Ashley Danelle Photography . San Diego . 04.2014

It comes as a surprise to exactly zero people that I love photography.  It is evident when you read this blog, view my Facebook profile, or just step into my home.  I'm not sure where the desire comes from, I think it may have to do with not having very many photos of my own childhood, and even fewer family ones.  I definitely am not a fan of having my own photo taken, but I have yet to regret scheduling photo sessions.  I have hired a range of photographers from extremely reasonable, to a few sessions that may cut short the boys' college funds (but, you just can't get back the very earliest baby photos!).

So, as we planned our FIRST FAMILY VACATION, I couldn't resist the opportunity to hire a local photographer.  And, what better background (and one we can't replicate at home), than the OCEAN?!

After a ridiculous amount of time researching our options I found Ashley Danelle Photography!  Be prepared for many photos below...Ashley is seriously amazing, and to narrow them down further would be impossible for me...

My favorite of our family photos.
(Ryder, Harvick, and Jarrett)

Ryder and Jarrett being lovey...and Harvick being curious!

How much of the session went...and really, how much of our life goes...wresting and laughing!
Harvick's expression in the second one is my favorite!

An attempt at a beach Brothers photo...and the real life photo of a second later.

The boys rotate who will be the least cooperative for photos.  It was Jarrett's turn.  Ashley captured a few greats anyway!

Could Ryder possibly look any more grown up than he does in the photo on the left?  Check out his grown up watch - he was so excited when I agreed to let him wear it for our photos!

Harvick appears cooperative, but he sure made Ashley work hard to capture photos of him in focus.

I make an attempt to get a photo of Patrick and me at family sessions whenever I can.  We don't take our picture together on our own, so I figure I should take advantage of a professional when I have one!

Beautiful sunset, and 3 great kids.  Life really is good.

Ryder.

Harvick.

Jarrett.  And, no, I'm not sure what is happening on the right, but I love it anyway.

My favorite photo is the one I put at the top of this post, but this one may be a more accurate representation of our family.

All these photo sessions, and I've yet to get a picture of Patrick with all three boys.  We attempted...but it may have been too late in the session (literally, the very end).  It will still find a spot on our wall!

One more of Patrick and me, just as the sun was dropping out of sight.

I had several people think I was crazy for hiring a photographer while we were on vacation, but I am so glad we did!

Random . 03.2014

A compilation of the random photos taken in March!

Come rain or shine, these boys love to be outside playing.  Harvick and Jarrett are always eager to ride in the wagon if Ryder is willing to pull them around.  They are getting too big to be in their together, but they find a way to make it work!

The Saturday of the Lowes Kids Workshop was a bright and sunny one, so they moved the project outside.  As soon as we got home Patrick helped each of the boys find a place to hang their birdhouse, in hopes that they will be used this Spring and Summer.

When the boys are given the chance to watch a show before bed, their full attention is on the TV!  I love how sweet they are with each other, often at least one brother is laying on/over/on top of another.

One of my co-workers sent home extra treats with me from her team's Staff Meeting.  I got home late that night, and hadn't eaten dinner myself, and the boys were full of energy.  Patrick and I took our dinner outside, and let the boys eat their treat on the front porch.  The boys all loved the surprise, and were too cute to resist snapping a few pictures with my phone of a fun evening.  My co-worker loved seeing the pictures the next day!

Cuddly boys with Patrick.

Jarrett found the Handy Manny pajama shorts in the dresser, and loves to wear them any chance he gets!  He loves when Ryder constructs a track, and he gets it all to himself to play.

Harvick and Jarrett had a fun dinner with Patrick while Ryder was with Grandma Jody, and I was out running an errand!

Some mornings the boys really don't want to wake up in the mornings.  I don't blame them.

Patrick transformed Papa's old table into a coffee table for them.  The boys helped sand it down so that it could get re-stained.

Lazy Saturday mornings, or "pajama days" as Ryder calls them are favorites at our house.  Patrick and I switched out some of the toys to make room for Easter Eggs, and the boys had a blast finding new ways to play with them!

On our way to school one morning I looked back in the mirror to see Ryder and Jarrett holding hands.  Each time I stopped I tried to take a picture with my phone - none turned out great, but they all make me smile!

Harvick was pulling Jarrett around in the red wagon, so Patrick jumped in too!

Grandma Jody reading with Ryder.

Jarrett trying on a new hat while running errands.

While watching a show before bed - Harvick and Jarrett both wanted to cuddle up next to me!

Soccer & Zoo . 03.29.2014

My parents meet us at the park for Ryder's soccer games - they watch Harvick and Jarrett on the playset while Patrick and I watch Ryder's game.  The last weekend of the month my mom was out of town, but my dad still watched the boys - then, joined us for a trip to IKEA and the Hogle Zoo!

We started our weekend with Ryder's first soccer game of the Spring season.  He stayed out the first quarter, and reluctantly participated for the remainder of the game.  Thankfully, we have a very understanding coach who is willing to work with him. After the game, Papa joined us for a trip to IKEA, and to the Hogle Zoo.  When we arrived at the zoo, we first enjoyed some IKEA cinnamon rolls, and then walked around the exhibits.  It was a cool day, so it was fairly empty, considering it was a Saturday.  The boys loved running around seeing the animals.  Following tradition, we ended our visit with a ride on the carousel - the boys are eager for the train construction to be complete so they can ride it as well!

St. Patrick's Day . 2014

First, I posted this on Facebook the morning of St. Patrick's Day.  I thought it was just too cute to not share!

Ryder, excitedly, greeted his classmates this morning saying "HAPPY FAH-VER'S (Father's) DAY!!!" ... turns out that if your dad's name is Patrick, the name of today's holiday is a little confusing!
(picture from 2012)

On St. Patrick's Day the boys had a fun day full of green food.  Green oatmeal (with berries) for breakfast; cucumbers, green (sprinkles) yogurt, Lucky Charms, and a few green treats with lunch; green chocolate chip pancakes, green eggs, green apples, and cucumbers with dinner; and green apple fruit leather with a few more green treats for dessert!  Ryder even wore his green underwear!

Treehouse Alphabet Soup "R" . 03.2014

Finally!  The Treehouse reached the letter "R" for their Alphabet Soup!

Also, a glimpse into a Literacy Night with Early Intervention.

Ryder anxiously waited for the letter "R" to be featured at the Treehouse Museum's Alphabet Soup.  Unfortunately, they rearranged their activities that night, so we missed out on the bulk of the "R" activities - but made it to the art project - "Rainbow Dot Art".  The boys all enjoyed the dot markers, and I walked away with several new art pieces to hang in our home!

Harvick and Jarrett's participation in Early Intervention gets our family an invite to "Literacy Night" every month.  The themed evening starts with crafts, followed by books being read to the children.  Pizza is served, and a fun dessert is always presented following the evening's theme.  This time it was a school bus (transportation) made out of a graham cracker, frosting, Chex windows, and Oreo wheels.  The dessert is often the boys' favorite part!

Baths . 03.2014

The boys still fit in the bathtub together!  They love when they get the opportunity to spend extra time playing, rather than having to hurry out to get ready for bed.  When they know they get to play for awhile, bubbles are requested! It doesn't happen too often anymore because the boys also love playing outside for as long as possible each evening!

Bath time with these three crazy boys is always an adventure!  Getting bubbles added to their bath is a treat that they all enjoy.  And, squeaky clean boys is something Patrick and I enjoy!

Treehouse Birthday Party . 02.25.2014

Our trip to the Treehouse Museum, to celebrate their birthday!

The Treehouse Museum celebrated their birthday on the last day of February and allowed all members to invite a friend.  This year we invited the Bruderer Family (Patrick and I grew up going to school with Kari!).  The art activity was centered around a birthday theme, and mini birthday cupcakes were served!

Everyday Moments . 02.2014

Random February photos...playing with the ramp Patrick built...Jarrett reading a pop-up book...Harvick & Jarrett playing in our bed...Ryder at the eye doctor...Ryder & Jarrett playing trains together, and Harvick whining...Harvick & Jarrett playing trains...Harvick & Jarrett sharing snacks in the car...Lowes Kids Workshop...watching TV with Ryder & Harrison Patano...President's Day Pajama Day at home with mom...Date Night at the movies!

One evening Patrick teased the boys by "swaddling" them in their blankets.  They all thought it was hysterical, and wanted him to do it over and over again.  The best part for me was they they would snuggle with me!

Park . 02.22.2014

Last fall they completed a park in our neighborhood - I see many (MANY) trips there in our future!

Even though it was still rather cool outside, the boys never turn down a trip to the neighborhood park.  When the neighbors saw us headed there, Rowdy and Cyan joined us.  The boys rode their scooters to the park; Harvick and Jarrett took turns riding with Patrick around the park and playing on the playset!

FrontRunner & SLC . 02.15.2014

For Christmas we gave Grandma Jody "golden tickets" for a FrontRunner ride to and from Salt Lake, lunch, and "Rocky Mountain Express" at Clark Planetarium.

As usual, the boys loved riding Front Runner.  We walked around Gateway for a bit before having lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.  By the time the movie started the boys were all a bit tired - Harvick and Jarrett both fell asleep.  We quickly walked back to the train stop to catch FrontRunner home.

A fun afternoon in Salt Lake, for sure!

Valentine's Day . 2014

Although Patrick and I really don't do much to celebrate Valentine's Day, we do our best to make it a fun day for the boys!

This year for Valentine's Day Patrick made a fun dinner for the boys - pink heart shaped pancakes (with silly faces)!  We put together a small "Blue's Clues" game for the boys to find their present - a red mailbox with a new train - Koko from Chuggington!  The boys have been wanting Chuggington trains for awhile now, and were all so excited to get one!  They found they could use their newly built ramp to race the trains, aiming for them to race through the mailboxes at the bottom.

Brothers . February 2014

We had Ali, at Clearly Seen, take the boys' photos during her Valentine Mini Sessions.  Ryder has learned the faster he cooperates with the photos, the faster the session is completed - also causing fewer pictures.  Harvick and Jarrett both cooperated, but were much less focused on completing the session easily.  We tried for a group shot at the end, but Harvick and Jarrett kept trying to escape from the shot - Ryder's solution was to put his arms around each, and hug them close!

We sent the above card to family and friends.  And, the tag below was attached to a squeeze pouch of applesauce for Ryder's classmates.

Birthday Party Fun . 02.2014

Ryder's classmate, Jacob, is also the son of two of my co-workers.  The whole family got an invite to his birthday party!

All three boys were invited to Jacob's 5th birthday party (Ryder has attended school with him for 2 years, and I work with both of his parents).  The boys had a blast jumping in the bounce house, and with the various blow-up toys.  Of course, they also thoroughly enjoyed their cupcakes!

Playing Outside . 01.2014

The boys love playing outside, regardless of the temperature.

Even though it is still quite cold outside in January, the boys were tired of playing inside - they decided that as long as they bundled up a bit, it was okay!

Painting . 01.2014

Watching these boys work on projects (or puzzles, games, etc) is one of my favorite things!

When Ryder and I went to the dollar store for a different errand, he spotted these "paint your own stained glass" train art projects.  The boys had a lot of fun painting them, and enjoyed having them hang in our home for several months!

New Years Day . 2014

Happy New Years!

On the first day of 2014 we had a relaxing day at home!

The boys love to sit with their dad, and almost always, you'll find that when one decides to sit with him, a brother quickly follows.

Grandpa Jim and Grandma Martha gave the boys a paint-it-yourself wooden train for Christmas.  New Years Day was the perfect day to work on the project!

The boys ended their night with a bath - which really just accentuated how long their hair has gotten over the winter!

Everyday Life . 12.2013

In between the "events", I try to take pictures of our "everyday".

Random photos of December.

We try to fit in lots of fun on the weekends!  We started out at Home Depot, building a toolbox, and then shopping for a few things we needed.  When we got home the boys played, and "helped" shovel the driveway.  On Sunday Grandma Jody and Ann came over, and the boys painted their own Christmas Tree ornament.

On a night that Patrick was teaching class, the boys were having a hard night.  I sent Patrick a text with these pictures to show them just how much they miss their dad!

Random photos...Ryder using my Christmas pillow to rest, Harvick in the bath, Ryder and Harvick working together to put the pillow in it's case, and the boys opening (and sampling!) a box of snacks from Nature Box.

One of my co-workers, Lesnie, gave me a new scarf as an early Christmas present - the boys thought it was hysterical to try it on!

More random photos...Ryder asleep in his carseat (something that rarely happens), Jarrett at the dentist (all the boys went, but I only got one photo), the boys playing trains together, Jarrett dressed himself in the construction costume, and Harvick & Jarrett shopping with Patrick at Costco.

The boys LOVE playing outside in the snow.  It doesn't matter how cold it was outside, they wanted to be out playing!

Christmas Lights . 2013

I have always enjoyed going to see Christmas lights, and doing so with our boys is even more fun!

I've always enjoyed the Christmas lights at the 25th Street Village in Ogden, but going with the boys is even more enjoyable.  They love it!  We walked around the park, looking at each of the displays, the boys took a ride on the train, and we enjoyed just being together!  It was a cold night, but it was worth it!

The night before Christmas Eve, after the boys had a bath and were in their pajamas, we went to Layton Park to drive through the light display.  Once we got there, we decided last-minute to walk around the park, rather than just driving through.  Luckily, the boys were wearing their boots (to prevent pajama pants from getting wet in the garage), their hats, and had brought their new blankets.  We got a few strange looks about the boys' attire, but it was worth it!

Although we visited the Layton Park lights earlier in the month, we headed back one more time - this time ready to walk around (not wrapped in blankets).  The boys are enamored with the displays, and especially love the walk-through light tunnel.

Treehouse Museum . Alphabet Soup - H

Each Friday the Treehouse Museum hosts "Alphabet Soup", where they focus on a letter of the alphabet.  We've selected a handful to attend - of course, Harvick was super excited for this one!

We attended Alphabet Soup at the Treehouse Museum for the letter "H", where we celebrated "holidays".

Our Anniversary . 2013

The Saturday before our anniversary Patrick and I went to dinner and a movie, followed by a treat from Red Mango!  On our actual anniversary, we continued our tradition of taking our boys out to dinner with us.  We stopped at the Roy City Park to view their light display, and the boys took the opportunity to roll around in the snow-filled gully.  Spending your anniversary with your kids might not be the traditional thing to do, but we love it!  Happy 9 years!

Celebrating 9 years...by putting it on Facebook!