January Everyday Moments

January passed by so quickly!! 

We spent lots and lots of time inside since outside looked like this:

We worked on lots of art projects and did some canvases together for our art wall.  The boys LOVED these and we had so much fun being creative together:

Jeff is crazy and is taking way too  many credits than any sane person should.  He's working 30+ hours a week at his regular job and then taking 18 credits for his doctorate degree. 

To say it's been hard would be an understatement...but we can do hard things and at least we know the end is in sight! (April, we are counting the days!!!) 

The kiddos are in heaven when they get a minute with Dad:

My good friend, Rachel came over for a playdate. She has a boy to match every one of mine and these two guys are only a few weeks apart, SO FUN!  

Ryder loves climbing in Callen's toy...I find him in here daily. So funny:

This little guy is getting *this* close to crawling. We keep thinking it'll happen any day and he keeps just scooting around!  He gets up on all fours, though, and then usually goes to the plank position. Oh how we love our Callen!

Weston celebrated 100 days of school!  He had to wear a shirt with 100 things on it...so he made a flash shirt.  He's so proud of it!

 These boys.  They sure have my heart.  Tave is mia because he hates pictures lately. But every morning everyone climbs into my bed for hugs and snuggles.  

The boys each got lego hero factory guys for Christmas and they LOOOOOVE them.  They play with these daily for hours and love to take them apart and put them back together. Tave told me that putting it together is the coolest part. ;)  Then, of course, they need a photo shoot!

As much as Tave hates the camera, that's how much Ryder loves it!  He is always saying cheese and telling me to 'take my picture, mom!' He just hit 2 1/2 years and I feel like this 1/2 year step is such a big one. He is talking so much and understands tons. He is starting to listen a little better and has the sweetest, kindest heart.  We love our Ryder!

Jeff's Birthday!!

Jeff's birthday was really fun. So fun that I forgot to take pictures!

This semester has been a crazy one already and I knew Jeff really needed a break. I would have liked to surprise him, but he usually does school work on Sat.  so I let him know ahead of time that we'd be doing something fun. That way he got in all the extra hours during the week. Then,  Shar & Trav watched the boys so we could go on an all-day date.

It was WONDERFUL to have so much time together. We spent the day eating lots of yummy food, shopping for his birthday gifts, and just talking and enjoying the time together.  It was perfect and so much fun!!  

On Sunday we did our family celebration. The boys helped make Jeff's yummy dessert and we decorated. They loved drawing on each balloon for Jeff! 

We just got him one of his favorite study snacks since he had picked out his gift on our date the day before.

We absolutely love Sundays because it is our one day with Jeff all to our selves.  

It was so fun to be able to celebrate him and show him  how much we love him!!

Happy Happy Birthday, Babe.

You know how much I love and appreciate you, so I'll save the mushy stuff for your card.

Love you! 

Here's to being 31!!

Callen: 8 months old!

Callen's Stats:

Height:  28 inches

Weight:  18 lbs

Takes 2- 1.5-2 hour naps most days and sometimes a 3rd. 

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 8 months

This little man is MOVING!  He still rolls around, but he loves his tummy and has started army crawling/scooting to get where he wants.  He is pretty fast so we have to watch EVERYTHING on the floor now and vacuum every day to keep stuff out of his mouth!  

He chews on everything.  (he discovered his toes and those are a favorite!)

Sucks on his two fingers when he's tired or going to sleep.

Has started taking baths with brothers in the big tub.  I have to hold onto him the entire time since he's not sitting on his own, yet, but he loooves it so it's worth it.

Because he loves being on his tummy so much, I kind of forgot to sit him up often, so he's not sitting on his own yet. We're working on it and he's getting close!

Has tried a lot more foods. He started not liking regular baby food because he just wants finger foods he can feed himself. We've had  a little trouble getting his body to like the foods, though, (pooping has been hard :( poor guy) so we've been going slow with it and have gotten him to eat more runny baby fruits and veggies.

Celebrated his first Christmas!!  Grandpa Dan, Nonny Kare, Uncle Shawn & Uncle Mckenon celebrated with us.  It was so fun to have this sweet, smiley guy for the holidays. He just makes everyone happy!

He loved the Christmas tree and lights and was, of course, fascinated with the ornaments.

He talks and babbles all the time. 

He loves to do this trick where Jeff holds him up by having Callen stand in his hand.  He thinks he's super cool when and gets really excited!

Likes being read books with babies in the pictures.

He loves to jump in his bouncer.  

He really likes music and toys that make music.

He is his brothers biggest fan! The boys can always get him to laugh and smile.

Started giving the sweetest, slobberiest, very best baby kisses.

Likes to watch baby signing time.

Doesn't cry when he wakes up. At all. So we usually just have to keep checking on him every 10-15 minutes around the time he usually wakes up. Because we won't hear him at all. IF he does start crying, it means he's been awake in there for awhile.  Oh this boy is so sweet and content!

Dear Callen,

Your personality is really starting to shine through. You are so interested and curious about everything around you and you just love all of us. You love being in the middle of everything and are happy just to have us near. You definitely like being held and snuggled, also. You are still so sweet and happy and smiley. Truly, much of the joy and peace in our home comes from you.  You love your time with me in the evenings and we just talk and laugh and make silly faces at each other. You like to scrunch up your nose and sniff in and out, it's so funny!  We have so much fun with you, every single day.

You have our hearts, sweet boy, completely.

Love you,

Mom, Dad, and the bros.

Snow Day

We have gotten DUMPED on.  So. Much. Snow. 

It's crazy. And while I really do hate the snow, I can't help but love how happy it makes the boys!  

Jeff took a break from studying to run around outside with the crazy kiddos. 

They loved every minute:

huge, huge icicles!

The snow mound in front of our house...yes it's as tall as West. YIKES!

Another view of the snow mound. They love to climb it.

Our adorable snow baby!!