The Naughty List

Presents were opened and there was some excitement in the air.  We thought we nailed it (sort of).  Well, after presents are opened Logan says, "I thought I was on the nice list."  Bah, child!  He GOT presents.  Did he have a tall order to fill?...YES!  He wanted a "robot dragon" and this is not just any robot dragon (which is hard to know what that would be anyways) he wanted a life size one and probably wanted it to fly too.  I guess if it could do all that, I'd want one too.  DOESN'T EXIST.  Oh, and then he wanted a "Golden Hatchimal".  Yup, DOESN'T EXIST... 

He did get what he calls an "Indominus Rex" you can see in the photo that is remote controlled.  He got a stocking stuffer baby hatchimal.  We go outside with the neighborhood kids to share in the excitement, he states, "I was on the naughty list!"  Another girl says that too and then shares, "but I got nothing, except this hat that says "bah humbug!""

To close out this post on my spoiled child whose dreams are too far reaching...I'm thinking coal next year.  Need to set this kid straight on what the "naughty list" is.  

Merry Christmas!!

Tis the Season

Arizona DOES get cold.  This is our usual scene in the mornings trekking it to drop Logan off at school.  The afternoon however is perfect 70's.  Love this time of year for multiple reasons!

Mmmm...cookies!  

I've been really on this cookie kick trying 1-2 new recipes a week.  We've really hit it off with a handful of "keeper" recipes.  This is a S'mores Blossom Cookie by Test Kitchen.  So good!

Kicking it at the park

Trialing our Christmas PJ's compliments of my mom.  The kids seemed to love matching the parents.  Now they have to save them for Christmas morning.  Which speaking of Christmas Logan informed me this wad of coins in what looked like trash is for Santa to help get Logan a Golden Hatchimal.  Ugh!  He's been telling his friends about this plan.  Pretty sure Santa is not on board with it though.

Fo-hawk!

F-baby is right...representing Facebook (hey Annabelle!).  On the other hand, she has been a terrible handful lately.  She is the most dramatic with shots...like crying uncontrollably long after the fact, not sleeping.  Seems she was possessed 24 hours after.  Then we saw the eye of the storm...it was great.  Then the very following day launched into a cough and cold compliments of Logan.  As for Logan, well his sickness led to an ear infection which NO symptoms showed up for this infection until 5pm Friday night...seriously.  Then it was quite the show of dramatics.  Tylenol did NOTHING!  Ultimately led to an urgent care visit, which meant we weren't home until 12:30am...Jimmy had work the next day getting up at 4:30 am.  This was just icing on the cake as we had done the Friday night urgent care with me a few weeks prior with strep throat.  Tis the season!  Just hope we're hitting the end of it!!

6 Months Old

This pumpkin head is 6 months old.  It is as everyone says crazy how fast that time goes.  I love her.  She is a big girl and pretty stinking proud of it sitting on her own.  She got her 1st tooth all within 1 week of each other.  She is a chunk...I mean, look at her, she's taking up a ton of the crib now.  She adores her brother, like crazy excited squeals when he just looks at her.  It works rather well for me prepping for dinner.  She is discovering that it's time to grab things and taste them.  Showering has gotten challenging as she can get anywhere rolling and gets upset getting stuck in a doorway.

I just love how she sleeps when I don't swaddle her...she gets swaddled most times, otherwise when she awakens it takes over an hour to get back asleep.  Swaddled it's almost immediately after she eats.

Logan got his homework done the first time being asked without complaint.  So, it earned a reward...we made a fort that took up the entire front of our apartment, hah!  He is such a giving little man.  Logan was so excited to share this fort with Everly.  In fact, if Logan gets anything like a rewarded pencil, vegetables on his recent field trip (like he was excited about them himself).  He'll say, "I got this one because it's your favorite color, do you want it?  You can have it."  With the vegetables he turned to his friend and said, "you can have my biggest one."  Let's return to these years when we hit teenage time! 

Granted, I say that and the other day we were walking home from school and Logan was saying, "can I have some chapstick to pretect my lips."  I said, "you mean to prOtect your lips."  Logan, "no mom it is prEtect."  Me, "no, it's protect."  Logan continues arguing.  Me, "fine, let's talk to the crossing guard."  Bottom line, he believes it now because the crossing guard said it is "protect."  I learned a new term recently as part of my education in my new job this stage is called the "ferocious fives."  I couldn't argue with that title, hah!

CSA

Well, I watched some crazy documentaries..."What the Health" and "Food, Inc".  It made me initially feel like...now what can I eat?  Where can I even buy food?  What now?

2 weeks later and I'm not making any drastic changes, but we are doing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and trying new vegetables we wouldn't otherwise.  This is very similar to Bountiful Baskets (for those who have heard of that).  In turn, we're eating more veggies in our diet, which I didn't need any documentary to tell me that was a change that needed to happen.  This one delivers to the door, extra bonus!

Can you believe this was a half share?  Yum... It came with a recipe all I needed was some olive oil and noodles.  Dinner set for us and quick in one night.  Loving it.  Also, their green onions are insanely huge!

A Birthday to Envy

I'm 30...I'm 30!  Not sure if I should be excited about this milestone, dreading it...all the same as my mom says "it's just a number."  But still...30!  Goodbye 20's.  

So to ring in this celebration...

Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, AZ.  Pretty neat with a massive organ that circles around and the one man band.  Seriously you could tell he added in the theatrics and percussion as well as organ.  Fun seeing such talent.  The food wasn't too shabby either.  

On the other hand, Jimmy experienced some stress.  He made his first birthday cake...seems fitting for his wife hitting a big milestone.  The cake as you can guess was not intended to look this way.  I wish I could say it tasted great, but he knows as good as I do it was disgustingly sweet and we are no stranger to loving sweet things.

We did go on a walk around a new park.  Logan wanted to stop at undesirable locations, so the mother that I am said, "you know whose in charge!"  Logan without missing a beat, "Jesus."

Then Jimmy and I were hugging...and just to be clear we were FULLY clothed, like shirts and everything.  Logan comes in, "Dad, stop touching your nipples on Mom."  Jimmy's response...quickly he whips off his shirt and gives Logan a hug.  Logan was not amused.

Turkey Trot & Thanksgiving Dinner #1

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we had some friends over to enjoy Thanksgiving with Jimmy present.  So delicious.  We did some quick short games between dinner and dessert which was great!  Leftover turkey has been amazing...debated whether cooking another turkey would be reasonable, yum.

Jimmy went to Logan's Turkey Trot running around with him while I was out renewing my basic life support certification.  Jimmy said Logan ran with him for a time until he found himself in better company holding his teachers hand running around with her.  He adores her.

Thanksgiving Weekend

 We have some awesome friends here in Arizona.  They treated us on Thanksgiving day to crash their party and it was so much fun.  The food was heavenly and the company couldn't have been better...well, okay having dad there would have been the icing on the cake.  

The kids were told to act dead on the floor for this shot, haha.

Another friend had a Troll birthday party for her 2 year old.  We sure got a kick out of it.  It was like a mini carnival with a bounce house, face painting, hair colored, party favors, biking...need I go on?

Thanksgiving Card

Especially pay attention to his ending...he is DEFINITELY an offspring of Jimmy, hah!

Primary Program

Oh, Logan...

So, last year for the Primary Program Logan's lips were sealed tight.  Not a word came from him during the music.  He didn't have a part being a sunbeam, maybe there was a separate song the class did that he was silent for.

This year...oh dear, he was belting out the music.  By belting it, I mean yelling at the top of his lungs so I could hear him not only the back of the chapel, but clearly knew every word he knew at the back of the gym.  I could barely see him as the placed him strategically behind the organ, but he nearly fell over yelling so loud one of the times.

Then his part.  He said, "I show my love to Heavenly Father by coming to church and saying my prayers.  I show my love to my parents when I listen to them and do what they say.  With my sister, I show my love to her when I don't touch her...(long pause with audience laughing)...when she is sleeping."

Oh Logan...  :)

Sedona, we heart you!

A couple weeks ago we went Veteran's Day weekend to Sedona.  Mmmm...day trips.  Jimmy's spontaneous last idea was brilliant.  Look at it!  It's so pretty.  A cross between Zion's and the color of rock in Arches. 

This photo was kept not for Logan and I, but look at that girls face!  She had the time of her life, just like we all did.

Story Time: Logan early in our visit was chomping on leftover Halloween candy and threw some of the wrapper on the forest floor.  I got after his littering.  Well, as we're leaving I notice a bottle floating down the creek..."Logan, did you throw a water bottle in the creek?"  Logan "yeah."  Me "We just talked about littering.  You know what you're going to have to do.  You're going to have to take your clothes off and swim out to go get it.  You know how to swim so there's no excuses."  Well, the moment I started walking toward him he started freaking out.  As though I'd rip the clothes off him and throw him in, hah.  Well, we were discussing our options because the bottle was too far out without someone getting wet.  I was resolving to the fact that we're leaving it in the water.  Next I know Jimmy is taking his socks and shoes off to go get the water bottle asking for a stick.  I turn to Logan and say, "you better strip your clothes and go help your dad."  I watch Jimmy for 2 seconds (it really was only 2 seconds) and next I look at Logan and he is STARK NAKED!!  Seriously, buck naked and trying to barrel after dad afraid he'd have to make a swim out to the man.  Jimmy grabbed Logan and being the good dad that he is just dipped Logan's feet in.  Jimmy went in waist deep and fetched the little bugger.  As Logan is finishing getting dressed fellow hikers notice Jimmy "enjoying" his time in the swimming hole.  They ask "how's the water?" (hah!)  Jimmy, "yeah, it's ice cold!"  Can always count on our family to make a simple day trip much more lively and memorable.  Hopefully this rests well with Logan the importance of not littering!  What an ordeal!!  Logan can log away the time he once skinny dipped in a creek, hah...because we all need to experience that sometime in life ;)

Boys and BIG rocks!

Jimmy's like, "act like the walls are closing in on you!"

Halloween

Logan was looking forward to Cat in the Hat all week.  What a treat!  Although Logan did mention she forgot the Thingamajigger.  Apparently it was forgivable :)  Love his teacher.  

Our little love bug!  She just slept in the carrier throughout trick or treating and they really struck the mother load.  We live near the best neighborhood.  My favorite was these dinosaur costumes that inflate.  A family was wearing them with clearly extended family as the Flintstone characters.  The dinosaurs were hilarious waddling and the heads flailing about.  Logan could not get enough of hanging out with them, hah!

We decided to take Everly on a hike after dropping Logan off on school Halloween day.  It was perfect weather and the first hike of our season.  So fun.  We did hit our first "we're being a bad parent" several minute long speech from a fellow hiker.  Heaven forbid we take our kid in a hiking backpack on a trail...clearly putting her in danger.  This is the same trail we took Logan on last year and me pregnant, so not exactly a strenuous hike.  There are interesting people everywhere, right?  Hopefully it doesn't deter us from future hikes this year...just maybe that trail.

Okay, Everly LOVES hair.  Can't get enough...she squeals and just buries her hands in it.  If Jimmy has any hair at the end of this baby...consider ourselves quite blessed, hah!  Logan is in for it sometimes when he offers his head.  I should video record those squeals.  It's heaven.  Hence the surrendering of heads.

Aren't they the cutest!  Logan and I went out yesterday needing a few Walmart goodies and dad stayed behind sick.  Logan asked if he could help by having Everly on his lap in the cart.  The girl LOVES him.  Prior to this in the car she was throwing a fit until Logan looked at her.  She loves every moment with this kid.  They make quite a cute pair!!  Let's freeze time...

Trunk or Treat

This was my first big event doing it "on my own" with 2 kids.  Never am I really on my own as I had so much help from those around me.  My only moment I was wishing I had the man with me was getting spit up on, the babe grabbing the chili, Logan asking for more food items...all at the same time.  One thing at a time to sort it out and we survived :)  Jimmy had work and the curse of 1 car kept him from showing up late.  We had plenty of fun regardless. Looking forward to Halloween.

Love my Ergo 360 (front pack)...saved me.

We attempted a real adventure this Saturday braving a LONG walk to the library.  We all made it and with no whining which is the true miracle.

On our walk, we passed his school.  Logan's like, "I bet you my teacher is hiding behind that sign.  She's gonna come out and scare me."  He was plenty serious.  If teachers lived the life their students believed, Logan's would be hanging out all weekend behind the sign waiting for her students to frighten them.  Quite the life ;)

Arizona does have a leg up on grilling season, it is pretty much year round.  We basked in the glory of these ribs with our neighbor.  Still in the 90's!  So excited for some cooler weather...rumor has it 80's this week....yay!!

In other news, the Cat in the Hat is coming to Logan's class this next week.  On our walk home Logan is telling me about this.  Next I hear, "I sure hope he brings the Thing-a-ma-jigger".  Yup, he wants to go on a ride to visit Flora-Fa-Zoom or wherever else the Cat in the Hat might plan to take them.  Logan of course asked if this would be okay.  I said "yes".  He can go, he can go! I know. I know.

We've Got a Belly Sleeper

Everly sleeps solid all night on her belly!  My sweet dreams are back!!  

Jimmy's company had a Halloween Party we all got a kick out of it!  Logan's dreams did come true this Halloween, he is a DINOSAUR!

Fall Break

We sure had fun this past week.  The highlight of the week comes with no photo.  We checked out the Science Museum compliments of Intel.  It was so cool.  We were there for 3 hours, but could have definitely been there 5 or even more.  So many cool exhibits, Logan loved it.

We're still in the 90's here, so we got some quality pool time in!

Logan has been opting out of book reading time in the evenings to go on "hunts".  It was an insect hunt, then arachnid hunt, this one was a successful cricket hunt.  Took him 20 minutes, but he did catch the little guy.  So proud!  Asked him to eat it, lately he's been eating little sugar ants to gross out the neighborhood kids.  Apparently crickets are off the menu.

Cutie in her church wear!  Can you see that roll by the arm pit.  It's chub!!...love it!

Crossing fingers...haven't done a video in a long time.  Hoping this short one will work!

Flopping Fish

Our excitement did not end with shots yesterday.  Logan was asked to go to his room and get his pajamas on.  What happened a few minutes later.  A loud crash.  I went to see what happened.  Logan came out screaming bloody murder (I thought a broken bone must be part of this).  Come to find the dresser tipped over, still anchored to the wall.  And fish flopping on the floor, and 2 gallons of water soaked into the carpet.  Well, we did our best to find the flopping fish.  Saved 2/3, however Jimmy had one take a hit with his knee.  Needless to say, their new home is a mason jar that is not on top of his dresser.  2 things: I hope Logan has learned when mom tells him not to climb the dresser he doesn't (which he was told even days earlier than this).  That we are always going to anchor our dressers to the wall even when we don't have "climber" children.  What a crazy day!  

Then that night...Logan woke Jimmy up yelling that he peed a gallon of pee in the bed.  Boredom never lasts here...and we only have 2 kids, hah!

Logan's face took a hit, thankfully that was the worse of the injuries