Abu Dhabi

Steve had to go to Abu Dhabi for a month for some training for work. It was the longest month of my life. He's usually gone for 2 weeks, but he's only 3 1/2 hours away, so he could get home pretty quick if I really needed him. This time he was far enough away that he might as well have been on another planet. To keep from wallowing too much, the boys and I spent 2 weeks at my parents house. Mom and Lori did a good job keeping us entertained.

 We made a little construction playhouse that fits over a card table. It turned out really cute and the boys loved it.

 

 We also took the boys to Jungle Jims. There were mixed feelings about it. They ended up being afraid of the rides that I thought they would like, and loving the rides I thought they would be afraid of. Go figure.

We have a swing set at home, and both of them love to swing. Unfortunately both of them screamed and bawled the entire time on the swing ride.

I don't have any of Steve's Abu Dhabi pictures to put on here. But what he's said about it is that it was pretty much a sandy slum and that the food changed color but not flavor. Needless to say, he wasn't any happier about being gone than we were to have him gone. It is so nice to have him back.

 

 

 

Christmas

 

Holidays are kind of strange with Steve's weird work schedule. He was gone on Christmas this year so the boys and I went to my parents house and had Christmas with them and then had a do-over when Steve got home.

 

My brothers and there families came a the day after Christmas so we got to have fun together, and all of the little boys had a blast.

 

Steve got home on New Years day and we got to do Christmas all over again. We were all very happy to have Steve back.





hardware ranch

Every year in January we go to Hardware Ranch to see the elk. This year while we were there they had a mountain man display in the visitors center. The boys also got to paint some fish, make Christmas ornaments and Jeremiah got to shoot a bb gun with a lot of help. 

 

The boys got to sit in one of the snow cats. 

 

Then we went on a sleigh ride and saw a lot of elk. 

halloween

I love Halloween. I think I have more fun than the kids, but I guess that's okay. Unfortunately I was so busy loving Halloween that I hardly took any pictures. The boys loved trick or treating. Jacob was a little confused why we were knocking on all of these doors and not going inside the houses. He tried to get into most of them, and succeeded a few times. After trick or treating we had a party with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We played hilarious minute to win it games and ate homemade donuts. yum.

 

Jacob is so stealthy. He opened our wood burning stove played in the ashes and then closed the stove again without me noticing. I was in the kitchen, like 20 feet away, and I didn't notice anything had happened until I saw the smudges all over him. Doesn't really say much for my parenting abilities does it. 

 

Doesn't this look so uncomfortable? He just laid in there for a long time, so I guess if you're 4 it feels fine.

 

I have a love hate relationship with pinterest. There are so many good ideas on there, which I love, but then I have to do them. I have been in a crafty mood this week so I made my very first wreath ever, and tried a new cake idea.

 

four

My baby turned four. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but here we are. He's been really into toy story lately, so I did a toy story cake for him. He loved it, but was sad when people started eating it.

He loved his presents. Unfortunately, Jacob commandeered some of them so there was a little friction. We're still working on that whole sharing thing.

 

I'm hoping that eventually he will slow down long enough that I can get a good picture of him.

 

The only way I can get a clear picture is if he's not looking. Figures right.

 

We spent conference weekend in California celebrating my grandma's 87th birthday. It was great to see everyone, and luckily the car ride wasn't as horrible as I was expecting.

 

Jeremiah and Jacob played hard and then would totally crash. They spent a lot of time sleeping in strange places.

 

We got a lot out of conference this time around. Totally gonna have to go back and read it.

 

costumes

 I don't remember getting super excited for Halloween when I was little, but now that I have kids I really look forward to it. I love making the kids costumes every year and I just finished them for this year. Jeremiah is going to be a  knight and Jacob will be a dragon.

 

 

I'm in love with the dragon wings.

 

 I'm kind of excited about them. I think we're going to have a lot of fun trick or treating this year. Steve is going to be home this year, so I'm sure we'll have a blast.

pictures

I haven't really felt like writing anything for the last four months, and I definately don't have the motivation to catch up now, so I'm just gonna post some pictures and call it good.

Easter. Pretty sure these are the best glasses in the world.

 

I've been trying to potty train Jeremiah for the last forever. Love it! Totally gonna blackmail him with this picture when he gets older.

We have been doing tons of yard work this year. Jeremiah has been very helpful.

Jacob has turned into a complete daredevil. He climbs on everything, and is always covered in bruises. I didn't put him on the horse. He can get up and down by himself. He pretty much has to do the splits to accomplish it, but whatever works.

We had a big pioneer day/Jacob birthday celebration thing on the 24th. We may have went a little overboard with the bouncy house and pinata, but the kids had a lot of fun.

Jacob has been climbing out of his crib, so we put him in a toddler bed. It's been like two weeks and I think he has maybe slept in the bed once. He can't open his bedroom door, thank goodness, so he just lays on the floor in front of the door and kicks it hoping that I will come and get him. I don't get him (except for this one time in the picture), but he just doesn't give up. He always ends up spending the night on the floor. I'm really hoping that eventually he will decide that the bed is more comfortable.