Tommy's 3!

We drove 5 1/2 hours to Amarillo Friday night to celebrate Tommy's birthday with him. Dylan loved the "Construction Man Party."

PJ twins just waking up on party day:Cute Photo Op:
Playing with the machines in the beans:
Dylan still won't go in Mimi's bounce house they had set up, but at least he didn't cry this year. He enjoyed the vehicles instead:

He loved hammering the "nails" (golf tees) in the "wood" (foam):

Allyson had some great construction themed food, and I loved these cone cups:

After the official party was over and the 2 girls left we went to Chuck E. Cheese's. Dylan's favorite part is still riding the various vehicles, the police motorcycle being the one he kept going back to repeatedly:
He is quite fond of Chuck E. and keeps talking about him randomly:Maybe a little too fond:

On the way home we stopped at a truck stop with a really nice playground. However, I couldn't totally relax after reading the top sign. Yeah, the one in huge letters as if there had been a recent child-eating or pet-eating incident:

Dylan was looking at his snowman book and singing "Frosty the Snowman" and also "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Way too cute for me not to record:

The next day I finally took down all my Christmas decorations. This was the 1st year we had a tree bigger than my little Charlie Brown tree I used in college that mom sent me freshman year. (Thanks for decorating it, Aunt Elaine!) Glad we could celebrate with you, Tommy!

The Reason We Paint Naked...

...the pictures speak for themselves. He had sooo much painting on the paper, and himself. My little native in his war paint. Love the transformation from the beginning until bath tub time.

*Note: I added liquid dish soap to the paint to make the red and blue even more washable. Didn't even have to scrub when he took his bubble bath. Words of wisdom for the day. You're welcome.

This is when my other son...I mean, daddy came home and drew the smiley face on Dylan's chest:

Life's just better when you're naked. ;)

G-ma's 1st Visit to Our House!

G-ma was able to come to our house for a visit this week. It was our Christmas part 2. She brought 2 boxes full of toys and clothes. Something I really wanted to do while she was here was to make her famous cinnamon rolls so she could watch and give pointers. She was there to document every step like a proud mama.

Spreading butter on the rolled out dough after it had been rising for 2 hours:Sugar and Cinnamon:
Rolling it up:
Posing:

Cutting:

Putting rolls on pans:

Shaping the rolls:

Ready to rise:After they sat for 1 1/2 hours and now ready to bake:

Hot out of the oven:

Frosting:

With my taste testers:

Ta-da! Proud of myself, just a bit.

With the Master Baker:

Perfection:

Longtime family friends, Adam and Adrienne Hanselman, came over for dinner that night. The kids had fun playing together. Let's just say AJ may look more like Adrienne, but he is definitely Adam's son! But, no, nothing in the house was broken. :)

AJ shares Dylan's love for Lightning McQueen:

G-ma played and went to the park and Cabela's with Dylan on Saturday so Autrey and I could go to the Dallas Temple and out to dinner (thanks for the gift card, Desiree'). I'm embarrassed to say it's the 1st time we've been to that temple. We've wanted to go, but our schedule and finding a babysitter had prevented us thus far. Actually, I think it was our 1st date for just the 2 of us since we moved to Texas 1 1/2 years ago. It was very nice. When we got home G-ma gave Dylan his 1st haircut! He did very well and didn't cry. He wasn't a fan of the comb and scissors by his head and kept trying to push her hands away, but we were able to distract him with a sucker and his new Bob the Builder DVD.

Before, with his uneven mohawk watching Bob (excuse the greenish/yellowish hue. These are the 1st pictures taken with my new camera and we hadn't/haven't figured out the settings yet):

Resistance is futile, my son:After, mission complete! He looks so grown up now:
Lounging on the stairs Sunday morning. He is almost as long as the width of the stairs:
My little stud with his new haircut in his new suit G-ma brought before church:

A bunch of videos:

G-ma teaching Dylan how to sing/spell his name. He's singing, just very softly:


"Itsy Bitsy Spider" Variations Singing Part 1:

"Itsy Bitsy Spider" Variations Singing Part 2:

Reading "Santa's Noisy Night" with Dylan helping out:

Dylan singing "I am a Child of God" and "I Love to See the Temple":

Dylan singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." He did pretty good with all the video G-ma took, considering it was after church, he hadn't had a nap yet, and those jets were quite distracting. But we pushed through because Dylan doesn't perform for the camera when I record him by myself.

So glad you could come, G-ma! Miss you already!