REAGAN TURNS 2

Two years go by in a flash... It seems like only yesterday that we brought Reagan home from the hospital; on the other hand our lives were very different before Reagan came along. I can and can't imagine my life without her, she absolutely melts my heart!

Reagan's Favorites at the age of two:
ELMO
Barney
Mickey Mouse
She loves singing songs (Twinkle Twinkle, Wheels on the Bus)
She loves to play outside and Jump on the trampoline
She loves "Snacks" (fruit snacks that is)
She loves Chocolate Milk and Apple Juice
She loves Cake
She loves Music (she pronounces is Musak) and loves to dance to the musak!
She loves her BINKI!

Reagan, I am so blessed to have you in my life and to be your mother, what a light you bring into our family. You make us laugh and cry at the same time, you make us crazy and love you all at once. You are such a JOY and I love you! Happy Birthday!

EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

It's that time of year again when the English side of the family gets together for an "Easter Extravaganza!" This year was especially fun because my brother Jared was in town for the weekend and the entire family was together.

We started Saturday morning off with crepes and an Easter skillet (which we make my dad prepare every year) for breakfast and then it was off to the yard for the Easter Egg Hunt. Each grandchild filled their baskets to capacity with toys, candy and money. They even had grocery bags filled with all of their goodies. It is so fun to watch the kids light up with excitement as they search for their treasures. A lot of the items had their specific name, so they had to look high and low for their special prizes. Madi's strategy was to pick up as many eggs as she could find and look for her items after because nobody would pick her stuff up (Of course being the oldest grandchild she had to have a strategy, as if their wasn't enough goods to go around.)

After the hunt was over, my mother (super mom) made homemade chocolate covered eggs and peanut butter eggs for the kids to decorate. Boy did they decorate. I believe the more frosting you had on the eggs the better they were according to Jaxson. The eggs definitely looked delicious after the frosting party was over.

Later several of us went to the new Hannah Montana movie, (which was actually good) the kids really enjoyed it as well.

On Sunday we all got together again for a BBQ, the weather was beautiful and we all enjoyed being outside. We brought over Jaxson's rocket blaster and everyone got involved in the action. The kids went crazy over blasting off the rockets, while the bigger kids enjoyed trying to catch the flying rockets. Scott even modified his rocket to see what it could do.

What a fun weekend it was to spend together! I know we all had a great time neglecting our responsibilities and just playing as a family all weekend long.

CONFERENCE CRAZY

Dan and I were folding the laundry this morning while watching conference, so at least we were trying to fold the laundry and trying to watch conference.

Folding laundry is always a chore when Reagan is around, I usually try to fold at night after she is in bed; however I figured we were sitting around so we might as well get it done and kill two birds with one stone.

As usual Reagan kept unfolding the clothes we had already folding and ran around the room jumping on the piles of folded clothes, then the crazy came out of her as she decided to jump straight back, arms open wide, arched back, into the pile of unfolded clothes screaming "Cow-a-bunga!" Over and over she repeated this same stunt, with no fear just pure enjoyment. We couldn't help but stop and watch her and laugh. I laughed so hard I started to cry. She is a funny, wild and crazy girl. I guess you sometimes get as much out of conference as you do in sacrament meeting with you have Reagan on your hands.

CAN A TODDLER BE A COMEDIAN?

Dan and I are in stitches every day because of our busy, out of control and very funny little Reagan. I'd like to share just a couple of things she has dine in the past week to make us laugh...

1. Reagan has learned how to open doors and the fridge. This is no surprise to us considering how determined she is to get what she wants. In fact just the other morning we found her in the fridge with the block of cheddar cheese in her mouth. She actually bit through the plastic to get a bite. I guess she was hungry.

2. Reagan likes to help Dan wake up the kids for school in the morning. She is also a little copy cot right now and repeats everything you say. Dan happened to say "Cock-a-doodle-doo" and Reagan kept repeating it in a high voice to get her brother to wake up. I was in the bathroom getting ready for work and couldn't help but laugh at the tiny, high pitched voice coming from the other room "Cock-a-dood-doo!"

3. We have taught Reagan the Rabbit song (She calls it the happy song) The words go like this:
There was a little house in the middle of the woods
A little old man by the window stood
He say a rabbit hopping by,
knocking at the door
"Help me, help me, help me," he said
or the hunter will shoot me dead
come little rabbit come with me,
happy we will be.

It is hysterical to sing this with her, she does some of the actions and she sings some of the words, but the words that make me laugh the most is when she sings:
"or the hunter will shoot Dad"

NOT SO DANCING REAGAN

We decided to sign Reagan up for dance classes with her friend Kate Bentley. Because she was just a month shy of her 2nd birthday the dance instructor decided it would be OK for her to start a little early to help prepare her for the recital in June. Dan took her to class and this is the result we got, her not participating! She did like the teacher and hugged her goodbye, so she said to bring her back the next week and we would try it again. It has now been four weeks and every week she listens a little more. Although sometimes she tells the teacher no! She loves getting in her ballet shoes and tutu and she does love dancing around the house. Here's hoping she continues to improve.

FROM DENVER TO SALT LAKE

Jared, Erin and kids came into the town this weekend to spend some time with the family. Madi and Jaxson thought Katilyn was the cutest thing and just doted over her. We hadn't seen her since she was a couple months old and boy how time changes things. What an adorable little girl she has become! We are excited that they are coming back into town for Easter and can't wait to see them all again.

WELCOME BABY CREW

Melissa had her baby March 24th and what a sweet little boy he is. He sure came into the world upset; however after a few hours he calmed down and decided this place wasn't so bad and that having Chip for a dad wasn't the worst thing that could happen, so he mellowed out.

During Melissa's pregnancy Cash named the baby Frank. We can't figure out why, but we kind of like it, so it has stuck. Although this kids legal name is Crew, to our family his name is Frank.

We sure think he is adorable, it is fun having a new baby in the family.

3.2.1... BLAST OFF

Jaxson's celebrated his 7th birthday in "Rocket Fashion!" We invited several of his friends over to a party that was OUT OF THIS WORLD. First we made rockets and then we all raced down to the park to launch our rockets into outerspace. The party theme was anything that blasted off... The kids enjoyed water blasters (which was just a big water fight), rocket balloons and the famous diet coke and mento's blast off. The biggest hit of the party was the double rocket launcher we purchased for the kids to blast off their rockets over and over again.

We really lucked out with the weather being good, I don't know what I would have done wth 16 little kids running through my house.

Nana and Grand Dad stopped by early Saturday morning to surprise Jaxson with a new bike. He absolutly loved it and all his friends were coveting his new bicycle.

We also celebrated with family Sunday night with a BBQ in the rain! At his party Jaxson recieved new baseball gear help him start off the season right. He also received a new helmet to match his bike which he thought was awesome and of course Bakugan. All and all I'd say he is a very lucky and spoiled little boy!

GRANDPARENTS DAY

Today was grandparents day at school for the 1st graders and Jaxson was so excited. He had been talking about his program weeks before and kept saying he couldn't wait until March 20th. We was very proud to have his grandparents to come to his school to see him. (Boy, is he growing up fast!) Both Grammie and Papa and Nana and Grand Dad came to watch the production. He sangs songs and recited poems and after they all enjoyed a refreshment while he showed them around his classroom. What a fun day it was for him to have both sets of grandparents there.

IS THIS FACE TROUBLE?

Oh yes it is! I always thought I was a great mother. My kids never throw tantrums, they are very well behaved and they listen for the most part. Well that was before Reagan arrived. Anything my first two were, she is the complete opposite.

She definitely keeps us on our toes, you can't turn your back on this sweet little one for two seconds or trouble begins. She has been on the move since she was 6 1/2 months old and she began to crawl. Since that time she has never looked back. Some of my favorite moments recently include...

Biting through the toothpaste tube. (She loves toothbrushes and has discovered she likes the taste of toothpaste as well.)

Unscrewing the lid to her sippy cups.

She helps herself to whatever she wants in the pantry and cupboards. If she is not tall enough she pushes a bar stool over and climbs up to reach it, crackers, candy, peanut butter or cereal. This would also include getting into the cabinet with the medicine.

Climbing into the kitchen sink or bathroom sink and getting stuck under the faucet.

Climbing on the table and dumping the salt out.

Opening up Dan's hair gel and rubbing it all over her and her clothing.

Running away and laughing every time she knows she is in trouble or has something she shouldn't have. Last week she ran away from my mom in the Wendy's parking lot and she was at the front of the car hiding.

Running up the church isle laughing as I am chasing her during sacrament meeting.

Getting the stool out of the cabinet in the bathroom to reach what she wants in her closet (She knows where we hide the Binky's.)

Climbing into the tub and turning on the water fully dressed.

All kidding aside, she is the sweetest, funniest little girl and she is growing up so fast. I can't believe the words and sentences that are coming out of her mouth. She repeats everything you say. The kids even taught her today to say "Shake your booty" while she is dancing. She loves hugs and kisses and can't go to bed without giving everyone in the family a hug and kisses goodnight. She loves her big brother and sister and giggles when she makes them laugh. She loves to wear pretties and is adamant about what hair bows she wears each day. She thinks she is so big and she is very proud of herself.

What fun and craziness she brings to our home!