Chocolate Lovers

We've had this candy kiss decoration sitting on the table filled with candy kisses for Valentines and our little monkey has recently discovered he can just help himself to some chocolate! I caught him in the act this morning and now I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to put it! 

Feb 2nd

We had chocolate muffins for breakfast and these two were both chocolate messes by the end! I think they both take after their mom! 

Snow Day!

This morning we woke up to several inches of snow outside and it was still coming down pretty hard.

 Steven was a trooper and ran out to the grocery store for us since we were basically out of all our necessity items, then came home to shovel off the driveway. I had planned to spend the afternoon at the spa getting a massage, facial, pedicure with the gift card that Steven had given me for Christmas. I'd really been looking forward to going especially since my neck and back have been bothering me so much lately, but when I pulled out of the garage I got stuck in the gutter. Steven came and got me out of the gutter and turned into the street, but they hadn't been through to plow our neighborhood yet and I couldn't get the van to go. He came out again to push the van as I tried to get it going, but I ended up sliding into the gutter on other side of the street. By this point I was just done with the whole ordeal and called the Spa to cancel my appointment while Steven got the van unstuck again and pulled back into the garage. He was frustrated with me cause I wasn't willing to drive on the crappy roads and kept telling me that once I got out of the neighborhood I'd be fine, but since I couldn't even drive away from our house I just wasn't willing to risk it. I was bummed about not going, but decided I could just have a fun day at home or outside in the snow with the kids instead. 

Blanket forts and movies this morning.

All of us have still been sick with colds and congestion so we had a lazy day inside for most of the time, but then when Landon went down for a nap we took Mason and Emma outside to play in the snow. We made a small sled hill in the front yard and took turns helping the kids go down it. We also ran around the block while pulling them on a sled which they thought was fun, but it was super tiring for us so they each only got to do that once. I also helped them build a snowman and we threw a few snowballs around. Overall we were probably only outside for an hour before coming in for some hot chocolate, which I think might have been their favorite part! The rest of the day we just hung out in the house and continued to watch the snow fall.

Landon at 18 Months!

Crazy that our baby boy is already 18 months old now! He is growing way to fast and is starting to think he is one of the big kids now and it makes me sad to see him get so big. He has been so much fun and although his mischievous side has begun to show more, he is still such a sweetheart. 

Here are a few things about our little Landon at 18 months old!

Weight: 23 lbs

Wearing: size 5 diapers, size 3 shoe, and 18-24 month clothes

Teeth: 12 all together, and working on at least 4 more. He has the 8 in the front (4 on top, 4 on bottom) and then he just finished cutting all 4 of his molars! He's now cutting his "I" teeth. 

Words: "ish" for fish, dad, thank you.

He is a cuddler, and loves to come sit on ours laps. He loves his blanky and the lamb binky (the same one Emma loved), but he is so good to keep them in his crib and rarely uses a binky outside of when he's sleeping. When he does get a hold of his blanket though he instantly puts his head on it to cuddle it which is adorable. He is a good little sleeper now and sleeps from 7p-7a consistently. He is also down to taking just one nap in the afternoon which lasts anywhere from 1.5 to 3 sometimes even 4 hours long. He's still a pretty good eater for the most part, but he has certainly gotten pickier and has flat out refused to eat some things. I would say some of his favorite foods are mandarin oranges, bananas, raisins, breakfast foods (pancakes, waffles, eggs), avocados, corn, mashed potatoes, and anything sweet! The kid certainly has a sweet tooth like his mom! He has been doing really well using utensils lately, but lately he likes to hand it to me and have me either feed him, or scoop the food up and then he'll put it in his mouth. 

He has mastered the stairs going up and down now which has been so nice. He loves to play up on the table, I assume because that's where his siblings have been playing to keep their toys out of reach, but since he has now learned how to climb onto the table chairs that tactic no longer works for them. He loves his siblings and always wants to play with or follow them around, unfortunately they don't always love including him in everything they do. 

He is the best little "love" giver, and I just melt when he lays his head on my shoulder. 

Whenever anyone is going somewhere and getting ready to go by putting shoes or coats on, he runs and grabs his shoes and points to his feet cause he thinks he's going. 

He's officially old enough to be in nursery now, even though he's been coming in there with me for the past couple of months and has done great in there. He is very chill, and is happy to wander around and play by himself with whatever toys aren't taken. He will however squawk if someone tries to steal his toy, or isn't being nice. 

Some of his favorite toys seem to be the little tools, the kitchen stuff, he loves to dump the plastic food out, loves to read books, loves to play peek-a-boo or hide and he pretty much likes to do anything his siblings are doing!

He's been sick with a cold this last week or so and he really hates having his nose sucked out, as soon as he sees the bulb syringe he's fighting to get away although you can't really blame him. 

I'm sure there is so much more that I could say about our adorable, blue-eyed, blonde hair boy, but I'll call this good for now. We are just so blessed to have him and are so grateful for what he brings to our family! 

Western Night with Mason

Tonight was western night at Mountainside Elementary for the boys and their dates and I was excited for my first mother-son dance date with Mason! I even got us new cowboy shirts and him a cowboy hat to wear! I wanted a picture before we left, but these two wouldn't let us take one until they both got their picture taken first.  

When we got to the school we got some more pictures taken and then we headed into the gym to learn how to square dance. Mason started being really shy and mostly just wanted to hide behind me. It kind of bums we out when he does that, because he'll be super excited about doing something until it comes time to do it and then he doesn't want to do it. I was getting a little frustrated with him and after dancing for about 30 minutes and feeling like I was just dragging him around we decided to leave. We had to leave early anyways so that we could be home in time for Steven to attend an elders quorum meeting. They had advertised there would be root beer floats at the dance and I think that was the only part Mason actually wanted, but they weren't put out yet so I had to find one of the teachers that could get him one early. He was sure excited about that, and ate it on the car ride home. Even though he wasn't that into it, it was still fun to be out doing something with just him and having that one-on-one time with him!  

Snow and Finger Painting

We woke up to a very cold and frosty morning, one that I didn't want to go out in so we stayed inside and finger painted instead!

Landon actually seemed to prefer using the paintbrush over his fingers, and Emma loved dipping her fingers/hands in the paint!

Such cuties!

Box + Crayons = Hours of Fun

It always kills me when we have a whole house full of toys that never get played with and then we have a random cardboard box that the kids will literally play with/in for hours! Emma always loves to color on the boxes and of course Landon always wants to do whatever his older siblings are doing. Emma was good to let him play with her in the box and color too. 

Landon the Cook

While I was busy cooking dinner this little guy stole a can out of the garbage and was busy making his own dinner. You can sure tell that your every move is being watched when you have little ones that are constantly copying you!

Emma's School Projects & Bread Fail

Emma brought home this beautiful piece of art work and her pretty necklace from preschool today and was so proud of them! She really has been loving preschool and I'm so glad we decided to put her in. 

This afternoon I attempted to make some cinnamon bread that I thought I'd take to the ladies I visit teach, but they didn't turn out that great! I tried out a new recipe and I think maybe I filled the pans a little to full. They still tasted really good though and I was able to make a couple of them look presentable enough to still give away, with a disclaimer that they still tasted good. 

Landon Playing & Cleaning

While the other kids were away this cute little boy was busy playing with their toys, and helping mommy with the dusting.