Ben's Three!!

Just born and perfect!

They put this pic up in Walmart as a display for a few days 2 months old. How else could I fit him and the food in the cart. Aw, back in the day -when all was new and trial and error.....still is.

Chillin' at 4 months.Gettin' kissed by Kole (one of our black labs).

One of his first immunizations -see the bright Orange band aids. Check out those chubby thighs! Wonder where he gets those from. :) Ever the baldy.

Ben was a gas master! I had to make the shirt.
His first real photo shoot at six months.

I love his little church clothes.One year birthday.

Just barely one year old.

About 14-15 months.

I know -Picture Overload! But, hey, we celebrated Ben's 3rd birthday this past week, and I had to put some past pics to reference his growth. ;)

Time has flown and I can hardly believe it. I have so many pictures of Ben it was hard to just choose these few.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I am blessed to be a mom --especially of such an amazing boy as Ben. He has always been a happy, smart, funny and entertaining kid to say the least. We love him so much. Happy Birthday Boogie!!

My Favorite Tag So Far!

Now for the very long tag:"On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."

1 embarrassing moment: In the middle of my college art class, I fell off my "drawing horse" during a very quiet drawing time. I was sitting on it "Indian style" and reached to the floor to pick up my eraser. I couldn't keep my balance or untangle my legs and fell as hard and as loudly as anyone can imagine. I was laughing, but was bright red at the same time.

2 best friends: Joe and Brittany.

3 things you buy regularly: Apples, Veggies, and yogurt.

4 places you want to go (and might actually REALLY go): Montana, Alaska, Australia, and Canada.

5 goals for the upcoming year (that you might actually do): Run a 5k, run a half marathon, lose weight, write more, and take up painting.

6 things most people don't know about you: I want to be a published writer, I love to bake, I have lens implants in my eyes, I want to learn to play the violin someday, I love Barry Manilow songs, and I love whoopi-cushions!

7 things you would never say: "I don't want to talk to my sisters or Brittany.", "Let's move to California.", "No, I would not like that jr. mint.", "I'm a vegetarian", "I'd rather cook than go out.", "Coke is better than Pepsi.", and "My butt's too skinny."

8 things you love about the Christmas season: Decorations, Family gatherings, Good food, Snow, Christmas Lights, Baking, Giving gifts, Having a birthday.

9 things you say to your kids: "I love you.", "Take a bite.", "Do you need to go potty?", "Time to go sleepy.", "Be careful.", "Come here.", "Good Job!", "You're a stinky bum.", "You're so cute."

10 things you do a lot: Feed kids, Change diapers, Laundry, Load the dishwasher, Sweep/swiffer floors, Wipe noses, calm tantrums (mine included), put kids to bed, clean up messes, and think.

11 things you would rather not live without: the gospel, my whole family, my great friends, a safe home, my healthy body, a phone, the sun, good veggies, clean water, a memory, grocery stores, a cozy bed.

12 people to tag: April, Brittany O., Katie, Wendy, Megan, Patrice, Mindy, Katy, Jenna, Camille, Steph, and Jaime.

Funny Face!

Kade makes the funniest face sometimes. He does it when he's bein' silly or when he's mad at something. I have caught it a few times, and I love this video clip of him. It cracks me up every time! I hope you'll find it as funny as I do. Gotta love my Kader-bum.

First REAL Word!!

Kade has been making lots of sounds for awhile now. (I think he's gonna be as verbal as Ben, if you can imagine that.) His sounds have included mama and dada, but he's never said any "word" trying to mean something. (I determine a first word by if the kid means it, not just makes the sound of a word.)But yesterday, he finally said a word and, we believe, he meant what he was saying.

I was holding Kade and Joe came in the room. Kade looked at him and started saying, "Dada, dada, dada, dad, dada, dad, dad, dada."

Joe and I were thinkin' "cool", but weren't extremely excited till he pointed at and reached out for Joe, all the while saying, "Dada, dada, dada."

Joe left the room again, and Kade went on babbling to me, never once saying "Dada". But, sure enough, when Joe walked back in the room, that was the only word Kade would say. Yay Kade!! Your first word!

Funny How Everything is Equal.

I picked the name Ben (which Joe didn't care for at the time).)

Joe picked the name Kade (which I didn't care for at the time.)
Ben looks like me.

Kade looks like Joe.

Ben's first word (that he meant) was "Mama".

Kade's first word (that he meant) was "Dada".

And neither boy has a "parent preference" -they are just as happy with one or the other.

Pretty cool....watching -and hearing- the kids grow up!

Changes Up & Downstairs! Whoohoo!

New lookin' living room......well,the two walls I guess.........

The shelves are the same...but the swing will leave soon and the chair might soon be replaced and then turned outward toward the couches.I just wanted to show people the gist of the whole wall now.

The new bookshelf -not expensive, but a huge difference. Some new pics and frames. New vases and "nick-knacks. Joe and I both LOVE black and simple, so this fits us better than the old one I had from college.

A few changes to the things on the wall -magazine rack moved over and new TV thingy! Same clock from before. (Now that I am looking at it I need to more it over to center it a little more.)

New tv armoire, picture frames and cool square bowl thingy. I was glad to get rid of my big bulky thing from-again- my college days. And, Joe was happy, 'cause inside is a new flat screen tv. Nice. And, yes I need something to balance the other side.....but what?

We made these changes 'cause we put all the toys downstairs. We no longer wanted our living room to be filled with random toys everywhere, while the downstairs was hardly touched. And, that way if people just "show up" we wouldn't be embarrased about all the mess. This can now be our "adult-ish" room.

Here are some pics of the basement changes. (For those of you who know my house, you'll know the changes made.....I don't want to go over everything. And, man look at the crazy toy madness.

Reading nook!!!!! I've got to finish bringing all the books from the boys' room....But this will be nice! (Magnet board and different pics coming soon.)
Ta-da! There's the new things in the house. I am happy to have made the changes! More changes to come.....even though we're still not sure about the St. George move. Ahhh(whole other story)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADA!!!!

YAY NOVEMBER 4TH!!! On this day, 32 years ago, my hubby was born.

Joe isn't home for his birthday this year, so the boys and I are sending our Happy Birthday Wishes to him through the mail and through the blog. Joe can see the boys at least on his birthday! Ben put his own special spin on the song -(we didn't pratice the ending the way he sings it-funny boy.) And, Kade's wishing Happy Birthday the best he knows how. (I know. I sound so goofy on both clips.What can ya do.)

Cake and ice cream will wait till he gets home. I am now married to a 32 year old!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADA!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Kader-Bum!

Kade is showing signs of being a very verbal! Sweet!
He mimics a ton and has started repeating sounds (when a camera isn't around).


The other day, my mom pointed to Jesus and said, "Jesus. That's Jesus."
Kade pointed (which he does randomly) And said, "Ja, ja, ja."
Then when my mom said "Shoo, shoo, shoo." to a stray cat outside, Kade repeated, "Sh, sh, sh."


This kid amazes me! I can tell he's a thinker. I can't wait to hear what he's thinking.

Halloween -Finally

Fun, Fun, Fun.

Before Joe left we built a Haunted Ginger bread house....very fun!

You all know what's happening here.

Ben got to wear his costume before Joe left, so Joe could witness the first time Ben "became" Buzz Lightyear. This kid really strutted around the house, and KNEW he WAS Buzz. It was very funny.

While my mom took Ben around the neighborhood, Kade and I chilled at home handing out candy in our pjs....I am a butt, 'cause I didn't get Kade alone in his costume. I feel bad.
Our ward had a trunk or treat. Very fun, I decorated the "trunk" and it was a fun lead in to real Trick or Treating. (The car looked better at the trunk or treat -wind destroys decor. But, ya get the idea.

Joe and The Boys.

This is a little clip of Joe with the boys "playing catch". Joe's a cute, active and attentive dad -I love watching the three guys together -Even when they're just hanging out. Plus, Joe's in Seattle for the next two weeks...and I am missin' him!

Ideas Anyone? Please help

I want to make the boys room a little more mature and masculine, less busy and more inspiring. All their toys are now downstairs, so I want this space to be a calming place for peace, and sleep.
So, I need Advice!!
Leaving the room -the hanging blankets, the wall thingy with books in it, the white magnet board.
Staying in the room-the coat and hat holders. The wall colors-I painted less than a year ago. Church pics, but I need to do something with them instead of them just floating.
Debated over -the Precious Moments pics stay/go or color frames black? What do you all think? Any other suggestions with anything else are more than welcome.

Now - Above the chair-rail molding (which lines the whole room, and separates the blue and white) I want to put Black vinyl wording all around the whole room. I only want to have short scripture/church related phrases, and I need help figuring which phrase to use...........for example:"I will go and do what the Lord hath commanded.", "Search ponder and pray","Called to serve Him"........'kay, now what others? Please suggest anything that comes to mind. Thank you -I need all the help I can get.

Here is another video of the boys being their typical CRAZY selves! They had me crackin' up, but I was trying not to let them know I was there. (Well, Kade knew.) Sorry, the camera is so shaky, I was laughing silently.

This is our life with two boys! I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world!But, I ask myself everyday -"How did I get so Lucky?"

Random Pics....It's been a while.

DISCLAIMER -I know my house is a total wreck in this picture -but it was taken durning my "Potty Training Adventure" week -and everything was put on hold. Plus, I recently changed my whole living room anyway, so it won't ever look like this again. Anyway, it was too cute of Ben not to post, despite my embarrasment. He's getting so big!!

Ben in his cute "big boy undies" during Our P.T. Adventure. Which meant he never wore pants, watched shows, drank capri-suns(which he never gets), played and stayed close to his potty at all times. (This was day two.)

Can you get over this face? He's so mature looking to me. Ben always had a"baby" baby face. Kade looks older -he always has. Too cute, my baby Kade.

Kade chillin' at the zoo. He had the easiest, most comfortable time. Oh, what it would be like to be a baby again. Hmmm.

I hadn't posted pics in awhile, so I figured I would. I love my boys!! They're getting so big.

A Week Without Dad.

This will be a short post - even as I type Kade is struggling with something and I can hear he's on the verge of freakin' out.....Oh, he stopped. He must have reached what he wanted.
This past week Joe has been gone. We've missed him! And, I have felt busier than normal..maybe 'cause my awesome hubby hasn't come home each evening to rescue me, to talk to me, and to kiss me. ;)

The boys have been great, but they are bored with me. The dogs would kill to go on a long run. Kade had an allergic reaction to something -to which his body was covered in hives and his right ear swelled to twice the normal size. (I hate being alone in these cases....going to the doctor and the unrest and "what ifs")

But, Joe will be home in a few hours! I am excited. I KNOW Ben can't wait to see him. Yesterday he said, "I miss my dad." and then got teary-eyed and sad. Ben is bound to go crazy when Joe walks in the door today!

Our noses are pressed up against the window waiting for Joe to pull up. We love it when Dad comes home!

In a way, A Missionary Already!

I told this little story to my friend -she said it was cute and that I should post it.

But -a side not first. In Ben's baby blessing he was repeatedly blessed to be a missionary and spread and share the gospel with others. So, I love that he's doing it, somewhat, already.

As I waited to unload groceries, a woman and I exchanged the typical pleasantries -"Your boys are cute." "I hope I didn't spend a ton" etc, etc. She was probably late fifties and very nice.

Ben deduced from my conversation with her that she must be "O.K." to talk to....so he piped right up about his favorite topic these days.(He does this sort of thing quite often.)

He quickly informed, "Laman and Lemuel are bad guys."

She said, "That's right, they are. Who's a good guy?"

Ben replied, "Nephi! He's a good guy."

She asked him his name, then asked him if he was named after King Benjamin.

He said, "No. But, King Noah -he's a bad guy."

She agreed.

Their conversation was cute and went on for a little while till the food was rung up and we were on our way.

Now, in that moment, I had actually been a little nervous that he could possibly be talking to a non-member who might not know anything about who "Laman and Lemuel" were -I felt relieved that she was obviously LDS. However, after talking with my wonderful, returned missionary girl friend, Brittany, she pointed out what a good opening it could have been to at least bring up the church or Book of Mormon.

Had the woman responded with "What?", I could have said something to the effect that "They are in the Book of Mormon....." -which would have ultimately lead to a conversion, I'm posistive. ;) And, how easy would that have been to do!

The point is....Children are Innocent and not afraid. They are open and willing to share any information they have with anyone who is around. They are not held back by nerves or self doubt -they are free to share the things they know are true. They are willing to talk forever about the topics they love and that thrill them. They want anyone and everyone to hear what they have to say. I wish to be more like that!!

I never went on a mission, and, thus have no real experience with just bustin' out with any information about the church. I have the self doubt and nerves that, I am so glad, Ben doesn't.

I hope to raise my boys to be "Life Long Missionaries." I hope Ben will always have the guts and love to share the truths he knows with anyone, at any time, in any place. What an example my little boy is. I am kind of looking forward to a time when this might happen again with someone not of my faith, so I can then be an example to my boys. Children teach us all more than we could ever teach them -for that I am continually blessed and eternally grateful.

The Circus and Zoo!!!

Last week Joe and I took the boys to the circus and the zoo. It was such a fun trip! I love our little family.

The circus was so fun. I met my older sister and her boys there. Ben loves his cousins. We had a a great time. (Thanks for the tickets Kate.) The circus pics were kind of dark, so I left 'em out.

We took a ton of pics at the zoo. It was a blast. Ben loved the various animals, and Joe and I loved watching him take everything in! Here are a few of the many many pictures. ;)

Joe carried Ben around forever, he took him to the bathroom fifty million times -Thank goodness for a strong, willing, thoughtful husband who is the best dad to the boys!!!

The train ride! Cute boys!Kader-Bum! He's so cute!! (I didn't start out wearin' a hat -but the heat and sweat killed my hair...so, it was a hat once again. :/ )The carousel ride! Ben loved it...even though his face doesn't show it here.
Ben's favorite animal these days! The tiger was soooooo close! It was cool.

Joe pointin' out the giraffes. Good times!

So cool -the leopard was nose to nose with Ben. He paced back and forth and was thrilling for the kids. (A video clip coming soon.)

Checking out the elephants!

Such a fun trip -so much to say. But, pictures say a thousand words, and I've posted tons of those....so in a sense, I have said it all.