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Wow!  It's always while looking back that I seem to notice how quickly time flies.  I just can't believe it's been two years since Greyson looked like this . . .

Now, he's so grown up with such a fun and silly personality.  When he saw me get out the camera, he immediately went and sat on the ground to "pose" for me.  I love so many things about this little man.  First, he is so sweet.  Every night, he will still have "cozy time" with me as we read stories and cuddle up as part of his bedtime routine.  I love that he is SO committed to his routine.  Same things every morning and every night.  I love that he can understand seriously EVERYTHING!  He will get his shoes when I ask him, put his clothes in the dirty basket, pick out his clothes, get his own snacks.  He even stands at the potty with his shirt lifted to "go potty" when his brothers do.  He is so excited and so animated about everything. If he's excited, you're gonna know!  He is super silly, and best of all, he knows when he is being funny.  Oh, this kid makes my heart smile! 

I loved this super simple birthday cake.  Oh how I wish all of our cakes were this quick to assemble.  Little did I know what I was taking on when I began that tradition of making fun cakes back when Chad was 2. 

 We had a few presents.  Greyson could play his life away in the sand box and he LOVES dump trucks, so these little sand trucks were perfect. 

My mom also sent over some "pops" for him to step on (like packing bubble wrap).  They covered our kitchen floor for a few days and each time Greyson would walk by them, he'd jump and pop a few.  These are always a hit.  (Sometimes, the FREE presents are more fun than those we pay for.) 

 And here is the birthday boy with daddy.  He knew just what to do when the "Happy Birthday" song ended, and he got those candles out in one blow.  What a sweetie!  I'm sure glad I get to have this little guy in my life.  Happy Birthday Greyser man! 

Rodeo

There are so many things that Dave and I love about his job.  Just one of the things we love is that because his work sponsors many events in our community, they offer tickets to those events to their employees.  We've attended several college football games, a handful of women's basketball games (they were a great team this year) and this last weekend, we headed out to the rodeo.  Each year when the rodeo comes to town, we talk about going.  But, it's spendy, so it has never happened. 

It was fun to be able to go (we ended up with an extra ticket so we brought along my nephew) and we had great seats.  Amazingly, even Greyson lasted the entire 2 1/2 hour show time. 

Chad was most excited about the bull riding, which, of course, was the last event of the night.  Thanks, ICCU!

Spring Break

I realize it's been weeks since Spring Break, but someday, I plan to make this blog into a book so we can remember all the fun we had.  So, for posterity's sake, here is my report on our Spring Break. 

Chad's #1 priority was that we go to Outer Limits (an arcade and jungle gym).  That was his request first thing Monday morning, so we called a few neighbors and cousins, and headed off to "play at the zone".  I only have a few pictures of us eating lunch . . .

and the boys playing in the jungle gym, but I thin it was all that Chad had hoped for.  We called and invited Dave to come and join us for lunch which was fun.  What I wish I had pictures of were Greyson laying in the middle of the floor with his blanket in hand and his thumb in his mouth because he was SO stinkin tired! 

If there's one thing I need to remember, it's that Chad remembers what I tell him about our "plan", whether for Spring Break or a vacation, or even just the weekend, he holds me to it!  He made sure that we bought marshmallows so they could make marshmallow animals. 

Let's just say that their creations were "unique".  It was actually harder than it looked to make marshmallows into animals.  They made "fire pits" and "blobs" and things.  And Greyson ate as many marshmallows as his little mouth could hold at one time. 

See, that looks like an elephant, right? 

I'll confess that we didn't do all that we had planned, but we sure created some fun.  I have been less than 100% lately (that's for another post) and so we did what we could.  On Friday, we invited some friends and neighbors over for a "big screen movie" matinee.  We had concessions that the kids bought with "tickets" and we watched Hugo.  Interesting show, but it was super long and most of the kids Chad's age had a hard time staying interested.  Needless to say, but the time it ended, I was ready!  But, I'll know for next time, right?! 

It's been nearly a month since all these memories, and Chad asks me often how long until summer.  Six more weeks, to be exact.  I am looking forward to that time to relax, enjoy, play, camp and otherwise, just enjoy my family. 

Easter Weekend

I wish I could say we had stronger traditions surrounding Easter.  I have really fond memories of Easter as a child, and I want my children to remember it with as much fondness when they are older. 

This year, Chad hunted for eggs 4, yes four, times!  His cousin invited him to a friend egg hunt, he had one at the church, one at my moms and one at home.  Wow!  I really resisted doing anything here at our home, but it seemed so important to Chad because "we always have one" that I gave in and put together a small egg hunt. 

The one they enjoyed the most was at my parents.  And it is fun for me too because I don't have to do much work for it, and I get to just enjoy watching them search for eggs.  This one was with all the cousins on my side, which makes it extra fun for my boys.  Somehow, that's the only one I got any pictures of. 

Chad with his cousin, and best friend.  They have a unique bond and are virtually inseparable when we get together. 

This is what was left. 

We also had fun on the trampoline and Greyson . . .

ate as much of his candy as he could before we took it away.  After the egg hunting, we celebrated a few birthdays.  Greyson and cousin Carter both have birthdays this month, so we got to do a few presents.  Greyson didn't even know to expect this, but he was pretty darn excited about his train and his fire truck. 

Here he is showing it to grandpa. 

And with his new fire truck. 

We finished up with a little egg dying at our home.  Again, not a tradition that we do each year, but Chad might be changing that.  He is old enough now that he has certain expectations and he holds me to them.  I think each egg must have changed color at least 10 times. 

Aside from all the "egg" fun, we tried our best to celebrate the real reason for Easter.   Dave and I each had to speak or teach in church about Easter.  The quote that struck me most was one I shared with my Young Women.  It really makes the atonement personal for me. 

"You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, 'No one understands.  No one knows'.  No human being, perhaps, knows.  But, the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did.  And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life.  He can reach out, touch, succor-literally run to us-and strengthen us."  -David A. Bednar