Saturday, December 31, 2011

Random life

I have been enjoying my last 2 weeks with the boys, on Christmas Break. It will be very hard to have to go back to work next week. Bleh. We have spent ample time playing with puzzles and fishing, and of course saving the world with the Power Rangers :-)

Couple catch up videos. First, Kai. He's been growing up so fast lately. Here is a compilation of his learning to eat with utinsels.



He loves to play with balls, just like Kaeden did, and he's getting very good at catching and throwing.



Then today, I was cleaning, doing laundry and changing sheets, and the boys were always around to help. They LOVE to jump on the bed, and when I pulled Kai's bed up to change the sheets, I couldn't help but throw it on the floor to see what they would do. Little did I know it would be the hit maneuver of the morning!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

It's been a few months since Halloween and Kaeden's birthday, but what a fast few months! Been gearing up for Christmas in a couple ways, the ward party, the Santa Train, lots of classic Christmas movies, and of course, shopping! I was excited cuz the boys are old enough to start to understand, and with this on the heels of Kaeden's birthday, they are all about opening presents!

For the Ward Party, we had a pj night! I thought it was a great idea. Kai was sick, so he stayed home with Kevin, but Kaeden had a great time running around and even got up on stage with the Primary kids to sing! He didn't actually sing, he just sat down, but it's a good experience because in January he starts Sunbeams!







We also got to go back to the trains down in Boulder City. The Santa Train came to town! The boys had a great time riding, although there wasn't an open car this time, so looking out the window isn't as fun with no wind in your hair.
















With all this as a precursor to Christmas, the boys knew who Santa was, and definately had a feel for presents. Luckily, we didn't have to get up any earlier than usual (6:30 ha ha ha) and here is their Christmas morning...



We also got a fishing game, which I can see will quickly become a Saturday morning staple!



We haven't stopped playing with the Power Rangers or the robots, and thanks to everyone who sent presents, the boys go the rounds from toy to toy, and have a great time with each one.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Kaeden's 3rd Birthday

How fast time truly does fly! My little man is 3 years old!

At 3 - Kaeden is talking like crazy, but still a little muffled in pronunciation, so we have a great time listening to his conversations. He loves robots, trains, cars, Power Rangers, dinosaurs, balls of any kind, reading, running, and playing outside. He is a great helper, putting clothes away, bringing wipes for brother, stirring food, putting dishes away, and anything else he can do. Coloring is now getting interesting, and we're working on our letters and numbers. He's such a happy little kid, we love you buddy!

We had a great time playing at the park, eating pizza and cupcakes, and opening gifts. Thanks to everyone who sent cards and came - we are blessed!

Party Video


After Party Presents


After Party Baseball Game

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Spring Break, Part 1

Wow! Where did my summer go? Already I'm back at work, and so behind in posting it's not funny! Let's back track a bit and start with the Spring Break Trip with my students from school. We were so lucky to be able to go, and had such a great group to go with. Here are some highlights from the first stop: BOSTON!



A little commentary- we started with the Granary Cemetary, the Old South Meeting house where the Boston Massacre took place, then hit the USS Constitution, and Fenway Park from a distance (we tried to go to the game, but it didn't work out, boo). It was crazy cold (60 ha ha) so the kids bought a lot of warm clothes and were good sports in posing for crazy pics. We saw the North Square, full of original cobblestones that acted as ballast as the Pilgrims and such travelled to the New World, and where Paul Revere's silver smithing shop is. Then his statue and the Old North Church, and the window the lantern hanger jumped out to escape being captured by the British soldiers. Bunker Hill monument, with its 294 feet to the top, but a great view! Battle green for Lexington and Concord's minutemen, the Shot Heard Round the World down to the Old North bridge, where the British were turned back.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Kai Turns 1!

I can't believe how fast one year can go! Already my little baby is one. We had a simple party at the park today, and although it was windy, we all had a great time with watermelon, pizza, cake, and slides, slides, slides. He took a bit of a nap right in the middle, so we had to wait a bit to do the cake and presents, but all turned out just great. He wasn't hesitant at all to get his hands or face dirty (Kaeden still refuses to eat cake with his hands, has to be with a fork!).



Kai's favorite things as a 1-year-old:

1. Slides! Always climbing the one here at the house and whenever we are at the park, that's all he wants to do.



2. Balls. Any kind, he pushes them around on the floor, scooting after. He's also learning how to play catch.

3. Butt-scooting. Although we are working on him walking, crawling was not on his list, he just butt-scoots around.

4. The bath. Both my boys come running (scooting in his case) when that water turns on.

5. Milk. He transitioned from formula as fast as Kaeden did and loves that sippy cup better than real food.

6. Pretzels. He is a very picky eater, but goes for that bag faster than you can blink!

7. Grapes. Both my boys are big fruit eaters, but Kai is picky, snubbing peaches and pears for the grapes every time.

8. Books. He loves to flip the pages and feel the textures of the baby books. He will sit very well in my lap and listen to me read to Kaeden at night.

9. Cuddling. He is my snuggle baby! Always wants to be held by me, or sitting on my lap. He does NOT handle anyone else being in my lap well at all.

10. Pots and pans. He loves to take the lids in is hands and scoot along the floor, or bang them together.

11. Kaeden. Nothing makes Kai laugh faster than watching Kaeden do anything. He bounces up and down and just giggles whenever Kaeden comes running by or sliding by or swinging by or...

12. Peek-a-boo. Whenever his face is covered or you pop up from somewhere, he just giggles and giggles.

Kai James, we are so happy to have you in the family! Thanks for making us smile! Love you baby!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Spring Break Update

Was a chaperone for a school trip to the historical sites on the East Coast for break. Pictures to follow...

Monday, April 4, 2011

Peru Hats

My dad took his spanish students down to Peru this year, and he managed to bring back some awesome stuff for the grandsons!




He also got me a headband and awesomely big bag. Nice job grandpa!!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Growing boys

They get so big so fast!

Kai is getting 6 teeth at once! You'd never know it, he is really happy and only gets fussy about eating solid foods if it isn't cold. Otherwise, we catch a glimpse of those pearly whites when he smiles really big.

Kaeden loves to mimic - dancing, talking, singing, and anything he sees on tv. When the bugs in 'Bugs Life' run, he runs. When George in 'Curious George' sleeps, Kaeden climbs under the covers on the couch. He particularly loves when George immitates the animals, which is what he is mimicking in the video below.



Both boys love to play outside, and with the weather warming up, it's great to be able to just open the door and let them go. Kaeden is particularly daring in his sliding, and Kai is fearless on it too. When we go to the park, Kai practically climbs out of my lap if I don't sit down fast enough to take him! He also loves the wind blowing in his face, and will sit in front of the fan on purpose to get it to blow on him. (I think Tok may have been giving him pointers on the finer things in life :-) )

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tub time

Thank goodness for big sinks!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Some of our favorite things

As the boys get older, it's fun to be able to actually play with them. Kaeden got a couple games for Christmas and just about flips his lid when we pull them out to play. Don't Break the Ice and Hungry Hippos are his favorites. I laugh at Hungry Hippos - most kids love the loud noise and banging heads. Not my son, he'd rather play the quiet version, him putting the balls in over and over. Forget those stupid heads, they don't eat them fast enough! He also is a kid who sticks his tongue out when he's concentrating very hard - watch for it :-)



He also loves to play with blocks. Basic stacking is all he is interested in, but he's getting better and better at it.



Kai is such a sweetheart. He's my little cling-on, always wanting to be with me when he sees me. This is detrimental to our learning to crawl, as he would rather be held and watch the world. He does a little butt-scoot instead, and is pretty quick with it, but no actual commitment to crawling yet.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Day in the Life...

Kids grow so fast! Already Kai is 8 months old, and such a happy little guy. He's an observant little kid, always watching his older brother, laughing at everything Kaeden does (unless it's bonking Kai on the head) and trying to be mobile, although it's not quite there yet. He's very much into exploring the house as best he can...




Kaeden has always loved to help with Kai as much as possible. Bringing bottles, throwing away diapers, bringing blankets or toys. Now he's transitioning into playing with Kai himself, which is fun to watch.


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Winter Catch-up

So it's been forever since I last blogged, but a lot has been happening! First of all, Christmas - this year we drove up to Montana for a visit with my family. We split the drive up into 2 days. First day we drove to Brigham City, then spent the night with my girlfriend from college, Jessica Pooley. This was an awesome stop - got to see her, got to eat at Old Grist Mill (best sandwich shop ever) and Kaeden got to play in the snow for the first time in his life (sad, I know). I was scared that he'd hate it, but he LOVED it! Laughed whenever Kevin dropped snow on his head, and was all about eating it!

Here are some pics from Brigham...



The second day of our trip we drove from Brigham to my parents in Montana. The boys were troopers this whole time, and I was nervous they would be ornery. This was the longest trip we had ever driven before. Kai was actually really awesome considering he was strapped down, which he hates, and had an ear infection. Kaeden was also a gem cuz my good friend Emily let us borrow her portable dvd player. Aside from watching Buzz Lightyear 90 billion times, the whole drive went really well!

It was a ton of fun to be back in the Rockies, and with my family, too. Both Taury and Tieg were able to make it up for the holiday. That's the first time in 3 years we've all been together! Mom had tons of fun stuff planned: decorating cookies, a Loser's Club party, playing outside, and playing inside. Kaeden, of course, wanted to play anything that has a ball, and Grandma was a great sport, letting him throw balls in the house, play on her saddle, and generally make a great 2-year-old mess of things! (I think she loved every minute of it, too). Kaeden also had a blast playing with his Uncles. Taury would throw the football with him, play swords with him, and Tieg would wrestle and play ball, too.



And of course, we had to play outside in the snow. Kaeden loved to be pulled on the sled to go see the "moo" every day, and loved to help Grandpa clear the driveway of snow. He's such a good little helper!



Kai was also a little cutie. He has grown so much in the last few months, and was way bigger this time around, my folks hadn't seen him since he was born. As the highest temp the entire time we were there was 18 (ouch!) and we didn't have much in the way of warm clothes (Las Vegas, baby!) Mom broke out his Christmas clothes a little early so we could keep him warm. His little cowboy boots are the best!



Christmas Day was a blast - up and ready to unwrap presents. Everyone got great gifts, and it was awesome to watch Kaeden get into opening and playing with each one.



It was a great trip, and hard to come back to reality after that. But, we must get back to the salt mines!