Bits + Pieces : Spring Break

Spring Break was a success! I tried finding fun, inexpensive things for us to do, & other than the aquarium, we did pretty well. We played in our backyard, went to the bean museum, had a picnic, went to farm country, & the living planet aquarium. We had originally planned on visiting Yellowstone during SB & had even bought our lodging, but 2 days after we made our cabin reservations my sister called us with exciting news & plans...so we cancelled our WY trip & are going somewhere WAY BETTER at the beginning of June. The best part? ALL of my family will be joining in. 20+ of us, including a nephew I haven't even met. Those details are a bit of a secret, the boys are gonna find out on our way there. =) Nothing better than making memories.

Thanksgiving Point pony rides. 

Kiddos @ Thanksgiving Point

Picnic by Presley. 

Living Planet Aquarium. 

@ the Bean Museum. 

Aquarium!

Mason's first time on a pony. You can't really tell, but he actually loved it. 

Bits + Pieces : Easter

I really shouldn't enjoy Easter (or Christmas) as much as I do. But I celebrate Santa & the Easter Bunny, so there!

I made a few thrifty decorations, made up mostly of plastic eggs I had saved from last year. They were simple & pretty darn cute. On Easter Eve the kiddos & I were up bright & early so we could beat the lines @ the downtown egg hunt in Provo. It was my first time taking them & we all had a so much fun! The kiddos had their faces painted, we pet sweet little farm animals, made a few crafts, picked up some balloons, & of course participated in their HUGE egg hunt. Later that afternoon I made some Easter Bunny masks, we painted eggs, & had lots of copycat queso for dinner. 

Easter morning was pretty traditional. My mom-in-law came over for our egg hunt. & I spent the rest of the day in the kitchen. =) Worth it. Our Easter Dinner turned out very well (& I kinda love Tyson buttering me up with compliments over everything I made). We watched Hop & then headed off to bed. Such a great day.

Pretty deviled-eggs.

I love being the Easter Bunny. =)

Coloring our eggs. 

@ the Provo City Easter egg hunt. 

Bunny masks I made for the kiddos. 

Homemade "chili's" queso. 

Read Much?

When we moved to Provo, one of the first things we did as a family was get library cards. Best decision ever. I try to go once a week. Tyson & I usually have a book to read & I love picking out & borrowing at least a dozen books for the boys & I. We've also checked out movies, participated in kids craft night, bought books from their sale, & we tried taking mason to toddler time, but he was NOT amused. No silliness for that kid.

I need to keep better track of the books I've read in the past 12 months. I tried using goodreads, but it wasn't that great. Anyway, here's my reading list for the past year.

How to Be an American Housewife
The Help
Vampire Kisses series (feel free to judge)
Shiver (I also tried reading the sequel, not so great)
Harry Potter series (I read a book a week during the summer)
Clockwork Angel
City of Bones
Witch of Blackbird Pond
Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Matched
Anna Dressed in Blood
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (haven't finished)
Gunslinger (haven't finished)
The Night Circus (just starting)

Plus, dozens, maybe hundreds, of picture books the kiddos & I read together!

I have several books on hold at the library & I know I'm forgetting to list a few!

mr. mason's second birthday.

mason turned 2 on sunday! i still can't believe it. we had an elmo-themed party on saturday afternoon. that boy is so loved! his actual birthday was pretty low-key. we slept in, had pancakes, & got ready for the day. the boys went to grandma becky's while tyson & i went to see the hunger games. we ended our night with dinner, cake, & ice cream on the patio. happy birthday, my sweet boy!

these boys. they melt my heart. dad stuff.

getting ready for his party. diy elmo bunting & rainbow-colored cupcakes. opening gifts.

elmo cake. filling up on cake & ice cream. the perfect way to end our busy weekend. just us.

& may the odds be ever in your favor. eek!



baby makes three.

i'm so very pleased to announce that my younger brother & his lovely wife are expecting their first child this fall!!! i am just out of my mind excited to meet my new niece/nephew. i'm predicting a boy with blue eyes and darker skin. eek!

last sunday we went to their house for a bbq & to celebrate all 5 family birthdays we have between february & march. they posted the announcement on their fridge & waited for everyone to notice. i noticed right away...it took everyone else a little longer. =) later that night we skyped with my sister & her family in hawaii so sean & sarah could share the news with them, as well.  

birthday.

so, i'm an idiot. several of the pictures from my last post were birthday related. birthdays get their own post, here are a few bday highlights:

*mani/pedi with ash.
*oxford heels from the mister.
*birthday wishes from friends, family, & twitter buddies.
*lunch with the boys & my MIL.
*super cute birthday poster that the boys made.
*harry potter balloons, michael scott card, nail polish, & mountain dew from ash.
*taking saturday off!! i worked on my actual bday, so it was nice having a day to relax.
*watching the lorax. mason sat through the entire movie. =)

it was a very lovely, laid back 26th birthday.

xo

iphone photo dump.

i take way too many photos on my phone. and i've been slacking on the blog lately. enjoy my half-assed post!

xo

mani/pedi with miss ashley.

sweet, sleeping boy.

reading some harry potter.

felt elmo i made for mr. mason.

birthday movie with the family. the lorax.

a little craft i made on a sunday afternoon.

michael scott birthday card.

lazy afternoon with this kiddo.

cardboard house i made for the boys. tyson wrote a creepy story about it for my birthday.

movie ticket tyson saved fromour first date.

miss ashley & i @ work.

evening walks with the boys.