September Happenings

Our days seem to be filled up with some sort of activity or two every day. I think it's a combination of the time of year and the fact that the boys are getting older and wanting to participate in more activities. We area also still working through Lincoln's medical testing so there seems to be one or two appointments a month still. Logan has been to a birthday the last two Saturday's for two of his best buddies from school and has another one next weekend.  Additionally, Lincoln had his first big 3rd grade school project due last week. 

I have been extremely busy with work. I am still managing the staffing team for Merrill Edge Financial Advisors and there is a big push to over hire for the remainder of the year. I was also notified that after working from home for nine years, I will be required to go back into the office full time. I am extremely unhappy with the and it causes me angst everyday.  I am so disappointed that after ten years with the bank that they would change the requirement and make me go in. As  result, I will be commuting 90 minutes each way (if I go during the normal traffic times) and that will mean three hours less a day at home with my family. That is exactly why I am so frustrated and will likely be looking for another job sometime in the near future.

I did start in a part time (evenings/weekends) business with some of Rick's siblings and his parents. The company is called Products Matter. It's a start up company but I think it's got some real potential and I'm very excited about some of the products we will develop. I have high hopes for the future and hope it's quickly sucessful so that one day I can work that full time. There's a ways to go there but it's wishful thinking.

Last weekend I got to go on date night with Lincoln.  He reminded me that I was lucky that I had three boys that can go on dates with me. Yes, I am lucky indeed. Wicked, the Broadway musical, is on tour and came to ASU Gammage. It's one of my favorite shows and I'm so glad that I got to share it with Lincoln. We started the night with a delicious dinner at PF Changs', in Tempe, before heading to the theater. The cast was wonderful and we had a great time spending the evening together. 

Now that we have two babysitters who are pretty accessible Ricky and I have tried to go on a date once or twice a month. Last night we were able to get away for a couple hours to have dinner and one of my favorite places, The Melting Pot and then a movie. It's unbelievable how six hours away go pass like the blink of an eye when it's just the two of us. I am so thankful for him and the time we get to spend together. 

We are in the process of getting started on our backyard landscaping.  So grateful to have a lot of property to work with but it means more choices, seeing eye to eye with my spouse on what we want, and chasing down the contractors and permits to get it going. Now that we have a general idea of what we want I am excited but not looking forward to the process; I just want it done.

 Logan is quite the little baker. He always wants to make something. This time we made Star Wars cupcakes (or cupcapes as he calls them).

The tooth fairy actually visited our house twice in three days. Two days after losing this tooth, Logan lost the other bottom middle tooth. The Tooth Fairy was awfully generous and gave him $5.00 for his first tooth, then it reverted back to a dollar for the second one. 

 This Bumble Bee backpack is the same backpack that Lincoln started pre-K with five years ago. Every year I give Logan the choice to keep it or pick a new one. He has always chosen to keep it. Unfortunately, it finally gave up and broke. He was so sad to see it go that he wanted a picture with with. I convinced him it would be okay and that he could pick a new one, which he did. Not sure it will hold the same value that Bumble Bee did. 

 Luciano's birthday at Sky Zone

 Some of the boys in Logan's class at school. 

Sky Zone birthday group. Logan was made he couldn't stand next to Lucci. 

 Daddy let Logan chose where the two of them would eat for their date night and Logan chose Burger King.  If you know Ricky, you know that him going there proves his love for his son. 

 This was my date night with this stud. Super handsome, and even more sweet, boy. 

 Love of my life.

At church today, Lincoln made a temple with toothpicks and marshmallows in his primary class. His teacher was really impressed with his building skills. I'm sure it's all the years of Lego building paying off. 

Logan's Soccer

Logan started his first season on soccer last week. He loves to run and is naturally athletic so I thought it would be a great sport for him to try. The only rule about soccer that I know is that you can't touch the ball with your hands so he and I will be learning together. He did such a great job at practice. He was so excited to be a part of it. Four of his friends from his class at school are on his team and his friend Lucci's dad is the coach. I am excited for what the season will bring and to see what he will think when it's done. For now, I'm officially a soccer mom.

August Updates

August was spent getting back to our normal routines. The boys went back to school which meant homework, Friday folders, school activities, etc. Logan had to get his kindergarten immunizations which unfortunately left a large welt and swollen leg because he had some sort of reaction to one of the shots. 


The boys chose to go to ceramics painting for their Saturday Family fun day a few weeks ago. They picked out what they wanted to paint and chose all their colors and painted by themselves. They were so proud of their finished products. I think they turned out really cute! 

Late August the boys started swim lessons at Hubbard, an indoor year round swimming school. They tested as Goldfish but at the end of class Lincoln was moved past Jellyfish to Octopus level. They both did such a great job and improved since their last class. I'm excited to have them in a weekly year round class so that they can master the skill of swimming and we can finally get a pool in the backyard! I secretly hope that Lincoln will stick with swimming long term as a potential sport got high school. He has the build for it and I think would do very well in an individual sport like that. 

Ricky and I even managed to sneak in a date night to dinner and a movie. Thankfully, we found a babysitter from our ward at church and she only lives five minutes from the house. She did a great job with the boys and they look forward to her coming back.

Logan's introduction page from school. 

 Logan's self portrait. 

 Logan's favorite thing ever....train crossing sign!

 Dinner one night at Native NY and Logan wanted his picture with the tiny Statue of Liberty. 

 My poor baby...his leg was like this for almost a week. 

 Lincoln's ceramic masterpiece. A pirate skull. 

 Logan picked two since they were a small set. A car and a tractor. 

 The boogie boards the boys have are a wonderful quiet church activity. This was Lincoln's drawing from a couple weeks ago. 

 First day of swim class. 

 They scored when it came to ribbons! So proud!