My Funny Boys

 The boys have been very actively making messes and making funny faces.  Here's some examples.

 Jack has been loving his blocks a lot lately.  He puts them in his blue bucket and drags them around the house, and then stops to build.  He even brought them to bed and feel asleep in the middle of building.

Tod and Danny cleaned out my cabinet for me.  

I think Jack took this picture of Tod.  I love it.

Danny was finding it difficult to keep his eyes open as the camera flashed... so now I have a couple of pictures like this.

 

Jason and I went to go check on the kids before we went to bed, and we didn't see Tod in his bed.  This is where we found him after checking the other rooms and beds.  

A close-up to show that he actually feel asleep sitting up and hiding in the corner.

And... guess who's getting better at walking?

Videos

Just some random videos of the last couple of months

 They gathered all the blankets and pillows off of my bed for their landing pad. 

Jack was trying so hard to stay awake, but finally his eyes couldn't stay open any longer.

 

This is a video from the last time we were up at my parents house.  I found Tod in my parents bathroom, where they have a collection of cards (w/ songs) sitting in the window seal.  Tod loves the music and sat up sampling the cards, and even singing along to some.

Who needs clothes?

 Yep, I'm going to admit that these pictures are purely for blackmailing when they get a little older.

 Anyone else have kids that just love jumping into your bed, especially before bath time when they are their filthiest?

 Just love those cheeks.  

Nice and clean.

Valentine's Day and Tod's Birthday

Most celebrated days in our house, start on top of our dining room table.  This is where balloons and gifts can be found the morning of birthdays and the smaller holidays. So at 7am on, February 14th, 2012, our kids were in their usual place - on top of the table - checking out their Valentines Day balloons and cards, and other random treats.

 Balloons are always a big hit.

 As is candy... at anytime during the day, but especially before breakfast.

And, this... well, Jack just wanted to show off his downward dog skills on the stairs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODDY!!!

He's officially 2 years old.  For his birthday, we got to go to the doctors office and get his cast cut off.  He was very excited.  As soon as they took it off, he tried to stand up, but tipped right over.  So, I stood him up again, then he tipped right over for a 2nd time.  He had become accustomed to resting all of his weight on his cast, that when all the way up to his hip.  I'm happy to report, after 2 weeks of practice, he no longer walks with a limp.

For my kids birthdays, I attempt to make fun cakes with fondant.  Here's my attempt at a train cake for Tod. Did you know you can bake cake in a can to get a cylinder shape?  Love the random info you can find on Google!

I just loved this picture... it basically captures what Tod gets to deal with for the rest of his life... having Jack as his big brother. Good luck Tod!

Bunk Beds and Snow Days

We've been in the market for a bunk bed for a little while now, and finally, after lots of looking, we finally made a decision on this one in Jaunary.  Our kids had a field day as soon as we got it put together.

We jokingly said that we should save up some money for a broken arm that we were sure Kimball or Jack we going to get, but Tod beat us to the punch with his arm.  Kimball and Jack argued who got to sleep on top, but after a couple of sleepless nights, Jack got settled in the bottom bunk.

About a month later, Jason and I went to check on the kids, and found Tod up on the top bunk with Kimball.  Both of them fast asleep.  Love our little adventurers.

We made a trek up to my parents house to hang out with them, and my little sister Sammy and her family.  It snowed very hard one Saturday night/Sunday morning.  So much, that our kids couldn't resist watching it all come down, and Papa and Nana plowing their driveway.

They couldn't take it any longer, and begged and pleaded to go outside.  So we dressed all the kids for the snow and 30 mins later, they were out playing.  We had to get creative to keep Tod's cast dry, so we bought him a giant shoe to fit over it.  It worked perfectly, and Jack will have a new pair of shoes to wear in about 2 years.

 Sammy and I got in on the fun, and helped our kids make a snowman.  Well, we took over the project, and decided to make it a SnowWoman, and in a summer version of "what not to wear" with her in a bikini, flipflops, visor, sunglasses and a beach towel.

We also had a chance to take the kids tubing, but the hill was very slow because it had been so warm snow got very slushy.  I got the best work out of my life pushing my kids down that hill.

And, here's Danny.  Just to show that he's around.  He doesn't make it into a bunch of the other pictures.  He's cuter than ever and is on the move. 

 

 Tod+M&M's= this picture.

Bikes, Baths, and Broken Legs

When we got home from Christmas at my parents house, the kids got to have a second Christmas and get their new bikes and helmets.  Santa wasn't able to take those to Nana and Papa's house, so he left them at home.  They were very excited, and ask to ride every day.  Thank goodness for warm winters here in the desert.

Kimball and Jack checkin' out the goods.

Jack was very excited about his cars helmet.

Danny decided bikes are overrated now that he's mobile.  He just figured out how to roll and army crawl to get around, and even figured out how to get himself half way under the entertainment center.

Danny has figured out how to balance in the bathtub just enough to sit in there with his big brothers and sister.

And, alas, poor Tod. Our most mellow child managed to be the first to break a bone.  He was going down a slide at McDonalds with an older girl, there was a pile-up, and his tibia was history.  Okay, not history, but a little spiral fracture.  So he has to wear a cast for 4 weeks.

Woo Hoo it's Christmas!!!

 We finally made it up to my parents house, and let the party begin. On Christmas Eve, we had a delicious dinner, and then had the kids present the Nativity story.  My mom has costumes for most of the roles, and it's fun to see all the kids learning about Jesus' birth.

 This year Tod got to be an "angel in training."

Here's the whole scene. It was so fun to see the Ashton cousin all sit there and try to figure out what they're supposed to do.

Kimball takes her role as Mary very seriously. 

After the Nativity, we started to get settled down for the night.  We attempted to get a picture of our kids in their Christmas pajamas. Here is what that looked like.

My sister Cally and her husband Nate, had a good laugh watching us try and wrangle our little crew.  Needless to day,  the pictures of trying to get them to hold still are more fun and will help us remember how fun and crazy our lives are right now.

And now, for the mayhem of Christmas morning.

 

I'm so lucky to get to be a part of our family.  I love watching my kids get excited about everything.  And, I love how these little ones keep my life in perspective.  Sorry to get cheesy, but what better time to count blessing than Christmas?  I'm a blessed woman to be married to such an amazing man, and to get to raise these little spirits that Heavenly Father has blessed Jason and I with.  And, most importantly, to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to guide me through.