Project 365: Week 29

As I was editing these pictures I just assumed that this was just like any other week with the normal ups and downs everyday: silly, sweet, crazy, grumpy, and eventually sleeping kids. However, when I started posting them on the blog I suddenly remembered: 

This was that week. 

The most difficult, exhausting, hair-pulling, patience growing week I've had in a long, long time. We had just returned from a long vacation so I had laundry up to my eyeballs, my tired, cranky kids were readjusting to normal sleep schedules, Will gave up his nap entirely (I'm still sad about that) and to top it all off Taylor was gone for a whole week on a business trip.

I really struggled. I kept trying new ways to entertain the kids (especially Will) and with the absence of a nap I usually ran out of ideas around 4pm. Will would lose it right around when Emma started screaming for dinner and getting clingy (I can't make every dinner with one hand, Emma!), bedtime was a fight, after bedtime was a fight (No, I won't read another bedtime story, please go back to bed.), and every time Will got in trouble or got "no" for an answer he'd burst into tears and sob, "I want my dad!"

It wasn't a fun week.

But we made it. And you'd never tell from the lovely, happy, occupied children in these pictures. I guess I don't often take pictures of the hard part of parenthood. (It's a potential danger zone for my camera.) But this just proves that even in the midst of the craziness, tantrums, and ridiculous toddler messes that fill up my day, there are still sweet, funny moments like this.

July 17, 2015

July 18, 2015

July 19, 2015

Bizarre rainstorm (with thunder and lightning!) in the middle of California summer.

July 20, 2015

Way after bedtime.

July 21, 2015

I got to take newborn photos of my sweet new cousin Kate.

July 22, 2015

Emma kept smacking Will on the arm and moving his plate so I had to separate them for dinner.

Isn't that supposed to be the brother's job?

July 23, 2015

Project 365: Week 28

July 10, 2015

Missed. (#8)

July 11, 2015

July 12, 2015

Stopped at Parowan Cemetery on our way to St. George.

Taylor's Grandma and Grandpa

Great Aunt Nevie

Uncle David

July 13, 2015

St. George splash river with the Moss cousins before we headed back home.

July 14, 2015

We went to Target today to kill time and bought letter magnets, sidewalk chalk, and sunglasses for the kids in the dollar section. Basically anything to keep these kids occupied and happy while we all recovered (and got back on nap schedule) from our long trip to Utah.

My favorite model, showing off Emma's new sunglasses.

(Sorry Taylor!)

July 15, 2015

Missed again. (#9)

July 16, 2015

Project 365: Week 27

We went to Utah for two family reunions. One was for my dad's extended family (including all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and their kids, and my dad's cousins and some of their kids-- about 90-100 people in all) at my Uncle Blake and Aunt Melony's house in Holladay. The other was just for my family (my parents, my siblings and spouses, and all the grandkids) in Park City.

Since it was such a busy week with so much family there are a LOT of pictures.

July 3, 2015

Pool party at Blake and Melony's house. Emma loved it (she even fell asleep while I was holding her in the pool) and Will (who has been very anti-pool this summer) refused to even put on his life jacket because he thought it meant he had to go swimming.

Baby Ryan, I mean Jasper, my newest nephew that looks just like my brother.

My cousin's daughter totally passed out on the couch.

July 4, 2015

Belize and my cute and always happy niece June.

July 5, 2015

Cousins guarding their "campfire"

July 6, 2015

Cabin at Park City with my whole family (all 26 of us).

Emma and Grandpa (he fed her fruit snacks so obviously they became best friends)

Jasper again (always smiling).

Princess Ellie

A family that puzzles together...

July 7, 2015

Family picture day. 

I'm pretty sure Emma changed from baby to little girl overnight.

My (definitely almost teenager) niece Layla.

July 8, 2015

The plan was to spend most of the day at Jordanelle Reservoir waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing.

Taylor and I were the last ones to get to the lake and while we waited for the boat to come back Grandma took some of the kids to throw rocks in the water.

And then it rained.

So instead of taking the boat out again everyone got off and hurriedly huddled under the easy-up. We had about 10 chairs, passed around blankets, towels and sweatshirts and waited out the rain until we decided to eat lunch and go home.

Ikey, Will, Brooke, and Grandma entertained us all with animal charades (Will's new favorite game)

I got to sit next to sweet Evie snuggling with her mom.

July 9, 2015

Hamilton Family Olympics! Including relay race and freeze tag/scavenger hunt.

Before the games Taylor had to make a phone call while we were waiting for everyone else to get there. Emma saw him, waddled over to him and sat on his lap.