An Outing to BYU and the Bean Museum

I love seeing these boys reading and playing well together ❤

I've been able to take a few days off recently and I wanted to hang out with my friend (and coworker) Emily and her kids. I called her up and she invited us to tag along with her sister-in-laws to the Bean Museum on BYU's campus. The boys were so excited to go on a fun outing!

  

After the museum we headed over to the Wilk for lunch.

Perfectly timed picture. It looks like our little B has a mullet! 🤣

  

Of course we had to check out the bookstore too. I love that these boys love to read. Star Wars books of course.

Aaaaand...they're out!

Oh I should make a note about my super inquisitive 4 year old son. On the way down to Provo we were listening to the boys current favorite song, "Hellfire" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Nolan started asking me some questions. I don't remember all of them or how it even started (although it had to have been something in the song), but it's like every time I tried to answer one of his questions in a way that brought him comfort or tried to teach him a gospel principle or even just end the conversation it brought up another question in his little mind and it kept getting heavier and heavier and I was thinking, "what is happening here?!" haha.

For instance I remember him asking, "What does grace mean?" (what 4 yr old asks that?!) and "Why do people have to die?" I don't remember how we got on that subject but I remember telling him in so many words that it's part of Heavenly Father's plan. So then he of course asked, "Why is it part of Heavenly Father's plan?" and "But, I don't want to die, I'm only 4!" So I said, "Oh no honey, you have a long time to live. You know Granky? He is almost 100 years old! And once, a long time ago, he was a little 4 year old boy just like you." I thought I satisfied him with that and we could get off this dark subject haha, but he then asked, "Will I live to be a million?" Me: "Well no, most people don't live much longer than 100." Then he basically asked me in 4 year old speak what the average age is that people die.

Omg, I am 100% out of my league raising this child 😂

Sledding

 

  

Lovin' the new van!

 I finally found Nolan some snow boots after we went sledding, but he's been enjoying walking through any patch of snow he can find with them!

We Survived the Three Hour Block

This Sunday was our last 3 hour block for church! I'm feeling excited (especially as a mom with small kids), but also overwhelmed (in a good way, sort of, haha). Justin and I really need to step up our game and make sure we're teaching the gospel in full at home. Recently a speaker in conference made the comment, "if everything your child learned about the gospel they learned from you, how much would the know?" I think that will be a good way to gauge how we're doing at teaching them! Especially now when they are young. When the are older I hope they have the drive to learn for themselves with the tools we have hopefully given them. 

I want so badly to help my boys have the knowledge and faith, coupled with testimony-building experiences, that build a strong foundation in the gospel. 

Anyway, I thought we needed to document this moment! 

(My friend Shannon took this picture for us)

Shannon is also one of Nolan's Sunbeam teachers! She and Sister Abeyta have been incredible "first teachers" for Nolan and he's pretty sad to be leaving their class.

Early Christmas with the Baileys

Brianna and Brady came the week before Christmas and since we were heading to Las Vegas for Christmas Day we celebrated early with them.

First up - dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Grandma took advantage of a just-woken-up Nolan and got a lot of snuggles.

Branson chatting it up with Brady.

Opening presents!

I think grandma and grandpa loved their special aprons!

We think Branson might be a dentist because he loved using his new flashlight to check our mouths :)

Grandpa won the night with his present to Nolan, Darth Vader pajamas! He wanted them on immediately and wore them for the next 2 1/2 days.

Nolan asked Aunt Brianna to snuggle with him when he went to bed. You know she couldn't resist that invitation!

The other contender for best gift ever was this adorable mini Pac-Man arcade game! So.much.fun.

I'm not sure who had more fun with it, the adults or the kids!

Christmas

Reading Star Wars books with Uncle BJ

For Christmas Eve dinner we went to a teppanyaki place. Nolan loved it! Branson...did not 😜 We had a little bit of an issue because Nolan kept wanting "more fire!!" but Branson was absolutely terrified of the fire. Poor guy. I had to take him out he was so scared!

 

Opening one of their presents on Christmas Eve...

They each got a new one-step Transformer!!

Decorating cookies to leave out for Santa!

❤❤❤❤❤

Christmas morning!

Santa brought them some special presents!

Nolan got everything he asked for - a marble run and a Darth Maul pez dispenser! 

Nolan was very happy to help everyone open their presents. He was pretty cute about it though and would say something like, "Here, I can help you!" or "I can get that started for you!" etc.

Justin got a full sized BYU football helmet for his office in our new house.

Granky!

Branson was walking around with arms folded and an angry face so Uncle BJ was copying him.

We opened presents in stages - first with just us and my parents and Mallory, then with Granky and BJ and Kirsten, then with Preston and Devin's crew and the GG Hunts when they got there the next day. The boys didn't mind the constant present opening in the least!

 

"Eating daddy's finger!" - B

Nolan's marble run was a hit with all the kids!

Nolan and Granky were worn out! ❤

Nolan brought a mini Millennium Falcon just to build with Uncle BJ. He's lucky to have an uncle that loves legos and Star Wars and his nephews!

  

Branson and Gp Mathews sharing a laugh over breakfast. B is never happy when grandpa has to leave for work 😢 

My cousins Danielle and Sheena came over one night to visit. It's always good to see them, and Sheena's girls are always so good and fun with the kids!

Quite the crowd! I love having family together!

Cute Logan, and Uncle Andy being silly with Russ.

 One time Russ was building a tower and Branson came in and knocked it down without a second thought and ran away 😒. Russ looked at him with a look of disgust and yelled "Bran-SON!!"

Lunch at Jason's Deli while the GG Hunt's and Uncle Andy were still in town. Since they've all closed in Utah and it's my favorite place I'm always pushing to go there!

Grandma with her new handprint apron (although we're still missing a couple little handprints).

Everyone had a blast with these light up race tracks that grandma got out!

 These boys took the coveted spots next to Granky!

 We got the boys' cousins some cute robes for Christmas and they were adorable in them. 

We also got in a trip to Macayos - a must for a complete Las Vegas trip!

Nolan introducing Uncle BJ to Lego Star Wars. I think he enjoyed it :) 

  

Grandma is always stealing snuggles.

Of course we stopped by Granky's house before heading back to Utah. We sure love him!

I liked this quote he has on his dresser.

Between St. George and the gorge Nolan announced he needed to go potty and rather than take our chances we just pulled off and set him up in the middle of the desert. He was having a grand ol' time being able to go potty and throw rocks at the same time!

The good news is we rarely have to stop on the side of the road for Nolan. He must have inherited his mom's ability to go a long time without going to the bathroom because most of the time on this drive he only goes once and it's when we stop in Cedar for food and gas! #blesshim