My Boys

As we got the boys ready for bed tonight, Brian was in Gavin's darkened room singing himRobinhood and Little John and then it was time for our goodnight lullaby, Godspeed. Brian and I sat on the floor, he was playing the guitar and I was changing McKay's diaper and putting on his pajamas. While we sang, Gavin climbed all over my back and happily chattered and sang away while McKay's cries started softly and began to grow. For some reason, this moment with my three boys hit me like a ton of bricks. Here we are trying to calm the boys down - which neither of them seemed to be doing, despite our best efforts - and instead of feeling frustrated that this bedtime routine seemed to be turning to chaos, I felt so happy inside. A crying baby who needs me and a happy boy who wants to be near me and a loving man who is sitting right there helping me with both of them.

That's just what the moment was - perfect. A moment I hope to not soon forget, if ever at all. These moments are fleeting and I know that. I know days aren't perfect. Parenting can be downright frustrating. I know that some days can seem long but I also know that the years will fly by. It's the journey that counts. This is me enjoying the journey.

St George

Let's see - this was June 24-27. We headed down with Brian's family.

Our trip included but was not limited to:

* multiple pool trips every day

* Gavin discovering goggles and wearing them 24/7

* dinner at Poncho and Lefty's with the adults

* our little family sleeping together in one little room

* lots of cousin bonding

* me and Gav literally flying off of a slide

* Brian buying a new mountain bike

* early morning bike rides while G&G watched the boys

*marshmallow gun fights where Gavin took a direct hit to the eye from his dad

Can't wait for next year!

McKay's Blessing Day

McKay Nathan Robinson - he's official! We had a wonderful Sunday with family and friends. Several people came to be with us and it was fun to see them all. We invited everyone over after church to sit in the yard and eat some food and visit.

Brian and I had set McKay's blessing day as the day we wanted the yard done. Having a goal is a great idea - but we take things right up until the end. We were out working until midnight trying to get everything straightened up. (Yard post forthcoming.) Brian has been working so hard and it all turned out great.

Some family pictures from the day...

McKay and Dad. McKay cried during the entire blessing. That didn't stop Brian from giving a good one!
McKay and Mom. This is the same outfit Gavin wore when he was blessed.
Grandma & Grandpa Robinson. McKay was starting to lose his gusto here. A nap followed this picture.
Grandma & Grandpa Woolf. My parents flew up for the day from Arizona. It was fun to spend time with them and nice to have them here with us for McKay's day.
The food, flowers, and setup. My parents got this set up while we got ready for church and took pictures. I thought it looked really nice.
Our sweet little family. So glad to have McKay in it. I think we all look a little more official today. With Gavin we were a family. But somehow two kids means we have a FAMILY.

Well, Hello!

Lessons Learned

Yesterday I had a scare. A big one. We were at the Home Depot parking lot and Gavin literally almost got run over. I had McKay in his carseat in my right arm and was holding Gavin's monkey leash/backpack in my left. There was an old man in the first handicapped spot pulling out. I noticed that he was backing out and grabbed Gavin's hand. Gavin fell down and was behind the corner of the car as he backed out. I tried to pull him back up but he couldn't get back on his feet. It was then the alarm inside me realized that the car wasn't stopping. He didn't see Gavin. Surprisingly, I was very calm and was just trying to get him out of the way. I kept pulling and dragging and finally the car stopped, turned, and drove away. At first I was bugged. He didn't even stop! But of course he would have stopped had he known what was going on behind him. I bent down to check Gavin out and he wimpered a bit. I don't think he knew what was going on other than mom pulling him really fast. Two men in a truck who had seen what happened drove right up and asked if we were okay. I was shaking. I was upset. I couldn't even look at the plants I had gone there to buy.

As I have replayed the events in my mind over and over again, I realize a few things I should have done differently. First, I shouldn't have been walking that close to the cars from behind in the first place. Second, we always hold hands in a parking lot. No matter what. Third, I should have yelled or made a face or noise so the man would have known that something was wrong. I think it was good that I was calm, but when he looked back at me he might have stopped had he seen more distress on my face. It's easy to go back and say woulda - shoulda - coulda. It's just in that moment that you hope you do the right thing and that you do it fast enough.

Visions of me throwing him to the side had the car been going faster have come into my mind. I read this blog here today and couldn't help but think about it again. Also from reading this I realized that yes, I would throw myself in front of a car for my boys. But it is those small daily decisions - time spent, questions answered, hugs given - that show my undying love for them.

I'm so grateful things turned out the way they did. I've said lots of thank you prayers to tell Heavenly Father that.

Must share

McKay had been smiling at me for awhile and I thought I should capture it. I pulled out the camera and got all sorts of this sassiness instead. Is that funny?
Or this total confusion.
This is the best we got. Gosh, he's cute. I think it's funny that already he has this little personality. He smiles a lot and I love him bunches. Ten weeks have flown by... My 13-pound butterball and I are really liking each other.

Arizona - Summer 2010

Last week Gavin, McKay and I headed out to AZ while Brian spent the week working at Clear Creek.  Flying on the airplane was an adventure.  Thank heavens for portable DVD players!  I thought it was amusing when the flight attendant asked me to get Gavin in his seatbelt - like I wasn't trying!  My one arm was no match for him and his stubborn persistence to do anything but what mom was asking.  We managed to pull it off with a little bribery and talk of dragons flying next to the plane to distract him.   

We had such a great time.  Grandparents, cousins, aunts/uncles, brothers/sisters, pedicures, favorite AZ restaurants, swimming, and a little rest.  It was a jam packed week just spending time with people and went by so fast.  It made me a little tired being the single parent, but my family was so good to help out.  

Gavin officially loves the water and anything to do with it.  We went swimming at the pool twice.  So fun!  Gavin: "I swimming!  I floating!"  I'm excited to get him in the water more this summer.  My cute brothers and sisters held him and let him have his moment in the water so I could feed McKay.

Slipping and sliding at G&Gs house

Cousin Carson.  Gavin thought Carson was pretty cool.  

We made an alligator cupcake cake for Ellie, Gavin, and Dallin's birthdays.  Ages 1, 2, and 3.   
Cousin Ashley
Grandpa Woolf reading about the javelinas
Mother had a party for the girl cousins and aunts.  She is the hostess with the mostest!  It was so much fun to sit and visit.  I love all of them.  Even better was not having the kiddos and being able to actually sit and talk.  Slowly everyone left but Mother, my sisters and I.  We stayed until my eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
My cousin Holly.  One of my very favorite people on this planet.  Truly.  If you are so lucky, she will be your nurse and take care of you.  I can't imagine anyone better!
This is my first picture with McKay where I'm not wearing a t-shirt or throwup on me.  Cute boy.
On our last day, Gavin followed the cousins around the yard.  He has kept asking for his cousins, Grandma Woolf, and 'Zona since we got back.  I think we'll head back down in September since, well, I can do that now.