Scenes from our house.

"Alright Sissy, you need to get out of my toy box. Nothing of yours in here!"
"I've got important things to find." {Notice Henry the Hippo ready to pounce in the background ... they had been wresting earlier.}

Check out his new hiding place. He likes to hide his toys back there. I wonder how long until he figures out how to squeeze his body back there. Sigh.

Oh ya, and did I mention that someone at our house started walking! He's been taking steps here and there and tonight he was all over the place, across the room, down the hall. Big boy!

"What are you looking at? I know, I am pretty cute!"

So tender hearted.

This weekend Mylie and I are having a girl's weekend with my mom and Bailey. She is so excited about it and we talk about it every day. This morning she came and crawled into bed with me after Jeff left for work and we were talking about this weekend. I told her that we would have to get up really early on Friday to leave, and to drop Blake off at Alicia's (daycare) before we go. Suddenly her little eyes welled up with tears and she started crying. The thought of being away from her little brother for three days was just too much for her. She told me he would be sad being at Alicia's without her there to watch him and that she would just miss him so much for three days. Of course, this brought tears to my eyes, listening to her talk about how much she loves her brother. She is such a tender hearted little girl.

They really are best buds though. They are in eating breakfast together right now. Mylie has him laughing, a lot. She can get him going like no one else. She had him laughing so hard in the car the other day. They were playing tug of war with his blanket and he has this growling kind of laugh that was just so funny. Of course Jeff and I were laughing so hard, which only made the kids laugh even harder. I just can't imagine my life without these little munchkins!

Looks like we have another reader in the family.

Jeff, Mylie and I all love to read. Looks like Blake loves to also.

And look! He even puts his books away when he is done.

And seriously, he is starting to look like a little boy, not a baby! Sniff.

Very observant

So apparently today at Alicia's Mylie was in the playroom playing with the other kids. Alicia was listening to them play and heard one of the other kids tell Mylie that she was being bossy (which she was). Mylie said, "Its OK, I'm being bossy like my Mom. She bosses my Dad around all the time."

When I told Jeff this story, he simply responded by saying that Mylie is very observant.

Just hanging out

The kids and I were just hanging out tonight. Blake, although surrounded by all his toys, was fascinated with a tupperware.
Mylie was deep in concentration playing a game.

Blake still isn't walking but can totally pull himself to standing in the middle of the room. He really loves his new basketball hoop.There is a little scoreboard on the back of the hoop. Mylie uses it for doing math, Blake just likes to spin it.

He is also very intrigued with whatever sissy is doing.

It was so cute tonight when I was getting ready to put him to bed tonight I told him to say goodnight to sissy and he started waving his arm up and down and said "buh-buh-buh."

We had such a nice three day weekend. We hung out with good friends, Jeff and his Dad went to the BSU-Utah State basketball game on Saturday night, we ran some errands and played at home today. I love low-key weekends, especially low-key three day weekends!

"Faithical"

Today after church Mylie and I were talking about what she learned in Primary today. I could tell by the projects she made in class that her lesson was about faith. I was thinking, wow that is a big concept to teach to four year olds. So I asked her about it and she told me this, "Jesus lives in Heaven and we can't see him but we know he is there, so it is faithical."

I think that sometimes adults {myself included} think that religious concepts are very deep and complex and is sometimes takes a child to remind us of the simplicity of it. I definitely learn so much from Mylie.

A few pictures from today

I just bought an external flash for my camera. I'd been saving for it and finally got it and promptly realized I have a lot to learn. So I was trying to practice with the kids, but they didn't want any part of it at first ...

Finally they found a few smiles ...

They are very good at sharing.

Mylie was really excited for tonight. My friends Jaimee and Steve are here visiting from Alaska for a wedding. Obviously we don't get to see each other that much anymore. I offered to watch their son Michael (almost 3) while they went to the reherseal dinner. At first he was a little unsure, he had only met us once before and that was 8 months ago. But Mylie took him under her wing and they became fast friends. We made Valentine's cards, played cars, and had a pajama party and watched "Curious George." He is such a sweet, smart and pleasant little boy. He and Mylie had a great time. We are all getting together tomorrow night with Melissa and Melanie's families. So fun!

Here they are during their "movie party." So cute!

"Mom, I'm so tired!"

Blakey in the car today. So tired. Being sick has just sucked all his energy!

42 days into 2009 ...

and I have stuck to my goal of taking a picture every day! Sweet. I can't think of many things I have done for 42 days in a row, including making dinner or doing the dishes, hehe. I have taken cute pictures of my kids, pictures of my dinner, pictures in my house and pictures in my office. This has been a fun project so far!

Random February 9th musings ...

So today is Jeff and I's 7th anniversary! Wow. That is nearly 1/5 of my life! It has been an amazing 7 years full of more ups than downs. We have two beautiful and healthy children, we have a nice home that fits our needs and we both have good jobs. Not only have our needs been met, but many of our wants have as well. We both have hobbies separate from each other that we are able to participate in. Jeff is very involved in fitness and martial arts, I love photography and scrapbooking. That is one thing I learned watching my parents, that although they had lots of the same interests and hobbies, they each had their own things they liked to do too. I think it definitely helps a marriage when you each grow as individuals and then grow as a couple too. I just feel blessed to be married to a man who is truly my best friend, who believes in me and supports me, who is an amazing father, and who loves me no matter what!

Other random thoughts ...
*Today we were at lunch at Olive Garden for our anniversary. We had the kiddos with us and an older lady came to our table to tell me that my children are so well behaved. Just makes a momma feel proud.
*I'm redecorating my bathroom. It is so cute a bright and cheerful ... it makes me happy!
*In the last week, I made a 6x6 scrapbook of Christmas, did 9 scrapbook pages, and made the cutest calendar for my office. Yay me!
*Um, is it bad that Mylie walks around the house saying, "Is that your friend, or just your butt?" Yikes, but Madagascar 2 is really funny. I'd highly recommend it.

Man, they are cute!

Happy Birthday Blakey!

Today was Blake's first birthday and was a wonderful day. I took the day off of work and Jeff only worked until noon. We took the kids out to lunch and then we headed to the zoo. It was 43, sunny and just what we all needed. Mylie was super excited to take her new camera and take pictures.
This is while we were looking at the new {awesome} lion exhibit. There is a big picture window an the light was totally reflecting in Blake's eyes.

Daddy and Mylie had to go on the slide a few times.

And seriously, I just love these kids. They make me so happy and I am so lucky to be their Momma. They have taught me so much about life and about myself. And really, could they be any cuter?

And here is proof that spring will be here soon. I love this tree {at the zoo} and it has the most gorgeous flowers on it. I cannot wait to see it in bloom. But the buds and the blue skies and the sun definitely make me happy!

Love these dudes!

And finally, Blake got to see some animals. The penguins were just at his level.

After the zoo we did some shopping and I scored a major deal at Dillard's on shoes for Blake. Daddy treated us to Mrs. Fields cookies while we were there {yum}. Then an exciting trip to Sam's Club and Wal-Mart for groceries. It was a great day and I just love days when we are all together.

But more about Blake. At one year old - he isn't walking, but will stand on his own and walk all along the furniture, he speed crawls, he is very chatty, he loves to eat, he really loves his sissy, he loves the bath and is a major splasher, he has the softest skin, he has major thunder thighs, he is so ticklish - even scratching his back makes him giggle, he is very busy but will occasionally find time to snuggle his Momma. He brings a lot of smiles and giggles to our family. I know that I am definitely blessed with two wonderful kiddos!

Party animal!

Mylie was *quite* helpful during the party and enjoyed opening all of Blake's presents. He had fun with the paper and a hanger though. He got some fun toys.

Mommy and Daddy got him a 4-wheeler. I don't know if Mylie was more excited for Blake to see it or for Papa {Big A} to see it. It is green just like Papa's.
Such a fun afternoon!

Let him eat cake!

Blake's birthday party was Saturday. He is a big fan of cake. First he slowly tested it out.
"Ooooh Mamma, chocolate Costco cake with vanilla cheesecake filling,"

"I think I like this!"

"I like birthdays!"

He was so funny and just laughing at me so hard while I was taking his picture. He is seriously a happy boy!