5 Years

We've reached the big 5. I have to say, other than a couple of loop holes (pregnancy, school, and bar exams), being married to Chase has been pretty effortless. He's just such an easy guy to share my life with. We realized the other day that not only have we been married for 5 years, but it was exactly 10 years ago right here in Washington D.C. that we met and fell in love. He keeps me laughing every day and I have a feeling that no matter how small the loop hole, there will always be something to chuckle about. I love you Chase. Happy 10 year "getting to know you" anniversary and a happier "my eternal companion" 5 year anniversary. Wow....has it really been that long? Lets take a stroll down memory lane:

Here we are in New York while traveling for the weekend with the other interns.











Check out our choice of apparel. I especially love the peach button down, the late 90's hairstyles, and my black Doc. Martens. We thought we were so cool!!

Chase and his buddies were ALWAYS in our apartment. We all hung out until someone fell asleep and then it was back to work in the morning.

Steven King's house during our travels to Maine after the internship ended in May 2000.

Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine. I still can't get over how different we both look.


We probably went water skiing on the Cannon boat about 3 or 4 times a week. It was a heavenly summer!!

10 months

10 months and still delighting us every day. Here's what Jack has been up to:

-Jack is still pretty small. 18 pounds and 15th percentile is all my little man can claim in weight even though he eats twice as much as his sister.

-He's constantly burning calories as he climbs the stairs, speed crawls, and laughs anytime Sadie runs past him.

-He's a funny little guy. His sense of humor has really developed over these last couple of months. He snorts when he laughs which creates a hysterical exchange as we laugh back at him.

-He's a fantastic napper in the morning but needs a little swaddle and rock in the afternoon.

-When I come in to grab him after his nap he gives me a HUGE grin and then raises his little eyebrows. It's insanely adorable.

-He'll put anything in his mouth if we forget his binky outside. I have found WAY too many pieces of bark in his cheeks.

-He's still pretty mellow but it's getting a little harder to hold him for long periods of time. He usually dives for the floor so he can crawl or climb the stairs, again.

-His favorite food is Veggie Booty. While sifting through Sadie's swimming bag he found a package of his most coveted snack and while clutching it in between his fist, he crawled over to me so I could open it for him. He actually lifted it up to me. Pretty cute.

-He "raises the roof" instead of waving timidly with his fingers. Both arms are usually flailing above his head as he smiles from ear to ear.

-He has a couple of new teeth. Apart from his two ridiculously cute bottom teeth, he has grown two more in a not so cute spot. Yes, Jack is resembling a vampire because his incisors are coming in before the other front teeth. Just like Sadie!! She was a little vampire for a couple of months too.

-I can pretty much count on coming into his room at least three times to give him his binky and monkey blanket he's intentionally thrown over the edge of the crib during his afternoon nap. This is when I usually give up on his falling asleep on his own and rock him to sleep. I can't deny I love every minute of him falling asleep in my arms.

-He's a total snuggler. I LOVE having a snuggly baby. He rests his little head on my shoulder ALL the time and I can't get enough!!

-When he's tired he does this low pitched growl while we try to feed him. It kind of sounds like a mosquito buzzing in your ear after a while and it drives Chase CRAZY!!


-I sometimes call him "tinkerboy" because he loves to "tinker" with everything. I always find him rolling the wheels back and forth on Sadie's bike. Not only does he love to open drawers to throw everything out of them, but he also enjoys the actual opening and closing of the door, drawers, and cabinets. He is constantly moving a drawer back and forth and studying how it works. Maybe he'll be an engineer one day.

-He's understanding the "I'm gonna get you" game and frantically kicks his legs while laughing as we approach him for a tickle. If we ask him where he's going while climbing the stairs, he's thinks it's pretty funny to climb faster as he scrambles to the top.

-He still prefers me over anyone else which makes my doggie day. It's kind of annoying if I get up from the table to get something and he distresses over my absence, but I still love the death defying lunge toward my direction if he's ever in anyone else's arms.

...and send it soaring

It's great kite flying weather. I bought a sweet airplane kite at Costco and even though I couldn't figure out how to keep in in the air, we had a couple of good runs. You can always count on some wind at Gravelly Point with the breeze from the Potomac and the airplanes flying above. Sadie was able to ride her trike on the trail, throw a couple of rocks in the water and watch the big airplanes fly right over her head. Jack just chilled like he always does. Such an easy going little guy!!

We realized once we got there that it's probably not the best place to fly a kite because it could possibly get in the way of the airplanes, but we kept our kite pretty low. Note to the wise: do NOT drink too much water before you go because you'll have to use the NASTY porta potties and they WILL make you dry heave!!

Burke Lake

One of our favorite places around here is Burke Lake. We used to go there for the train but decided to avoid that this time and just enjoy the nature and warm weather all around us.

We had a pretty good time. The only issue we had was not being able to find big enough rocks to throw in the water and itchy watery eyes. Sadie has a very low tolerance for the pollen out here. Every time we take her outside her eyes puff up, and she gets red hives all over her arms and cheeks. I hate to have her drowsy all day from the Benadryl so we've opted for antihistamine eye drops. They have been working pretty well for us.

But after rolling down the hill a couple of times, playing circus, and swinging through the pollen filled air, Sadie was spent so we headed to the Pie Gourmet for our favorite chocolate cream pie. It made everyone feel better. Jack would have been fine either way. He pretty much inhaled about two fistfuls of grass!!

A rare and acute case of pinkititis

We had to make cupcakes for Relief Society the other day and while picking out the cake mix Sadie of course wanted pink. Sadielicious, loves her cupcakes and she LOVES her pink.

Expressions

Although a pretty mellow dude, Jack has some pretty dramatic facial expressions (like his mom). I love imagining what's going on in his little noggin when he looks at me like this. Probably something like this: Are you ever going to realize that this exersaucer is sooooooooo 2 months ago. Get me outta this thing!
Is that a camera? Hold on, let me give you my best pose.
Nope, this one's much better. Kind of "Rico Suave", or Loreal's "don't hate me because I'm beautiful."
I can't even imagine what he's thinking here....diaper change? Who knows. It will be fun to have words along with these expressions one day. We'll just keep deciphering.

Ballet Bun

As soon as I can finally get Sadie's hair in a little bun, it's usually time for a trim. I love the pony tail but her hair just doesn't grow in the front so I have to keep the mullet at bay in the back. The bun will last as long as a picture and eventually falls to pieces. One day Sadie will have enough hair but the short bob will have to do for now.

Book .Worm

I love finding Sadie all snuggled up with a book. It also makes me very jealous. What would I give to just read a book and be alert enough to keep my eyes open?!! Oh, those precious moments, once had, and soon forgotten.

So Long Fare..the..well

I remember hearing a song in Spain that went a little like this (imagine my sweet sultry voice singing as you read these brilliant lyrics): "when you don't wanna say goodbye, you can say Hasta Luego...so long...see see you later. We're gonna see you very soon again... my friend, so long, we'll see you tomorrow. You are my special Amigo, that's cause you mean so much to ooo me."

The members sang this to us knowing that transfers were the next day and that we would be shipped to some other part of the country. Although kind of cheesy (which is something you totally soak up as a missionary:-), it struck home because even though you say you are going to see these people again, most likely, you won't. Spain is a long ways away.

Lucky for us Baltimore isn't. The Mechams have only moved a short distance into the Maryland neck of the woods. So instead of having a "goodbye " party for Erin, us ladies took her out for an "hasta luego" last hoorah. We know we'll see the Mechams again.

I don't know who will miss who the most. Chase will probably shed a few tears for his John, I am losing my "sister away from home," and Sadie is losing her "best Riahhhh." I don't think Sadie quite understands the magnitude of the situation. She still asks for Moriah every day but is reassured when we say, we'll "see her later." It makes me feel better too:-)

Goodbye Mechams. You will be missed so come visit soon!!

Emily's birthday dinner

After several failed attempts to have a surprise birthday dinner for Emily, it finally happened. One of the best outcomes of the new ward boundaries is that the Sanderson are now in our ward. Funny that you can live so close to one another and never hang out, but once someone up high tells you to go to church at a different time, you meet all your neighbors. It's pretty genius. What a fun night. I love hanging out with the girls. Happy Birthday Emily!!

Sassafrass

I love this picture of Sadie and Jack McNair. They are both giving me some serious attitude. Happy birthday "big" Jack. You have joined the ranks of 3 years.

Uncle John

Our buddy John came to visit. We were a little upset that he didn't bring Sadie's Lizzy and my Jess but we recovered pretty quickly because John is the best!! We'll take ANY Gardner when we can get them. We went to the Salt Water Tavern in Fairfax (a Gardner Favorite) and the food was D...E...L..icious!! Thanks again for coming to visit John and for taking us to such a yummy restaurant. Come again soon, but this time, don't forget the goods (Jess, Lizzy, Tommy and the new little one:-).

..and warmer!!

Now that we've reached the upper 60's and lower 70's we are at the park pretty much every day.

Jack is often robbed of his afternoon nap so we can be outside as long as possible. As you can see, sometimes he's far from pleased.

Here we are at a fantastic park in McLean with Jill, Isabella and Pearl.

Here's little Jack and Austin just hanging out in their swings. Ashley and I can just leave them in there while we attend to the older girls. What easy little guys.

We love Spring and don't ever want it to leave because we know what summer feels like around here:-(