Early Easter Surprises!

The boys got an early Easter surprise when Grandma Stoker came to stay the night. This morning she took them to choose an Easter treat & they came home with their treasures...Ethan has been wanting a kite & he was excited to find one with Optimus Prime. Kamden found 4 new friends that are squishy, sretchy, & keep him occupied for hours. They also came back with a set of bright balls for Owen to chase around on the floor. The only other thing they could have wanted was for Grandpa to be able to come too, but they are looking forward to being able to see him another time!

What could make a morning better than playing with your best friend in the mirror:

Or playing with your best friend, an air hockey table, & a bazillion matchbox cars:

A Rainy Day & A Trip To The Zoo...

This week my sister visted for Spring Break. All week the weather couldn't make a decision on what season it wanted to be & we ended up having rain, hail, sunshine, & wind all mixed together. We still decided to brave the wet, miserable morning & went to the zoo. The good thing about this was that we were some of the few people brave enough to attempt such a feat. The bad thing about it was that it was cold & raining. We were still able to see most of the animals & even the wart hogs that were certain it was spring because...well, one little girl put it this way: "Look! They're giving each other piggyback rides!"

As always, Kamden's favorite animal was the Zebra, though he also said he liked the monkeys. One of the monkeys was going crazy, swinging around & around that green pole that goes across the cage. He must've been thinking it's Spring, too.

This was Owen's very fist trip to the zoo, & he spent the entire time bundled up in the stroller. He even got in a nice, long nap.

Thanks for the fun, Aunt Kristen!

Accomplishments

There have been a lot of accomplishments around here the last few weeks. We finally got around to taking Ethan's training wheels off his bike (something he's been asking to do since last summer). As soon as Jeff took the training wheels off, he held the bike while Ethan jumped on & he took off without anyone beside him. He was ready! He is still working on getting on the bike & going without someone to steady the bike, but once he gets started he does great. He seems to be growing up so fast, I'm glad he still needs us to hold the bike before he pedals off into the great big world. Or at least to the other side of the next door neighbor's house before he has to turn around.

Several weeks ago in Primary, Kamden's class learned about seeds & they each got to bring home a bean seed that was buried beneath the soil. You just have to look at the picture to tell how much that boy cares about his little bean plant. I just told him to hold the cup & look at the camera so I could get a picture & this is what he did. Each day we check the bean plant & are amazed at how tall it is getting. I just have to say that this is the first thing that I have ever remembered to water & actually grew from a seed...not to take away Kamden's thunder, but I also feel some pride in the bean plant.

Mr. Owen has been sitting up for a few weeks now, though he does still do the occasional face plant when he tries to reach for something that is too far away. He rolls all over the place & if we set him down, he is never in the same spot for long! He has been saying "Mama" for awhile but recently started saying "Dada" & he still enjoys blowing raspberries & carrying on lengthy conversations. One of his favorite things to do is sit in front of my full length mirror & talk to his reflection. He was 8 months old earlier this week & the time just continues to fly by.  

Jeff has been playing on the ward basketball team, serves as the Young Men's President, works hard to support our family, & continues to be an amazing father & wonderful husband. We recently discovered where the 2 annoying birds are getting into our attic & are hoping that will be a successful accomplishment in keeping them out. They wake us up early every morning with their ruckus & if you know me, you know I appreciate my sleep. My recent accomplishments have been cleaning out every closet in the house along with the storeroom. I'm feeling much more organized with a less-cluttered home! We are enjoying the warmer weather when we get it & the boys are very excited for Easter. They are both hoping the Easter Bunny will bring them Light Sabers to appease their obsession with Star Wars, though I'm not sure if the Easter Bunny will be in his right mind giving those two weapons...

The Many Faces Of Owen...

The "Old Man Face"

Tuesday Morning...

The underwear were clean, in case you were wondering.

Photo Shoot

See more here.

Today our preschool group went on a field trip to the city fire department. The kids were so energetic & excited about the entire thing, racing between all 3 engines to take a turn "driving" & getting buckled in to every seat available. We got to see the flashing lights, hear the siren, and check out all of the gear that goes along when the firemen are called out. Ethan told me this afternoon that when he grows up, he doesn't want to be a basketball player anymore...he wants to be a fireman.

Firefighters get their gear on in 30 seconds...I'm as amazed as Brecken:

Practicing a very important safety tip:

Learning about all the different compartments on a fire engine:

Thanks firefighters. We appreciate you!

7 Months

Hard to believe that 7 months ago I was doing this.

He is such a little man,

I have no idea where my baby went!

A Boy & A Cookie...

Weekend Visits

The weekend included visits from Jeff's parents

& also my sister, nieces, & nephew.

The boys were really excited to have so much family around

& have been asking where everyone went.

The weekend went too fast...

~Thursday~

Jeff had the day off work,

the weather was BEAUTIFUL...

We had a picnic at a park

& the teeter totter was a bit difficult

for 2 boys that weigh the same-

But Jeff helped them & they got it figured out.

See the merry-go-round on the right?

Jeff pushed the boys round & round-

Ethan fell face first over one of the rails

& held on for dear life.

Jeff grabbed him just in time-

he almost did a face plant in the sand!

Ethan didn't go back on the merry-go-round.

They all climbed to the top of the jungle gym-

Ethan swung down from them like they were monkey bars.

When we got home,

I sent Jeff, Ethan, & Kamden to the golf course.

Owen & I enjoyed a quiet hour & a half.

Thursday was a great day.

If You Need A Laugh...

Krazy Kamden...

Sometimes Kamden says some pretty funny things. For awhile, when he would get in trouble, he'd ask if I was going to tell Santa. So, one day at my parents' house, I'd had about all I could handle & I told him I was going to call Santa. I walked over to the phone, picked it up, and he lost it. He started crying & apologizing right away, he was VERY concerned that I was going to tell on him. Maybe that's mean, but whatever works, right?

This morning, though, he asked if I was going to tell Darth Vader...the boys have been into Star Wars lately & they watched all 3 movies with Jeff while they were sick over the weekend.

Kamden groggily climbed into my bed one morning & then started wimpering & whining...when I asked him what was wrong, he said his legs had an owie. I asked him how they got an owie & he said from the sidewalk. I think he must've been dreaming because he hasn't gotten hurt on the sidewalk for quite a while.

When I was younger, we used to watch a movie called The Kingdom Chums Original Top 10-it was an animated video with characters that sing a song about each of the Ten Commandments. The boys love this movie & constantly sing the songs. Every time Kamden says the prayer, he is sure to remember to "Please bless the Kingdom Chums". If we are saying the prayer & forget to bless them, he is quick to remind us!

Kamden got my lip gloss, put some on, & said "Now I'm a girl!" to which Ethan replied, "No you're not, you're still a boy." But Kamden said "No, now I'm the mom!"

Kamden yelled "Ugh! That is driving me nuts!" so I asked him what was driving him nuts...he pointed to Owen who was being fussy & said "That! Owen is driving me nuts. You better not drive me nuts, Owen!"

Our Valentine's Day this year was pretty low-key...especially since all 4 of my Valentines were sick. We had pink heart shaped pancakes for breakfast on Saturday & the boys remembered to set out their Valentine Monsters that night. We spent Sunday resting & that evening Ethan helped me make heart shaped pizzas & breadsticks which we ate by candlelight...poor Kamden had a fever & slept right through it all. Today Owen & Kamden went to the doctor-Kamden is at the tailend of an ear infection & Owen is in the middle of one. Jeff & Ethan are feeling better & I am very thankful I haven't gotten it...yet. Hopefully Owen's prescription does the trick & he can get the sleep he needs, which means I'll get the sleep I need.