Tractor, Thomas & and Two years-old

The first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning was - I feel a lot better today than I did 2 years ago. We woke up to snow but managed through the cold thanks to the many charming antics of this guy. Happy Birthday Connor - we all adore you. And that's true - everyone of us absolutely adores you. We had a theme for his birthday: "Let's turn him into a boy." He is now well supplied in the Tonka truck department, John Deer department (thanks to our neighbours the Suttons) and the Thomas the Train department. He loves his new pj's and notice he did his own accessorizing with his sister's patent leather shoes. Nice touch don't you think? We're happy to note that in the last year he did not gain a significant amount of weight - only one pound. But he's still on the top of the charts - just in the 92nd percentile. We love him... all 31 pounds of him. xoxox Connor!

The eyes have it....

My enjoyment of this kid is at an all time high. (to borrow a quote from J.Romney) I'm loving the great personality. Here are a few reasons why. Back the fall we found out CC needed glasses... so we got her one pair, then another one, then sunglasses, then another pair. Yes, that's 4 pair of glasses in less than 6 months. The doctors office is now adding on a new wing and since she started at the age of 5 wearing glasses - she's a cash cow. (for the dr. not us) Connor's favorite past time (other than getting into my make-up) is ripping them off her face, twisting them and laughing. We have been to the eye doctor numerous times to get them "an-justed" (that's CC for adjusted) and the last time we were there one of the assistants told her "You have got to keep your little brother away from your glasses." (which was totally helpful because we just never thought of that) So here they are in order of appearance and in order of Connor destroying them. (sorry, if you want to see then sunglasses - they're on the previous post)






She is so funny about her glasses. She loves her cleaning cloths - which is ironic because I'm the only one who uses them. Going to church on Sunday she was telling me the following. "Mom, if you're like wearing an outfit and it's going wrong, one of the things you can do is change your shoes, change your belt. But me, I'm lucky because I wear glasses so they're always like a part of my outfit and they match anything. So my outfits mostly don't go wrong because hello - I wear glasses. And also, you cant wear a busy top with a busy bottom - even if they are the same colors. Stuff like that doesn't work. Those are some of the things I'm learning." Awesome. I hit a bird in the car a few days ago, CC said, "Don't worry mom, Canada has lots of birds." We shaved the dog - a black and white border collie - Daisy comes back home and CC says, "Sweet, we got a Dalmatian. In response to just about any question you ask her: "I have no idea." And, a least twice a day, "Who's your favorite child? And don't say Cala's your favorite 8 year old and I'm your favorite 5 year old." Finally, she got a new primary teacher at church. He was in Darrens youth group at church but graduated and went to BYU for a year. He's back while he waits for his mission call - on Sunday, he's now stuck with a bunch of 5 year-olds. CC was telling us about her new teacher and said, "I don't know his name but he used to hang out with dad." Oh ya - one more thing. Ballet class. For a big stretch she didn't want to go. I kept telling her if she wanted out of it she had to talk to her teacher. One day after class she said, "I asked my teacher about quitting. She said to talk to you." Don't worry, we're not quitting until the recital is over next week. But she has started to like it so I glad I didn't let her quit.

Mother of all updates

Cala turned 8 in March and it was an event. For her b-day Cala got her ears pierced... note the bling. Darren had to wait out in the hall so he wouldn't pass out. I got through it okay and Cala - she just look stunned and was quiet. why didn't someone tell me ear piercing was soooo $$. Didn't see that one coming.



G&G Byram came for Cala's baptism. Here we all are. We love it when they come and visit. It's nothing but a party. This round, they also brought cousins Curtis and Spencer to surprize Cala... she was shocked.






ps: Spencer (the one on the right is also 8 and on some growth hormone - His parents will probably be arrested soon)






This is Cala's awesome 8th b-day party. We took her friends to a casino (I know, sounds bad but it was a good b-day package) They swam for an hour in the pool and played on the water slide... then lunch, gift opening and cake for an hour in the restaurant. It was easy - easy. Darren and I just sat and talked the entire time - the party basically ran itself. We did manage to take pictures. It was worth every ridiculous penny we had to pay. Highly recommended.



Whenever it gets somewhat warm we like to get these babies out... and put all ours on top of them. Here are all 3 on Leo. Connor loves the horses and being outside.




Easter was crazy funny thanks to this kid. We hid Easter eggs and Darren showed Connor how to find them and then look inside to find the candy. When he realized that's all he had to do for his favorite thing in the whole world it was a frenzy to find all the eggs possible. He kept jumping up and down, laughing and shoving it in his mouth as fast as possible. For the next few days he would randomly open cupboards and look behind things for more eggs. Priceless. Oh, and the girl were great too. And didn't even notice they didn't get Easter dresses... I couldn't be bothered this year. er scratch that - one of them got a new one. I'm not saying which one - but she's blonde.




Darren went to Costa Rica in Feb to visit our dear friends Ben and Janell. These are some of the pictures Ben and Darren managed to take. Note to Ben: If you take a dumb picture I'm gonna post it.





And that's the mother of all updates. Thanks for reading.

This one's for you mom

No, this wasn't a costume party... it was a "Black Tie and Beyond" dinner/speaker/drinks for a client of Darren's. The amount of prep. work was simply crazy. (and I'm talking about the princess I'm standing next to - not myself.) In true form, he took all the shopping time tux searching - he couldn't look like he was in a "rented" tux. I made fun of him all week. The highlight for me - the spray tan I got. I feel so much better with a little color - even though no Vitamin D was involved. Did you know that "Black Tie" for a woman is defined as a formal dress that hits anywhere from the knee to the floor. The search for a long one proved hard. Don't worry, 90% of the crowd did the same thing. Looks like we all did our research. Darren will now be hiring himself out as an escort since he has a tux. He's free any Saturday night.

Wanted: Nanny

What can you do in 30 seconds. Here's what Connor can. 1. unwrap a pound of butter that was on the counter.2. get powdered sugar out of the cupboard (the high chair was already at the counter... that's how he can reach EVERYTHING.
3. dump powdered sugar on a waffle that had been on the table for at least an hour. And lick it up with the help of a pastry brush.
He does have redeeming qualities. He loves wearing his towel like this.
And wearing the garbage can like this.
Just keep'n it real people.

CC says

CC NEVER stops talking. I'm not kidding. I told myself I would never tell one of my kids to "shut up." But, I've been rethinking that policy. She is very funny and has her own way of talking. Here a a few samples we thought were blog worthy.

"Connor you in-ee-ut." That's idiot.

"Shopping is a responsibility. If you run out of money you can just go to the bank and get more or just pray to Heavenly Father that you need more money and you'll definatly get it."


"Hey, no fair... yours are way bigger than mine." To her older cousin in a dressing room while trying on shirts.

Conversation with our weekend nanny. Ruth says, "Chelsea, I'm leaving for 45 days to go back to the Philippines, will you miss me?" Chelsea, "Did you say 45 - because that's how old my mom is."

And on Mothers Day - after preparing a special breakfast, letting me open presents, rushing out the door to church, and then walking up to sing with all the primary kids in sacrament meeting... Chelsea says, "Is it Mother's Day?" Did we mention she's blonde? We adore this blonde and hope she keeps making us smile.

Latest

Isn't winter in Canada awesome. This day hit close to 50 degrees F. We took advantage and decide to ride the horses. It was one the best days of the year! So warm and beautiful. I might like winter if it could look like this all the time. Right now we have the best horses we've ever had. They are all calm and smart. And it was even my idea we ride... scoring some serious points with the man in the house.



Happy B-day Darren. If you want to know how old we are it's easy. For Darren, add 30 years to Cala's age. And for Erika, add 30 years to CC's age. The big 38 for Darren this year and the girls were caught up in all the action. The fought over everything. But finally ended with me deciding who would give dad what. Cala gave him a shirt, CC a Wii game and me a camera and a solo trip to Costa Rica to see Ben G.



This is one secure (or confused) little man. Today I said, "Time to take CC to school." Connor emerges from her room wearing sunglasses, a necklace and carrying a purse. (but man bags are all the rage right?) What really worries me about this picture is that he was posing. hummm. Your thoughts? He's adorable and I love him but he's is complete trouble. Don't give me the "he's just a boy" thing either because he is not loud, doesn't go around banging things into the wall, hitting everything or running everywhere... instead he is into EVERYTHING. I wish this kid would learn to play with toys. He spends his day reorganizing cupboards, shopping in the pantry, getting into make up, and most recently moving his high chair to whatever kitchen drawer he wants to access.. then plays in the spice drawer, knife drawer and today was trying to turn on the stove. help. He's strong too because I've locked he wheels of his high chair and it doesn't seem to matter. (thank goodness for a distressed hardwood floor I suppose) Trouble - big time.



Hi Andrea. (sorry about the big pic... can't figure out how to shrink it) It was soooo nice to see you the end of Feb. and spend some really good sister bonding time together! My trip to Boise was made even better when our very nice neighbors volunteered to help out with all 3 kids... including Connor so I could go visit the Randalls in Boise. It was memorable for many reasons. 1. I woke up by myself every morning - no one woke me up. 2. We spent most of the time shopping and laughing. (My thank you card from the Boise Chamber of Commerce arrived yesterday.) 3. Micah, Andrea's crazy competitive husband seriously lost in cards a few times. 4. Her kids are adorable. Annie let me do her hair everyday. Cade killed me in every Wii game we played. And Molly is the happiest baby ever... I really can't believe how good she is. 4. I had a 4 hour lay over in Seattle where I had the best time BY MYSELF. I had a massage, ate the best clam chowder and fish tacos in the world and went on a 90 minute walk. People - does it get any better? Of course I missed the kids and was happy to smother them with hugs and kisses when I saw them. Chelsea was so excited to stay with the neighbors that she kept asking, "Why aren't you gone yet?" or said "I'll miss you but I'm way more excited for you to go." and "Dad's more fun, he likes to play the Wii more." Cala also told me that "Dad doesn't demand, you demand." (Which is true but I'm ignored and he's not... why is that? Cala had a good cry the night before I left but when I got back she said she was way too busy to miss me. Darren took the girls and went to Montana for the weekend. Connor got left by both parents - ouch. I got home late Sunday night so I didn't see Connor until the morning. He didn't flinch when I went into his room all excited to see him... just demanded breakfast as usual.



I had to put this picture for you Lindsay. Rich you keep us all laughing. I just had my stitches removed from Christmas. Also, my kids can't tell which one I am in this picture... can you? (If you say the older one, you are booted from this blog)