Tulip Festival

Several weeks ago we went to the tulip festival.  I am so behind on blogging.  It was beautiful and we had a great time.

There were several booths and one of the booths was a bird rescue.  The boys got to hold them.  Riley was very eager and Jeremy had to work up the courage.  Riley loved both but ....

This green quaker parrot was his favorite.

More Riley projects

This one was a creation out of our recycling.  Their are several room and all of them connect by tunnels or doorways.  It's hard to see in the picture I know.  There is a movie theatre room and a massive bowl of popcorn(made out of paper)  and an ice skating rink to boot.

I know this has some resemblance of an athletic cup.  Trust me!  It is NOT!  I don't think he's ever even seen one.  It's part of a large plastic egg from easter and a head strap made out of tape and crayons.

Two mondays ago we had a family home evening on being a peace maker.  For the activity Lane made cutouts of Doves holding a branch and we pasted them on a canvas and the boys painted everything but the birds and the word peace.  (lane did the finishing touches on the doves)

While we were painting, Riley was so excited and said to Jeremy....

"We will never forget this even when we're Grandmas!"

Yes you read that right, even when they're Grandmas!  : )

If you didn't have a Mom

Riley and Jeremy were playing make-believe so nicely together this afternoon.  Then Lane and I hear Jeremy say,

"Oh, I have no Mom!"

Riley:  "You have no Mom?"

Jeremy:  "Yeah!"

Riley:  "WELL THEN, you can do whatever you want!"

Lane and I just started busting up.  I love to hear what they think.  It's us Mom's standing in the way of what they want to do.

Today's invention by Riley

Monday after Family Home Evening, while the kids were eating snack, I ran upstairs to grab a picture to show them.  When I came downstairs Riley was gone.  I asked where he was.  Lane told me that he saw the cover of the new Friend magazine and his wheels were spinning.  He was in the garage gathering supplies to make his very own pulpit the following day.

He even made a cupboard in the back for his lesson materials.  Since it is spring break Lane is home.  He let me sleep in.  When I woke up I came downstairs and they both had pulpits and a talk to give me.

Still potty training

Potty training Riley was a breeze.  He basically woke up one day and was potty trained day and night with rare accidents.  Being the first time parent that I was, I of course attributed the grand success to my wonderful parenting.  : )  I know anyone who has more than one child knows what I'm talking about.  

Potty training Jeremy has been a trial.  Is been an on and off process for a year and a half of optimistically trying, giving up, and repeating the battle.  I'm giving it another good try taking Melissa's advice on using the "potty whisper's" technique.  So far so good.  We're on day 3 and he's been dry for about 20 hours.  I"m keeping my fingers crossed!  

The purpose of this post however is not to tell you about his potty training.  Riley has been such a good big brother.  On day one Jeremy was excited after having just thrown away all of his diapers and wearing underwear.  He kept running up and down the hall as fast as he could.  He told me that he was running faster now.  Riley piped in and said,

"Your running faster because underwear are stretchy!"  Then he kept letting Jeremy beat him.

Riley then went into the garage to get a box.  He then started making "presents"out of paper for Jeremy because he was potty training.  Riley is very creative.  He one of those kids that collects, well if I'm being honest, Junk.  He sees a potential invention or use out of absolutely everything.  He filled it with a lot of stuff that he made and was so excited for Jeremy to open it.  

At Riley's request I"m including a list of the things he made for Jeremy.  " Glasses (as pictured below), spider with a little hook under it, paper airplane, a thing that you throw it and it splats over each other (I don't know), hockey game, a telescope, a paper sword, butterfly, an instrument with a bow on it.  I think that's about all."  Everything he made out of paper, not just drawings but cutouts and more."

Way to be such a GOOD BIG BROTHER RILEY!!!

Sing and Play

Jeremy loves to sing.  My favorite songs are usually the ones he makes up in the car.  He has the sweetest voice and the sweetest songs.  I never have a camera when he's doing his best work.  These ones are pretty good and hey they have an accompaniment.  

This morning when I came downstairs I saw this....

Riley has labeled everything and he expects we sit accordingly!

On the way home

On the way home from the beach Tyler was so tired.  This is what I saw when I looked back.  He loves his monkey!

Jeremy is so sweet!

One night, while getting the kids ready for bed, Jeremy throws his arms around me and says,

"Im going to give you a kiss because I love you so much!"

(Lots of hugs and kisses)

me:  Thank you Jeremy I love you too!

Jeremy:  Kissing invites the spirit!

(more hugs and kisses)

3 nights at the beach

Last Wednesday we headed out the the beach.  Some good friends of ours' parent's have a beach house.  We spent 3 nights and days with our friends.  It was really nice to get away.  While we were driving through the forest, Jeremy exclaims with surpise,

"THERE ARE TREES OUT MY WINDOW!"

As we drove through Lincoln City Lane announced what it was called.  They Riley says,

"I think life is going to be good here!"  

We did lots of fun things.  The first day we went to Beverly beach to let the kids play and we had a picnic lunch there.  The next day we went to the interperative center at Yaquina Head and went to the bay there and saw all the seals.  We walked through the town of Depoe Bay too.  On Friday Lane and Dave took the boys back to Yaquina Head bay in the morning while the tide was out so they could check out the tide pools.  After which they went up to the light house.  Sorry all the pics are out of order.  On our way home Saturday we stopped at the Tillimook Cheese Factory and went home.  It was great!

Jeremy had the camera again

After taking multiple pictures of Tyler, multiple is an understatement, Tyler was not so happy about it.
Then he seemed to have a change of heart and started making silly faces.

I think Jeremy does a pretty good job taking pictures for a 31/2 year old.

Blips from the past 2 days

Today while we were having Family Home Evening, I noticed how reverent Jeremy was being.   I pointed it out and then he said matter of fact,

 " I'm a reverent person!"

Yesterday the boys wanted to watch Legacy.  In case you don't know, it's a movie that "portrays the moving story of early Latter-day saints' joys, sacrifices, hopes, and trials;  their epic journey to the Salt Lake Valley; and their legacy of faith in Jesus Christ."

About an hour into the movie, while watching the saint walking and all the covered wagons, Riley says, 

"I think they're Mormons!"

me:  Yes they are.  (pause)  We're mormons too.

Riley:  We are?  (as if he is surprised)

me:  We actually call ourselves Latter-day saints.  Lots of people call us mormons though because we believe that the book of mormon is true.  

Riley:  Oh (and shakes his head)

I thought it was funny.

Tyler's latest hat of choice

Tyler loves loves loves things on his head.  This is the latest.  He will pop up from around the corner with it on and just laugh.  It's so cute!  And yes I watch him closely.  There is no risk of suffocation here.

Life's unexpected turns

I have been somewhat hesitant to post this but there is enough people that know the first half of the news...it just makes it easier to tell the rest this way.

A month ago, to my complete surprise, I discovered that I was pregnant.  I had my first doctor appointment on Monday and discovered that I was pregnant with twins approximately 9 weeks along.  Twins don't run in my family and I was both shocked and excited.  The ultra sound also revealed that I would more than likely miscarry.  I was scheduled to come back for another ultra sound in 9 days hoping to see growth.  Today I miscarried, even though my doctor prepared me to expect real labor pains, I was rather surprised by them.  I've been contracting  since 7am and still going.  However I think it's beginning to finish up which is a good thing.  Today has been full of a lot of emotion.  Knowing that they were twins really makes the loss feel greater.  The good thing, hard as it may be, I know that's it's all a part of God's plan and I take comfort in knowing that.  I"m also grateful beyond words for the three beautiful sweet boys that I have.

Jeremy's insight into Ketchup

Jeremy:  I like tomatoes!.............Guess what?  Ketchup is inside tomatoes! 

Me:  We use tomatoes to make ketchup don't we?

Jeremy:  Yes.  You get a tomato and it makes one ketchup.  If you get more it makes more!  The store guys make tomatoes.

It's that simple.  So forget what you know about salt and sugar being the prime constituents of Ketchup.  Jeremy's got it all figured out.

What's been in my fridge?

Yesterday we were on the go all day.  It started with a doctor appt and then a quick trip to the store.  We rushed home so I could get Tyler down for his nap before we went to the potluck lunch.  After the potluck lunch we went to the park and stayed for about 4 hours.   The boys had a blast but by the time we were headed home they were tired, hungry and filthy.  I decided I was going to give them a bath before dinner.  We went strait upstairs and into the bath, everyone except Jeremy.  I had Riley and Tyler completely clean and he was still MIA.  I called him again and finally he came.  Once everyone was out and dressed we went down stairs.  I opened the fridge trying to decide what I was going to scare up for dinner.  This is what I saw.  I had to take a second look because I knew I did not put that cheese away that way.  Take a closer look!

Do you see the bite marks?  I can only assume that it was Mr. Mischief (AKA Jeremy) at work.  I'm guessing that this was the cause of his delayed bath.  Niiice!

The ever cheerful Tyler!  Let me just say that he is such a delight!  He brings so much joy to our lives.  

Jeremy cracks me up!  I love the ensemble he is sporting below.  It's a combo of Batman and a jedi.  Niiice!!

Riley sporting his oh so cool glasses handmade by.... you guessed it, HIMSELF!