Arizona Roadtrip

Landon has been on night shift for 8 days now and the boys and I decided we didn't want to stick around for that. So we hopped in the car and drove to Arizona to hang out with Mama & Papa Woolf all week. I knew I would be tired either place(my house or AZ), but I knew my boys would be happier here in AZ and Landon would get more rest if we were gone/still be able to train for his marathon in a few weeks. And hopefully Mama and Papa Woolf are happy we are here. So Win-Win-Win-Draw. Except for its really a win-win-win-win because when all my boys are happy and rested, i'm happy. It has been good to be here and I am so glad we made a roadtrip out of it. 

Tuesday we got in the car and drove to provo for the night. Just to cut out that first hour. Wednesday morning we got on the road at 8:00 and headed to our first stop--the cheese factory in Beaver. The factory was set in this beautiful little spot and the boys and I just ate our snacks, played pretend ninja/super hero, and fed little Luke. Then we headed to St. George for some park time. St. George was HOT! But we found a pretty awesome park where the boys ran around and I fed Luke again. There was even a splash pad and you better believe Ty was soaked by the end. I pushed the boys on the swings for a minute while Luke enjoyed the shade then we got back on the road again. Next stop, Las Vegas! Which proved to be our least successful stop between the annoyed check in lady at the hotel/no internet connection/accidentally walking into a casino for a bathroom break/no public restrooms at the gas station next to a casino/leaving Ty ty's cape in the hotel :(. I'm so so so SO sad about that last part. He's loved that cape since the beginning of March. I'm on the hunt to find another junior jazz jersey. Thursday morning we got on the road around 8:30 and headed to the Alpaca farm in Kingman. That was Jaxson's favorite part. After we saw Alpacas, pigs and dogs do lots of tricks, we fed Luke again and got back on the road. Our last stop was at Lake Pleasant. Its this beautiful lake about an hour and a half from Lando's parents home. The boys threw rocks, I fed Luke. I carried them on my back up the hill so their feet weren't super muddy/sandy when they got in the car. Then changed them all. I kept the van on the whole time at Lake Pleasant because its hot in Arizona and I don't know how to do a baby in 100 degree heat/no shade. Toothless our van took good car of us. We got to Landon's home at 4:00 exactly and the boys were in the pool within the hour. 

Its been so good to be here. We are so happy to spend good quality time with Landon's parents and they've been taking such good care of us. I think I could leave and my boys would be completely content living at Mummy's house for the rest of their life. Well not Luke. Luke wouldn't make it very long without wanting me again ;). Thank goodness for Luke. Who by the way only cried for one minute 2 different times on the whole drive. Each time I had Jax give him a bottle I had pumped. Honestly I have the best little fleixble helpful happy fun little boys. 

We miss Lando. He has one more shift tonight and then tomorrow he is flying out to us tomorrow. Yay!!!!!! 

Ive never watched the voice, but after the last two episodes of these seasons, I'm a believer! 

#NOTallama

A moment. Two boys on my lap while Jaxson reads to us. The boys also helped give Luke a bubble bath for the first time. Luke LOOOVED it and honestly just looked at each of his brothers and smiled with such pure love too. No way to capture that moment with a picture, but I will remember it forever! 

Oh Jenelle!!! You are the BEST for coming and visiting us. Thank you thank you. I want to mom like you one day, for real. And I love your children like they were for real my own nieces and nephews. This was such a fun day because of you! 

And then this happened!!!!! One of my young women in Indiana is serving her mission in Gilbert. This was made possible by Mama & Papa Woolf and it was really just one of the happiest experiences ever. She is amazing and I LOVE her!! 

Ty Ty turns 3

Tyler: 

Oh I can't believe Ty ty is three!!! Ty's favorite color is yellow. His favorite things to talk about are batman and diggers. His favorite person is his "best buddy Jaxson." He loves smoothies. Ty is a little ball of emotions with expressions to match. He is joyful. He is shy. He is timid. He is brave. He has some sass when no one else is around. He is creative. He is smart. He is goofy. He is funny. He has a tender heart and therefore has to be disciplined with a patient heart. He is independent in so many things and yet asks "You have to play with me" non stop. Tyler is one special little boy!!!! 

For his birthday we played legos and watched the batman lego movie. We went on a walk and played with balloons. We opened presents and played with his digger cake. Then we went to the cheesecake factory. At dinner we all talked about some of our favorite things about Ty: His dimple. His love for yellow. His expressions. His inclusiveness. His deep pure love for his family. His hair. It was a special moment. 

As I looked through pictures of Ty this last year I realized one major thing. He and Jaxson's relationship has grown so much. So many pictures were of them being buddies doing things together. I hope as their age gap continues to feel smaller, their relationship will grow closer too. 

We love our Ty ty. We've called him Ty ty since he was four months. He is so cool you say his name twice. He plays such a special individual role in our family. He came with such a good tender heart. We wouldn't be us without Ty ty. 

Landon: 

He had Friday off!!! And we were all feeling extremely trapped so we decided to hit the road. We drove a heaping 45 minutes to my moms place and spent the weekend there. My parents weren't there so we had the place to ourself. It was perfect. 

Landon ran 20 miles yesterday. 

He's currently reading 4 or 5 books. 

He is the new Vice President of Interdisciplinary Council

He is loving all the things he's been able to do in the EQP 

On our date (#samhawk) I had this crazy realization. Landon loves his job so much. So so much. I think because of that he has been able to add so many wonderful additional things to his life. He doesn't feel weighed down and exhausted and overwhelmed like he did in Medical School. I remember those years. I remember scrambling to add things to his resume for residency because every moment was spent just being a med student. I remember that the only time he was able to exercise was if he went and played basketball on Wednesday night. I remember most nights going to bed, looking at him, thinking "he has the weight of the world on his shoulders." He was in survival mode then. 

Just like i'm in survival mode right now. 

Becca: 

I am. I'm so so so tired. Luke has slept way better the last 3 nights, but on Thursday.... well lets just say we watched the batman movie 3 times. And then we watched another movie. He finally had a four hour stretch and I was able to sleep 3 hours and 45 minutes of those 4 hours. Yes! This weekend has helped so much. But its true, i'm in survival mode right now. I look at Landon and everything he is doing and feel a little jealous. I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. Exhausted and overwhelmed. But it was a huge realization that during those first 3 years of medical school he was in survival mode and I was in a huge growth spurt. I did so much in Indiana and I became so much. And i'm actually a little happy, after this thought, that now its his turn. 

With all of this said, I am so happy. I pray a lot to Heavenly Father. Prayers of gratitude. Prayers of help. I feel such a partnership with Him right now. Three boys!!!!! I have THREE BOYS! How did I get so lucky. I feel bursts of joy every single day. My mission right now is to be okay that i'm not in a growth spurt. And be kind and patient with myself, because lets be honest, i'm doing a lot. Just so so much. I need to allow myself to feel what i'm feeling in the moment and not try to change it. My love and respect for all mothers continues to grow as my family and my kids grow. How did they do it? How will I? Motherhood is one crazy crazy ride. Full of survival modes, growth spurts, up hills, down hills, calm moments and storms, joys and sorrows. Motherhood is stretching me more than anything could or ever will. So even though i'm in my own little survival mode state right now, I wouldn't want to be any other place! I am humbled and God is teaching me so much.

Jaxson: 

Bless his heart. Took a back seat this week as we celebrated Ty(that was kind of a hard day for him, Ty getting all the attention and presents) and figured out how to get me more sleep. His goodness warms my heart. His character is pure. He got a pretty bad cut on his leg in class this week. His teacher sent me a text letting me know but said he was super tough and he didn't need to come home. Later that evening Mrs. Stucki sent me another text asking how he was. My response to her was, "Oh I completely forgot about it and didn't even ask him. Mother of the year award." She responded with, "You are the mother of the year! Jaxson is my best student behavior and academic." And though her words were so kind, I just can't take credit. And I won't. Jaxson is his own. He really is. We couldn't be us without our Jax either. 

Luke: 

Such a flexible little guy with everyone elses lives needing to be lived around him. He finally had a 4 hour stretch this weekend. Actually one on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He interacted with Landon and I last night before bed. Just looked up at both of us an smiled. Little Luke, you are one handsome, one time consuming, one exhausting, one beloved little dude. Thanks for coming to us. 

He is such a creative little dude, left to right, Garbage Truck, Police Car, Fire Truck, Digger.

Not having a blender for 4 days confirmed it. More than 50% of our meals are smoothies. 

Sometimes I feel bad for this big 6 year old. One day you'll have a nice yard a more space. He never complains though. 

Easiest cake. I decorated it while bouncing Luke with one hand. I felt super successful. Thanks Lace for sending me the idea.

Tin foil for wrapping paper. Another great success! Thanks Lando for the idea :). Seriously I need people in my life.

I'm not so sure about this balloon tradition anymore. 

He wanted Belgium waffles for breakfast. 

Smoothie for lunch.

My mom!!!! How would I do mothering without her. She helped me so much on Tuesday--including grabbing stuff at the store for me and bringing me dinner. She sent me a text later that day and said, "I told Dad-Luke is a month old and that is the first thing I have done to help Rebecca." (She's the only person in the world that calls me Rebecca). I think she completely underestimates how much she does for me. And how helpful it is for me to call her 100 times a day to vent, celebrate, cry, ask, express, or to just talk. Seriously 100 times. It is crazy to me that she sent that text because I seriously couldn't do life without my mom. She's my best friend. Oh and my response to her was, "Cut yourself some slack Mom, Luke isn't a month old, he is only 4 weeks!" Hehehe I'm such a brat! 

This picture is awful but not staged. They love each other! 

Jason is one of my favorite people in the whole world! I think of him like a brother in so many ways. I was so happy to see him and learn a little more from him. He came at just the right time and reminded me that i'm doing a great job! This was just another reminder to me that God works through His children. I felt such a weight lifted off my shoulders after just an hour with Jason. Also that night Jax made a little book of ideas and talked about adventures he wanted to go on soon. All because of Jason. 

Not a prettier place to live on earth. Seriously Utah Valley is gorgeous. 

Favorite cousin picture ever! Missing a few, but i'm still in love with all of these people. 

One of the best moms I know right here. I think the word Landon & I use most to describe her is selfless!!!!! I learn so much from her. I hope I can mother like she does someday.  

I always wonder... do they remember Heaven and Jesus when they are babies? 

Landon and the boys are at church. I'm so ready to go back. This particular blog post was so therapeutic for me. So many clear, plain, obvious blessings right here on this page. God has blessed me with so much. This newborn life is no joke and hard AND I see soooooooo much of God's hand in it all. He is in the details of our life. He is here with me during my long nights and overwhelmed days. He loves me. He believes in me. I love Him!