{Acacia Ward Pool Party}

One of the best parts of living in Henderson is our wonderful Acacia Ward family.  

Growing up in the church I have often heard the use of the term "ward family" but never fully appreciated what it meant.  I always loved my ward and some of my best friends growing up were in the Riverdale ward with me. 

But when I moved away from Utah I left behind my family.  And so "ward family" means just that - family whom I depend on for so much.  And now I feel like I know what it really means.

So I really, really, really love the ward here.  Like, a lot.  

One of the best parts of this ward is it seems like there is always something going on.  This past week we enjoyed a relaxing evening at the pool.  Calvin swam with Dad, Mom and Wes hung around and chatted with our friends.  We loved it! 

{Bonnie Springs Ranch}

This past month I put together my "vision board" of things I would like to accomplish/goals/places I'd like to visit before the end of 2016.  It was kind of fun to make it in the middle of the year to put some "umph" into my days since I'm reaching for different goals!

One of the places I wanted to visit was Bonnie Springs Ranch - an old western themed town here in Vegas.  It has fun western shows, a petting zoo and other activities for kids.  

We made the 45 minute journey to check it out one random Wednesday afternoon.  Calvin had a nap earlier but apparently it wasn't sufficient to meet his little needs.. 

He successfully made the day a nightmare for everyone -

That little clip sums it up nicely.  Luckily the people who worked there were super nice and allowed us to have a rain check so we can go back any day for free.   We decided to wait til it cools down a little bit as most of the activities are outside. 

Anyway, here are a few of the photos we got from the short while we were there! 

Cal was obsessed with an old soccer ball we found

Petting the donkey at the zoo

Family pic!  Fake smiles all around!

Wesley was cool with it though

View of the mountains behind the ranch

It was a good idea in theory, but in practice not so much.  

Sigh. 

Maybe next year :)

{3 and 4 months}

My procrastination pays off!  Two months of photos for the price of one... trying to stay on top of the rate of speed at which this boy grows seems impossible!  

At four months Wesley is 

• sleeping through the night
• still breastfeeding (yay!)
• smiling whenever someone makes eye contact
• drooling all over the place (but no signs of teeth)
• very ticklish on his belly / arms
• LOVING his older brother.  He watches him and if he is crying Calvin will usually soothe him just by being near him
• a master at sitting in his bumbo

I seriously love these little nuggets.  Despite the roller coaster that motherhood most assuredly is - I find myself loving every hill and curve that comes (and trust me, most of the times I find myself wanting to throw my hands in the air screaming, much like the metaphor of a roller coaster suggests)!

Since I updated on Wesley I'll give a quick update on the Cal-meister as well.  

At 22 months Calvin is 

• A tinker-er, just like his Dad.  He loves to see how things work and is fascinated by pulling apart his toys.
• Still loving the most random of items - he has an affinity for mixing bowls, strainers, coat hangers, spatulas, cutting boards and other misc things that inexplicably strike his fancy.
• Most definitely a fit thrower.  He has recently taken to grunting and making his face turn red when he gets upset.  We are working on this but I have a feeling it's going to be a long haul here. 
• An artist!  Unfortunately his medium of choice is poop.  This week has brought a thorough cleaning of curtains, bedspread and sheets, closet doors and throwing away of a few books and toys simply because I couldn't even deal with one more poopy part of my day.  Kids are great.
• Fascinated with his little brother.  He loves to pat his head and belly (seems to have figured out poking eyeballs lands him in time out - phew) and shows Wes his toys.  Hopefully they will always have a special bond! 

My mom gave me some important advice: "People are more important than things."  I feel like this is especially relevant to little ones who tend to be tornadoes of destruction with no thought to what may be of value or import to you.  I try to remember this when Calvin gives me a chocolate-y kiss all over my new white BYU tshirt, or when I pick up Wes and he's turned his chair into a swampy puddle of you-know-what.

Here are some of the latest from the day-to-day life in Reynolds manor:

Cal giving "loves" to his friend Ollie at the mall playland

A little music time!  Calvin actually sat her for about ten minutes and just plucked at the piano!  I hope we have a musician on our hands! 

We usually take the boys for one or two walks a week in the evening when it cools down.  Love our double stroller where they can both look at each other!

Took Cal to the park and he completely ignored the toys to mess with a sprinkler head in this bush the entire time.  This is what I mean by a tinker-er!

Wes in his bumbo!

Look at the book he is reading!  My heart bursts with pride sometimes! 

And here are the photos from 3 and 4 months for the Wes man -

{Aloha 'Oe}

Just a few short weeks ago we bid the Reynolds aloha as they embarked on a new journey to serve a mission in Hawaii!

Right after their setting apart as "Elder and Sister Reynolds"

The call was originally to serve in Oahu ... but it turns out they were needed on Big Island (Kona-Kailua) even more.

They "dedicated" this mission to their grandkids (JP, Devan, Katelyn, Calvin, Wes, Saffron & Saffron's soon-to-be sister)

We think they are pretty awesome and felt lucky to be able to attend the evening they were set apart.

We dressed in our Hawaiian clothes to celebrate the occasion.  This was the dress I was wearing when Mike and I were married in the Honolulu Tabernacle in 2011!

Calvin and his Grandpa Jim have a special bond

Helping each other pin on their missionary name tags after the blessing.  

"If you're not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart -- painted, as Paul said, "not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God."

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Special loves for Grandma after church!