Camp Out (In) With Daddy

In addition to the dinosaur museum for Presidents Day Jared had the wild idea to have an indoor camp out with Brandon. They set up Brandon's toy tent and the kitchen table with blankets laid out bedding and spent the night in the living room facing the fire (which was never turned on :)) When I went to bed around midnight I could still hear them talking ;) I don't think they got a lot of sleep :) but they sure had a great time. Brandon thought it was awesome. A few days latter I was reading him a book called "I Love You Daddy" part of the book was about a dad who takes his kids on camp outs. Brandon saw the picture of the tent outside and said - "that's weird - you don't camp out side silly" - hmm? Father's and Son's will be interesting this year. :)

I love this picture of them peeking through their little windows and chatting with each other. :)

DINOSAURS!

For the President's Day Weekend Jared took us to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point - we had so much fun! Brandon loved looking at the dinosaur bones and Jared was a great teacher - explaining what everything was. We all had a great time playing in the water and sand with the dinosaurs and trees - we could have spent all our time there. Brandon is really into sharks right now so he was all smiles when he saw the megalodon compared with the Great White. Grant even had fun playing with the toy dinosaurs and crawling around the baby triceratops. We love dinosaurs - this was such a fun outing. After treating the boys to a fun activity we dragged them all over Provo and Orem while we did errands. Jared finally got new glasses (it's been six years) and we finally purchased a new TV - YEAH! Jared and Brandon think it is wonderful - I just think it is a bigger and flatter TV that takes away decorating space on the entertainment center - but a big picture is still lots of fun :)

Cookie Cutters

We were told about this fun hair cutting place for children where the kids get to ride on a vehicle while they get their hair cut, watch their own movie, and then get a balloon, cookie cutter, and sucker when they are done - and while they wait they get to play on a slide. Well it sounded like the perfect idea - because I hate the battle that ensues when I try to cut Brandon's hair and I had not yet cut Grants hair - so off we went. Overall I think we had a great time and the boys would probably like to go back - but they still fussed - they just do not like getting their hair cut! But I was sure happy to not have to do it and to have them actually look good when the battle was over. I am also mad at myself for forgetting to keep a few clippings of Grants hair for his baby book :( Oh Well. The jury is still out about whether we will go again, but the pictures are still lots of fun. :)

Teddy Bear Birthday Party for Grant

We had a Teddy Bear Picnic Birthday Party for Grant with my family - and it was possibly the most fun I have had at a birthday party! My cheeks and jaw muscles are still sore almost a week later from smiling so much. I woke up the follow morning hardly able to open my jaw it hurt so much - who knew? We decorated with LOTS of teddy bears, a picnic blanket in the middle of the room, a picnic basket, and balloons. In addition to celebrating Grants birthday we also celebrated my moms birthday. She chose enchiladas, corn salsa, Spanish rice, and a salad for dinner - it was yummy!! I don't think we can have a family dinner without moms corn salsa. :) The Guests of Honor!

We played a teddy bear trivia game with questions like what is the largest species of living bear? How many species of bear can you name? How many fictional bears can you name? What sports teams have a bear for a mascot? And who in our family is nick named Bear and why?

We also played teddy bear dress up with lots of Build a Bear dress up clothes from Dana (Thanks Dana!). Natalie's Everything Teddy Bear - which included - hockey skates, a skate board, underwear, a super hero cape, and a helmet - and possibly more - I can't remember. :)Lindsey's Bat Man Bear - I thought for sure she would go for the soccer bear. :)Hannah's Cinderella Bear

Scott's Jazz Bear and Taylor's Buzz Light year bear. - They were mostly good sports about dressing up the bears. :)

We colored pictures of teddy bears, looked through Grants baby scrapbook and enjoyed each others company. But the best part of the party was probably the opening of the presents and the birthday cake!!! Mom is a master DI treasure finder (she inherited the gift from her mom and I hope to some day develop the gift as well) and she found this wonderful baby grand piano for Grant. Grant LOVES music, dancing, and singing, he would happily spend hours sitting at my piano if I let him, so this gift was delightful. The smile on his face when he opened it and began playing it was one of sheer joy! I wish I could have caught it better. He has not stopped playing it! I am hoping to get a video of him dancing away while he plays and sings along to the piano. :)I saw the directions for this teddy bear cake on line and it was love at first sight! I was so pleased that it turned out. Couldn't have done it without Dana's cake supplies (thanks again Dana). Each time I make a cake and it turns out I am happily surprised and I feel like doing a little celebratory dance - I did it. Okay so that's me tooting my own horn. Please forgive me. Oh and not only did it look cute it tasted wonderful (hooray for store brand bargain cake mix and frosting! :)

Grant liked the cake as well - even after I decapitated it. And he was not at all disturbed about having only the head to smash and make a mess of. (until Hannah told him that I chopped the head off. Thanks a lot Hannah :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT AND MOM!!!!!

Grant's Smash Cake

I think it is safe to say that when it comes to birthday's I have little control - I saw a photo collage of a baby with free range of the birthday cake and loved the pictures so I attempted to create the same thing. The result was me creating three birthday cakes in addition to his birthday pancake - no child should have that much cake - but don't worry I helped - I know also terrible, but I am happy with how these pictures turned out, so I guess it was worth it.
Love this darling face!!!

Happy Birthday Grant

There will of course be many more post to come of this darling little boy! but for now I hope you enjoy this video. :)

Brandon

Brandon cracks me up on a daily basis. I wanted to be sure I recorded some of his latest antics.

#1 During Christmas we had all of our Christmas book out - Brandon loved reading all of them and Jared and I were happy to oblige him. Well he let his curiosity get the better of him and he ripped apart the foam cover of one of our children's books - I was so upset and I wanted him to understand the damage he had done so I told him to fix it - the conversation continued

B - I can't

M - I can't either

B - take it to Dr Berg

M - he can't fix it either

B - HE CAN!!

If only the doctor could fix everything :)

#2 I love watching Brandon play with his toys - he is starting to show his imagination and give the toys personalities. The other day he was playing with his Lightening McQueen car and Mac trailer, Mac was apparently the dad and McQueen was the son
Mac - I love you son
McQueen - I love you dad
Mac - Always and forever
McQueen -Always and forever
and it continued from there, I thought it was darling seeing through the toys and Brandon's eyes the way he view his relationship with his dad - I am so grateful for their cute relationship!

#3 There is a disagreement between Jared and me about what Brandon and Grants first words are. Jared is convince that they both said Dad first. Yes they both make the da da da da sound first but I don't think it counts as a word. Well a few days ago Grant was on the changing table and Brandon was "helping", Grant began saying da da da da and Brandon looked at him and said 'Dad's not here - then he went to the door, opened it up and said "see he's not here". I guess I am outnumbered on that one.

#4 He is in the process of potty training - I know - we should be done by now, but he and I are taking our time - anyways while potty training he spends a good portion of the day partially or completely undressed. Which in and of itself is funny to watch, but for Christmas this year he got a pair of spider man boots that he loves - he wears them all the time regardless of whether we are outside or not. So the other day he was running around in his underwear and boots - so cute! Then he draped a blanket over his shoulders and told me he was prince charming - boy is he ever!! ;)

#5 We were watching Homeward Bound the other day - Love that movie - if you do not remember it is the one with the two dogs and the cat that run away and find their way home through the mountains. Well at the very end of the movie - Shadow falls into a hole and brakes his leg and the audience is left thinking he is gone for good. Then one by one the animals come over the hill to return to their people and just when you think Shadow will not be returning he hobbles over the hill as well. I cry every time - I'm a whip! Well while Brandon and I were watching it I could tell that Brandon was also touched - and the conversation went as follows
M - he came back
B - he came back to life
M - he did?
B - he was resurrected
M - he was?
B - Jesus was resurrected and he came back to life just like Shadow
What could I say? I love that he is understanding the basic concepts of the gospel, and I am so impressed with his memory for vocabulary! Cute boy!

#6 Brandon has had a terrible cough this week so I got him some medicine yesterday - it is helping. Well I got pink eye - ugh! I was laying on the bed this morning putting the drops in my eye, Brandon wanted to know what I was doing so I told him I was taking medicine. He promptly went to the bathroom and got the little medicine cup and filled it up with water and administered it to me - then in his grown up way said there is that better - I said yes thank you - he said your welcome and told me I needed one more - well of course I did ( I wish I could convey the manner in which he talks and acts when he is being big and helpful - it is just too sweet!) Five cups later he went to the living room to get a blanket and then tucked me in with the blanket. Then he asked me if I needed a story before my nap - well sure that would be great. So he got my scriptures of the nightstand and asked if I would like a "Scripture Power" story - of course I did, he told me to read the whole thing - yeah right :) so I opened up to the marker where Jared and I have been reading and read the highlighted verse -And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God- 2 Timothy 3:15-16 I was so touched. I read it two ways the first; that since my childhood I have been taught the scriptures and now here was Brandon a child also being taught from the scriptures. The second way I read it was that from a child (Brandon) I have known the scriptures - or been given the scriptures and then encouraged to read. Such a tender moment!

I sure do love being a parent and a mom especially - and a stay at home mom to boot. Don't get me wrong - it is HARD!!!! But these moments make it worth it.
Brandon just peed in my snow boot - not kidding - gotta go! :)