2012 Wilkes Family Reunion - Mexico Style!

Ate too much. Slept too little...well, except on the mornings that my hubs took the kids and I slept in. Had so much fun. Forged new friendships. Rekindled old ones. Laughed until we cried at our first annual family talent show. There are no words to describe how much fun we had!

3! 3! 3!

When did you get to be such a big boy?! It's not fair.

You are smart. You are quirky. You throw the best temper tantrums. You love to snuggle. You melt my heart with those big brown eyes.  You love your mother. You love nursery. You love to torment, torture, and tease your sister.

But most importantly - you are loved and I couldn't imagine my life without you.

Happy Birthday, baby boy.

You can't make me!

Why can't we have compliant, sweet little girls?  Girls who do what we ask the first time, without a protest?  Girls that aren't sassy, defiant, and so darn stubborn?

Because when those girls are 16, sweet and compliant girls won't stand up for what they believe in.  They will protest, they will be sassy, they will be defiant to their friends who are asking them to do wrong, and they will be stubborn with their strong testimonies.  The idea is to channel this energy...not suppress it.

But for now..."Mom, I'm not going to smile and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

And, of course...because Sariah was not going to be happy, James had to stand proudly with the BIGGEST smile on his face.  Just to show his sister up.  Brotherly love.

Lunch with Friends

Sariah has a unique relationship with each one of her animals.  She knows when one is missing, when one needs some extra love, and when each one is hungry.

On this day, all of her animals were hungry all at the same time.  Lucky for her, this meant a lunch party!

She will be a remarkable mommy.

Water Babies

Grandma Wilkes' pool is officially open!!!

  (I love how he is so skinny that his swim trunks don't stay on...even with a swim diaper!

Sariah is now a FISH!  She loves doing cannonballs, hi-yas, and swims anywhere she can. Here is a fun video of her jumping off of Uncle Adam and Aunt Erin's diving rock:

Now if we could only get James to be interested in the water instead of throwing in every single pool toy available, we'd be complete!

NOTE to Aunt Erin:  It was after this dive that Courtney informed me of your "no diving" rule.  I promise that she didn't dive again after that!

Cousins and hammocks and donuts, oh my!

Had a really fun weekend!  On Friday afternoon, we loaded up the car, picked up Jared, and headed to Mesa for an overnighter with Courtney and her family.  My children were oozing with anticipation and excitement at seeing Uncle Matt and Makenzie!  (James calls her Aunt Kenzie, eventhough she's his cousin.)

We stayed the night, played all day on Saturday, and even got the famouns Bosa donuts for breakfast.  There goes my eat-clean lifestyle and WW points out the window!  But let me tell you...it was well worth it.

We were fortunate enough to get a babysitter on Saturday afternoon and go to the temple to do some sealings. It was a much needed break from life.

Courtney talked us into staying Saturday night, and I am so glad we did!  I think next time we won't stay for the weekend.  We'll stay an entire week!  Thanks, Court, for having us!

When the time came to leave on Sunday, the kids were not happy.  Pile that on top of a long, 2 hour drive, and the questions started.  "Are we home yet?"  "How much longer?"  So I explained to Sariah that we were making our way home little by little.  Her response?

"Mom, little by little?!  How come not BIG by BIG?!"

Funny kid.

Tornadoes and Tomatoes

(Sariah and James, first thing in the morning.  Sariah watches a movie on the Kindle Fire, and James watches a movie on the computer.  Don't worry - doesn't happen all day!)

The following conversation happened in the car today on the way home from preschool.  Need to record this for posterity because it is just too precious! 

Sariah: Mom, I had a bad dream last night.

Me: Oh really?  I am so sorry!  Will you tell me about it?

Sariah: I had a dream that James got stuck in a tornado and I never saw him again.

Me: That is a terrible dream to have!  Where did the tornado come from?

Sariah: The tornado came from Dorothy's house.

James: I got sucked up in a tomato from Dorky!

Sariah: But then the good witch came, who kind of looks like a ghost.  Hmm, maybe she's not the good witch if she's a ghost.

James: The holy ghost witch catched me.

At least I know that somewhere in his brain, our FHE of the Holy Ghost registered.  Even if it manifests itself as a good witch that rescues him from the tomato.

She can be a lady once in a while!

She has the cutest perches.  This one is my favorite so far.  I especially find enjoyment in how daintily her legs are crossed, her tea set is all ready to go just in case someone unexpectedly stops by, and she has entertainment all fired up.  What a special girl she is to me.