The Sheriff makes a drop in to preschool

The Sheriff (Wendy's husband) came to visit and Joe got busted!

I didn't get the memo that the Sheriff was coming so I ran home, got the camera because I knew Wendy would want some pictures and took Joe back to the 4's class. Here he is with his deputy badge.

With the awesome Sheriff car waiting for the class to come out

Jim was so great with the kids and let Joe turn on the lights and show everyone since he had already been there that morning

Here is Miss Wendy with her 4 year old class and Joe. Lucky little boy got the police car tour twice and he loved it! It was so cute!

Grandma & Papa come into town

Papa and Grandma came into town during their spring break to see us and Uncle Bill and Aunt Barb. We had a really fun time relaxing, eating, and playing with the kids. I have a sweet picture of Joe and Papa, but can not seem to find it at the moment so this is going to look like an "all about Lynden post"

Here is the little sweetie enjoying tummy time and the puppy Spike at Aunt Barb's. Joe was loving the time he got with Grandma and Papa. He was completely spoiled and even got a sweet Wolverine toy for eating his lunch for Grandma! The guys enjoyed some golf before the rain came and the girls just hung out. Every time Joe saw papa, he'd let him know he had the "Dr" waiting for him (Dr Pepper).

Our cute cousins were in town

Love these girls! I'm so lucky to be related to them! I have so much fun when they come into town and love that they actually hang out with us! There are tons of Canadians here during the winter and the Gibson's are pretty popular wherever they go, so we know we are liked when we get to see them a few times during their trips!

Joe running through the water, dancing like a crazy person, enjoying lots of attention. The singer made a note to say that Joe would be a great Olympian (this was during the Olympics), in front of the crowd.

Aunt Barb with "Lynnie" at dinner. We had a good dinner at Islands even though poor Steve made it as we were just finishing. Luckily we went to their place and got to watch some of the olympics after and let the kids play. I love Aunt Barb, she reminds me of my mom in some ways and takes the best care of my kids. I wish they would stay in Arizona during the summer months too :)!

Love my in laws

I think I lucked out in the in law department. I hit a havalina with my car in February and this is what my father in law sent me. My mother in law came into town and brought me a whole pound of See's Candies, which I took a picture of but can't seem to find it so maybe it will make an appearance later. I love it how they know me so well and get me things that they've actually put thought into, even if it's a making-fun-of-me gift.
A few months ago (since I have been barely keeping up with this blog), I hit a havalina with my new car. It wasn't a stressful day or anything. I was taking dinner to a family in the ward that had just had a baby and Steve was at the church helping the Bishop give blessings. I'm driving down a busy road (I wasn't in the middle of nowhere) and I see a truck with its lights shining into the road. Not 2 seconds later does something literally JUMP into the road and I took it out. It didn't even have time for its little hooves to hit the ground. It was huge and I was an absolute wreck. I watched another car definitely take the last breath from this animal and I was able to get to the side of the road. Both of my kids and my warm dinner were with me. Joe was the one in control getting me to pull over and calm down, yes he is 3 and I am 24...I had no idea what I had hit, for all I knew it could have been someone's dog, child, etc. It was super dark and an industrial area. I pulled up far enough away from it and some people on bikes told me I had just hit a havalina-wild desert pig/boar. Then the person from the truck pulled up and said he must have spooked it when he was locking up the gate in front of a building. I didn't have to stay because it was out of the lanes of traffic now. Thank goodness because I didn't have my license on me, I had a headband for Lynden and Joe was looking all handsome, but no license or purse. Obviously my priorities are in the right place! The stupid animal took off my front bumper and did about $3000 worth of damage. Fabulous! My car has only been in my possession for 2 months and I've gotten hit by a flying construction pylon and a havalina, both not my fault but somehow we have to pay $1000 to get our car fixed. Hmmm...
So my in laws now think I would be great luck for hunting season because I attract wild animals...

Joe is hilarious and Lynden is a sweetheart

It is 11:00 at night and yes my 3 year old is still awake bouncing off the walls. He usually stays up late because if he ever wants to see his dad, late is when he gets to see him. Mondays & Wednesdays he goes to bed between 9 and 10 so he isn't too tired for preschool, but the rest of the week he is quite the trooper. He thoroughly enjoys spending time with his best buddy. So tonight Steve got home at 8:23 and left to play basketball at 9:04. Not enough time for Joe so Joe has decided to wait up for him, hoping that they can make a car out of the cardboard box that Lynden's bedding came in today. I, thinking that it is a man's job to know what to do with a cardboard box, volunteered Steve's expertise for the job. We'll see how it goes...
Anyways while we have been waiting Joe has talked on the phone to Grandma Sue, Grandpa Joe, and Aunt Chelsea.
For Grandma Sue and Grandpa Joe he sang, "I like to move it move it. I like to move it move it. I like to move it move it. I like to MOVE IT!" (Madagascar movie) So cute!
He told Grandpa what a good basketball player daddy is and that when he grows up he would like to be a basketball player, an instrument man and a train maker.
He told Grandma he can't wait to see her, Grandpa, Uncle JK and Uncle Ben, but not to bring Ellie the dog. He told her how this week at school is Dr. Seuss week.
He got on the phone with Chelsea and I walked up to him and he said, "You know you're not supposed to talk to me while I'm on the phone." Of course Chelsea was dying laughing really helping out the situation going on about how Joe is her favorite and the funniest boy ever. Luckily soon after that he got off the phone and decided to go "fishing."
Funny funny boy!
Lynden has had a few extremely easy days for me. We had Uncle Bill, Aunt Barb, Ashley, Brittany and Summer over for dinner last night. She ate at the right times, slept at the right times, played at the right times and was a sweet happy girl. Anytime Joe comes around she smiles and laughs at him and tries to copy his screams. I got to cook the entire meal and desserts with not too much stress before they got here. Lynden found her toes yesterday and is enjoying playing and becoming quite the little flexible baby. I love these sweet kids!

Lynden at 4 months

Lynden had her 4 month check up a few days ago and passed with flying colors. She's weighing in at a whopping 13 lbs 9 oz (50th) and measures 25 in (75th). Please don't be bigger than your brother sweetie! You wouldn't have even known she had a bunch of shots a few hours before.
She's a sleeper, but if that binky falls out she's a screamer
Cassidy made this cute, huge bow for her and I had to try it on. I think a couple more weeks and it will fit her head and not weigh her down. I love it! This is a yawn, not a growl!
Here is our happy girl. She really is happy most of the time. I bet Joe is behind the camera. Anything this kid does makes her so happy! She isn't the best sleeper, but we are working on it. I ordered her bedding and when it gets here the crib is getting put up. We weren't sure how long we were going to be in Arizona or this apartment, but we decided to stay in this apartment until we move saving us the huge hassle of moving. So anyways, we have kept her in the bassinet and will put her in a crib asap. She has such a sweet baby laugh that came out a few weeks ago. She loves being held up high and brought down close to our face, so pretty much she loves helping me work out my arms. She has such a strong neck and is scooting a little bit and I wish it would stop. I really like the non mobile stage :) She likes to stand on our laps and watch whatever Joe is doing. She doesn't really cry, she usually has a really high pitched scream and when that comes I race for the binky. She does it when she's tired or annoyed of being on her tummy so she will usually only get 1-3 screams out before we plug it! Other than the screaming, she is a pretty good baby. She is a super quick eater and I was nervous she wasn't eating enough, but she will hold out until the next feeding just fine and the doctor said she's obviously getting enough. We are truly blessed to have these 2 little kids in our family!

Joe at 3 and 1 month

I don't do very well on the month to month or even the 6 month updates so here is one: Joe at 3 years and 1 month. We had a doctor appointment a few days ago and Joe did great. He's measuring at 36 3/4 in and is weighing 32 lbs. He didn't have to get any shots today, but didn't like it when sister did. We blew bubbles in the afternoon and played ball with Ady.
I LOVE that Joe still takes a nap at least 5 days out of the week! I love even more his sweet little lips and stealing kisses is a lot easier when he's sleeping.
Joe is tracing all kinds of stuff in preschool. He likes to count, sing, read, and play. He memorizes stuff really quick. I'll read him a book and the next night he will read it to me by memory. For those wondering, he still LOVES pirate's booty. Getting this kid to eat is like pulling teeth, but he is a wonderful sleeper, a great talker, and a sweet easy going boy so I guess he can't be perfect all the time! He gets along with pretty much everyone, but sometimes his feisty side comes out and I remind him where/who we are and he usually shapes up. He loves to help and he is loving his daddy. He told Miss Wendy he would like to be a basketball player when he grows up like his daddy. Today he told me he would like to be a fisherman and tonight he told Steve he would like to be a drum maker. It's a good thing he has a while to decide! We were walking home today from Wal Mart where I dropped off the car to get an oil change (it's pretty close to our apartment building, but a stretch for little legs and mom's with diaper bag, car seat, etc) and we walked in a side gate. He picked which one he wanted to go through and I had to unlock it. He was amazed that I unlocked this gate. (We've never come in this way, so maybe that's why) He said, "that was so cool, dude. Mom, you are so smart! I mean, really so smart for knowing how to do that." I love that this kid thinks we can move mountains as parents. I love him and am mainly thankful that he is patient with me.

Can I be little again?

Kids are so lucky...It's easy for them to have friends and hang out and watch a movie. They can share gogurts, play trains, or watch a sibling take a bath. There are no big decisions to make except maybe which movie to watch.
Cute Adyson lives in the next building. Her mom is pregnant and was having annoying back pain so we happily watched her so Lisa could go get a massage. These 2 were so cute and had a great time, after Joe's initial 30 minute warm up! Kids are so lucky to be kids, but parents luck out also to be able to watch these sweet little spirits and hear the cute things they come up with. Ady left her lipstick and Joe was so nervous about getting it back to her. He talked about it all evening and kept it in his pocket so he'd know right where it was when we had a minute to drop it by.

Visiting Teaching

K these are not the best pictures, but my visiting teaching companion found this blog and I really liked what the lady put together for the month of February. I put together these little paper purses (the lesson was on budgeting and finance). I gave our cute girls soap to start off the next month or next billing cycle clean and fresh if they needed to go over a budget with their hubbies.
I put a good quote inside
Here were the 5 main steps to help stay within your means. I loved the lesson and loved the cute handout. So if you need ideas maybe that blog can help!

Girls Night Out!

A couple weeks ago I went out of my comfort zone and wrote an email to anyone I'd talked to in my new ward to go see Dear John. I had an absolute blast! Stayed out late, laughed hysterically afterwards, and cried during the movie. Thanks Melinda, Jamie, Andrea, Wendy, Kendra-in-hiding, Valerie, Cheryl, Kelsey, and Nichole!
Then this week we switched up the night and had a few new people and met at Olive Garden for a yummy dinner. We had Chantelle, Rachel, Nichole, Kelsey, me, Libby, and Wendy. So much fun! I love girls nights and think they are essential for me to get a little breather every once in a while. Thanks ladies!