{ pudding monster }

Ahhh my crazy little Sophie Lynn . . . 

. . . need I say more?

{ got the itch }

Do you ever get the itch to do something? You know that feeling . . . you just can't shake it. I get it with baking all the time. Even when I have a cake stand full of treats, I still get the itch to bake something.

Well, it's been slowly creeping in, but I got the itch to decorate. Since we moved in I haven't really liked out guest bathroom. About a year ago I got new towels in hopes of spicing it up a little but it didn't help all that much.  So I decided that this time I'd go all out!

Of course I forgot to take a before picture (stinker!) but just so you know, the walls were a soft gray color (same as the rest of my house unfortunately) and the cabinet was the same oak color that my kitchen was without beadboard or knobs. There was a big white unit over the toilet and just a standard mirror.

And after a day with much painting, sanding, refinishing, totally ignored children, a tornado blown house, and a little swearing . . . 

We now have a new and improved bathroom!!

{ Munchkins part II }

Sophie Lynn:

Where to begin . . . this girl has transformed from baby to big girl over night. She decided a few days before Christmas that she was done with diapers and pretty much potty trained herself. Not just in the day, she wakes up in the night to go. And it seems like after that, she's just big. She talks in full sentences (45% of which I completely don't understand) and is turning out to be quite the pleasant little girl.

Sophie is my little dancer. She takes a pre-school dance class once a week and LOVES it! Tuesdays can't come soon enough because every time we pick up Ayden from school she asks if she gets to go to "Kell's cwass". (Mckelle's class) He teacher said she's doing really well with following instructions which is something I was sure she'd struggle with, being a "free spirit" and all. The best part though . . . her cute little bod in those dance clothes. Absolutely floors me every time. What a doll.

 Sophie also has a play group with some girls in our neighborhood. We rotate houses each week, taking turns teaching about a letter. The girls love to do the crafts although they don't last long and usually end up just dressing up like princesses or running around. They are becoming really good friends which is fun because they are all in nursery together and will be in the same class in school. Sophie also asks for play group everyday so Wedensday is a highlight around here.

Sophie loves to snuggle. So much so, that she will not stay in her bed for more than a couple hours at a time without waking up and realizing that no one is snuggling with her. At which time she proceeds to climb in our bed and nuzzle up to us. No matter how many times we put her back, inevitably she ends up right back between us with a smile on her face. A phrase I hear quite often during our snuggle sessions is, "Mommy, you kikkle my bat?" (tickle my back) She will do almost anything for a little back tickle . . . just like her Dad.

Sophie loves interactive television. Ayden wasn't big on responding to the TV when the characters asked a question but Sophie is all about it. She loves to watch Super Why, Dora, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for this exact reason. They are always asking for audience participation which she is more than willing to give.

Sophie is part camel. If I could only count the number of times a day that this girl asks for a drink .  . . and I'll give you one guess what her beverage of choice is? That's right "docta pepa" just like her Momma.

Sophie is my happy girl. No matter what kind of shananagins she is getting into, she always has a smile on her face. Even when she's getting in trouble, she loves to look at me and smile while repeating something extremely cute. She throws fits like any other 2 year old, but if you've spent any time with her you'd understand me when I say, she is a very pleasant child. 

Some funny stories about Soph: She picks up on slang. She loves to repeat stuff like "that's cool" or "Awesome!" or "whats up?" She also likes to add in things she'll say,"That's fun Mom, that's reee fun!" The other day she told Logan that something was, "super super awesome!" She is talking so much now it's so crazy to me, and she loves to talk to strangers and explain things to them. Like: "That's my mom" "she names Mary" "he's not my dad, he's my mom" and so on. I forgot what it's like when they start talking. Everything out of their mouth is ridiculously cute. 

Sophie is becoming very independent. Many times a day I hear the phase, "I do it ahh my self!" She likes to get herself dressed and undressed, get in and out of the car as well as buckle her seatbelt, and pour her own drinks and screw the lids on her sippys.

Some of the things Sophie loves are: Going to nursery, playing with friends, watching Dora, hot noodles (ramen), going bye bye with mom,  taking care of her babies, changing her clothes, and getting into any kind of trouble she can find.

Soph is such a joy to have in our family. She brings so much light and energy. We are lucky to have such a sweetie.

{ Munchkins part 1 }

I feel like it's been a while since I did a post solely about my kids. They have been growing and maturing like crazy lately and has been so fun.

Ayden Sean:

Ayden is just loving school this year. He loves the kids (or should I say Girls! 7 of them!) in his class and he absolutely adores his teacher. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make a special picture for her or find a special toy he wants to give to her. He is a master of sight words and loves to spell. They are starting to bring home books that they have to pass off and he is a total pro.

Ayden still loves to sing and dance. In the car we listen to songs from Tinkerbell, Mamma Mia, and the Grinch and he knows all the words.  He even makes me sing the girl parts while he sings the boy parts. At home his favorite activities are dancing to music on the computer, coloing pictures, spelling, playing nickjr or pbskids on the computer,  playing "mommy and daddy" with Sophie, and having friends over. He does such a good job of entertaining himself, I can't complain.

Ayden has the most tender heart. Example: He was in charge of bringing the treat bucket for pre-school today and I bought exactly enough for the kids in his class. Before he left he told Logan, "Dad, I wanted you to have a treat too, but there isn't enough, so I'm going to save mine and bring it home for you." He is always looking out for his sister too. He tells Sophie (who he calls SISSY) and I that we look beautiful all the time. He gives hugs and kisses like he means it and loves to lay in bed and snuggle. I was singing to him in bed the other night and he said, "Mom, I just love to hear you sing. It's so beautiful." 

Ayden is very articulate. He speaks better than most 6 and 7 year olds I know. He has always been very clear and easy to understand, but he also uses good grammar. He is a sponge though, and I'm learning how much he really does understand when he regurgitates it back to me. 

Ayden loves to get dressed. He used to do it many times a day, but as he gets older it's usually just once or twice. He is working on matching and when he thinks he's done a good job, he comes out and says, "Mom, do I look studly?" He also grew his hair out because he wanted to wear it spikey like Dad. He loves to play dress up in anything he can find. On occasion I even find him walking around in my shoes or my shirts.

Ayden is always trying to make a deal. No matter what we say, he tries to use his words of persuasion to cut a deal in his favor. For example: At bedtime he tries to work a deal to get to lay downstairs by the fireplace and snuggle as a family as opposed to laying in his own bed. When its time to leave, he wants to make one last picture, especially for me in hopes of getting to delay a little longer.  My favorite deal though, was on Sunday when he said "Mom, why don't you and Dad just take turns going to church (like we do when someone is sick) and then when you get home . . . we can go to All a Dollar!" What a deal!

I am just loving this 4 year old little boy! He is delightful, and even though there are still the occasional tantrums and arguments, he is turning out to be such a fun little kid.

{ These Kids . . .}

How do I even express . . . . .

how much I love these kids.

They rock my world.

{It's a new year}

It is a new year, and already we've done much celebrating!

We celebrated our friend Addy's birthday with a little karaoka party!

{Addy and I singing Shakira}

{Rockstars!}

{Wendy and Logan singing a beautiful duet}

{and of course . . .  a little rockband!}

We spent our New Years Eve with friends. We went to Wingers and to see 7 pounds before heading back to our place to ring in the new year. We had a sweet firework show put on by our neighbors. McKay Flitton had saved a firework since August planning to set it off at midnight! We had planned of letting our kids stay up to celebrate, but they both crashed well before midnight. 

And then, of course, there was the biggest day of the year so far . . . the Sugar bowl!

You don't know what a party is (or a Utah fan for that matter) until you've watched a game with the Hammers. They are nuts for the University of Utah! We went out to the Newton's house is Herriman, where the house was decked out, as were the people, and they have a giant U on their back porch made out of wood and covered in red lights. It's awesome!

Here are a couple shots of the celebrations going on after each touchdown! Steve would play the fight song and everyone would dance!

{the 2 "Go Utes Guys" (as Ayden says)}

It was a VICTORY! What a GAME! and and incredible night with family!