Stop. Breathe, and think.

Luke has been getting easily frustrated lately. We recently watched a Blues Clues episode that was about how to handle your anger and frustration. The method is Stop. Breathe, and think. 

And it is so cute to watch him actually do it and it seems to work quite well.

Well, I am learning a lot from him (and Blue). I have been super awesome this whole first year of residency. Not to be a brag, but I feel like I have done a really good job at keeping busy and not letting my husband's busy schedule get us down. No major meltdowns for the year, no problems. It really has been a great year. 

Now that we've completed the first year, I feel like it's time for me to let it all out. 

(It feels good too).

It has been over a year and a half since we have been home. Thankfully, Matt's family came for Thanksgiving, and my parents have visited twice. I just miss my family and especially hanging out with my sisters. I wish my kids knew their cousins and could play with them. I miss the family parties, trips and reunions. 

Isn't it sad that I see pictures of all of my wild neices and nephews running around and playing. And it takes me a few minutes to figure out who's who, because it's been so long since I've seen them?

We've been planning for months to take a trip (finally) to visit Dave, Meg, McKelle and our new nephew Scottie for this weekend. Only to find out (today) that we can't because Matt is on "back up call." We really needed to get away and see some family!

I wish Devin would sleep through the night, I love the little guy but man, not having a full night of sleep in 10 months is starting to catch up with me.

On the bright side, we are planning (a very, very, much needed) trip home to Utah in the fall. Matt is trying really hard to switch with someone and make our trip still work (but I'm not holding my breath) Devin will eventually sleep through the night (maybe I'm extra grumpy, since he woke up at 5am this morning). And hopefully someday we'll live closer to our family.

Sorry to bore, and thanks for listening.

Summer Fun

 These pictures were taken with my point and shoot, so they don't look all that great-sorry!

This summer has been sooo much better already, than it was last year. Only because Matt worked nights all of last summer, and it was no fun. 

It's so fun to have him around more this summer to play with us!

He even got a pool pass with us this year. We went for the first time and had lots of fun. Devin wasn't a big fan of the water. He kept making that funny, scrunched face the entire time.

Luke has inherited those mega furry Johnson brows....sorry kid.

We scored at a garage sale the other day and (finally) got me a bike! But then we had to buy helmets for me and the boys and spent more on those than my bike and bike trailer combined (another awesome garage sale find $5!). So we took off....

Neither boys were big fans of their helmets, but do you blame them?

Dev especially was not a happy camper pretty much the entire trip. He kept slouching down and his head would bend all funny. Then I road behind them and noticed Luke kept leaning on Devin, with his entire body. I kept telling him to sit up, and then we realized he was out cold. Poor Devin was screaming and completely crunched by his big brothers huge helmeted head! We could not get him to wake up. (I tell ya, that boy will sleep anywhere but his bed). Luckily, we only biked over to Shaker Lakes, not too far away.

After Luke's little snooze, Devin miraculously fell asleep while the rest of us played Speedminton and had some snacks.

We ended at the park to play.

Dev loves to swing.

Matt thought it would be a good idea to put them together...Luke-not very happy.

And on an exciting note: Matt "graduated" his first year of residency!!!

Yahooooo!!! 3 more years to go!

And we survived!

Just somethings Luke said that made us laugh...

While I was getting ready, the boys were playing in Luke's room...

Luke:: Mom, I made Devin's hair spikey!
Mom: Oh, are you doing his hair?
Luke: Yeah, with my tongue.
Mom: Uh, I hope you aren't licking him.
Luke: Well, I have to! To get his hair to poke up!

Luke sees an ant....

Luke: Uh, mom!!! We have an ant problem over here!!
Mom: It's okay, it's not a big deal.
Luke: But mom, I am just SO SICK OF ANTS!!!!!


Last night, Luke kept getting out of bed. He came in our room and started doing really weird things in the mirror, like putting his arms up and down, twisting and turning try to see every inch of his body.

Mom: Luke, what are you doing? Go get back in bed.
Luke: I can't! I am seeing sumtin.
Mom: Go get back in bed please.
Luke: I'm just checking to see if anything is broken.

While reading scriptures before bed the other night, we always ask Luke to listen for a certain word, to try to get him to pay attention.

Matt: Luke, what word do you want to listen for tonight?
Luke: Recycle, recycle recycle!
(Thank you Bob the Builder)

Tis the season!!!

For STRAWBERRIES!!!!

To kick off pickins this summer, we always hit up the strawberries first.

We tried a new farm this time. We usually go to Monroe Orchards, which I love and will definitely stay loyal to the rest of the time, but it's a bit of a drive and last week we had girls camp right next to Monroe's, so I was tired of making the drive. The upside to picking at Patterson's is they have a playground for the kids and A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. donuts. Seriously, the best ever. The have the funkiest flavors, some of our favorites are: lemon frosted blueberry, chocolate dipped strawberry, pumpkin, apple cider, oreo, snickers, maple with bacon on top...they are to die for!

As usual, we met up with some of our buddies. Luke and Emmett are "best friends."

We're so thankful for so many good friends we have!

Speaking of good friends. Notice Luke's bruiser?

Two little monkeys were jumping on the couch (named Luke and Emmett), one fell off and smacked his face. We didn't call the doctor because, well, it happens often and he didn't cry very long. Oh and his dad would be home soon enough.

It actually looks a lot better in this picture, it was pretty gross the first few days.

Jenn, Emmett, Baby T, Carrie, Kaylie, Luke and Dev devouring those donuts!

Nine months

 I created this post, but must have forgotten to post it! It's a little old, but here it is anyway, now that he's closer to 10 months.

I say it every month, but I just cannot believe how fast Devin is growing. I love every phase, but especially love this one.

He is so fun.

He is:

very curious

wants to play all the time

fast at the army crawl, and occasionally up on his knees crawling around-I wonder if our hardwood hurts his knees and that's why he doesn't crawl on his knees as much?

pulls himself to a stand

tries to climb up the stairs

eats everything and I love it

eats finger foods now-a nice way to keep him occupied while dinner is cooking

"mama, dada, gaga"-nothing to do with Lady Gaga

knows, but doesn't actually do, the signs for milk, more and eat

kicks and wiggles to music

very smiley and giggley

He's....

definitely a "I will only sleep in my bed" kind of baby

loves his mama

gets so excited when dad gets home and doesn't stop waving at him

screams often-or yells really loudly

I love this pic of him waving, so cute.

And is often attacked by big brother...most of the time enjoying it.

Of course we love our little Devin and are so happy he's in our family!

Messy boys

My friend once made a comment that Devin was such a clean eater. And he actually used to be. Until he discovered that he has hair on his head. Now, with his sticky, food covered hands he pulls his hair when he is eating. It's funny, but it's not like he has all that much hair, so please stop little man!

I know, I go picture crazy, but I just love all the faces...

This boy LOVES food...and you can see that I am not feeding him, his plate is empty and I am snapping lots of pics. Therefore, he is angry.

I'm trying to get back into doing more crafts, projects and activities with Luke. 

Today I let him paint these little toys, he had a blast. It was so cute.

Oh this is just a random pic that I don't feel like moving. He had quite the fall the other day, landing on his face.

Wade Oval Parade

Matt worked this weekend, but was pretty awake (after about 4 hrs of sleep) and was ready to play with us for the day. We love having our daddy home!

Matt post call. Dev was so cute. When I said, "Daddy is home!" He quickly army crawled to the window and stood up to look out, even though Matt was walking in the back door.

Dev is kind of like our little puppy. He loves to crawl around and carry little stuffed animals in his mouth. He has these funny little ones, or this bigger bear he bites at the ear and just crawls over the place with it hanging out of his mouth.

Later we went down to see this totally wacky parade. It was the weirdest parade, but it was fun. They had lots of good food and fun, free crafts for the kids.

Not the best pics, but I chopped off my hair! And it feels awesome! It's super short and stacked in the back. I love it!

Gyros-always delicious, funnel cake-not that awesome.

Luke and Devin

Devin is learning how to stand and climb....all too quickly. We have 40 stairs in our house and 4 floors, plus 2 fireplaces-that is a lot of gates (we cover our fireplaces with them too). Well we caught him climbing our hard wood stairs...scary!

I love these pics. I told Luke to hold on to him tightly, they were like 3 stairs up.

His tongue is always sticking out, clicking or spitting.

As I was taking these cute pics of him behind the railing, I didn't realize he was actually climbing up a few stairs. Yikes!

Even though Luke now enjoys tackling, wrestling and sitting on (he never did this before!) Devin, he still adores his big brother. I love these pictures too. I just love my cute boys!

While listening to "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid. I hear Luke add,

"and don't be shy!"  WHAT? Where did he learn that?