Big Words for Small People

I read the book "Big Words for Small People" to the boys yesterday. It has a fun way of teaching kids big words like, supendous, irate, disgusting, appropriate, etc.

A few minutes after reading it, Creighton was picking his nose. I exclaimed, "Creighton, that's disgusting!" and Jackson yelled, "Creighton, that is inappropriate!" Wahoo! Reading works!

Oh, My Boys

This is just a quick update for journaling purposes.

Easton is another monkey! This high chair doesn't have a seatbelt on it and I don't remember having a problem with my kids trying to climb out until they were much older. Not E. He has been standing up and trying to climb out since he was 8 months old. He's only 9 months....what's next. I'm worried. How can you be mad at that face? Everytime I try to scold him he smiles like that, and I melt.My Jackson is loving school so much. Here he has laid out a pattern with his fruit snacks...not quite, but really close. :) Jackson loves being the big brother and he loves when I ask him to babysit. (Lately, I have put my video monitor downstairs and leave all 3 down there for Jackson to babysit. It's kind of like a nanny cam. They haven't figured out how I know all that goes on.)

Creighton is growing up so fast and I feel bad, because I forget that he really is only 2. He is so tall and hangs out with Jack and his friends, so I sometimes get frustrated with him, and forget that he is 2 years younger. He is such a sweetheart and he is Jackson's shadow. In fact, they now sleep in the same bed. Jack used to sleep on the bottom and Creigh on top, but Creighton won't sleep without Jack anymore. It's a good thing though. That was my plan all along. Now, as soon as E is old enough, he can go up top and bodaboom, bodabing, I have another craft room!

I think I let life go by so fast and even push it to go faster. This is such a fun time and I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy it more. I have started a gratitude journal. One for me and one for my kids. It has been a great thing for our family. Creighton every night when I ask him what he is thankful for he says, "Jesus and Singing Songs." He hasn't missed a night being thankful for that. There is one thing I want to write down every night too, just like Creighton. It's my boys.

The Butter Knife Gang

Beware: This story may taint your image of my little guys and may cause you to never want to let your kids play with my kids again. If you feel it will change your view on them, do not proceed to read.

Yesterday, the kids were playing with their little friend Tanner at the playground. Jackson left for a while and when he returned he beckoned Creighton and Tanner to come over to him. He then proceeded to pass out butter knives to each of them. Can you picture this? It was shocking! I felt like my kid was the one at school who passes out something naughty at the playground. Awful. I took him over and sat him down in time out and after I explained how dangerous knives are, I asked him why he would do something like that. The reason: to kill the spiders. I introduced a new weapon to Jackson.....the shoe. Hopefully, we won't have another problem like that.

Free Diaper Giveaway!

All right, it's over! I am giving these diapers away to the brave soul who wants to deal with them, because I am through. I bought a 200 count box of Sam's Club's brand diapers to save $15 about 3 months ago. I only have 9 left and I refuse to put another one on Easton and be forced to deal with them. They are crap. They don't even hold the crap, let alone the pee. Have you ever tried to change a crib bed without taking the bumpers off? It's a pain in case you didn't know.

OK, my venting is over. If there is a brave soul that would like these 9 size 3 diapers, come get them soon because they are about to go in the garbage.

Poor E. If you look close, you can see his entire onesie is soaked.

My lucky day....honestly

I got this probably 6 lb. thing of chicken for $1.97! What a deal! It actually said it was $0.00 as you can see above, but it rang up at the cost of the price per pound. I didn't think it was right, so when I noticed, I went up to the customer service desk on my way out. The manager came up and told me to go ahead and keep it and he would just check to make sure there weren't anymore like that. Wahoo!!

My Big Boys

Last week I took Jackson and Easton in for their 4 year/9 month appointment. Results: Healthy and big. However, I was suprised by Easton's weight. I thought he was bigger than that. Here are the stats:

JACKSON (4 years old): Height - 44" (97.18%), Weight - 46 lb. 8 oz. (95.98%)

EASTON (9 months old): Height - 30" (94.36%), Weight - 20 lb. 15 oz. (59.62%), HC - 44.5 c.m. (28.58%)

Going To Church

For those of you with small children, do you sometimes ask yourself, "Why do I even try?" Well, I think I ask myself that often at church, but don't worry, I'm not going to go inactive. I know why. However, it still is trying sometimes.

Last Sunday, as we pile into the car crazily because we are late, we go to start the car.....and nothing. Creighton the day before decided to play in the car when we were unaware and I noticed he left all the lights on, but I turned them off later that night and didn't think more about it. I guess for the hours they all were on, it drained the batteries. Great.

Lately Jackson will not go to Primary. This is completely bizarre to me, because he has never had any problems going to nursery, primary, or anything. He freaks out though and goes completely crazy, screaming, crying, kicking etc. Yes, it is a sight. He is FOUR, FOUR! Come on now. After weeks of this, I finally just left him and he calmed down after a "show" of approximately 5 minutes long. Then, after primary he comes pouncing our as happy as can be telling me all the things he learned, what he got to do, etc. Seriously, what is his problem? He did the same thing the week before too. Wish me luck next week. It better not happen again.

To make me feel better about my day, I took this cute picture of my kids dressed in our shoes and it made everything in the world right again. How can you be mad with a boy dressed in high heels and one in size 13 dress shoes? You just can't.

Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

Here we all are in Nauvoo! I know I said I wasn't going on a trip in a long time, but we ended up leaving that next weekend and went down to Nauvoo for Labor Day. I am so glad we did. We went with Bleaks and it was an adventure. We are only about 5 hours away and we have talked about going the last 3 years and we finally made it there! Wahoo!

Thanks to Jenny Bleak for the beautiful photography!

Here are Tanner and Jack on the steps of the temple.

Below are some pictures of us doing some pioneer activities: candle making, making a rope, dressed as pioneers (love the hats), going on an oxen ride, petting the horses, and the last picture is of the "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" show we went and saw.

Carthage Jail

Here is Jack and Creigh in front of the Joseph & Hyrum statue at Carthage.

Here's the whole fam at Carthage Jail.

The whole trip was very trying at times (our kids definitely detracted from the spirit at times), but it still was definitely worth it for the spirit we did feel. The temple was indescribable and the trip was worth it just for that session. Thanks to the Bleaks for going with us and watching our kids so we could go to the temple.

I think Mitch and my favorite part (besides the temple) was the "Trail of Hope" which used to be called the "Trail of Tears." This is a road where the saints all lined up in their wagons to depart from their home at the beginning of FEBRUARY. Having now spent 3 winters in the mid-west, I cannot even imagine this. Along this road, there are about 30 quotes from different saints about that time. It was incredibly touching and made me really appreciate my pioneer ancestry. I am so thankful we had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo and learn more about the early Saints and the sacrifices they made for me today. Joseph Smith was an incredible man and my testimony of him grew even more. He gave up his life for the work of the Lord. Would I be that strong? Would I walk across the country in the middle of the winter? It really made me think and I know that I am faced with different challenges than the pioneers, but I am thankful for their faith because it teaches me that with faith, I can get through anything.

This post is for Shauna

We finally got new carpet and a sectional. (YEAH for a couch without cushions!!!!! No more houses, planes, forts, etc....at least upstairs. ) We did everything about a week after Shauna left, so this post is for her since I talked about it forever and it finally happened. Thanks to Mitch and my mom for helping me hang everything.

The 1st Day of the Rest of our Lives

Today is a big day. Today marks the 1st day of the rest of our lives. Mitch started work today! He isn't officially a lawyer yet (he finds out on Friday) but he did start his first "big boy" job today. I can't believe we are no longer students and he is working. CRAZY!

Congratulations honey! We are so proud of you!

Jack's 1st Day at the BIG School

Jack has been talking about "The Big School" for the last year. "The Big School" is the Elementary School down the street from our house. He got accepted into the Pre-K program just 2 days before school was to start and we were so excited. He loves school and has even gotten upset on the weekends because he doesn't get to go.

I love this picture! Look at the proud little brother. Creighton still cries everytime we drop him off because he wants to go too.

Our Visit to the East Coast

This post is behind (like most of them), but as I mentioned before, we went from the West Coast to the East Coast in a few days time. We headed to North Carolina to visit Mitch's family. Mitch's parents moved there a few months ago and live on a farm with Mitch's aunt's family, his grandma, and his uncle. Mitch's brother Marty and his family also moved to North Carolina a few months ago to attend maxiofacial radiology school at NCU. It was so fun to see everyone. I hadn't seen his grandma or aunt in about 8 years, and I had never met his uncle.

When we got into North Carolina, we went right to a beach house that his brother rented. We had SOO much fun! We went to the beach for a little bit and then we went on a boat ride.

Don't ask me what Jack is doing. Lately he has been doing this "Tiger claw" in pics.Here is Easton eating Jackson. He does this to me all the time. This is Jack with the dog that belonged to the Captain. His name was Tiger and they dressed him up in different costumes and made him do tricks. Here he is in a shark costume....he is a "Tiger Shark." Get it? The boat broke down in the middle of the tour, so we turned to the dog for entertainment.

Mitch, Tyler, Jack and Creigh

Here are some pics from the beach.

My little man. All he wanted to do is eat the sand.Boogie Boarding was so fun! The waves were huge!


Jack boogie boarding
Playing in the sand

Creigh boogie boarding

Back at the farm:

Here are the boys feeding the cows. They loved it and so did the cows.

I was just praying they didn't hit the electric fence while they threw the bread.

They didn't.

I have omitted some pictures, that I might add later. I gave Mitch the camera to take some pictures of the kids swimming. Some?? Let's just say a lot. 55 to be exact and they were only out there 20 minutes! I plan to make a 55 pictures collage as soon as I get time. I am sure you all are very excited to see it, so please check back.

While we were there, Lucy (Mitch's parent's bull dog) delivered puppies. She had 3. I learned a lot about bull dogs while I was there......let's just say I didn't realize how much work dogs are. I have my hands full with children, I'll just stick with them for now.

In case you couldn't see the puppies, Jackson is pointing them out with as much enthusiasm as I would have done. :)

The night before we left, we drove up to Chapel Hill to visit his brother and we went bowling. We had never taken the boys bowing before and we had a great time. Mitch was very enthusiastic for the boys:

Here is E hanging out with his cuz Malia.

E is about 2 months older. I love that my kids all have close cousins.

This is a freaky picture of Mitch I thought I would add.

I loved my kids bowling shoes!

Brotherly love.

Please note: Allie WON! Yes, the 2nd line from the bottom (116) is me

and the last row (115) is Mitch.

This is Mitch's reaction to the loss. The kids were there to comfort him.

It was a fun trip, but after traveling for 4 weeks, we were ready to go home. But not before a stop in Chicago and picture with the Blue Brothers.

So, after we got home, my kids got out there k'nex and built the following:

Do you know what it is? I didn't but, Jackson informed me....it's an electric fence!

Clever, huh? Jack's unhappy in this pic b/c Creighton broke off a piece.

Special thanks to all of Mitch's family for all their hospitality. We had so much fun visiting you and we love you all so much!