December Days

A new year is definitely a good time to get back into good habits. My mother gave me a book for Christmas that challenges you to remember something each day that changed you for the better and to write it down. That way you see what you have become. A good idea that helped me remember I like to write and remember the good stuff in life, so here I sit, back to my blogging. 

December went by in a whir. It was wonderful to stay home for the holidays and start some of our own traditions. The kiddos loved going caroling and having friends carol to us. Good old Micky Music (a CD with the Micky Mouse gang singing 10 wonderful Christmas tunes) has turned my children into very knowledgeable little singers. My favorite and theirs is We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Tate's rendition includes "a happy new ear" and "oh bring us some piggy gourning." 

The boys have also decorated every possible inch of their play room with homemade Christmas decor. Tate has has become hooked on coloring, cutting, taping, glueing, and posting his creations for all the world to see. It may crush him when he finds out that I don't intend for all of his artistic masterpieces to survive our move this summer. Nor do I intend to adorn all of our future homes walls with such loveliness; he'll have to settle for one. The holidays have been wonderful. Tate's reckoning of the year is by the holidays so we have succeeded in making them special. The highlight of this year being Halloween. He has already gone through 3 or 4 costume ideas for next year and created paper versions for me so when we make it I will get it right. His favorite right now is Spud the Scarecrow from Bob the Builder because he is always silly. Tate has bouts of the same problem. 

 We went and spent the night in Nauvoo. They have a weekend event for Christmas in Nauvoo with lighted horse carriage rides, carol singing, a live nativity, and a bunch of shops you can visit to learn the history or Christmas hymns. When we were learning about the hymn Silent Night Ian started singing to provide the background music. It was so sweet. After we shared a condo with good friends and stayed up playing games, a rare occurrence since we both have kids. We hit the temple in the morning to complete a wonderful weekend and a year of visiting the temple monthly - a first for us since we got married but something I hope to continue!

A friend of ours has a tradition of having a gingerbread house decorating party. She pre-makes about 30 houses and then invites around that many kiddos to her house (inviting each to bring something to adorn it with) to decorate a house with sticky frosting. There are three tables covered with children decorating, eating, and enjoying the holidays. I can not even imagine the places she finds frosting during the upcoming weeks... The kids love it though and I may have to start something like it next year for Tate because it truly is so much fun. I should have taken a before and after of Tate's. After covering every inch he added a fence all the way around, "Look at all the candy mom." Wise beyond his years.

 Our Christmas Eve was wonderful. We spent the morning with friends eating brunch and chatting. We had a quiet evening with just our family. We ate leftovers at odd hours, acted out the nativity, opened pajamas, and watched Micky's Once Upon a Christmas with special snacks. It was simple and perfect. Christmas is more magical when you are living it through the eyes of your kids.

 Christmas morning started with pancakes that were happy to see us and acting as the snow that every Christmas needs. Our weather wasn't quite cooperating. Tate made me get him a snowman chocolate free.. He didn't get that from me. We made the boys eat breakfast before any opening could commence. I wish I had the same incentive for every meal. Some of ours stretch on way tooo loooong. But this one quickly disappeared.

They let me take one picture before we began. They both look thrilled.. But the morning was so fun. They experienced stockings for the first time and LOVED their pez dispensers so much they ate through all three packages of treats that came with it within an hour and a half. This led to a crankier afternoon but the morning excitement and sugar buzz was worth it. My Christmas fail was the fact that I thought we had chicken we didn't so our grand plans of homemade Chick-fil-a in our new fryer were a bust. We did utilize it on New Years Eve though and aside from the failed mozzarella sticks I think the fryer and I have a very delicious future ahead of us. 

*So Silly side note: One of my all time favorite memories growing up was lying under the Christmas tree, crossing my eyes, and looking up at the blurred lights I considered Christmas magic. This year all I had to do was walk out in the morning without my contacts in and I got to experience the blurred magic every day, I didn't even have to cross my eyes... I'm getting old... 

Bemples, Bapples, and Pigs that Goink

Recently Ian's vocabulary has skyrocketed. I don't think anyone but myself can understand the majority of what he says, but we converse very well. He is also the most honest child I have ever encountered. He will gladly fess up to any crime, wether he or Tate was the culprit. Ian proudly claims, "Ian did it." He then willingly accepts his punishments, usually finding whatever the offense was worth the price he had to pay.

Here are the words I never want to forget my kids saying.
Ian's Vocabulary
bapples- apples
bemples - temples
Goink - went the pig
Guk - Milk

Tate's
tomato warning - tornado warning
jamamas - pajamas

Here is the rest of our November in a nut shell.

 Josh took an elective at the school that went until 8 or 9 every Tuesday and Thursday leaving the boys and I lots of extra time for shenanigans and lazy parenting. I utilized a movie at least one night a week so dishes could be done before bedtime. They made "boxcars" and burrowed in. I think they spent more time coloring the boxes than watching shows so I don't feel too guilty.

Tate turned 4! I don't feel old enough to have a 4 year old. He is the silliest kiddo I know. He is so sweet and always trying to make everyone smile. Especially his little friends. His party consisted of 5 kiddos, everyone younger than himself. All of his besties his age moved this summer and we definitely missed them but we are so grateful for the friends we do have here. Tate prays often, "Thank you for the best friends in the whole world."

 His rainbow snake doughnut cake. I may not be able to beat this creation ever again in simplicity or deliciousness.

 Our landlord took out all the trees on our property and we enjoyed the jungle gym they provided for a couple of days. Tate is fearless in boots that are too big and has surprisingly impressive balance skills.

 This is as good as my pictures get recently. It is not blurry, and you can see his face.

 Ian and I laid down on the grass and watched a "show" in the sky. The birds were flying, the wind was blowing, and leaves were falling. I wish our landlords would have taken out the trees before all the leaves fell, but life goes on. Good exercise I guess.

Tate has always had strange napping skills, if any, and here are 3 in a months time. I am lucky to get one in a week, which in turn produces a night owl. I just noticed there are two of them in the same shirt.. I may have to remember that shirt for future successes.

 We woke up to a winter wonderland. It was so fun having snow we could play in. The boys loved venturing out, shoveling, and playing Fox with daddy. I decided Friday is the night for snow to come because then the roads are cleared before afternoon church Sunday and we can be happy hermits while the plows do their magic.

 The only turkey I have ever made. I don't know that I ever want to do a real one. Good thing I have had family and friends take care of that for me. For Thanksgiving we headed over to a good friend's house. The food was amazing, and my kids ate maybe 3 bites. I don't know when my children will catch on that holiday food is delicious and eating at someone else's house is a good thing.

 This is our grateful tree this year. Ian's additions were binkies, cows, bubbles, temples, and Tate. Tate wrote his own and translated them for me to include trains, family, and cell phones. The only downfall of the tree in Tate's eyes was its lack of rainbow leaves. He was not a fan of my fall options that were allowed on the tree.

 Tate's dinosaur and the beginning of a new toy love in our home. Notice the rainbow. It think that will be the trademark of Tate's artistic career.

 The handy dandy large pocket for treasures when leaving the house. He was so proud.

 What happens when I get distracted and try to accomplish something while letting my kiddos use markers. Tate told me he was following Ian's example. I just have to figure out how to teach Tate to lead a different direction instead of follow his gleeful little brother in mischief Tate would never think of.

Things You Know When You are Three

Tate has enlightened me of many interesting things in the last month. My favorites have been the following:

1. Chicken nuggets come from chickens and dinosaur chicken nuggets come from dinosaurs. When dinosaurs died, they became chicken nuggets. 
2. Beef comes from a Beaver and pork comes from a porker. 
3. He would like a second brother named Lukedor, Mouse, or Nelmo. 
4. Milk is oil, and water is gas. Both are needed for Tate to run smoothly. Tate is also painted colors each day, he doesn't wear them. 
5. When you have an ouchie it is a good day when it returns to peach. Then you know you are all better. 

 Just getting comfortable. I tend to think Tate has the right idea.

 A lady in our ward has a couple apple trees and she generously offered to let us come pick. The boys had so much fun. I ended up with more apples than I was anticipating but I couldn't say no to their overflowing buckets and exuberant smiles.

 After the apples we went to a pick your own raspberry farm. It was so fun! The berries were delicious too. Tate is an expert berry picker and would have picked every berry there if we had time.

 I tried to be domestic with our produce and made raspberry peach jam, apple pie filling, and applesauce. Yum!

 My little party animal. He loved sporting the hat at our friends' one year olds birthday bash. I think there were 6 kiddos that all turned 1 within a couple weeks and they celebrated them all together. They even had the birthday kiddos race at one point which was Tate's favorite part.

 Walking buddies. Love these boys!

 Josh turned 29!!! He wanted doughnuts... He had meetings on his birthday but the boys and I stayed up to sing to him when he got home.

Tate was in the primary program!!! The rest of us were home sick with a stomach bug but this guy went and rocked his part. I am a proud mommy. He still has it memorized and I don't know that he will ever forget it.

 Halloween costume train construction part 1 - the best part is yet to come.

 Tate discovered making sand angels at a park.. I need to get this kid to a beach.

We rode a neighbors bike at the park the other day. It was so fun! I can see Josh getting into this so it could be a possibility in our far away future. 

Ending the Month of August

I sat down with my computer and a half a ream of Oreos and between the speed of my computer and the deliciousness of Oreos, the Oreos were gone before the blogging even began. But I am determined to catch up on something so here goes the last couple weeks.

 For the last couple months of beautiful weather a group of us go walking in the mornings around 7:45. We have grand adventures of keeping our kids entertained, fed, and focused on achieving our desired amount of exercise - normally a little over a 5k. Some days our average speed is much higher than others. Ian's new favorite thing to do on these walks is to find a place to lay, sit, or crawl along when he gets tired. The explorer in him is coming out and crackers are losing their persuasive power. So much changes in a month or so. The boys usually walk a little over a mile each walk now too - training them young. Tate has also mastered the one legged hop.

 On August 21, 2015, Josh had his white coat ceremony, FINALLY!!! It was a very exciting day. The boys were great as they watched over a hundred people put on white coats. We counted rows, lights, and ceiling fixtures and finally resorted to fruit snacks. We ended the day by celebrating with pizza and friends! We are so excited to be moving forward and Josh is loving adjusting.

 My baby started preschool... I am so excited for his adventures ahead. I wanted to go with him. He gladly said see you later mom and was ready for the change.

 Ian misses him the most. As soon as we drop Tate off we talk about how Daddy and Tate are at school. Ian even asks for Tate several times during the two hours. He loves his big brother!

 How Ian opens a box of cereal. I sat and watched while I ate my lunch in peace. He really was enjoying ripping the box off piece by piece. I had to intervene when he started trying to get the sack open. The damage would have been irreparable for the poor shredded wheat.

 The day sand met the water table. Instead of interrupting I grabbed a book and enjoyed the novelty of the moment.

 Tate and Ian's first ride on a turtle. It was a magical experience they will never forget. So grateful for good friends to make memories with.

 Reading before church. Love these moments!

 Pajamas in the sand. Writing this post I am realizing that I am getting lazier or learning to live in the moment a little more. I am not sure which.

 Tate and I did a 1 mile color run together. It was so much fun!!! He is a trooper and I hope we have many more races together in the future.

 Tate is playing soccer!!!! I am coaching.. I am learning how much my parents really loved me because this level of soccer is painful!!! I feel like I am herding cats each week. The fist game Tate fell asleep standing up several times.

 Tate prefers the sideline and longingly looking at the playground next to the field... He did score a goal though, more in the right place at the right time but still a goal. I never realized how hard it was to simply focus on the ball... We'll see if any more improvement comes as time passes.