Saturday, March 31, 2012

February

My titles are sorely lacking in creativity...but that's as good as it gets. :)

My parents gave us a Kindle Fire for Christmas. We love it...and so do the kids. I sure am impressed by how well they navigate that thing...games, Netflix, you name it and they know how to do it.Decorating cookies with Grandma April.
Chuck E. Cheese with Grandma Kay.(They seriously have two of the BEST grandmas around.)

Valentine's Day-
Last year I made the kids Valentine backpacks for the backs of their chairs. Last year I finished them the night before Valentine's Day so they weren't used much. This year I put a little goodie from the dollar store in them each morning. Nothing special but it was fun. On Valentine's Day they each got a book and a little treat.(Brynn got a book as well, but her backpack isn't done yet. I know, I'm lame.)

Molly wrote me a thank you note:("Dear Mom I love your presents that came in my backpack They make my heart warm From Molly Love Mom")

We got busy that day making {one of} Justin's favorite meals (Chili-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze, thank you melskitchencafe) and dessert (PB Fingers), and "heart-attacking" the bathroom mirror for Justin. Nothing much was planned beyond that. Justin brought home balloons to the delight of everyone...We went to the cabin. We did some snowmobiling and some sledding. Stocky was more comfortable on the snowmobile when it wasn't moving. Brynn liked hanging out in the truck. Molly loved sledding until she crashed.
Fun memories abound at the cabin...playing Wii with the cousins.(missing Chloe, Tessa, and Grace)

It always wonderful to get outside on the milder days of February. I had my birthday at the end of the month. I had a great day! The kids and I met my mom and Ali and did some shopping and had lunch.(You can really tell how old I am by looking at those crows feet around my eyes. Geez!!) (Oh yeah, I turned 30 this year.)

When we got home Justin said he'd take me out for dinner or bowling or whatever I wanted. But I wanted to stay home. So we ordered take-out, rented a movie from Redbox (The Muppets) and had a picnic in the front room. It was great!! Really the best birthday I can remember!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Stockton video overload

Hmm, what to say about this boy. You know, Molly never really put us through the "terrible twos." Stockton, on the other hand, does on some days. He can be really hard sometimes...he wants whatever anyone else has, he throws tantrums when he doesn't get his own way; all of those things that go under the "terrible two" category he probably does it.

Now, I'd rather not dwell on those things that he does, because, on the flip side he can be a perfect little angel...sweet, nice, obedient...he really is a cute little boy overall. Because he is at such a fun age, we've tried to capture more of him on video so we can go back and revisit how Stockton was at this age.

Stockton wasn't overly fond of Santa although he does a killer impersonation...I just love the way he tries to talk in a deep Santa voice...

Back in October we were browsing the movies at the library and Stockton chose a movie called "The Wiggles." I had never heard of them and if I only knew what bringing that one video home would start...we watch them every single day. It's like one of those things that I choose not to battle over. I found a Wiggles movie at the DI back in December which is our back-up if we can't make it to the library that week for a new Wiggles VHS. Our library only has about 5 of them and we've seen them all. We wonder how long this obsession (which is the only thing to call it) will last.

The big news is that Stockton threw his binkies away!! That's good, right? Yes, it's very good. He needed to a long time ago but I was putting it off because I still wanted him to nap. One day he just got up off the couch where he was resting and threw the binkies in the garbage. I thought of fishing them out just in case but I ended up leaving them there and it hasn't been too bad. Although, napping is almost non-existent now.

Here are a few other things not documented on video: he still loves Cars, trains, and a love of basketball has resurfaced lately. He does not want to be potty trained. He talks a ton and I love hearing all the words he says wrong. Prayers are the very best. Justin always helps him and I know he puts in a few big words just so he can hear Stockton try to say them. Around big crowds he will be so quiet, usually just play in a corner by himself. I'm embarrassed to admit this but at home he tries hard to end sentences or phrases with the words "bum" or "toot." And then he laughs. We didn't teach him this, I swear. I try to get really stern with him and tell him it's not okay. And then we laugh our heads off when he's not around. But, really, I hope this ends soon. What might be sort of funny for a two-year-old is so not funny for an older kid to do. He made up a game called "race on the stairs" that he is always begging someone to play with him. He really doesn't like church. All morning long when we are getting ready he's crying, he cries in the car on the way there, and he cries as we are walking in. Seriously. He cries as soon as the closing prayer in sacrament is over and he cries for the first few minutes of nursery. And then he's fine. And we go home and he tells us all about the toys he played with, the snacks he ate, and if he played with a friend. We do this week after week. He loves the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt." We go on bear hunts often-Stockton brings along a flashlight and a bb gun. Sometimes he runs away from the bear, sometimes he hides, and sometimes he just shoots it. He loves numbers lately and is always pointing to them and asking what they are. 25 has been his favorite lately. If you ask him when his birthday is he'll say "June twenty-five!" Then "I be free (three) on mine's birfday and then I frow diapers away and wear underwear." We'll see if that works.

Some songs to close with...