Swimming

Let me preface these videos by saying..... CORA GRACE IS A MANIAC!!! :)

Yes she is swimming. She throws her head in the water and kicks her feet while holding her breath. I'm so happy she loves the water. I just hope she doesn't loose her love of it over the Fall and Winter.

This last video cracks me up because Evan was so ready to go home. Whaaat!? What other EXTREMELY energetic 3 3/4 year old boy wants out of the pool before everyone else? lol He encourages us and almost begs 3 times for us to leave. Dang! Don't get too happy to leave son. ;)

{that's our nice neighbor Tonya, who's pool we were in, behind C.G. holding Cora's new friend Willow :)}

Evan having fun on a float with Lexi from down the street. She and her sister Dani are always happy to see our kids and our dog (they have a dog they named Smokey too). :) they are sweet girls that Tonya watches sometimes.

Tutu Photo Shoot and Assistants

This is the tutu made by Aunt Jen for our twin birthday daughters. Cora wore it in her birth photoshoot, 6 months and one year photo shoot and I wanted at least one more time but who knows, maybe year 3 will see it again? :)

As soon as I mentioned I was going to take their pictures, Evan jumped at the chance to request his own camera (i thought he'd forgotten about it to be honest but he knew right where it was even) and to also take pictures with me of C.G. :) He wanted to be my assistant! So precious, it was really sweet and he did a great job as you will see at the bottom. He never got in my way either, just sat next to me, doing and saying what I was doing and saying.

Here's Cora Grace's 2 year tutu shoot;

and here are my photography assistants. ;)

the real child. lol.

"Look mommy, I'm taking a picture of the air vent!" I really like that you can see his view finder of what his picture is.

 Here are Evan's and a few of Cora Grace's pictures...

This cracks me up that she took this one of herself.

I couldn't choose between these two that Evan took. The one above looks like some sort of art. I love it.

"cheese"

Evan took AT LEAST 10 pictures of just his ankle/foot. lol.

lol.

"Mommy, I just am taking pictures of that fan!" Again, there were at least 15 pictures of his beloved fan. ha ha ha.

the famous air vent. love this little guy.

2 year check up.

You would think I could get it together to remember what our dearest pediatrician said about Cora's numbers and etc but here's a picture of the chaos that is, our Dr.s appointments:

I  L O V E  Dr. Coleman. She has shown great love and attention to my babies from their first breath, always holding and hugging them when we come for visits. This week, we finally had Cora's 2 year check up (no shots?! awesome!) Here, you can see that she just plopped herself down on the floor with CG cause that's where Cora was... coloring. As soon as Dr.C got down there, my sweet baby picked her bum up and plopped it right back down but in Dr.C's lap. :) There was a group "awwe" there after. :) I asked permission to take a picture of it and this was the best I could get on my phone camera (btw, even though I SPECIFICALLY told the salesman that I would use this phone for a secondary camera and  I wanted that part to be great quality, I do not like my camera on this droid bionic, at, all. I was totally willing to buy an IPhone and wish I did because the pics I see there are amazing!). Annnnyway, she had a great time on the ground with Cora and Evan who insisted on every time Cora's heart or ears were checked, he would say, "my turn?" and tilt his head to give her his ear or lift his shirt to be probed. lol. He even asked if she would give him medicine... like, he wanted it. lol. sigh... it's a dirty job but someone has to report on these things. lol. :) In the chaos I didn't get my normal sheet with her stats on it but of what I can remember, she's in the 13th% with height and weight (24?? pounds) combined. And the only thing there is a question about is the fact Cora doesn't say words yet. Over wrestling with the kids to behave and stop touching EVERYTHING, I'm pretty sure we agreed to watch her and Mike and I would make more pointed efforts to singly work with her words/alphabet, away from Evan (no, we don't know how that will happen lol.) for the next 6 months before they refer us to observation or a specialist etc. So, there you go. Here's a picture of Cora doing one of her favorite things, laying her babies on their tummy's to go to sleep, laying 'blankets' on them and 'patting' them to sleep like her teachers at day care :). so precious.

Banana's

Potty Talk

So Evan has been a super champ at potty training. As soon as we put underwear on him, they haven't been off except at first, an occasional nap and bed time but for the past 4 nights, underwear. So proud of him! He loves it and surprisingly doesn't ask for his giant lollipop after pooping anymore. He does however require praise for #2 and he gets it. Even Cora Grace who continues to sit on the little potty (Evan only goes on the big toilet btw and more often now likes to "stand like daddy" to go pee pee. sorry if it's tmi), pretending to go pee pee then stands triumphantly and claps for herself. lol. Anyway, Evan... As excited as we are to have less diapers to change, Evan's need for praise and attention after using the bathroom is wearing me out! He goes by himself but if he poops he calls my name over and over and over till I come "see it", no matter what I'm doing. Oi vey! So this afternoon I was on a conference all with my FSA sisters to discuss details of a class we're teaching at our much anticipated FSA conference (first one in Tennessee!! whoo hoo!!). We are all mothers to young active kids, praying they are napping so we can get some work done only... I hear Evan yelling for me then yelling for me that he pooped. I was dreading that he was in him room, therefore, pooped his pants but never fear, he had quietly gone to the bathroom by himself. Whew! He wanted me to see his poop. Yay! gotta go. I encouraged him, told him to go back to bed and heard Cora still awake (1 hours after putting her down. THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THE TIME CHANGE!! RRRR!) so I went in her room, only to find she'd taken her dry diaper off and thrown it out of the crib. She's recently into 'dress up' but here she takes dressing 'down' to a whole 'nother lever :). Subject to be blogged later. All the while, still listening to the conversation on the phone and trying to participate. I no sooner got back to the call to realize Evan calling me again that he had pooped! YIKES Almighty! Again, he'd at least snuck into the bathroom somehow without me noticing but again, I had to get up to "see, see mommy, I had a 'little' poop". he he he. Again, thumbs up and encouragement while trying to keep composure for the call but I mouthed to him to stay on the toilet till he was finished pushing it all out. Boy was I sorry. Some moments later I received another summons to witness his 'prize', this time he said, "look, I made a banana!". I couldn't even hold my composure this time, it indeed resembled the common fruit, and busted in the phone conversation to relay what had just happened. It was irreverent and inappropriate information to share, especially at that time but I had to. My little FSA sisters were kind to laugh a little. I apologize again. :). Anyway, that's how it's going around here. I've barely been taking pictures or blogging cause I'm just busy and when I have a little down time, I've been trying to spend quality time with Mike or look online at houses for sale. Daydreaming we could get some more space. Mike is nice to humor me and we even looked at a couple. Nothing I loved but it did help me narrow my search for what will be just right for our (possibly growing someday) family. So life is good. We are happy and thankfully healthy and enjoying our uncommonly HOT spring weather. God bless.

Tales from the Potty.

Here's the big boy of the house! Evan is enjoying his reward for.... going POOP in the potty! Any home of potty trainers knows of this significance and JOY. :) Tonight Evan (who was wearing underwear all day successfully) was supposed to be going to bed at 8p. At 7:58p, he runs from the couch to the bathroom. We assumed it was to stall bedtime only... he was trying to poop! It was glorious. We jumped and shouted and cheered. We didn't care if we woke up Cora Grace (it did but she went right back down). It was hilarious and is hilarious that I'm talking about it but, it is important in our household. Cora will sit on the little potty every time anyone sits on the toilet. Hopefully she starts doing something in it one of these days, then no more diapers... ahh (well, until I convince Mike of #3).

Evan, we are so proud of you for earning the 'giant lollipop' we bought you in JULY, anticipating this day. Keep up the good work buddy. :)

Jesus wants Evan for a Sunbeam!

Jesus wants me for a Sun BEAM

to shine for Him each day.

In every way try to please HIM

at home, at school, at play.

A Sun BEAM

a Sun BEAM

Jesus wants me for a Sun BEAM

A Sun BEAM

A Sun BEAM,

I'll be a Sun BEAM for Him.

 :)

Can you believe it? Do you know what this means? My BABY is getting too old. :( I really do believe it but I don't want to. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to him growing up of course. I'm just in sort of denial about Evan being a Sunbeam and in Primary now at church. :/ Doesn't he look so big sitting there? I checked on him during 'Sharing Time' where the kids were singing "Once there was a Snow Man". Evan was on his feet, jumping as usual, and watching my friend Stacey direct the music. He was copying her hand movements with giant smile on his face while he bounce, bounce, bounced. :) Warms a mommies heart. Later I checked on him in his new class with Sharelle as his teacher. She's babysat him before and likes him so I thought she would like him. We'll see. He's not the sit down the whole time kind of kid, it may be a test for her till he learns to do what everyone else is doing. Luckily he's had a lot of practice in day care. Primary will be great for him cause his bestest friend ever, Hayden is now in the CTR 4 class so he see's him and his other friend Dallin for that section of time. Lucky guy. I'll wait for a report that he keeps getting up to hug and play with them. ;) Lastly, this years Primary theme is "Choose The Right" so all the kids got CTR rings. That was really brave to give to my cray 3 year old but he loves it and didn't want to take it off for bed. I'll try to keep it safe for him to wear every Sunday because it is very important to him. I will also try to take a special picture of him wearing it since as I type, I realize I haven't done that. Bad mommy! Anyway...

Dear Evan,

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you for growing up into such a nice young man. We love when you sing to us, say please, thank you and show patience, even though you are only 3. You are a good example to us when you show us and Cora Grace, how to be reverent at church by sitting still, being quiet and folding your arms. It is very exciting that you are in the Sunbeam class and in Primary now. You will get to learn all about Jesus and Heavenly Father's love for us and how you can be more like them. You are so lucky to have a smart teacher and great leaders in Primary so we hope you love it. We love you and can't wait to hear about all that you are learning.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Next year, his feet will probably touch the ground. :/. Sitting on his row with a few of his classmates. There are about 6-8 kids in his class I believe. Including Annabelle who was Evans Pebbles to his Bam Bam for Halloween a couple Halloweens ago.

Can you stand it? He's sitting there all sweet (this is before all the bouncing) and listening intently to the welcome song for visitors.

Amanda is the current Primary president and is introducing each of the new class of Sunbeams. I wasn't quite fast enough to get this without it blurring. oops. :) Do you see his red bulging eyes? Yes, it's because it's NAP time, 1pm for church. "Ay caramba!" as Bart Simpson would say. That's all I have to say about that. But if you see me with patches with baldness come Monday's, know it's because church is at 1pm this year (again... nap time.) and I have two children between 19mo-3 years that need some sleep at that time. I am however devising a plan to wake them up early at maybe 730a (they don't get up before 830) so I can at least convince CG for a 1030 or 11am nap. Wish me luck.

After church I got a sweet text from my brother Bennett who's son Luke is a month older than Evan. (They are in California). He asked how Evan's first day as a Sunbeam was. Awe. It was so nice that he thought about us. With 4 young kids, I'm glad he has time to know anyone else exists. I had completely forgot that I had 3 nephews start Sunbeams today too! I was actually happy to hear that he said Luke also had a hard time sitting the whole time of sharing and singing time. It confirms my son is a normal boy as I suspect. lol. I texted Jesse and Jenalyn to see how it was for them. Lucky Jenalyn got to sub for Liams class so she got to see it all. He's 9 mo older than Evan so he's way more mature but still 3 of course. Lucky for the permanent teacher to have varying levels of maturity in the class. Evan's energy may be a balance to  Liams type of reverence. lol. ;) Anyway, it's fun to have cousins the same age, having milestones together (if I only could remember this in advance). They will share so many as the years go by. Yay!

Evan: 3 years - 20 questions

Yet another idea from Pintrest. If I remember to do it, I'll ask the same questions every year around his birthday and see how they change. There's no point in asking them before they are 3. ;). As you see, he didn't want to answer them all.

Evan: 3 years - 20 questions. Sunday November 6, 2011

                        

                      
1. What is your favorite color? YELLOW… AND GREEN (LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM) AND BLACK AND YELLOW AND RED.
2. What is your favorite toy? LOOKS AROUND FOR AN IDEA UMM…(I SUGGEST THE ‘TUMMY’ DOLL IN THE ROOM THEN THOMAS) TUMMY… AND THOMAS. (WHAT A SURPRISE)
3. What is your favorite fruit? GREEN
4. What is your favorite tv show? "PENQUINS" (HAPPY FEET), YO GABBA GABBA
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?
6. What is your favorite outfit? PAJAMA’S.
7. What is your favorite game? NO
8. What is your favorite snack? BANANA CHIPS
9. What is your favorite animal? PENGUINS
10. What is your favorite song? LONDON BRIDGES, HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES
11. What is your favorite book? GOODNIGHT MOON
12. Who is your best friend? CORA AND EVAN AND MOMMY AND DADDY, AND CORA AND EVAN AND MICHAEL AND LILA AND EVAN.
13. What is your favorite cereal? APPLE JACKS
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? PLAY IN THE SAND.
15. What is your favorite drink? HOT OVALTINE
16. What is your favorite holiday?
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? LITTLE BLANKIE, SPOTS, BIG KISS (PINK HIPPO OF CORA’S)
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? CEREAL AND APPLE JACKS (HE NEVER GETS COLD CEREAL FOR BFAST AND HAS HAD APPLE JACKS 3 TIMES IN HIS LIFE AT THIS POINT. THEY MUST HAVE REALLY ROCKED HIS WORLD. LOL)
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? DON’T WANT TO GROW. NO. YEAH.

Birthday Boy

another idea from Pintrest :)

Our little stud muffin. :)