The Real Reason We Bake Cookies

So Sunday afternoon I had a full on craving for some good cookies, more so the cookie dough. Ty was helping and shortly after Jordo was there too. We finally got the dough all mixed and then for the fun part....

I know this is strictly forbidden in some homes. But this was one of my favorite parts about making cookies when I was a kid, as long as we were done before Dad got home (he would have forbidden it if he could).

Kev is a good sport. He isn't snacking and licking like me and the boys, but he knows that eating cookie dough is pretty much part of my soul, so he sits back and lets it happen.

Maybe my kids will have fond memories of our cookie dough days too.

December's Recap

So it has been a while since we've posted and I thought it easiest just to do a quick recap on what we've been up to. These are in no particular order!

On December 17th, Kev and I celebrated 5 amazing years of marraige. We have been happier than we ever could have dreamed and are thrilled that we still have an eternity together.

And Kev surprised me with a wedding band! I've wanted one but was not in any hurry and he decided it was time. (Sorry, a little blurry)

Speaking of rings, another exciting event was the engagement of Kev's little brother Tanner to our really good friend, Estee! They dated through high school and after his mission the spark was still there. I'll admit that I am among the happier of this union! Congrats guys!

What would winter be without a snowman, and thanks to an awesome dad, Ty got to build a very big one this year.

And we got two very different kids. Ty loves to be out in the snow and Jordo hates it! Even for a short moment just to get to the car, he whines. "Snow, finger!" Of all the places to complain, that is usually the one. I'm glad I'll have at least one kid that will want to hang with me indoors, at least for a little while.

We also held a preschool Christmas party and it couldn't have been more fun. The kids made ornaments, candy Christmas trains and we had a very special visitor! Due to the crunch of the season, Mrs. Clause came in place for her busy husband.

And of course Christmas! We had a blast this year spending the whole season with family and wish it could just slow down through December so we could enjoy it more. The kids are great ages to really get into it and give us the show we want. We also had many opportunities this year that reminded us about the true meaning of Christmas and helped us focus on Christ and all He does for us.

We hope all of you enjoyed the holidays as much as us and maybe next year we'll send out Christmas cards!

No More Naps

The day has finally come where the pros outway the cons for Ty to stop napping. I LOVE my boys and love playing with them and watching them interact. But I also love the time I get when they are both sleeping so sweetly and giving me some time to actually accomplish some of my things. Lately Ty has been struggling at bedtime. And I mean really struggling. He is usually in bed by 8:30 and when do we finally go to bed because he is asleep? Oh, usually after 10:00 sometime, and it has been leaning closer to 10:30. So it is time to nix naps.

We are working on 'quiet time' so that he still realizes I need some time to myself and he gets to work on doing things on his own. Today was the first day and is going surprisingly well. We started with some play dough and then coloring and now he is singing to himself and putting on his snow clothes. Not because he is going out, just because he likes to play in his snow clothes.

Every so often he would ask me to come color with him and then he would stop himself and say, "Oh, no you don't need to help me, it's quiet time and I a big boy to do it all by myself." I hope that idea sticks. Not to avoid or neglect, but to help him gain his independence (not that he has EVER struggled with that though). We have had some great conversations though, since he hasn't had to compete with Jordo. It is good to give them some time apart.

Here's hoping bedtimes improve. If anyone has any great quiet time ideas, please feel free to pass them along.

Here's Ty proudly posing with the snow clothes. He's still working on getting his fingers into the right blasted spot.

'Tis the Season

So, I realize I am a slacker with the whole blogging thing. It just gets pushed to the bottom of the list with everything else the holidays bring. We have had a busy couple of weeks and I think it will only get worse until the holidays pass. That's okay, I like the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.



So amongst the holiday sales, we found some new PJs for the boys. Ty's has been needing some for a while and we have been in search of the top and bottom set, since the onesies are hard with a potty trained 'big boy'. And I think they both look pretty stinking cute. What do you think?


They look like they are singing, but it just happened to be the picture that worked while the were talking and squirming. Man, I love those little boys!

Shoes and more shoes, Ty's Birthday and Uncle T!

This time of year it just nuts. Even if you aren't doing something holidayish, it seems there is still plenty going on. So I apologize for not staying up with the blogging world.

My boys like to play with my shoes from time to time. Wear them around, usually in the kitchen where they'll make the most noise, but today they found a whole new game to play.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Shaw for wooden blocks and Grandma and Grandpa Gay for lego blocks for Ty's birthday, all mine and Kev's shoes ended up filled with blocks and then lined up every so carefully on the bathroom counter.

I love how creative kids are and that they make fun out of everyday things. I wish I could be so carefree.

Ty's birthday was a lot of fun. Three is a great age, cause they actually understand and they have so much enthusiasm. All day Ty would ask, "Mom, when's your birthday? When's Daddy's birthday?... " and then he'd ask when his was, I would tell him, "Today!" and and he would say, "Oh, right, Happy Birthday to Ty!"

Here are the boys attempting to blow up some of the birthday balloons. Ty's never got bigger than that, and I don't think Jordo ever found the right end.

And since 90% of our toys are balls, I thought a ball cake was fitting for Ty, who already loves EVERY sport. It is still crazy that I have a three year old though.

And I am a bit late on this, Kev's brother Tanner, got home from his mission from the South Korea Daejon Mission clear back on October 18th. But we still wanted to post about it. The boys were so excited for Uncle T and now they have another buddy when we got to Grandma and Grandpa's. Welcome home TAN!!!