Ollie's 3rd Birthday Video

I am way overdue for an update, and I am so sad and disappointed in myself for not keeping up on my family blog. I guess living closer to family and Quilt Story taking more and more of my time, I left the blog go by the wayside. But I do plan on doing a catch-up by the end of January.  But today is Oliver's 3rd Birthday video.  It takes me a couple hours to do these videos, but I really hope that I do them forever!  We watch them all the time and I think it's just a fun way to document our lives.

Music: We Belong Together by Paul Newman from Toy Story

Pouring In

It's spring.  I can leave my back door open.  I feel complete peace and happiness, having the door open, warm sun pouring in, and hearing my kids playing and laughing together.  Even if I'm doing dishes, which I was, it is still so nice.

A fabulous time of year.

And soon it will be ridiculously hot, and our AC will run day and night.  BUT the nice thing about extreme heat compared to snow, I can still go out.  We can still drive to the mall and other fun places.  We can still go outside (at like 9 pm).  And swimming.  We can swim in the morning and in the late afternoon, and nothing makes for a fun way to pass the time like swimming.

Keeping You Safe

These two fighting invisible bad guys everyday just has the cuteness meter ready to explode.  Man I love having two boys!!  

If you'd like to see a two year old singing a very raspy ABC's, see below.  The meter definitely broke with this one.

My mommy is still here.  Love it.  Don't remember what life was like before.  With E so busy it has been so nice.  E finished his surgery rotation, and although it was the hardest (hours) I think he really loved it.  He got to stitch people up and participate in a variety of surgeries and his doc was really really good.  He was in a routine surgery where a woman almost died.  He came home and told me what happened, he thought she may not make it.  He was so happy to see that she was recovering the next day.  He's going to be a really good doctor.

I have been obsessed with this song. It is still playing (in my head).

"I'd catch a grenade for ya..."

Today

There is a song by Taylor Swift called The Best Day.  I see the video at the gym and have to try not to watch, otherwise I turn into a puddle on the treadmill.  It is home videos of her with her family and just has really sweet lyrics.  The last bit is:

And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today

And today was the best day.  The little boys and I ran some errands, we went to the library and picked out random new books.  Then I found a calendar and saw that Santa was at a local park, we walked right up and got to see him, no wait at all.  We took pictures and walked around downtown Chandler.  Afterwards we went and fed ducks at the park and played.  We came home and watched Yes, Virginia and it was cute.  When it was done Sawyer turned to me with a big smile.  Then I read them Polar Express.  It was just a nice, happy day with my little boys.

The other night, about 20 minutes after I laid the boys down, I saw Sawyer run across the open doorway.  I was sitting at the kitchen table sewing and he ran into the dining room.  He was checking our advent calendar where I told him a little elf comes every night and leaves a Hershey kiss for him and Ollie.  He's been known to wake at 6 am, go get the candy, eat it, and go back to sleep for an hour or two.  After he saw that the elf hadn't come he came into the kitchen and I explained that he wouldn't come until the whole house was dark and we were all sleeping.  He asked if I was going to sleep after I finished sewing.  I said yes :)  I told him he needed to go back to bed and he listened and started walking to his room.  He turned around after a few steps and said, "Merry Christmas mom."  It was just such a sweet and sincere moment.  I told E that I think that moment will stick in my mind forever.  Just a time where your heart unexpectedly swells with love.  My sweet three year old boy in his bright green footie monster jammies turning and wishing me a merry Christmas. 

Merry Christmas

Storytime Live!

the other day the back screen was off track and needed to be fixed

s: Mom maybe Team Umizoomi can fix it?

c.u.t.e

ps Team Umizoomi is a show on Nick Jr, they are a tiny team, they work behind the scenes...

a while later E fixed it and I asked if Sawyer had seen him

e: no

I pulled Sawyer over to the back door and exclaimed

m: Sawyer!  Team Umizoomi came and fixed the door!!

he stared at the backdoor for a long time, but not a word.

My amazing awesome brother Rich was recently in town to see a client and scored us some free tickets to Nick Jr Storytime Live.  Basically it is Nick Jr shows in play format.  We got to see:

Ni Hao, Kailan

Backyardigans

intermission

Wonder Pets

Dora

It was cute.  The boys had fun.  We got to be in a suite and have delicious food and watch the show. OF COURSE E was working that weekend.  Boo.  We missed him.  There was a bunny named Ollie on the WonderPets.  Sawyer found that quite silly.  "That's not Ollie, that's Ollie" pointing to our O of course.

Before we left for the show that day I kept "teasing" Sawyer

m: we're gonna do something really fun today...

s: what??

m: i'm not telling...

after a few of these he got really annoyed

s: WHERE ARE WE GOING TODAY?!?!?!?!?!?

he finally resigned

s: I know where we're going, to Chuck E. Cheese's house.

We've never been, but he insisted

He was definitely happy with the surprise though

I kinda love the idea of Build-a-Bear, in fact my sister Amy took me for my birthday when I was an adult, really.  It's so cute!  I've always wanted to take my boys but knew it would be for me more than them.  I know Sawyer would have fun making it, but he doesn't care for stuffed animals so it would be a waste of money.

Anyway, when we were walking around the shopping center after the show we came across the boys version of Build-a-Bear!  It's called RideMakerz.

They lured us in with a remote control car outside.  It is sooo cute!  The first part you pick out the shell of your car (they have all models, including a blue Mustang GT just like Sawyer likes :)

Then you can add wheels, rims, stickers, etc.  They have this area that looks like a mechanics garage.  In the end you make a personalized license plate.  It is seriously so cute, I wanted to buy them right there on the spot!!  I think we'll definitely have to go back though, maybe for a birthday or Christmas :)

Here's is a video of Ollie being chased by the remote control car.  He would run after it, then when it started to chase him he'd run away yelling, "no, no, no"

Is this thing on?

We're back!

And no one was more excited for that news than Mr. E.

The boys and I spent the last two weeks in Utah being soooo busy and having sooo much fun.

Naturally, I left my camera at my parent's house.  My momma sent it today (thank you!) so more snap shots to come.  For now you have to settle for some shots from my photo shoot as they are the only pics I've got.

for you Utahns, this is in Riverton...the mountains are those in Draper, Lone Peak I believe?

he had to have a sippy or fruit snacks, period

We had a lot of fun.  Including:

meeting up with friends for playdates, movies, dinner, crafting

getting my hair done, thanks Rachie!!

family parties

hanging out with my sisters *tear, sniffle*

utah state fair with my brother and family

Sawyer driving a convertible Mustang ie the greatest moment of his life

Park City business retreat (and a pedicure)

lots of late night crafting

movies in the theater room

finishing 2 quilts, almost a third done and a fourth completely planned

playing with grandma and grandpa

getting super sick (all of us)

lunch dates with my brother, sister in law, mommy

watching murders with my dad not real ones silly

killing a GINORMOUS mountain tarantula w/my mom and 2 shovels

Swiss Days craft fair

going to the park with my sister's 9 kids

visiting the 10th kid in COLLEGE!

As for Mr E, he deserves a bit more attention, don't you think?  He's been working at a hospital in his IM (internal medicine) rotation.  It's intense.  He gets his own patients.  He was just listing all these problems a patient of his has, tons and tons.  I asked how old he was thinking he's in his 80's or 90's.  He's 57.  Made me cry.  No I'm not pregnant.

We're glad to have daddy back.

Sorry about my once a week posts.  Not gonna happen.  I will show you if I ever do anything :)

We got callings.  I am the new beehive advisor (eeek!) and E teaches youth sunday school.

The boys are medium about nursery.  Actually Ollie is fine, Sawyer has started having a hard time with it.  I can't believe he will soon be a sunbeam.

Did I mention that my boys are fighting more than ever? 

Hopefully it was just Utah, but Ollie has started getting agressive.  He throws things at Sawyer. Aims for the head.  Head butts.  Boys?  Brothers.

 Getting late, and I'm getting random.

His name is Oliver.

Ollie has character.  I think he may be one of "those" boys.  You know, the crazy ones.

He's insanely cute, and funny, and smart or sneaky, however you choose to see it.

He is 19 months old.

He thinks things are funny now and runs up to me with a big grin and says, "bunny".

He knows how to get out of trouble.  A big smile and a very breathy "hi".

He's sneaky.

(you should definitely have your volume on)

He loves doggies.

He only has 6 teeth, 2 on top and 4 on bottom.

He loves books, especially ones with pictures of real things.

He has the greatest smile.

He has the most awesome dance move ever.  His left foot stays planted while he stomps his right foot around in a big circle.

His lips remind me of the Arby's logo.  He gets complimented almost daily on those luscious lippys.

He copies everything his brother does.

He likes to yell, for fun, really loud.

He can say "Momma" "DaDa" "Oyie" and "Der"

He gets tackled more times a day than any NFL star.

He says "cheese" for photos and so we usually get this face:

Love you Mr. O.

Checking in

I haven't posted much in a couple of weeks, and that will probably be true for the next few weeks.

We're counting down the days until we move.  There aren't many more left.

The last weeks have been spent saying goodbye to friends :(

And more to say goodbye to.

Celebrating my birthday in Columbia (wahoo!)

and awesome friends here who made it the best.

This is starting to sound like a poem,

the only word that rhymes next is chest.

That's what I get for always centering my text.

I have officially packed 4 boxes as of today.

I hate moving more than anything on this earth.  I haven't cried yet, but I know there are many tears to come.

E has been studying intensely for boards.

And the boys and I did a photo shoot!

I still have to perfect my technique, most of the shots were overexposed.  I'm just using trial and error for now, until I can sit down with the manual and read read read.  Thanks heavens for photoshop and actions, I can still enjoy the pictures thanks to them!

And that's a wrap :)
**I should mention my mommy made those darling Seersucker shorts for my boys.  The pockets are lined with puppy fabric.  So sweet. Thanks momma!!**

Mom!!!

Mom!!  Hurry mom look and see! Hurry hurry!

I ran back into my bedroom.

Sawyer barely moves his eyes to meet mine.

Look mom, I made the letter "C"

Sure did.

Walking into Walmart.  There's a guy smoking outside.

Mom he has fire.  Mom that guy has fire.

He's a fireman.

Not quite.

E was in Washington D.C. for about 5 days.

There is a rec center here for the students called the T.C.C.

Mom where is dad?

He's in Washington D.C.

Oh. Washington T.C.C.

I was on the phone repeating my 7 digit phone number.
I don't remember why.
Okay. Pizza.
Sawyer in the back immediatly repeats all 7 digits.
He now knows my phone number.
Promise.  You can quiz him.

Our grass has been covered with dandelions.

Sawyer and his friend Taylor are running around and picking them.

Dandelion! Dandelion!

Taylor runs and gives one to her dad, "Dandelion!"

Sawyer runs and hands one to me,

A Mommy-Lion!

It's hard to put this guy into words, since he doesn't say much.

What he does say is funny.

LET GO!  LET GO!

That's if I'm trying to dress him, close a door or if I'm just generally in his way.

I call him baby pterodactyl now.

Sometimes he has this yell/screech...

I am confident it's what a pterodactyl sounded like.

Confident.

(Good thing there's spell check, that's one tricky "p")

He still gives the most adorable and cheesy grins in town.

He LOVES to be outside, eat cheese and hot dogs, harass Sawyer, devour fruit snacks, take baths, throw sticks and rocks, read books, when daddy comes home and his binky.

He DOES NOT love getting his teeth brushed, having his diaper changed, any vegetable or grown-up food, when Sawyer harasses him or when mommy leaves.

Hour by hour

Our day.  Tuesday, April 27th.

There you go.  Typical in that my boy's are up before 7 am often.  Not typical in Sawyer taking a 5 o'clock nap.  Typical in playing outside for hours.  Not typical in Sawyer going to preschool (once a week).

Your turn.

PS I now also go by FIRST LADY.  Well starting next year.  E was elected President of his class.  Way to go babe!