Our Boys.....

Recent events have caused me to realize how much I LOVE my boys and how blessed I am to have them. I have a few close friends who are battling infertility and though I can never understand how hard you struggle, I wanted to say: I'm sorry this is happening, and I love you :)

So here's a tribute to two of the world's cutest little boys:

Oliver

Oli is our big boy, almost 3! He has grown so much in the last few months in so many ways. He has been wearing his big boy underwear for a while and is doing very well about not having too many accidents. He is very aware of other people's emotions, "Mummy is sad," "JJ is laughing" I like his running commentary on life that I now get to listen to all day. I love that I can have a pretty normal conversation with him, although everything usually revolves around trucks or trains in the world of Oli. He loves being outside riding his bike or at the park. I blame most of his naughtiness on being in this small apartment for a lot of the day! He still frustrates us with his eating habits and he can be very stubborn. His favourite things are: Thomas (the tank engine), Toy Story, and of course Mr Crabs. He is terrified of the dinosaur at our local museum and always talks about it. He also has the sweetest little soul and can be very sensitive and loving.

JJ

JJ is our not so little baby boy, who is almost 1! It is crazy how fast he has grown up and how fast he is learning new things. JJ is our amazing eater, seriously that boy will eat anything! I could feed him the entire fridge and he would still have room for more, but I love it! JJ is learning to be a walker, still a bit wobbly. I love JJ's smile, he is usually in a good mood and showing his teeth and cute dimple with that smile! He loves his brother and is usually content to be in a room with Oli just watching him play. He has also learned that he can make Oli very mad by taking apart his train tracks. He is good at napping and sleeps well at night. He LOVES his bottles and dummies. He does not like being strapped in the stroller, it makes him very mad. His favourite games are patty cake and tickle my belly! He is almost 1 but has been in 18 month clothes for a while. I love this chunky boy!!!

Where to begin??

Well! It's been a LONG time. I apologize! Since we got back from England life has been fun, hectic, and fun. There's a few updates from the last three months so I'll go in order!

Christmas in England!!!

Our trip began with two children and a 10 hour flight from Dallas to London. All I can say is WOW. I never ever ever ever want to do that again! Luckily, I had been dreading it for weeks so it turned out to be not nearly as terrible as I'd thought, although it was still pretty terrible. At one point Oli took of his clothes and ran down the isle naked......ya. Here's a cute shot of my boys sleeping at some point during the 10 hours:

After some delays we arrived in London more than a few hours behind schedule. Sadly, lovely Shelley hadn't checked our flight status before she left her flat at 7am and was waiting in the airport for 4 hours!!!  Soooo we finally arrive and where is our stroller? Hmmm nobody knows? And I am MORE than frustrated! We wait an hour....and it comes, thank goodness. There is only room is Shell's car for me and the boys so Tim has Dan's oyster card and a map and is off to brave the London underground. Me, Shell and the boys get to her car, which has a flat tyre! Oh no! But luckily somebody kind helped Shell pump it up, we stop a few more times on the way to Shell's house, which is pretty close to the airport, but traffic is crazy! It seems like it takes forever but we're there! The Jones' place. Cute little one bedroom in the center of London: perfect. Georgie is the perfect dainty little angel, nice to see you in real life and not on skype! By the way.....England is FREEZING!!!!!!! That's all I have to say about that.

A few REALLY fun days in London consist of: FREEZING OUR BUTTS OFF! But seriously, Pizza Express, THE LION KING, hilarious ride on those bike/cart things, shopping, WWII museum (fun for Tim) and lots more London fun.

We spent the rest of our holiday in Loughborough at Mum n Dad's house. This consisted of seeing lots of friends and eating lots of chocolate. Our 4 year wedding anniversary was December 22nd so my Mum kept the boys and we went to Warwick. We did some shopping and visited Shakespeare's house in Stratford.

It was SO cold. We also went to Leamington Spa to visit Tim's old mission flat and we went to see Nigel, one of his favourite friend's from his mission. He remembered Tim, it was so cute!

A few days before Christmas we visited my Dad's parents, Grandma & Grandpa in their rest home. I was really glad to get pictures with them and the boys, its amazing that they have four great grandparents alive.

Couldn't get Oli to smile at all!

JJ is almost as big as Grandpa!

CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!!

Christmas day in my family is the funnest day ever! My Nan & Grandad came over and also Uncle Adam who lives in DC who I haven't seen in a very long time so that was extra special. I'm really glad JJ got to meet everyone especially his great grandparents! They were so cute with him too and wanted to hold him all day.

Oli got the hang of opening presents pretty quickly!

Tim's favourite gift

Nana & Grandad

Great grandparents loved JJ

LOVE!

JJ and his Great Uncle?

Sooooo on Christmas day we were all gathered around like this:

And Mum n Dad announced they are going to be Mission President's for 3 years in......

CRAZINESS!!!

One more thing:

For Georgie's 1st birthday Shell and I made the most amazing cake! It took 4 hours and a lot of dedication but we were so proud of it!

Thank you Mum and Dad for flying us home it was amazing!!!!

Only 10 days to go....10 reasons why I'm SO excited to go home this year!

1. To see my FAMILY!!! I haven't met (in person-skype doesn't count) my one year old niece Georgie! I have not seen my sister since she found out she was pregnant. I have never visited either of my sisters houses! Only my parents have met my second child. I'm so excited for Oli and JJ to play with all their cousins that they never see. The price I pay living so far away. So yeah....I'm excited to see my family.

2. To see my Friends! SO excited to see my girlies who I've known since primary school. None of them have met JJ yet. Lots of lunches and catching up and laughing. Lots of boring times for Tim.

3. To see England baby! No matter how long you live in another country, it never feels quite like home. The green, the rain, the freezing cold mornings. The tiny roads and one way streets. The town center with rubbish shops. Living in another country I find myself missing the dumbest things: Tesco value frosties, traffic jams in loughborough, rows of orange houses, the list goes on...

4. FOOD! When I was pregnant I craved everything. Fish and chips all greasy and yummy. Pickled onion monster munch. Baked potato with beans and cheese Shelley style. All the cadburys I can eat. Skips. Apple tango. Yorkshires. And because it's Christmas extra treats like Roses and roasted parsnips with dinner.

5. Shopping!!! I can't wait for H&M, Primark, Boots....oh and let's not forget NEXT sale. Living in Lubbock, I'm seriously deprived.

6. The Sock man. Who knew I would miss Loughborough? I miss Thursday market with loads of yelling and rubbish stuff to buy. I miss the Carillon Court, only go in there when it's raining. I miss walking around town freezing. I miss the Curzon, worst cinema ever, apparently its gone? Sad.

7. Christmas morning at the Ford residence. Some of my best childhood memories ever are Christmas morning, they all take place in Quorn, but hey can't have everything. I love waking up to stockings and all coming downstairs in PJ's tired. ALWAYS open presents before Church, still can't believe some people can wait until after! Everyone sits around while someone hands out presents, opening all at the same time while mum picks up wrapping paper. SO much fun.

8. Christmas dinner at the Ford residence. Always the best meal ever. Turkey and cranberry, parsnips, mash and roasties, pigs in blankets (gross), yorkshires, gravy, trees, brussell sprouts (have to eat one), stuffing. All squashed around the kitchen table with the mickey mouse place settings, pop the crackers, hats on and tell the rubbish jokes. Tummy ache from drinking too much shloer.

9. 4 year wedding anniversary getaway! Our anniversary is Dec 22nd and we're going to Warwick for the day sans kids. Cute bed and breakfast in quaint English town without kids......awesome.

10. Mum's home made chocolate chip cookies: worth travelling 5000 miles for? Yes, they're that good.

Only ten days to go!!

Thanksgiving in Dallas

This Thanksgiving was really great. We went to Dallas to see Tim's brother and his family. It's about a 5 hour trip, depending on stoppage time for child related issues. Although now JJ is taking a bottle roadtrips are a lot easier! It's funny, I would used to have said that 5 hours is a really long drive, but now, with the size of Texas, it really feels like nothing! Well, not nothing, but it doesn't seem far at all.

We arrived on Wednesday morning and hung out for a while. Lawson (our 4 year old nephew) was really cute, Tys & Sara said he was holding Oli's toothbrush (that we had left last time we were there) for a few hours before we got there waiting for us to arrive. In the afternoon we went to the Galleria mall in North Dallas. It was a really amazing mall with loads of English shops so I was really excited, and a fun playplace for the kids. We also went to dinner at Genghis grill, it's mongolian bbq and it's amazing!

Oli & Lawson by the huge Christmas Tree

Dads!

All the Oblad cousins in tow

The next day was Thanksgiving! Tyson and Sara made the dinner and it was soooo yummy. We also found out JJ likes yams, but doesn't like turkey baby food.

Almost 7 months...he's so big!

I don't think we went out at all that day, just a lot of eating and then some naps. Perfect. The next few days were filled with lots of playing and shopping (for me). On Saturday we went to a local park to take some pictures. They turned out really great, the Fall leaves were so gorgeous. Here's a few:

Porter, JJ, Oliver, Makayla & Lawson

On Saturday night Sara and I went to Olive Garden (with a gift certificate I'd gotten from complaining!) and to Kohls for some shopping. It was SO nice to be out without the kids! We had a  really good time and love being with family, especially since the kids play so well together. We're back in a few weeks before we go to England and for New Years.

Normal life

Not much has been happening here recently, just normal life. This usually consists of JJ waking up too early and I end up feeding him in bed, but at least he's sleeping through the night. He just got his first tooth so maybe its to do with that. Anyway, then Oli's up an hour later. And when he's up everybody's up. You know how normally it takes a little time to wake up in the mornings? Not Oli, as soon as his eyes open he is UP. Running around, playing with toys, being usual Oli. I love this about him, but sometimes hate it, especially when I have to deal with his loudness in the mornings because those who know me know I am NOT a morning person. I could sleep in every day until 11am easy, probably noon. If Tim doesn't have a busy day or lots of assignments due, sometimes he let's me sleep in a little with JJ which is SO nice. So on the days when Tim has to leave pronto it's Toy Story on for Oli until mum is fully with it. Bad parenting? Probably. I'm afraid I'm not the kind of mum who is up and ready before everybody else, maybe one day! JJ is usually up about an hour later from his morning nap. If I'm really good I'll be dressed by then, maybe hair done but probably not. Pick up toys, feed JJ. By 10 or 11am we're all ready to get out. Kids dressed, fight with Oli to get shoes and socks on. JJ is car seat, crying. We're out! Usually meeting friends at the park, trip to Walmart or run some errands. Lots of parks in Lubbock, we rotate playing at different ones. Oli loves the ones with SAND. Which means me saying "Don't throw sand" a million times and lots of time outs. Other times its "Don't throw rocks." JJ sitting on my lap all cute while I chat with other mum's about who knows what, our labour experiences, how hard our toddlers are, and how much we miss Cafe Rio (most are from Utah/Arizona areas). By noon JJ and I are ready to go home, fight with Oli to leave and get into the car. Come home for pb&j/grapes/apples/crisps/gogurts. JJ takes a nap (usually). On the days he won't take a nap I feel like I want to cry! So JJ either napping or in jungle gym until he crys and then holding him while I get stuff done. Oli plays around, gets a few time outs and quite a few "NO's" for going in the fridge/knocking down all the DVD's/pulling out all his clothes etc. Mum trys to clean up, laundry, dishes, etc. Sometimes Oli helps. JJ awake by about 2pm, we're all ready to go out again. Oli rides his bike around the parking lot, mum and JJ follow behind him. Afternoon's usually full of playing outside, or arranged activities inside for Oli, like colouring or play dough etc. By 4pm I am DONE! Need a break, when is Tim coming home. I keep checking the clock! Sometimes he is done by 4, on the bad days he's done by 6. What shall I make for dinner? Let's eat out. Tim gets home, burst of new energy for mum. Happy he can hold JJ and entertain Oli. JJ takes a late nap. Clean up some more, watch TV, Oli runs around, a few more "NO's" for knocking over JJ who is cutely sitting in the middle of the carpet grabbing Oli's toys. 7pm: Oli in pajamas and usually a bath. Read endless books with Oli (his way of getting out of going to bed). Then finally, Oli gets into bed. Tears! Sometimes he goes easy, sometimes he really does NOT go easy. Followed by a lot of "Daddy's" and "I need Milk's" Oli has either fallen asleep on the ground or sometimes in his bed. Feed JJ, wrap him up, pack n play in mummy and daddy's room. He usually falls asleep pretty fast, sometimes not, I really don't enjoy those nights when we listen to crying baby for a while. Lots of rocking and singing. JJ asleep. About 9pm. Kids asleep. Tim sits at the desk and writes a paper or studies. On the best nights no homework just a movie and diet dr pepper and food that is bad for you. 11pm or so: move JJ into the living room (trying not to wake him up!) head on pillow, talk for a while. Tell Tim the funny/cute/naughty things Oli and JJ did that day. Asleep!

Happy half-birthday JJ!

Happy half-birthday to my gorgeous baby Jordan! I can't believe 6 months ago today you were born. It seems like so long ago but so its gone so fast at the same time. Here's a little montage of JJ's growing up so far:

About 4 hours before you were born

Just a few hours old

4 days old

3 weeks old

5 weeks old

About 2 months old

About 3 months old

4 months old

5 and a half months

6 months old

JJ you are such a lovely baby. You sleep 9 hours at night (usually). You are smiling all the time and love to watch your brother Oliver, he makes you laugh all the time. You can sit up by yourself and love to play in your bouncy chair. You will not take a bottle which makes mummy mad, but you love to cuddle, which I love. You do not like being in your car seat and cry when I put you in it. You are very interested in everything around you and you are about to start solid foods. You have a very sweet personality like your brother and I can already tell you will be best friends. We love you baby JJ!