Utah

We're finally back (well...a week ago...yes, I'm slow posting about it) from our great 2 week vacation visiting family and friends. It was so much fun to go to Utah for 6 days to visit Matt's grandma Rita, various aunts and uncles, my 2 bros and their families, my grandma Pat, and my best friend Shayna. Matt had an all expenses paid trip to SLC for the military engineering conference this year so we decided what the heck, why not all of us go since we would only have to pay for myself to fly. We stayed at my brother Brad's house (THANK YOU GUYS!) in Pleasant Grove and had a blast playing Rock Band 2 with the fam and celebrating my younger brother's birthday (Happy 20th Gil!). We celebrated Mother's Day with my grandma Pat and visited Matt's grandma Rita for the big Sunday feast (THANKS Caroline & Gary for the yummy food!). Matt had a good time at his conference and even had a good time in the golf tournament that they held one day...they sure do know how to have fun in the military! ;)

They even had an elaborate ball that was held the last day of the conference. Matt was lucky enough to find a free ticket for me (otherwise we would of had to pay $100+ for my ticket) and we had my best friend Shayna and her friend, Jeff, watch our kids for us in our hotel across the street from where it was being held. This was the first time Matt and I have had a real date since Lydia has been born. It was so much fun! I borrowed a fancy dress from Shayna's friend and she did my hair all prom-ish. I felt like a million bucks. Matt got to wear his hottest uniform.....dum duh duh dum....his choker whites....*sigh. He looked so yummy! ;) Everyone at this thing looked so fancy shmancy! It was great to feel like we were living the high life. The ball had scrumptious food and then dancing afterwards. We LOOOOVE dancing so it was great! The military really does know how to throw a party! Seriously though, we find ourselves so lucky to be a part of such a great organization. Hoorah Navy!

Our prom picture. Yes we did it on purpose. Doesn't he just look so great! Man, am I lucky or what?! I love you Matt! (I'm so sad the pic is blurry)

We had to take Lukey to our old stompin' grounds.
We had to buy him a BYU hat and football too.
We rocked out to Rock Band 2 and Luke refused to let go of one of the guitars until we finally swapped it out for my brother's real one so more of us could play. I'm very tempted to buy a playstation 3 now just for the Rock Band 2 game...so addicting...and fun....ok but not worth $700 to me!!! Maybe used. We'll see.

Luke wouldn't leave Lydia alone. He had to lay by her. Give her hugs and kisses. Keep his arm around her. And just look at how she repays him. haha. Lydia wouldn't leave her shirt alone. Had to suck on it. Love her little Budda belly. That probaby isn't very politically correct to say...My kids are adorable. ;)

Family

We were blessed to have Matt's parents and younger sister Emily come out to visit us for a week at the beginning of April. (Thank you to Shelly and Christina for letting us borrow beds for them!) It was so much fun to visit all the sites with them. Here's a TON of pics of our time together.

The first day they were here we went up to the heart of DC and watched the Blessing of the Fleets. Its a time when an Admiral in the Navy speaks (this time it was about the SeaBees (CBs - Construction Batallions) which is what Matt will be on our next tour) and blesses the Naval fleets. Water is collected from the 7 seas and then poured in the fountains that line the Navy Museums in DC. It was a really neat experience. We then went into the SeaBee Museum and had yummy free navy bean soup (I'll post the recipe later). Luke got to play in this cool fort.

The SeaBees symbol is a Bee w/ a gun and a construction worker drilling. Their motto is Can Do. We build - We fight. Matt is very proud to be a SeaBee and we are too!

Left to right: Me, Matt's younger sis Emily, Matt, Luke, Matt's mom Gwynn, Matt's dad Dave.

Another day we visited the SeaBee Memorial which is right across the street from Arlington National Cemetery. Its a beautiful memorial and Matt's favorite thing we did. ;)Thank you SeaBees for all you do!

We rode around all day on bikes with Luke in a trailer. Dave (Matt's dad) was sweet to walk with Lydia half of the time because she was too young to go in the bike trailer. Thanks dad!
Washington Monument
Beautiful view of the Cherry Blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival was the same week that they came into town and it was seriously PACKED everywhere! We had to walk our bikes half the time because it was so packed.

Lukey was kind of nervous riding in the bumpy trailer. Oh yea, it was SUPER windy that day too. Annoying. Luke just wanted to get out and run. Poor guy was stuck sitting down or being dragged along while we all looked at the "boring" (to a not yet 2 year old) sites.
Taken on the steps of the Lincoln memorial.
Lincoln Memorial. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Did you know that the guy who made this statue was deaf. When he made it he made Lincoln's hands in the shape of his sign language initials. So one hand is doing an A and the other is doing an L. Pretty cool huh? Thanks for teaching me that one mom! ;)
WWII Memorial. Very beautiful and humbling. WWII Memorial

Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. For those of you who don't know (like me before I went) the Tomb of the Unknown is where they keep those individuals who have died in combat and were not identified. They stand guard at the tomb 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. During tourist season they change the guard every 1/2 hour (Normally its just once every hour on the hour). Its an amazing ceremony. Definitely a must see. They ask that you all remain standing, even young children during the about 10 min ceremony. One young boy was sitting down and they stopped the ceremony and the guard said "young man, please remain standing". Once he stood they resumed the ceremony. So humbling. Seriously we need to remember to respect those who have died in combat fighting for OUR freedom!Arlington National CemeteryThe eternal flame at John F. Kennedy's tomb. I believe this was at Arlington National Cemetery.

We also hit a lot of other sites. A lot of the different Smithsonian museums, a tour of the Capital building, the Naval Academy (which is GORGEOUS) in Annapolis, etc. It was SO much fun. Thanks mom, dad, and Emily for making it a fun one! Please come back soon!

Elders

We had the missionaries over for dinner 2 weeks ago. Lukas just immediately bonded with, get this, Elder "our last name" (no relation that we know of)! Then they came over again tonight for dinner and once again it was all about "the" Elder. haha. Luke wouldn't sit on Matt's lap. He had to sit on "the" Elders'. Anyways, we had to take a pic of the Elders with Luke and "the" Elders' extra name tag pinned on him. ;)

"the" Elder, Luke, Elder Swain

Seriously he was being so stinky and wouldn't smile for me. Yet 2 seconds later "the" Elder took a pic of him and he smiled like an angel for him! haha.

Been A While...

I got a text from my good friend a couple weeks ago that said something to the effect of "Its been too long so post pics of your cute kids now!".....sorry Luce that its taken me this long to finally heed your order, er advice. ;) I took these pics yesterday. Lydia is growing up so fast and is our cute, yet very chunky monkey. She is now 3 1/2 months. Luke is our spaz and is currently 21 1/2 months. *Sigh* I just love my kids.

Chunky, chunky thighs. Hmm sorry hon you get those from your mommy.

Look at them beautiful baby blues!

This is Luke being stubborn and not wanting to smile...& yet Lydia not being able to contain hers.

And finally he gives in and does his cute cheesy smile. Oh yea both smiling and perfect!

Craft Fair & New Products

Did a pretty big craft fair this last Saturday. Unfortunately it was stinky weather so it didn't have as good of a turn out as was expected. Although we only sold a couple items we (me and my new business partner, Christina! ;) ) still think it was good to do because we got our name and websites out there. Even a pretty big order was placed so it was great. I will say though that I think craft fairs are too much of a hassle to get ready for, set up, sit through, and then take down. It just doesn't have enough of a return for all of that hassle. Our products tend to focus more on mothers and babies and I don't think we get enough of that kind of audience at these craft fairs. I think we will start focusing more on word of mouth and internet sales. So if you guys can help spread the word that would be GREAT! I think we will be having a raffle soon for a free product of your choice (a bag, apron, nursing cover, or baby flip flop - specially made with any material you choose that you see on any of our products). You will just have to put our business blog button on your blog which will get you one entry into the raffle. Then for every other person you refer who does the same on their blog will get you one more entry per person as well as that person will then get one entry for doing so on their blog. Make sense? Anyways, let me know if you guys would be interested in that. If so, we will probably do it in the next week or so.

Here's pics of my booth. I sold my Mary Kay stuff as well as my Lucky Button Designs stuff. I also shared it with my friend who sells BEAUTIFUL glass jewelry here. Christina and I had a blast sharing our stories of how we met our spouses, the courting experience, and then on through the engagements. It was fun to reminisce about that time of our lives. It made me realize yet again how much I love my man! ;)



Here are some new products we have. We have an unlimited amount of the baby flip flops in sizes 1-3. We have a couple of the pink cream flower bags (also a cute blue, red, & yellow one that I will post soon) and one each of the apron and various nursing covers. Check out the business blog if you are interested in ordering some. Lots of new ideas in the making so check back often! Thanks!

Growing

I haven't posted any stats of Lydia besides her birth ones so I think its about time to catch up on that. I haven't posted them because the military base clinic here doesn't print them out for you with the percentile of each. I guess they just don't like going above and beyond anything for you. Even though every other pediatrician office I know of does. Seems basic. The guy even gave me a weird look like he was being put off when I asked him to write down all of Lydia's stats from her last 3 dr's visits. Like HELLOOO dude isn't this your job?! Am I being crazy about this? Anywho, here's her stats. (oh yea and he didn't write down her head circumference even though I specifically asked for that too....grr).

1 week
weight: 7.4 lbs
height: 19.88 in
2 weeks:
weight: 8.4 lbs
height: 20.28 in

2 months:
weight: 12.6 lbs (90th percentile)
height: 22.44 in (50th percentile)
(oh yea and the dr just decided to add the percentiles for this last visit. weird. why don't you just do that EVERY visit please?)

I also asked for Lukas' 18 month stats since Matt had to take him since I had just had Lydia a few days earlier. The military (or maybe just dr's offices in general but this is the only one that doesn't like to convert them for me) likes to record all their stats in kg and cm...what a pain when they don't convert them for me when I specifically ask for them to. When the guy handed Luke's stats to me I saw that they were in kg and cm still and asked him to convert them for me. I got the paper back with what appeared to be his handwritten calculations. However, he seemed to get the cm to inches wrong since he said 84 cm = 21.6 inches. For some reason I don't think Luke is smaller than Lydia.... Ok poor guy I really shouldn't give him such a hard time. I really can't complain when I don't have to pay for a thing with the military insurance. ANyways, here's his stats.

Luke 18 months
weight: 29.5 lbs
height: 33.1 in

My little guys are growing up!

12 Blessed Hours

Last night Lydia slept 12 hours straight....HALLELUJAH! :) Actually the week before daylight savings time she was doing about the same thing. One night it was 9 hours, the next 12, the next 10 and again 12. Then daylight savings hit and she has been screwed up ever since. Ok I think she has also been growing a lot so she has been really hungry. But last night was AWESOME! 12 blessed hours! Although I was in a lot of pain in the morning, it was SOOO worth it ;). Here's what I attribute to my success.
This book was the best Christmas present I ever got! Matty gave it to me the Christmas before I had Luke. It worked like a charm on him and I'm happy to say it has also worked its miracle on Lydia as well. *Sigh* Its a wonderful life! (Knock on wood) ;)