Unpredictable

That is the word I am choosing to use for the 2 year old we have living at our house!  He will be completely excited and happy about life one moment and the next he is screaming/crying/upset about something....and he won't tell you what.... he probably doesn't even know what..... he just knows he is getting our attention by using his tears and vocal cords!  We have started using time out and a few other methods to help us get some structure in the Houston Household.  I think it is working fairly well but there are still moments that all the strategies you have put into place just don't work!  Zander is starting to be so vocal with a wide vocabulary which is a great new addition to our communication with him.  However, he will get frustrated if you don't understand exactly what he wants and he can't get it quickly.  Pray for us as we enter "uncharted territory" with our little guy.  As any other parent, we are taking things one day/moment/breath at a time and soaking up all the good moments and quickly forgetting the bad ones.  Here are some pictures from our week.....

Zander is reading a book his buddy, Henry, gave him for his birthday.

Being entertained by Uncle Boomer and Aunt Lindsey after celebrating Josh's birthday at Olive Garden..... Zander was so wonderful at dinner this particular evening!

Eating dinner in the car Friday night because Zander was not so wonderful at the restaurant where we were meeting my best friend, Kelly, for dinner.  He screamed hysterically and wouldn't be calmed down no matter what tactic we tried.  So.... I ate dinner with Kelly first and then traded out with Zack so he could eat his dinner...... the joys of parenting. :)

 Checking out the fish after a fun Saturday morning breakfast. :)

Playing at the playground..... he loves when we get there.... he is always sad to say "goodbye" when it is time to leave.

Spending time with Grannie!..... she came to hang out with Z while we attended a wedding Saturday afternoon/evening.  I think they had a blast!

Lazy 5 Ranch

We made our way to Lazy 5 Ranch on Saturday to have a little getaway over the Memorial Day weekend.  It was so fun to hang out with my boys for the day.  We were able to feed many animals and enjoy the beautiful weather God provided for us.  There are tons of pictures! Enjoy!

This is Zander excited on the way there....

 He loves his daddy!

 Daddy loves feeding the animals.... look at the smile on his face!

 Big Z and Lil Z

 Piglets!

 Piglets in the background... both boys ready to feed the next animal... feed in hand!

Zander's favorite part was dumping the food over the side of the wagon rather than hand feeding the larger animals.

 Zander loved feeding the giraffe the most!

 Only attempt at a family picture... sorry Zack! ;)

 Sometimes one handful was not enough.... ready for the next animal!

 Daddy's favorite....

 Mommy was there too!

 Loves feeding some goats!

 Both boys liked the camel.

 Ready for daddy to give him some food.... is Zander bite sized?? I hope not!

 A couple pictures from earlier this week.... we were able to meet up with one of my best friends (since 4th grade).  Her family is moving to Texas so we had to get the kids together one last time before the move.  The boys are about 6 months apart in age, and Lindsey also has a 5 year old little girl who is equally precious.  I will miss them a lot!

Best Friends

Our little boy was sick all last week! It was difficult to figure out childcare because I have a very busy week at work and so did Zack.  My dad came to watch Zander for a day and a half, and I took a couple half days with him.  Zack rounded out the week with Zander on Friday.  I was so thankful that dad could come for a couple days and I am counting down the days until mom retires.  It will be so wonderful to have them closer and to be able to call on them rather quickly when we find out that one or both of the kids are sick! Pray they are able to sell their house so they can make the move to our town! I took this picture of Zander one morning before "school".  I got a phone call that afternoon that he had a 100.8 fever so it was definitely hard to anticipate that he was sick, and that he stayed sick as long as he did.

 I had to take a picture of the azaleas out front.  They always bloom around Mother's Day and with Zander being sick for a week or so, there wasn't a good family photo opportunity.  They are so beautiful but their blooms don't last long!

Once Zander started to feel better, we made the trip west so we could celebrate with one of his best buds who was turning two!  Due to him being under the weather, mom and dad watched Zander while I went to the party by myself (Zack was prepping for a work party at our house that afternoon).  He was able to enjoy a little outside time for the first time in a week!  Needless to say, he was a happy boy even if it was a short time outside!  (I still can't figure out if he had allergies that turned into a cold or what happened!)

At the birthday party, Liz and Scott announced that Jacob is going to be a BIG BROTHER!! I am so excited!! We are due FOUR days apart!! It is impossible to plan things like this but I think it is rather incredible that as best friends we got married the same year (married guys that have known each other since elementary school), had our first child three weeks apart (both boys!) and now are due with our second child the same week!!  We will have to wait to see genders of baby #2 but I am predicting that Liz is having a girl and we are having a boy..... stay tuned!

 15 weeks!

Pregnant with Zander and Jacob!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today marks the third year I have been able to celebrate Mother's Day as a mom.  It is always so special to think of the job God called me to do when he placed Zander in my arms on April 21, 2013.  This year marks a new chapter in the Houston household..... we are adding another baby into our family and another child for me to be called his or her mother!  I am 14 weeks pregnant today.... we have come so far from the Mother's Day two years ago where I held my three week old son and we were able to dedicate him to the Lord at our church's baby dedication.  This year, Zander has been under the weather (we think allergies) so I made breakfast for my family of three and made sure Zander got extra snuggles this morning and headed off to church while Zack and Zander stayed at home.  When I got home, I was "greeted" by an unhappy two year old and I had to assume the mom role of nurturer and comforter.  We spent a couple hours cuddling (Zander was crying through most of it).  Right now, he is helping daddy with outside projects while I took a nap (pregnancy with a two year old will wear you out!) and worked on this ole blog.  He's still cute even when he is fussy!  Well I am off to spend some more time with my boys this afternoon.... here are some pictures from the week.

Mother's Day 2015....

 Mother's Day 2013.....Zander's Baby Dedication

Mother's Day 2014..... we had a lovely day at church and then walked the seven mile loop of Salem Lake.  Zander did great in the stroller and Burke loved being outside!

Pictures from the week.....

Learning how to drive in our neighborhood with Burke doing a little backseat driving!

 Zander enjoying the petting zoo at my school's spring fling!

 Zander testing out the Pre-K toys at my school.....