What a difference a year makes!

    Jude is by far one of the best things to ever happen to me.  A year ago I became a mother and my life was changed forever.  I never thought I could be so happy, scared, vulnerable and so many other extreme emotions all at once until he was born.  I am so thankful that Paul and I have been entrusted with him as ours.  Jude came into this world in a little 6lbs 7oz body but in just one year has become a 19lbs 8oz amazing one year old.

  For his birthday Jude and I had a day of fun.  We watched his favorite movie and played all morning.  When he got up from his nap we went to McDonald's for his very first Happy Meal which he of course loved cause it is food and a toy.  Two of his favorite things.  After he ate he played in the toddler area for  about an hour and made a few friends.

  Once Paul got home we gave him his birthday gift.  He got a car play rug with some matchbox cars.  Paul and Jude played before we headed out to dinner where Jude got unlimited rootbeer floats and fries.  Again he loves food.
 
 We ended the night with a little Tatum birthday gathering thanks to Paul's sister Megan.  Jude got spoiled on his big day and slept well after eating so much!

  A couple nights later we had a few of ours/his friends over for cake and ice-cream.  He looks super serious in these pictures but had a great time.


Jude's favorites at ONE...
Movie: Pitched Perfect
Song: All About That Bass
Food:  Fries, green beans and ice-cream
Friend: Stella (our dog)
Toy: Stella's crate
Book: M is for Monkey

All good things must come to an end!

We had an awesome summer and here is a quick recap of the rest of it since I last posted.
  For fourth of July we went to SLC to visit with my sister and her family as well as going to see The Antlers.  It was an awesome concert and nice to have a fun date night.  It was great to spend time with my sister's family and they were amazing and babysat Jude a couple of times so Paul and I could just go out as well as taking us to Seven Peaks and Trafalga.  It was a great trip and I am already wanting to go back up.

 

   We were home two weeks then off to Hurricane for a few days to visit Paul's Mom for Pioneer Day.  They had a cute little parade and gathering in the park.  I seriously love Hurricane and have such a good time every time we go up there.


 After spending a couple of days there we headed down to St. George to meet up with a few friends for a couple of nights.  There were four couples and four kids.  It was a bit chaotic but fun.  The first night we saw tons of fireworks while night swimming as the kids all slept.  It was pretty epic.  The boys went golfing and the girls shopping so it worked out great.
 

  We went home long enough to do some laundry and eat before getting back on the road again.  Paul started teaching High School AP English this year so he had to take a training course in Irvine California.  We decided to make a family trip out of it and I am so glad we did.  We went to the beach a couple of times, ate great food including a few food trucks and we even got to spend some time with Paul's Dad.  It was a great week and we had a blast.


 It was a bit hard to get back into the swing of things after such a fun summer all together but at the same time I feel like are lives were a bit hectic and it is nice to have a consistent schedule.

Everything is Awesome!

  Our friends let us borrow their copy of the Lego Movie last night and so we finally got to watch it this morning.  We have heard such great things about it and have been trying to wait until it came out on redbox but thankfully we were able to watch it today.  I was a little worried that with all the hype it wouldn't live up to our expectations but it did.  It is such a funny movie.  After the movie we headed down to the Lego store to play and walk around.  I am amazed at all of the different sets and thing they have.  I totally could see us getting addicted to Legos if they weren't so expensive.

Oops I crapped my pants.

  I knew this day would come but I was hoping it wouldn't.  The day Jude pooped in the bath tub.  Paul was off at scout camp and Jude was playing in the bath while I cleaned up in the bathroom a bit and all of a sudden when I looked over I saw a baby boy with a huge grin and little brown floaties all around him.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I hope it never happens again.  Poor kid had no idea.

Vegas!

   I love when my sister and brother-in-law come in town cause they are total tourist when they do even though they thankfully come down often.  We just always have such a great time when they are here and this time was even better cause it their kids were in Utah with my parents for Cousin's Camp.
  This trip included a nasty buffet with chilled crab legs, public cuddling and ice cream boobies.  Which I must say the ice cream boobies is a step up from the pirates boobies we often get subjected to when we go to downtown for deep fired oreos.
 

Father's Day 2014

   It was Paul's first Father's Day and he was one happy Dad.  In the morning I told him I would cook him breakfast in bed and said he could have anything at all.  He of course choose cereal.  Later in the day we got ready for church and Paul got to open his gifts, he got Aladdin (his favorite Disney movie), Darth Vader and Son (a book from Jude) and Twilight Struggle (a board game he has been dying to get).  After church we had his Dad, brothers and sister over for dinner and games.  Paul is the best Father and Jude and I are luck to have him!

Texas Forever!

  We finally were able to make it out to Austin to go visit our good friends Ali and Tyler.  They moved to Texas two years ago and we have wanted to visit since then so as soon as school got out we headed down to Austin.
  We were a little worried about how Jude would do on the flights but he was surprisingly great.  Well it wasn't a big surprise cause our baby is awesome but a pleasant surprise.  Jude did so good his first time flying.  
 Austin is a ton of fun with lots to see and even more to eat.  We were able to see all the popular sites such as all the signs and graffiti as well as the bats and the capitol.  It is such a fun city with so much going on.  It is green and beautiful!
   We had a blast staying up every night chatting with our friends, playing games and watching movies.  It really felt like the good old times and that no time had past since they left.
  We really miss having them down the street but are glad they are having an awesome adventure in Texas!
  Texas Forever!

Cousin Time!

  For Dave's birthday we watched the Hill kids for a night.  As soon as they got to our house we walked to McDonald's for dinner.  It was a fun little outing and gave us time to talk to each of the kids.  Alexis even carried Jude in the baby backpack on the way home as she told us that she wants twelve or so kids.  She be crazy.
  Anyway we only had them for about twenty four hours but it was fun to talk and and play with them all.  And it might sound twisted but I was kind of proud that Seth almost started crying when they had to leave cause he didn't want to.
  I am so thankful to have great family that lives so close.

FHE

  We went to Jude's first 51's baseball game for Family Home Evening this week.  It was fun to chat while catching parts of the game plus we met up with our friends the Seymours and then Babigail at the very end with some of their friends.  It was a fun night and I think we will have to do it again soon. 

Birthday Week.....

  We normally don't go all out for birthdays but because I was turning 30 we decided why not, which is awesome because we now are going to do large birthdays for every decade.  I like the idea and think it will be a good little family tradition for us and our kids.
  Saturday the 12th we got new carpet!  We have been needing new carpet so bad plus it gave us an excuse to have to clean up and go through half of our house.  I was surprised how much had collected in 4 short years. Jude and I also met up with the Sokols and Hills to swim.  It was Jude's first time and he loved it.  I think he is so cute in his little swim trunks and pale skin so it made me happy.

   Sunday was good too cause we had the Sokols over for Brinner and went for a walk before going to Ryan's for The Amazing Race.
  
  Monday we went swimming again but Paul was able to come this time which made it even better.  Then all the ladies in my family met up for a girls night.  It was kicked off with too much Chinese food and ended with deep fired oreos and red moon watching with all of our husbands.  I guess we are pretty lame.

  Tuesday we all met up and had Easter at the Hills and dinner which was a lot of fun.  I am glad they Sokols were in town for Easter cause they made the hunt a lot more exciting.  Having younger kids around during the holidays makes everything a little better.

 

  After the Easter celebration Jen was kind enough to watch Jude so Paul and I could go see Lorde.  She put on an amazing show and opened with my favorite song of hers, Glory and Gore.  Lorde was so gracious and excited to be able to travel and meet all different types of people thanks to her job.  That made me like her even more plus the girl can jam and at the end she came out in this awesome gold gown which I now want so I can lounge around the house in it.  We ended the night with cheap breakfast with the Sokols. It was a busy but fun day.

     

  Wednesday we relaxed and just had family time with the three of us until later that night when we went to play games with our good friends the Isbells and Seymours.  After gaming for a couple hours we left Jude asleep at the Isbells so we could go jump off the Stratosphere.  They have a deck you can jump off of and free fall for about 850 feet.  I am super scared of heights and wanted to do something I never would have imagined doing.  Paul wasn't able to jump cause his broken bone was too recent.  It was a bummer but I still had a good time.  I was so scared but proud of myself that I did it.  Jumping off the ledge was the scariest part.  Once free falling it really wasn't bad.  I was totally fine and didn't scream or anything.  Well that is until I landed and saw Paul at the bottom.  He asked how it was and suddenly all the emotion came out and I started to shake and cry.  It was only a second but it was funny that I reacted after the fact.  Turning 30 wasn't really sad or anything to me so I wanted to celebrate and I am glad Paul talked me into jumping.  Now whenever I see the Stratosphere I feel a sense of pride that I overcame a fear. 

   Thursday was my actual birthday so we slept in before going out of town.  We headed up to Hurricane for the rest of the week to spend time with Paul's mom and brother.  When we first got there we threw knives and shot bows and arrows.  It was super fun and felt like a small town thing to do.  Later that night we had Durango's which is my favorite restaurant there then played games until super late when Paul's baby brother told us that he and his friends go to Little Ceasear's at closing time and get pizza off the top of the trash.  It was super ghetto but funny and the pizza was totally still good and right on top in the boxes.  He tried to get us to go again later in the week and we had to explain it was a one time thing but totally fun.  I love Hurricane.
  Friday we were lazy, hung out around town, played games and watched movies.  Jude and I went for a mini walk while Paul and Kevin rode dirt bikes.  Hurricane really is so pretty. Paul's mom bought us Smart A$$ and Pandemic for our birthdays after we went to dinner where Paul and I sang karaoke.  We sang Hey Jude!  It was so bad cause I am the worse singer ever but I still thought it was fun.
 


 Saturday we went hiking in Zion.  It was perfect weather and so beautiful.  It was Paul's first time there and we had such a good time.  We went with Paul's mom, brother and two of his cousins.  It was so fun and we ended the hike with a picnic before stopping at this little western place on the way home for ice cream.  It was the cutest little place.  

When we got back we all got cleaned up had dinner and colored eggs.  I may or may not have also put a baby girl doll's headband on Jude.  Don't worry though I will just tell him he had a twin sister.   After putting Jude to bed we played games again and watched Monsters University.

  Sunday was Easter and we went to church before a big Easter dinner at Paul's Aunt's house.  It was great to feel the spirit, think of great blessings that came from Christ's resurrection and be with family.  It wasn't a perfect week but it was pretty darn close.  I am one lucky girl!  Well I guess woman now.

My nieces are better than yours!

Look at Sydney run!










Look at Chase with a baton!











Look at Alexis jump!







  Yeah, I meant it.  My nieces are better than yours!  I am so proud that three of my nieces qualified to participate in an invitational on Saturday.  These girls not only dominate on the track but they do on the field as well while playing soccer.  I love being able to go to their meets and games.  I am one proud Auntie!

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays.

   Week before last we went out for Kyle's birthday to a fancy restaurant on the strip. The food was good but the dessert was better.  After dinner we played games and hung out late.  I've said it before but I'll say it again I am so glad that Kyle and his family moved here!

 Paul's birthday was Saturday but because he had the Spartan Race in the morning and the Priesthood session of General Conference in the evening we celebrated together Friday.  Our good friends the Isbells watched Jude so we could go out.  We went to Texas de Brazil, which was amazing, then walked around Town Square for a bit.  It was such good food and great company.  I love Paul so much and am thankful he was born!

 





  Saturday we were barely together so Sunday was nice because we stayed in all day and relaxed while watching Conference.  Later that night we had friends and family over for snacks and cake & ice cream.  Paul dressed up all fancy, which I love him for, and we all just sat around and talked.  It was a good turn out and great to be surrounded by loved ones.

Wings & Things...

  Bo's birthday is today so last night we got together with Bo & Abigail to celebrate.  We had wings and pizza which were amazing! After dinner they came over to our place to play Pandemic, the game we got him.  It is a fun game but we played it twice and lost both times.  I think we were all tempted to try again but it was way past Paul's bedtime so we will have to wait to try to win until another time.  I am glad my parents had an oops baby because Bo is not only a great brother but is also a great friend!