THIS is the year I've been waiting for!!!

Carson GETS it! And since HE gets it, Grace gets it (or at least 'pretends' to get it and goes along with everything)! Carson has been talking nonstop about Santa and Christmas and presents and being good...I LOVE IT! This year we are doing an eventful advent calendar. I made 25 little envelopes that each have a different activity inside. It hangs from a ribbon and we will open one every morning. I saw this idea in a Parenting or Family Fun magazine (I can't remember) and have since seen several blogs with different variations. I'm excited, the kids are excited and there is no way we'll have a boring December!!

Enjoy the holiday season!!!

Too Early for SNOW!

Carson couldn't get in the snow fast enough! He got home from preschool and begged for me to take him outside. So, I put Grace down for a nap and dug out the hats, scarves and gloves. He got all bundled up and went out to the backyard. When he was done out back, we went out front (I kind of hid from the weather in the garage...it was so cold!). Luckily, our corner neighbors love the snow and invited Carson over to help build a snowman - I went back home and started on the hot chocolate! Surprisingly, he stayed out for an hour!

Today he decided to get himself all bundled up first thing in the morning. He put on his hat, jacket, scarf, gloves and my boots and said, "These boots are FANTASTIC, let's see what they can do!" and headed outside. He forgot one thing...he was wearing shorts. He quickly came back in and said, "Mom, I'm not done yet, but my knees are cold and these boots are a little big." So we put on some pants and his own boots and away he went again.

Grace could not care less about the snow...yet.

Happy Birthday Carson!!!

So I no longer sound insane when I say I have two kids, ages 2 and 3. Ages 2 and 4 sounds much more manageable! When Carson woke up this morning I told him that today was his birthday. He got all wide eyed and smiles and said, "you mean TODAY, RIGHT NOW??" Then he kind of looked around the living room like "um, then where are my gifts?" I reassured him that he would have presents and cake, but reminded him that we wouldn't want to leave daddy out of the fun. He would need to first, go to preschool (where he would be leader and be in charge of treats), then come home and rest (please take a nap, please take a nap...), then T-Ball (again in charge of the treats), and THEN we'd come home for cake and fun. So all day he was like "Preschool, T-Ball, BIRTHDAY"...notice he left out the rest/nap.

I asked him what kind of cake or cupcakes he wanted. He said he wanted a mummy cake. Great...I was hoping to get off easy, but that's what I get for asking! So during his 'rest' (no, he did not take a nap) I made his cake. I told him that if he came out of his room, I'd have to stop making his cake. He stayed in his room for TWO HOURS! I guess he really wanted a mummy cake!

So the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Spongebob, a couple of time outs, more Spongebob...we were just waiting for T-Ball time. The wind was whipping and I really thought his game would get cancelled, but no luck. When the game was over, he asked his coach "Is the game over?" Coach said "Yes", Carson jumps in the air "YES!!!" and ran to the car...I'm sure that made Coach feel pretty good!

Jake put Carson's brand new bike right in the middle of the kitchen so he could get a picture of his first reaction...Carson didn't even notice it! I had to actually say "Look behind you...no, turn around and LOOK BEHIND YOU" and pointed right at the bike. FINALLY!

Ethan, Ashley, Sawyer and Isabelle (and their parents) came over for dry cake and ice cream. They brought gifts as well...Trick Trax...our favorite! We played for a little while and now both little ones are fast asleep.

I did another little "About Carson" thing this morning, but funny...his answers were incredibly similar to last year's...Spongebob, juice...so I just have a few thoughts of my own...

Carson has been such a fun little blessing in our lives! He is so funny, spirited and smart. I love everything about him! He is finally starting to see how convenient having a built in playmate can be (Grace) and they actually play more often than fight :) He loves preschool, loves his friends, LOVES his dad, loves music and dancing, hates meat, but loves to eat 'healthy foods'. He tolerates TBall, but I think we'll find a more exciting sport next year. Four seems so old...he's not a baby anymore, but he's also not a teen, tween, or even schoolage kid yet! I love you, Carson! muah!

Is that Grace, or Dick Cheney?

I can't help myself....

Finally Fall

I took the kids up to Daybreak a couple days ago to take some pictures. It was a bit chilly, but we snapped a couple photos before the noses got too runny. I think we'll go again later in the afternoon when it's a little warmer, but for now...here's what we got (notice Grace's 'stink eye' in several of the pics...that's her squint!)





In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little obsessed with the scrapbooking thing. It's fun and addictive - AND it captures our priceless memories! :) Here is another one of Steph and Ryan at Temple Square during one of their visits this summer....they are crazy!

Schools and Casts.....

We officially have a preschooler...backpack and all! His only complaint is that there is not a school bus to ride. He gets to carpool every other week with our neighbor, so that helps things a little, but he just doesn't understand why he can't just get on the big yellow bus with his five year old friends every morning! :)


Grace broke her wrist in two places a few weeks ago. I was on the phone with the cable company and she was sitting on the arm of the couch. When she fell off, I tried to quiet her cries with her blanket, a binky, George...all the usual tricks. When she threw the sucker across the room, I decided it was time to hang up with Dish Network and take her to the Instacare. Sure enough. She got a cute pink cast and lots of loves and apologies from Mom for not insisting that she get OFF the arm of the couch! 3 weeks later and she's as good as new!




Jake is out of town this week...and then again next week...and then the week after that...We have a new McDonald's play place to keep us entertained when we get sick of each other, but we are missing him already (and it's only been one day so far!!)!

Just a couple stories...

Occasionally, I'll turn the ipod on to something that I actually want to listen to. Today was Niel Diamond's turn. When "Love On The Rocks" came on, Carson came in my room and said, "I hate that song, Mom. For reals, I hate it." When I didn't rush to turn it off, he just stood there with his hands over his ears until it ended. Then he went on, business as usual.


A couple of days ago, I bought a bag of DumDums as 'treats' for the kids. They LOVE to get them at the bank, so I thought it would be a good idea. Well, Grace is definately showing her two year old personality at the mear mention of "you little sucker" or "that sucks" (which we rarely say...). She runs to the cupboard begging. If you linger for just a split second by the cupboard where they are kept she starts begging. When you say, "no suckers right now" she screams and shakes until you think her eyes are going to pop out of her head "Suck, I want suck!!!! Sucker! DumDum! Sucker! Suck! DumDum SUCKER SUCK I WANT SUCK!!!!!!" And on and on and on and on...you get the point. Well, she has not stopped screaming about it all afternoon today. I think Carson finally had had enough. He went to his room, found a sucker he had hidden earlier, and gave it to Grace. Peace and quiet...


Grace was not too fond of the 4th or 24th of July. She wanted to be a part of the festivities, but was scared to death of the fireworks. Now, every time we go to the garage or front door, she says, "no fireworks, Mom, no fireworks". You are right, Grace, no fireworks.

Carson just came in and randomly said, "Mom, you're supposed to sneeze in the bend of your arm"...maybe Nickelodeon is good for SOMETHING afterall. :)