Responsible Weston

Weston is growing up. And I don't like it! It is too soon. He was my little, teeny, tiny baby, and now he can't fit on my lap (though he still tries, which I don't mind)! Look at him--he looks like a teenager! He got to go to a Utah Basketball game for a birthday party and he had so much fun and felt so grown up. It was his first night out late without us and although he loved it, I missed him! He is so internally good. The next day was Sunday and he was so worried because he didn't want to go to church with the Ute sticker on his face. He was so worried about it (fortunately I got it off)--not that that would be bad, just he felt it was not quite proper...

He is getting closer to turning eight. One of his friends was baptized and we were able to go (missed the actual baptism, but got there for the confirmation!) and he leaned over and said, "Mom, I am so excited for when dad gives me the Holy Ghost." He is quickly reading the Book of Mormon and is on track to have it all done before he gets baptized. He is so smart and knows the scriptures stories better than me. At times he has corrected me!

School is fun for him and he excels in all subjects (but handwriting.... just like his mom and dad!). He was first in his class to finish his Rocket Math and does great with math. He is also a huge reader--he is half way through "Half Magic" and wants to read the Harry Potter series (he listened to the first one on CD already). He had a great time at his Vday party and really just loves school. He was even chosen to eat lunch with the principal! Way to go dude!

His friends are all good kids and they have such a good time together. They have made their own club and have been recruiting people to "Battletron Universe." He made a bunch of characters with awesome names and cool powers. He posted a sign up on our door about it, and a few passer-byers saw it and thought it was an inviction notice on our door! Nope, we are still here people!

Lately Weston has been so dependable and responsible. He helps out with Elise all the time and quickly does his household chores and responsibilities. It is so nice to have a big brother who loves his brothers and plays with them so well. He always wants them to play with him and he includes them in his big boy activities. He loves Elise and is such a wonderful boy!

Sweet Aidan

Aidan is such a sweet child and very unique. He loves holidays, mostly because of the candy, but also because he loves to give people things! He has been so excited for Valentine's day and made probably 30 valentines (besides the ones for his class!). He made them all weeks before Valentine's Day and made sure we didn't look in the box he kept them in. Every day he asked if he could give me the valentines yet. On Vday, he hid the valentines all over the house and then had us search for them.

His class party was loads of fun for him. Here he is putting the valentines into his friends "hearts".

His favorite thing is the candy and treats. He loves to share them, and save them. He still has candy in his drawer waiting to eat it at a special time.

Here he is with his special Valentine, Madison. He made her a valentine, but then got shy when it was time for a photo...

I am so grateful he is so giving. He is so sweet. Although he is going through a phase of being a bit stubborn. He is still going to tumbling and music and although he loves both while he is there, it takes a bit of coaching to get him there! He loves Kindergarten, but sometimes he puts up a fight going. Hopefully he will be okay with being in school all day next year.

He is doing well with reading--above level, and in all other areas as well. He loves drawing and he and Brennan spend a great deal of time daily making pictures, artwork, and writing books. His favorite thing lately is Sonic, but he still loves cars as well. All three boys really play well together and he loves Elise and draws her pictures or makes her things all the time. He is anxiously awaiting St. Patty's day when the "little guy" will come turn over our chairs and turn our milk green (he is really worried that when the chair gets knocked over it will knock over our lamp, too). And mostly he is excited for Easter. He is going to be the "star" in Kindergarten in a few weeks and he won't stop talking about it. We made his poster (well in advance) and he picked out all the photos for it. He really can't wait to take it to school--but he'll have to!

I tried and kind of failed...

My girlfriend Nancy is an amazing person. I just love her. And, she is soooo talented. She has the cutest blog where she shares all of her cute crafts, etc. She also makes the best treats ever. EVER. I don't understand how she does it --and all so effortlessly. I have tried to make her treats and although they always end up tasting divine, mine never look good like hers!



I tried these cookie/brownie/cupcakes and they taste good, but check hers out compared to mine!

Hers: MineReally! What kind of purple poo thing do I have on mine? Come on!

Happy New Year and more important, Happy Birthday Scott

Happy New Year. On 1/1/11 at 11:11 we took this photo of the kids holding Scott's phone that showed the time. Luckily, it was also 11 degrees! Cool (really... cold)!Elise loves her daddy! They get to share their birthday month with each other. Scott started his off at the beginning of January and he is now 34! He got a bike trainer which he loves and I am proud to say he uses it ALL the time! Way to go honey. I signed him up for a triathalon in the summer. He also got many many homemade presents from Aidan and pictures from Brennan.

Happy Birthday husband--I love you!

Elise's Birthday

We gathered the whole gang for Elise's birthday --Omi and Opa, Auntie Heidi and her darlings, and Grandma Nancy. Unfortunately, Grandma Bea, Grandpa Ron and Grandma Tracey couldn't come. It seems Grandpa will do anything to stay away from our house. He decided to have a appendectomy. But we'll forgive him.We thought we'd keep the elephant theme going for her first birthday and I made her this cake (a delicious orange flavor cake). Ali gave me the idea of using M&Ms to outline--using the valentine colors that are for sale now. Then Heidi and Omi helped me through making it.
Elise is taking her first bite of cake.. one bite is all it took! She loved it! Unfortunately she got some in her eyes and it made for some tears, but she had fun while it lasted. Here she is with all her loot. And she loved all the presents, but especially the teddy bear from Omi and Opa! Thanks to all who attended (and Beanie--she looooves the little pig!).

Crafts and fun

Weston had a little "business" at school and all the kids had to sell something. Treats or whatnot. We decided to make pet rocks. They turned out really cute and they were all bought up! We also made gingerbread cookie dough (with cake mix--add egg and oil). And made cookies with ABC cutters. Each kid made their own names and ages.

Puppet Show

The boys love to put on shows for us and for Christmas we got a bunch of soft hand puppets (so cute and such a good deal. Costco, 8$ for 4, lots of variety--dogs, farm, birds, etc.) So I wanted to have a "theatre" for them and most are very expensive. So I decided to make one. It really didn't turn out that much cheaper than buying one... But it really wasn't that hard to make. If I wouldn't have been interrupted every five minutes it probably would have taken me 2-3 hours to make.

Aidan does lots of puppet shows for his music class, too. I will try and take a video of one and post it.

A very lovely show going on about a pig, a dog, and a dinosaur. Not a lot of words, just grunts and barks.

This is the backside--it has pockets for the puppets.