Curiousity

Do you remember Curious George?  He was a curious little monkey.  He caused many problems and always frustrated the man in the yellow hat.  George wasn't meaning to be naughty.  He didn't want to make the man in the yellow hat sad.  But, he did.

I have a Curious George.  His name is Curious Creigh.

Yesterday, he was curious.  He wanted to know:  "What is inside mommy's cherished, beloved, leather couch?"

Creigh Jay,

Next time you want to know what's inside the "BY FAR THE NICEST PIECE OF FURNITURE WE OWN OR WILL OWN," please ask.

Thanks,
Love you,
Mommy

Thanks for commenting!

Yay! I have had more comments in the last day than I think I've had in a month. Thanks! It made me feel like I'm not just talking to myself....I do do that you know.

E Time

Yesterday, after Jack and Creigh went to school, Easton and I had some time together.  I had to run a few quick errands.  I made the mistake of giving him some m&m's for the drive.

We headed to the pet store.  Since I won't allow my kids to ever have a pet, this is the closest E will get.  He just loves animals and I love seeing him with them.

We then went next door to Rich's bagels and grabbed a bagel to share.  We grabbed a seat and ate our bagel together.  I loved feeling like there was nothing else to do and nothing more important at that moment.

Thanks E for the perfect date!

Creighton, Creighton, Creighton

Without the multitude of friends Creighton once had at the VG, he has become a tad bored.  This boredom has unleashed creativity.  He has created a "School."  This is behind my parents dining room table.  This is basically where he gathers all of his "stuff he shouldn't have behind there" materials and where he is usually hiding when I can't find him.  Things I have found with him there:

-Large box of Pop tarts (many unopened packages littering the ground) -Bag of rolls - The leg of the table (that mysteriously came apart from the table) -Rolls of Ribbon (which he used to tie things up) - Many, many, books - His note pad and magic marker - Money - My phone (too frequently) - Cars - Marbles - Wii Remotes - DVDs

One EARLY morning, Jackson awoke to find Creighton wasn't in his room.  We couldn't find him.  Eventually we found him laying in his "School" with a bowl full of chocolate chip cookies and a bag of rolls from dinner the night before.  Way to start the day off right!

Creighton is a "genius."  He is also a smart little three year old.  Yesterday, while trying to get Easton to leave him alone, says to Easton..."Easton, Papa's downstairs."  Easton (who is Papa's Mini Me and is attached at his hip all day) got so excited since he didn't think Papa was home from work yet (he wasn't) and runs downstairs.  Creighton got this satisfied smirk on his face, and continued doing what he was doing, freed from the bothering of his little brother.  Not an hour later, Jackson was playing "Angry Birds" on my iPod and yells at Creighton to help him beat a level.  A moment later, Jackson comes out of the room exclaiming, "Creighton, you're a GENIUS."  Again, the satisfied smirk.

So, even with the crazy things he does, it's hard to stay mad at him.  He is one of a kind......

This is the area that is his "School."  Yesterday he decorated with ribbon.

Easton's 2 Year Old Appointment

It was a month late, but we finally got in to see the Dr. for Easton's 2 year old appointment.

Here is what I found out:

"He is a healthy little boy."
"He looks great."
"Looks like he is on target to be over 6 feet tall."
"Love his blonde hair."
"He's a ticklish little thing."
"Adorable."

Oh....and he's:
36.5 inches - 95% in height
32 pounds - 90% in weight
HOT STUFF!  (yes, yes, I already knew this)

We had such a great appointment together.  He was a perfect little angel (I don't always feel this way about him in public) and he loved his new Dr.  Plus, it helps that he didn't have to have any shots! Yay!

I took a picture of him at the appointment.....but it seems to have been misplaced. (Perhaps I shouldn't let my kids play with my phone anymore.)

If it were only that easy.....

As many of you know, my sister is wanting another baby.  If any of you have read her blog, you know she had a rough little spell with "almost" babies.  I asked my kids to make her a card to make her feel better.  I came down about 20 minutes later to find the sweetest cards I have ever seen:

 This is a "Baby Machine."  He told me that you put in a baby doll and it will turn into a real baby.  You can see that there are different functions in the machine (can you not?).  For example, there is a "belly button" section, heart, and more.

With Love, Jackson

Creighton also made a baby machine.
I wish I would have recorded his explanation of the card.

This was a 2 sided machine.  It takes a large machine to make a baby....
thus, why I always get so large too. :0)

Anyway, I really wish it were that easy for my sister.  In the meantime, we all keep praying.

Thanks boys for being so thoughtful.  You amaze me each and every day.

Love you,

Mom

When the B's Come to Party.......

We break all the MOVES.....

Jenny & Andrew breaking it down

Mitch & I with this daring move....all the way back from our figure roller skating day.

We helped the kids learned to skate.
There were lots of falls, but we had fun.

We put E and Benson in rolling high chairs and wheeled them around.

The Evers Clan (Creigh Jay is in the back looking at the prizes)

After not skating since I think.....um....our Wedding Day, it was SO much fun.  I can't believe we go to "papa's place" at least twice a week and we haven't skated.  We will definitely need to do it more often.

We did of course the "usual" stuff too.

Jack and Tanner in the Blast Zone

E & Benson in the inflatables.

We had a great time at papa's place.  After that we went to "The Spaghetti Factory" and then went to see Temple Square.  My kids LOVED it.  They asked if we could start going to the temple every night.  They loved talking to the missionaries and getting all the pamplets and pass along cards.

Unfortunately, after a fun filled day, the B's left early the next morning to go back to Omaha.  ;(  We miss them so much.  I only hope they will come back and visit OFTEN.

11 Goals for 2011

It's 20 days into January, and I am finally writing down my goals.  I've had them in my head the last 20 days, but because I haven't written them down, I am ashamed to admit that when I write them down today....they will be missing one or two that I have already failed on.  Haha, so the story of my life.  That's OK though, we will go forward with these ones:

1.  Personal scripture reading daily - This year, I have decided to focus on the modern day scriptures.  After reading the Book of Mormon about 5 times (1st Nephi about 50), I have chosen Conference Talks.  It has required more time thain I have ever put in before for scripture reading, but I am loving it.  I feel like every talk is directed right to me and I honestly feel like I am learning more than I ever have before.  In fact, I feel like a lot of my other goals have been inspired by talks I have read in the last 20 days.

2.  Family Scripture Reading - We did OK last year with our scripture reading.  Not so well as the year closed to an end.  This year, we are recommitted.  Going hand in hand with Goal #1, I modeled this goal after one of the first talks I read.  It was by Rosemary M. Wixom in October's Conference 2010 and is titled "Stay on the Path."  She tells a story about a family of 4 that did their family scripture reading by just reading one verse each.  Even though that was only 4 scriptures a night and it took them a very long time to get through the Book of Mormon....they were doing it!  So, we have adopted this.  We read straight from the scriptures and each take a turn reading.  I'm still not sure if my kids get anything out of it, but we are setting an example and I feel like that is most important.  Here is a little video of E reading.  He normally likes to add his own words too.  For example, he loves to say Choo, Choo randomly throughout the scripture.  He doesn't do it in this video, but I still think it's adorable (of course).

3.  Push-ups and/or sit-ups 6 days a week.  Yeah, this one hasn't been going to well.  We will keep trying.

4.  1-2 marathons and 2 1/2 marathons.

5.  On my knees to pray, every morning and night.  (I did the night goal last year, this year I am working on the morning.)

6.  Read to my kids 20 minutes every day.  I know, I know, I should already be doing this and it should be an easy goal....but I really struggle with this.

7.  Temple attendance monthly.

8.  Make my kids a blanket.  Jackson has been asking for one for a long time and instead he just watches me make everyone else one.  This year....it's their turn.

9.  Print my blog into books.

10.  Get a house. (maybe this is more of a wish than a goal)

11.  DO MORE SERVICE!!!  Seriously, I have been slacking.  So, if you ever need something...give me a call.  Let me accomplish my goal. :)

There they are.  Hopefully writing them down will help me hold myself accountable.  I guess I'll laugh and make fun of myself next year when I read them.  Who knows though, maybe I will be someone I have never been before and actually accomplish them.  How cool will that be??  Well, I guess we'll see.

Limiting TV watching

It's been decided. We are limiting tv watching at our house. This comes after the following two comments were made by Jackson this weekend:

1. While at Walmart my kids saw pillow pets. They immediately asked if they could have one. After giving the standard answer of no, Jackson responded. "mom, pillow pets are the perfect $20 gift though."

2. While watching "Ice Age 3," Jackson was telling me how cute the baby mammoth was that was born. After the scene passes he says, "mom, you should have taken a picture of that cute baby elephant and put it on your blog. You should have mom, that would have been so cute.". Apparently we don't need the zoo anymore. We can take all our pictures off the tv to show what we have been doing.

The Empty Threat

As much as I hate to admit it, I perform the "empty threat" much to often.  It usually occurs when we are going to go do something fun and I threaten the kids that we won't go.  However, I generally want to go, so the threat is purely empty.  Unfortunately, my kids are now old enough to know this.

Yesterday, a sad thing happened....two more exercise balls perished here at the Evers' home.  It's been almost a year since the last one, but I guess with my mom having 3 balls sitting around, it was just too tempting.  This time it was not child #1, however, it was child #2. I had been telling them all day that if they we were good, we would go to their cousin's bday party.  When I saw the 2 balls laying limp on the ground, that was it, I cancelled the party.  We would no longer be attending.

2 hours later, we were headed to the party.

So.....what's my deal?  I act all big and tough, but with some crying, pleading, I'm sorries, and giving all the money they've earned to my mom to buy a new ball, I caved.

Well, it's a new day and I am recommitted.  My new goal:  don't make threats you don't want to deliver on or can't.  And if I do make the threat, follow through.  We'll see how it goes.  Hopefully, the last of the 3 balls will survive the Evers' temporary stay here.

Super Cool!

I hadn't seen Jack for a while.  I went in his room and this is what he created.
It's made out of marbles, cars, and other random things.

I have the most creative kid.  Who else ties them to a chair so that way wherever they go, they have a seat? Brilliant!

Relax and Let it Happen

My mom is the queen of cutting out articles for us all to read.  Super thoughtful.  The most recent was an article out of the Deseret News entitled, "Life goes on; relax and let it happen" by Linda and Richard Eyre.

Huge Fan.

It has a big picture of a toddler, leaning in through a wire fence and french kissing a giant pig's snout.  Under the picture, the caption reads, "So, the kid kissed a pig.  Life goes on. Grab a camera, not the kid, experts say."

I am VINDICATED!!!  Every time my kids do something crazy and I want to take a picture, Mitch gives me this scornful look that says, "Allie, if you do that you are perhaps the worst mother ever."  (This may be why my posts have been less adventurous due to the Mitchell being around a lot more than before....which we are happy for, don't get me wrong.)  Now, I can proudly say, "Experts say I should do this."

The article talks about the fact that the best thing a parent can do is relax and chill out.  Enjoy your kids and their antics a little more and worry about them a little less.  There are dirtier things than a pig's snout, and the picture will live on forever.

I think my most classic picture of this point was when I found Easton sitting in the toilet.  Seriously.... you know that is going on his wedding video.

Now, I do think the article fails to warn you that you should not relax so much that you are not watching your children.  Perhaps this is where I fail as a parent.  I'm great at the camera, but if I was better at the watching, some of my funnier shots would not have come to be. Hmmmm.  

The Streaker

When my parents offered to allow us to stay with them, they were unaware of the streaker in the family.

Late at night, when all the kiddos were thought to be asleep, and when my parents would lie in bed....their doorknob would turn.  Slowly the door would creak open, and the streaker would appear.

They say he has a naked stance.  They say they have never seen someone be stand so proud. Oh, my dear little E.  This has happened a few times, however.... today, the streaking was no longer funny.

You would think I would learn from this, but as I have mentioned in the past, I have taken preventative measures, but he is a spontaneous streaker.  He will go a week with no incidents, in which we think he has been cured.  Sadly, it happens again and we recognize he has not been.

This morning, we were greeted by our streaker at the top of the stairs.  "Hi," he said proudly.  Mitch went up and I heard a groan.  I pretended not to hear the groan and decided to let him deal with it.  While E was in the bath, I was invited to come up and see the damage.  Gross.  Gross.  Gross.

Undid his pj's in the crib, pooped all over the crib, and then climbed out of the WHITE crib skidding down the side as he fell out.  Lovely.  Good morning to us all.

Maybe it's back to duck taping. :(

Jack & Creigh's 1st day of school....again

Today was a big day.  Jackson started Kindergarten at a school where he knew absolutely no one.  I have to say, I have never done that.  I have at least always knew someone from my ward or something.  I was so proud of him for being so brave, because I was super nervous myself.  He has a great teacher and the kids made him a book where each of his classmates drew a picture of him.  It was cute.  He didn't have a lot to say about school, but he never does.  I guess since he had a smile on his face, I should be happy.

 Creighton, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking about his new school when he got home.  He, also, didn't know anyone, but I'm sure he made them all laugh.  He made a shape caterpillar, has 5 teachers, ate a snack and showed them his "Star Wars Puzzle, and everyone wanted one, but Santa only had one and brought it to me, but I told them they could come to my house and play with it."

I'm proud of you boys!!  You both were so brave!

Happy 9 and still more than fine!

Found an awesome rate for the same hotel Mitch and I stayed in 9 years ago for our honeymoon, so..... we hopped in the car the next day and drove to Vegas! Missed the boys, but it was so nice to be just us.  It's been 3 years since we've done that and it was nice....even though we were there less than 24 hours.

Thanks to all the babysitters.  You're all the best!

Oh....and here is the only picture we took:

Have you ever wondered.....

What your neck would look like in the morning if you slept with a candy necklace on?

Creighton decided to try it.

Don't judge me......he didn't have it on when I tucked him in.

Thanks Jo!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the cutest blog!  Love you!