Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Kimball Funnies #1



Whenever I ask him if he wants to do something, "Do you want to do...."
Kimball, "Yeah, sure!"

"Look! A bird!"
Me: "You saw a bird?"
"Yeah! Cheep, cheep!"

Holds up a piece of bread and says, "Duck!" Then slides it along the table. "Quack, quack! Swimming in the water!"

He would just randomly go around the house saying, "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blooooooow your house in."

"K, if you say so."

"No, Mom, NO."

When we went outside during the summer, he whined, "It's hot in here!"

"Bye, Mom. Love you," then air kisses me.

While looking out the window, he called out, "An airplane, Mom! An airplane!"

After sneezing a few times he said, "I sneezed and sneezed and sneezed and sneezed."

Me: "Where's your belly button?"
He lifts up his shirt, smiles, touches his belly button, and says, "Belly but!"

Jayze to Kimball, "Who are you?"
Kimball: "I am me."

One time he goes into the bathroom while Jayze is getting ready for work, starts closing the door and says, "I need privacy."

I heard him singing after putting him down for his nap, "All by myself...annnnymooooore..."

Aidan was buttoning his shirt and said, "These are really big buttons."
Kimball said, "Those are really REALLY big buts."

Trying to move the chair to the sliding door, Kimball says, "Excuse me, trash. Excuse me, table."


Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Aidan Funnies #4

Oh my gosh, these are just pure gold...

Aidan, age 3-4


While praying, he says, "Glad that Dad puts his belt on while driving and glad he's wearing a belt so his pants don't fall off."

Knocking on our bedroom door while Jayze is in there and yells, "Little pig, little pig, let me in!"

Laughing, "Kimball's cracking me up!"

"I'm rolling my eyes at you, Mom."

Puts his hands on his hips, gives me a stern face, and says, "Mom, your consequence is..."

I went to the library with a friend. She told Aidan, "You're getting so big, Aidan, did you know that?"
Aidan nods and says, "I'm going to be tall like my Daddy."
She said, "Well, you do share some of his genes, so it makes sense."
Aidan stares at her for a few seconds, then grabs part of his pants with one hand and says, "These are MY pants."

Jayze, ready to head out the door for work, said, "Okay, I'm going to hit the road."
Aidan said, "Nooooooooo! Don't hit the road, just drive on it."

I had to go to the bathroom SO bad, but wanted to wait until after the blessing on the food for their lunch. Aidan was saying the prayer and said, "...and please bless that Mom can stop dancing..."

"I don't like avocadoes. They make me nervous," then he laughs nervously.

"Lincoln's cracking me up!"

While I was holding Lincoln, Aidan comes up to me and asks, "Can I smell him? Oooooo, he smells cute! He smells perfect."

He randomly said to me one day, "You're so pretty."

"One on top and one on the down and it had legs." 
Me: "It had legs?"
"Yeah, it had legs sticking out." (talking about the number 3)..."Look, it's an E!"

"Oh, look! It's doing this!" Then he wiggled his fingers (the timer on the oven was counting down from ten to one).

"Mom, my band-aids tickle," he giggled. "Tickle band-aids are my favorite!"

"Mom, when Lincoln wakes up, I'm going to show him all of my airplanes." (paper airplanes)

I asked him, "Are you hungry?"
He said, "No....actually, I'm starving a lot."

When I was using a spoon for singing in the kitchen, Aidan laughed and said, "Hey, it's kind of like a microphone!"

He bonked his upper lip while playing right before bedtime and was really sad about it. So when he prayed, I told him to ask Heavenly Father to help it feel better. When I went in later, he said, "Actually, my mustache feels better."
Trying not to crack up, I said, "Heavenly Father answered your prayer!" 
He smiled and nodded, "He helped me."
I said, "You know that you can pray to him any time, right?"
He said, "Actually, haha, it [mustache] tickles now!"

Talking about the tree of life...
"We need to eat the fruit...Are they oranges? Lehi's right there, we can ask him [what kind of fruit it is]."
I told him, "Well, we know what it is! It's God's love!"
He kind of smiled and laughed and said, "It's God's love fruit?!"

We got chocolate milk from McDonald's and Aidan said, "Cows make chocolate milk?" 
I said, "No."
"But there's a cow on there [on his chocolate milk bottle]."
I said, "Well, they make milk, but not chocolate milk..."




Monday, November 19, 2018

Making it easy on myself

So remember that last post where I mentioned I wanted to write on my blog more regularly? Well...it's been a few months since then. I guess I took another break. 
I've had a lot of ideas floating around in my head - ideas I've wanted to turn into blog posts - buuuuut, it's hard to put myself out there after not for so long. 
So tonight I'm going to make it easy on myself and just post a cute interview I did with Aidan and Kimball awhile ago. 
August 8 to be exact.
This will at least help get the ball rolling on writing in this space more often and help me dive back into the ebbs and flows of sharing more of my life and grief and thoughts and you know...everything in-between all that. 
Plus, this post is just another excuse for me to bottle up my boys' cuteness in any way I can. 

(I asked them the questions and here are their answers verbatim) 


Aidan, 3 years old: 
How old are you? Three
How old is Daddy? 25...he's not 25. I can't remember.
How old is Mommy? I can't remember either. I think it was 2.
What is your favorite color? Green and yellow
What is your favorite food? Fruit
 -What kind of fruit? Strawberries
What is your favorite movie? Mr. Incredibles and Cars 3
What is your favorite YouTube video? The little funny videos (Pixar). I like the bird one.
What is your favorite song? Old MacDonald
What is your favorite animal? Giraffes
What makes you happy? Lincoln, because I like smiling at him and playing with him.
Are you afraid of anything? No.
Who is your favorite superhero? I like all of the superheros.
What is your favorite scripture story/hero? Moses and the Ark
-You mean Noah? nods his head
What makes you sad? Kimball, because he was being mean this day.
What makes you smile? Lincoln...when I smile to him he smiles back. Sometimes when I'm angry, he's angry back.
What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? I like to be on his shoulders. Sometimes I'll hold onto his head.
What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play with you.
-Play what? Cars
What is your favorite thing to play with Kimball? Play with him.
-Play what? Cars
Who is Alma? He's with Jesus.
What is your favorite drink? Powerade (he was sick just barely)
What is your favorite toy? Uh, a bunch of cars actually and Kimball's car.
What is your favorite book? I Will Not Read This Book
What do you want to be when you grow up? Uh, a dinosaur.



Kimball, 2 years old:
How old are you? Two
How old is Daddy? He's...two.
How old is Mommy? Three
What is your favorite color? I like brown.
What is your favorite food? I like cereal.
What is your favorite movie? I like Cars 3.
What is your favorite YouTube video? I like...hmmmmm....
What is your favorite song? I like Child of God song. I like the bug song.
What is your favorite animal? I like lions.
What makes you happy? Daddy makes me happy.
Are you afraid of anything? No.
Who is your favorite superhero? I like Flash and Batman.
What is your favorite scripture story/hero? I like Noah and the Ark.
What makes you sad? People make me sad.
What makes you smile? Mommy, you're so pretty. Daddy's so pretty too. Aidan's not so pretty.
What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? I like being on his back.
What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? I like playing with Mommy and Daddy.
-Play what? I like playing with water and Mommy.
What is your favorite thing to do with Aidan? I like riding on his back.
Who is Alma? No.
What is your favorite drink? I like waters.
What is your favorite toy? I like Lincoln's toys.
What is your favorite book? Brown Bear book.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I like growing up. One, two, three....



Sunday, August 12, 2018

MIA

I've definitely been MIA lately. I think it's a combination of a lot of different things. How I have a mental block when it comes to working on our desktop computer downstairs (I'm a laptop kind of person).

How I've had to reorganize my time and schedule after having Lincoln. 
How I have many projects going on right now, and blogging just keeps getting pushed farther and farther down the list. 

But the one reason (probably the most legitimate one) is that I've felt inadequate in my writing and I've let fear take over every time I've thought about getting back on here. I feel out of practice and out of place, which is a hard interior to break out of. 

However, I've also missed writing on here. Last year I made the goal to write at least four times a month, and I did (with the exception of one month), and it was so good. I'm so grateful for all of those posts and pictures and memories of my fears, hard times, fun times, and joyful times, and I want to keep that up. 

So here's to me dusting off the cobwebs of my creative energy, embracing imperfection, and trying again. This space is one that has helped other people as well as me, and I'm excited to get back in that uncomfortable, vulnerable, hopeful, and relatable groove once again. 








Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Aidan Funnies #3

Until I make the time to write Lincoln's birth story (I'm so excited to write it! I don't want to forget any of the details), here are a few things Aidan has said that I don't want to forget.

"Selfie!"


Me, showing him that I don't have any shoes or socks on my feet, "I have bare feet!"
Aidan: "Bear feet?" Then runs into his room, takes off his socks, and runs back. He points to his feet and says, "Bear feet!" and then roars like a bear.

We were driving home and Jayze sped up, trying to make a yellow light. He got through just as the light turned red. Aidan called out, "Good racing, Daddy!"




Aidan, eating something he doesn't want to: "My tongue says no. My tummy says no."

Aidan: "You're breaking my heart!" Then kisses himself better.

Talking to Kimball, "Come here, Kimball!"


"Mom! Take a picture!"


I bought him some kid scissors and was showing him how to use them. He started cutting the construction paper and said, "I'm cutting the paper's hair! Haha, just kidding. Paper doesn't have hair!"

Aidan: "Say please, Kimball. Not like that! Like this, 'Pleeeeease!'"




Aidan: "Going to bed is not my favorite."

He loves running. LOVES it. He'll run back and forth from our living room to his bedroom all the time and say, "I'm super fast! Like Flash and Superman!"




Jayze told me what Aidan had prayed for one night..."Please bless that I can be Captain American when I turn 15."

Aidan: "I need to go potty."
Me: "Okay, go potty! Quick, quick, quick!"
Aidan: "Okay, I'm quicking!"


"I'm not tired. I don't want to go down for my nap." (crashes on the living room floor)


While opening the blinds, I said, "Look, the sun's awake!"
Aidan: "Good morning, sun! He's going to eat oatmeal like me!"




After driving by a school bus, Aidan said, "When I turn five I get to go to school."
Me: "Yep!"
Aidan: "And you will miss me so much..."
Me: "Yes, but I'll be glad that you're growing up and learning."
Aidan: "...And you will be very, very sad...but I will tell you about it."




Aidan: "I burped!"
Me: "Say, excuse me!"
Aidan: "Eskonkie!"
Me: "Eskonkie?"
Aidan: "Yeah, that's excuse me in Spanish."




Pointing my phone's camera at Lincoln, Aidan said in a high-pitched, sweet voice, "He's so cute!"

Aidan: "Lincoln's awake!"
Lincoln moves his head a little and opens his mouth.
Aidan: "He's talking to me!"
Me: "Oh yeah? What's he saying?"
Aidan: "I love you!"




I love how we can have a conversation now, and he understands so much! He's one cute kid, and I love him. 









Saturday, January 20, 2018

Flake Family Letter 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This year was a lot less crazy than last year (for example, we only moved once instead of twice! And just down the street instead of across the country). We were grateful for the calmer year because it gave us opportunities to slow down, refocus, and center our lives on what matters most - our family and our Savior Jesus Christ.

This year we enjoyed becoming more familiar with Wichita, Jayze's work, and the people in our ward. We also celebrated five years of marriage in July, finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family, and are expecting another baby boy at the beginning of February.

Jayze: Has really enjoyed all the time and activities he was able to spend with Sarah and the kids. Zoo days, Costco runs, playing catch at the park, attending community events, playing games at home, and cooking were some of his favorites.

In October he was invited to run with a couple of our friends in the Kansas City Half Marathon. He had a blast, and it got the running bug in his system again. He hopes to do another running event in 2018!

Jayze is still the Youth Sunday School teacher in our ward (teaches ages 12-18), and it is still his favorite calling ever.

Sarah: Made a goal to write on her blog (sjflake.blogspot.com) four times a month for the entire year and was pretty close to achieving it! She's grateful she wrote more because it's been a wonderful way to preserve precious memories and pictures and keep in touch with friends and family we don't live by anymore.

She was really, really, REALLY excited when we finally bought a second car in October. It's meant going to the grocery store with the kids during the day, more time playing at the park, and running much-needed errands without having to drop Jayze off at work first. It's been a huge blessing in so many ways.

Sarah is still the 1st Counselor in Young Women's and loves each of the girls so much.

Alma: We got to visit him twice this year! Once in February to visit Jayze's family and the second time in September during a mini-reunion on Sarah's side of the family. Aidan talks about him more and sometimes includes him in his prayers at night. For his birthday we visited the police station and dropped off goodies. We're grateful for his influence and love in our lives.

Aidan: Turned 3 years old in September! He is an awesome big brother to Kimball and a great helper to his mom. He knows his ABC's, can almost count to 20, and is potty trained (yay!). He is still obsessed with Lightning McQueen, but after watching Cars 3, started leaning towards Cruz ("the yellow car") and Jackson Storm.

Aidan loves saying prayers, playing catch, running, going to the park, reading books, and teasing Mommy and Daddy. Although he loved nursery, he was excited (and ready) to start Primary in January. His favorite song right now is "Nephi's Courage," (although "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a close second since we started singing Christmas songs). We love Aidan and his sassy, sweet self.

Kimball: Turned 19 months old on December 10. He loves going to nursery, playing with cars, reading books, and laughing at bedtime with Aidan. It's been fun to watch him grow from an infant to a sweet, happy-go-lucky toddler. He's a great imitator (since Aidan's into counting, Kimball now "knows" the numbers 3 and 4). He loves repeating words back to us during prayers, scripture reading, and whatever else Aidan tries to get him to say.

He's definitely a Daddy's boy, although he likes coming to mom for kisses and comfort when he gets hurt. Kimball brings an added measure of joy into our home, and we're so grateful for him.

We hope this letter finds all of you happy and well and that you had a very Merry Christmas and will have a very Happy New Year!

Love,

Jayze, Sarah, and the boys





































Thursday, January 18, 2018

2017 Moments

Some of my favorite moments from 2017:

- January - 

Zoo Day
(one of many throughout the year) 






New resolve to consistently exercise (and we did pretty well!)



Kimball turned 8 months old



- February -

Mom life









- March -









- April -








- May - 






Aidan vacuuming

First time wanted to help me vacuum by himself

Purging

Decided to go through all of my clothes, papers, crafts, and so on and clean it out like crazy. It's made a huge difference.


- June - 

Date night

One of my favorite date nights of the year. Super relaxed. 




Expecting Baby #4

But only family knew at this point. 


- July -


Jayze's parents came to visit





Cars 3

Even though we switched places being in the hall with K most of the time, going to Cars 3 in the theater was so fun. 

July 24

Attended the July 24th mini celebration our stake put on. Aidan's first time bobbing for apples.



- August -

Haircut


Liberty Jail

Liberty Jail is only about 3.5 hours from us. My second or third time and Jayze's and the kids' first time. So grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith.



- September -


Exploration Place



The Exploration Place is in downtown Wichita and had been on our bucket list since we moved to Wichita. It's a science museum, and we'd heard so many good things about it. We went with some friends, and all of us had a blast. 


Derby Fall Festival



Found out gender/19 weeks along


Found out we were having a baby boy just a few days before we traveled to AZ. We celebrated at Krispy Kremes and then told our family the news during the trip. 


- October - 





Bought a second car!

Game changer. We went to the zoo as soon as our car was registered!


Pumpkin Patch

Going to the pumpkin patch and picking out a few pumpkins is one of my favorite family traditions (Jayze's and mine). We love carving one of them for a jack o' lantern and then cutting up, roasting, and pureeing the rest. This year's pumpkin patch was just the ticket, too. 





Halloween

Green screen like Gal Gadot. ;)


- November -

In the Kitchen
(probably my favorite post of the year)




Wichita Art Museum
Another thing in Wichita we crossed off our bucket list. It was free that day, so we went! 

30 Weeks Along




Carriage ride


Kicked off the Christmas season with a free carriage ride. Loved it!


- December -



Christmas




Star Wars

Jayze and I got to go on a date! We went out to eat and then watched the new Star Wars. I think it was the last movie date for awhile because despite going to the bathroom twice right before the movie, I still had to go sooo bad when it was over! 


New Years Eve

We don't have any set traditions for New Years Eve except for drinking sparkling apple cider. So that's what we did! When the kids were in bed, Jayze and I played games and I think we might have watched a movie. And we actually made it just barely past midnight before we went to bed. It was a great way to end 2017. 


- Other picture favorites from the year -























32 weeks


See you later, 2017!