What can I say?

This is really sad... You know how when you get so far BEHIND in a project that you just don't know where to start? That is my blog story! We have had a wonderful fall filled with lots of good adventures, but in the process of running here and there and everywhere, I have forgotten to sit down and document anything:) We did have a great Thanksgiving in Idaho and Wyoming and are welcoming some family to Arizona before we take off for TWO sibling weddings after Christmas!
So, yes, we are still alive. Pregnancy is going well; so well, in fact, that most of the time I forget I am pregnant until I get an off the wall comment like today at church... "Hey, you know you could get in trouble for stealing basketballs." WHAT?! I didn't get it and had to have the gentleman explain that he was referring to my baby belli (I prefer to call it a sz. 4 soccer ball but whatever)!
Dental School is also going well. Ben cleaned my teeth the other day! I must really love him:) He did a great job, in spite:)
Ike is enjoying preschool this year and has decided his two most favorite things are learning about countries/states/flags and the human body. His interests are so much like his daddy's it's scary. He is constantly dragging Zachary off on interesting adventures to France or South Korea or Brazil... whichever place he has most recently talked about with me. I love it. I love to see his enthusiasm and am grateful for his little talents. What a treasure!
Zachary is a little ball of spunk. He greets me in the morning with "Good morning momma polar bear!" or some other animal and is constantly asking my baby belli if it likes his new joke, or funny face, or strange thing he has just made up... sounds like this "Djew like dat little baby?!" Zach may have had walking troubles in the beginning, but this fall he has certainly overcome all of them and is now running/jumping/climbing better than most. He is also learning to ride his little bike. Whatever brother does, you can bet Zach will do it. AND then he'll push the envelope to make it "funnier."
Yep, that's life everyday for us right now. We are so enjoying Arizona/time of life/little boys/weather. It is a wild ride, but there is far too much fun along the way!

We Are The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything!

 This is our collection of hand-me-downs, something borrowed, thrift store, and momma's homemade touch! We had several halloween events over the course of two weeks, and are glad to not be putting any more eyeliner on daddy! (He was whiny, particular, and needed too much help getting it off:) It was a blast and the boys were so proud of our little pirate brood!

Zach's first year in the bounce house- "I big boy now!"

We love the AzDA event b/c our kids are the only ones and they take full advantage of that!

Sweet brothers- notice flip flops- it was 90* for Halloween this year! (not complaining)

One Fish Two Fish... (you're gonna wanna read this one:)

One Fish....

Two Fish...

Red Fish...

New Fish... 14 Weeks:)
Due March 13th! All is well and we're all so excited!
(P.S. A special THANK YOU to Kalee Lopez for the idea:) 

Ike's First Day of his Last Year of Preschool:)

Preschool started this week... Such a bittersweet feeling, isn't it?! I'm not sure who loved Ike's preschool more... Ike or Zach:) We have decided to do a Co-op this year with five other families and so far so good. One funny thing... Zach is really  really "in" to saying "potty words." Ugghh. Boys. Anyway, we had a discussion Tuesday morning before preschool...

Me: "Ike, make sure you use kind words at school and remember to only use potty words in the bathroom... You know, no saying potty, poop, or penis."
Ike: "Ok mama"
Zach: "Yeah, THATS DANGEROUS!" *laughter*
See what I'm up against?!

Here's to a great "Potty word free" preschool year! I'd say we're off to a good start:)

Sunday

Perhaps a "welcome back" is in order?! This summer has been super fun and chaotic and wonderful and now we're back:) There is so much to blog about and I still can't decide where to start, so I'm going to pretend like I don't have a gillion pics waiting to be shared! Instead, I'm going to share with you our FAVORITE day of the week... Sunday. Our kids look forward to it all week. They love eating yummy breakfast and lazy morning and going to church. They love love love their teachers and wearing their suits. In fact, they beg for their suits:) I wish I loved dress clothes that much! So, I just thought I'd share. WE. LOVE. SUNDAY:)

Zach sings!

Zach Turned 2... (ehhem, last month)...

That's right, our "baby" has joined the rank of "toddler!" How that happened, I'm not so sure, but I have to say, we are pretty proud parents! Zachary is such a light and joy to our family. There is no way to be unhappy around this little guy. You can already see that he is a clown and has a little sense of humor. Here is a snapshot of our little brudder...
*Zach LOVES his brudder! He is constantly saying "Come on Ike-ah-boy." In Ike's words "Zachy is my BFF!" We often find them hugging and kissing each other to the ground, locked in brotherly embrace. Finally Zachy has learned to hold his own:) They go everywhere and love everything the other loves!
*Zach loves playing make-believe- These two boys are always SOMETHING ELSE (another common phrase from Z)! Firefighters "spraying the fire, or smoke," Divers in the ocean (i.e. my bathroom shower, Astronauts in my closet (always headed to Jupiter, their favorite planet), construction "work guys," Chefs baking "shlock-ette chips" (another of Z's favorite words), and on and on... Never a boring moment!
*Zach also loves the afforementioned "shlock-ette chips" Everything in his world somehow relates back to chocolate, dan-o's (donuts- he calls them dan-o's even though he is perfectly capable of saying donuts), pie (especially one they have made up called "crusty pie"), cake, cupcakes, ice cream, candy, etc. If it's sweet, it's a guaranteed winner in Zach's book

Birthday Breakfast tradition of Waffles and Ice Cream and Happiness:)

*Zach's sense of humor has made it's own way already! For instance, when he went to meet his pediatric dentist the other day (Dr. Ostler), he went right up to him and said "Hey shlock-ette chips Ostler!" He had called him Dr. Ostler all morning, but just felt the need to tease him immediately! He also called Daddy, "Aunt Ben" today:) LOVES a good healthy teasing. I don't see this easing up in the future... do you?
*Zach's favorite colors are Pink and Orange (depending on the day). He knows all of his colors, but since blue was already taken by his brother, and Pink never is, he decided on the latter:)

Birthday Party at the Splash Pad

Swimming party *almost* in his bday suit!

*Zach is also counting and knows some letters. He THINKS he can read, and count and write, but I think we're still learning:) He loves books and art and exploring. Pretty much anything brother can do, he wants to do too (typical?!)
*In case you haven't noticed, Zach has an extensive understandable vocabulary. He is easily able to tell you all about it! He isn't afraid to make his needs known (thus the reason he was whining "mommy, go poopy right now!" during Stake Conference today! True story... he was letting us know HE (not me!) needed to go right then, no waiting! Also, he had to get his blood tested for lead poisoning (routine checkup, and he passed!) Anyway, when they went to take his blood, the needle poked him and he starting saying "Ouchy ouchy, hurts momma, in my aaaarrrmmm!" Over and over. The nurse was almost in tears b/c she said usually at that age they just cry, but he was so vocal and breaking our hearts!
* Zach knows what he wants and isn't easily swayed. He often is not too interested in eating exactly when we're eating, or on the color of plate Ike has set for him, or the color of fork, or the color of the milk carton from which I poured his milk... It is a battle of the wills *most* of the time (and I ALWAYS win.. mwhaahaha!) Well, ok, i give in on some things that don't really matter. I'm proud of his exertion of independence and am not afraid to let him walk around with his skeleton shirt on and plaid shorts 9 months after halloween. weirdo.
*Zach is WALKING and climbing and thinks he is "running!" He has made leaps and bounds this year. Although he still is working on it, his improvement has been amazing and I am thankful and proud everyday to see his skill. I know it's not a huge challenge, but to us and to this little guy it was a GREAT BIG FEAT!

Happy Birthday Budda Belly!

*Zach insists on "rock-a-baby" before going to sleep at night. Bedtime routine is: read scriptures, say family prayers, do family cheer, brush teeth, then rock-a-baby... If I try to skip this last (of a gillion) steps, we get the whiny cry "mmaaammmaaa roooocckkk-aaaa-bbbbaaaabbbbyyyyy" Breaks your heart (and mine too!) So, I rock him in the wooden rocking chair in their room that my parents so prophetically bought me right before Ike was born, and we sing. and he sings too! He LOVES singing! Just like big brother! His top 10 right now 1.Popcorn Popping 2.Turtle Song 3. Monkey Song 4.Donut Song (you aren't surprised, are you?) 5. Rock a bye Baby 6. Puppy Song 7. Book of Mormon Stories 8. I am a Child of God 9. Daddy Song 10. "Peanie butter and Jelly" or our new rendition, bacon and eggs
*Zach loves the water! As you can imagine, we swim A LOT and play in the water the rest of the time in Arizona, so this boy is quite used to the water. I decided to skip swimming lessons for him this year while he focused on his walking skills. So, now he THINKS he cans swim and is always telling me "Let go Momma!" in the pool. He loves to get splashed and dump water on his head and he loves to do it to his brother too. He is getting a little tan being outside so much and LOVES his "simming trunks" In fact, I'll be honest, he pretty much lives in them! 
*Zach is working on potty training himself. Thus the reason for the outburst at church today mentioned earlier:) He wears a diaper, but often during the day will tell me he wants to sit on the potty and get a "jammie bean" (just one, don't judge!). If I learned anything from Ike, it was to embrace what they are willing to do, and not sweat it. So, I'm not. He's perfectly coming along and we'll be ok with that!
*Zach is in great shape, loves to eat everything (just on his time table, or in order to get the sweets!) He weighs about 23lbs. (5th percentile) and is in the 70th percentile for height. Typical Pieper boy for us.
We love this little monster! I really can't imagine life without these boys. I know with all my heart that he was sent here to our family straight from our Heavenly Father. He is a blessing to us and a gift. I know we are the parents he needs too. Thanks for bearing with me while I dote on this little guy. I sure love him!

Mothers Day Thoughts

Apparently I'm the one who takes most of the pictures recently b/c these were the only pics I had with the boys and I!

Mothers Day always brings up such emotion in me. This year is no exception. When looking inward, I still remember the days before I was a "mother" when I so desperately wanted to be a mother. One Mother's Day in particular, I remember coming home from church and just crying and crying. How unfair it feels sometimes when our life isn't working out just the way we thought it should. Thank goodness Heavenly Father gave me this experience, this deep desire (even though at the time it just felt awful and lonely and even a little hopeless). When I was a young(er) single girl, I knew I wanted a family, but never had that same yearning. I mostly thought of it as far in the future when I had accomplished a gillion other things. After my miscarriage and subsequent struggles to bring a baby here, that desire deepened and deepened within me until I wanted that little baby here more than almost anything. Thank Heaven!
      After having Ike and now Zachary, I know that there truly is no better calling, commitment, job or joy we can have than being a mother. I know the Lord instituted motherhood and family. I know no task or responsibility will ever be as important as being a mother. I love it, even when I question my ability or the responsibility I've been given, I know THIS is where Heavenly Father wants me right now.
      Secondly, I have had a chance today (thanks Ben) to ponder the other women in my life and their examples of motherhood. I look at a dear friend and family member of mine that Heavenly Father called home this year. Let me back up. Last night I was feeling a little down. About lots of things. I was thinking how inadequate I am, how underappreciated I felt and how guilty I felt for feeling underappreciated. All unfounded, I was pretty much just really tired. As I prayed last night, I asked to please be helped in putting my life back into focus. I didn't want to feel that way and I usually don't, but in those quiet, strange moments, it is an awful feeling. Anyway, last night I had a dream about this wonderful mother who we lost this year. I awoke this morning thinking of her, her suffering, and how I could help her family. She was such a selfless mother, even in the end when she was so full of pain and suffering, she never let her son know. She waited until the very end for him to even know she was going to the hospital for treatments while he was at school. She never used her fast moving, life threatening illness as an excuse, she lived for her family and showed ultimate love and sacrifice for them. I love her and am glad to have known her shining example.
      I also thought of another family member who just had a new baby. She is young and beautiful and starting a darling little family with her husband. They found out at 20 weeks gestation that their baby had a chromosomal defect that would cause her a very short lived little life once outside the womb. They have shown such faith and courage. She writes of the joy she has felt knowing this little girl inside of her and knowing that our Father in Heaven has a plan for them. They have welcomed this little girl with triumph and such joy as I've never seen. This little angel baby is still going strong and I know that this miracle is possible because of their unwavering faith. I love them and am so grateful to have such a wonderful example of faith, love, and courage.
     My third mother this year is not a mother as you might think. She is a young, beautiful, single woman I have known for a decade. She shows my kids so much love and support. She is a wonderful example to them and all the children in her life of loyalty, service and love. She shows care and concern for them and for all of us in a way no one else does:) I think all women are mothers in one way or another and this woman excels at it.
     You can see why I sometimes feel inadequate when I know such amazing women all around me, but right now all I feel is true love for each of them and honor in knowing them personally. I love our Father in Heaven. How inspired He is to give us each other to help us and inspire us. Please know today I am thinking of each of you. Thank you for being mothers and helping me to be a little better too. I'm so grateful for the opportunity he has given me to be a mother to these two sweet little boys. They amaze me everyday and make me a better, happier person than I've ever been before.

Tutu Cute:)

Maybe it's because I have boys at my house and I'm trying to over compensate, or maybe it's because almost everyone I know has had a baby girl in the past six months, but I have becoming a Tutu making queen! They are fun, simple, and easily embellished. These are my first three... Appropriately for Macy, Adrie, and Emry the sweetest little nieces who just happened to have birthdays while I was experimenting:) Apparently they are very well loved and worn to pieces, just as I would want them to be! Enjoy girls:) And stay tuned...

Some of the Girls

I know everyone teased that I was going to take this photo home and blog it... Well, I did. Couldn't help it:) In case you didn't know, I live in a house of boys. All boys. And me. I'm a girl. So, after 2 years of dental school and 3 boys 24/7, I think when a girl time arises, I just might jump on it. Ok, it happened more like this... Natalie, my dear sweet, very pregnant friend (above, in white) is about to pop. In an effort to keep her mind off the ensuing popage, she invited a bunch of us to go see the new Jane Eyre with her in Scottsdale at Fashion Square. Hehe. When I asked Ben about the idea, he insisted I go. I think it was in an effort to a.) not have to go with me to Fashion Square b.) not have to see Jane Eyre and c.) not have to eat sushi. Well, I guess we both won:)

I have to say, I love my family. I love doing things with those crazy boys all the time. But, after an afternoon away, I think I appreciate them more. So, if it's been awhile since you have "taken a break" as it was for me, I highly recommend it:)

P.S. These girls are fabulous (we missed you who couldn't come)! We had a great time. I love Jane Eyre, but I would've gone with these girls to see most anything just to be in their company! They are amazing wives and mothers and I think I'm a better person just for knowing them:) Thanks girls (and thanks to my boys for being ok without me for a few hours).

Easter FHE Resurrection Eggs

I saw these last year and just HAD to do them this year:) For Family Home Evening Monday before Easter, our family spent some time opening the eggs, numbered 1-12, finding the symbolic little item and looking up the scripture associated with it. I think it left a huge impact on all of us in reading specifically about some of the things Jesus Christ experienced the last week of His life on earth. We are so blessed to know what we know and to have this peaceful time in our lives to be able to reflect on Him and His mortal ministry. I love Easter because it gives us a chance to rejoice in our Savior overcoming sickness, sadness, sin, and all the world for us so that we could live with Him again! What more is there than this?

Here is the lineup for the eggs:

1. Message -- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.
   Passage -- Matthew 21:1-11
   Item -- Piece of palm branch
2. Message -- Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
   Passage -- John 12:2-8
   Item --  cotton ball with perfume on it
    
3. Message -- Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
   Passage -- Matthew 26:17-19
   Item – a piece of graham cracker 
4. Message-- Jesus suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane
    Passage-- Item-- I printed a small picture of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
5. Message -- Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
   Passage -- Matthew 27:3
   Item -- 3 dimes  
6. Message -- Jesus carried His own cross.
   Passage -- John 19:17
   Item – I fashioned a cross out of toothpicks and hot glue
    
7. Message -- Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
   Passage -- John 19:2
   Item -- thorny piece of our bush
8. Message -- Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
   Passage -- John 19:23
   Item -- a small die  
9. Message -- Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
   Passage -- John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
   Item -- A nail
    
10. Message -- Jesus' body was prepared and wrapped in linen for burial
    Passage -- Matthew 27:57 Item -- small piece of linen
     
11. Message -- The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.
    Passage -- Matthew 28
    Item -- A small, flat, round rock
     
12. Message -- Jesus has risen! Passage -- Matt 28: 5-8

A nutshell:)

happy 31st babe... who made that deliciousness?!

Ike becoming quite the custom architect:) this I believe was a temple

Daddy's architecture

playing cowboy dressup

Astronauts preparing for takeoff in my closet

wild astronaut :0

Ike takes all of our old cords/electronic gear and uses it to build astronaut equipment.

the very hungry caterpillar

Just Sayin...

Tomorrow (in a few hours) is Ben's 31st Birthday! I really can't believe we are "old!" Sometimes I look at him and think, "how in the world did anybody allow us to have children?" "Are we really old enough for all of this?" We got married when Ben was 23 and I thought that was SOOO OLD and MATURE! I guess now we're geriatric:) Anyway, it's crazy how time flies and how much fun we have along the way...


    Since Ben never reads this, I think I'm safe in sharing this too... Ike and Zach both are so in to Daddy's Birthday! We've been talking about it for the last week... what kind of waffles and ice cream to have in the morning, what kind of decorations, what gifts to give... Well, we decided on hawaiian waffles with coconut buttermilk syrup and vanilla ice cream (bluebell or course), and blue and white decorations (b/c that's what I have on hand... and BUTLER plays for the championship later... two birds. one stone.) Anyway, I also got Ben a pair of shoes to wear with his scrubs when he starts clinics (who would trust a dentist wearing nikes?) Anyway, when we got home from DSW, the boys were soo excited, and I made sure to tell them, "now, don't tell daddy about his surprise!" So, guess what the first thing Zach says to him is... "Dada. PRIZE (means: surprise in his language). Shoes! Buh-thday." Well, the cat's out of the bag. Too cute anyway and I'm not sure Dada was quick enough to pick up all those words and put it all together:) Happy Birthday babe! We sure feel lucky to have you!

Reunited and it Feels So Good!!

Last year we had the PERFECT set up! Literally, I do not know how I could have adjusted so well to Arizona, having a new baby, no friends, no husband, etc. Without WONDERFUL friends! It just so happens that three of those wonderful families that we became so close to moved away last May/June. What kind of sick joke is that?! I guess it gives us the opportunity to have friends all over the country AND chance to get together, reunite and DOTE on each other:) We had two such opportunities this spring!
    Ike's best little friend who is a boy, was able to come visit (no pics, I know... lame). But, I didn't want the event to go unrecorded! Cohen and Isaac are great little playmates who spent an afternoon here in Phoenix going from one thing to the next to the next as they rekindled their friendship. I think they'll do the same every time we get together! It was so fun to see them fall back into their same little groove and get along as if nothing ever changed! They played farmer (and pulled some weeds, yay!), then they played fireman (and watered the weeds...) then onto trains, cars, astronauts, etc. We LOVE little Cohen, and of course, his sweet family! Please guys, come back and visit ANYTIME!! Maybe next time will have to be in Chicago...
     Our other reunion was with the Stumpe family. Chalece and I shared newborn baby/husband MIA/active 3 year old last year while Mike finished up Pharmacy school. We did almost everything together because, well, Chalece is just THAT enticing! We went on walks, worked out, let our kids play, made dinner, went on any random excursion, etc. together:) So, when the Stumpe's moved, they left a huge hole in our hearts. You can imagine our elation at the news that they were going to spend a week in Southern California during part of Ben's spring break! You guessed it, we jumped at the opportunity to hang out again!
     Since our budget didn't really allow, we didn't really tell Ike about Disneyland. We stayed at a hotel literally steps from disneyland and so he may have gotten the idea he went there... What he really did was spend a few days with the greatest friends chillin' in Orange County. What a Great time! Someday, we'll take him to the real disneyland, but for now, seeing these two reunited and spending time together with our "BFF's" and each other, THIS was the happiest place on earth!

chasing waves never gets old

LOVE:)

Yep, I could live here...

Mike and Ben on a romantic walk down the beach:)

Kyson and Jaylee LOVING the sand

Daddy and Zach catching the waves

Chalece's dream sandcastle... bucket list #47... check! :)

What California Dreamin is all about!

     Can't wait to reunite again:)