Not Much March Madness

March was a good month for us, definitely can't complain. There wasn't a whole lot going on, but that was actually the good thing about it. It seems since we have been out here, most months there has been something big. Sometimes it's good, sometimes bad--mostly good--but March, there wasn't much to write or think about. We all need those months now and then, right!?! So here are some of the images preserving our not-so-mad March:

The weather was nothing to write home about, so Thad ended up in this spot a lot. We can't wait for the sun so that the beach is frequented much more than the couch.

Thad and Mom sporting our blue in support of Colon Cancer Awareness. Taryn, thanks for helping us be more aware of the terrible disease and be more educated about precautions we can take in our own lives.

So this picture may seem familiar, because this exact thing happened last month...we were SO EXCITED when it happened the second time! Thad was wearing the same outfit and fell asleep on the same blanket, but we PROMISE it happened 2 different times!

Thad loves the camera lately and asks to get his picture taken often and then smiles this cheesy smile! 

So I guess this did create some madness during the month of March. We made an attempt at potty training. I was feeling very confident Thad could catch on and I could be patient. 

I'll just give you the short version: The first day he was really good about going pee in the potty while watching potty movies or reading potty books. The last day he would sit on the potty, not pee and as soon as the training pants went on he would pee. 

Needless to say, it got worse as time went on and we packed up the potty after the 4th day. 

I'm not worried. We'll try when he's a little older.

Lots of fun together! Thad is so much fun and although the 2s can be terrible sometimes, this smile makes up for just about anything. 

To end our easy-going month, Brian found out he passed his fourth and final CPA exam with flying colors! All his hard work and study paid off and we are officially done with testing. Brian is totally relieved and so excited about being done with studying.

 We are so proud of him!

Luck O' The Monsens

We sure are lucky to have this guy as our own:

He makes just about everything more fun.

After celebrating Sophie's birthday yesterday we decided to give her mommy the day off and come hunt for treasure from the Leprechauns and have some fun green activities.

Sophie was the main participator in the hunt and she knew just where to go with all the clues.

At times Thad seemed interested...

But they were both excited to get the treasure at the end of the rainbow!

Up next...?

Cookies, of course!

And we all enjoyed them...

ESPECIALLY Sophie. :)

We sure are grateful for fun friends that we can have impromptu parties with (really, I didn't buy a thing and I just planned it as we went while Hanna played outside in the 60 degree weather with the kiddos and I, I mean the Leprechauns, set up the hunt). 

Not much beats candy, cookies, sunshine and good company.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Saturday in New York City

March began and as the first week progressed we had a list of reasons to head into the city. Brian's past and present co-workers were having a party, Aunt Kayci (Brian's youngest sister) was coming on tour with her high school dance company, our good friend Kim Barney was coming from Houston to visit her brother in Brooklyn, and one of Brian's class mates from Utah State is working in NYC for a while and wanted to meet up. We weren't sure how we were going to work things, i.e. drive? ride the train? take Thad? Well of course we had to take Thad because he is always the main attraction when family comes, so we decided we would ride the train in because we would be leaving at separate times and neither of us would have to drive.

We got there just in time to have lunch with Aunt Kayci and her dance team at Cosmic Diner near Times Square and had so much fun catching up and getting goodies from Grandma Teresa! 

After lunch we just toured around the city with her dance friends and we always discover random places like this little toy shop.

Kayci and her friend had a shopping itch so we just cruised the streets, stopped in shops and enjoyed spending time together.

Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye. :( It was so great to catch up with Kayci after not seeing her for 2 whole months! We love her so much and are so grateful we were able to meet up with her.

Next we headed to the get-together. We knew it wouldn't be too kid friendly, but I thought I could just hang out for a bit while I waited for Kim to call and meet up for dinner...well it was Thad's nap time and he did not love being in a 700 sq. ft apartment with 30 adults, no toys, no other children and no where to go to sleep. We made it work and everyone was so sweet to him and we ran a few laps out in the hall. Before we left we had headed up to the roof to check out the view...

How AWESOME is this!?!

The Chrysler building is so beautiful and we had the perfect view.

I look happy in this picture, but the anxiety was building because I was going to ride the subway all by myself downtown to meet Kim for dinner.

If you know me at all, you know I don't get to emotional or anxious about much. I'm pretty independent and adventurous and I don't let much stop me from doing what I want to do. Well, Brian walked me over to Grand Central to get on the subway and when he couldn't go through the turnstiles with us I had a moment of panic and my eyes teared up because I was so nervous. I wasn't nervous for my safety, I was nervous about navigating the subway and downtown all by myself. I don't pay attention when we ride the subway because Brian knows what's up and guides us right along. I carried the stroller down the stairs and when I got on the platform I was SO close to turning around and making Brian come with me right then and there. I didn't. We got on the subway and Thad had a freak-out session because he didn't want to be in his stroller = me having a hot flash and people being really nice and giving me a spot to sit. We made it downtown, a really nice man helped me up two incredibly steep flights of stairs with the stroller, I asked for directions (like 3 times) and made it to Katz. I was so proud of myself when I arrived and was so glad I didn't chicken out because I got to see this awesome gal:

I haven't seen Kim since I went and visited her in Houston last May because we missed each other at Christmas time (we flew home to CT the day her family flew in to UT) so it was SO great to see her and catch up on life! The food at Katz was delicious and Thad had fun rolling around on the floor (I know, disgusting. At some point you just have to give in) and playing with some random little girl across the isle. 

As we were eating and having a good time, I still had anxiety in the back of my head because I knew I was going to have to ride the subway again all by myself. Kim's brother was so sweet and told me he'd make sure I got on the right line and that made me feel a lot better...BUT good luck came my way when Brian called and said his classmate couldn't meet up! I was so RELIEVED that he could come meet me and say hi to Kim before she had to go.

Once Brian came it was time to go so we all just walked together to the subway, but it was so fun because the little guy Brian is holding, Simon, is super awesome! He is Kim's nephew and he totally took to Brian and they became instant buddies. He wanted to do everything Brian did and they had hilarious conversation! When we stopped and chatted before we split up he stood right next to Brian and put his feet exactly like his and copied him. It was so adorable! Kim texted me later and said Simon missed Brian and wanted him to come to his house. Brian said they are kindred spirits...way cute! 

As you can see we had a wonderful Saturday. It was busy and exhausting, but we are so lucky to be so close to an awesome tourist attraction so that we have these opportunities to see friends and family that we might not see otherwise. It is always a joy to see a familiar face when we live so far away from home.

P.S. It's a good thing Brian came to meet me because on the train when we were about 15 minutes from our stop, Thad was coughing so hard that he threw up everywhere. I didn't even panic because all I was thinking was, "This would be a NIGHTMARE if it was just me." Brian took care of Thad while I cleaned myself and the floor up with a roll of toilet paper (1-ply) the conductor brought us. It took a while to wipe it all up, but again, I didn't even care. The joys of having children.