Happy Birthday to Kael!

Kael turned 2! Actually, her turned 2 about a month and a half ago (I know...such a bad blogger!). He is such a funny toddler. He has the best sense of humor and loves to make us all laugh. He isn't shy at all, and will often talk to complete strangers. He loves music and dancing and picking on his brother. He is very much a boy's boy and enjoys his cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, and every other transportation toy. He likes guns and swords way more than I would like, but I am learning there isn't much I can do about that. The other day in the grocery store he took the cucumber from the cart, held it like a gun, and kept yelling, "Pow. Pow. Your dead mom!" very loudly as I went up and down the isles. This kid would turn anything into a gun! Although he is so "manly" he definitely is still in touch with his "feminine side" and loves hugs and kisses, will dress up in my shoes, and will often tell me something looks "cute" - all of that makes the sociologist in me very proud. At least I know I am not totally nurturing him into a socially determined gender role! Now that I am expecting again, I find myself thinking of my ultrasound while I was pregnant with Kael. I wanted Kael to be a girl.; I must have been crazy! I can't imagine my life without this little guy.

To celebrate his birthday we had a few friends over during the day, then Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner. He got to blow out candles a total of 3 times! Once on his pancakes for breakfast, then twice on his cake! (a small note about the cake... I did not mean for it to be quite so feminine... even with my background in sociology! I told them purple and green like Buzz Lightyear. Apparently the decorator does not have boys, because it is definitely more Tinker Bell than Space Ranger! Kael didn't really notice though.)

 

 

Yes, Scott does have two darts from Kael's new dart gun stuck to his head!

Scott and I got Kael a little motorcycle riding toy. It was perfect for him! It took about two seconds before he figured out to make it pop wheelies. It's what he rides whenever Moses wants to go on a bike ride. The poor kid has to work harder to make that motorcycle go than he would a real bike, but he loves every second of it!

New York, New York!

We went to New York awhile ago - it was an amazing trip! We had so much we wanted to see and do that we were busy almost the entire time. It was a totally different vacation from those where you sit on the beach and read a book. We took a tour bus ride, went to 3 different Broadway plays, went to the Metropolitan Museum twice (once turned out to not be enough!), went to the statue of liberty, roamed the Ellis Island museum, rode the subway during rush hour, shopped in China town, went to the temple, and roamed through Central Park. And that was just the big things!

There was so much history and national pride there that I couldn`t help but tell Scott how proud I was to be an American! (As a side note he insists our next vacation be to a spot of Canadian pride) America truly is a great country. The freedom and liberty it offered at such an early period in history is amazing - even if Americans can be arrogant and ignorant today. I`m sure that God had a hand in founding the United States and I am proud and grateful for all the men and women who have fought to make it and keep it free.

New York was such a great experience. I can`t wait to go back! I loved the city with all the bustle and the excitement you could feel in the air, but I have to admit, when we got back and drove through the openness of the prairie to pick up our boys I was glad to be home. And the air definitely smelt fresher!

You can see even more pictures from our trip by clicking HERE.

Happy Easter!!!

Hunting for treats!

Dividing the spoils! (I love how Moses' tongue is hanging out in this pic!)

All 14 cousins!

One Last Time

We have been going to Medicine Hat every couple of months for almost two years now. This was our last time. So sad because we really started to feel at home at the Holiday Inn Express. :) So glad because that means that Scott only has 8 weeks left and he his done with school forever!!

We had a great trip this time. Scott's neice, Jaycee, came with us to help tend the kids. We played on the slide, went bowling, and did some shopping. It was great having someone to help - I wish Jaycee could always come with us when we head out of town.Scott and I even left them one evening and went to a movie!

The only downside to the entire trip was due to my lack of planning. When Jaycee and I checked the forecast it was calling for relatively warm spring weather. So of course I only packed flip flops. It snowed! And it was so windy! It was so cold the entire time I'm surprised I didn't loose some toes!

A long time ago....

Way back in March Scott was working out of town for the month, so I went with the boys to Oregon to visit with my family. We took the train, and boy was that an adventure! We got onto the train around 5pm, just before dinner. I had backed a simple dinner for that first night. We ate, walked around the train, spent some time in the observation car, played with sticker books, and watched a movie. I was loving the train! So much better than driving just because we could move around. Then between 9 and 10 pm the boys went to sleep. We just had coach tickets so we just crashed in the seats. It was pretty great. Then around 1am, something woke Moses up. He was so tired, he kept crying, then he woke Kael up. They were both up until around 4:30am. They kept crying, so I turned on a movie for them, thinking they would fall right asleep - they ended up staying awake for the entire movie and part of a second! I wasn't loving the train as much at this point. They finally went to sleep and were out for good. Even when a really noisy group of 3 families got on at 5:30 am, waking me up for the day, my boys didn't even stir. We got off the train at 7:30 am. Even with the lack of sleep, the train was WAY better than driving. I got more sleep than I would have if I was trying to drive that distance by myself. And it was so much fun for the boys to go through tunnels and hear the periodic whistle.

While in Oregon, we spent a lot of time outside. Kael especially loved being outside and went out whenever he could. He was Grandpa's little shadow for two weeks, helping to feed cows and do other farm work. When he wasn't with Grandpa, he was with Nana on the tractor or just running around the yard. Moses enjoyed himself, but wasn't loving it like Kael was. He told me later that he didn't like to ride tractors because "they are so dirty and loud." That's Moses for you!

We spent a lot of time playing with cousins. The kids all got along really well. Moses is still telling me that he wants to move in with Tess and Lexi because apparently they have much better toys (guess I should buy him a Barbie?). And he tells me all the time how much he misses Chase.

It was almost Easter, so one morning we got together and dyed Easter eggs and decorated cookies (thanks again Denise for being the Hostess and making all those cookies!). The kids had a really good time.

Just before boarding the train to come home, we went to a pizza place in Portland where they have a bunch of blow-up bouncy toys and a HUGE McDonald's style play place. The kids had a lot of fun and burned off a bunch of energy. I was impressed with Kael's mad climbing skills! I didn't think he would be able to do it, but he climbed up those toys so well! What a little monkey!

There were more pictures than I could post of my trip to Oregon, so to see the complete set click HERE.

Oh Baby, Baby

Pictures of our third! Ultrasounds are usually one of my favorite parts of pregnancy, but this one was a little anticlimactic for me. Scott watched the entire time, but all I could enjoy were his facial expressions. I only got to see a little bit at the end, maybe 3 minutes worth. And the lady seemed a little grumpy and annoyed with my overwhelming desire to see this child's genitals (can't help it - I HAVE to know). At least Scott got to see lots. It's always harder for those males to have any real bonding experiences before the baby is born. :)

Grandpa and Nana

LaShauna's parents came out to visit for a week in February. The boys loved them being here and we got to do a lot of fun things. One day we all went to the waterslides! I think Moses loved going with Grandpa the best....although Moses did fall off the tube while in the slide once! Kael preferred to go with Nana and still talks about going down waterslides with Nana, "Not Grandpa" - Grandpa went a little too fast for little Kael!



While they were here LaShauna and I also got to go on a date night with them, as well as we got to go to the temple together. All in all it was a great visit and the only bad thing was that they eventually had to go home.....and the fact that Nana taught Kael how to snore!

Moses = FOUR

So Moses had his fourth birthday back in February. He is super into surprises lately and is constantly making things that he gives us as a "surprise." So for his birthday we had a SURPRISE PARTY! All his cousins in the area, Grandma and Grandpa, and even Grandpa and Nana from the states were here for a big surprise!

Moses loved it. He also loved his Candyland cake!

Merry Christmas

May this Christmas season be filled with Joy, Peace, and Love.....we know ours is!

Santa

Well, Kael hates Santa this year. We have tried twice and he doesn't want to go near him for any reason at all. Not even for the treats. We have one more try and I might just snap that "screaming-baby-with-Santa" picture. (I secretly think those are kinda cute) Moses does like Santa and the idea of new toys. He doesn't really know what he wants for Christmas this year, so some of the things he asks for are kinda funny. Here is the list he made. 1) Bat (like the kind that have wings and come out at halloween) 2) Rug 3) Stop Sign 4) Antlers 5) a Deer 6) a Star 7) a Bed.

I'm not sure if he was going for words he could spell or what... I think at this point anything will make him happy on Christmas morning.

The only way Kael would even get in the same picture as Santa - on my knee!