Pioneer Day & My 28th Birthday

My birthday and the 24th celebration kind of ran together this year so 2 posts in 1! This year was a good one for sure. My mom took the day off of work and spent the 24th with us. She treated us to Olive Garden as an early birthday dinner. These 2 little yahoos are not the easiest to take out to eat, but they did relatively well and I loved hanging out with my mom. They love their Mimi too!

After we got home from dinner we walked down to the parade on Main St. Earlier that morning Lisa and I set up blankets and chairs and we picked a pretty dang good spot all things considered. We met her and Tori down there right as the parade began. It's really the only parade that I'm down with because 1) it's close and 2) it's in the evening. While it was still extremely bright and hot, the kids loved watching the parade and Fitz especially loved all of the cars and trucks. There are fireworks that night, but after getting second dinner (ha!) with Jeremy's family, we all pooped out and just relaxed for the rest of the evening. It was a good day.

 I lucked out this year for my birthday. Jeremy was able to take the day off, along with a few others, and we had the most relaxing time. Obviously, I'm all about that relaxation right now.

We started out the day at Corner Bakery. We ate our weight in pancakes and eggs and the kids mostly behaved. Jeremy took Ellie to get me balloons the night before and she could hardly handle waiting to give them to me. After brunch we just went home and hung out. The house was clean and the kids played while we lounged and watched New Girl. So nice! After we went to Smiths when Ellie decided that she needed to make me a cake. We had lunch in their food court and gathered the necessary supplies. She was so excited and Jeremy was so patient as they made the cake, which was a pink and purple cake, BTW. Her call.

Soon after we popped the cake in the oven my mom showed up with even more treats to babysit so Jeremy and I could go out to eat. She was left with the task of decorating the cake with Ellie and after prepping her for that we were off! I didn't get any pictures of the 2 of us, but we dined at Cheesecake Factory and thoroughly enjoyed having a hot meal that we didn't have to share with anyone but each other. It was so nice.

When we got home the cake was decorated and we celebrated with the pinkest and purplest cake known the man. The kids sang their little hearts out and even though Ellie wasn't the biggest fan of my cake, I sure was!

I'm learning in my old age, that the best times are the simple ones where I'm surrounded by those who love me and I love more than anything. My birthday was completely perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing. Like I've said before, I've struck gold in the eternal family department.

Independence Day 2017

We started off our celebrations this year on the 3rd. Neither Jeremy or I had the energy to attempt fireworks 2 nights in a row with a 7 a.m. breakfast in between so we did our own little fireworks show. Gary and Lisa joined us and we were all exhausted and Ellie had enough enthusiasm for all of us.

Ellie was amazed by her daddy's pyrotechnic skills and Fitz was terrified of everything. He has Lisa put her hand over his face the whole time, plus he was just plain exhausted. I was a little worried that he would freak during the big fireworks the next night, but luckily it's just the at-home kind that make him nervous, especially those little poppers.

Every 4th our ward puts on the best neighborhood breakfast. Fitz was so sleepy from the night before, I let him sleep in and sent Jeremy and Ellie. By the time I got there, no pictures were taken. It was delicious as always and the company can never be beat. We live in the greatest ward.

When we got home Ellie accidentally ran over a bug and was very sad about it. I convinced her it was in heaven and we buried it near the curb.

After the breakfast we continued on with tradition and went over to James and Melinda's for a swim and more delicious food. I love this holiday because there is always lots of low key activities that revolve around naps. It's practically perfect.

After naps Melinda and I went on a Swig run and then we got the kiddos ready for the BBQ at Nana and Papa's. Apparently we were all about the stars this year. The kids were good sports to take pictures because it was HOT outside.

We gobbled up tons of delicious food (lots and lots of corn for Fitz) and then ran off to the Kaysville fireworks.

We've been going to the Kaysville fireworks for years and have loved it every time. We have a spot and everything. It's fun looking back on the pictures, especially as we started adding the kids. Our group has varied every year, but it was fun to have so many of us this year. I remember our first time going was just me, Jeremy, James and Melinda. We went on a whim, sat as close as I think you possibly could to the fireworks and had holes burnt into our quilts. We loved every second!

The fireworks were spectacular and Fitz shocked us all by not moving the whole show. He loved it...probably because they were so far away. We ended the night with me loosing my wallet and making Jeremy drive back to Kaysville with me, at midnight, to look for it. Of course, it was no where to be found. We drove all the way back home only to have Jeremy find it under my seat. Ooops. 

None the less, it was such a good day. One of my favorite holidays for sure. I'm so thankful to live in a free country and to raise my family here. We truly are blessed.

Easter 2017

I feel like our Easter started the weekend before while we were still with Nana & Papa in Hawaii. We got the kids dressed up in their Easter outfits. Lisa got them both those cute little hats and I can't get over them! There was egg dying, hunts, and plenty of treats.

During the week we spent lots of time practicing our egg hunting skills. Ellie told me that I'm too easy and Fitz finally figured out that it's worth picking up more than one egg. We might even continue them into the summer because it's such an easy way to entertain the two of them with minimal effort on my part. 

On Saturday morning we finally took the kids to their first official Easter egg hunt. We walked down to the tabernacle lawn and lined up for the dash. We met up with some friends and family and the kids loved collecting eggs. Ellie's hunt only lasted for about 4 seconds, but I thinks she was happy'with her 4 eggs. Jeremy said Fitz kept picking up eggs and putting them in other kid's  baskets. So, I guess our practice only kind of paid off. After we ate some breakfast we headed home for naps. The Easter bunny ended up coming during their naps and left them with a little bit of candy and bubble wands. I'm pretty sure their candy is still sitting untouched, but the bubble wands have been refilled about 20 times already.

On Sunday we headed out the door bright and early for one of my old YW's homecoming talk. She did such a good job. Fitz and Ellie came down with some nasty colds so we stayed home the rest of the day so they could nap. Later that day we headed over to Tori's for dinner. We kept it simple, but the food was delicious. We ended the evening with one more front yard egg hunt, threw the kids into bed and stayed up a little too late playing games. Of course, I got one picture. I was having too much fun.

I'm so thankful for the Atonement. We know He lives! Hope lives because He does. And because of Him I get to be with ALL of my family forever.

Happy Easter.

All Things Valentines Day 2017

All day yesterday I was a little bit sad because I felt like I had dropped the Valentines ball. I hadn't felt great the past few days, so no cutesie Valentines had been bought for my Valentines. I didn't decorate, and our house was the messiest! I mean, the messiest! I went to bed feeling a little bit defeated. As I sat down to write this post, only for records sake, I realized that we didn't have a crappy Valentines Day, or even an ok one, it was a good Valentines Day! One of the many reasons why I love this blog. Let me rewind to a few days before though, just because I don't want to miss any of the cute stuff.

The Thursday before is when we really started the festivities. Ellie's heaven-sent dance teacher had a little Valentines party that she had been looking forward to all week. Ellie and her 2 friends squealed and excitedly told me about their suckers, glittery hearts, and dancing on floor hearts. It was adorable. After everyone was dropped off we started on some Valentines cards for the grandparents and great grandparents. Fitz loved coloring with the white crayon (???) and Ellie switched between dictating notes and writing her name. Her E's have about a million lines in between, but I think they're coming along nicely. I wanted to get a cute picture to send in the cards, which I didn't get done until Friday, and then realized that I didn't have stamps, meaning the cards didn't get sent until Saturday. Luckily, our cards made it to everyone right on time. Nana & Papa even got to open theirs on Valentines Day.

On Saturday, Jeremy sent Ellie and I to the Sleeping Beauty ballet at Capitol Theater. It was so fun getting dressed up together, walking to the theater, and watching her watch the ballet. I'm still amazed that she'll sit through ballets. The ballet is a little different from the Disney movie, so we got a little lost at parts, but I think I mostly figured it out and was able to explain everything to her. She loved the costumes, especially Maleficent (not her name in the ballet) and her minions. We were pretty high up, but it ended up being for the best because Ellie had lots of questions and needed a 10 minute dance break during the last act. She was sad when it was over but happily danced out of the theater when I told her she got to go home and tell Daddy all about it. I love watching the magic in her eyes when she gets to do the things she loves. I love watching her dance through her days. I just love her.

Now back to the actual Valentines Day, it started very early with a tiny girl jumping on me yelling, "HAPPY BALEMTIMES DAY! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!" We made our way down stairs, grabbed Fitzy and ate some delicious cereal. J.rue texted and asked if we'd join him for lunch downtown and we jumped at the idea. We got ready for the day in our pinkest pink (red for Fitzy) and ran out the door. We met Jeremy at the escalators and the kids ran wild through City Creek. We ate at Johnny Rockets and ended our afternoon date in the Disney Store. It was short and sweet and we all loved seeing Jeremy in the middle of the day.

The rest of the day was pretty low key, but I was feeling bad that I didn't have any treats for Ellie. So, after naps, we went to Target for some last minutes Valentines treats. We started with popcorn and then Ellie very specifically requested goomy, gummy, genie jellies. Ha! Of course they were out of most of their V-day candy, so I found a bag of gummy starbursts and lucky for me, "THEY'RE SO PERFECT! SO GUMMY AND SO STICKY!". Yeah, I'm pretty sure Ellie talks in 92% capital letters. Fitz is of course, the most pleasant laid back boy there ever was, and was also happy with a few handfuls of goomy, gummy, genie jellies. We enjoyed perusing the store to kill time before J.rue got home with dinner. We beat him home by about 30 minutes and hunkered down to watch Sword and the Stone. I had a little tiny on each side of me, and even though we were sitting in a house that looked like a tornado had run through it, it was the best. I too often take for granted that I have the unconditional love of 3 people. It's a very good thing.

We ended the night with stuffed crust pepperoni pizza (a Ruesch family favorite!) and Trolls. After the kids were tucked in tight, Jeremy and I ate hot cobbler and ice cream and watched Timeless. Not watching it? You should.

So like I said, not the most glamorous, but as I write it all down, it was pretty dang enjoyable. I love developing traditions that my family is excited about, but I'm so thankful that they're forgiving when I fall short and appreciative all the same. Happy Valentines Day my loves.