Love Him to Pieces

We had some friends over for dinner on Monday. The Dad was particularly impressed with Warner's puzzle skills.
"He's Amazing at puzzles for a two-year-old."
I replied, "Yah, he LOVES them. He's probably done these a 100 times."
The more I thought. .. 300 would be a more accurate and still probably conservative estimate.

Warner LOVES puzzles. He's my first to not get super frustrated. He matches color and shape extremely well. I didn't even have to teach him the turn the puzzle piece-around-to-make-it-fit concept. He just got it. Over the last three months he has spent hours and hours putting pieces together. Now that I can finally understand when he says puzzle, we get them out probably two to three times a day. When C&T were little I picked up about 6 twenty-four piece puzzles at a garage sale for 10 cents each. . . we have added just a couple over time We have put Elmo, Ernie, Blue's Clues, Big Bird, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, and Lightning McQueen together time and time again over the last decade. Can you guess what Warner is getting in his Conference Basket this year?

Brace Yourself Rachel!

Rachel, now that you mention it there is one thing Michelle and I would like to talk to you about. . .

Not about you, but about Scott. This is something that every young woman should know about her future husband before the official "I do" is said. Be forewarned, it isn't pretty.

1. Scott has KILLED (and may kill again for that matter) for candy. Just ask him about my goldfish. . . my sweet, precious, innocent, perfect little goldfish. The crime scene was brutal. The invasion obscene. And remorse? Non-existent. To the train eye, it had premeditated murder written all over it. Luckily for Scott, he had a good lawyer.

I know the news of this must be shocking.. . and really, I hated to be the one to tell you. . . but someone had to do it.

Do with this info. what you will. I just wanted you to be well informed that you are marrying a Candy Murderer. So in 15 years, when you can't find Scotty Jr.'s little Fluffy Puss, don't say I didn't warn you.


Don't let this face fool you! He's really holding butcher knife and the bag of candy . . .

Talmage Tongue

Tal

Tal. Mudge. Tally-Wag. Talmage.

Christmas Gifts

2009 Christmas Gifts
Favorite Gift to Give/Make: Greg's Family Puppets
Favorite Gift to Receive: Quilt Made by my Mom

Funny Faces with Hyrum

On the Verge

excerpt from an email to my dad, "yesterday i got a perm, loved on my little boys, and went to a Ravenwood Choir performance with the entire family. The choir director had car troubles, and once there, lost the cd with the music on it. the poor fellow. so the kids sang the last two songs (for the Alaska School District school board) Acapella. they did an absolutely amazing job. everytime i hear them perform i am just so grateful that they have this opportunity and that they love it."

New Do

This (don't mind the double chin, I'm working on getting rid of that)

Plus This

Gets this (day of photo. . . its calmed down a bit since then)


I've been loving the new do. Brings me back to those High School/College days when this was my natural lot in life. I had the BEST friends in the world who gave up an entire morning to roll and roll and roll some more (183 rods).

"Mudge"

Here's our little Tal. 6 months. Bottle Snob (first baconbit to refuse). Eating solids. . . favorite by far is peaches. Can roll both ways, though I've never seen the tummy to back, just know he does it everyday after he wakes from his naps. Has a big 'ole grin and blue eyes. His lazy mom rarely changes him out of pajamas. Completely SMOTHERED with love by his brothers.

Christmas Eve

We were lucky to have the Speaks Family (minus their great dad/husband who was finishing up a tour in Afghanistan) join us for Christmas Eve. Our traditions include a Mexican diner, pinata, and acting out the Nativity.

Chrstmas 2009

Christmas 2009
We are not ones to be bound by dates and as a family had predetermined to celebrate Christmas on Monday, December 21st. The boys were devastated when on Sunday night I realized that six months prior I had scheduled dental visits. So rather than having blissfully opening presents and experiencing some of the joy of the season, the boys were getting their teeth scraped and xrayed while Eric and I were being forced into another fit of depression as the result the impending Dental work.

For my memory:

Wii from G&G Bacon
Wii controllers and Wii Fit, Legos Galore from G&G Warner (in the customary puzzle box--this years rendtion had the "buttons" that turned)
Super Smash--reward for jumping in the freezing woods river
The boys had fun buying gifts for each other this year. (Hyrum received Lego Batman from Sam, Sam received Lego Indiana Jones from Christian, Tanner received a super duty Nerf Gun from Hyrum, and Christian received Stratego from Tanner)
Hryum was very insistent of building his Legos all by himself this year. He did an amazing job.

If I've Said It Once

I grew up hearing, "If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times ____________."
You could fill that blank in with any of the of the following options: a. don't lean back on the dining room chairs, b. no food in the living room, c. it takes two to fight, d. use the back door, e. wipe your feet really good before coming in, f. the kitchen isn't clean until the sink is scoured, etc.

We only have a few rules around here: 1. I am in charge. 2. No balls in the house.
The first rules doesn't lend itself to much leeway. I am in charge. Period.
The second however seems to perplex almost every little mind in the family. It seems no matter how many times I say it, and no matter what emphasis I put on the words (or the threats that come after those), that balls seem to sneak their way into our house. The usual casualties are the Willow Tree figurines, which at one point have all been decapitated. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times--NO BALLS IN THE HOUSE."

Below: Sam caught red (or would it be blue) handed. It is moments like this that I wonder who is truly in charge.

Christian and Tanner enjoying Welcome Home Snack and doing their daily math homework.

Weather Report

We've been enjoying a remarkable winter here in Alaska.

Several friends assume that we are constantly getting plastered with snow. The answer. . . is no. We actually received more snow on average when living in Arizona than we do living in Alaska. The difference. . . here the snow doesn't melt. The snow you see on our mailbox (below) is the same batch that we received in November.


I love when the temperatures drop in the single digits. The snow will crystallize. When driving at night it will take on the appearance of glimmering diamonds. It is rather spectacular.

January 20th was our lucky day this year. . . after two months of no direct sunlight in our house, the heavens opened and sunshine poured in. Granted, it was only about 15 minutes of glorious rays, but it screamed of hope. Spring here we come. In Alaska, in my opinion, our seasons go as follows: Summer, Fall, Winter, Summer, Fall Winter. . . Spring is more an extension of hope and light.

Here's an evening sunset.

The view out our our side window.

Catch Up

Another successful Award Assembly. . . both boys were recognized by their music teacher, Mr. Lum, for being excellent singers and recorder players. This year both boys were asked to be recorder leaders for their break-out groups. I think they enjoyed the awards but loved seeing Talmage at school even more!

My sister Kari gave us this Lego Mosiac. .. Hyrum loves it.

My "big" boys. Sam is catching up quick. He's about an inch shorter than these two. Nothing pains the 'ole purse than buying jeans, shoes, etc. x3 all the same size. We found out that Sam gets to go to cubscout daycamp this summer. He is so excited for a week filled with canoeing, hiking, dodgeball, archery, b.b. guns and blood circles (whittling).

say cheese.

Warner 5 Little Piggies

Just Play'in

Warner is really into dress up right now. He'll come into the kitchen asking me to make him a "King."

Warner is entertained by any kind of puzzle. He worked on this one until he got frustrated and then convinced Sam and Hyrum to help him finish it.