Landon's Birthday

Landon loves basketball or beeskow as he puts it, so I thought he would like a basketball cake.  Turns out the heavens were against me on this one.  I baked the cake and put the cover on it then left for work.  When I returned from work Dan was playing video games with Dalin and Braden.  I asked where Landon was and got nothing but silence, so I moved on to the kitchen only to find Landon sitting on the counter with crumbs all over his face and half the cake in a pile on the floor.  Oh, my hopes of a great cake fell, and time was running out and I was sooo tired (due to staying up way too late watching "Bones").  I ended up fixing the cake by making the whole left side out of frosting and patching together the rest of the crumbling cake.  Needless to say it didn't turn out the way I originally planned and I had to improvise.  I was up way too late and this is what I ended up with.  It's a good thing he was only turning 2 and didn't know this was terrible cake :) 

Loving his number 2 pancakes.  He was enamored with the candles and kept trying to touch them.

Everyone is very excited to open presents.

One more tractor to add to his collection.  He plays with these tractors more than anything else.  He even sleeps with them on his bed.  He has to align them just right each time he lays down and freaks out if they aren't there. We have to take them to the store with us occasionally. 

We couldn't get him to open any of his other presents because all he cared about was that tractor.

Dalin giving Landon the present he got him.  When I took Dalin and Braden to the store to get presents for Landon I was really impressed with their insight into their little brother's life.  Dalin got Landon a package of ring pops because he knows that Landon really likes suckers.  Braden got Landon some jumbo crayons because he knows how much Landon likes to draw. 

Only those suckers could take Landon away from his tractor.

This is another great gift because Landon loves to push things.  This is like a manly stroller.  Notice the ring pop in his mouth.  So stinkin' cute.

He quickly got the hang of blowing out the candles.

After he blew out the candles he took out the candles and licked off the frosting.  He got a little too eager with the candles and bit half of it off and swallowed it whole.  What a funny kid.

 I can't believe my baby is two-years-old.  He is so happy most of the time.  He is active, more than anyone knows.  He doesn't know how to walk, he runs.  He is not afraid of climbing to great heights and then jumping off.  He thinks he's seven and should be allowed to do everything a 7-year-old does.  He still naps 3-4 hours every day, but keeps me on my toes during those awake hours.  He is a very good eater and will eat just about anything.  If someone is eating, regardless of when he last ate he will want some.  And by some, I mean all of it.  He is a little cuddle bug, especially when he first wakes up.  He enjoys watching Oscar's Oasis on Netflix and also enjoys good old Mario Brothers.  He wants to be outside when at all possible and still enjoys a good long walk.  I love this kid to pieces and I'm so grateful I was blessed to have him come to our little family.

School Program

End of February Dalin had a school program.  His class did such a good job and they were so cute.  He brought home this cute little invitation.  Unfortunately, it was in the middle of the day and Dan couldn't make it because of work.  I didn't get very good pictures either because the lighting was terrible for my crappy little camera that's usually out of focus under perfect circumstances.  I got video footage, but for some reason I can't get it to load....grrrr. It was a patriotic theme and Dalin had a couple of parts.  He was so excited to speak into the microphone.  I felt so bad because after the program the parents were allowed to take their kids home rather than have them ride the bus.  So, I got to his classroom and waited and waited, but he never came out.  I stepped in to see what was taking so long and noticed he was in line to head out to the bus.  He was so happy to see me, but thought I had missed the program because he never saw me in the audience.  I thought he had, but apparently he didn't.  The whole program must have been agony for him because he kept looking for me but didn't see me.  Glad I did make it....I love to watch my kids do fun things.  The music teacher at Dalin's school is really good.  He always comes home singing some ditty or another.  She put their whole program together, but I don't remember her name.  She is amazing though.

Dear family, please come to my program.  Love, Dalin

It's nearly impossible to see, but Dalin is right in the middle of the picture, second row from the top.

 I will catch up on blogging......one day!

I Can't Keep Up With My Two-Year-Old

Landon wears me out!  He is into everything!  He climbs, runs, jumps off of things, and just gets into everything.  I can't turn around for two seconds.  The other day I decided to make eggs and biscuts for dinner.  It was fast, easy, and I was exhausted.  So I started getting things out on the table and when I turned to check biscuts in the oven, I turned around to this little monster.  Mmmmm, butter and jam for dinner.  Maybe if the rest of my boys were this easy to please dinner wouldn't be such a big deal :)

The Green River

The Green river is not too far from where we live.  It was a nice sunny Saturday in February and we were sick of being couped up and decided to go for a drive out to the Green.  It was beautiful.  The snow at the edge of the river was cracking and sliding into the river and we had to watch the kids closely so they didn't get too close to the edge.  I'm so glad we went, because it relieved some of my winter blues and claustrophobia.  At one point the ice covering the river broke apart with a very loud crack that echoed off the canyon walls and floated in a big heap down the river.  It was pretty amazing to see.

Dalin and Braden loved it and had fun playing in the snow.

Landon had fun too, but for some reason wouldn't let us put him down in the snow.  I think his feet got too cold.

I love how everywhere we go Dalin must be carrying a light saber.

Landon and I went for a little walk to see a cave in the rocks on the left side of the picture.  I had to carry the little stink the whole way.

Dalin and Braden made up some camping/Star Wars game and played for quite a while in the their own little world.  You can see Braden gathering up some stuff to build a fire and and fort.

Valentine's Day

Yes, I'm slow to post but I didn't want to leave this out because we really did have a lot of fun. 

First of all I saw this idea for Valentine's on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect for my kids.  I really liked the way they turned out, although my picture didn't really turn out so well.

Then I made rice crispy treat kisses and put little messages to my kids in them.  They thought this was fun, and who doesn't love a good rice crispy treat?  Yes, I know too much junk on this day of love.

Braden admiring his little super hero.  He was excited to take them to preschool and share for his treat.

I couldn't help it.  I also made heart shaped cinnamon rolls.  I wish I could say they were homemade, but they weren't.  Just a package of ready made rolls that I unrolled and rerolled into hearts.  I know, I know, waaaaaay too much junk.  I promise it's not normally like this at my house.

After school the kids were really hyper.  No kidding?  They had devoured their treat bags from school in less than 30 seconds before I even realized what was happening.  I order to channel their sugar highs we made a little craft.

Landon opted to just play with is truck and eat more candy.

And here's the finished project.  Dalin named his heart guy Presley Oscars.  He has a new little friend that just happens to be a girl named Presley.  She comes over to play with our kitchen and happily bosses all the boys around.  They play with her, but occaisionaly they go to "work" and come downstairs wielding light sabers and have epic battles before returning to rigors of home life.

Braden's finished heart guy.  They really enjoyed this craft and so did I since it was fast to get out and easy to clean up.  Good way to keep my little princes occupied.

And for the highlight of V-Day.....my greatest love.  Here we are, almost 11 years later.  It's been a wild and fun ride.  V-Day is a great reminder of how blessed I really am.  We're a couple of old, fat, farts enjoying life together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

More Landon Antics

So lately Landon has a fettish with climbing up onto my dressor and getting into all the fun little things that I have up there like glass objects and jewlery and fun stuff like that.  He climbs up in the rocking chairs you can see on the other side of the dressor and up onto the dressor.  Sigh, how to keep up with him?  He knows by now that mom doesn't like it when he's up there so he's started pulling over my lovely folding chair that I use for a computer chair and standing on that to get into my stuff.  The other night he tried to drag it over and it folded up on him.  Not to be stopped he decided this was an o.k. alternative.  He thinks he's so clever.

The latest issue we've had with little Landon is taking off his own diaper.  He's decided that he needs to be potty trained like a big boy because he thinks he's 8 years old, not 2. The other night this is how I found him.  He'd taken off his pants and diaper (you can see it on the floor) and was sitting on the toilet.  Nothing actually happened in the toilet but he kept saying over and over "peepee in the potty".  He also gets much enjoyment out of flushing the toilet over and over.  What am I going to do with him?

Pictures

Braden has just started to really enjoy drawing and writing.  I think it all started when Dalin started tallying everything from the games they play to how many times Landon gets in trouble. There are papers with tally marks all over the house.  They have multiple games where they keep score and get points.  Landon knows what points are and everytime he shoots a basket into his little hoops he yells "points" and jumps up and down.  Braden has really gotten into this system of marking points and it really boosted his interest in drawing all together.  So here is a recent picture he drew and brought to show me.  This man is apparently fishing for shark. The shark is not happy because he knows if he bites the hook then he's caught.  Pretty clever.  I love to see my kids progress in art and creativity.  It's the greatest.

Me and My Boys

Landon, Braden, and Dalin.  These are my boys!  I love being a mom.  There are so many things that I would miss out on if I had chosen a different path.  It's one of the hardest, most challenging, most rewarding experiences of my life.  I wouldn't trade it for the world, not even on the hardest days.  I didn't know my heart could be so full and that I could possibly care for someone so much.  They fill my heart and I'm so glad I have them.

Me and Brades.  He's such a Ham!

This is my attempt at getting all of us in one picture.  Unfortunately Dalin was the only one looking and half of his head got chopped off.  The other two were distracted by something on TV.

Me and Dalin.  Someone needs to teach that kid how to smile a real smile for the camera.  Every time I take a picture and tell him to smile he totally cheeses it.  If I want a real smile I have to make in laugh.

Me and Landon.  Mr. curiosity.

I managed to get a picture with two of them in it.  Don't you think Braden looks a lot like me?

Here is Dalin taking a picture of himself.  Pretty good. 

What sweet boys I have.  I have to brag a little bit about my cute little family. 

After School Fun

At the beginning of February the sun still goes down pretty early.  It does not stop Dalin and Braden from playing outside.  The only rule is they have to stay in the front where I can see them and they can't leave the yard.  They often go outside while I'm cooking dinner.  They bundle themselves up and out they go to roll around in the snow.  I love to see them play.  I remember playing outside when I was a kid and the cold and snow didn't bother me at all.  I could play for hours, just like them.  I'm glad they're so active and enjoy getting out.  Now that I'm an old fart I don't so much enjoy freezing my butt off outside when it's that cold.  Maybe if I didn't go out and just sit there.  I need to play football in the snow or smear the queer or something I guess.  For now, I'll just be lazy and sit on my couch and watch them play from my front window.

Fish

Dan likes to fish.  My three boys like to fish.  I don't.  I hate slimy, smelly, gross looking fish.  I always have.  So when Dan brings home his prizes I have to leave the room so I don't have to smell it.  But, the boys love to look at, touch, and eat the fish.  I have to say they get really excited to see the fish that Dan brings home and always want him to cook them up.  I don't know much about fish so I don't know what kind of fish this is, but I do know that it's too big for the boys to eat.  Fish over a certain size contain too much mercury according to the Utah Wildlife Association, for children to eat safely.  They thought I was so cruel because I wouldn't let them eat it, but they had fun touching it before Dan gutted the poor thing.  Landon gets especially excited to touch them. Where's the soap?

Movie Night (or Day)

Dalin and Braden like to have what they call movie night, even though it almost always happens during the day when Landon's napping.  The Saturday before Valentine's Day Dan went fishing with some buddies so I took Dalin and Braden to Redbox and we rented Ice Age Continental Drift.  They seem to like the Ice Age movies and Dalin is getting old enough to understand them a bit better.  He always asks a million questions to understand what's happening. He doesn't just like to be entertained, he wants to know what's happening with each and every character.  First we made Valentine treats by dipping pretzels in melted chocolate and then in red sprinkles...yummm.  Then we pulled out the couch bed, piled on our blankets and started the movie.  There were a couple of parts that we had to rewind multiple times that Dalin thought we hilarious.  We got to laughing pretty hard.  Dalin and Braden were laughing at the movie and I was laughing at them.  We laughed so hard my sides ached. Then, when Dan got home we had to make him watch the funny parts.  Lately, Dalin has been into more mature movies, like Rat Race.  He thinks that's the funniest show he's ever seen.  He also likes Hook, The Last Airbender, and Star Wars.  Braden still doesn't watch too much TV.  His favorite movies are Robin Hood and Walle.