Gracies Birthday and other September Happenings

I can't believe it's January and I am just getting to September! But, I have resolved to be better at blogging this year and I will prevail! This getting behind stuff really stinks. I don't know if I've posted about something, or I'm posting the same pictures or what, but I am going to do better so I know what I have blogged about and what I haven't! So if any of this is a repeat, I apologize to my three readers. I will soon be caught up and won't have to go through such a mess!

Chad and Mikey. Sometimes I can't believe how much they look alike.

H has 8 teeth now, but he got his first when I took this picture

One day we were driving home and Owen started panicking because he had to go potty so bad. I made him hold it until we got home and as soon as we did he ran out back and proceeded to relieve himself.  It was too late for me to stop him so I just grabbed the camera and laughed. 

Oh my Mikey... Sometimes I think he would forget his own head if it weren't attached to his neck. His shirt was on completely backwards and he was ready to walk out the door. I have another picture somewhere of him getting out of the van at school with is pants on backwards. I stopped him before he went in, but he didn't mind one bit!

Not long after school started I got a call from Mikeys teacher saying she thought he had something stuck in his ear. He was complaining that it hurt and she said she could see something black far down in his ear. Well, Chad went through a VERY similar situation when he was a kid so thankfully I learned from Linda's experience and took care of it. I just put a little super glue on the end of a pencil eraser and put it in his ear. Sure enough, out came a huge piece of rubber from the play ground. He said he was rolling in the rubber and felt a piece go in his ear. When he went to go feel it, he ended up pushing it in farther. Thank goodness it wasn't more serious. 

Gracie helping me with peaches

We talked Russ and Traci into spending the night so the kids could play. We sure love cousin time!

Max and Owen. Oh these boys. I love watching them together. They are beginning to be such good friends. 

Gracie Bell turned nine on September 22. I always say it, but time is speeding up. I can't believe she is nine! You can never go back to having your first baby. There is always another sibling to take up room in your heart. I love the time I got to spend with this girl alone for two whole years. She is such a fun loving spunky little girl. I love her so much and I am so proud of the young woman she is growing up to be. 

Her class sang to her.... in spanish of course...

More cousin time!! We love visitors!

Alone time with Grace. We have made it a tradition to go to the women's conference every year. I find myself looking forward to it. I love being able to talk to Grace and connect with her without the boys. It is such a special time for us. And much needed. 

Our kids LOVE Studio C. Think Saturday Night Live for mormons. They were having a viewing party at a park in Provo so I decided to take them. Chad was out of town and I knew it would be a bit much trying to get our dinner from a food truck, but we had so much fun and the kids helped out so much.

TEN year Anny and My 30th Birthday

So for YEARS I have been teasing Chad that 2014 was a huge year because it is the year I turn 30 and we celebrate our 10 year anniversary in the same month.  I was half kidding but it really was a big milestone for us. I think he was feeling the pressure because he went above and beyond this year. 

First, the day of our anniversary I woke up to ten red roses. To most people this might not be a big deal, but it was HUGE to me. Chad does not give flowers. He thinks they are a waste of money so for the last ten years whenever he has bought me flowers, they have been in a pot. 

That night we went to the fanciest place in Provo. The Chefs table. The food was really yummy, but we realized we are more of the "outback steakhouse" type of people. 

Two days before my birthday, Chad called and told me to meet him at the oil change place because he needed to get the oil changed and needed a ride home. When I pulled up he and my mom were standing outside holding a sign that said "Happy Birthday Candace" I about died! I was so happy to see my mom I thought that was the surprise! Then my mom gave me a kiss, got in the car with the kids and told me to have fun! Chad told me we had to hurry because we had dinner reservations somewhere. The farther north we got I finally said "We are totally flying somewhere!" And I was right. He whisked me away to San Francisco. A city we have always wanted to see together. 

We took a bike ride all along the coast and over the Golden Gate Bridge. When we got to the end and decided to take a rest, Chad gave me my gift. A band to go on the other side of my ring. I have always wanted one and my ring finally feels complete.

The.best.fish.tacos.ever.

Alcatraz

When we got home we had cake and ice cream with the kids. 

The kids (Chad) got me a necklace with their first initials on it. This birthday will go down in history. It was so so fun and It made me fall more and more in love with Chad.  I love our trips together. It makes me remember why I fell in love with him in the first place. Ten years down, eternity to go!