More Like a Journal Entry: Part two

So here is the other random part of this entry...  Here is a picture of Ryan's birthday with our friends. I know, a bit late!? yeah, only a month.

More park time. Again this was about a month and a half ago. Funny enough, we haven't been back to the park for awhile. We really do love our time there, though. 

Easton loves pushing the umbrella stroller all over the basketball court!

This picture is a bit overexposed. What you can't see is the blanket of purple
blossoms under our feet. The spring is filled with purple, fragrant trees.
This is what we attribute Violet's name to. We got her at the end of March, just
when the blossoms are in full throttle. So, Happy 2nd Birthday Violet!

And here are two random pictures of this cute little boy. I swear he just gets cuter and cuter to me! I love his slight curly hair and gummy grin! Easton is now a year and two months. He is so sweet and still very cuddly. He has been a bit whiney lately, probably because he has molars and all sorts of teeth coming in. His mouth is exploding right now. Poor kid. He also randomly changes his words around. I am no longer mama, but niania. Not sure where this came from, but oh well. He also says, bye, Violet, Sit, Dada, Mmmm, Ma (for more), Baa ("for stop it" or "leave me alone"), and I love hearing his sweet voice making sing song sounds as he admires and loves any dog that may be around, I now notice that my voice probably sounds really similar to his sometimes. This week he has been picking up walking much better. He is a little bit of a late bloomer for this, but I must admit when I am at the store with him, I am very grateful for this!

So here you go, a bunch of random things going on in this post, but whatev. I guess you kinda get the picture how our lives are a little random too.

More like a journal entry: part one

I went AWOL for a little bit, but my blog is always still lingering in the back of my mind. So I will do a quick recap as to what the Frank family has been up to. There have been so many small events and celebrations, that I can hardly remember them all even from last week. I guess I will start with the big stuff. Well, since, Easton's birthday we have been busy with a visit from my Dad, my birthday, Ryan's birthday, Dia del Nino and a bunch of other things.

I was lucky enough to have my Dad here in Mexico for my birthday. Magically, a work trip aligned with it and I couldn't have asked for a better gift. My Fronk made my day wonderful. I slept in and awoke to some mango crepe awesomeness. My sweet hubby had gone online and looked up a recipe and then bought all the ingredients and made it. Such a heart warming moment. Then he surprised me with a sewing machine. I have been wanting one for awhile and was hoping to get one by Halloween (I always have great costumes in mind (or at least I think so), but no means to accomplish them:)). I was so excited and totally surprised. This too, was a very thoughtful gift, as he had gone to multiple shops and inquired after the ladies to know which one to get me. I love this man. 

The day carried on somewhat mainstream and then for dinner we went to a restaurant on the lake and enjoyed dinner, just me, Fronk, and my Dad. I love eating out cause its such a great chance just to sit and talk without distractions. 

When we got back, the most tender gift awaited. At about ten, we got a knock on the door. I was surprised to see one of the neighbor girls, Mariana, on my doorstep with a hot, homemade cake and an origami box with a homemade necklace. I about died. Her Mom was with her and said that her girls had wanted to do something special for my birthday (as she nodded her head towards Mariana, implying that she did most of it). She had been hard at work and finally had it ready at that late hour. This was such a sweet act of kindness, I could have teared up. (The picture above is with the cake and the necklace she made). Easton and I play with Mariana and her sisters nearly daily, as well as with another half dozen neighborhood kids. It is the sweetest feeling to hear the kids laughing outside and seeing Easton begging at the door to play with them. Everybody gets along so well, it is almost like a little Utopia in our neighborhood. Simply picture perfect. 

So, needless to say I had a very thoughtful birthday and am so grateful for those that surround me.

Then came Ryan's birthday, April 30th (a Monday). 

The weeks before I started planning out his cake and party. I had wanted to use that Saturday previous to rent out a soccer field and have a game going and a bbq. Well, two weeks prior, Ryan announced that he would really like to go wake boarding for his birthday. As he needed to work on Monday, I knew it was going to have to be that Saturday. So, I botched the soccer idea. Then, a week later he changed his mind. Well, since his birthday falls on Children's day here, there was little hope of finding a soccer field available on such short notice. I wanted to take a cake to Ryan's work and sing there, but go figure the office was closed on Monday. I scrambled for another idea and tried getting a hold of friends to go bowling and eat cake on Saturday. Everybody was busy. Finally, I decided to have a lunch at our house on Monday and then take Ryan out that night with just the two of us. Well, the cake turned out okay, the hamburgers were yummy and our friends were able to come. It was a success. Couldn't believe what an ordeal that was turning out to be! ha. That night all the movies were sold out (which had been my plan since Ryan loves the movies), so we sat in a bookshop and talked about business ideas, another passion of Ryan's. Despite the setbacks, it was a wonderful day and I was so happy to celebrate Ryan's birthday the way we did. 

Such a perfect best friend, husband, and Father for me and Easton. I couldn't have picked a better match or a more wonderful person to spend the eternities with. My life is all wrapped up in this man and I love that we can laugh, bicker, love, understand, learn, discover, and face life's challenges together.

In between these events, I made a large cake for our ward's Dia del Nino celebration. We also had a nice Saturday afternoon at the theme park here (its geared towards kids). Here is a picture of Easton and I on the train on the left. Easton had, yet another haircut (picture on the right) and got a toy and red star on his forehead for being such a good boy. I had to post one of those pics! 

A couple of Saturdays ago we also decided to tackle a project we have been wanting to do. We bought all the materials to make another countertop. This picture below was before we finished the sides and top. I needed to put the stuff in before it was finished and Easton had a ball for the next few days, taking everything out and putting everything back in. Lovely. 

Shaking off the dust

Im going to take a break back tracking and write a short blog about the present, not that very much excitement is happening around here...

but, I joined the gym! this morning in fact. It was great! I have been putting it off because I didn't want to send Easton to a child care place while I worked out, till he was old enough. Well, he's old enough, but now there is no gym with child care. Long story, short, the one I had picked out didnt pan out. So, I joined my old gym and go to the early morning class while Ryan watches Easton. Why didn't I do this earlier!?!?

Anyways that was fun this morning... except the barking lady who wanted my knees kicked up higher. I don't think she knows that I have been sedentary for the past year and nine months! I am sure I will get my knees up higher in the weeks to come. Right now I am just ecstatic that I can manage to jump around for an hour and still catch enough breath not to pass out!

Now... on to planting flowers out front... isn't my life so exciting?

My baby turned one!!!

Day One Year One

Where did the time go!? I am sure many mother's feel the same when there baby's turn one, cause I totally want to cry at the thought. My friend laughed when I told her the thought was depressing to me, but it's true. First birthday today, leaving on a mission tomorrow! Okay okay, I may be jumping the gun a little, but I just can't get over how big he is getting!

So at one, here are a few fun facts about Bool...

1. He still LOVES books and has since he was about two months old, I kid you not.

2. He is a GREAT cuddler and a very sweet boy. Oftentimes when he is playing, he will just randomly take a break to crawl to me and hug me for a couple minutes. Then he will resume right where he left off with his toys.

3. He loves to climb these days and never ceases to surprise me when I find him on the desk, in a basket or somehow weaseled himself into all the clean, folded laundry

4. He has six teeth in! and more on the way.

5. Eats like a bird... it takes him an hour or two to finish a six ounce bottle as he only eats an ounce or two at a time. And though eating has been a challenge with Easton since day one, I was shocked and extremely grateful when that one sweet Monday rolled around when Easton decided to wean himself. He went from four mom feedings a day to one, which only existed to help myself with my milk anti-production. I could almost cry with how easy that was!!!

6. Has sweet brown curls on the back of his head. I keep his hair trimmed but most likely will not be cutting these locks for a long time. I love the shag!

7. Gets extra excited when there is any kind of animal around. He LOVES pets! especially Violet! They are each other's pals.

8. which brings me to number eight... he LOVES balls, especially holding onto my finger and running after the ball to kick it. He lets out a hearty laugh when Violet gets involved! He loves to kick the ball and watch Violet run after it and try to mouth it. Priceless happiness, right there!

9. Easton loves older kids and now twice, in the past week, has crawled over to two different teenagers to give them a two minute hug!

10. Prefers Men over Women. He oftentimes will gravitate towards men, though he always stays close to Mom.

11. Dirt, dirt, dirt. In his fingernails, around his lips, and even better is when its mud. If he is having a hard day, I just throw him in a pile of dirt and it makes all the rainclouds go away.

12. Also, Water! puddles, smearing water around, really, anything wet! He loves to feel liquid in his fingers.

13. He is not an avid TV watcher, but thoroughly enjoys Baby Einstein. Consequently, so do I:)

14. He started sleeping through the night. He did it on his own several times a month ago, but I gave him a little shove the past week. I just let him cry it out, if he wakes up.

15. Has always been exactly average in height and weight, until Christmas. He dropped dramatically in weight and a bit in height, I am assuming cause he was sick for a month. He has been shooting back up to perfectly average again.

16. Is still not into solids, but does eat his vegetables and fruit purees pretty well. He also enjoys bread, pasta sauce, soda (guilty), and pretty much whatever we are eating.

17. Doesn't say words, but has started repeating Baba (bottle), and as soon as I say it he gets really excited if he's hungry. He also is starting to get Dada and often repeats it and looks for Dad.

18. Doesn't walk. For walking, he is just being lazy. He pitches a fit if I don't let him walk around with my finger, or if I try to take my finger away when he is walking. Though, most of the time he barely leans on it or uses it. It's just his safety net. Though he does take a step or two between furniture and if we get him started in the right direction will take a few steps to Ryan or I when we hold our hands out.

19. Loves being tossed around and thrown on beds.

20. Loves to give kisses and gets jealous if he catches Ryan stealing one from me. He will speed crawl over, pull Dad away and then starts to give me kisses. This really gets Ryan and I rolling in laughter.

We celebrated his birthday three times! The first one was a couple weeks early with my family in Wisconsin. He opened gifts and made a huge mess with his cake. Classic.

The big picture, is after Easton twirled around on his butt in the cake. It was pretty caked on:)

He also got a Thomas the Train tent. He LOVES it and I highly recommend it to other mothers with a one year old. Peek-a-Boo just got better!

On his actual birthday we went for ice cream. Though he didn't want much of it.

Then, that weekend we went to Bicentenario with friends where he went on his first roller coaster. We also went swimming and ate cake again.

Making a Prince Charming

So, before all the Texas partying was a sewing machine and a girl attempting to sew a bow tie and pants. A couple months prior, I got it in my brain to make matching bow ties for Easton and his friend, Tate to use at the wedding. So, shortly thereafter I borrowed my friends machine, googled a couple tutorials and voila! haha, kinda. The pants I made, because for the life of me I couldn't find any black 12 mo-old pants, and they were a bit of a beast to make. But after much thread pulling and resewing they turned out pretty well. I basically made up my patterns for everything and hoped for the best. It was a little adventure and I admit that I was kinda excited to learn something new. Not exactly the most life saving talent, but it was fun and now I know that I can do it.

So here is one very cute boy all done up in the garb.

Bow ties and lace dresses

Yayyyyy! My BFF got hitched!

Laura made a beautiful bride, one that few could hold a candle to. She got married next to a river in Texas where giant oak trees line the water and rolling hills keep it hidden. It was GORGEOUS!

I really think this could be one of my favorite places in this world. Completely peaceful and quaint. It is found outside a small town called Kerrville.

The wedding party and family all stayed at a cute ranch just up the street from the location. Easton and I came up a couple days early, which was bitter-sweet. I am so glad I did because I feel like I got to see Laura before the party started. I love one-on-one time. At the same time, having Easton with me made it a bit more complicated, especially since he wasn't cooperating on the car rides and refused to sit with anyone but me. Poor little guy was not taking the vacation well and that left a very tired mother. We made the best of it though and carried on.

A few days after we arrived, all the bridesmaids and friends hit up a spa and the following day we threw a shower. Here are some of those pics...

Ryan came in on Friday to help hold down the fort and boy was I glad to have him! He helped a bunch with Easton and I even managed an eight hour night of sleep when he came in. Ryan loved Texas with all the hills and country music. It was fun to see him so happy.

Easton also made a new friend on the trip. Angela, a friend of mine, brought her little boy Tate, who is three weeks younger than Easton. It was SO fun to see the two together. Though, they are still figuring out how to play with other kids, I think they enjoyed having the other around.

Angela and Tate getting ready for the wedding

The boys tearing it up after the bridal shower...

Then on Saturday was when all the fun stuff happened. Right before sunset, Laura and John got married under a giant oak tree on the river. It was beautiful and I couldn't help but tear up a bit. Fran sang a hymn in her goose bump-giving voice and then we all headed up to the tent for dinner and dancing. Angela and I raced the boys home and came back to our circle of friends in time for the food. Shortly after, I made a fool of myself attempting a toast. I was totally in a whirlwind and ended up baring my testimony of our friendship. Awesome. Moving along... John and his friend dedicated a charming song to Laura. We danced, laughed and chatted to neighbors. It was a lovely wedding and very well put together. My hat goes off to Laura and her family for creating such a movie set.

Behind the scenes were her mother stringing lights and putting finishing touches on the grounds till wee hours of the morning, Grandparents cooing at Easton, and little boys running around having great fun watching the ducks and fishing on the river. Sounds about right, no?

Congrats Laura and John! LOVE YOU!

Getting Ready!

Here comes the bride!!

And the crowd goes wild!

First Dance

Partay!

Robbie Visited!

Hugs and Kisses from Bool to his Uncle Robbie

Robbie came to visit us a few weeks ago. It was SO fun to have him!

Robbie is one of my fav relatives because I feel like I can be so me around him. Which basically means that I am just ridiculously sarcastic around him. He is a great brother and Ryan and I had a lot of good chats with him.

I feel like we were a bit more laid back with Robbie's visited, and ended up taking him to church activities, to play soccer, etc. Though we were sure to hit up the taco stands as frequently as we could and we def made a trip to the Geiser (which are those hot pots that we have taken Brit and Shawn and Brandon and Sarah to as well. They keep requesting it for the next siblings who come down. It is a really fun place).

Robbie also seemed to take lots of naps while he was here. What is with these Franks and naps?!:) My favorite pictures are the ones below, where Easton is waking Robbie up from one of those said naps.

Smacking Robbie's face and pulling on his hair... "Time to wake up Uncle Robbie!"

(and I promise that these actions are strangely ones of endearment)