May and June 2011

Here are some pictures of our lives from May and June.
On May 13, we hopped on a plane and flew to California! About 4 weeks (probably more, actually) I got a phone call from my dad saying that he had been asked to serve in our ward as the bishop! I was pleasently surprised and we made plans for our trip down to california.
Here's a funny little tangent about an experience I had the week before my dad called me. I was working and at a home visit with a family and we were talking about her planning a trip home to see her family and all the stuff that goes into preparing to go on an airplane with little kids. Suddenly, I just got a feeling that we were going to be going on a similar trip home to see my family! It was wierd, but I brushed it aside not thinking anything about it, because we weren't planning any trips at the time. Then later in the week my dad called me and told me the news! It was pretty cool.
So the trip was short and fast, but so fun! It was great to see some cousins I hadn't seen in a long time, as well as some Aunts and Uncles. It was fun to let my family see my kids and to have us all together for such a short time!
As far as I remember (this was, sadly, 5 months ago), the plane rides went really well. We had the usual snacks and activities to keep the boys entertained. One of the snacks were pull-and-peel licorice. Xander and Nathan had fun with that:

I love his puffy cheeks here!

Do you wanna hear another fun story? Of course you do, right, otherwise you wouldn't be here! In the weeks leading up to Xander's birth, I was understandably concerned and a bit freaked out about having another baby, and was worried about his health and blah, blah, blah...everything you worry about! So I asked Nathan to give me a few priesthood blessings to help give me some comfort. He did so, and it was just so interesting, because in those blessings, I was told that Xander would be just fine and healthy, and that he would bring lots of laughter into our home. I remember thinking that was an interesting thing to hear in a blessing, and Nathan and I discussed it lots. But what's been even more interesting, is the fact that Xander really is just FUNNY! He makes all of us laugh a couple times a day! Whether it's by the things he says or the things he does, and especially when he's throwing his tantrums. He's just plain funny!

Here he is on one of those funny days! I think he was trying to take off his shirt, and it got stuck. He now does this regularly just to get laughs, but this day he was really frustrated!

Michael and Xander fight a lot, but they really are good friends. Xander really enjoys following Michael around and frequently copies the things he does and enjoys being Michael's little shadow.June

Here is Xander in the crib again about a month later. At this time, he was really interested in dressing himself. The problem was, he didn't realize what went were, so he was trying to put his shirt on his legs. Michael thought it was hilarious!Oh My Gosh--To say that Xander had a shoe fascination in the month of June would be an understatement! He. Was. ObSESSed! If he saw a shoe laying on the ground, he would pick it up and bring it to you!

It didn't matter if the shoes matched or not, or even if the shoe wasn't yours! It was lose, and that just wasn't acceptable! Also, if he noticed that someone wasn't wearing shoes at all, he would go on a mad hunt to find the shoes and return them to the owners! Thankfully now he's consumed in putting the shoes away! I like that obsession a whole lot more!

If this picture wasn't so blurry, I'd love it!

Michael and Xander also liked to play Ring Around The Rosy. I have a video to upload, and I plan on doing that as soon as I can! It's pretty fun.

Nathan also randomly had flowers delivered to me in June!

And Michael insisted it was cold...in June....

My studdly Xander...

and my handsome Michael.