G-ma's Visit for My Birthday

My mom came to visit during my birthday week.  I love having her here!  She made strawberry jam and 4 dozen cinnamon rolls while she was here for us to enjoy and give away to very appreciative friends.  I ate a cinnamon roll every day and lost 2 lbs.  I think I just discovered the best diet ever!  I may actually get to my pre-pregnancy weight by the time Colton is 2 in May. The higher dose of Synthroid I just started might be a contributing factor, but my money's on the cinnamon rolls.  Haha.  We had a "favorite things" gift exchange at our Relief Society birthday celebration while she was here and I brought cinnamon rolls, of course: 

Two days after our Spring Break stay-cation I got my 1st Texas speeding ticket in a 30 mph zone in Southlake after attending a magic show at the library.  Didn't even realize I was speeding.  I was babysitting a little guy, who was getting fussy in the car seat, and was trying to get him back to his momma before nap time.  That plan failed.  (I was also watching Matt and Allyson's cute boys while they were house hunting that afternoon, and then that night my friend's little boy while they celebrated their anniversary who screamed almost the entire time.  She found out the next day he had a bad ear infection.  Karma should have gotten me out of that ticket, dontcha think?)  While I appreciated they had a "your insurance company doesn't have to find out about this" option, what I really needed was a "your Husband won't ever find out about this" option.  Don't worry, I told him.  I had to pay a fee and also take a 6 hour online safety course to dismiss the ticket.  Mom and Autrey were kind enough to watch the boys so I could knock it out in one marathon sitting.  Sad I had to miss a day of fun with mom and the boys, but it feels good to have it done.  That night they went to fly kites at the middle school and play on the track equipment.  They found a cricket and only Colton wanted to hold it:

 PS - Autrey's hand is wrapped up because he hurt it diving into home plate in a softball game the week before.

On Saturday we went to the Fort Worth Stockyards to see the cattle drive and look around.  The boys were wearing their boots and it was fun to hear people comment on them.  One of these days I will get a pair for myself:

A few of the actors from the "shoot out":

 During the cattle drive:

  We visited the Longhorns after the cattle drive:

 It was a typically windy day, as you can tell:

 Autrey's favorite part of the day?  Lunch at Joe T's.  It's almost comical how excited he gets to eat there.  And the Fiesta Gardens in the back of the restaurant are very beautiful:

 Someone likes to splash in the fountains:

After Joe T's, mom watched the boys and we went to the temple and out for custard for a date night/early birthday.

Mom captured this candid of Autrey and Dylan on the way into church in our new building.  So sweet:

G-ma was stretching while she and I were watching Pride and Prejudice on Sunday afternoon.  Colton decided to join her:

Adorable, no?

We went over to Becky Neal's house the next day to borrow her sewing machine.  She used to have a decorating business and has a very classy home.  Mom and I loved her front door/porch area with the seasonal wreath post:

My mom loves to cross stitch.  I found a funny one that one of my friends had posted on Facebook for her to make.  We got a kick out of it:

Monday night Family Home Evening at the baseball park: 

Video of Dylan hitting the ball to G-ma:

Colton wanted to swing Dylan's heavy real bat soooo bad:

Video of Colton hitting the ball.  He does do it twice near the end, I promise:

 

Video of Autrey attempting to teach the boys something resembling baseball:

Video of us playing tag:

Video of Colton 'reading' My Truck is Stuck!  He had already read 2-3 books by this point and was ready for bed, but it is still cute:

 We went to the 'Castle Park' by the Keller Library to play on my birthday:

  

I tried recording My Truck is Stuck again to get a better version during the day before his nap:

Dylan joined us to record.  Craziness ensues.  They refuse to be trick ponies for a camera and 'read' like they normally do.  Oh, well.  It will be fun for them to look back on this someday:

 Birthday cinnamon roll after a big roast beef/mashed potatoes dinner:

Video of Aut and the boys singing to me using the wolf whistle birthday card he bought me:

Birthday mail men racing around the island:

 

 (Think Dos Equis commercial...but with a Martinelli instead) "I don't always turn 31.  But when I do I keep it classy and trashy.  Stay thirsty, my friends."  My family and college roommates can appreciate this picture.  Then we quoted alongside A Knight's Tale, one of my favorites.

On the way back to the airport we stopped at Charming Charlies.  That took a little bit of the sting away from having her leave.  So glad she came.  It did wonders for my soul.  It's going to be hard to wait until the fall to see her again, but by then mom and dad's house will be done and I will hopefully get to be with dad, the rest of my family, and my Utah friends for a quick visit.  Can't wait!

Spring Break at the Gaylord

Spring Break was spent in Fort Worth at the Gaylord Texan hotel this week. Doug and Mona came up to be with us for the extended weekend before they headed off to Arizona on their own, and Matt and Allyson came over from Amarillo to hang out and go house hunting around the area.  We missed the Wakefields.  Next time we see them they will have a new baby boy.  While Doug and Mona were here we went to one of Autrey's softball games, went to the Fort Worth zoo with the rest of the kids off of school in the area, went swimming at the indoor pool at the Gaylord (I am writing here in my 'journal' for Mona that the water was cold...but the kids never complained, though their teeth chattered), the girls got mani/pedis, and we played at Heritage Park.  

The boys in their zoo hats semi-patiently waiting for their ice cream on a warm 80* day:

Enjoying chocolate Blue Bell cones:

The Duke Boys Club has been to the library and park and napped today.  Matt and Allyson are looking at houses at this very moment.  Hope they find one they like!

4 1/4 Years and 21 Month Updates

I sit before you ready to type this update completely and utterly spent.  As in my body/joints hurt, my hair's falling out worse than usual, the insomnia I've had since I was pregnant with Colton is out of control and affecting my cognitive abilities/short term memory/patience with the kids (read: Dylan), and my left eye will not stop twitching.  The past few months have been both physically and emotionally draining, but I have soldiered on.  That's life.  Everyone deals with their brand of hard things.  I know my life is actually really good.  I have 2 kids who are generally happy and healthy, I don't work outside the home, and I have a very supportive husband and friends and family.  However, this past month has been particularly challenging emotionally.  As you can see, the only pictures that were taken this month were when Meagan, Cash, and Chloe Kemp were around.  There haven't been many days spent without them lately as Meagan and Janson have been scrambling with moving preparations.  That happens when you move less than 2 months after you find out you need to relocate  They have become some of our best ward friends since I was called as Meagan's 1st counselor in the Relief Society on Mother's Day last year.  On Sunday, Meagan and I sat by each other at church as we were both released from our callings.  And yesterday I had to watch their moving truck drive off on its way to Utah.  It was really tough.  Even harder because since then Dylan keeps asking to play with them and wanting to drive by their old house to see if they are back yet.  I just feel emotionally hung over.  I am REALLY glad I am finally going to see an endocrinologist on Tuesday.  Hopefully he can help me get back to myself again so stuff like this doesn't rock me so far off center.  Sheesh.

Playing at the park:     

 At Tommy's Batman party in Amarillo (which was at the same exact day and time as Chloe's birthday party in Fort Worth).  We are excited for Matt and Allyson to move back here soon!:

 Partners in crime:

 Kosmo Cougar Dylan and "Cashers":

 Playing basketball with the little hoop:

 Playing outside on Saturday while Autrey was at a work Conference all day:

 Someone takes his sand seriously and doesn't appreciate photo distractions:

 Chloe wanted to be called Princess Elsa from the movie Frozen all day.  Dylan hasn't seen it or know who that is, so he compromised and called her Princess Elsa Chloe Marie:

 Picnic time:

The leprechaun, fire fighter and side kick playing with trains on Monday night as Autrey was helping the guys pack the moving truck and getting our blue truck back from them they had borrowed after they sold their car:

 

Right before they drove off.  Smiling to hide the sadness and exhaustion:

At least they are moving somewhere I like to visit and will see them from time to time.  I just added another sister to the ones I already have and love fiercely.

Dylan's Update:

*D: "I won!  I ate my banana first!"

 Me: "You are faster than Colton, but I actually finished before you." (In an everyone-gets-a-trophy society I want him to learn to cope with defeat and have good sportsmanship when it happens.)

 D: "It's not a race, mom." (We still have a long way to go.)

*Dylan loves olives, like Autrey.  Yuck.

*Dylan taught Colton how to say "saw-wee" (sorry).

*Dylan, I mean Batman, wore his mask from Tommy's birthday party to Walmart.  The next week he went as a leprechaun with a green bowler hat.  He makes fellow shoppers smile and laugh a lot.

*"You are strong, Colt.  You can do it."

*"Last night I dreamed about some-pin.  It scared me out of my pants."

*Aut: "Did you go to the bounce house today?"

 D: "Yes.  It was freezing cold.  G-ma's nose got cold."  (Their heat was broken and it was 55* inside.  We didn't stay long.)

*Dropping mom off at the airport: "I want to stay with G-ma and go to her house."  (At that point she had a big hole in the ground.  But it is progressing quickly!)  

*Aut: "Do you want some milk?"

  Dylan toots loudly and says, "My tooter says yes."

*Dylan and Colton were running around and Dylan was staying "Start your engine" before they would take off.  He said it so much that Dylan said "Start your..." and Colton yelled "en-in!"

*At Mommy School we were talking about letter sounds.  He said, "A says A and A**." Guess he was actually paying attention to my exercise dvd about kicking my own a** during butt kicks.  Parenting fail.  Good thing I am his teacher or someone else would be wondering about his parents' language.

*He was watching a show with Autrey and said, "The bad guys always lose.  That's what G-ma said."

*We went mini golfing and go-karting on Papa's birthday.  After about 8 holes Dylan said, "Golfing is too hard" and stopped trying to play properly and started exploring each hole of the course instead.  Colton loved to carry my club and try to hit everyone's balls.

*At the fire pole at the park Dylan sometimes holds on and slides down, but occasionally he just jumps down.  Luckily it isn't as tall as I am so he's ok.

*We rode our bikes near the middle school to see the horses.  Three of them came to the fence and Dylan fed them grass for a long time.  Colton was more hesitant with them and wouldn't do it.

*He came up to me with his arms open wide and said, "I want a hug-a-bug."  Made me happy.

Colton's Update:

*Colton got tooth #8 on Feb 1 (bottom right front tooth), tooth #9 and #10 on Feb 9 (MOLARS: top right and bottom left), #11 on Feb 11, and #12 by Feb 16 (OTHER 2 MOLARS).  He has 1 space in each quadrant between his molars and the teeth in the front area.  My kids are all about looking like they have lost teeth before they even grow in.

*Poor guy has been dealing with new teeth, a cough... and REALLY dry, red, and itchy skin lately, just like last winter.  Except this winter it was so itchy that he scratched himself so hard he would leave marks and even draw some blood at night.  We started using either Aveeno products or the Dove sensitive skin bar soap again instead of the Johnson's.  And with all the Vaseline I put on him he looks like a greased pig.  It's starting to get better.  I thought he had grown out of that.  I thought wrong.

*New vocab...at least what I remembered to write down.  He says a lot more: "fingen" (fingers), "fic it" (fix it), "chi-ten" (chicken), "potty," "G-ma and G-pa," "choo choo chrain (train)," "naken" (naked), "I foun (found) it," "Yesh" (Yes, instead of uh-huh), "meh-ih-cin" (medicine), "waysin" (raisin), "hab it" (I want to have it.), "I know, I know," "Dop it" (Stop it)

*Before he does a something he wants you to watch he will say, "Weddy?" (Ready?)

*Aut: "Colton, where's Dylan?" 

 C: "Hine you." (Behind you.)  Dylan was hiding behind Aut.

*While eating banana slices with a fork: "I poke (ba)nana."

*He will hold up his hand and say, "han" (hand) to hold yours when he is going down the stairs.  

*He sneezed and said "I need a bess (bless) you."

*He picks his boogers sometimes and says, "Das gose" (That's gross) or "Yuck" and holds them out for me to wipe off.

*When mom would leave the room Colton would follow her and say, "Where G-ma?"

*When he wants peanut butter bread he will say, "Butter!  Honey!" because Dylan eats peanut butter and honey sandwiches. 

*He is going through a possessive phase: "I wan(t) it," "I wan(t) hold it," "I hab (have) it," and "Mine."

*He puts his hand up and says, "High 5."

*Colton can stack 8 blocks in a tower.

*Colton loves his "Cashers" and "Co-ee"...Cash and Chloe Kemp. 

*We were on a family bike ride and as we passed a bus parked at the school he said, "I anna (want to) wide (ride) it."

*I made "bow-mees" (brownies) when the missionaries came over and Colton LOVED them.

*C: "I sing song"

  Me: "You want to sing songs before you go to sleep?"

  C: "Yesh."

  (I sing songs and he joins in on some ending words and anticipates some phrases if I pause.)

  C: "Gen" (Again)

  (We sing more)

  C: "Oh one." (Another one.)

*He loves singing and books.  He always asks for "Oh one" or points and says "diff-ren one" (different one) 

*On a Saturday I was attempting unsuccessfully to nap I heard this conversation:

  C: "Where mommy?"

  Aut: "Sleeping."

  C: "Why?...Dylan?"

  Aut: "Downstairs."

  C: "Why?...cuz."  I think it's funny he answers himself.

*He fell down and hurt his bum.  He backed up to me and told me to "kiss it."  I respectfully declined.

*He knows the Cars character names and points to them: "Matah" (Mater), "Queen" (McQueen), "Bee-do" (Guido), "Wee-gee" (Luigi), and "Sow-ee" (Sally)

*Me: "1, 2..."

  C: "3, 5, 7, 10"  He may learn skip counting before regular counting.  Who needs all those other ones anyway?

*Last night I was getting the boys into the bath, Colton's FAVORITE time of the day, and he pushed the bathroom stool over to the toilet by himself and said, "potty."  It surprised me, but I stood him up to see what he would do.  He was making sounds and trying to go pee pee but couldn't.  I cheered him for the attempt and put him in the tub.  Soon he started to go.  I hurried and put him back on the stool and he didn't go any more...until he got back into the bath.  I think he is a little young to start that whole process, but he is interested in the potty, says "potty" when anyone goes, tells me when he goes poop, and even attempted to flush for Autrey the other day after he was done.  I think I will just have him try before bath times and see what happens.  We might have less pee pee bath water.

  

Random:

*I started the 30-Day Shred dvd again mid January.  I was doing ok until I bumped up to Level 2 the beginning of February.  My joints ached and I couldn't do it like I have before.  Between that and my busy schedule I have taken another break to regroup.  I am way too young to feel this old.  Praying the doctor has some answers for me.

Dylan's Super Surgery

At Dylan's 4 year old well check appointment the pediatrician decided it would be a good idea to go to the urologist because she thought he had a communicating hydrocele.  This past Friday he had an inguinal hernia repair.  I am really glad it was quickly discovered and taken care of.  I am also glad the hernia never caused him any pain before the surgery.  I mean, he went to Let's Jump the day before surgery, if that tells you anything.  Clearly we didn't realize the extent of the problem before it was resolved.  Dylan was so excited for his "Super Surgery to fix the hole in his belly."  He loved the special hospital bed, special 'cape,' the show on the little tv, and the giggle juice they gave him.  I, on the other hand, slept even worse than usual the night before and my stomach was tied in knots the entire morning.  I almost cried when they wheeled him away and I had to wait for what seemed like forever in a tiny room by myself.  Mona joked in a text that I should have asked for some giggle juice.  Not a bad idea.  Luckily, Autrey had a slow patient load and came just before Dylan woke up.  Dylan is like his parents and doesn't do so well waking up from anesthesia.  He cried off and on for 45 minutes and said he felt like he was going to throw up while we took turns holding him.  But after he stopped crying he was a champ.  He was doing so well Autrey and I went to ward temple night on Saturday and left the boys with G-ma.  But on the way back from the temple we had to stop to get some laxatives for him.  It took 24 hours and multiple doses for them to finally work.  Poor guy.  I can totally relate.  Dylan is proud he has a "big owie" stomach scar like mommy.     

Chilling with G-ma and watching movies after he got home from the hospital on Friday:

 Low energy activities to keep him from running and jumping:

 Playing the "Number Sun" game, matching stickers to the numbered clothes pin:

 He was even feeling so well, and begged so hard, we let him go out and drive his police car: 

 Colton does 'donuts' in the backhoe, which is pretty funny to watch:

 Buzz and Woody playing together.  Those are the boots G-ma got Dylan when he was a cowboy for Halloween just before he turned 2.  Makes Colton walk bowlegged:

 Woody, with his Buzz Lightyear gun from Disneyland:

 My dear friend, Meagan Kemp, sadly is moving next month and gave us some of Cash and Chloe's toys, including that big bag of foam blocks.  Dylan loves to play with them and carry the bag around.  Colton liked to run around carrying G-ma's back cushions to be like his big brother:

 I didn't think I was really going to need a lot of help, but I am really glad mom came up so at first I could just focus on Dylan while she took care of Colton and meals and cut their hair and such, and later she was able to watch the boys while I took care of Relief Society stuff/home visits/meetings, dropped off much of the 4 dozen cinnamon rolls she made to neighbors and ward members (my friends get really excited when she comes), went grocery shopping by myself (hallelujah), did laundry, exercised, and took a nap or two.  She even substituted in Autrey's primary class on Sunday because Dylan stayed home from church and only wanted daddy to help him when he had trouble going potty.  Mom took a picture of this painting of the baptisms in the Susquehanna River hanging in the Relief Society room.  That's where my sister, Meagan, got baptized and it reminds me of my PA home.  

Speaking of which, it is still kind of weird for me to send mom back home on her way to Utah instead of Pennsylvania.  It will be easier once the house is done being built.  They just started the framing, so it's coming along nicely.  Mom said one of the best things about this trip was Colton learning to say "G-ma" and "G-pa."  He would follow her around calling her name.  When she got out of the car to run into Charming Charlie's for a 15 minute shopping spree before we went to the airport today, Colton kept asking, "Where G-ma?"  And Dylan wanted to go with G-ma on the airplane so bad.  Melted my heart how sweet they were.  Hopefully next time she comes everyone will be healthy and she won't bring the cold weather with her again.  

4 1/6 year and 20 mo update

Dylan loves to play Angry Birds on Autrey's phone, so Miss Marissa let him borrow the live version of the game for a few days.  It was a huge hit!

 I was describing this game to my mom and she told me to take a picture.  Allyson, don't show this to Tommy.  I ordered one for his birthday party, as long as Amazon pulls through in time:

 Another fun game on Laundry Day (the reason why my bed is stripped): The sock puppet pirates sailing in their ship:

Dylan Update:

*(On Dec. 8) 

Aut: "What do you want for Christmas?"

 D: "The black car with police lights."

 Me: "Go tell Tony about it."

 D: "Tony said I could have it."

*G-pa: "Where do eggs come from?"

 D: "Wal-Mart."

*Dylan: "G-pa's muscles dance up and down."

 Colton heard him and said: "Uh-oh.  "Bah" (Fall) down."

*Me: "Hey, Dylan.  Stop that."

 D: (in a sweet voice) "What did you say, mom dear?  I can't hear you."

*Dylan "sawed" Gracie in half with his foam sword and "made a gril cheese samwich" out of her.  The funny part is he still says gril instead of girl, so I'm not sure if he meant grilled cheese sandwich or girl cheese sandwich.

*Dylan can turn on his police car, drive it in reverse down the driveway (avoiding the truck parked right behind it), and do a 3 point turn to drive down the street to the park all by himself.  As long as he is looking at the road and not distracted he does a very good job.  Autrey jokes he is a better driver than I am.  

*After his 4 year old check up, and subsequent visit to the urologist, we discovered Dylan is going to need surgery to repair a communicating hydocele on January 24th.  They are officially calling the procedure an inguinal hernia repair.  I've learned my lesson when Googling other conditions in the past, so I haven't on this one.  I'm too nervous about him going under as it is to do research that is going to freak me out.  So forgive me if I don't know all the answers to questions you may have about it.  All I know is that he is leaking fluid internally and they are going to seal the hole so he doesn't get a hernia in the future.

*D: "Is dad coming home? He needs to make money.  So we can turn on lights.  Lights have electricity and need to have money."

*D: "I already ate it.  It went in my mouth and down to my big toe."

*Dylan is his father's son.  He did great on the Disneyland rides, and was in the very front of the Splash Mountain log ride, but threw up after asking to go faster and faster on the tire swing in Ruidoso.

*To Tommy while standing on a rock at Goofy's house playground in Toon Town: "I'm king of the North Pole!"

*When Dylan says something he knows he shouldn't, sometimes he will say, "Just kidding.  You're a goofer-oafus" to try to get out of it.

*Dylan likes to load his bowl/plate/silverware into the dishwasher.  I just have to make sure I unload clean dishes quickly so dirty ones don't get put in there.

*On our way to rent a movie: "We are going to get a Dylan movie.  Then we trade it back for a different one.  What a deal!"

*We walked into Discount Tire after getting our 2nd flat tire in 2 weeks (3 if you include the spare) and Dylan dramatically announced, "We got ANOTHER flat tire!  Argh!"  I may have muttered that under my breath as I stopped at Kroger to put enough air in the tire to get us home.

*While he was playing with Colton on the pretend cash register he found an old Amazon card and said, "Here's your gift card you always wanted!"  I may get pretty excited about gift cards.

*Clearly, I have myself a parrot.  Colton also likes to parrot Dylan, and Dylan likes to teach him to say things.  All good things, so far.

Colton Update:

*Colton got his 7th tooth in New Mexico right before Christmas.  It is to the left of his bottom left front tooth.

*"Weh ah ew? / Ah you?" (Where are you?), "Shi-o!" (Shilo!...Dylan taught him), "up...dow" (down), "cookie," "fen f-why" (french fry), "be-ball" (meatball), "oht" (hot), "Sah-ta" (Santa), "ahnsh" (orange), "sssss" (Shhhh or snoring), "I did it!" "gun," "pee-boo" (peekabo), "That funny," "juice," "great" (grape), "open," "moke" (milk)

*Colton calls himself "Colti" and Dylan is "DihDihn." Dylan calls him "Colt" sometimes.

*Colton calls Mimi, Nana, and G-ma all "Mimi" and Chloe is "Coh-ee."

*Aut: "Where's Mommy?"

 C: He ran to the top of the stairs and pointed "Mommy dow (down...downstairs)."

*He says, "I poo-poo" whether he is about to poop or toot.  He will also say, "I push" when he is trying to get one of them out.

*He will bring me both pieces of a broken toy and say "It boke" and "Hep pease" (Help please).  

*He sleeps with a musical stuffed "e-phant" (elephant) and a "bankit" (blanket) over him.  

*Colton was playing peekaboo in his crib with me.  He leaned over to find me and I caught him as he fell out and almost landed on his head.  He hasn't done it since.  Good thing, because this recent trip let me know he is NOT ready for a bed other than a crib or pack-n-play.

*Colton likes to do "walks" (rocks...fist bumps that explode at the end) 

*Colton waves all the time.  He was adorable watching the Disney parade at night.

*Colton is very huggy and affectionate and cuddly and blows kisses, except when he wants to run around at full speed chasing the older kids.  He has no fear to go and do everything they do.  He is much more adventurous than Dylan was at this age, probably because he watches Dylan and knows it's safe.  I wonder if the bravery would be switched if their birth order was switched.  The only time I have seen him get scared is on the Luigi tire ride in Cars Land.

*Both kids loved being out in the snow in New Mexico and in the beach sand and water in California.