Jingle Bells anyone?

I should explain the lack of blogs the past few months. Aaron and I have a really old computer that I use at home. The computer wasn't designed to handle the big file sizes our camera pictures create. A few months ago our computer really started to run slow. I was afraid to upload any pictures to it for fear of an all out computer crash. Blogs are just not as fun to do without any photographs. But never fear my brother and his wife gave us an external hard drive for our pictures. Hooray! Thanks to them I am now getting caught up on my blogs...enjoy memories of our Christmas.

We spent Christmas Eve/Morning with my side. Then after talking to Levi we went down to Aaron's side. This is our day:

The traditional ice in cookie sheet trap. This baby has worked every time with us (all of two years.) Taylor was content just to play with the ice. Logan on the other hand has alas grown out of the trap. Nicole and Grandpa thought he might be too old and set some other traps for him to get around. With a little help, Logan and Taylor made their way upstairs to the joys that waited for them.

A picture is worth a thousand word. Need I say anything about Logan's expression?!?

This is the boys Christmas spoils. Thank you to Santa's elves for painting the blocks for me when I was otherwise unable. Logan is checking out Taylor's presents.

I wanted to make homemade stockings but couldn't decide on a design. Finally I saw this really neat idea. Each year you add a decoration to the stocking. The kids pick what they want to put on. It could be anything. I can't wait to see what the Boys stocking will look like in 18 years.

Taylor got a Weeble school bus. He has way too much fun loading and unloading the weebles.

Logan got a Strider balance bike. Walks are a highlight of the day for him now. I will put Taylor in the Chariot and let Logan ride as far as he wants. When he gets tired, I put him in the Chariot and the bike in the huge pocket (for lack of a better word). I then push both of them home. It has opened up a new world to Logan. He is starting to recognize parts of our neighborhood.

What is more exciting to boys than trains? They sat and watched the train go around and around for a long time. You think with all the new toys they would play with one of them. Nope

Kalob got the "Hungry Hungry Hippo" game from Aunt Nicole. With how many games Grandpa and the grandsons played those hippos must have been really hungry!

While the hippo feeding frenzy was going on, Taylor was over investigating the lights on the tree.

Jingle Bells are just the thing to do while waiting to talk to Levi. This year we got to skype with Levi. That was the best present hands down.

Taylor and Grandpa relaxing in the chair. Taylor was almost asleep and not too excited about opening more presents.

Logan on the other hand perked right up when he saw the wrapped goodness waiting for him. My boys sure got a lot of fun things this year. Sometimes I am not sure who is more excited about some of their things: them or Aaron and I. Aaron and I got some snowshoes and can't wait to try them out. If you have any good spots to snowshoe give me a call!

Happy Jan. Everyone

Dear Kayla

Taylor and I are growing up so fast. Taylor is now pulling himself up into a standing position. He is even starting to walk along furniture. Mommy and Daddy are a little nervous about the day Taylor starts to walk. That would mean both of us running around. Hee Hee Mommy won't be able to keep up. Taylor also likes to pick up finger food. He is starting to object to baby food. I like to share my cereal with him. Sometimes he gets to eat crackers, bread pieces, cubes of cheese, mango, and his favorite, bananas. I am trying to be a good big brother by teaching Taylor to talk. We like to "talk" to each other--especially when we are suppose to be napping.

In the above picture, I am making Taylor laugh for Mommy. I have a lot of fun riding Taylor like he is a horse as he crawls. He is one crawling machine. Unfortunately, that means he finds and eats all the food on the floor that I leave behind. Mommy has to vacuum a lot! Sometimes Taylor and I have fun "wrestling" each other.

Bath time is so exciting having someone else to splash with. Taylor is really good with his arms. Of course, I have taught him well. Sometimes Mommy pulls that shower curtain partly closed and lets us splash as hard as we want. He is pretty good at playing the dreadful sea monster and attacking my boat.

Kayla, do you like my pictures? They remind Mommy of the Calvin and Hobbes comic when Calvin won't smile for a picture. I am giving Mommy my best "cheese" for the above picture. Below is my "Lady Killer" look. Sorry the picture is blurry but I just couldn't hold still.

The weather has been pretty fair the last few weeks. I try and get Mommy outside as much as I can. We really like to go for walks while I ride my balance bike. Kayla, you won't believe it but I am starting to stride 6-10 feet down inclines. The other day Mommy let me ride as far as I wanted. We made it from our house all to the way to Daddy's school--2.7 miles one way!! I had so much fun that I didn't want to stop. It took me two hours but I rode the whole way. Along our excursion we stopped and played with some dogs. We stopped and watched a car get washed at the car wash. The car wash attendant offered to wash my bike for free. I told him I would take him up on the offer some other time, waved goodbye, and took off as Mommy ran to catch up.

Lately Taylor and I have had a cold. We couldn't go out and play in snow that finally came our way. I like to climb on my toy box and look out the window at all the snow. I hope I can go play before it all melts. Kayla, do you have a lot of snow? If so, let me know and I will be sure to bring my snowsuit next time we come visiting. Mommy told me that we will come soon! Are you ready to play with me? You should brush up on your coloring skills. I like to color. At bedtime it you want, we could cuddle and read stories together.

I miss you Kayla and can't wait to see you.

Love,

Logan

Happy Hauntings

Carving pumpkins is one of my favorite things to do for Halloween night. Aaron was more than willing to cut the tops off the pumpkins. But then he quickly handed me the spoon and went to watch a football game. I didn't mind. I really like to hollow out the insides of pumpkins. Aaron hates it. Which is why he watched a football game instead. After I cleaned them out, Aaron and I carved them. Logan wanted to help but little fingers are not good around knives.

Until Logan is old enough to handle a pumpkin he will have to settle for other ways to help. Such as this year Logan was in charge of putting the tops on the pumpkins. Taylor was our wonderful supervisor.

We stacked one pumpkin on top of the other. We made the bottom ones face look sad. You would be sad too if you had a fat pumpkin squishing you.

After we carved pumpkins, we order some pizza and had a wonderful feast to fill up before heading out to trick or treat. This year Logan went as Captain Hook and Taylor was Peter Pan. Special thanks to Grandma for making Logan's jacket (I knew I was in over my head with that one.)

Ahh Suckers are the worst thing to give a toddler for Halloween. Logan was able to get the wrapper off and wouldn't let it go for anything. He got so sticky and loved EVERY moment of it.

Captain Hook examining all his booty from his night of scavenging. He did quite well for only "attacking" eight doors. Peter Pan flew away to home by the sixth door. By the time the Captain came home, Peter Pan was already asleep for the night.

Here are just some random pictures for your viewing enjoyment.

Grandma and Grandpa went to Disneyworld and brought Logan a Ghost Mickey shaped popcorn bucket back. He loved it...in fact we used it as his trick or treat bucket. Here is Aaron and Logan eating the popcorn out and watching a movie.

Taylor was trying to wake up Logan. It was almost 6pm and Logan still was a sleep from his after church nap. He was one tired boy.

A funny story and then you can get on with your life.

To limit Logan's sugar intake. Aaron and I hid all his candy (in the cookie jar). Each night after he went to sleep, we would put two or three pieces in his Mickey bucket. Some days he would eat them all by 7am and on other days he would space the candy out. This particular day he ate all his candy by 7am. About 9:30am he can to me with his bucket. I told he that was all he got for the day. He walked away defeated. A little bit later he came running to me with his shoes. I put them on him. He ran and grabbed his bucket and went outside. He ran over to our neighbors door and knocked. Luckily they weren't home. Logan really wanted some more candy.

Fire, Pumpkins, and Milestones

One quiet Sunday afternoon, Logan and I were reading stories when there was an urgent knock at the door. My friend, Stormi, told us that there was a fire in the field next to us. I had heard the fire engines but thought they were just passing by on the main road next to our place. Nope they took a little meander down our street and parked themselves right in front of us. Logan and his buddy, Korbin, had a blast watching the firefighters. There was a total of 8 firetrucks, 3 police cars, and 1 ambulance. I ran to grab my camera. By the time I got back, the fire was no where as big as before. The fire was as tall as the trees in the picture below. Kudos to the fire department for putting it out fast. Logan got to touch a real fire engine. I got some cute pictures of Logan and the fire engines. For Internet safety reasons I won't share them. You can just imagine the HUGE smile and pure joy my little boy expressed.

Stormi and I decided to let the boys have a little fun one cold rainy afternoon. We went to the local craft store and picked out a wooden pumpkin for them to paint. We weren't sure if we were being crazy letting an 20 month and 17 month year old loose with paint brushes.

We strapped them in their highchair and covered the tray with newspaper. They were really confused at first.

That confusion quickly evaporated and our budding artists went to work.

The artist did a lot better than I thought. Both were able to completely paint their pumpkins with minimal assistance from the parental units. They surprisingly didn't paint themselves. Only once did we had to stop them from painting each other.

This is what happens when you leave Logan out to play while you unload the groceries from the trunk...

He just smiled proudly when he saw me. Yes, he climbed into the truck. Then sorted through the sacks until he located the one he wanted. Then he happily snacked on grapes until I caught him.

Last but not least...TAYLOR! Taylor has grown leaps and bounds in just a few weeks. Really one day he just decided to roll over and the next he was rolling across the floor.

Well that milestone didn't last very long. So one to the next one, feeding time. We started Taylor on solids a few days ago. He loves it. Loves it a little too much. We have a hard time keeping him from lunging at the spoon. He just gets so excited when the spoon gets close that he starts kicking and rocking.

These are from the very first time he tried rice cereal.

He wasn't so sure the first spoon full.

But after he got it down...

SUCCESS!