Happy Birthday Kimball

He's the big 32- and I'm not talking about Jimmer!

We love you so so so much Kimball! Happy Birthday to the greatest person I know!

Talmage 6 months old pictures

My little doll boy.

We already knew that he is a smiley guy, but we learned how much he loves the camera.

Emily Loveland did an awesome job- and we had such a great time too. No stress!

Em had to snap this candid shot.

We were all done, but she picked up her camera and he SMILED for her.

I made this quilt for him a couple of months ago as a play quilt. It went significantly faster than I thought, and even though it was kind of a whim, we both really like it. It is a black and white cow print on the back that's made of minky.

Love him.

He's a dream.

Happy New Year!

2011

is over.

It's been a wonderful year so we celebrated. It's always hard for me to fathom how far away my childhood or highschool graduation or mission or wedding day is getting, but I will embrace it- because I look forward to another year. We anticipate some big changes for everyone and hope it's as memorable. I plan on documenting it right here.

In Kimball's mind he couldn't think of a better way to start the new year

than with a glass of Martinelli's.

Sick ducks

I have done...

SO

MUCH

LAUNDRY!

The day after Christmas, we put the kids to bed. I awoke to some muffled kid sounds at 2:30 am. I got up to go to the boys room and on the way, saw Benson on the couch. I began talking to him, and he began barfing at me. I caught most of it with a blanket-luckily. It's not the first time that Kimball has been alarmingly awoken with a cry of help from me. Benson was ghost white. We bathed him for the second time that night, and went into his room to get him new clothes, only to discover that that had been the second time that he threw up. Hence the picture. He ended up throwing up through the night and into midday. Sleeping and resting. The next day he seemed much better. It was about one pm., I'm ready to head out, Talmage is in his carseat, diaper bag on my shoulder, and Andrew threw up all over the floor. What!! We had another long day and night of lots of 'episodes'. By Friday everyone seems pretty normal and we hope that mom, dad, and the baby are spared.

I took this picture on Thursday night when Andrew was still mopey. Kimball and I were talking and Andrew just climbed right up on the stool and put his arms around daddy. I literally had the camera sitting next to me and glad I could snap this little moment.

punked

I got punked by my three year old last night. We were putting the boys to bed, I was on Andrew and was already putting him in bed while Kimball was brushing Benson's teeth. Andrew and I were laughing and tickling and wrestling on the bed. Kimball reminded me that I was supposed to be winding him down- not up. I told him that I'd 'turn him off' as soon as Benson came to bed. Kimball finished with Benson and brought him to the bed. I said to Andrew, "Okay, Andrew, where is your off button? Let me find it." I turned him over to pretend to push his pretend button on his back. I did it and Andrew laughed and said, "mom, push my button again." I TOTALLY FELL FOR IT! I did, and he immediately made the sound that boys do best- tooted. Kimball and I literally rolled over in laughter. Just so it's clear- he's never ever seen that trick before. He's been totally pre-programmed. Never a dull moment here.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Andrew's LAST day of Nursery.

He is SO excited!!

He's wanted to go into Primary since last January when Benson left him for Sunbeams.

He had a great time in nursery (and had awesome teachers) but isn't looking back.

Santa

Dear Santa,

They would both like Transformers.

For the last several years my mom has been a volunteer at Festival of Trees. We always go the day she's there. The boys had a little too much freedom looking at the trees, but were so excited at all the decorations, lights, and TOYS! Grandma got Benson a scone, and Andrew a cinnamon roll, which he dropped on the floor in less than three seconds. Too bad we couldn't have stayed longer due to preschool, but we had a great time. Gets me in the Christmas spirit for sure.

1st Snowman

Best day of winter so far was when Andrew saw it was all white outside and ran to us and said, "Mom mom, there's no on the ground. All over. There's no on everyone's house!" He has a hard time with "S" but he and Benson are excited for the snow. We went right out and made a snowman. The snow was perfect for packing and our snowman got rocks for eyes and nose, a lavender blossom for a mouth and sticks for arms.

After the snowman we packed everyone up and went down to Lehi to watch Erica's nephew Zach play in the pee-wee football 5th grade championship game. Erica's brother Clark coaches the team and they won! Congratulations to Zach and Clark. It was frigid outside and we had this fleece one piece (we call it the star suit) since Benson, and Talmage loved it because it's EXTREMELY warm.

Pocket Pals

What do all these items have in common?

When I came home from church Erica said to me, "We've finally found the Lightning McQueen car Benson has been missing for so long." I replied that I didn't think it was our car since I saw Benson playing with Grant in their pew after Sacrament Meeting. The next day we got a call from Jamey, "I have an odd question to ask you... Grant is missing his Lightning McQueen car..." Our son lifted someone elses property while at church!

That day Erica took Benson over to Jamey's house to return the car. They returned the hot item and had a great time playing with Grant. That night I was cleaning up the boys room and found two cars in a corner of their room. Benson ran up to me and said, "Dad, I have a secret... those are Grants." At least we have an honest, clever thief. He traded one car for two! Sorry Jamey.

The next day Benson came home from pre-school and told Erica, "Mom, Mrs. Debbie gave me a car today, but if I go there again I'll give it back to her." This is speak for Benson temporarily borrowing it :(. Sorry Miss Debbie.

We've been to Aunt Carlie's house twice recently celebrating family dinner's and birthday's. After we came home I ran a load of laundry and heard a ruckus in the washing machine. I thought they were shoes, but found out immediately after opening the load to have a domino fall out of the washer. The other domino manifested itself in the dryer cycle! Sorry Carlie.

Today there was a Chinese coin sitting on our table. "Erica, where did this coin come from?" "I found it in the dryer," she replied, "it just showed up today." Thinking about our recent experiences the light bulb came on, Carlie spent 3 months teaching English in China. Sorry Carlie.

Jamey had a good laugh about this recent delinquent activity but it's really not funny. We don't think there's any maliciousness to Benson's misdemeanor (pun intended) but if we don't solve this problem soon we'll have two and then three derelicts in our house. Until then we suggest you do what mom does when Benson leaves ... check his pockets on the way out!

Andrew wanted a picture too. He didn't know what for.

6th Anniversary

We got dressed in our formal attire and went to The Garden for dinner. This restaurant has a special place in our relationship. Plus the view isn't so bad ;). We thoroughly enjoyed the food and chance to have adult conversation.

We had our wedding luncheon in the Empire room. Unfortunately the video was destroyed by accident but I called her up on stage and sang to Erica on our wedding day. During our date the room was empty and I got the chance to look her in the eye again with an even better understanding of who she is and why I married her 6 years ago.

I married the best person on the Earth. Erica is an answer to my prayers every single day I am with her. I continually wonder how she does everything that she does so selflessly, and 98% of the time she does it with a smile and a glad heart. She is an incredible mother. I certainly couldn't raise 3 boys on my own and she makes sure our boys have attention, education and experiences that build their character and fulfill their passions. She notices the smallest details of change in our boys and points out what they are doing -that they've never done before.

She is tolerant (especially of me), and patient and kind. She is passionate and personable and always presentable and modest. She is a woman of virtue and honor. She has a desire to only be around wholesome and encourages me to stay away from anything that is not. I appreciate her demanding one-on-one time and how she tells me all the little details of her day, and carefully listens to mine. Erica is creative and I frequently find her teaching herself a new skill that results in a beautiful craft, decoration, clothing or gift. I love that she tries so hard to have a warm meal ready when I come home and believes in the foundation of communication that the event of family dinner truly is. She is diligent in supporting my ambition and encourages me to have more. She has a meaningful and personal relationship with God our Eternal Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. She is prayerful, spiritual and faithfully, and dutifully serves other people; when assigned or at random. She sees a need and fills it. She is a great ear, sometimes too good of an ear when I want my own time with her. She is compassionate, sympathetic and empathetic; she often cries for people she doesn't even know.

She is an advocate and doesn't settle. She knows my needs intimately and continually looks out for me. She understands me and makes considerable effort to make me happy, contribute to my happiness, and be the source of my happiness. Erica is beautiful inside and out, makes sure to keep me looking her way and I desire to only have her, to hold on to her, for this life and the next, for life, and through life. With ambition for a better life I fell to one knee, she is my love. I am the luckiest.

Winning Pumpkin

My work had a Halloween Party during lunch on Monday and had prizes for best chili, best costume and best pumpkin. I did a cool BYU pumpkin a few years ago and enjoyed it, so I thought... why not?!

I saw a cool design that made the orange pumkin look like a peeled off face with a skull underneath. We drove to 4 grocery stores before we found one with regular orange pumpkins and the special white pumpkins. The orange pumpkin was 19 cents a pound and the white 69 cents per pound. Thought I would share that ;).

I started out with 2 pumpkins.

Then I removed the guts to get ready for carving.

Then I carved out the skull face and Jack-O-Lantern face.

It took some trickery to mate the two together because I couldn't get my fingers inside the skull pumpkin. I made shelves inside for candles, and put those inside. I used toothpicks and scissors and with lots of care not to bust out the teeth and finally got the two pumpkins to match up how I wanted.

The end result is pretty cool. I took it to work and won 2nd place and $50 for 4 hours of pumpkin carving madness and less than 3 bucks in pumpkin! Yeah Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

...FROM: Talmage

Got him gigggggling so hard- he fell over like a snow angel. Had to video that too.

Benson on a two wheeler

No more of these...

These training wheels were so hashed it was awful! However, Benson had become accustomed to them, but Andrew wasn't. We bought some new ones for Andrew and Thursday evening (Oct. 27th) Kimball was changing them out. He thought, lets let Benson have a go at the two wheeler while they are off. Benson had actually been asking this summer if he could take them off anyway. So, at 7 pm Kimball went out with Benson and Andrew to take on the task of teaching Benson how to balance. About fifteen minutes later, when I came out to video- the task had been accomplished, but not quite mastered. I have to say, and I think I speak for Kimball too, it was pretty awesome to watch him ride all by himself. Even some of our neighbors were excited and cheered him on. Of course it was getting too dark, so we came in, but re-visited the bike Saturday morning. It was like magic- within about twenty more minutes, he was turning and stopping, and then...starting ALL on his own. He is so thrilled. So, we may be putting the training wheels on after all- for Andrew, but shopping for Benson a bike. What a milestone in a kids' life. Kimball- you are one awesome DAD!

The learning wasn't without a few falls. He began crying the first few falls, but stopped quickly, and got back on. Then he had a few spills without any complaint- almost more with a giggle. He really did so so awesome.

Andrew always wants to keep up, but he's not quite there. I would not be surprised if he's riding a two wheeler this coming summer though.

And here's the magic...

Halloween is in the air

Kimball and I went to a friends party as Super man and Wonder Woman. We had a great time and took Talmage with us (he had shots that day and wasn't feeling awesome, but was still awesome.) While we were gone, the boys did this...
How cute is this? We did not pose this. We just put on a movie at Grandma's house and they just snuggled up together. Then they went to bed while we played.

The next day was our Stake Fall Carnival. Andrew dressed up like a pirate, and Benson was a hybrid of Batman and Spiderman, he even had webbing to throw.

The boys played all of the games and earned tickets.

They had a lot of fun doing all the stuff that was planned just for little kids.

Their favorite, and my favorite to watch was the donut on a string. I laughed so hard and have video of them trying to eat it without the use of their arms, but eventually Andrew just rips his donut off and shoves it into his mouth. Hilarious.

Talmage was the MVP. Kimball asked me if I thought his cheeks hurt, I was confused and said, "No, I don't think so, why?" he said, "because he smiles so much."

That night we went to Gardner Village and did the Witch watch walk. It is so festive there, I suggest it. We all had a great time enjoying a fall evening together and seeing all of the creative witches.