Birthday Party for a TWO year old

Max had a fabulous birthday party.  It was low key, our favorite people were there, and everyone had a great time.  My Dad and Brother flew in from NY and NJ to complete the day.  Max got A LOT of cars, which was perfect, because he plays with nothing else. 
We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family close by.  Thank you for making his birthday party a success!

Max had a great birthday and we now have an official TWO year old! 

My Dad and Brother Flew in on Thursday night.  The storms back east delayed their flights a bit, but they finally arrived.  On Friday morning we went to the park.  My brother and Max played on the swings, went down the slides, and had a blast together.  Grandpa Rust and I laughed and smiled watching the two boys play. 

The boys are back in town!

Max got a new Princeton Tiger T-Shirt! 

We went to Communal for dinner on Friday night.  YUM!

Max loved the mashed potatoes.

Dinner was fabulous and we sure cleaned the plates.

 Max woke up with tons of smiles on his Birthday Party day!

We went for a run/walk up Provo Canyon. 

After an afternoon snooze Max and Will were all smiles together.

 LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!

Reminder of LAST year's party. 

Bubbles!!

 

 

We sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" instead of Happy Birthday.  Max still cries and gets very upset singing Happy Birthday.

 

Amazing Birthday Cake

Opening Birthday Presents was a huge "WOW"!  Max got tons of cars!  

And a soccer ball from Uncle B!  He is VERY loved.

Thank you EVERYONE - near and far for making Max's Birthday so special. 

Max Turns Two on June 18th

Max Turns 2 on Tuesday June 18th.  Two years ago on June 16th I went into labor.  I was in labor for 54 hours.  Will was by my side the whole time, along with Tanei Henry.  After 54 hours, Max was born and my world became a whole lot better.  I can't imagine a day without him.
His smiles.
His laugh.
His blond hair.
His color changing blue/green/hazel eyes.
His LOVE of cars.
His love of books.
His love of milk and apple juice.
His adorable grin.
His love for his Daddy.
His love for his Gerald and Blanket.
His love for being outside.
His love for the words "WOW"  "OH NO"  and "Mmmmmmmm!"
His love of Elmo and Mickey Mouse.
His love of watching himself make faces in the bathroom mirror.
His love of being naked.
His love of the bath, with cars to play with.  (Of course!)
His love for life.

He is going to be the best big brother.  He is going to be the oldest.  He has a lot of responsibilities in the future coming his way, but he can handle it.  He is my little man, and I adore, love, and am in awe of him.  I am blessed to be his Mommy.

Max at 2 days old.

Max at his 1st Birthday Party

Max at his 2nd Birthday Party

Father's Day 2013

Growing up my Dad was the deep voiced, tall, handsome, sports loving man in my life.  As I got older this didn't change much.  As I reached my college years I started to understand my Dad a lot better and realized how hard he worked to make sure our family was always a unit.  He made sure we always stuck up for each other, through anything.  And boy have we seen the good and bad in our family.  Now as a mother and wife, I see my Dad as a Grandfather who loves to smile with Max, laugh at his silly Dad jokes, and still train for a marathon each year.  I love my Dad for all he has taught me, for being a strong male influence in my life, and for being there for my brother and I.

William McLean Strong is the best man for the job of father of my children.  He is kind, supportive, loving, and fun.  He is the one Max runs to and the one he cries for.  He has the magic touch, and is a big kid at heart.  I am so blessed to call him my husband, but my children are even luckier to call him "Daddy!"  Love you William!

Will's Dad, Ralph, entered my life in December of 2007.  I met him in Riverside California while visiting Will.  At this point Will and I had been dating for a month.  I knew I liked Will, but meeting his family and being welcomed with open arms and hugs that first night made me love Will even more.  Will's Dad is kind, gives great advice, has shown me through blessings how the power of the priesthood really works in my life, loves his children, grandchildren and spouses unconditionally, and has always told me how happy he is to have me in their family.  I love being a part of the Strong family, and I am so glad that my children have Grandpa Strong to grow and learn from. 

Happy Father's Day to three GREAT Dads!! Love all three of you very much.

Cute Grace Wilson's Baby shower

Tanei, Ellen and I threw Grace a pretty awesome baby shower.
I hope she had fun, because preparing for it with those two ladies was a blast. 

Baby Boy Wilson is VERY loved! 

Birthday Gift from Godmother Sarah

I wish I could describe the excitement while opening the large package Max received from New Jersey this past week.  Godmother Sarah sent him a rad birthday box! 
These pictures I do so believe capture the moments perfectly!

Godmother Sarah pretty much rocked his world!
 

31 weeks

Baby Peanut is at his 31 week mark.
A little over 2 months left...give or take.  I am hoping for less.
My belly is huge, my back is hurting, sleep is getting less and less relaxing and more painful.
But, I can't help but think how GREAT my body is and how AWESOME it is that is grows, feeds, and houses a little baby for over 9 months.  Everytime I feel a foot poke, a bum flip, and a hand patter my bladder I get even more excited to meet Baby Peanut. 
Will he look like Max?  Will he be another Will "mini-me"?  Will he have brown hair and brown eyes?  Will he look like a Rust this time?

In Max's World

This morning as I watched Max play I thought, what would it be like to live in "Max's world"?
I know I am with him daily, but what goes through his head??
Here is my attempt to create Max's world:

Part One:  THE HAIRCUT

Mom and Dad take me to this place where they give me candy, put a superhero cape on me, have me watch Mickey and want me to sit still.  All while a lady with scissors prances around telling me how cute I am while she cut off my beautiful curly blonde hair.  I have been trying to tell Mom and Dad that I hate it at this place.  But they still force me to go.  The only benefit I see is the candy, and this last time, the french fries.

Part Two:  THE WINDOW

I love naps.  I hate night sleeping.  I know how to stall.  Go to the window, lift up the crazy things my parents have blocking the beautiful sight of the cars, birds, trucks, and planes and stand there saying "Oh wow, oh wow" for a long time.  My parents think I am sooo cute when I do this!

Part Three:  THE BIG POOL

Did you know there is this place with the biggest bathtub I have EVER seen??  And no one makes me wash my hair??  Did you know??

Part Four:  THE PARKER'S HOUSE

Mom cried this morning.  So I got to go to the Parker's house.  When Mom cries, I go to the Parker's house and play.  They try to get me to nap at their house, but I can climb out of their crib.  Mom and Dad come back and pick me up, Mom isn't crying anymore.  She is happy.  She still has a big belly.  She still points to it and says baby.  I now point to it to, it is soooo big, how could you not point and stare?

Part Five:  DADDY

I have my bottle of apple juice, daddy has his bigger bottle of Black Juice.  I hope to one day have a big bottle like Daddy.

Max's world by his Mom.