First part of July!

4th of July- We had a great 4th of July! We started out the morning with the primary bike parade! The boys had fun decorating their bike/wagon and riding through the neighborhood for the parade.

 They were probably most excited to come back for doughnuts at the end. 

Truman

T,E

Elliott

"Come on, Tru!"

I think I took so many pictures of Truman and Elliott because they just looked so grown up to me. They've just gotten so tall!

 After the parade, we went swimming at the YMCA. It was a lot of fun until disaster #1 of the day happened. We were all in the toddler pool, when Rob got a panicked look in his eye and pointed at Truman saying "Get him out now!" I quickly grabbed him and saw what the problem was: poop. Leaking out of the swim diaper. We rushed all the boys to the dressing room and cleaned up, and fortunately Rob had caught it before it was worse.
After swimming, we went to Panera for lunch. Then headed home to rest a little in the afternoon. Rob's boss had invited us to his neighborhood party that evening where they had tons of fireworks, so after dinner we headed there to watch. This was where disaster #2 happened. There were a bunch of people there and tables full of fireworks they were setting off in the street. We sat on blankets on the lawn and watched. Dr. Lahoe's daughter Phoenix and Truman were sitting on my lap, and Phoenix got a blanket to put over herself and Truman. The kids were all loving watching the fireworks, but then I looked over, and one of the fireworks that was supposed to shoot into the sky fell over and started shooting at the people instead! (Something that I always fear when people are shooting off fireworks near people). Like slow motion, I saw one shoot under someone's lawn chair and explode, and then another one a little closer, as people were scrambling out of the way. I tried scrambling out of the way too with the 2 kids on my lap, and then saw one land right on our blanket. I twisted away with the two kids, but my eyes did not leave Collin, who was sitting on the blanket right next to it. Panic. There was no time to do anything, and it exploded. I don't know how, but Collin was untouched. The blanket we were sitting on, and the blanket that was on top of Phoenix and Truman, each had a hole burned through them. Rob and Elliott were on another blanket and I'm not sure if another one landed near them but Rob said he tried smothering it with the blanket. Maybe that was why the blanket took the burn instead of any of us. It was one of those things that we kept replaying in our heads but it just happened too fast. Everyone was fine, amazingly. We took a break after that and went into the backyard. After that, though, every time a firework made a noise or we saw one in the sky, Truman flinched and clung to us and was terrified. So, we went home. We had our own little sparklers and pop-its to set off and the boys had fun with that. I think Truman has gotten over his fear, but the twins both still talk about it, saying "Mean firework" and "Firework hurt me" and "Stay away fireworks." I must say, this is one phobia I really wouldn't mind them having.

Sparklers!

Truman

Rob had to show everyone that it was safe to hold it.

Tru

Elliott got nervous and dropped his as soon as it lit, but he loved smashing the pop-its!

Sleepyheads (T,E)

And a few more pics from early July! I figured I'd better stay updated since our baby will hopefully be coming soon! Enjoying our last days as a family of 5!

I sneaked this picture at church because I've just been loving Sacrament meetings these days. All three boys have been doing so well! (I think I've earned the right to brag because of how crazy and exhausting Sacrament meetings were last year with these boys!) We hardly even use snacks or books or distractions any more. We just snuggle the entire hour. The twins switch from Rob to me (though Rob is probably more popular with the twins and Collin loves to lie on my lap and get his back scratched). I love it and I honestly think they do too. I hope Sacrament meetings will continue to be so sweet and affection-filled, and I would even say (surprisingly) peaceful.

Elliott, Truman. They love their daddy.

We took advantage of IHOP's 57 cent short stacks day for lunch. Mmmm (T,C)

Collin and I went to the stake's Mother/Son activity. We brought lunches and there were lots of games. Collin really wasn't interested in playing any of the games, but enjoyed finding things for the nature scavenger hunt!

And of course he was a fan of the popsicles.

Last week, some sweet friends (Annie and Tiffany) threw me an awesome baby shower! It was so much fun to celebrate our boy who will be here soon! The food was adorable and delicious and the games were hilarious and fun.

Me and Tiffany

Diaper cake topped with a Jimmy Fallon book? Coolest ever. (This was from Annie)

Onesie sugar cookies

This picture turned out blurry, but I really loved that two of my best friends from Portland were there. Kari and Sam have both been a part of all my babies' lives and it's extra special that they were able to celebrate this little one too. I love that they both still live so close to us again!

I couldn't stop staring at all the adorable things I received for our baby boy. This is just a few things, but I was so grateful for everyone's generosity. I may be superficial in this way, but looking at all these fresh, new things and beautiful fabrics and prints makes me so excited for our new little boy! I also thought it would be fun to document some of the new things I got for our baby so that he might be able to see someday. 

Oh these boys, working together to get into the empty cookie dough bowl.

And this picture brings us to yesterday! We attended a birthday party with lots of fun games, but our boys didn't want to get involved, Truman just wanted to hoard that water balloon forever and they just kind of stood off to the side together. I like to think they still had fun though! :)

Collin and Daddy

Daddy and Elliott

May-June 2015

Photo update from May and June. These months really flew by!

May:

Milk drinking buddies. We're trying to get them to cut back on milk, but they are constantly asking for it and it seems to have a soothing effect on them, so we still probably give them too much. Also, Elliott's jeans are so destroyed but we refused to buy new ones since shorts weather was coming and he'll be in the next size by Fall. Hence the huge holes.

We tried out a new place (The Buttered Biscuit) for a date night and ordered this gigantic cinnamon roll as a "side". . . and ended up eating like 2 bites of our actual meals. It was good though!

Mother's Day! Helping Daddy make the traditional trifle.

Cutest helpers

Had to stop for a little "rainbow fish"

Leavenworth- Rob and I had been wanting to take a mini vacation together before the baby comes, and we decided Leavenworth would be perfect. Rob's mom and Amber met us in Ellensburg to pick up the boys and brought them back to Sunnyside while we went on to Leavenworth. We wanted to try out a Bed and Breakfast since it was something we'd never done before. It was an experience. . . I'm not sure whether we'd do it again but we are glad we tried it out! We got there and thought it felt super weird, like spending the night at someone's house. We knocked on the door and were brought to our room which was right off the living room. Having a set time for breakfast was also different, as was sitting at a breakfast table with strangers while the hostess brought us food. On the plus side, the food was really good and the room felt much cleaner and nicer than a hotel- super comfy bed, Jacuzzi tub and salon products to use. I didn't feel like I had to wear my shoes on the carpet like at a gross hotel :) All in all, once we got over the weirdness, it was very relaxing and comfortable which was just what we wanted in this trip.

We visited the Aplets and Cotlets factory in Cashmere- one of our favorite treats! Lots of free samples :)

We walked around town, shopped, and tried some good restaurants. We also took a little hike in a nearby trail.

Belly shot in our B&B room- I remember starting to feel big and pregnant this weekend at 29 weeks. Definitely bigger now!

One of the shops in Leavenworth

We drove to Sunnyside the next day to pick up the boys. They all seemed to have a blast with their cousins! We were so glad they were willing to watch them. It was funny how much we missed them just on our little overnight trip. We talked about them constantly and quoted them and worried a little and mostly just couldn't wait to go get them!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but one of the best things to happen to me was the Ottos moving about 30 minutes away from us at the beginning of this year! We try to get together every Tuesday, and I love that our kids are continuing to grow up together. This is just a cute picture of Kari reading to them.

Love it when they have the whole table to sit at, but sit right next to each other on the bench anyway.

Collin. We sometimes bring a boy on our walk/jogs in the morning and stop at this little park.

Triple train on the slide!

 My grandma Ness passed away at the end of April and we had a memorial service for her in May. It was held in Auburn so people traveled to us. My parents came, as well as Lindsey (and Walker), Danielle, and Laurel's family. We also got to see lots of extended family that we hadn't seen in years at the service.

Lindsey, Danielle, Me, Laurel

Our side of the family

At the senior center where the memorial was held. My grandma spent many years volunteering here.

It's always fun when Annika's around!

Collin and Walker

We also had a little retirement party for my parents while everyone was here. They had both retired during that week and will spend the summer visiting family before heading to China in the fall to teach English.

June:

Just watching a movie in laundry baskets one morning.

Since the weather has been nice and sunny, the boys have spent so much time in our little backyard. I love it. Their favorite part is behind this big bush. They call it a "cave" or sometimes a "party." Collin decorates it and brings things out there and just plays there for hours. The day I took this picture, Collin asked for a "lantern" and then it was quiet back there for a long time so I went out, and saw that they all brought their camp chairs into the cave and were sitting around the lantern. Collin was telling them a story called "Collin, Truman, and Elliott and the Beanstalk." It was adorable.

These two have really been developing their twin bond lately. They do things in sync a lot and are so cute with each other. They definitely fight sometimes, but they also snuggle and hug and stick up for each other. When we go places, they kind of stick together and don't try to play with other kids.  

June was just one big heat wave! We have been really grateful for the portable air conditioner we splurged on, and for friends that invite us over to cool off in the pool! Elliott is obviously a fan of drippy popsicles, though he actually is the only one who has no interest in getting inside the water. 

Another highlight of June was when one Katie Ballard and her kids came to town! Katie was of my best friends growing up and it had been years! It was so nice to see her and her 5 kids. Crazy to think that our 10 year high school reunion is this summer. I won't be attending the actual reunion, but getting to see Katie was way better anyway. I'm kicking myself for not getting more pictures, but here's Collin, Truman, and Benson checking out baby Amelia. 

Sometimes when Daddy comes home for lunch, everyone needs a little nap.

Never too many cute twin pictures (E,T)

This has to be one of my favorite pictures right now. Morning times around here have been the best. If one boy wakes up, he comes into our bed to snuggle. If more than one wakes up, they play together in their rooms or the loft for a little while, then they all come in to snuggle. Everyone's happy and cute and it's just the best. (And I always have a pillow over my belly when I sleep or lie down, just in case someone comes in bouncing on top of me!) One morning, Elliott woke up early and fell back asleep in our bed. Then later, Truman came in to snuggle and squeezed in between me and Elliott and woke up Elliott. I expected Elliott to be mad, but he just saw Truman and smiled, and they started stroking each other's faces and hugging. They are just so sweet with each other. (T,E)

Reptile Man came to the library! The boys especially loved the alligator and the "big yellow snake."

Two blonde heads touching the big yellow snake.

Elliott did not want to leave this huge turtle, despite the line of kids behind him. We left this place with a minor meltdown, but I'd say it was still worth it!

Our neighbors had an awesome birthday party for their daughter, and rented out the Tacoma Children's Museum. The boys had the time of their lives running around this place and checking out all the fun stuff. (Truman)

This is the third party we've gone to of our neighbors kids, and the third time that their teenage nephew has been a life saver. Somehow Rob hasn't been able to attend a single one, and Grayson has helped keep track of my boys. He was Elliott's best friend the entire time.

Another snuggling twins picture? Don't mind if I do.

Library trip with just the twins- took this picture as proof that we were having a successful trip to the library. They held my hands going in, and held my hands going out, and there was no screaming involved. It was a miracle! They think those computers are the coolest. (E,T) Wearing their Canada shirts from Aunt Lindsey!

Sprinklers under trampolines are the best, especially when they get to play with Leo too (Rob's cousin Chad's son). Love that Chad and Tiffany are in our ward, and our boys always have a blast with Leo.