A proud moment

I try REALLY hard to eat healthy and to teach the kids to do the same thing. It is a challenge, but Dallin asked for spinach at the store today so he could "Eat it all day like Popeye." We showed the kids a Youtube video of Popeye eating spinach a couple days ago that impressed Dallin apparently. Usually he is one to look at his food closely to see if there is anything green in it for him to complain about. But he and Tanner both ate a spinach and ranch salads, and asked for seconds. Tanner normally loves salad anyway. And Ashlyn loves celery with ranch. So, I was a proud mom today.

The kids lately

Tanner finally lost that tooth that was loose for way too long. It took him a good month to get it out. The permanent tooth started is pushing his other baby bottom tooth out now. 

 I tried potty training Ashlyn recently since she is 2, but quickly learned she is not ready. Or I am not. She loves to sit on her potty, and has been doing that for a couple months, but she doesn't seem to get that you pee in it. I sat in the bathroom with her while she sat on her potty for a good 20 minutes. We talked, and read books, but she never went. I let her up, and not 2 minutes later she was standing in a puddle yelling "Pee! Mom!" I was so mad. We will wait a bit longer before trying again. They say girls are easier, but I am thinking that is not so.

 Not much going on with Dallin these days. He is becoming more "boy" lately. He has always liked rainbows and butterflies and feminine things. I never discouraged it. I don't want him to feel bad for liking "girly things". I don't even want to tell him that there are "girly" or "boy" things, society will do that soon enough. The other day while he was talking to the craft lady at Kid Time (a kids' museum in town) he said he likes slimy bugs. I was surprised because it is so unlike him. Maybe since he and Tanner are sharing a room, Tanner teaches him stuff at bed time. 

 I am 18 weeks pregnant now and finally getting past that "is-she-pregnant-or-did-she-just-eat-too-much around-the-holidays" stage of pregnancy. I am not really in the mood to take belly shots this time around. Maybe later I will have a change of heart. I have been discouraged with this pregnancy because I hate to lose my physical endurance, stamina and shape. I felt pretty fit before this pregnancy. I hate slowing down because I have to. My will wants to exercise at the level I had been, but my body won't let me. Anyway, maybe I will get over myself and be more excited about this pregnancy when I feel "it" move, and when "it" becomes a he or a she. I am hoping, or this could be a very long pregnancy.

Can we do a craft?

I think there is something about school that makes kids really love projects and activities. Tanner is always asking to do an activity or craft, and it seems to have started when he started school. 

Thank goodness for Pinterest or I would be short on ideas!

I've started collecting all kinds of garbage to use in crafts: toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, plastic containers. 

 Dallin hasn't started school yet, so he doesn't quite have the attention span that Tanner does, so I end up finishing up his projects most of the time. 

 Egg carton monsters. Now, what to do with all these master pieces? I am not one to keep stuff like this around for long. We also have toilet paper roll angry birds, puppets, jet packs, and a Lorax tree craft cluttering my house.

 We also made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins because Dallin LOVES to help in the kitchen. 

It looks like Tanner has lost that tooth, but not really, it is just so loose it has moved to the side. He is scared to pull it out. The permanent tooth is coming up behind it. We are hoping it pushes it out painlessly. We talked to a dentist and she said it shouldn't be a problem if we wait it out.

K'nex and goofy Dallin

 The K'nex seemed to be more for Nate. Tanner was the assistant that handed Nate the pieces as he asked for them. 

 Dallin cracks me up. He just comes out of his room dressed as his idea of a super hero, or finds bubble wrap off of something and pokes his limbs through it to become a ghost. I love the imagination on this kid.

 

Completed!

Christmas

It is so fun having little kids on Christmas morning. They are so easily excited, and it makes me happy.

 I made these super hero pillow shams for the boys' beds. We got them a bunk bed so they are in the same room now, and we are doing a super hero theme. Maybe I will take some pictures some time. I did some paintings for their walls of Spider Man, Bat Man, Wonder Woman and Captain America.

 Dallin was so excited about everything and kept saying "I wanted this!" He didn't ever know what he wanted for Christmas when we'd ask, so I am glad he was pleased.

 K'nex is a little advanced for a 6 year old but he and Nate put it together over a couple of days, and he will be able to do it by himself one day. 

 Ashlyn likes to push things, so she loves this doll stroller. She also got a little shopping cart that she wheels around the house.

 Christmas afternoon we went to my parents' house for lunch/dinner. Everyone got games, so we brought them and played them. It is so nice to live by family now. Two of my brother's families were with us, and my sister Tracie, and we got to Skype with my sister, Kris, who is on her mission in North Carolina. And my brother, Jesse, is serving in Texas. He got to call too. So it was a good day. 

Christmas eve skating

The skating rink had free skating today. The boys had fun once we got the right skates and they got the hang of it. This is the same rink I went to pretty regularly about 20 years ago, and nothing has changed.   They even have all the same skating games. So many fun memories. I didn't skate though. Miss Ashlyn didn't want to, and you can't carry kids while skating, so she hung out on the side and played with Nate's phone. Matt, Nate's brother came with his son Ty. And Paul and Paula came with their boys.

Matt and Ty. Ty did so well being only 3. He never got discouraged, just kept on going.

Tanner's skates started out to roll-y; he could not stay on his feet. So we got some that had tighter wheels so he had more control, then he had a great time. 

Dallin only lasted about 45 minutes, then he decided he was not good at skating. He isn't very patient with himself. He wants to be good at it from the get go or his isn't interested.

Joel

Nate dancing to Gangnum Style, along with all the teeny boppers. So funny how all the kids know all the words and dance moves to all the songs.

Ashlyn's idea of fun.

Loose Tooth

 Tanner has his first loose tooth. It has been loose for weeks now. He is nervous to pull it out, so he has been eating a lot of soft food and his fingers are constantly in his mouth. 

Ashlyn LOVES Nate's phone with games on it. She watches videos (well, one video: "The Wheels on the Bus") and plays games. I am amazed how hooked kids get to all things with a screen: TV, computer, phones, tablets. I am noticing Dallin doesn't know what to do with himself when he can't play a computer game or watch TV. We are going to limit screen time, starting now. It bugs me how kids don't know how to play or be creative because the sit on their butts all day being entertained by media.  

Shaun and Young Sook's sealing

My Uncle Shaun and his wife Young Sook were sealed at the Medford Temple today. What a fun anniversary huh? 12-12-12, not only that, their sealing was at 12 noon. :) I snapped a couple pictures after. My uncle is quite talented; he made Young Sook's dress. It was kind of patterned after her Korean style wedding dress she was married in about 18 years ago, when they were married civilly. But in Korea white isn't the traditional color. Her dress was red and black there. 

I was happy to be able to go, they are 2 of my favorite relatives.

Grandma. It was a happy day for her. All her children are sealed to their spouses now. 

It has been a long time since I have blogged, since last time, my baby sister Kris left on her mission to North Carolina. I think she will be great. She was so wonderful in the months before she left. She babysat for me TONS, and I think my kids love her more than me. :)

Dance party

We went back and watched old videos of the kids on the blog the other day and realized that we don't take nearly as many videos now as we used to, and it was sad because I treasure those videos. So we had the kids dance around a little for the camera. 

More Ashlyn

I realize I am slacking on the blog these days. Seems like things have slowed down for us, and there hasn't been much going on. I am pretty low on energy these days, and feel like I do a lot of sitting around not feeling like myself. I can't wait to get my energy back with the 2nd trimester. I had my first ultrasound this week. Things are much less exciting the 4th time around. When the tech found the heart beat she looked over at me to see my excitement and aw, but I was kind of like, cool, can I wipe this goo off and get out of here? :) Not really, but that is what I was thinking. Pregnancy was sort of fun the first time, even the second time, but it got old with number 3, and number 4 is not off to a good start. Only 30 weeks to go. {sigh} 

Anyway...

Ashlyn loves bubble baths, and she discovered bubbles are tasty.

Ashlyn's 2 year pictures and some Dallin

Ashlyn turned 2 in October and I almost forgot to take her 2 year old pictures. That would have been a shame since she is such a fun, cute 2 year old, and so quick to smile. She has so much personality and is coming out of her shell a lot these days. 

 This beautiful dress was given to her by her aunt Mickie. We LOVE it! So cute. I want to put her in it all the time to get plenty of use out of it. Ashlyn is just "a little peanut", like her pediatrician said, so she should fit it for a while.

You know how they say you are half your adult height when you are 2? Well, she is 33 inches now, so that would make her 66 inches when she is an adult, or 5'6". That is a great height for a girl. 

Dallin wanted his picture taken too, and is such a goof ball. He was making all kinds of silly faces. This one on the right was my favorite. I don't think I took 4 year old pictures for him, so guess these are them.