy times around here, but at the same time -- lots of fun! My birthday was on Friday and we had a weekend full of events with my family.

This is Gabe earlier this week playing with bubbles. He was cracking up trying to catch those things!

This is how I found Gabe sleeping during one of his naps this week. Sitting up, but his face planted in his blanket. I guess he was just too tired to lay down. :)

Gabe LOVES my dad; and here they are eating a turkey dog together, looking like little twinsies with their shirts.

Me and my mama getting ready to go out for my birthday.

Gabe at our ward picnic Saturday .... he loved this hat from one of my friends. It was huge on him.

Couldn't resist putting a bummy shot in there, especially with his little Levi's.

Me with my silly nephews at my family birthday party. I told them they could help me open my birthday presents if they took cute pictures with me. This is what I got. haha.

Me and my handsome boy!! I know I say it all the time, but he really does melt my heart with how cute his little face is!



For the Love of ....

.... all that is SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!

Lovin' his PB & J. (I love it too)

My nephews Zander and Keaton being silly

Gabe and his cuz Lacie takin' a bath

(and they absolutely love those cups ... they come in handy to cover up unmentionable parts too)

One of Gabe's dirty looks. He didn't get that from me.

Handsome boys.

Love these kids.

Standing up for the first time (on his own)!!

9.17.10

Mashed potatoes, yum

Being the happy boy I love so much