A Few of Our Favorite Christmas Ornaments

I absolutely love Christmas! I love having a Christmas tree up. We're like the Mason's and we have an outrageous amount of lights on our tree. It makes it especially sparkly, and I love that.

Last week, I had to go have the brakes done on our van. We sat down. I knew it was going to take over an hour, so I asked Jeremy if he wanted to watch a cartoon. He told me no. I asked him if he was sure and I informed him that we'd be there for a while. This is what he said,

"No (while shaking his head) because the spider will have (whispering) hurt feelings."


He is so funny. He will frequently use a spider as an excuse for many things.

Me: "Jeremy, will you go get me a diaper from upstairs?"

Jeremy: "No, the spiders will get me."
___

Me: "Jeremy, how about an apple for snack?"

Jeremy: "No, the spiders don't like it."
___

There are many more. The spider having hurt feelings, because Jeremy watched a cartoon, takes the cake.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. I always hate forwarding stuff. I like these ones though. Instead of forwarding it, I will spare you and do it here. That way, you don't feel like you have to reply. However, If you feel compelled to do it, copy, paste, and email it to me. : )

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!
Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.
Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you... 'Tis the Season to be NICE!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Always wrapping paper. I love love love to wrap. Does anyone want me to do their wrapping? Just bring me the supplies.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real!!!
3. When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before Lane starts school again.
5. Do you like eggnog? It's okay. I like a sip now and again.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Do I really have to pick?
7. Do you have a nativity scene? When we aren't students anymore, I will buy one.
8. Hardest person to buy for? hmmmm....
9. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom, She will LOVE anything you give her.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't konw.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? That's another thing we will do when we're not students. When that time comes, Mail.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Have to think about that.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Before thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? spiced cider
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? always Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Hark the Harold Angels Sing by Jewel
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like to be at home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have to have a star!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? There isn't enough time.
23. What I love most about Christmas? That it's a Celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.

What is this?

Only the best thing ever!!! I use to think that sleeping masks were completely unnecessary. That is until I used my mom's on a trip back from Coeur d'alene three years ago.

Now I have to say that not all sleeping masks are the same. I use the Tempur-Pedic Eye Mask, from Brookstone. Before using it, I would have thought a person was out of their mind to spend $35 on a measly old sleeping mask. Now, I say, Don't knock it till you try it. It is seriously worth every penny.

With this one, it's not just about blocking out light, it puts just the right amount of pressure in all the right places. I realize that this is sounding like a lame testimonial on an imfamercial. I have to share this, because it's one of my favorite things. As soon as I put it on, I'm out. I remember spending more time trying to fall asleep before I started using it. Now I"m instantly relaxed and ready to sleep when I put it on. I know Rachel Wight has one, and she's very keen on hers.

I recommend you try it. I think you will love it. I sleep better when I use it. Who doesn't want to sleep better? That's just why I"m telling you about this. It is AWESOME!

For those of you who don't know, Riley had surgery today. He had an inguinal hernia. We thought he just had one. He ended up having two of them repaired. The other one was just barely coming out. He is back to his usual chatty self already. He's doing great. It's nice to have it beind us.

Last night I made teriyaki chicken stir fry for dinner. At first glance, Riley turned his nose up. He eventually tried it. Then the conversation went as follows:

Riley: Did you make this Mom?

Me: Yes I did.

Riley: But is it real? Or did you buy it from the store?

(I think he wanted to know if I bought it already made.)

Me: It's real and I made it. Do you like it?

Riley: Mmmmm. I really like it. When you get older, you should cook for the store.

It's out of focus, but look at that smile!

Tyler got a hair cut.

Tyler had a lot of hair when he was born. It really thinned. On the sides of his head most of it was gone. Then he had all this new hair growing in underneath. The contrast was driving me crazy. So I gave Tyler his first haircut at only 3 months old. I think it looks better. Here is the after, if you want to see before, just schroll down.



I realize you can't see his hair in this picture but it was a cute one.

Tantrums are the Pitts

Yesterday I told the boys we'd go see Aunt Amy at the fire station. That all changed when Jeremy wouldn't stop throwing a major fit. I tried to get him to stop by reminding him that we were going to go. We were in the car, he had spilled water down his front. I told him we had to run in the house, change his clothes, and then we could go. He refused to get out of the car. I waited for a minute to give him time to settle down. He didn't and he would not get out. I gave him an ultimatum. 'Stop crying and get out of the car so we can put dry clothes on and go to the station. If you don't get out now, we won't go." He still refused, so I wrestled him out of the car.

I took off his wet clothes and tried to get him dressed. He refused to wear anything but the PJ shirt he's wearing in the picture below. Still insistant upon going to the fire station, he put on his rubber boots that he calls his fire boots, he demanded that we go. Since I told him no, the tantrum continued. I had to take a picture. He got so mad at me for doing it. He tried to run away. I wanted Amy to see how he would have looked if I brought him the way he wanted to go. That would have been funny but waaay toooooo embarrassing. So here's for you, Aunt Amy!

Baby Baluga

This video is not from the story I"m going to tell. But it was really cute, and somewhat related since Jeremy is singing a part of the same song.

The other day the boys had taken all of the cushions off the couch. They made beds on the floor with them. Jeremy laid down, covered himself up with a blanket, and with his eyes squeezed shut the whole time, he sang Baby Baluga. He sang for about 3 mintues. Then he suddenly said, "Enough!" He opened his eyes, got up, and did something else. It was too cute. I was so bummed that I hadn't recharged the camera battery when it died the night before. Live and learn right!

Ooooh

21 other things that make me happy

1. Chubby little legs when I change Tyler's diaper.
2. Jeremy frequent singing.
3. Riley telling me I'm a beautiful cook after he eats dinner.
4. Lane snuggling me all night.
5. Seeing my children smile.
6. My brother, Tom, calling me almost everyday just to chat.
7. When Riley and Jeremy play nicely together.
8. Spending time with my Mom.
9. Lane wanting to spend all of his free time with me and the boys.
10. Jeremy telling me I"m his best friend.
11. Jeremy telling Tyler he's his best friend.
12. Making good choices is very important to Riley.
13. My Dad is a doting Grandpa (AKA Pa).
14. I have amazing in-laws.
15. When Lane has no homework on the weekend.
16. Spending time with my friends.
17. The Christmas season.
18. Spending the evening with Lane.
19. A clean house.
20. My boys' 7 O'clock bedtime.
21. Going on a date with my sweet husband.

Tummy time can be so much work!

Mirror Image

About a week ago, Riley started to incorporate mirror images into his writing and drawing. It's petty cool. I would think that writing the mirror image of your name is hard at 4 1/2. I don't think I even thought about doing that kind of thing when I was a kid. He must get creativity, and being artistic, from his dad.

Creative Play

The boys are so creative.

I just love to watch them play.

It's fun to see what they come up with!

Proud as Punch

Jeremy is potty training. He is so proud.

He was sitting on the toilet just grinning. He was so cute.

I couldn't resist running for the camera to take a picture.

Holloween

(To the Grandmas, Grandpas, Uncles and Aunts:

If you want to see the picture bigger, just double click on it.)

Every year we go trick-or-treating with some of our best friends, the Hansens. Serena is Riley's age. The funny thing, we met them in our birth class while I was pregnant with Riley. We became friends a year later after recconnecting at the birth class reunion. We've been GREAT friends ever since.

The boys had a lot of fun trick-or-treating. Jeremy's bucket got so heavy, it was hard for him to cary. He wouldn't let us empty it out. It really slowed him down. He finally let me help him carry it in between houses.

Here I am with Farrah, and Tyler is under there too.

Tyler

Riley: This is me when I was a super hero.

A Blessing on the Food

Riley was helping Jeremy say the prayer to bless the food. The prayer goes as follows,

Riley: Dear Heavenly Father

Jeremy: Dear Heavenly Father

Riley: Thank you this day

Jeremy: Thank you this day

Riley: Please bless the food

Jeremy: Please bless the food

Riley: that it will strengthen our bodies

Jeremy: that it will strengthen our bottoms

Yes you read that right, strengthen our bottoms. I could hardly contain myself.

If you know Riley, and how important it is to him to make good choices....
and if you know Maggy (my mom's dog), and what a badly behaved and annoying dog she is...
Then you will understand why this is so funny. On Sunday I took Riley with me to go visiting teaching. We were at Jennie's house and she has two pugs. After we left this is what he said,

"Those dogs liked me! They didn't even make bad choices like Maggy! That's the kind of dog I need!"

I would have to agree.

This dog is one of Jeremy's favorite toys. He plays with it a good part of everyday and often takes it with us on outings. The other day, while we were about to go into Costco, he asked if he could take him on a walk. So he did. Everyone kept telling him that they really liked his dog. He was sooo proud.

On this particular day, Jeremy had been singing to his dog a lot. I thought it was so cute so I taped it. Jeremy loves to sing. He is frequently singing his own made up songs while he sings. He has the sweetest voice.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I was giving Tyler a bath in the little tub that sits on the sink. Jeremy stood on a chair by my side the whole time, helping you know. I lifted Tyler up and layed him over my arm while I cleaned his bottom. Then Jeremy exclaims...

"Look at his cute little penis!"

Tyler is such a good baby. My easierst baby so far. He still sleeps all day. And he really doesn't cry. He is A DELIGHT! He's growing so fast and getting chubby cheeks. He is such a cutie pie.

Riley is a frequent nose picker. So I was happy to hear him singing this cute little jingle. What's funny is that the culprit of the crime, is the same finger that is shaking at you.

Do you have decorative hands?

After I put Riley's plate on the table at lunch, he picked it up and while holding it above his head, walked around the room. He then told me how hard it was and that I should try it sometime. Then he said,

"You have to have decorative hands... magical hands to do this."

Riley had my mom draw this picture. He started out saying,

"Draw you and me. Now Jeremy, Tyler, Dad and Mom. Draw my baby sister too, she's in heaven."

Riley was so sure that Tyler would be a girl. I guess he's not giving up on that. : )

Nursery

Today when I dropped Jeremy off at the nursery, at church, he was crying because he didn't want me to leave. I know he always stops crying 30 seconds after I'm gone, I quickly left. When I picked Jeremy up, his teacher told me that he only cried once. She told him, "Jeremy it's not your turn to cry." Jeremy stopped crying immediately and in a sad whimpering voice said, "oookay."

On a side note, Jeremy calls hickups 'pickups'.

What does spicy mean?

I usually use the word "spicy" to describe food that is hot in flavor (not temp). To Riley, spicy takes on added meaning. Like a...

"spicy five"

and spicy soda

So if Riley gives you a high five, he will almost always ask if it was spicy. If you give him a high five, he will let you know if it was spicy or not. After all, the level of spicyness is an important thing to know when it comes to high fives.

Today, we were watching General Confrence. Jeremy must have thought that the brother who gave the closing prayer needed some help. He had his eyes closed and arms folded. About half way through the prayer he kept repeating, "and doggy." He wanted to thank our father in heaven for his toy dog. Then he started repeating, prematurely, "in Jesus Christ, AMEN." I guess the prayer was a little long for him, and just like we help him with his prayers, he was giving his assistance for the closing prayer of General Conference. It was cute.

Riley and Jeremy are proud big brothers. Riley completely adores Tyler, and Jeremy thinks he's just great!

6 Days Old

Tyler has 3 "angels kisses." They are basically a birth mark that goes away by the time they are 2. It's the same thing as a stork bite, only it's on the face instead of the neck. Angel's kisses is really what they are called.

Weekend in Sisters, Oregon

Ten days after Tyler was born, we went to Sisters for Chuck and Amy's wedding. For anyone who doesn't know, Chuck is my little brother. It was a lot of fun.

Tucker and Riley wrestled for a long time towards the end of the reception. Tucker is my nephew. I was having a heart attack because Riley was wearing his church clothes as they rolled in the grass. Two of my brothers kept telling me, "Sarah, just let it go." I guess that is something I'm going to have to get better at since we have 3 boys now.

My brother Tom, who is in the Army, brought Riley and Jeremy army jackets and bandannas. They are really cute and the boys love to wear them. Their names are embroidered on them, they really like that. Thanks Uncle Tom and Aunt Kristi!!

Riley and Jeremy meet Tyler

Riley is completely enchanted with Tyler! I knew that the boys would love him, but I was really surprised to see how tender and loving Riley was when he walked in the door. The boys didn't get to see Tyler until the day we left the hospital. They wouldn't allow them to go in the NICU. Riley walked in and he was just beaming with love! It was soooo sweet! He is still the same way. He completely loves his baby brother. He always wants to hold him, and rub his head, and tend to his needs. At times, he can be a little too much help!

It's nice to have a little helper though!


Tyler Bradley Cook