The new year

I'm going to do better about this, just be patient with me. At least I'm posting once a month. Having Thing 1 attend preschool is making a little easier to post, but at the same time I think of things that need to be done while he's gone. And Thing 2 is of course very demanding. So here's some fun stuff from January. 

Things 1 and 2 are awesome friends. Thing 1 was making his bed and laid down on it and Thing 2 decided to join him. They adore each other. Yes, they get frustrated, upset and angry at each other, but you can see how much fun they have together. 

Thing 2 copycat's Thing 1 regularly, and Thing 1 loves it. Especially when they sit back against a wall. 

 Thing 2 is even worse with technology than his big brother. I had left my laptop on the table and he climbed right up to it and started punching buttons. I know you can't see it in this picture, but he was even kicking and swinging his little legs just having a ball.

I didn't quite get into the bathroom in time, but originally his chin was down on his hands on the side of the tub. He's pretty cute.

Thing 1 has a really good friend in the neighborhood and they are at one house of the other at least twice a week for a good portion of the day. As their moms we really enjoy it because they entertain each other and we're able to get a few things done.  One day I went in the basement and I couldn't find them at first sight. I found them covered in stuffed animals (or "pets" as they call them) on a big bean bag.

Until they poked their heads out, they weren't visible. The little hams!

Thanksgiving

I skipped a few months I know. I figured I would get some semi-recent pictures of my Things up. I'm going to be back-posting here in the next little while. So, here we go.

We've been carrying on a tradition with Daddy's family that we really enjoy. Even Thing 1likes it. We go shooting. I'm not talking about photo shooting, I'm talking the the big bang with rifles, shotguns, and handguns (can't forget the BB gun either). A good portion of Daddy's family likes to go shooting, so before the big meal, we shoot in the morning. It was actually nice and we didn't freeze.

Grandpa was shooting the .22 pistol with Thing 1. Don't worry he had earplugs, and we are very safe with the guns. We believe in teaching our children about guns because we have and use them. Regardless of gender, all of our children will be taught to handle a gun.

This little BB was a bit better in size for Thing 1. It funny shooting in comparison to the big guns. 

Thing 1 ended up being the "Thrower", or as he calls it the "button guy". He sat down and pulled the lever to the clay pigeon thrower while either Daddy, Uncle J or I loaded it. He pulled the lever a few times for all of the shooters. This is Uncle R, he's an awesome shot.

Daddy with Thing 1 as the Thrower.

Thing 1 throwing for me.

He did it for Uncle J too.

This was at the end of the shooting. He was getting bored and needed some active play. Thing 1 missed Thing 2 as well, because he was with Grandma. Thing 1 will start coming when he's between three and four. Thing 1's nose wasn't even red, I was so happy with how warm it was.

After the big Thanksgiving meal; the Things and I went out with Aunt D and cousin S to play on the swing set.

Thing 1 loves getting height on this one!

Aunt D helped Thing 2 off the slide. It was awfully fast, but he loved it!

He loves the swing too, if that wasn't a look of joy, I don't know what is.

Christmas is almost here!

I'm so excited for Christmas, and I just can't stand it! It's not because of the gifts (Although, I'm excited to give to my boys). It's because Thing 1 understands the true meaning of Christmas. At first he was pretty excited about Santa coming, however, Santa hasn't been that big of a deal once we explained Christmas with my Nativity. The first Family Home Evening of December we talked about The Nativity. We used my special Nativity that Dad gave me as "action figures". It was so exciting seeing everything click in Thing 1's eyes. We have even focused family scripture study and all of our FHEs on the birth of Christ. It's been a wonderful experience. Don't get me wrong, Santa is coming Christmas and for many more Christmas', but he's not at the forefront, let alone the reason why we celebrate this wonderful day. Merry Christmas and may you remember the true reason why we celebrate this blessed holiday.

P.S. The snow has finally arrived here lil old Southeast Idaho, so I'm no longer in rebellion, enjoy the snow!

More of July (To help remind me it doesn't stay cold forever here)

I am in complete an total rebellion. Until the snow stays on the ground, I will not be putting up a snow background. I was so excited for snow, but it has yet to come. No, it's too cold to snow, it has certainly tried. Last week there was an awesome storm that put down maybe two inches in IF, but it was gone by the end of the day. So there, :)

Back to when it was warmer and sunnier..... Thing 2 received his first haircut and it went awesome. No crying or fussing. He talked and giggled with the stylist, it was awesome! So I've been giving him his haircuts since. No, I haven't had professional training. I was taught on dairy heifers. I used to clip them with big animal shears, and I was good at it. I like the haircuts that I give my boys, because they look good. Before his haircut

After

Mommy went with Daddy to a Cisco Live! conference in July. Guess where? Las Vegas! It was exciting for about 24 hours. Going out on the strip at night was not a good idea, but it was the only time we got to go out together. The outlet malls were nice for picking stuff up for the boys, but there wasn't much else I got to do. I ended up getting a nasty cough, and I was coughing up cigarette smoke and who knows what else for a week. It was disgusting.

At the end of July, Dad and I had three family members graduate from BYU-Idaho. Yay! We were so proud of them. Dad's sister-in-law graduated from Recreational Leadership.

Dad's younger sister and her husband as well. She graduated I believe with an Arts degree and he graduated in Computer Information Technology. All three of them received a Bachelor's of Science.

Come on give me some credit, I'm doing better! :)