Right Here!

Who knew the car ride home from church would be so much fun! Usually we're all hungry, tired and trying to endure the trip in one piece.

We were driving away from the church and I smelled something not so pleasant . . . so we asked who was stinky. While Easton was saying, "Not me," and Morgan was out cold, McKay piped up and said very matter-of-factly, "Right here." He totally acted like it was no big deal at all, a common occurrence, which it is of course for a 2 1/2 yr old. But we're more used to the standard nursery response where you ask everyone who stinks and all the lil' kiddos avert their eyes or says "not me", and the culprit is the kid hiding under the table in silence. Man, it's fun when kids start getting good at expressing themselves!

Then we soon realized McKay hadn't buckled the top of his seat belt harness. We hardly every do it for him because he always demands, "I do it a' by myse'f!" I told him to buckle up and he put the sports water bottle he was holding down at his side, top down, so now he was sitting in a puddle and didn't even know it. I saw it top down, pulled it out and he of course freaked out! I tried to explain about the puddle and that the bottle was empty. The bottle only had a minuscule amount left in it but I wasn't going to argue about it and gave it back. McKay has been perfecting the art of tantrum throwing lately, enough said! A moment later, McKay said, "Mom, a water out of gas."

I tell ya with my boys, motorized vehicles of any kind rule their world! Lately he and Easton are mesmerized by Rescue Heroes vehicles from a good friend and toy airplanes from Grandpa Nelson. McKay's the one who makes all the sound effects. He's in that stage of talking your ear off and must have your undivided attention while doing it or there's a complete melt down on his part. I struggle to not have my own melt down when it's required of me - especially first thing in the morning!

Blessing Morgan

Our family had Morgan blessed at church this past Sunday, November 16. We were so happy to have my mom, Ryan's dad and his wife, as well as my brother and his wife there to share it with us. My mom made Morgan's beautiful dress and I've got another post coming about it because I'm so proud of my mom and the family heirloom she created for us.

That morning, we gathered at the house to eat, chat and take pictures before heading over to the church together. Morgan wailed all the way to the church. She hates being in a car seat and we haven't figured out why. Once at the church, Nelson carried Morgan in the car seat into the church and took care of her until the blessing. He's so cute with babies and my babies seem to totally chill out with him! His magic typically includes whatever rocking chair we've got. This picture isn't fair to him because Morgan was hungry, but I thought it was cute even if she was wailing! Doesn't he look like a proud grandpa?
It amazes me how the grandparents have the magic soothing touch with our babies! Mom has a couple of staple positions but this is the one that surprises us because it always works. I'm so glad to become reaquainted with it again!


Nelson taking Morgan was so nice because it allowed me to settle us into our rows and recruit Tricia, mom, and JoLynn to take notes on the blessing. JoLynn even knows shorthand so I was even more relieved and excited to have even more captured! I like to write up each child's blessing for their baby books which sadly have yet to be started, but I hope to remedy that very soon!

Ryan gave a wonderful blessing that brought me to tears even though I was wrestling Easton and McKay who were whining for their snacks. Morgan seriously screamed through the entire blessing. She just doesn't enjoy being on her back, not snuggled up close or eating so she let herself be heard! Those poor men assisting the blessing got an earful! Ryan asked his dad Nelson, my brother Chris, our wonderful recent past home teacher Leo Gordijenko, one of Ryan's buddies and coworkers Dean Coleman, and members of the bishopric Ryan assists - Bishop Jim Anderson, Travis Lee, and Rob Cochran.

I felt so blessed all day to have a healthy baby and growing family, a wonderful tender husband who is worthy to hold the priesthood and preside over our family, caring parents who love and support us, and a great ward family to share the joy of our new addition. In these moments, life is such a complete joy!

Easton's Porcupine

Easton made this treasure of a porcupine at preschool. I think it was made of homemade play dough, different sized googly eyes, and spaghetti. McKay loved to hold it and show it off. As with all things Easton brings home from school, he showed it to us and forgot all about it. I thought this was so cute/funny!

Halloween?

OOPS! Meant to post this a while ago, obviously, so here it is. I didn't really get to participate in this year's Halloween because of election related work. Yes, I know - I'd just had Morgan too! It was a hairy couple of post-partum weeks to say the least. But I hear it was a lot of fun! I did, however, enjoy the treats of others' trick or treating labors!

While home on that blessed thing called paternity leave, Ryan saw a guy on the Today Show clean out and carve pumpkins with power tools. I should have expected that evening's activity of pumpkin carving! I was just so appreciative that Ryan spearheaded that activity because I was busy working in my "office" - the piano bench for my laptop/desk and of course, the couch because recovering from having Morgan required some comfort.

The boys enjoyed the cleaning out and carving of the pumpkins and I was real pleased with Ryan's pumpkin faces inspired by some sort of application he found on his iphone. I love it when Ryan attacks a project! It's so adorable and endearing to me!

Don't these look great?! Well done, Ryan!!!

On Wednesday, Oct 29, Ryan went back to work. I was so overwhelmed and sad that he actually came home early to help me out. Putting in overtime with the final week before the elections and having to be a mom and homemaker just wasn't working for me on my own yet. Ryan swooped in and saved the day and worked hard the rest of the week to make my life as easy as possible. LOVE HIM!!!

On Halloween, Ryan took the boys to the annual parade in town that's just a mile from our house. We LOVE this parade and there's a ton of candy thrown to the kids as the floats drive by. It's so great to see kids scamper after candy as they're all dressed up! Chris and Tricia came to witness the boys' trick or treating on the way home from the parade and boy did they come home with a stash!

Our family loves Halloween festivities once costumes have been decided. Easton wanted to be Indiana Jones because that's become his favorite video game. McKay didn't care yet so he was Tigger again because I didn't have any creative juices flowin'. Hopefully next year!

Sleeping Angels

Morgan doesn't look like she's changed a whole lot to me in three weeks, but I can tell she's started filling out a bit more. Still waiting to see a first smile beyond the ones when she's fully passed out and chuckling at something hilarious in her dreams. What do babies dream about that would make them giggle?! Clean diapers, an overabundance of milk, or a horrific diaper explosion such as we had yesterday? All over her, me and the couch cushion! I was so surprised by it I didn't know what to tackle first!

We finally found bunk beds for the boys on Craigslist. Their room is long and narrow so putting the beds side by side, Ryan laughed that now their room looks like Burt and Ernie's bedroom. I'd post a picture, but that'd mean I'd have to get up and do all that stuff to get one here - so just take my word for it for now. We'd had the boys in separate rooms for a few weeks after we took down the crib until we found the beds. Their reunion in the same room has been rough on me and Ryan because they play and fight for hours. Our respite lately has been McKay crashing early since he's been sick.McKay hasn't had a fever, but throws up here and there after complaining his tummy hurts. Heaven bless steam cleaners and enough carpet cleaning solution left over from when Ryan cleaned the carpets last! PHEW! Luckily, McKay is old enough to work with us on the bowl concept!

During the boys' separation, McKay took to pulling the cushion off the rocking chair and planting himself right inside his door with a little blanket or two to cover himself. The boys like to look at their books at night and tend to sit in their doorway we've found. Their floor is always covered with books! There are worse things I guess, but I need to find them reading lamps apparently.

Every once in awhile, Easton will fall asleep on or near the stairs. This time, it was because my brother and his wife were over and we were playing Settlers. Easton and McKay LOVE their Uncle Chris and Aunt Tricia! They just can't get enough and Easton didn't want to miss anything. Every time Easton is leaving for preschool or we're getting ready for church, McKay even announces he's going to "Tisha's". Their complete adoration for Chris and Tricia is three-fold. First, they have a Wii - enough said. Second, Easton tells me that they have good crackers and treats. If you have these two at your house, you too can be on the kids' favorites list. They are easy to please! Third, Chris lets them climb all over him, wrestles and tickles them til they giggle like little girls! It's quite entertaining, but makes me exhausted just watching all that rough and tumble!

Sleeping babies and kids are so endearing, making them appear so angelic that it reminds me of how precious they each are no matter what we've endured together that day!