Sisters Weekend

Michael:

had this weekend off and his sisters from LA and San Fran came to visit. Rachel is moving to LONDON next week and this was our last time to play all together before California loses one of the Daetwyler siblings. It was such a fun weekend and we are going to miss living close to them so much. But, London! We are happy for them and they will love it. We went to the fish hatchery all together on Saturday, and had fun just playing games, eating, and talking through the weekend. I married into the best family and I always feel so lucky for it. He has a test coming up that he keeps saying he needs to start studying for and it gives me flash backs to dental school. Residency's long hours are their own beast, but I definitely don't miss all the hours of studying at home that we went through the years before this.

Maddie:

started teaching piano lessons this week and it was fun to do something new. I've played as long as I can remember but this is my first time teaching. I bring my kids to a family's house once a week in my ward and teach their 4 kids. My week felt busy with getting ready for the weekend, I wanted to have all our meals made so I could just play with everyone. We also went to the zoo on Monday, a playgroup on Tuesday, Chick-Fil-A with my visiting teachers on Wednesday, a park playgroup on Thursday, and preschool on Friday. I loved having something every day because no matter how much I have to get done, none of it really gets done until nap time, so it's nice to have full mornings and tired boys after.

Westin:

loved having cousins around and playing with them all weekend. He also watched Lion King for the first time and I thought it was going to be too sad for him. I think it's the saddest Disney movie there is. But he liked it and has loved the music for a while, so it was fun to watch it with our boys. He did a great job sleeping in our room by our bed when family was visiting this weekend and I just loved how easy it was. Sometimes it was so hard getting him to sleep in a new place or put him down when he was littler, but I just really like how much better that is now that he's old enough to just understand more. Although he did wake up with nightmares multiple times the second night and ended up waking up at 5:45 for the day today. He's been playing more with Bennett and it's so cute. I just want them to be best friends.

Bennett:

is a happy soul. He was so content to just walk around and be part of all the crazy this weekend. He sleeps in if we keep him up late, where Westin always wakes up early no matter what. We had a multi-stake broadcast for church this morning at 9, and I woke Bennet up at 8:30 so I could get him dressed and put him in the car. I had to wake him up at 9:15 another day this week. Westin's up at 6:30 every day so it's fun to have slow mornings with some one-on-one time. I love that Bennett cuddles so much when he wakes up and when he's going down for his nap or bedtime. He's just so tender. Two months until nursery! And honestly that blows my mind and I haven't reached the countdown phase yet, he's pretty easy at church. The only time it feels like a lot is if Michael is at the hospital the same Sunday that I'm teaching sharing time, but that bad combo only happens every few weeks.

This weekend felt packed and busy and so fun and left us feeling more grateful than ever for family!

We ate lunch by the sea lions and it felt so peaceful.

Lion King experience.

These two are one month apart. I think they'll have so much fun growing up together!

Feeding the fish

Preschool

Post-naps Daniel Tiger.

Driving the jeep at the Zoo.

Exploring Fresno

Michael:

took us to a little river center and trail walk on Saturday. We rode our bikes to it and it was fun. Some toddler tantrums happened quite a bit because someone wanted dad all to himself, but for the most part it was great. It was low 50s and we were freezing, but then I remind myself that I'm bike riding in January so I can't even complain. He put in a lot of call days early this month so he actually wasn't on call at all this week. He didn't make it home at a good time any night though, so by the time Friday came around my toddler was eating cereal for dinner in his underwear. We do what we can to make it through long weeks and then, we admit defeat. Honestly, toddlers really like eating cereal for dinner in their underwear, so it's not like it was all bad. Tonight we're going to eat dinner with some family friends from his residency program.

Maddie:

met up with a girl from my London study abroad group and it was fun to reconnect. Her husband is doing oral surgery residency through the Air Force so he has a few rotations in Fresno during his program. We met at the Discovery Center and it was our first time there, and then we actually went again the same week with our little preschool group. I love seeing all those kids together on Fridays and getting a chance to catch up with their moms. I'm finishing up a huge cross stitch portrait and then moving on to the recent orders I've had and I love working on those at night. There's a funny dynamic doing something so old-ladyish while watching Stranger Things that I just enjoy for some reason. Speaking of which, we need a new show. I also talked with my Indiana bishop's wife this week and I have had them on my mind so much. I love her, and I love that family. After we hung up I just kept thinking so much about how wonderful the people are that we were lucky to spend time with during Michael's dental school years.

Westin:

Really liked the Discovery Center this week and he loved hanging out with Braelynn the whole time. I think he's found his first love. He's only napping 2-3 times a week now but his little timer light keeps him doing a solid stretch of quiet time. Thank heaven for that. But quiet time is rarely very quiet... and it's pretty messy. But contained is really all we're going for so I'll take it. I'm trying to find a fun letter app for him because he's really loved finding letters on signs while we drive lately and saying "Hey, W for Westin!" and a few others he really knows. He knows what all his letters are but now he's having fun figuring out what words start with what.

Bennett:

didn't even want to be carried when we did our little trail walk on Saturday. He loved just walking around and exploring nature like the big kid he is now. We still just call him baby though. #BabyBenettForever

Church with Bennett has gotten to the follow him around the halls stage, so nursery in April is looking pretty nice. I wonder how his transition will go. We love how much he needs to cuddle when he wakes up in the morning or from his nap. He's currently cuddling on dad on the couch after a much too short post-church nap, and it's adorable. I love my boys!

Bennett's post-nap sort-of-nap, Michael's legit nap. I always envy his ability to fall asleep fast and stay asleep through so much. But I don't want his work life that provides him that so.... I'll stick with my light sleeping probs.

My sister's stitch on her cute mantel that they remodeled. 

Bennett in a bike helmet is in my top ten favorite things in life.

Preschool gang plus some siblings.

Noise makers and proud of it.

Westin only has eyes for Braelynn when she's around.

First time doing this puzzle with no help and he was so proud of it!

Tres Leches Cupcakes

Starting Preschool

Michael:

signed us up for a little trial of Blue Apron meals and it was fun to cook together and try something really new. We were both super impressed with how delicious the meal was. He had tons of calls yesterday but miraculously never had to go into the hospital for any of them and even slept here all night. It felt like such a huge bonus. He's the best dad. Right now he's at the orange grove down the street from our neighborhood picking oranges with Westin, and then they're going to make orange juice before we head to a friend's house for dinner. Weekends are the best!

Maddie:

started doing preschool with the other moms in Westin's church class this week, and we had the first day at our house. It was fun to get the kids together and see them have fun and interact. I also take Westin and Bennett to a playgroup at a Lutheran church in Clovis every other week, and the ladies that run it are so sweet. We went to two parks and the library in one day this week, plus a few other park trips on the other days. Mom life. I love working on my cross stitch orders. I also made homemade yogurt for the first time this week, so I've now reached a new Instant Pot level. Mom life again. Next week I'm going to start teaching four piano students. I feel like I'm finally diversifying my life after a couple years of having close babies and it feels really fulfilling.

Westin:

loved preschool, loves playing at the park, loves reading at the library, loves primary. He's so much fun. He never fell asleep during nap time about 3 times this week and I'm just cringing for this stage... what is life without naps? I do not even know. He was full of quotes this week:

(After listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack on repeat around here):
"A million dreams wouldn't let me take a nap."

(After Michael got called into work and he told Westin it was to help someone who got hit by a car):

"Oh, were they not holding a hand?"

(While playing doctor with Michael):

"Alright, I'm a doctor. I'm gonna see how much sick you are. So.... how much sick are you?"

(When sitting down to clean up all his letters from a puzzle, next to Michael):

"Alright. We gotta clean up these letters. So. Where's W?"

And so many others. I could also write a list of ridiculous mean things he says to us lately that make us half angry and half brimming with laughter, but, we don't want to remember those as much. But if you really want one small example, then you should know I carried his tantrum throwing self out of sacrament meeting today while he screamed, "No, mama! I'm going to pinch your eye!" And I'm rolling my eyes so hard right now. Three-year-olds, man.

Bennett:

Walks so much and I still just stop and watch it when he's cruising all over the house. He doesn't like vegetables much at all but he was pounding our kale and sweet potato salad from our blue apron meal. It was hilarious to watch. He'd prefer to just be in a swing at the park all day every day. He wants to keep up with his brother. And he wants his brother's little blue truck something fierce. The little red car I got him for Christmas to counteract that desire did nothing. He was thrilled that we watched a dog this week, he probably loves that gig more than anyone else around here. One morning this week he woke up just laughing and laughing, and every time I said good morning to him he would laugh and laugh. It was the best way to start a day. I love these boys!

Watching President Monson's funeral after preschool.

Pounding kale. Seriously, this kid is so veggie averse.
It almost singlehandedly sold me on more Blue Apron meals but... not gonna happen. 

Blue Apron meal: Mexican-Spice Barramundi with Kale, Sweet Potato, and Avocado Salad 

This dog has come over twice for just a daycare deal. For some reason, Kitty just wants to come out and stare at him and hiss. Normally she just hides from our dog friends, but these two just hang out here. It's honestly so annoying. She's peeking around the corner down the hall...

He always picks dandelions for me and hands them to me saying, "These are for you to get married!"

Bennett loves dogs so very much.

Playing red light, green light with apples.

Cutest preschool pals.

Snacks with friends at the park.

Bennett managed to make this entire mess in under 10 minutes while I did my make up.
Then he just looked at me like, This is how I do. 

Kitty and cross stitch, both usually on my lap these days.

This was the first time these two hung out like this.
Normally Westin can't contain his excitement for any Kitty attention and drives her away with his love.

He loved her being close to him.

Sensory bins at playgroup.

Bennett thinks Sensory Bins means snack time. Gotta watch this one.

When I was bent over working and my lap wasn't free, she decided to just chill on my back. Cats are so funny.

Starting the New Year

Michael:

had New Year's Day off after a surprisingly smooth day of New Year's Eve call. He took me to The Greatest Showman when my parents were here and we both loved it. We went to dinner one night, a temple trip one Saturday, and a movie one afternoon while my parents were here. They were so nice to watch the kids for us so we could catch up on our date deficit. I was really grateful for that extra time together. He's good at finding new bike rides for us to go on, and we feel lucky that the weather is nice enough for them. Sorry, Indiana friends... come visit?

Maddie:

started taking orders for custom cross stitch portraits and I'm really excited about it! I've enjoyed making these the past few months and it will be fun to expand the hobby. I made it to two High classes while my parents were here, and one on Saturday when Michael was home. Those always make my week better. The boys and I made some park trips this week and played in the backyard. I keep going back and forth between feeling grateful for these 60 degree days in January to fearing the summer already. I just need to focus on the good, but I'd rather take a little more cold now and less heat later.

Westin:

started the Sunbeam class in primary! He has a wonderful teacher and I'm really grateful for her. There are three other boys about Westin's age in his class, so I'm also grateful he's not the only super young Sunbeam around. I think he did pretty well at church, and I know he did his best. He used all his good up, we had a serious day of melt downs the rest of the day. But he's figuring out his new routine and it's all going to smooth out. I checked out preschools around our neighborhood this week but I'm just not ready for that. I'm hoping to start a little Joy School type group with some friends soon, and I think Westin would love that.

 Bennett:

is walking like a pro and seems so much older. Westin became a lot more opinionated and a lot more fussy once he started walking. I'm definitely seeing the same shift in Bennett, but it might be teething. Teething is just this mystical thing that I blame unknown behavior on, and it sometimes proves to be true. I don't know, I'm not super observant with the teeth situation. I probably slack off there since Dad is more than qualified to monitor that. He's a great sleeper and I'm grateful for it every night. I do not take these nights for granted because I just remember so vividly how hard it was being so sleep deprived with Westin straight into my poor sleep during Bennett's pregnancy. Bennett makes us laugh so much. Today Westin hurt his eye and Bennett kept rubbing his own eye and acting just like Westin was acting and it was cracking all of us up. I love watching his personality grow. But I wish the rest of him would slow down :)

Our oven handle has been semi-broken since we moved in, and Michael put a new one on today.
I love that he can figure that stuff out, that stuff does not come naturally to me.

This week was the 9-year anniversary of leaving for my London study abroad!
I think about it so much at the beginning of every year. I am so ready to get back there.

Our ward is reading the Book of Mormon together from now until June. We've been doing the daily readings from this book and I really LOVE it. Westin has been way more engaged.

Beautiful bike ride!

Bennett gets so excited when he's close to Kitty. 

We watched this dog for a day. She came late so we missed a zoo trip, promptly escaped from our yard, came in after I got her back and knocked a plant over... Oh man. Sometimes watching dogs feels like such a win, other times I question our decisions. Overall it's been great, though.

Living that Primary life.

My aunt found some pictures of my Grandma and I love them so, so much. I miss my grandmas all the time.

My beautiful grandparents.

Michael and Westin climbed a "mountain" while Bennett and I walked with my parents through Woodward Park. I love watching Westin love his one on one time with dad.

Peek-a-boo with Grandpa! I am disappointed that I didn't get more pictures of my parents while they were here.

My in laws are awesome.