Weston - 2 1/2 years!

He makes us laugh every single day and is such a delight in our home. Here is a bit of what Weston is like at 2.5 years old:

Weston loves: reading stories, music, singing, dancing, running around and being chased, jumping on everything, the Beach-- he talks about the beach daily and wants to go back, his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, back scratches and head rubs, splashing, bathtime, snow, helping in the kitchen, wrestling with Daddy, playing with Tave, tickling Tave, kissing Tave, laying on Tave, pretty much anything to do with Tave.

Weston's favorites: Color- green, Animal- tiger, giraffe, hippo Toys- cars, little figures, little animals, balls Food- fruit snacks, apples, grapes, cereal, crackers, oranges Books- he really loves all books, right now the favorite is Aladdin & the Nativity story Songs- jingle bells, rocket song, fish song, monkey & the alligator, following the leader Places- Kapria's house, James & Amy's house, Evie's house, the park, outside, nursery, and the all-time FAV: the Beach!

Weston's recent skills: He can use a spoon & fork really well now, help clean up, turn off/on tv and close it all up, open twist containers, take pictures, help around the house, open & close doors, puzzles, coloring and lots lots more!

He talks ALL the time. He is using full sentences now and loves to tell us everything that is on his mind. The crazy thing is, he can tell us about things that he did last year...he really remembers that long ago- and finally has the words to describe it!

He started telling us about things that he likes and loves. He started by telling us he "loves Tave" and now he tells us "I love mommy" and "I love daddy" every day. We, of course, just melt when he says it.

Weston's latest phrases:

"I like ______." "I want______." "I need_____." (he definitely has the basics down!)

"Let's make some craps." (crafts)
"Mommy, I sorry."
"I call ______." (insert Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins names) He loves to call people.
"One more. Just one more."
"Tave is cute baby."
"Tave sad, give binky."
"Go play in sone" (snow)

"Mommy/Daddy Watch!"

"What's that?"
He is really great at saying "Please" and "Thank you."

I am constantly amazed by this little guy. In the past 6 months he has learned so much and changed in so many ways!

Weston, we love you!

Beach Pictures

I was just doing some editing on our beach pictures and wanted to see how to blog them straight from Picasa. I am LOVING these new tools! How fun. Enjoy this preview. More to come!

Yee-Haw!

Jeff was playing with the boys and they all came running into the kitchen like this. I started laughing. Tave's face was priceless: he was lOvInG it and so was Weston. I had to grab the camera and share!

This kicked off a night of shoulder rides:
Weston, Tave, me, and, yes- even Jeff.
We all had to have one.

We laughed and laughed and then we laughed some more.

What a great night. Thanks to all my guys for making it so happy!

Enjoy the video, it makes me laugh every time I watch it!

We tried to have Weston take a picture of me on Jeff's shoulders (and then Jeff on mine) but he couldn't quite catch it. Oh well..we're working on his photography skills. ;)

Oh Christmas Tree!

Oh how I LOVE this season. The sights, the smells, the warm fuzzy feeling you get from serving those around you. I love it all. We put up the Christmas tree last Monday and it was a blast. Weston is at such a fun fun age. He was so excited. He was jumping up and down and couldn't wait to get started.

It has been really neat teaching him about Jesus. He recognizes pictures of Him and talks about Him a lot. I love teaching my boys about Christmas: that it's Jesus' birthday and how we give gifts to others because of Christ's gift to us. I don't know how much Weston understands, but he sure listens and he loves saying 'Christmas' and 'Jesus'.

He has been asking for 'Jesus song' constantly, which is 'Away in a Manger'. I just LOVE singing it over and over with my boys. It has really helped us get into the true Spirit of Christmas!

What a special time of year.

California Trip - November 19-29th

Okay, okay-- I know I went a little collage crazy here, but for good reason. Shar, Chelsea, and I traveled to CA to visit our family and attend my Grandma's funeral. It was good to be with everyone, to see family we hadn't seen in years, and to laugh and cry over the fond memories of my Grandma. It was a week packed with good times, good food, good memories, and everything in between. Maybe my pictures can tell the story better than I ever could. At least they'll give it a try.

1 van + 3 sisters + 3 kiddos under 3 years old + 15+ hours on the road= one cRaZy adventure.

Try it sometime.
I dare you. (It's totally worth it!)

Grandma's Life Celebration:

It was a beautiful service. I think Grandma would have loved it.

Family Time:

It was great to spend time with family we hadn't seen in years.

Jeff & Weston were able to have a fabulous week together while Tave & I were in CA. It was really good for each of us to have some individual time with one of the boys. They drove down with Trav & his Grandma just in time for Thanksgiving. Thanks go to those who helped with Weston when Jeff had to work. We can't tell you enough how much we appreciate it!

Thanksgiving Day:

We are so blessed. Here are a few of the many things for which we are thankful:

Just for fun:

This trip went by way too fast (as most do) but we filled it with all the sweet goodness that comes with family.

Thank you everyone.

Some November Moments

Grandpa & Grandma Dean came to visit. It's always a treat to spend an evening with them. Thanks so much-- we miss you!



Falling Leaves:

Weston and I raked up a huge pile of leaves. He had such a blast jumping and rolling around. I love getting to be a kid again with my own cute kiddo! He is so much fun!

9 am

It's Tuesday morning.
My two year old is still sleeping. My 6 month old woke up at 730 and is now down for a nap.
What is going on?
I don't know, but I sure like it.
I'm off to enjoy some quiet time while it lasts...probably about 2 more minutes.
Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!



I was right: 2 minutes. But what a glorious 2 minutes they were.
I was able to:
go downstairs, open the blinds, appreciate the glowing lights of my Christmas tree (thanks babe for plugging it in before you left) move a basket to a different room, go back upstairs, get dressed (without said 2 year old having an opinion on what top I should wear), plug in my straightener, and close up the eliptical machine.
Then I even had time to do the first half of this blog post. Until the wee one woke up during the photo upload.
Good times.

ps. the real blog posts are on their way...

pps. To all of those who have commented despite the fact that I won't be commenting on your blog until January (or Christmas break, hopefully my parents will have internet by then) I LOVE you. I do. You made my day!
And who knows... usually when I read posts, my fingers start itching to comment and all my 'save time/prioritize/etc' goals go up in smoke. We shall see...

Dear Friends

Today I turned on my trusty computer (trusty...um more like groaning) and opened up my email. There was a lot. Actually, more than a LOT. When you don't have access to a computer for 10 days that happens. Then I opened up my google reader. 193 updates. Yes you read that right. 193. Wow.
How will I ever catch up? And unpack? And clean? And organize so I can set up Christmas? And read all those blog posts? And comment on them? And then clean some more? And finish up my hand-made Christmas presents? And post on my blog? And make my Christmas cards? And send them? And do all of those great, wonderful traditions that fill the Christmas season????!!!!
And, oh yeah, I have two kiddos around here somewhere!

Can you feel my head spinning?! I was a little stressed before I started this post, NOW I am officially a LOT stressed. AHHHH!
SO-- I will try to catch up with all of you. This is, after all, the season for family, friends, and fun. But it might take awhile. And I won't be able to comment. Something has to go. And that is it. I am so sad at that thought...
Comments on my blog are like someone stopping by to say hello. A little smile to brighten my day. A pat on the back. A snuggly, cozy hug. A little bit of love sent via cyber-space. Okay. You get the point. These are the reasons why I love to comment.

But I also love a clean, cozy, good smelling, beautifully decorated house during the holidays. And I love making cookies, and singing songs with the boys, and making fun little Christmas crafts with Weston.
I just love spending time with my boys. All 3 of them!

Isn't this season wonderful.
I can't wait to get started!!

I will post very very soon.

~So y'all come back now, you hear?!

Tave - 6 months old!!

Our baby has been with us for half of a year! Whoa.
It's crazy to see how different he is from six months ago, and crazier to think what changes the next six months hold.
Every moment is so precious.

Here are some of the highlights from Tave's sixth month:

• Visit from Grandpa Dan.

• Weston now likes to call Tave his 'pillow', luckily Tave thinks it's hilarious and just laughs and laughs.
• Tave is even more interested in the world around him. He thinks people watching is the greatest thing ever, and just LOVES to be part of all the happenings.
• He is having a hard time taking naps. He'll get on schedule for a few days and then decide that's not very cool.
• Despite the lack of napage...he is SO happy and sweet.

• He loves to be sitting up. (Still working on doing it by himself)
• He thinks these wipes containers are the best toy. Actually, anything that makes a plastic crinkle noise is cool.
• He rolled over for the first time! From back to front. Way to go Tave!

• Helped carve his first pumpkin...okay he just hung out and watched. He thought it was great fun!

• Celebrated his first Halloween! Arg...

• Tried Rice Cereal for the first time! (Nov.5) Yum. He really loves eating at the same time as us and will get mad if he doesn't get to. It's so funny! He also tried peas and is really enjoying that taste. Yay for greens!

He loves to munch on his two fingers and he loves strings. (don't worry, I watch him well with them)

Dear Tave,
We love you. We love you so much. You are such a joy in our home and bring even more love and laughter than we knew was possible. You and Weston are already such great buddies. How lucky we are to watch your relationship develop and to see you wonderful, sweet boys loving each other. I am always amazed when I see you together at how much my heart has grown for each of you.

We love being your parents.

Love,
Mom & Dad

A Sisters Visit

I love my sisters!

The three of us sisters got together for some much needed girl (and kiddo) time. It is always a blast to see the kids together and to catch up.
This visit was no exception.
With two 2-year olds, one 1-year old, and a 5 month old, we were definitely busy. They all love exerting their independence in their own ways, which can be down-right hilarious. (We just had to make sure and laugh!)
Thanks for the great day Chels & Shar. We loved it!



We would follow the kids into a room and slowly they would migrate to different room without us! It took a few times before we finally realized maybe they were trying to tell us something. haha

Their cat had kittens the day before we visited. I haven't held a newborn kitten in SOOO long.
It was so sweet and soft and cuddly.

And that's all the cat I need. ;)

To the cucumbers!
(The cucumbers? Whaat? Yeah, they were being funny!)

All of the cousins!
When 3 out of 4 has a smile on their face and no one is crying--
who cares if they are looking or not.
I call this a very SUCCESSFUL shot!

And here's Tave's smile.
He was saving it for when he was held!

I have spent my life coveting this hair. Can you blame me?!
It is the most gorgeous shade of natural dark brown
It is thick and soft
and just beautiful!

She's going to donate it to locks of love
Love you Chels!

Firsts...

November 5th

This date brought some fun 'firsts' .

One being:I always have mixed emotions when the first snow falls.
I admit, when I glance out the window and see the beautiful white scene, my first impulse is to gasp and shriek and do a little happy dance.
For those few, brief moments, the magic of winter is upon me and I am thrilled to see it's return. I race to Weston's room to throw open his curtains and watch him jump up and down with me. We can't wait to get outside, to catch snowflakes on our tongues and to roll snowballs in our hands.
I feel like a kid again and it feels great!

Going outside is exciting with a two year old. And wondrous and delightful and all those fabulous things that snow should be.
Then the chill sets in and I realize that we will have snow for a good 5 months.
5 months! Yikes. Magic gone. Dread setting in.
I am a California girl at heart. That means WARMTH and sunshine and shorts in December. It means flip-flops year round.
But I will bask in the beauty of snow every day with my little snow-loving-boy while it lasts. and lasts. and lasts.
(seriously, what is it with kids, I don't think they feel the cold one bit!)

We had fun, though. And thank goodness it melted the next day. I am in fall heaven for a few more weeks at least!


Tave's FIRST food:

He has been SO curious about our food.
Just see how intently he is watching me mix it up!

Not too sure...

Weston was such a good big brother.
He watched the entire time and kept talking about how Tave gets to eat cereal now. It was so much fun to have him there and to see him so interested in what was going on!

Tave's new scrunchy face!
He loves doing the thing where he blows out of his nose like this. So funny!

All messy!
What a delicious dinner...it was a hit!

In loving memory...

Dear Grandma Bea,
You wrote me an email a couple of weeks ago. This is my letter to you that I kept meaning to send and kept thinking about. But I didn't. My days got busy and filled with little boys and errands, and all of those things that don't seem as important right now. (well, except for those little boys!) I'm sorry. It's a little late, but I'd like to think that you will read these words. Or at least feel them and know that I love you.

I love your smile. Your happiness that was infectious and your laugh that always brightened my day. Thank you for always sharing it.
I love the notes you would send in the mail- telling me how much you love me, my boys, and that if you were young again, you just might marry Jeff yourself. That one made me laugh. And made me grateful that you love my husband too.
I love how patriotic you are. Just walking into your home made me want to sing our National Anthem. I should have for you.
I love that your walls are filled with pictures that tell the story of your life: you, grandpa, your children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. We all know how much you loved us.
I love the little jig you would do when you were excited about something.
I love that I could always count on doing a fun crossword puzzle with you during our visits.
I love that you always played games with us.
I love that your favorite color is yellow. For a long time that was my favorite color-- just because it was yours. I should have told you that.
I love our phone conversations- how thrilled you were to be hearing from us, how you filled my ears and heart with sweet compliments, were excited over my boys new developments, and the way you would always say, "I love you" and "God bless you" before saying good bye.
I love that you are great at the paddle-ball-toy-thingy. Weston loved watching you and having you teach him. What a cool thing for a great-grandma to do.
I especially love your hugs - how you would squeeze me and then pat me on the shoulder or back, as if to say "I love you this much more". I wish I could hug you right now, and have you hug me back.

Thank you for everything. I don't know how else to say how much you mean to me. You are forever a part of who I am.

I love you Grandma. I am sorry I didn't send this letter before you left us. But I am so grateful that I know where you are and who you are with. I am sure Grandpa is so excited to have you right by his side again.
Tell him we say hello, okay.
I love you.

Love,
Nicole

This was our last visit. It will be so wonderful to see you at our next one.