Why I dread 3-year-olds...

...and 22-year-olds. (Oh wait I'm 22 as well.) Anywho, here's my nephew, Cal, in Newport, followed by my sister-in-law, Amy.

I love parades.

It's a true statement. I totally love parades. Every time I find out that there is a parade - I get SO excited! Well I got Matt to go today and it was AWESOME (even though it was almost 100 degrees...). It was the Citrus Heights Red, White, and Blue Parade. Needless to say, it will become a tradition.

We found some friends from our ward, the Conigliaros, and totally benefited from their dedication because they had been there for an hour and got an awesome shady spot. Livy loved playing with their little kids. At first, she was super scared about what was going on, but by the end she was standing out there all by herself, dancing to the many songs from the many bands that paraded before us. Many, many bands...

My favorite little girls

Livy and Gabrielle are the only little girl grandchildren on the Wiseman side. They are so freaking cute together. Livy LOVES following Gabrielle around and Gabrielle is super cute with Livy. Anyway, I just like these pics...

HAPPY (late) BIRTHDAY, BABE!!!

Here he is on his big day!

Matt's birthday was last Saturday and so basically that means that I suck. I don't know why I've put off writing this post. Maybe it's because I'm sick and every time I cough, my child makes a fake coughing noise as if she's mocking me...

ANYWHO Matt is 26!!!!! I know, SO OLD, right? He's an old man now. So we decorated the room in Newport on his birthday. Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family so of course we decorated while on vacation to Matt's surprise. Gabrielle totally helped me out. She was my tape girl. Here she is sitting under our awesome decorations that we taped all over the place. It's a new pose every time...
And here is the freaking BOMB cake I made (if I do say so myself). It's just a chocolate cake but the frosting I made was a reese's peanut butter cup icing recipe. It turned out way yummy! Here's Livy desperate to eat some cake or to become a pyromaniac, we're still not sure.Here's a better pic of the cake. Can you see Livy's hand?? It's my favorite part of the picture. When she got under the glass table for the first time, she kept reaching up to things on the table that she wanted and then she'd get frustrated that her hand was somehow being blocked! So funny.

I hope you had a good birthday, Babe! We love you sooooooo much! (Even though you're getting super old...) JUST KIDDING.

Father's Day Awesomeness

I put together this information today for this thing I made for church. I thought it was awesome so I'm posting it on here as well...

The History of Father’s Day

It was during a sermon in 1909 that Sonora Smart Dodd became inspired by Mother's Day. After the death of her mother, Sonora and her siblings were raised by their father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was to her father and, because William was born in June, she worked to have the first Father's Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday. President Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father's Day in 1966. It was not until 1972 that President Nixon instituted Father's Day as a national observance.

Did You Know – Roses are the official flower on Father's Day, red for fathers who were still living and white for those who have passed away. (History.com/content/fathersday)

The Importance of Dads

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "The Lord's plan of salvation requires that you pass through trials in this mortal life. Those trials seem to be greatest when you reach fatherhood, but be assured—fatherhood, in a sense, is an apprenticeship to godhood" ("Father, Consider Your Ways," Ensign, Jun 2002, 12.)

President Ezra Taft Benson: "Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father’s calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity" ("To the Fathers in Israel," Ensign, Nov 1987, 48.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley: "God bless you, dear fathers. May He bless you with wisdom and judgment, with understanding, with self-discipline and self-control, with faith and kindness and love. And may He bless the sons and daughters who have come into your homes, that yours may be a fortifying, strengthening, guiding hand as they walk the treacherous path of life. As the years pass—and they will pass ever so quickly—may you know that "peace... which passeth all understanding" (Philip. 4:7) as you look upon your sons and daughters, who likewise have known that sacred and wonderful peace. Such is my humble prayer, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen" ("'Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children'," Ensign, Nov 2000, 50.)

Things to do on Father’s Day

• Talk about your favorite memories of your dad
• Watch your favorite home videos together
• Make Dad his favorite dinner
• Have a photo shoot with dad
• Help Dad around the house
• Take a short family stroll
• Have a family barbecue
• Take a family portrait
  

Awesome Daddies in my Life

Awesome Daddy #1

I thought it was super cool to find all of this out. I've always been blessed to have amazing examples of fathers in my life. My dad was always super awesome. My favorite memory of him is when he was taking me and Drew to our babysitter's and on the way (it was snowing in UT) he pulled over really fast to the side of the road and I was like, woah what's going on! And he got out and went up to this old lady shovelling her driveway and he took her shovel from her and quickly shovelled her entire driveway. That memory always stuck with me.

Later in life, I remember coming home from high school everyday and relaying the daily events. Now thinking back on that, he must have dreaded hearing all of the nonsense that drama teens go through... (I know I'm not looking forward to it) but he always listened. My dad's pretty much the epitome of always being there for a kid. I remember him coming to everything that I ever had: Ridiculous 5th grade spelling bees where I couldn't freaking spell the word "manual" (In my defense, she said it with an E sound!), tennis matches, cheerleading competitions (bleh!), etc.

Awesome Daddy #2

Now I have the most amazing father for my daughter. I couldn't ask for a better hubby/daddy for Liv. Since the day we found out we were pregnant with Livy, Matt has been there for EVERYTHING. He went to every doctor appointment, was in the bathroom EVERY time I puked, tried endlessly to get me to eat (during the first trimester) after I would scream at him and make him question every marrying me... we're talking EVERYTHING.

He's the most amazing man, and I'm so proud of him. He takes Livy every morning so that I can sleep because he loves spending every free moment he has with her. He works so hard to provide us with everything we need so that I don't have to work. I can't wait until our little family grows and I get to see his amazing father abilitites become even greater! He's a faithful priesthood holder who takes his responsiblity very seriously. He's a great example to me and Livy of someone who truly loves our Heavenly Father and who tries his hardest to emulate Christ's example. I got a serious winner and I don't tell him enough. Love you, babe!

Happy Father's Day to all of the awesome daddies, grandaddies, etc. out there!!!

But it's beach day!

We've been livin it up at the beach lately. I have a love/hate relationship with the beautiful beaches. So much fun - but I freaking hate cleaning all of the sand out of every possible area on Livy's body. Livy, however, is in LOVE with the beach. She storms out into the water like she's some sort of little mermaid who belongs in the ocean! It's so cute.

Here are the daddies with their daredevil daughters. These girls have no fear! In the second pic, you can see Livy begging to go farther and farther in the water!

Taking pics of Gabrielle is my new favorite thing. She's hilarious when she sees a camera.

Here's Cal. I don't know why but this pic makes me laugh. It's like, really Cal? This is the most fun you can have at the beach?? Ha!

Newport So Far...

So we're chillin in Newport this week - woo! We thought that the weather was going to suck, but it's been freaking awesome! Here's some pics of the cute kiddlies at work.

Livy Lou has been awesome. She's a good little traveller. She's been playing at the beach, getting tanner than Mommy, and having so much fun with her cousins! She loves following them around and trying to be a part of the fun. Her poor little eyes got sunburned - so sad. We got her some sweet sunglasses but it's hit or miss if she likes wearing them.

Here's Cal doing his thing. There's no stopping this one.

While we were outside today, Gabrielle asked me to take some pictures of her, she then proceeded with the following poses. Awesome.

We went on the ferris wheel on Balboa Island. Cal's favorite thing to say during the ride: "Daddy, I can hear you!" Livy's favorite thing to say during the ride: "Woah. Woah. Woah."

Here's Livy's "little" cousin, Jake. He's three months younger but about 5 pounds heavier and a couple inches taller! He's a freakin cute chunk!

Matt took this pic of his dad. I love it because it's the epitome of a Wiseman gathering. Rick is always settin up the timer on the camera and then running as fast as possible to get in the picture! He's quite speedy.

Here's another Wiseman vacation must have: an attempt to get these crazy kids to all sit for a pic!

Gabrielle is sleeping in our room tonight so that Cal doesn't wake her up. Here's where we created "the coolest bed ever," as Gabrielle coined it. She's in our tub. We took a bunch of sofa cushions and put them inside of it and then put pillows everywhere. It's so cute! Gabrielle's super stoked to be sleeping across from Livy.

Also, before bed tonight, Gabrielle said a prayer with Matt, Livy, and I. Here's a little snippet of it...

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Grateful for the friends we could play with today. Grateful for going to the beach. Grateful that Livy doesn't die... Amen."

Livy's Daily Routine

Destroy the apartment CHECK

Throw a tantrum CHECK

Go to one minute time out CHECK

Cuddle with Mommy CHECK

Throw another tantrum...

and the cycle repeats over and over and over again and sometimes I feel incredibly drained.

Then I keep reminding myself: being a mommy is ridiculously hard and draining - but it's so important and the reward from this as opposed to a job, money, recognition, success, or anything like that is SO MUCH GREATER.

So I'm going to keep on truckin' on...

Here's the little monster in action.

Pool Party!

Matt's brother has a pool in their backyard (thank goodness!) and so after I did a little Max photo shoot, I took some pics of Livy with her favorite cousins.

Here's Livy's newest swimsuit. I freaking love it!

The back is my favorite part.

Please! This was Livy begging her aunt for a Mike 'n Ike...

I feel like this picture captures my niece, Gabrielle's, full personality! I love it.

Doesn't their backyard look UNREAL??

Here's Cal, Livy's mentor in becoming a CRAZY toddler. He has taught her well!