MERRY CHRISTMAS

Happy Holidays

We Love Our Tree!!

We decorated our tree this weekend, and Josh LOVED putting up the ornaments. He loved it so much that he un-decorated the tree the next morning just so he could do it again. Jack has also helped redecorate the tree a few times when he takes off ornaments and gives them to Josh so he can put them back on. It's like a new tree every time I come home from school!

The next day was Sunday, and Jack has this very cute, new outfit which looked so festive in front of the tree. Doesn't this look say, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!" 

I was playing around with Josh's hair and ended up with the faux-hawk. Josh loved it and kept reminding us he had it on his head, though he wouldn't let anyone touch it... in case it got ruined. I'm just glad he's finally growing some hair!

Keeping Score

So far the records for broken items by children show...

Josh: 1 pair of eyeglasses

  1 cell phone

  1 laptop

  1 whole box of tampons, unwrapped and lined up across bedroom floor (pretty unusable after that!)

  

Jack: 1 lamp

   1 drinking glass (same day as lamp)

   1 remote in toilet (sorry boppa Goates)

   1 XBox disc drive

   1 full box of rice poured over entire kitchen floor

Now that Josh knows where things (he wants) are kept, he takes initiative and gets them himself.  Here he is with a Costco-size bag of craisins heading downstairs to watch cartoons. 

Jack is completely obsessed with water: dog bowl, puddles, toilets (he was found playing in his aunt's one night), cups, tubs, etc.  Luckily, the bowl was empty (this time) when he climbed in.

A First for Both

My boys have never had tons of hair... especially little bald Josh. But seeing as we will have many pictures taken this weekend for Jason's wedding, (uncle "Js Js") we decided it was time for first haircuts. I just assumed that Josh would have the melt down. He hates being "handled." (never try to clip his nails) So I thought that Cookie Cutters would be a good first experience for the boys.

You can see here that Josh could really care less what is being done to him. I couldn't get a closer shot since my other hand was holding Jack down. (as you'll soon see) My theory about Josh is this: as long as it was a cute girl doing things to him, he wouldn't mind it. Those who know him, know what a flirt he is.  (hmm, where would that come from?)

Jack, on the other hand, wasn't as mellow as usual. He screamed the entire time. To give him some credit, he was suffering from a sinus infection. As he was oozing from every hole in his face, the stylist was so gently and patient... and fast. Luckily, the haircut only aged him by about a year. (I told the girls to keep them looking like my babies!) 

Overall, I was impressed at the speed of the cuts, the patience and cute personalities of the stylists, and, what toddler doesn't love going home with a balloon. BUT, I spent $30 for the 20 minutes we were there. That's craziness. It was a good for a first time, but we'll stick to the $6 haircuts thanks.

A quick personal note:

I have started teaching again! Some have asked me where, and this is honestly the first time I have had time to blog in 2 weeks. I am a D-track AM kindergarten teacher at Butterfield Canyon Elementary. (in Herriman... the SW corner of the valley) I just finished up the 2nd week today, and all is going great. My class is fabulous, as well as the other K teachers. This was a sudden opportunity, but it came from a highly-respected principal, and at a time when who knows what is going on with this economy. So, Dan just doesn't work in the mornings and I get home after lunch and can play all afternoon with the boys. It seemed to be a good fit, and I get to do what I love. (plus, to brag a bit, I'm really good at it!!) I think all moms should leave the house for 4 hours a day... to keep sanity and love her family that much more.

This is what happens...

...before 7:00 AM. Who knew? 

FuN wItH SNoW

SNOW!!!

This was the funniest thing to come home to today... Dan had them both ready to play outside. This puffy suit is a hand-me-down, so neither boy had worn it before. It made Jack look like an Oompa Loompa.

Josh loved putting the carrot-nose on the snowman's face. 

Jack just waddled up and down the sidewalk, up and down the stairs, and on and off of the neighbors' porches. But, he was very warm!

The finished product.

Jack is giggling because as soon as Dan would let go of him, he'd slide off like a penguin. I barely got his shot before he was on his back again.

Josh thinks that the snow is only for makings balls. He is such a boy!!

Halloween Hoopla!

We had a great Halloween, which kept us really busy. Lots of family and friends came for our annually made donuts. 

Josh and Jack loved their pumpkins!

The weather was AMAZINGLY warm, and most of our neighbors were hanging out on their porches. Jack only got about 4 houses, walking, but made sure he was 

holding a candy in each hand.

Josh quickly figured out the goal of the evening, and after each house would say, "more." After the 10th house, he handed me his uncomfortably heavy bag and said, "no more."

So we were done.

Mommy's, Daddy's, Josh's, Jack's

Thanks to  gramma and grampa Goates, we were able to whip up 100 donuts to share and enjoy. Let's not ever discuss how many we each ate...

Many Halloween Posts...

...are flooding my blog! So here's what we did today, on this Halloween Eve.

PUMPKINS!!!

Josh was exploding with excitement at the thought of opening the pumpkin. 

(hmm, future cadaver cutter Uncle Ry Ry?)

Josh would have nothing to do with all the goo last year, but was all over it this time...

...or it was all over him! 

He helped clean out all 4 pumpkins.

Josh's finished product. He told me where to to the eyes, nose, and mouth. 

It's smiley just like him!

Jack, however, did not love the surprisingly slimy goop in the pumpkin.

After this face was done, we realized how inspired it was when we held it up for 

Jack to see. Could they be any more similar? Ha!!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

We made the drive to (and back from) Cloverdale, CA to visit "Granny" and "Boppa." We had a great week, where it was very warm, relaxing, and full of family visits. Even Jack made history when he started walking after just arriving! 

The boys also got oohed and ahhed at by Granny's coworkers. (Hi Ladies!)

So here are some of the fun things we did:

Josh had a fun surprise: a Lightning McQueen sleeping bag. He was literally "in" heaven while he slept!

The boys also found some new toys to keep them busy. Building a knocking over towers (again and again) is the best!

Don't you love this picture. We would tell them to go watch for Boppa to come home, or look for the cat and they would glue themselves to the screen door.

Jack had lots of time to practice his new skill.

Hanging out in Granny's yard.

The boys had fun decorating Granny's house. The little window decals came home with us, and are on a different window at least twice a day. Keeps things interesting!

The boys also got to help pick out the perfect pumpkins for Granny and Boppa, as well as for Aunt Noma and Uncle Gary. We were so happy that GG got to come with us!

Jack really wanted this one, and was willing to roll it across the patch just to have it!

Must Love Music

Although I have lots of CA pics to post, these are hilarious videos that are post-road trip. I love my boys so much, and the fact that music is a big part of their (our) lives is even better.

Laugh out loud...

(Justin Timberlake's 'Sexy Back' has Timbeland yelling "yeah" in the background... it's kinda quiet)

(ever see 'Caddyshack'?)

California Freedom

So I have decided that if you put a stubborn, refusing-to-walk baby (15 month old) in a car for 14 hours, he or she will start brainstorming all of the things he/she would do if they were set free. In Jack's case, he decided he'd start walking! 

We had not even been here more than a few hours when Jack took off after a giant exercise ball. Dan's aunt and uncle were here as well, which made our CA family very lucky to be a part of this historic event! 

YAY JACK!!!

Quirkiness

My friend Cat listed some of her quirks, then tagged a few friends to do the same. Whether or not I was the Lindsey she meant, it made me start to list mine anyway. I realized that most of mine are all sleep-related. I am crazy! No wonder I'm sleep deprived most of the time...

1. I have to blow my nose until it is TOTALLY clear right before I go to sleep. This quirk leads to the next one.

2. I cannot tolerate any nose-whistling from myself or Dan. The poor guy has been woken up a few times to blow his nose just so I can fall asleep. Again, this leads to the next one.

3. As I am trying to fall asleep, there cannot be any type of ticking, dripping, or any other constant or repetitive sound. (hence, the constant whistling nose) I have even hidden clocks or watches that tick if I am staying somewhere other than my house. There are no ticking clocks in my house!

4. I cannot have my nose or mouth covered as I sleep, no matter how cold it is. So whenever I am camping, I get very good at covering my whole head except for a hole large enough for my mouth and nose. Was I smothered as a child? 

5. (okay last sleeping one) I can't fall asleep if I am facing Dan, who is facing me. This actually started when I was little. It was the same at sleep-overs and girl's camp. I used to have some friends that were sisters, and when we'd have sleep-overs they would make me sleep in the middle. It was torture for me, and I doubt I ever slept those nights!

6. I NEVER forget a face. This sounds over confident, but it's so true. I have remembered a face from my kindergarten class, though it took me a few hours before it came to me. So if I say "I know that person," Dan knows that I always do and will figure it out in the next 24 hours!

I am glad that I get to stop at 6, because I could keep going! This was funny to think about, so anyone who reads this is considered tag. (especially Larrie, who is always quirky! HA!)

Leaving Las Vegas

Yep, I "borrowed" the title. It has 2 meanings, though. The first is that today we came home, and the second is that we did leave hot Vegas to find Autumn.

 

Here is proof that you can find the fall in Las Vegas, and much cooler temperatures, 

(69 degrees) if you are willing to drive far enough. We drove up to Mt. Charleston to 

hike and picnic.

Besides being shocked at the HUGE drop in temperature, we also found a waterfall. Okay, it was a trickle, but it was coming from somewhere! Josh was a good, little hiker, with some help from Aunt Jamie and Uncle Ryan. Poor Jack just had to stare at the back of Dan's head!

This was how Jack looked most of the time in the car. Lucky us!

Josh really did fall asleep like this. Doesn't he look so cool with his shades?! 

This road trip was so successful that we are driving to northern CA in 10 days...

What Happens in Vegas...

We are in Henderson, NV right now, which is just a bit outside of Las Vegas. We are staying with Jamie and Ryan in their very cute and VERY spacious apartment, and are having so much fun. During the drive from St. George to their apt., Josh never stopped chanting, "Ry-Ry, Na-Na." (that's over an hour)

Thank you Jamie and Ryan for opening up your place to us and our noisy and busy boys!

(will they still want kids after we are done here?)

We all went to the World Buffet at the Rio hotel & casino for "lunch". (though we haven't eaten since) YUM! Josh hardly stayed in his chair, but kept running to the wall of bubbles. He thought that was where they kept the fish!

A buffet to Josh is as many straws you can fit in your mouth.

Luckily this buffet was free for the boys, since, combined, all they ate was: 2 soda crackers, 3 pieces of fruit, a couple of spoonfuls of macaroni, and 3 bites of a corn dog. Then of course, some ice cream!

What is free on the strip that Josh and Jack would love? The aquarium inside Caesar's Palace. Josh probably is probably in the background of every picture being taken during our visit, since he moved as fast as lightning around the aquarium!

We also happened to be there at the time the really weird show started, you know, the one with the talking ad moving statues. But there was some fake fire that got the boys attention.

Thanks for the food and fishies, Vegas. We'll see you later.

Accepting Fall

I am always a little bummed to see summer go, because that means that the cold and snow are imminent. I LOVE the summer! But, there are some great things about the fall as well and I guess I will let it all come now:

• Canyon drives with colorful leaves.
• Home-made doughnuts on Halloween. Mmm.
• The heat from cooking and baking won't make my house sweltering.
• Trick-or-treating with my boys. (any costume ideas?)
• I get to wear my favorite long sweater.
• Christmas Shopping! (we have been getting that done by November and it's great)
• Lighting candles again.  (ooh, time for spice scents)
• Visits to our CA family. (so seeing vineyards' INCREDIBLE colors)

So, bring it Autumn.

Kickin' the Bottle

Jack, we need to talk.

We've been concerned about you and your addiction to the plastic containers, and feel like it's time to give it up. Here are some of things we, your loving parents, have seen that have pushed us in this direction.

Your crazy music tastes have been heavily influencing your big brother.

Look at those red-rimmed eyes. Like you can hide from us, buddy.

The worst: passing out in hotel rooms. See, the bottle is even stuck in your hands.

Yeah, we feel that it has gone on long enough. We love you Jack, and this is all out of love!

(Jack has actually been off his bottles for about 3 days now... the transition has been okay)

Contentment

I don't mean to be cheesy in this post, and sorry, there are no pics. But I had a great day yesterday! I have to share, in hopes that you will do some of your own reflecting on the state of your contentment.

• I woke up finally being able to walk on my mysteriously swollen knee, so the day was already starting on the right foot. (HA! I couldn't resist) 
• The smell of different household cleaners was a sign that we were being productive, and that I won't have to use them again for a week!
• Although my boys love to yell at me, I was happy to be able to get down and play with them again, realizing I had missed it the last 3 days.
• I was so happy to be going out with Dan, to the temple and to get some yummy Chinese food.  (I have to say here that I was overwhelmed all day with feelings of gratitude for Dan, our friendship, our marriage, and for just knowing how strong we are together.)
• I was able to have a wonderfully spiritual morning, on a Saturday!
• Could the weather BE more perfect?!

I just felt so good, and still do today. I love my family and the things we do together. When a respected woman in our stake was asked how she has kept her grown family so close and happy in the gospel, she replied, "Just have fun together." 

I love that!

Happy Birthday Aunt Amanda!

When we met Amanda, we instantly liked her and were so excited that she was joining our family. She is PERFECT for Ben, and has really "helped" him grow in to who he is today. (a better version of himself, and getting better all the time) But isn't that what spouses are for?!

As I was searching my computer for pics of Amanda, I really was at a loss. I feel bad that I don't have more. I know Jamie would, since she is the designated photographer. But, then I realized that I'm not surprised. Amanda has such a gracious, supporting personality that she is happy to not be front and center... like our entire family. (you know who you are!)

This was the day of Jamie and Ryan's wedding. Any wedding is exhausting, so don't think that Amanda isn't a smiley person. Plus, look at the huge favor she was doing me by taking Josh!!

Josh was pretty sneaky on Amanda's lap. He figured that no one would ever hear the chip bag as he tried to steal the contents within.

See, in this pic, I am almost positive someone who is biogically a Goates is telling some sort of (long) story! Just look at those patient faces.

We miss Amanda so much. She is a wonderful Aunt, and my boys LOVE her. We miss the way she pronounces certain words differently from us Utahns! She is a great example of patience, faith in the Lord, and sacrifice.

Happy Birthday!!