Whatever you Call It

The boys have been loving their present from Papa and Grandma this year. We call it the, "dune buggy," but Kyle has a hard time remembering what it's called. Some names of choice today have been, "bug duney," "bug dune," and "bingy dune."

Whatever you call it, this thing is f-u-n. Kyle jumped in it right away Christmas morning and was as happy as could be.

Bear had to warm-up to it at first, but once he did he made it known that when Kyle was in it he wanted to be in it too.

 He's really good at flashing toddler gang signs:

Or trying to get comfortable even when Kyle forgot he was next to him:

But most of the time Bear just holds onto the side rail, expressionless, probably wondering why his mom and dad are letting Kyle drive.

On Monday afternoon Kyle came in and was so excited to tell me that he drove the dune buggy over a plant he went "up" and then "went like down." I knew this thing was made to go over rocks and roots and things, so I just told him that was cool. In my mind, I assumed the "plant" he was talking about was this pile of weeds in the dirt lot next door:

Imagine our surprise when on Monday evening Kyle jumped in the buggy to show his Uncle Sam and Aunt Bubby. He was so excited and took off. We were watching when everyone started yelling, "No Kyle! Stop! Stop!" as he drove the dune buggy straight over one of the landscaped plants.

Unfortunately this time the dune buggy didn't "go like down," but fortunately the plant did recover and doesn't look harmed after Tim got the power wheel off of it. Now I have no question about what plant Kyle was talking about. This morning he told me sorry and said he, "just didn't know."

The best part of this Christmas present is that it's the only time during my day that the boys are touching and Kyle isn't yelling at Bear to get off of him. 

Now that's a Christmas miracle. 

Thank you Mom and Dad! We love and miss you!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have yourselves a merry little Christmas.

We are grateful for the life of our Savior and as Kyle says, "Jesus' birthday."

I hope we can all strive to be more like Him.

Merry Christmas!

Missing

Missing this Christmas are a lot of things. I'm trying to bake like my mom did, we didn't even try to put up her huge tree and somehow I don't think my dad will be the one reading from the scriptures to our little family Christmas morning.

What I miss most is not all that they did, but THEM.

This, however, made me so happy. My brother left on Sunday to be with them in Argentina this Christmas. These pictures brought tears to my eyes. I am so glad they get to have a little of home with them.

And now, for your enjoyment, (and dedicated to my family in Argentina), "Feliz Navidad," courtesy of Kyle.

(My favorite part is the finger pointing. Where did he learn to perform?)

An Answered Prayer

I remember the summer of 2009 for many reasons. For one, my family took a trip to Hawaii together. The second thing I remember happened after I came home from that trip.

Tim flew back to San Antonio shortly after our trip to Hawaii but I stayed in AZ a few days longer. I remember calling Tim on the phone and saying something to the effect of, "Tim, I know why I don't want to go back to Texas. I have no friends there. There are a lot of nice people there but here I am surrounded by friends and family who know me and I don't have to explain anything."

It was after that phone call that I realized how really lonely I was in TX. There was no "law playgroup" or "law bookclub" like there were for the dental and medical student moms. Tim's friends got together on the weekends to go to the bar--not to watch the BYU football games in someone's living room.

I felt like I was doing my part too. Showing up to activities when I could and being willing to strike up conversations with the person next to me. Of course, I ended up going back to San Antonio. This time I went back and really started praying for a way to not feel so lonely.

One day I decided to call this girl I had seen at church who had twins Kyle's age. I knew her name and knew she lived within walking distance to our house, but not much more than that. I invited her family over for Family Home Evening treats. I was excited.

They came over and what do you know? Kyle was crazy. The twins were crazy. Ahhh. Conversation went great. Ahhhh. It felt good.

From then on, I have been so grateful that my Heavenly Father blessed my life with Courtney as my friend. We come from very different backgrounds. We are not the same age. She's a cook, I shy away from the kitchen. She's an athlete. She would run several miles and then I would join her for the last mile where she encouraged me to keep running during her "cool-down." I tried but failed :). Despite our differences she understood me and I understood her. She was the type of friend you could call and say, "I need out of my house. Let's go to the park." We worked out together, ran errands together, and she taught me that during a Girl's Night Out you do not rush back home :).

A couple of nights before she moved to Florida for her husband's orthodontic residency a group of friends and I surprised her to celebrate her birthday. It was late at night and she was cleaning her carpets :). Did I mention this was right before Nolan was due too? Hence the size of the whale pictures:

I've been thinking about Courtney because today would have been her oldest son's 7th birthday, but he passed away shortly after his first birthday. While I never met Alex, I feel like I know him. I know him because I know his mom and I know he would have shared the same great qualities with me that Courtney does. He would have been a friend to Kyle and one for Kyle to look up to, like I do to his mom.

Buddies!

Lexi:

Jackson:

 Kyle:

I am so grateful Courtney was the answer to my prayers. I can't wait until we can play again!

The Gospel According to Kyle

We were talking about Christmas when our conversation went like this:

Kyle: Mama, maybe we should make Jesus a cake for his birthday!
Me: That's a good idea. We could do that.
Kyle: Is Jesus going to be here for it?
Me: No, he lives in Heaven. Remember, He died on the cross?


Then, very non-chalantly in his 3 year-old voice, Kyle said,
"Jesus was born, then He was dead, then He was alive again."

Anyone need further explanation?

How is it December?

How is it December? This year has flown by. Our little family has had so many changes this year. I'm thankful for the good things and for the trials we've had. Mainly the trials we've already come out of because then we can look back and say, "Ohhh so that's why that happened!" Hindsight is wonderful.

Bear is 18 months old today and despite the important fact that now he is old enough to join the nursery at church, it just breaks my heart. I LOVE the baby stage. When I downloaded our pictures from Thanksgiving I immediately thought of one taken back on Easter Sunday.

Bear and Mama on Easter:

Bear and Mama on Thanksgiving:

From baby to man in seven months I tell you. 

Someone please make it stop.

Thankful Tree

Here is Kyle with our, "Thankful Tree," this year. It's not the prettiest tree, and it's not very crafty, but it's the thought that counts! 

Kyle is thankful for:

1. Family Home Evening
2. Thankful for Mama
3. I can go on a walk
4. I'm going to have a birthday party
5. I can go to the movies with my Dad
6. Elmo and Monkey (Nolan's contribution through Kyle)
7. Dada has a job
8. riding airplanes
9. I can eat breakfast
10. The gurls (Activity Day girls... he loves when they come over)
11. I can pray
12. "My boys" -Dad
13. Playing the iPad
14. Quads
15. my owie can go away
16. I can ride a horse
17. Glow in the dark pjs
18. I go to preschool
19. costume
20. eating strawberry popsicles
21. Wii
22. dinner
23. bike
24. helmet

We didn't quite do it every day up to Thanksgiving, but I still loved doing it.

To see his list last year, go here.

Birthday Month

My sister and I both celebrate our birthdays in November, and this year we got to celebrate together!

On my birthday I boarded a plane without the boys (all 3 of them) and flew to Utah to spend the weekend with my sister. It was weird not to have anxiety before the flight and to make it through security without sweating from lifting, snapping, shhhing, holding, and packing everything through that line. It was quite nice.

My flight got delayed so I arrived late, but the party got started right away. Alli was telling me about how horrible the freeway construction was and how the lanes are always changing when we almost ran into something and missed our exit. We weren't that close to hitting it, but I let out a weird sound and the memory of it still makes me laugh. We went to Bajio's to pick up some late dinner and then went to the condo. It is so beautiful and welcoming! I loved being there. Other highlights include:

1. Taylor showing up even later that night with these cupcakes. I'm not part of the cupcake craze, but these are pretty darn good. My favorite? Bottom right. Hands down. Unfortunately I felt the need to snack on these cupcakes all.weekend.long.

(I was as tired as I look but really happy)

2. I slept in on Friday! I heard Alli and Sam getting ready to leave but could not get out of bed so I just sent Alli a text to let her know I was alive. When she got done with work we ate at Jason's Deli since Tim hates it and I love it. We also paid Nordstrom a visit where Bubby learned first-hand that I have a hard time finding shoes that fit me right! I think I have a narrow heel. I also think I may have embarrassed her more than myself in my "mom shoes." haha jk Bubby.

3. Next we went to BYU. The campus is pretty much the same. I was surprised how uncrowded it felt. Bubby looked so Hollywood here so I had to play paparazzi. Doesn't she look fabulous?!

I was also surprised how big the leaves were. Sam saw this and told me I was easily entertained. Ha. I'll take that as a compliment!

Sam is in a very intensive major and studies studies, so we paid him a visit in his second home. What the cute couple. 

We stopped to see my friend McKenzie and then I bid farewell to the Wilk. That night we (I) froze as we watched Sam in his flag football game. He was hilarious to watch because he made pulling those flags off look so easy. Almost like, "Oh, hey, while I'm here I'll just pull that off." It was a beautiful fall day.

 4. Saturday we all slept in again. Sam treated us to his version of Kneaders french toast and it was delicious! He is quite the cook. While we slept, it snowed, so now I was experiencing winter. :)

We took our time and then headed out the door to the outlets and shopped until we dropped. We survived off of Alli's pumpkin cookies and even skipped lunch. We were on a mission to find me something to wear for when Tim gets sworn in and we found something! You'll have to stay tuned for pics. 

(Special thanks to Alli for letting me borrow her shoes so I didn't have to wear my "mom shoes" out).

5. Taylor came over and for dinner we had some yummy tacos Sam made. I loved being with my siblings. I had really been missing my parents so it felt sooo good to be with my own blood.

6. My sweet roommate Tiffany came and visited me! We were rooming together when we both got engaged over six years ago! It was so fun to catch up with her and her husband Tyler.

 It was so fun to be in Provo again! I hadn't been back since we graduated over 3 years ago. I am so grateful to my parents for making it happen, for TRay because I never even gave him the chance to say, "no," when the opportunity arose (although I know he would have supported it either way :)) and for my dear, sweet, saint sister-in-law Candace who watched the boys on Thursday and Friday.

And of course, to Sam for letting me have Alli all to myself and to Bubby for being the best little sister ever. I used to erase whatever she wrote on the white-board in our room because I didn't like her handwriting. We've come along way since then.

After writing this post I realized two things: 1. No wonder I have more weight to lose now and 2. Someone needs to teach me make-up tricks. I look exhausted and washed out in every photo!

This Boy

This boy is becoming a boy and not a toddler. When I look at this picture I don't see a little boy anymore. I see a kid. A full-fledged, "I get what's going on, I know what you're spelling, and I think I can tell my mom to be patient," little kid.

He

• loves popcorn
• *finally* includes Nolan in his prayers. It only took 17 months and a Family Home Evening lesson on showing love and talking about praying for Nolan
•  unless he's watching a show, always wants someone to play with him
• loves the Wii
• is scared of his fingers turning into raisins during his bath and shower
• brings the same thing to show-and-tell every time
• is thankful for so many things and is good to express it. "Thank you for washing my pjs Mama! Thank you for cleaning the toilet Mama! Thank you for helping me Dada!"
• has a running tally of how many motorcyclists we see not wearing helmets
• is learning to tolerate Nolan's hugs
• is nowhere near tolerating Nolan's kisses
• requests drumsticks for FHE treat every Monday. He knows they have to be "on sale" in order to buy them :)
• goes from happy to it's the end of the world in no time flat
• loves playing with his cousins
• has the best fake laugh and worst fake smile. haha
• forgives easily
• wants to be a Cowboy when he grows up
• often tells us he is, "fasting" in an effort to skip breakfast so he is one step closer to playing the Wii
• very particular about his hair. I've found it's easiest to do his hair when he's not near a mirror so he doesn't have a chance to critique it

  One story that made me laugh is one night he wasn't being a good listener so we told him no bedtime story. He replies, "Well I know one, Mom. I can read it." So he got a book off the shelf that he had memorized and read it to himself and was happy going to bed. So much for our threat.

I just love this boy. He teaches me patience with his OCD ways and he makes me want to be more grateful and loving. He sure does make me smile.

Did I mention he's dramatic? I can't believe the traits he has inherited from Tim!  

Pumpkin Patch

  A couple of days before Halloween we went to a "pumpkin patch" with my friend Megan, sister-in-law Candace and some of her friends. I use "pumpkin patch" loosely because when the hay ride took us to the patch part it was more like a pile of over-priced pumpkins in the middle of a small area.

It was hot. Despite the heat, the boys had a good time.

The first stop was to the petting zoo. Reed and Nolan were all about it.

Although, it is hard to pet an animal when they are in a cage. Who puts chickens in petting zoos?

 Reed loved the dog.

 This picture just cracks me up:

Second we rode horses. Well, Kyle thinks he rode a horse but Tim told me it was a donkey. He was pretty proud.

 Fake smile and all. 

 Catcher did ride a pony. I believe Megan told me this was his first time doing it!

After the rides we went to the haymaze.

 While the boys started on the maze, Roo-Bear was riding the horse  donkey!

 Nolan refused, so it was fun to watch Reed.

Then Reed joined the maze. Nice hair!

 Bear walked around with his arms up to avoid the hay:

 Cute boy:

After some other games we went on the barrel ride. Catcher is Kyle's bff here in AZ. So, he wanted to ride with Catcher. Naturally, so did Catcher's brother Whitman. Poor Catcher. 

 I took one for the team and placed my slender body in that. Once again, Nolan was freaked but as soon as we got going he liked it.

 Kyle's second round:

Then we melted as we took a hay ride to the patch.

Me and my boys:

 Love Whitman's blue eyes!

 Kyle said, "Look Mom! It's like, "X-Factor!" So proud.

We attempted to take cute fall picture to send to the Grandparents.

 It wasn't happening. Maybe C-bug got one on her camera.

I hope everyone had a happy fall! It's finally cooling down!