Missing Amanda & Valentines Weekend

We had dinner last Tuesday at Shogun to celebrate Amanda's birthday. It's the boy's favorite restaurant, so they loved it! It had been a few weeks since they'd seen their Aunt Amanda so they spent the evening vying for her attention. We came back to our house for cake and gifts and Ethan built her a special birthday scene on Minecraft and Landen had to show her all of his new skills from physical therapy.

On Valentine's Day Landen had his buddy Xander over to play. They played so well together and had a blast!

     They played monster trucks...

     And doctor...

   And superheroes...

Ethan had a fun Valentine's ice cream party at school. He made a Minecraft box for his valentine cards.

After Josh got home they opened their gifts from Josh and I and then we headed to a hotel to spend the night and let the boys swim in the indoor pool. 

On Saturday, we took the boys to see The Lego Movie...

And they couldn't resist the arcade games in the theater lobby...

We spent the afternoon at the Disney Jr. Live Pirates & Princesses show...

After having dinner we headed home to rest up for church on Sunday. I think the boys had a great weekend! 

It's the Little Things...

Things have been busy but quiet around our house lately. A couple of weeks ago Landen enjoyed running around in the tiny bit of snow that was falling...

         I could kiss those cheeks off!!!

And he also had a blast making our annual valentine's cupcakes. This year we took them to a lunch at church and he was  very proud to tell everyone that he made them.

We've been continuing his physical therapy with Ms. Sarah and he's making great strides. For the most part, he's an old pro and knows exactly what he's supposed to do.

Landen has also been learning his ABC's. He can sing them all with only a little mumbling on the "h-i-j-k-l-m-n-o-p" part. Isn't that the part that's always the trickiest?! And he's counting to 20 but struggles some in the teens...especially with thirteen and fifteen. It really would be easier if they had just made it "threeteen and fiveteen", ha! We've began talking about MDO (in the Fall). He's excited to make new friends but I can tell the thought of going makes him nervous. He'll say "I have to grow bigger first". But he loves getting his crayons and paper and doing his "homework" with his brother. He's learning about money too. He's always had a piggy bank but we just bought him a new wallet at Target and he loves to put dollars that he earns into his Skylander "pocket". 

This past weekend we went to the rodeo in B.G. We go each year when it comes to town and the boys always enjoy it. The rodeo is something that my grandparents began taking my brother and me to when we were young, so it'll always be special to me. And I love keeping the tradition going with my boys. Seeing Ethan remove his cap for the National Anthem and prayer always puts a smile on my face (It's the little things.)

We are excited to celebrate the boy's aunt Amanda's birthday tonight and we have some fun Valentine's plans for the boys this weekend!

Ethan's Week of Sickness

Ethan was home from school all of last week, sick with an upper respiratory infection. He tested negative to Strep and Flu but he certainly was sick. His throat was raw, he lost his voice, and he ran a temperature for three days, at times up to 103 degrees! We made two trips to the doctor. After the antibiotic wasn't cutting it he got a shot on Thursday and felt much better by the weekend. Landen sure enjoyed having his brother home to play with him all week.

                  (Ninja Landen)

Landen's Monster Truck Birthday Party

How on Earth did this happen so fast??

          4 months                 4 years

I wouldn't trade one second of those precious 4 years for the world!!

We celebrated Landen turning four on January 11th, with a monster truck party.

    We had Lunchables (L's favorite) and        

                      tacos for lunch.

             Landen LOVED his cake!

   Hanging out with his best bud, Xander.

        We painted with truck tires...

             The kids really got into it!

    

     Ethan in Uncle Derek's cool shades.

  Having serious conversation over lunch.

      Landen's favorite part...the piñata!

     The birthday boy being sung to and 

             blowing out his candles.

                  

                   Opening gifts...

                      Silly boys!

    Having a blast, racing monster trucks!

Landen had SO much fun at his party!! His family and friends made it EXTRA special for him and he asks almost daily if he can "go back to his party". I think he believes it will all still be there set up to play, lol! I'm so glad that it was a day he will remember forever.

Christmas 2013

A few days before Christmas the boys received gifts from Uncle Shane & Aunt Miriam. They always look forward to these gifts because they know they get to open them early!

The weekend before Christmas we continued our annual tradition of making and decorating either a gingerbread house or train. This year we did a Rice Krispie Treat train and the boys had a blast!

On Christmas Eve we had breakfast with my dad's family at my Uncle Kevin's restaraunt...Cooterz, and then headed to my grandparent's to open gifts.

After going to my mom's family's Christmas on Christmas Eve night we headed home to get into our Christmas pjs and bake cookies for Santa.

Christmas Morning...Santa had came & gone...

And here are the boys having fun playing one of their new board games...

It truly was a wonderful Christmas!!!🎄