A Colder Week

Kyler has an incredible memory. I hide toys away that I'll bring out occasionally because they require set up and/or clean up. It's also nice to pull them out when it's too cold to go outside because they're like a new toy. We haven't played with this in forever. Azure used to be scared of it, but now loves it.

Zander is 3 months old! He is giggling quite a bit. He giggles if you wiggle your tongue or tickle his chin. He loves to stand. If I sit him on my lap, he stiffens his legs and tries to stand. Already?!?!?!?! I'm not ready for that. He is a strong baby. He is about 12 lbs 6 ozs. I still need to measure him. I took him to a regional conference yesterday for the whole day. He was so good. He is such a happy baby. It was a relief society conference for 6 stakes in the area. Sister Silvia H Allred came to speak and then train those in relief society leadership. She was wonderful. I love seeing general presidency members and apostles outside of general conference because you see their individual personalities a little more. Sister Allred was delightful and uplifting. It was a great conference. I learned so much at the training. It was perfect timing with our new Relief Society presidency. Our president is a wonderful woman and we're all just learning our callings.

Only a few more weeks with intermittent days of cold weather, then outfits like this will have to be retired. I love this outfit. Kyler also notices when Zander wears a truck/train/tractor outfit. He loves it.

For school on Friday Kyler's class got to dress up as a favorite book character. Kyler went as Dennis from "The Monster Bed" by Jeanne Willis. It was a fun school day, but I wasn't about to spend my whole week making a costume. I just stapled ears and horns on one of Azure's headbands, stapled foam spikes down his shirt back, and cut out foam monter feet. He was so proud of his costume.

While I was at the conference yesterday (literally all day - 8:30 - 5:30), Trevor took the kids to pick up our bountiful basket and go to the park. They loved the day out with daddy. We don't yell at each other or the kids because we're not yellers. But, we do fuss at the kids. Kyler told dad that I fuss at them a lot more than he does ;)

They enjoyed the park, although it was a chilly day. We had 74 degree weather one day and then 50 degree weather the next. That's just this time of year. I don't mind it. I'm not looking forward to HOT and HUMID this summer.

Azure found a warmer spot away from the wind. She enjoyed her snack and talked about the "cave" a lot when I came home.

Side note: Kyler can have the most wonderful days. Today he was being so cute with Azure. He was hugging her and telling her he loved her and letting her have the color of plate she wanted for dinner (even though it was his turn to pick). He was totally watching out for her today. Also, a couple days ago we had a tornado watch. There was a bunch of wind and some thunder at 5:30 in the morning. Kyler got up about 6:15. I was afraid the thunder would wake them up and was surprised it didn't. Well, it did wake up Kyler. He told us he was scared, but that he had said a prayer and felt better. He is such an example to me. He is just a great kid.

Adventure Science Center

For President's Day we went to the Adventure Science Center. It was a really neat children's museum. Kyler got to try out being physically handicapped. He was nervous at first, but then enjoyed it.

One of the floors was devoted to the body. All the games and activities were teaching children about how their bodies work. They got to brush giant teeth.

Kyler enjoyed putting this person's insides back together. I helped him. It was hard! All the kids tried to put the heart in the intestinal cavity. Kyler was pretty proud when we figured it all out.

Azure's favorite was building veins and arteries in the water table. This was a really neat activity. The blue pieces were to build veins, the red ones for arteries, and the yellow ones were blockages. They even had yellow ones with little holes and big holes in them. Then, you send a ball down the waterway and watch it go down a vein or artery and see how the blockages affected how the ball moved. It was neat.

There were a few random fun things, like the dinosaurs. Of course, Azure was scared because they roared.

The bottom floor had an awesome solar system/space exhibit. We didn't have a lot of time for this floor.

The space exhibit had plastic bottle rockets. There was also a neat place where kids could experience what it feels like to be in space. They were hooked up in straps and bounced around. Kyler won't be able to do that for a while because the kids have to weigh 50 pounds.

There was a preschool room with some fun little simple toys like magnets and a train table. It was a wonderful children's museum. We got a membership because it pays for itself in 2 visits. I'm sure we'll be going there again. It was only about 45 minutes away.

We have a family tradition. I wanted to document it for the kids. Since we don't live near family and our opportunities for couple dates are limited because babysitting is so expensive, we have a lot of family dates. We love to make homemade pizza where everyone gets to make their own pizza. We also make breadsticks. Then, we eat on a blanket in the living room and watch a movie together. The kids love it. We like it, too. Ashley joined us this last Friday night. She's almost part of the family some days. We love to have her over. She's so sweet.

It's been a little windy lately, so we finally broke out the kite Kyler got for his birthday a couple years ago (sorry Justin - it's been waiting for us to use it). Kyler was thrilled with it. Azure finally came outside too. They had a lot of fun with it.

Trevor's Birthday

Trevor is, gasp, 34! Kyler made him a card and was helping him read it. He is incredible with spelling phonetically. I makes it much easier for me or Trevor to try and read his notes.

The kids and I got Trevor a new Ipod Nano. We are not so into technology that we need an Iphone, or an Ipod touch. We only have an Ipad because it was issued to Trevor by the university, just like a laptop. It has rarely been used, though ;) Trevor just likes his music for when he runs, or is doing chores, or travelling. Our other Ipod is only a 2G, so he could store very little of his music on it. This one can store all his music.

He also got a nice new camera from his parents. We have yet to use it because I want to run out the batteries on the old camera. This birthday I realized how much smaller gifts are getting physically, but way more expensive.

Trevor's mom challenged us to do this no sugar diet for four months (except natural sweetners, like honey and fruit). For Trevor's birthday we got a fresh pineapple and raspberries to make into a "cake." It was really yummy. We love fresh pineapple. We love you, Trev/daddy. Happy Birthday!

Azure loves to snuggle Zander. He was getting tired, so she wanted him tucked into bed with her so she could help put him to sleep. It was sweet.

This is so characteristic of Kyler. He hates jeans, but will wear them if I set them out for him. On days I just let him choose his outfit look like this. He has on maroon sweats and a brown and tan shirt. They look terrible together, but he sure likes comfortable clothes. When Trevor encourages him to get dressed on school days he lets Kyler choose his clothes. I, on the other hand, like to help him pick his clothes because he has never once picked something that matches. He's just like his daddy, comfy is top priority ;) It makes me smile. As long as Kyler lets me pick what he wears on picture days, I don't really care if he goes to school with a purple shirt and red pants. The day will come when he cares too much about what he looks like.

This is characteristic of Azure. She has taken a board game box and turned it into a crib. Then, she has taken Kyler's tractor and put a binky in it to put it to sleep. Ha ha ha. When I saw this I laughed and remembered that video from Child Development where you give little girls trucks and boys dolls. The girls turn the trucks into babies and the boys turn the dolls into guns. Azure is totally into tractors right now and Kyler is thrilled. I guess what he doesn't realize is that when Azure sees a tractor, she sees something that needs taken care of, not something with major power that will rip up the dirt ;)

Kyler and Zander

There are moments they really look alike and others where they look so different.

A Completed Project!

I have a lot of unfinished projects that are slowly getting done. I despise unfinished projects. The pantry was one and is now completed. The next project I was halfway done with was this puppet theater. I have had multiple ideas for creating a puppet theater, but this one was cheap and easy. I just took a laundry garment rack and only used the lower half. Then, I sewed curtains. This was simple and cheap. The kids love to tell stories and I love pretend play. I've already used my turns to tell stories to remind the kids how to play nice. I also did some stories about feeling scared and stuff. Azure really responds to this. I think it helps her learn how to deal with change and things.

Two Months!

Our little Zander is two months old already! He is such an amazingly sweet baby. I'm so glad I got the hardest one first. But, I also worry that he's going to be our little toddler terror ;) He loves this visual stimulation blanket. I've been using it for tummy time for a long time, but I decided to throw it over the cupboards one day while kneading bread (yes, the old fashioned way - I actually like it). It's hard to have him in the sling while I knead. He was totally enthralled with his blanket and alternately looked at me to coo and smile.

How can you not love a baby's smile????? He only wakes me up once or twice an night to nurse. There are still nights where I can tell I'm really tired. It's all worth it when you see these sweet ones enjoy mom or dad.

Zander's two month doctor visit was on Saturday. He is 11 lbs 9 ozs and 23 inches. Just for a comparison, Kyler was 22 inches and 10 lbs 14 ozs when he was two months. Zander was so good for the doctor. He didn't cry at all for the doctor, even though he didn't like the tongue depressor in his mouth or the doctor pushing on his belly. He just grunted and wiggled.

The shots were so sad. Zander just doesn't cry much, so when he does it pulls on my heartstrings a lot. He was cooing and smiling at the nurse. Then, she stuck him. He wailed. As soon as I picked him up he stopped crying. He took one last little deep breath with his lower lip out and settled down. I just can't get over how content he is!

What Every Kitchen Needs

We finally have our pantry finished! Thanks for the help dad! This is the first time I've had a pantry to hide my food and I'm excited!