I love to see the temple

Two Sundays ago Joel, Miles and I went down to the Provo temple (which is really beautiful in the evening) to see one of his former Bishops and Stake Presidents from his mission in Brazil. The Stake President and his wife have recently been called to be mission presidents in Rio. It was so nice to meet them. I love Brazilian people. They're just so friendly. Anyway, it was also really fun because they LOVE Joel. You could tell they were really happy to see him again. What a fun reunion for everyone there! We took a few pictures but had a mini crisis (Miles got a bloody nose) and then I was preoccupied with Miles rather than taking pictures. But here are a few from before the incident.

President Kaule, Joel & Bishop Cavalcante

Miles loves blowing the dandelions!

Mom, I see Pirates.

As many of you know Miles refers to every skeleton and/or ghost as a pirate, thanks to Pirates of the Caribbean. This morning we are watching Disney's the Haunted Mansion. There's a part in the movie where the family (minus the mom) go into the graveyard on a carriage, just like the ride at disneyland and the little kid has a line, "Dad, I see dead people." Without skipping a beat and in a solemn voice Miles said, "Mom, I see pirates." What a funny little kid. These are the things I love about being a mom. These are just a few of our many pirate pictures!

My boys the Pirates!
Landyn with guns and a pirate hat

Miles in his favorite pirate outfit. (H&M)

Pirate shirt

Pirates have captured daddy!

Pictures with the Auntie & Uncle

Hanna & David just got back from Germany.

Funny face picture. Landyn didn't get the memo
that apparently we all think sticking your tongue
out is funny.


Hanna takes a picture.

David's turn to take a picture.

Landyn's turn to take a picture. (The simple joys
in life, like getting to push the buttons!)

Last one.

Our very own August Rush

Both of our boys love playing any instrument they can get their hands on. But this particular Sunday morning, Joel was giving Landyn a little father's day guitar lesson while I got ready for church. Landyn was just going to town on it and playing it a little like the kid in August Rush. It was pretty cute.

Eat your heart out Joanne Greenwald

Miles came running out of the bathroom like this. I thought it was hilarious and then the little stinker wouldn't let me take a picture. He kept taking the q-tips out of his ears or turning his back to me. But finally I coerced him into doing it again. Truly, an amazing spectacle!

btw, check out the four pack on this kid.

That's a Princess right there

miles was looking at the proofs from the shoot i did with Mollie Jane and he asked, "oh! is mommy a princess?" i responded, "do i look like a princess in these pictures?" he replied, "yeah, that's a princess right there."

now let me say, (as if it needs to be said) children can be brutally honest and so i thank Mollie for making me look like a princess! (let us also keep in mind that miles is well versed in princess as he is quite familiar with the disney princesses.) here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure. if you have not yet checked out her blog or website you need to go! especially if you need a photographer out in Cali. she does weddings (clearly), family, engagements, children, etc.

Summertime & the livin's easy

it's 94 degrees outside and the boys are having fun at the park. i love days like this. the boys are happy. we get to play outside. all is well in zion. here are a couple of shots taken at the park today. joel was a little camera happy. (these are all from his iphone by the way.) it's so great having this kind of technology. there's a moment you want to catch and you think where is my camera when i need it? oh, yeah, i'll just use my phone. ps. i know it looks like this is the only shirt landyn has, but really it's the only shirt his mom sends him to our house in.

HIGHER

ONLY MILES WOULD WANT TO MAKE IT CRAZY & TWIST

HANG ON, HANG ON

I'M DOING IT!

SLIDING ON THE TUMMY

SLIDING DOWN THE POLE

TIRE SWING!

HOLDING HANDS ON THE WAY HOME

OH LOOK! A PUDDLE!

SAY CHEESE!

Big, Little Chip

Both Miles and Landyn just LOVE the soundtrack to A Knight's Tale. As soon as we get in the car the first thing both of the boys say is, "let's listen to Rock You!" followed by "Louder!" I'm not sure where this fascination with Queen's We Will Rock You came from but it's real. They sing a long and just love it. I told Joel that one day when the boys are old enough to play sports they'll hear this song and have a Deja Vu experience. They'll be so pumped! Anyway, today we were on our way to the pool and I had Tegan & Sara playing and Miles says, "I don't like this song." I couldn't really understand him and kept asking, "You don't like what?" Eventually he says, "This! This music. I want Rock You." So being the good mother that I am I changed it to Rock You and turned it way up. He was happy and sang along and when it was over he said, "Now big, little chip." I'm totally lost and ask, "What's that?" Miles responded, "It's a song I know. Let's listen to big, little chip." Usually I totally get the toddler talk but this time I thought, that must be something he listens to with his dad. But he persists and just as I was about to call Eddie I realize what he's saying. (it's kind of a long clip but hopefully you get it after just a few moments.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1xyOaRXS7s

Hopefully the next time you take a little trip you'll think of us!

LaClaire Look-alike Meter

obviously i couldn't resist. i've been wondering lately what joel & my kids will look like and have been a little anxious because 1) i thought i have no idea what i contributed to my own child, miles and 2) i couldn't tell how much of landyn is joel and how much is michayla. now we know. all i need now is a website that will take a picture of me & a picture of joel and predict what my kids will look like. anybody?

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Descendants - Geneology

Sampson Look-alike Meter

so i saw this on one of my friend's blogs and thought i'd check it out. and YES! miles looks equally like me and Eddie. all this time i thought he was an Eddie mini-me. well, the professionals have spoken and we can't go against the professionals. this really made my day!

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

i'm so glad when mama comes home!

i started a new job which i really love. the people i work with are really great and i only work on the days that miles is at his dad's which is even more awesome. mondays joel picks up miles from eddies and they get home around 4:30p but i'm still at work until 5p. so i usually start to feel a little jealous that they're home playing and i'm still at work missing all the fun. but joel is so cute cause he totally understands that. this is a text i got last week about twenty minutes before i was done with work. i love these boys!

i love that miles loves to sing. he has always enjoyed it and has a good amount of songs that he knows and sings all by himself. (he used to let me sing with him but now he puts his hand over my mouth and says, "only me. only me." recently when he watches a musical movie he does a sort of sing along with many inaudible words and then belts the last word of the phrase. for example we were watching The Lion King last week and he says "mom, watch! i'm singing...uhhhhhh, ahhhhh, uhhhhh, aaaaaait, be KIIIIIIIIIING!" It's hilarious and oh so adorable. my next musical post will definitely have to be miles singing "the pirate song".

let's play ball...or just hit the pirate!

so joel taught landyn how to shoot a basket when he was one and poor miles has a mom without "skills" and so now it's just a little pathetic. but we're working on it and the good news for miles is he has landyn beat for sure in swimming and baseball. and we all know white men can't jump so it might be safe to assume dunking (cause that's all miles can do with a basketball).

Potty Training...check

ok, so one more and then i'm done for the day. i am super excited because miles is now officially potty trained. he was so good thru the whole process and i have to say it wasn't that bad. (of course i see a lot of you have kids who are being potty trained but they are several months to a year younger than miles so i am somewhat envious.) but i just love this picture. if he were older he'd kill me but he's not so he can't. i'm not sure where he got this from but all i can think is that it's a combination of the way i go to the bathroom and the way dad goes to the bathroom.

Playing with Daddy Joel

the boys favorite thing to do these days is play outside (since it's finally warm enough to) with their daddy joel. as soon as landyn gets here they all run outside to play with sidewalk chalk or a ball or their big wheels, etc. joel took some pictures last time. they had a lot of fun. the boys love spending time together and are just the best of friends. and yet, they are very different children. you can really see their personalities come out in these pictures. of course they do feed off of each other quite a bit.

a common expression; they're always up to something

wearing dad's shoes