Lots of random things....

Dyer doing tummy time. He still isn't moving forward yet but is moving like crazy backwards. I keep finding him stuck with something between his legs (i.e leg of the couch)and him crying because he can't move anymore. He has moved from one side of the arm chair to the other side by keeping his right side of his body touching the chair the whole time. He probably would have made it all the way around if he didn't turn around and then get his feet stuck under the chair.



The kids just chilling out together. I realized I need to take more everyday random pictures of the kids then always just posing them for pictures. Hopefully I will do better at this.



But I did make them move closer together for this one.




Blair's hair. It was supposed to be a heart but I should have made it so that the top part of the heart was connected. I did a twisted heart a few days later and it looked better but I forgot to take a picture.



Off and on this month at preschool they have been learning about different jobs that people have. Last week they were supposed to dress up as someone they wanted to be when they grow up. Apparently Easton wants to be a police officer. It was a little difficult trying to find something police related since we have nothing like that at home, but luckily I found some cheap police stuff at the dollar store. Easton was a little annoyed that he didn't have a gun but I guess the baton made up for it. We added some homemade things like a badge and name tag and we were good to go. His teachers really liked his costume, probably because he was one of the few that actually dressed up like someone in the "real world". There were a bunch of princesses and superheroes. I think that was expected though.

We went for a family walk/hike on Saturday. We also played a little Frisbee golf too.


Dyer. This little guy is working on his second tooth! I just noticed it yesterday (1/29) at dinner.




Nathan helping Easton with his frisbee.



Nate throwing his frisbee.



Blair decided to run with her frisbee and put it in the "hole" instead of throwing the frisbee. That's my kind of girl!



Easton and Blair. Easton kept giving me funny faces anytime I took his picture. Oh, well.


Easton with his hiking stick. We went up a steep hill and as soon as Easton made it to the top he said, "Good thing I have this stick to help me get up this hill!"



Dad, Blair, and Dyer


Easton saw this Heron and wanted to take a picture of it. It's a little blurry because it's a little difficult to hold the camera still when a little boy is pushing the button down as hard as he can!




We also saw three deer on the trail.


Beehive cupcakes. I made these for a friend as a thank you since she came and helped out with a mutual activity. It was a thank you from the beehives.

Easton

I just love my little Easton to pieces. He is so funny and bright. He will seriously talk your ear off about made up stories he comes up with. They generally have to do with good guys and bad guys and the good guys beating up the bad guys.

He also comes up with knock, knock jokes but unfortunately he tells jokes just as good as his Auntie Jacqui does. Either they don't make any sense or he botches them but without fail he thinks it's the funniest joke in the whole world. And you know what? I think it's pretty funny too! Mainly because I can't help but laugh at him laughing at himself. It's cute!

Easton also likes to play guessing games. He will give us clues and we have to guess what he is thinking.



Easton got to be the first one to go flying with Dad! I guess he liked it at first and wouldn't stop talking in the headphones. Eventually he took his head phones off (probably because they aren't the most comfortable things in the world). Towards the end of the flight Nathan's instructor,Hal, had Nathan close his eyes while Hal positioned the plane in a weird position and then had Nathan open his eyes and fix the position of the plane. I guess Easton wasn't feeling so good after that part of the flight.



Easton inside the plane ready for take off. Isn't he so handsome? This was back in early Nov. (I think) but Nathan just sent me these pictures off his phone this last week.


I would say for the most part Easton and Blair are pretty good buds. In fact it isn't uncommon for them to gang up on me! Haha! I think it is rather cute when the two of them stick up for each other. It makes me happy that they seem as though they will always have each other's back. They do fight with each other but it generally doesn't take very long for them to make up and go on as if nothing happened.

This seems to be the case with Easton hating me. One minute it's, "I hate you! I'll never be your best Easton/ I'll never give you the best hugs/etc." Then the next minute he is saying he is sorry and giving me a hug. Is it normal for a 4 year old to say they hate their mom? He only says it when he isn't getting his own way. I think he is hoping that I will give in and let him do what he wants. I'm sure most kids go through this stage but I didn't think it would happen until he was a teenager. Maybe if I'm lucky he is getting it all out of his system now and he will be an easy teen. I can always hope right?



We took the kids to the park a couple times to play baseball. I must say I'm pretty impressed with Easton hitting the ball. Nathan pitched to Easton and he hit it several times. The last time we went we brought the pitching machine Nathan's Dad and Sue gave to Easton for his birthday a couple years ago. Blair basically hogged it but the few times Easton got to use it he did alright. He throws the ball pretty well too but we definitely need to work on catching the ball. Maybe we will sign Easton up for t-ball sometime this coming year.

I thought it was funny a couple weeks ago I made an apple pie and Easton decided he didn't like it because it wasn't a raspberry pie like the picture on the crust box showed. Anyways, Nathan decided to take it off his plate and eat it for him. The only problem was part of the apple filling was still on his plate and this did not make him happy. He could not eat his ice cream because it was too close to the apple filling. FYI: I'm told he gets this from his Dad but I was pretty picky too so unfortunately he gets it from both sides! Back to the story...Nathan tried scraping the filling off his plate but this was not good enough for Easton because he could still see traces of it. Nathan then said, "What do you want me to do, lick it off?" Easton was all over that idea so Nathan did just that he licked his plate clean and gave it back to a smiley, very happy, little boy! And Easton ate his ice cream in peace!

Dyer at seven months!

Wow! Seven months already! I don't like that my baby is getting older! It's just not fair!



Well, we took Dyer to the specialist earlier this month for his head and thankfully nothing is wrong. He just has a huge head! Which we all already knew that. Random ranting but why is it that everyone feels it is their duty to remind me that my son has a huge head? Thank you random strangers for stating the obvious! They do comment first on how cute he is which is definitely a smart thing on their part. I don't think I'm sensitive about his head size but it just gets a little annoying to hear it so often. Which is a little ironic since I never get annoyed with people telling me how cute my son is. I guess it just seems like people state it in such a negative way that it gets under my skin. But to set the record straight I'm not the one to blame for his big head. While we were at the specialist the doctor took mine and Nathan's head measurements and blamed it all on Nathan. I'm sure our kids will all be smart so I'll blame that on Nathan as well!




Dyer is getting his first tooth (bottom right-first noticed 1/12/12)! I'm not very excited about this...Look closely in the above picture and you can see it coming through!



Dyer is eating really well these days! He loves his food. In fact I can't spoon it in his mouth fast enough and he gets a little frustrated that it doesn't come faster. Also, I swear he could eat forever. I have to be the one to stop him because I'm pretty sure his tummy isn't big enough to hold the amount he wants to put into it.



Dyer hates being put down and left alone. He will cry and scream until someone comes and picks him up and then he is the happiest little baby ever!



When we got back from vacation Dyer was having a really hard time sleeping through the night but after only 2 nights of having him cry himself to sleep (10 min most) he has been sleeping through the night again (with the exception of last night when he got up 4 or 5 times. It was crazy. I'm hoping it was because he is teething but who knows).



Dyer is sitting up like a champ. He isn't army crawling yet like I was expecting but it is probably because he's spoiled and I hold him probably more than I should. I know he needs tummy time more and I am doing a little better at making him do it. He is definitely moving backwards and in circles but isn't moving forward yet. If he is delayed I am definitely the one to blame...




Dyer is getting more and more interested in standing up. The last few days he has been arching his back while sitting in my lap and throwing a little fit until I hold him up in the standing position. I guess this really means that I need him to do more tummy time so that he will crawl before he starts cruising.



Dyer loves paper. If I need him to entertain himself for a little while I'll just grab some newspaper or an old magazine and just let him go to town shredding it to pieces.



Yesterday at music makers I gave him a shaker and he knew exactly what to do with it. He shook his hand back and forth the whole time for marching. He was pretty upset when it was time to put it away and I took it from him.

I published a post about Blair earlier today...Check it out!

Blair Bear

Here's a little about Blair these days...

She is 100% convinced that her real name is Blair Bear. We have tried to tell her that she is Blair Marie but she will not have it. "No, I'm Bair Bear!"



Apparently others cannot love her if she loves them.

Blair: "I wouve you, Mommy!"
Me: "Oh, I love you too, Blair Bear!"
Blair: "No, I wouve you!"
Me: "Thanks Blair Bear! I love you too!"
Blair: "NO, I WOUVE YOU!"



Her hair is getting longer so I am having fun coming up with different hair styles:



Auntie Jana will probably be proud of this one!



She is still really bossy and a big trouble maker! Her newest thing she likes to do at night while she is supposed to be in bed asleep is to open up all her dresser drawers and use them as stairs so she can sit on top of her dresser! Scary! I'm not sure which one is going to happen first. Her breaking the dresser or the dresser falling on top of her and breaking her.

A couple weeks ago during Sacrament Meeting Blair told Nathan off! She left to go sit with Ms. Valerie and then decided she wanted to come back and eat some fishy crackers. While she was gone there was a half eaten granola bar on the bench so I picked it up and put it in one of the bags of fishy crackers. She apparently didn't like that and for some reason thought Nathan had done it.

Blair really loud (mind you this is during church): "Daddy, why'd you put that in here?"
Me (whispering): "Blair, shhh! Calm down!"
Blair (still yelling): "Daddy, don't you do that!" I don't wike it!"
Nathan and I are both trying to get her to calm down!
Blair (still yelling): "Don't do that! It's digusting!"

We were both a little embarrassed but at the same time we couldn't help but laugh. What 2 year old says disgusting?

Blair is obsessed with candy. She asks for it everyday and every time I tell her no she has a melt down. Luckily for me her melt down is just her pouting usually on the couch or on her bed. Because she is so obsessed with candy I might be making a trip to the store to buy some in hopes that it will help with potty training. Yes, I am going to start round number...(not even sure what number this is) but I'm determined this time to out last her stubbornness. Why have I been cursed with stubborn children? I'm hoping this trait will come in handy for them when they get older but for me right now it can be difficult!

One of my favorite things Blair says these days is "poot nacks" for "fruit snacks". It makes me giggle every time.

Remember when Blair was a baby and I would say she definitely is not a lady. Well, recently it has happened again. Anytime she passes gas I say, "What do you say Blair?" Hoping she will say excuse me because that is what she has been taught. But nope! She will say, "I tooted!" I then say, "How about you say, excuse me." To which she says with a big grin, "No, I tooted!"

I love the fact that anytime she puts a dress on she spins around in circles with a huge grin on her face and says proudly, "I'm a princess!"

I sure love my little Blair Bear! Even though she can be difficult at times she is my happy, smiley little girl and I love that sweet smile of hers!

Singing with Grandpa

These are the last of the pictures from our vacation. We spent most of our time with Grandpa and Grandma Stockton. I didn't take many pictures but I did manage to take a couple of Grandpa singing to the kids. They all loved having Grandpa sing to them. He even took out his guitar one day and sang to them.





Grandpa Singing to the kids




The first couple nights were spent trying to get the kids to go to bed at a decent hour and for them to stay in their beds. Blair managed to find a sharpie the first night and draw on her face. Luckily it was just on her face, pjs, and blanket and not all over Grandpa and Grandma's walls.



Blair the troublemaker

The other nights we were able to try out our new game that Grandpa and Grandma gave us. We were also able to hang out with cousins several times, go to a temple session, go on a double date (out to eat and the movies) with Nathan's grandparents, ring in the new year and celebrate Grandpa's birthday before we had to head home. It was great spending time with family. Thanks for everything! We sure miss you guys already.

Hanging out with cousins!

After getting family pictures we all went out to eat! The kids got their own table but actually Nathan eventually went over and sat with him.



Easton and Braeden too busy playing to look at the camera.



Ella and Blair



Dyer


Once we got back to Gretchen's house Nathan took the kids sledding at the park just down the street from Grandma Gretch's house. It was getting dark so they didn't get to sled for too long.



Nathan had to get in on the action too!



Ella



Braeden



Easton. Yes, he is wearing his sister's gloves. Blair's wearing Easton's old coat. I guess this is what happens when you move to somewhere that doesn't get snow. I really didn't want to go out and buy new things for them to wear maybe once. I'm glad I didn't because this was the only time they went sledding and as you can see there wasn't much snow.




Blair.



All aboard!



Train ride



Braeden, Ella, and Easton



This didn't end very well! Easton fell off and landed head first in the snow/grass. He kept spitting grass out of his mouth.



Braeden, Nathan, and Blair

Christmas continued

We had Christmas dinner at Grandpa and Grandma Stockton's. I had Nathan take some pictures. Besides the first picture this post should actually be titled "Easton with...." Easton's cute so I don't mind but I just thought it was funny that he was in every picture.



Dyer with cousins Jarom and Kaiden.



Easton with Aunt Kaity.



Easton with cousins Torie and Bekah.




Easton with Uncle Blake.

The kids got to open some gifts while there. Easton got some cars from Grandpa and Grandma but I'm thinking that he left most of them at their house because I have only seen one or two since we got home. Blair got a baby doll that comes with a toilet. Maybe this will help her with potty training. Someday we will have this little girl potty trained...someday! Dyer got a rubber ducky which he is currently chewing on as I write this. He loves sucking on that thing. Nate and I got a game which we played several times while we were there. We will have to have some friends come over so we can play it again.

Aunt Bethanie got all the kids slippers which they LOVE! Easton wears his slippers every night while he sleeps. Blair is beginning to follow his example. She wore hers to bed last night too!

Thank you!

It was great to see everyone and to spend the holidays with family. I wish we lived closer so we could make more family dinners/gatherings.

The kids miss all of you and keep asking when we can go back. I don't blame them since they pretty much get everything the want when they are around family.

Christmas with family

Dyer with Grandma Gretch Christmas morning!




All the cousins anxiously waiting to open their gifts!




Easton opening his gift from Grandma Gretch and Grandpa Jerry. He got a huge tonka playset! I forgot to take a picture of it once we got it put together. Easton plays with it all the time!




Blair opening her gift. Uncle Andy in the background.




Blair LOVED her baby doll! Once she started opening her gift and realized what it was she was SO excited! "A baby! It's my baby!" It was one of the cutest things ever!




Aunt Kaity helping Dyer open his gift.



Dyer got a play mat which definitely came in handy while we were on vacation. Dyer loved looking in the mirror at his own reflection. That and he loved sucking on it!




Cute baby Dyer


Braeden and Ella got Easton and Blair a sled and got Dyer a puppy stuffed animal which Blair kept stealing!

All the adults decided that instead of buying gifts for each other that we would all pitch in and buy family pictures. I can't wait to see them because the photographer was awesome! Even though we we decided not to get each other gifts I still got a gift! Well, it was actually a late birthday gift! I got chief statues and other things to decorate my kitchen. I finally got around to putting them up and they look great! Hopefully I'll remember to take a picture. Thanks Gretch! I finally have some decor in my kitchen!

Thank you for all the gifts and for letting us stay with you! We had a great time.





Aunt Bethanie with Dyer at Nathan's Aunt Stacy and Uncle Lance's house. We went there later Christmas day to spend Christmas with them and Grandpa Layne. This was the only picture I took there. I can't believe this was the only picture I took.

Easton ended up getting a watch and an electric drum set from Grandpa Layne. Blair got an electric piano and plastic silverware. Dyer got a bowling set, a glow worm, and a baby toy where you can connect the pieces together (have no idea what they are called). Nathan got an aircraft headset which he is really excited to use hopefully this coming weekend! I got a bunch of baking pans/kitchen things and cookbooks.

Thank you Grandpa Layne! We love all the gifts! I especially love the headphones that came with the electric piano that can also be used with the drum set!