Arizona Trip

After the reunion we drove to Mesa. Brian flew home on Monday and the boys and I stayed for two weeks. I did some allergy treatments for Celiac and just hung around between appointments. Lynsey and I did something almost every day. How do I not have a picture of the two of us toting five boys around town? We got pedicures, visited boutiques, shopped at the mall and just sat around while the boys napped. We ate with Nate and Allison and Karyn and Dave at their houses. Stayed at mom and dads and then with mother for a week.

There was also no shortage of Matta's mexican food while we were there. Maybe 4 or 5?? Bahama Bucks twice. China China once. Picaso's once. Yes, lots of eating. Some exercising. Lots of fun.
One of our favorite activities - taking pictures of ourselves!
Gavin got an ear infection and a fever of 103.4. Not a fun day. He slept in the bed with me that night. Every time I'd move he'd say, "Don't leave me, mom" or "Stay by me." Sweet boy - long night.
Met up with Shelly and Jill with some of their kids at Mesa Yogurt and Neds. Gus and Gavin ran circles around the joint while we visited. I love these girls. Sad that Marijo wasn't with us and that I didn't get to see Ann. Next time.

Grandma and Grandpa Woolf

We had a great time but were ready to get a move on. I drove to Vegas alone with the boys and Brian met us there. We were SO happy and ready to see our daddy. I missed him. The boys missed him. Being away made me miss him even more. He's a good one, that's for sure.
We drove to St. George to stay at the condo for a couple of days. Super fun and relaxing (now that I wasn't in charge 24/7!)
Visiting Clint, Melanie, and Jenna Nielson on Sunday.

We had such a fun time. It felt so so so great to have our little family together again. I have a wonderful life. Love my boys, love my home, love it all.

Snedigar Reunion

The Snedigar Reunion was held Sept 3-5 in Pine, Arizona at Mother's cabin. I'll have to count officially, but I hear there were about 80 of us there. Buckets of kids. Loads of fun.

*insert group shot here*

Our little family left on Thursday afternoon and drove 10 hours until we made it to Flagstaff. We stayed the night at a hotel (our first time with both kids) and then made it the rest of the way in the morning.

We stayed in a little cabin about five minutes from Mother's place. It was nice to have a place to rest for naps.

Our time was spent visiting, ziplining (no pics of that one), and having a great time. Game playing, auctioning, and pie eating. My conversations with Brian went something like: "Do you have Gavin?" "Where's Gavin?" "What's Gavin doing?" "Will you find Gavin?" I was only a little paranoid about him toppling over the edge of the deck.
Gavin eating with Dallin
Cousins Ben and Carson
Some of us gearing up for Minute to win it. Dana, Liza, Juel, Shane, Natalie & McKay, Elle, Mother, Matt, Lynsey & Tanner, Karyn, Dave, Ellie, Kassie
My cute cuz Holls and her fiance Tyson. You two are darling. One word of advice: wait for just a second before having one of these little cuties.
Minute to Win it team Robinson/Roylance. The Robinson team took us down fast. Darnit. Brian and the staples, Natalie and the shake the booty. Neither a good combo.
Lyns and Nat with our matching babies. Gavin and Blake have a matching cousins picture too. Tanner is three months younger.

A great time was had by all. Love this family. Double props to Jourdan for planning the event.

Etching

The boys keep having these moments where I feel I have to hurry and grab a camera. I've stopped putting both cameras away - it's just too hard to pull them out of the case when I need it on a moments notice.

Yesterday I was out in back yard and had McKay on my lap. It was a perfect day - the weather here has been beautiful. Gavin ran by as a blur on the new sidewalk pushing his lawnmower in the hat that Papa Robinson gave him. My first instinct was "Where's the camera?" I decided that it was just too much work to run and grab it and besides, it probably wouldn't make a great picture anyway.

He went back and forth like that several times and I just sat there watching. The more I think about it, it's moments like these that I just need to carefully etch into my memory. Not just sights, but sounds, thoughts, and feelings. I'm sure that I won't be able to remember them all, but these happy thoughts seriously make me smile. And even laugh out loud. I am certain that someday when we are older and alone in our house I will be sitting across from Brian at the table saying, "Remember when..." and then fill in the blank with something like Gavin speeding down the path with his lawnmower.

Or better yet, remember the speed in which he goes down the same path on his little trike without using the pedals at all.

Or the way Gavin runs. Arms and elbows going side to side. It just isn't in his genes. Sorry, bud.

Or maybe like today, when McKay was on my lap on the bench on the front porch. Gavin was inside sleeping and the little dude and I were having our one-on-one time. We were visiting, like we do, and he tilted his head back three different times to look at me. His eyes held mine for a moment and then he went back to observing his surroundings. Melts my heart. I love those eyes. And that smile.

Or when Gavin, all on his own, recently put his back up to one of our aspen trees and started bouncing his knees to scratch his back singing, "Look for the bear necessities the simple bear necessities." When he saw me laughing, he laughed the best laugh I've ever heard and really amped it up. That's what you do when you know you're funny.

But I'm soaking it in. Trying not to forget. Taking a mental picture. Knowing that this time with these sweet boys at these ages won't last forever. Enjoying the ordinary days.

Wannabes

Since I was little, I had this fantasy of playing on a softball team with my husband. I have always loved the game and wanted to find someone who liked to play as much as I did. I found that in Brian and for the first time in our marriage we got to play on a team together. Brian's body was finally ready for the challenge. We started just a few weeks after McKay was born. It felt so good for me to get up and run around!

We had a few great Robinson to Robinson plays at second and short - so fun! Dreams do come true.

I won't lie - the Wannabes were just that...I think we won 2 or 3 games all season. But we had a blast and loved the people we were playing with. Mostly Brian's work friends from Summit and their wives. We will do it again for sure!

August

I can't believe how fast the summer has gone. For me, I feel like although it's the end of summer, it really doesn't have to be. This is the first August that I've hardly glanced at the calendar. My former self would have been at Walmart a month ago purchasing 150 notebooks and folders and now I can just walk by the aisle and smile. All of my work friends are busy gearing up for a new school year to start next week. Not me - I just scheduled another week of swimming lessons! I think I've finally wrapped my head around being home full time and now my 'to do' list looks a lot different than it used to. I'm thinking of all of the things I can do around here. Loving and playing with the kiddos will be 1st on my list. I believe they will remember that time spent more than a dust-free, spotless house. But, I do have some serious goals in the home improvement/organization/food storage/FHE plans/cleaning areas and that's a really good thing for me.

BUT I'm still trying to find the energy and motivation to do all of those other things. My list looks nice and long, but things are not quite getting crossed off yet. I find myself having a rest on the couch or on my bed pretty much daily when the boys are sleeping at the same time. My heart and my mind are in a battle every day about whether or not I'm lazy. I've decided to not beat myself up about it. Once I give myself permission to sit, things go a lot better for me. Even this morning I clocked in around 6:00am - I'm pretty sure sitting down at 2:00pm isn't a crime.

The other thing I've been working on is me. For the first time I have been really consistent in taking care of myself physically. When McKay was born, I realized that I needed something to do just for me that didn't cost a lot of money. No jogging or double strollers. Just me. All alone. It's been really good. I look forward the an hour or so by myself. Brian is so supportive and helps me get out of the house. I've been strength training and cardio-ing and really working on the nutrition part. I'm happy to say that for the first time in my life I feel like I'm being successful. I'm getting to where I want to be and it's a good, good feeling. AND I stopped biting my nails at the same time. How's all that for motivated? So very un-Natalie-like.

I was looking back at things I'd written back when Gavin was little. I'm glad I took time to do that. I'm going to do better at keeping track of those little things again. It' s been fun to lok back and remember. Because this blog is for me. I always think I have to have a cute picture or something clever. Nope. Just us is good enough.

Poor McKay. I think I've written three sentences about him. Time to repent!

Angel Baby

I feel like McKay hasn't gotten a ton of air time on here. Totally my fault. I certainly don't love him any less. Sometimes I guess the other pictures of us actually doing something are more interesting than him laying there. But that's not an excuse. Because boy, is he cute.

We recently went to the dr. for his 4 month appointment. He was 14 lbs 12 oz and 25 inches long - a perfect 50%.

He is really coming alive lately. Lots of squealing. Hair pulling. Grabbing at and hanging on to toys. Getting really good at tummy time and holding his head up. Rolling over from his tummy to his back. Although sometimes I think that could be on accident.

Sleeping is coming along nicely. We're about to 12 hours! The daytime sleeping is iffy - sometimes we get great naps and other days we get mini cat naps, even when I'm working really hard to stretch them out. But, I guess we go with the flow and with what baby needs. And what this baby needs is different than what our other baby needed. I'm still learning (again) and I'm getting better at being flexible. Lots more flexible with baby #2.

McKay is a bit of a crier. I probably notice it more than I did with Gavin because when he cried I just shoved a binky in his face. McKay is anti-binky. I mean really anti. By the look on his face, you'd think I was feeding him fish or pickles or some other food I hate. I'm thinking he cries pretty much as much as any other normal baby, but still - I notice it a lot more when there's not much to console him. I have found that I am the consoler. He is usually calm if I'm holding him. That can be both good and bad. Nice to feel loved and to be the one that can make him happy. Not nice to be the only one capable of getting that reaction. Our cousin noted that McKay looks at me differently than he does anyone else. Of course he does. I'm his mom. I'm going to go ahead and think it's me he simply loves and not than I'm the only one with the right flavor of milk.

Walking in his room after he's just woken up and seeing that smile - that huge huge baby grin - is about my favorite thing. My voice gets all high-pitched and squealy. I know this to be true because Gavin follows me in now and in the same (mocking) voice says good morning to McKay all slow and baby-like and squealy too. "Hi, McKay! Did you have a good rest?"

I love the interaction that we get out of him these days. He pays attention and laughs and thinks his family is pretty great. He loves to bounce on our knees and is super ticklish - especially behind his neck and on his back. He loves his legs and arms to be tugged and pulled on and thinks that's pretty funny.

Just cuteness. I'm so glad he's around.

Gavin turns TWO (two months ago)

This is how the party started. Hours and hours of work toppling into my lap in the car on the ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house. After I got over it, celebrating Gavin's birth was wonderful. I can laugh now, but it was not funny at the time.

Gavin L.O.V.E.S. Elmo. He sleeps with him every night. He watches him most mornings. These cupcake liners, cake pops, and this cupcake stand have been in my mind for eight months. I will say he was just as excited about his cake as I wanted him to be. I could hardly keep his mouth off of those cake pops - it nearly killed him.

Dear Gavin,

I can hardly believe that you are two. Time passes so quickly these days! It's so funny because some days seem eternal, but then there we are celebrating another birthday and I realize you and your little-ness is going to be over fast.

You are at such a fun stage. Your dad and I keep talking about how we want to stop the clock and keep you this way - how you are right now. You are sweet and interesting and so full of energy. You are not perfect, but there are so many things about you that your dad and I think are just plain cute.
You are mindful of other people. You see a bruise or scrape and lean down to kiss it better. You are learning emotions and know mad, sad, scared, happy and other faces. You'll say, "She's sad," and then curl your lips down and feel empathy for a total stranger.

You ask "Why?" all of the time. Sometimes when we get back a few generations in your questions, I lose track of the reason why we do some things. You are just a natural questioner. I'm not seeing an end to this anytime soon.

I'm still not sure what to do with your hair. Sometimes it looks really cute long and dad really wants you to look like a surfer. But mostly these days I want it short. Case in point:
You are a mover. Running, bouncing, hopping - you are so fast now that it looks silly when I try to chase after you. You jump off the couch onto the pillows. You pretend swim on the carpet to show us your new moves. You will jump and land on you bum right on the floor and then laugh your head off.

You play swords. You always remember to give me a weapon and say, "On guard, mommy!" Recently you gave me a corner of your blanket to defend myself. Sweet. You love to play Operation and look at pictures of yourself. You ride your bike with such precision and speed for not using the pedals. You love pens and touching your dad's guitars when you know you're not supposed to. You've found a little corner behind an ottoman in mom and dad's bedroom that you sometimes escape to and will sit quietly there by yourself. You LOVE to hide. You hide in the same place time after time and think we still won't be able to find you. You think being tickled in your armpits is hysterical. That and you watching the ice skating scene on Bambi are those moments when we can hear a real laugh.

You've gotten a little more independent lately. Although we play together everyday, I'm can find you in a corner keeping busy and talking and playing by yourself at least a few times a day. I'm trying so hard to give you time so that we can really play and I feel super guilty when I have you plopped in front of the TV for an hour. Right now that's where I'm at so that I can get a few things done and feed McKay, so hopefully you're learning something.
You are a talker. Especially since you've turned two, it's like we're having full-on conversations with each other. You say sentences that are 5-7 words long. You know what we mean and you remember new words and can use them the next time you encounter them. You answer our questions and can connect something we're talking about to something you've experienced. You say things like, "It's perfect!" when the bath water feels good. You say, "Mommy, will you change my diaper please?" when you're dirty. You say, "Happy Birthday for you" in a sweet little voice and hand us something you think is special. You say 'my' instead of 'I.' "My do it." "No, mommy. My sing it." You were making this weird/rude 'blah' sound at a man at the register last week. When I told you that sounded rude, you folded your arms sweetly and asked, "How are you doing?" I think he thought you were cuter then.

You are a smart little cookie. Really. You can sing your ABCs perfectly and are starting to learn some of the letters and their sounds. That really wasn't my doing, so thank you Leapfrog. You recognize letters and point them out around town and say the sound that matches. Your blocks are more fun to you now because you realize that those letters actually mean something. You can count to 15, but don't quite get the 1-1 matching business. Some days you have four toes, other days you have seven. When I help, you've got all ten. One day you counted 13 horses in the corral by our house! Just for the record, there are only four. But I still love to ask. You're learning concepts that I think are pretty tricky - like hot, warm and cold or crunchy, chewy and sour. You know your name is Gavvy Robinson and that you are two. You can't hold up two fingers, but boy is it fun to watch you try. You remember things that surprise me. Like where a puzzle piece goes after doing it only one time. You are learning shapes and are pretty good with your colors.

You are obsessed with The Big One. The big banana. The big drink of water. The big handful of chips. The big grape. Whatever it is, you want it big. Your voice sounds a little monster-like when you say it and your eyes scrunch together. I hear it everyday. I don't ever want to forget that.
You already are telling me what to do. You wake up wanting me to take you bye-bye. Usually to Grandma and Papa's house. You pull me to where you need me to be or tell me to get up or sit by you or to stop what I'm doing so I can pay attention to you. If I don't do what you ask, you have started helping yourself by pulling chairs and benches where they need to be to get what you want. No drawer or cupboard is safe anymore. You look like an adult opening those child locks. It's time for mom to start reorganizing!

You tell me which direction to turn the car even though I've clearly got our destination mapped out. As we drive around town, you recognize important landmarks like Animal Ark and the yogurt place and Costco. Even off the freeway you can tell where dad's favorite fish store is. You're a pretty good navigator for a two-year-old.

You love your brother. You don't usually pay tons of attention to him, but you tell me when he's crying and whisper when you are walking by his door and you know he's sleeping. You wake up and sometimes ask where he is. You will lean down occasionally and try to make him laugh. You kiss his head and say, "Be happy, McKay!" or "It's okay little brother!" when he's crying.
Gosh, we love you. We're so glad that you're ours and can't wait to see what you'll learn next.

Happy Birthday, little boy.

Love,

Mommy