Happy Halloween/Thanksgiving/Potty Training/Christmas

The only reason I got a compelling enough urge to update the blog was Sarah (an old roommate) reminded me there are other people than myself that actually see this blog.  Sometimes I feel like I update it all for myself, so it was a nice reminder to take a little time out for others to get updated on our lives.

This term has brought Jimmy to the highest amount of school credits ever (which he rocked by the way). That led to Logan and I having plenty of alone time.  This was one of those moments.  Pumpkin carving would have never happened if I didn't realize it was time to put my big girl shoes on and help this little guy have it happen.  Logan was happy with the pumpkin carving, but was absolutely incident the pumpkin had to have ears...his little touch.  He's not one for putting his hands into the gut of the pumpkin...my pushing only led to a melt down.

We only lit and blew out the candle a thousand times.  Boys and fire...

Flashlight hunting

I got this book from the library on activities to do with your toddler as I needed a push of creativity.  My quick glance of it, led to one of our new favorite things to do before bed.  We turn out all the lights, Logan gets a flashlight.  He hangs out in his room while I "hide" all his stuffed animals throughout the apartment.  He comes out searching for all of them with his flashlight.  He loved it (of course the charm wore off after a time).

Craft Day creations with Nay-na & Aunt Key (Katie)

Then Jimmy finished school, hurray!  So, that very first day off I had with him we went to go see Santa with my sister and her two cute children.  They loved these reindeer.  Jimmy helped them "feed" them.  Obviously they were getting a kick out of it.

Santa happened between these photos....no photo for us.  Logan had a death grip grasp as we neared Santa.  It's like he knew we were going to have him sit on this jolly man's lap.  Naomi was the brave soul who quickly told him she wanted a bike for Christmas, but definitely had troubles looking that man in the eyes.  Too cute.

The Polar Express

As children we would go to Meier and Frank and ride this train around the store from the ceiling.  For some reason the switch over to Macy's did not keep up this tradition which was a bummer.  The kids have no idea what they missed out on :)

Potty training...this also happened this last week.  Just after meeting Santa, Jimmy's break went straight into potty training.  I'm sure he wished his break in some ways was shorter, haha.  These boys have done great with it.  We started out with the classic M&M's for every time you sit on the potty, etc.  Well, it worked the first few times, but let's be honest that boy could care less for sweets.  I visited the Dollar Tree and Fred Meyer getting the cheapest toys...it has worked great.  He gets a little plastic animal every time he actually goes in the potty.  I never knew the joy parents could get when your little one goes #1 & #2 at the same time on the potty (he got a nerf gun then) or just last night for the first time he woke up crying.  I was sure he went in his pants...no he was crying because he wanted on the potty.  He went then...  Seriously...the excitement.  I'm sure some wishes they never read that paragraph, my son probably won't appreciate this post until he has his own child.

Santa was nice enough to pay us a visit for my only day off this week.  I work a double on Christmas :P  We haven't even finished the Christmas presents, Logan was so excited after waking up to try and go on the potty that present opening ensued.  We couldn't get past Buzz & Woody.  "To infinity and beyond" has been heard all morning.

Oh yes, how this drawer has caused me a number of headaches.  We bought these super cute boots a couple months ago.  So proud of this find $30 at Famous Footwear.  Logan loved them.  Then all of the sudden one day they disappeared.  We checked every stores Lost & Found went through our cars, my parents house, occasionally glancing through my sisters.  I was really upset about this, but determined not to buy another pair.  Like I have said before (I can't get enough of it) Jimmy has been home.  Logan then showed Jimmy his secret drawer.  There was his boots and the missing fish net in the oven drawer.  Our place is so small it's amazing he could find a secret hiding place like this one.

Finally we got our date night in.  Celebrating 4 years of marriage to this lucky fellow.  Jimmy planned this night from beginning to end.  It was real fun.  We went to glow-in-the-dark miniature golfing, Brazil Grill and Baskin Robbins.  Brazil Grill was the main issue/attraction.  It was one of those buffet of meats where they come around and you take off what you want.  The meat was DELICIOUS.  We loved it while we were there.  We didn't make reservations, so our time was limited which quickened our eating pace.  This led to some gruesome stomach aches between the two of us.  Not so sure we'll ever go back, or at least not until we forget those terrible stomach aches.  It was so yummy, but yet so horrible.  

Summer

It has only taken half a century to update things...for some reason plugging in the cord to download photos is quite an undertaking.  Needless to say...there are quite a few months to update on and we have been having tons of fun.

First off...Seattle.  Went up there as my old roommates were going to be there and it was an adventure we wanted to do together.  The Public Market was super fun.  Logan got a wooden airplane I ended up painting from there that is hanging in his room.  

The boys proving where we're at

He LOVED Tayler.

It's funny one of the things I have learned about Logan is that as soon as he is embarrassed or shy but wants to be with a person.  He'll quick and point at something in the distance and start speaking gibberish.  If he does that we know he thinks that person is cool in his book.

Hit his head on the space needle and trying
to suck it in...he has the cool girl looking
at him...

Beautiful weather

Went on a tour of some interesting art.

Amazing colors...the only challenge through this was keeping
Logan from breaking or doing something we shouldn't.

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The following is more random pictures of the summer...

Portland has a ton of yummy food trucks...so we had to
check it out ourselves.  Delicious fattening food.

The State Fair

State Fair- on a tractor.  He sticks his
tongue out when he's thinking hard.

Easter...he knows he looks goofy.

He knows what to do for a camera

Enjoying the nice weather at the park.

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We went camping at Nehalem Bay State Park with the Keeley's.  We LOVED loved the boat riding and crabbing.

Jack mainly slept on the boat ride

these tough guys were in charge of pulling up
the crab traps...we caught several but were
allowed to eat two

Naomi lovin it

Logan was a little weary of the rocky boat
and all the kids were frightened by the crabs.

While we were waiting for our crab to cook...took some pics.

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Trip to Utah

We loved out time in Utah.  We had so much fun doing so many activities.  The Jeff & Jessica and the two nieces were so much fun to spend time with.  Of course seeing Logan loves his grandparents and Uncle Jake.  There were so many other great moments not pictured.  We were too busy often enjoying our time. The last day we realized we had almost no photos.  There's probably so much more to say but Logan is pulling at me at this point...

At the Living Planet Aquarium

Inside a sharks mouth

Checking out the tanks

petting sting rays

Getting to know the cousins.

petting the animals

Jake's Eagle

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The rest because I am in a hurry...

Grandma's birthday with helpers.

Helping with our busy day log splitting.

ice cream at the beach

Kids always choose the brightest colors

Halloween outfit.

At the beach.

Sorry...I was in a HUGE hurry with this blog and obviously bit more than I can chew...so hopefully the photos are worth a thousand words because I certainly have almost none to add for words.  2 year olds.  Let's see I've been prying out Sharpie's...tape...tubes of Hydrocortisone cream...keeping him from shoving a string in the fan he made work...it's a party.

Bottom line...we had a blast this summer.  End of story.

April Fool's

Before you find yourself immersed in the cute pictures to follow...let me tell you an April Fool's story unwittingly (or at least I hope) played on me today.  SO...I was walking down the hallway at work when I noticed on the side of the wall on top of some a cable box of some sort was a cup with another cup upside down on top of it.  I thought how strange this was and picked it up to investigate.  After all, it is my job to investigate all oddities down this hall ;)  Well, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  As I was grabbing this cup, one of my favorite CNA's (yes I have favorites, haha) came sauntering down with hot chocolate in one hand and hot coffee in the other.  Just as she neared me (promise I never would have planned it in a million years) I opened this cup.  To my surprise, there was a spider scurrying in the bottom of the cup.  I screamed like the little girl I am and flung the spider with the cup out of my hands, the CNA jumped and got the hot beverages all over her hands.  It was one of those moments I just wish was videotaped.  By the way, who does that?  Who puts a cup with a spider in it without a note or passing on the message.  That person likely didn't even see the unveiling.  Crazy people.  If there is anything to write someone up for...I think it should be for that, hah!  A warning out there if you ever catch me busting out laughing randomly, it just may be this recollection of this perfectly timed moment.

Work is never boring...I come home daily with a story.  Today was many...this lady, oh boy...my scrub tops I always thought were nothing remarkable.  Today, my red panda top is apparently labeled as "very provocative."  Really lady?? Those are pandas??  Her idea of provocative and mine oddly enough are different...the other top I have is with a more abstract pattern became sperm swimming after eggs (yes, same lady).  I'll let you imagine that top up, which as you can guess it looks far more innocent...I swear, now I think twice before choosing some scrubs.

Now I digress to a mini-update...we FINALLY got Jimmy's desktop functioning, woop woop!!  It is spring which only makes me happy.  I gave up on that 50 mile bike ride spoken of earlier.  We're totally goin to enjoy the camping part and a mini-bike ride.  Cheaper and less stressful.  Work has gotten to this miraculous time period where I have a record getting out on time 4 out of 5 days a week last week.  I tell you this time of year may as well be Christmas!  Oh, and Jimmy is rocking school...I mean it, he amazes me how well he's got it together.  I'm just so grateful for all these wonderful things going on in our lives.  

Oh and did I mention earlier...we bought a spendy car (anything new to us really is "spendy").  The dealer pulled a fast one on us and we fell for it...long boring story, but hopefully our lesson is  learned.  In the meantime, we have these awesome blue lights to light up our feet (just in case we need to check out and see which one is the gas and brake) because who doesn't NEED that in their lives.  OR the awesome light up that says "Civic" on the little step into the car.  The ridiculous computery thing in the middle..I'm sure there is some other weird feature.  Oh, or how about how it is lowered a couple inches and has Accord tires (it is a Honda Civic 2014).  Regardless, we feel plenty silly and will be paying for our distracted moments that day in the Honda dealership.  Happy days...I guess there are worse things that can happen.  Eventually we'll maybe enjoy the odd features :)

That was too much reading...now for pictures!!

He's his Daddy's boy

Not prompted in the slightest.  Logan's so funny.  He comes to me and pulls his jacket closed, then flings it open with an "ah! ah!!"  We laugh, so of course this little comedian milks it.  I think I even have a video.  He has such personality.  Always out there to make us laugh.

A boy after my own heart...cookie dough!

Jimmy's Samoa's

Haha, I told Jimmy that the Samoa's were too expensive.  I mean really $4 for a box of Samoa's.  I nearly fell on the floor when I heard the price.  A 50 cent hike was too steep for my liking.  What does Jimmy do...well, he makes his own.  We probably spent more than $4, but as much sweetness as a couple of these bad boys consumed put me on sweetness overload.  I may be good for a couple years!

Grandma's Birthday

One of the best parts of living near family is being able to actually celebrate birthdays with them, rather than sending cards (like we do for those in Utah).  My grandma is the biggest sweetheart ever...she gives one of the best hugs on the planet.  Just warms my heart thinking about it.  Love her.

The Keeley Clan- gotta swing in the other cute children around

It's not a fair picture of them...at least of Katie & Jared's kids...doesn't matter they are still cute anyway.  Jack is the little boy on the right, he was so funny this past Sunday he was getting upset about being in his high chair.  It was like he forgot how to cry...he just kept spitting and spitting...although the whole time you knew he really mean't it as crying.  That little squish is what tempts us to get pregnant with every visit.  Naomi is one crazy girl and such a terrific playmate with Logan.  Their new found pleasure is "Ring Around the Rosie".  Katie has reported that Jimmy has successfully taught Naomi how to eat her baby dolls...you read it right, EAT.  Oh, cannibalism, uh I mean Jimmy.

Driving

I will get many more tantrums from my poor judgment.  I thought it fun to have Logan "drive" on my lap.  We go around the parking lot of my parents a couple times.  He LOVES LOVES LOVES it...which is bad bad bad.  And yet I still choose to share my bad parenting ideas, well anyways, Logan is all over anything gadgety.  Making the wipers go, then the hazards, then the horn all taking their turns and together.  He can't get enough and I can't help but give in occasionally.

and witness the beautiful weather, good enough
to enjoy my parent's rope swing.

this is the "I can't help myself" bedding

I don't know if you've visited Pottery Barn kids much, but I can easily go broke there and apparently do to some extent.  We have moved on from our crib and the jungle to airplanes.  We set it up in our front room while he having his final nap in his crib.  He is so dang cute.  Every time going down for bed or having anyone new over it is all about showing off his room and the airplanes.  Then he makes the sound of an airplane whooshing past with the hand motions.  I thought I would only fall in love with a little girl for my own child, but how can this stud not make me fall in love.  Just when I have been through 5 time outs in the course of an hour he gives me a hug or blows me a kiss or does some other sweet thing that suddenly I forgot what he did to get me upset in the first place.  Now I know how my brother got out of trouble so well first hand, haha.

Lovin it.

Play-doh

He is a busy busy guy...my favorite age I am almost definitely sure this time is a one year old.  It seems he rarely is out there to make me mad.  Really the only times he is driving me crazy is when I am distracted by making dinner, cleaning, etc and can't involve him in on it.  He loves to do everything, so if I give in to one time stirring the bowl...you better bet a tantrum ensues every time there after if I don't let him stir the bowl.  Well, that is all!  Hope all is well with any of our fellow readers out there!!