Brett's Doppelgänger

My friend, Janae, sent me this pic after her girls asked why Brother Flaherty was on their cereal box. So funny and totally crazy how much this looks like Brett. Maybe he should consider modeling:)

While Dad is Away We Play

Brett went on his 2nd annual cattle drive with the Sopeland clan this weekend. He left Thursday night so it was just the kids and I this weekend. Actually Bradock and Raylee spent the night with Brett Friday night and hung out at the ranch on Saturday while they branded. That left just Riggy and I to hang out by ourselves today. He is getting so strong and loving tummy time. 

I love how the simplest things capture his attention. The light through the window had him completely mesmerized. 

10 Weeks Old

Oh so dreamy!!!

Goofing Around

This last week I have been really working on getting Riggy on a better sleep schedule. It has taken some work but he's definitely taking better naps now. Still not ideal but getting a whole lot better. The kids and I even got to play on the trampoline while he napped. I have felt so guilty about all the time Rig takes of mine and not being able to give more to Bradock and Ray. 

I can't believe how big this little guy is getting. Everyone comments on how well he must be eating:) Apparently I produce some good whole milk. My dad even commented on it after seeing some in a bottle I had pumped and said I make cream. Nice to know Riggy isn't lacking in the food department:) 

These two boys make me smile. Love them so so much! 

Kicking Punching Ninja

Riggy has started to make that eye hand coordination work to his advantage and is having a blast with his play mat toys. 

Nomnomnom!

This kid tries his darnedest to fit his whole fist in his mouth. So funny! 

RV Road Trip

Bradock and Raylee's two weeks of spring break started out with a bang. Early Saturday morning my mom, dad, my 3 kids and McKai were all loaded in the rented Cruise America RV and heading to Dallas, TX. What a ride! I have never been in something so bumpy. The kids were so excited about this adventure and well I was more anxious and nervous than excited. Having a newborn is exhausting but having a newborn on a road trip just quadruples that exhaustion. The first day of driving went ok (besides my dad being kind of a bad driver or should I say easily distracted) and we ended parking the RV at a RV park in Midland, TX. We finally arrived in Dallas on Sunday where Justin and Jerry met us at my mom's friend, Radeena's, house. They were going to park the RV there and stay with the 3 older kids while Justin, Jerry, Rigdon and I stayed at a nearby hotel. 

Here was home away from home for 10 days. Grandma sure had some fun activities for the kids including some dollar store card games. 

Riggy sure got some major bouncing in his bounce seat without even trying. The RV was so bouncy I thought he might fly right out of that thing. Didn't bother him too much and he actually did some sleeping in it. 

Rig hit his 2 month mark on the trip. Besides not being a good napper or sleeper he sure is one happy, smiley baby. He spits up quite a bit so I have a feeling the bib might be a staple in most pics:) 

The kids had fun swimming at our hotel pool. We also had a fun time at the Ft. Worth Zoo on Monday. 

On Tuesday we went to the Dallas Arboretum. It's a fun, educational place and the kids had a blast exploring.

Seriously not a dull moment on this trip. On Wednesday we went to the Dallas World Aquarium. Tons of cool animals and sea life 

We also headed to the Dallas Art museum which was, surprisingly, one of the kids' faves...especially Raylee's. She was in art heaven. She did some sketches of a statue and then of Uncle Justin. Love my little artist! 

Late Wednesday night Brett, Sarah, Chance and Vada caught a red eye flight and arrived in Dallas early Thursday morning. Lets just say Brett and I both didn't get much sleep that night. After letting them catch a few hours of sleep we headed to the Perot Museum of Natural history. It was a cool place but with it being Spring break it was super busy and chaotic. Vada kept throwing tantrums and well let's just say we were all ready to leave. We went and had some lunch at this most amazing Mexican restaurant right next to the museum whose carne asada was out of this world. Afterwards we said goodbye to Justin and Jerry who had to head back to San Antonio. The rest of us headed to Tyler, Tx where Nanny lives. Brett snapped this pic of me in the RV. I think it's so funny. I was in pure survival mode on this trip. No sleep and go, go, go was taking its toll. Brett may have witnessed a few meltdowns from me. Actually he heard the meltdowns on the phone. Things were much, much better once he arrived and I had his help and support. 

My three handsome fellas! 

Fun pics from the museum. 

The whole reason for this trip was for all of us to go and see Nanny and for her to see and meet her great grand kids. She was so excited we came. She lives in this really nice assisted living facility where she has her own apartment. There was a Sonic with the coolest playground right next to Nanny's place so it was nice to let the kids play and get some energy out. Raylee, Bradock and Mckai have such a special bond. They sure love each other. 

My parents and the kids stayed in the RV again while Brett, Rig, and I and Sarah, Chance and Vada got hotel rooms. It had a fun indoor pool that the kids had fun swimming in. Even Rig got in on the fun. He absolutely loves the water. 

Here's Nanny meeting Rig for the first time. She was so happy. 

It was fun for our kids to also meet their cousin Corbin. Here's a pic with all of Nanny's great grand kids minus Dillon. 

On our final day in Tyler we said goodbye to Nanny and then headed to this cool animal museum before we headed back to Dallas. It was a museum of all these stuffed animals shot by these two hunters. Chance and Brett were in heaven and totally jealous of what these guys had shot. Here's Mr. B messing around with some of the exhibits. 

Saturday night Brett, Rig, Sarah, Chance, Vada and I got another red eye flight back to AZ. It was an exhausting night and with the time zone changes and everything we didn't get home to Payson until about 3am. We were so tired! I definitely needed a vacay from that vacay:) The kids, Papa and Grandma drove the RV home and made it all the way on Sunday. Brett met them in Globe that evening to grab our kids and bring them home. The kids had a blast and I'm glad they got to do some really fun things for that first week of break because the next week we just stayed home and kept it low key. We needed to recover from our crazy adventure:)

7 Weeks Old

Two dads just hangin with their mini-me's. Rachel and I actually got to go have dinner all by ourselves. It was nice to have a few hours alone:)

This kid sure loves his bath. I'm sure he is just going to love the swimming pool this summer. 

Typical morning trying to get ready and get kids out the door for school. Busy, busy! 

Rigdon's Baby Blessing 3.2.14

IA couple weeks ago we finally had Rigdon's baby blessing. We decided it would be easier for our family to have the blessing in Mesa so we got permission to have it at the Flaherty's house. It also happen to be the day of the Gilbert Temple dedication. Brett was going to go to the 9am session buy got to our church building too late so he called me and asked if we could be ready and leave for Mesa in half an hour to make the noon session down there. I was so mad at him for making us rush. I had to get myself and 3 kids out the door in half a hour...ahhhh! Well I must be a miracle worker because we made it...barely. Well we did forget a few things but not a big deal. We left the kids with Bob and Terri and Brett and I went with the Gonzalez's to the noon session. After it was over we went back to the Flaherty's to get ready for the blessing. We had both our families there including grandparents and our friends the Crocketts, Forts and Larsons. Brett gave a beautiful blessing and then Bob asked both of us to bare our testimonies. Geez! The bonus to doing the blessing at home was to not have to do that. Oh well we shared our testimonies and then had fun hanging out and eating. It turned out to be a great day. 

I just love this picture of Grandpa Jay and Rigdon Jay:) 

Riggy and his friend, Dane Fort. They are only 3.5 months apart. Little do they know that they are going to be best buds:)