Super Happy Fun Surprise!!!

Random pics from July:

Thinking about solid food... mmm...

Ryan and Sadie's balancing act. They're thinking about taking it on the road.

Too hot for clothes!

Warning: super husband bragging here, so look away if you must. If you roll your eyes after reading this post, it's your own fault.
I just need to start this post with Ryan is a trickster. He plans and plots and always has something up his sleeve. The man is full of really fun surprises. And he really outdid himself this year for my birthday, which he usually celebrates about 3 months early because he cannot contain himself when he finally decides on my gift.
Since we were already going to have Rachie with us for the better part of July, he planned with Laura to have her come too! And instead of any gifts from parents and in-laws, Ryan planned for us to go shopping together, and have Laura completely overhaul my wardrobe. I felt like I was on What Not to Wear! Laura went through my entire closet, item by item, and we made decisions to keep or toss. There was so much stuff in my closet that I hadn't worn for so many years, but for some reason I just couldn't ever get rid of, so it was nice to have Laura and Rachel there driving the decisions. We threw out 4 garbage bags of old clothes, that were either worn out, out of style, or just too young for me to wear. Laura told me, "You need to dress like a mom, not like you're in high school!"

Donations!

The spoils

After making a list of essentials, we set to work (yes boys, work!) shopping. And just when I felt fatigue setting in, Laura would power through and have me trying on like 50 items in 5 minutes! I've never shopped like that in my life, and perhaps I never will. Rachel, you were awesome to help with the kids after we had run them so ragged, in and out of the car and stroller all day long! And then Ryan was so nice to take the kids who missed afternoon naps on our account and let us girls go see Harry Potter, or get our nails done. What a guy!

Pop quiz!: can you tell our hands and feet apart?

Laura was only able to stay for a few days, but she did a ton of online shopping for me too, looking for those last few, elusive must-have's. It was seriously the most fun I've had with Laura and Rachel in a long time. And Ben, Laura has a tangible talent. Don't let it go to waste.

Rachel was able to stay for a while longer, and we did fun stuff around town, like the zoo, going around down town, a party with the judge Ryan clerked for this summer, a hair bow and birthday card night, and way too much super mario brothers. We were sad to see her go, but we left for Arizona the next day, so we had to get ourselves ready. My actual birthday was just laundry and cleaning, but I didn't care because I had been celebrating it for weeks!

Waiting at the Airport

Too much love!

Now we're in Mesa trying to maximize our time with Walker before he leaves on his mission. He's going to the El Salvador San Salvador East mission, and reports on the 10th of August. He is so excited and anxious to go.
We'll be seeing people in Waterton!
p.s.- Laura, start your personal shopping business now!

Too hot for anything but blogging!

As the heat index goes well over 100 today in Omaha, and with both kids asleep its time to hit the computer. I've been filling nap time with other activities, some less frivolous than others, but after a few requests for more Mason pictures, I find I've run out of excuses not to blog. Why do I drag my feet so much? I'd say our upload speed is about half of what I'd like it to be, not that I don't like updating everyone on what we've been doing.
The Flood: it has been an all consuming topic around our neighborhood lately. The "Mighty Mo" has been on a constant rise since winter ended, and now we are finding ourselves in its path (sorta). Most of our ward In Council Bluffs is already seeing lots of water in their basements, but we are on far higher ground here in Omaha, so we are in no immediate danger. The river would have to flood about 100 feet vertically before we would even get worried. However, we have been busy getting our emergency preparations in order, like water and purification systems and food, and yes, Ryan bought a shotgun. I don't love it in the house, but he calmed my anxiety by also getting the most cutting edge safety equipment. The safety's on ole bessie.
So while our ward has been moving everything from their basements, we've been helping people get their things out from below ground, and a few families have been moving completely as well. Ryan hardly ever comes straight home from work anymore, as it seems like there's always someone needing assistance. I'll post some pictures of things that have been affected by the water already. Rachie, bring your gumboots!

Our usual road out to church, but not where we drive. It's closed now. The thin strip above land is the railroad, and the highway is to the right.

A casino entrance that is right on the river. I don't feel all that badly because it's a casino. Ryan saw this and said it looks eerie, like the Titanic, but less grand.

But I digress. I haven't blogged about my trip with the kids while Ryan finished up finals at the end of April. I took off to go to Heather Low's wedding and see family, and also got a chance to go back up to Calgary, and then down to Arizona so we could bless Mason with as much family as possible present. Basically that's the trip in a nut shell, so I'll let the pictures do the talking. I wish I had taken more pictures at the actual wedding, but with two kids I felt like I was barely able to keep track of all our stuff, even with all the help I had. The flights over to Salt lake went as good as I could hope for, traveling with a toddler and an infant alone. I received many piteous stares, but for the most part people were very helpful and nice. There was one point that I was nursing Mason while holding the air sickness bag out for Sadie, but that was brief. That girl is just not meant for travel. Thanks again Laura and Ben for being Sadie's best trackers in Utah!

At the reception in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I know I should stop her, but she was having so much fun, and she wasn't the only one, and the damage was already done. Yikes, rhymes.

The black and cream trio, all unplanned. Mom and Laura, surely one of you has a better shot of us?

Dinner in Provo at cool pizza place. We look extremely un-hip compared to the rest of the diners there.

Blessing day (and Mother's Day) in Mesa. Sorry, no pictures of our time in Calgary :(

The family portrait now! I think there was a fingerprint on the camera lens, so every picture has a foggy, 80's softness to it.

Back in Omaha, Sadie and Mason in my mother's day gift: a double stroller! Going to the zoo is a breeze now!

Ryan and Mason bonding over NBA finals. I think there's a very similar picture of Ryan and Sadie watching ball too.

I have way more videos of Mason than I have pictures, but they're all pretty boring for you guys, so I'll just have to be better at snapping pics. Hope everyone had a very patriotic Canada Day, and a good 4th of July too!

Easter happenings

After at least 3 egg hunts, much egg dyeing, and so much candy that no clothes are clean, I think Easter has been celebrated! Here is Sadie and Ryan at our neighborhood egg hunt, which, thankfully, they divided into age categories. Sadie fared pretty well in the 0-2 yr group.

Searching for the elusive Easter eggs. I was worried she would get distracted by the fact that it was at the park, and want to play instead, but she put on her game face an pulled off a lot of goodies.

It was kind of a cool day, so Mason is snuggled carefully in the blanket. Next year, buddy.

Egg coloring! Sadie was so thrilled at the prospect of art in a new medium. She has kind of had it with just paper.

Intense focus

I copied this one out of the Disney Family Fun magazine. Thanks again Heather! I love getting it every month.

Lady Eggaga. Or as Ryan initially thought, someone at Mardi Gras. Basically the same thing, right? (On a side note, I am not, nor have been, nor ever will be a fan of Lady Gaga. I think she is a terrible person, and the very evil of world the apostles warn us about. That said, she's current, and easy to do by putting bits of fabric on an egg)

Another one of mine, just something geometric

Ryan's offering. I think it was titled: Experiment in patterns and colors, number 8. Sounds like something from my art history class.

The two in the front row are Sadie's. It's a miracle they survived being dropped several times. Also, Ryan did some sort of a Ninja.

It's been a slightly cooler spring for Omaha, but at least winter is officially gone and the grass is green. I'll be posting more about my trip to Utah, Calgary, and Arizona. Good, busy times.

p.s.- Brag time: we had a cake auction the other night at a ward party to send our YW to girls camp, and my carrot cake got the 2nd highest bidding! And it wasn't even Ryan that bought it. Darn that caramel apple pie.

Anyways, Happy Easter Everyone!

Sadie turns 2, more Mason pics

The kids are asleep and its time to blog. Mason is sitting here in front of me in his bouncy chair, air-sucking his soother that has just beyond his adorable little reach. I love it when babies do that! I just wanted to post some up-to-date pictures of Mason as he is getting so chunky so fast. Also, Sadie turned two this month, so that was pretty big for her. I think I'm going to have to keep it to these mini posts, or I'll never keep updating my blog!

Still pretty new here. Here's some ultra-supervised sibling time.

Mom's parting shot with Mason. We miss having her so much!

Fatherhood

Birthday girl in her new outfit from Grandma Sandstrom. Ryan's parents came and visited us for a day about a few days before Sadie's birthday, and they met Mason. I can't believe I don't have any pictures of that visit, but I know they sure do! It was brief but fun.

Sadie's birthday was a pretty low key affair. It was still kinda chilly outside, so I didn't end up doing cupcakes for the neighborhood like last year (whew!). Here she is unwrapping some gifts: Disney movies! We needed a little more selection other than Jungle Book.

Testing it out...

Ok it's good. Note the cucumber slices on her plate (she asked for them after cake!).

Chunk

Captured a smile! He's much easier to get to smile than Sadie ever was.

Put up yo' dukes, sucka

More shots of Mason

Hi Family

Here are some more up dated pictures of our little man. Mason is such a sweet little baby and fits so nicely in our small family. Sadie is really beginning to adjust well to having him here, although she still asks to see the baby in my tummy. It must be a difficult concept to realize the baby lying on the floor is the same one that was once behind my belly button! Sadie is extremely helpful when it comes to diaper changes, and is always concerned over the whereabouts of his soother. She's always bringing it to him, and says "here ya go buddy!" Couldn't ask for a sweeter big sister.

Still in the hospital, Sadie is a little standoffish

Leaving the hospital outfit. We messed up on Sadie's and she wore 0-3 month clothes home (they were massive!). Second time round we were a little wiser, and he's properly wearing newborn clothes, although they were still a little big.

Cute father and son picture. Ryan loves having a guy to talk to in the house.

Sadie eventually warmed up to the idea of holding Mason, and wants to give kisses on his head all the time now. Check out those wings!

Mom holding Mason. I love how he looks like he's waving in this picture!

From the front. He looks super jaundice here, but it only did that when the flash was on. He's all better now.

Getting some loves from big sister

Tough guy face

We had cupcakes tonight for dessert, and I just had to post this of Sadie enjoying hers

It has been absolutely invaluable to have Mom here to help. She's been great doing all the cleaning that you never want to do, playing with Sadie when I'm busy with Mason, as well as all the meal prep and clean up. We could really get used to this...