Twas the Season

We had a great, long holiday in Tucson with so much family. It was wonderful. I so wish we lived down there and could spend more time with so many people that we love. Calvin especially has so much fun playing with his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. He is still talking about "Remember we put in the flour and the eggs at Mao's house? Member that?" and "Remember at Baba's house when we played with Sophie? Member that?" It's so fun.

Christmas Eve in Tubac with all of the cousins. Here is the 2nd cousins Nativity. Calvin is a little shepherd with a Star Wars shirt on at the bottom right. This was moments before the taller shepherd dropped his crook, beaning Calvin on the head.

Calvin ate each stocking stuffer as he opened it. Here he is with a "white christmas treat" as he calls it. He was so excited that Santa brought him everything he asked for- candy canes and a pair of slippers.

Linus also loved the Christmas excitement!

Though everyone got tons of fun gifts, the only thing that anyone wanted to play with was an iPad.

After Christmas hangover in his new Snuggie for kids. All 11 nieces and nephews now match their uncles. We really need to get a picture of the camo snuggiefest.

Nick is a super uncle and Linus is loving it.

I had no stroller or baby carrier in Tucson so I looked up how to "make" a Moby-like wrap. 1. Buy 5 yards of fabric. 2. Cut it down the middle. 3. Enjoy your wrap! I raided Baba's fabric cache to find this cute orange print and voila! I have a wrap. Linus loves it (Calvin never liked this sort of thing), and it was a lifesaver while we were down there.

Hiking in the early morning in Sabino Canyon. I so love Arizona winters.

Calvin absolutely LOVED going on this hike.

A rest, a snack, and some waterfalls.

Watch out for Mountain Lions! This is Tyler's biggest fear.

I flew back with the boys by myself-- an adventure to be sure. Again, the wrap was lifesaving. After driving 2 hours to Phoenix, boarding and deplaning because of technical problems, waiting for the next flight to arrive with our misplaced baggage, and another hour home, we were exhausted! But, hey, I did feel like Supermom.

Happy holidays and welcome to 2012! We love you!

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Christmastime is Here

So, I haven't been blogging at all. The biggest reason is that I haven't been taking any pictures. Poor Linus. I spent Calvin's first months just at his side snapping pictures of every move he'd make. I am spending Linus' first months chasing Calvin around trying to get him to get dressed, eat, and learn how to clean up after himself. Poor Linus just sits in the Bumbo watching the craziness. He is a good sport. I thought it would be, but this parenting 2 children thing is really hard. Calvin is one of the sweetest and funniest boys, but he sure does get feisty lately.

Linus is taking his time learning things. Just like he waited until his 2nd day of life to even open his eyes, he is doing things on his own time, ever so sweetly. By 4 months, Calvin could roll over and was sleeping 12 hours every night. Linus is content just laying on his back or side, looking at everything. He also still wants to visit and cuddle with one of his parents at least one time in the night. He is so sweet about everything and seems so loving and grateful whenever you feed him or cuddle with him. All of his eating and cuddling is making him a little chubster and I love it. I just think he is so cute. He has his 4 mo. appointment tomorrow, so we'll see how much he weighs then.

We have been super busy with the above-mentioned craziness and doing everything that we can to have a festive Christmas time. We have done a Christmas-y activity every day (reading a scripture about Christ, eating yummy things, choosing toys to give away, going to look at the lights, watching a Christmas special, etc.) and Calvin is really getting in to the Christmas spirit. We have been trying to really teach him about the true meaning of Christmas, and I think he's getting it, but then he told us there is a ghost in Mary's tummy, so he might still be a little confused. He LOVES singing Christmas carols, though. He knows all the words to:

Jingle Bells
Deck the Halls
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
The First Noel
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Let it Snow
Frosty the Snowman
Walkin in a Winter Wonderland
Up on the Housetop

and he thinks he knows Jingle Bell Rock

It is a Christmas miracle that I got him to sit still and do it for the camera upon my request. Merry Christmas!

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Tricks and Treats

So, it is official. Calvin's favorite thing maybe ever is trick or treating. He absolutely loved it. He shouted "trick or treat" all day today, asking if it was time yet. Then, when it was finally time, he ran from house to house, shouting "next one!" We went for about an hour before he got so tired that we went home. Now I have to figure out what to do with all of this candy...

My favorite thing about Halloween is making costumes. I think maybe the best ever was Calvin's last year. I had big plans for one for him this year, but since Linus came early, I simplified. I did make a costume for Linus, though. Behold the little candy corn:

He liked it a lot better with his hat off.

The costume was super easy to make (only 20 minutes) and materials were really cheap (only $2.70 total).  I just laid Linus down and traced a candy corn shape around him, allowing a little extra for a seam. I marked where his armpit and shoulders were too. Then I sewed the orange and yellow together and turned it right side out. I then cut out some arm and head holes and added velcro to the top to fasten it. Super easy!

 

I embraced my nerdiness and went as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I liked what I found at various thrift stores, though I did wish I had more money to spend on a better wig. I probably should have struck a more serious pose, but I just don't think I can come across as very hardcore.

I am most proud of my homemade Mockingjay pin. It's just 3 pieces from Michael's hot glued together!

 We had so much fun for Halloween and thanks to pinterest, I am already working on ideas for next year!

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Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood

 All Calvin wanted to be for Halloween this year was Christopher Robin. He has been talking about it for months about how "on Halloween, I'ma dress like Christopher Robin an knock on the door. An say Trick-or-treat, an then they gonna give candy to Christopher Robin."

I have to say that it was a pretty simple costume. We went for the classic C.R. from Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree:

All I had to do was buy him some black Mary Jane shoes. He loves them. All morning he has been playing outside with his Pooh and Tigger stuffed animals, pretending he is C.R. I have made his little dreams come true.

I love this one.

Coming soon-- mine and Linus' costumes!

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Linus Crying!

Calvin is usually first on the scene whenever Linus calls out. LINUS CRYING! LINUS CRYING! is how the siren goes. Calvin is good about trying to make Linus happy, whether it is talking softly to him or giving him his pacifier. I am excited for when Linus learns how to laugh because I think he is going to find his older brother just hilarious. He is on his way, though-- he can smile!

It's so hard to catch a picture just right.

This face makes the long nights a bit easier.

Calvin playing with his train set he got from Baba.

We dropped Steven off at the MTC last Wednesday after eating all we could at the Chuck-o-Rama. He'll be serving in Paraguay as a missionary for our church.

See you in 2 years, Steven!

I do have to say that adjusting to having 2 children has been really hard for me. The nights are long and hard, yes, but the days are almost even harder, since that is when Calvin is awake. We've been working on everyone getting good sleep and things are getting a bit easier. I just press on with faith that normalcy (a peaceful normalcy) will happen. I am so grateful for the evenings when Tyler is home and we can be a family team getting everyone's needs met. I am grateful for my husband and best friend. I will report soon and let you know if things get easier!

In the meantime, you know how much I like fall and Halloween. Wait until you see Linus' costume! It's pretty dang cute. And Calvin has been talking about trick-or-treating for weeks. He can't wait until we actually go.

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Hee Haw minus Conway Twitty

We got a Groupon earlier this month to go to Hee Haw Farms for a Fall family outing and used it on Saturday. I will say that as we drove up to the seemingly empty farm that really lacks in production value, we got a little nervous, but the outing ended up being fun. Calvin, especially, had a blast. Here are some pictures from our autumn day!

First thing we found was a giant box of corn kernels to play in. You can make corn castles, corn angels, and dig corn holes.

2nd attraction. No comment.

Calvin riding on the tractor barrel train.

These little piglets were actually really cute. Calvin called them all Wilbur.

"It's a scaaaarryyy goooaaat!" (He thinks goats and ghosts are the same thing)

Corn maze. The corn was so tall! We were really scared that we were going to lose Calvin because he kept taking off running through the corn.

Our little family on the hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

Linus also enjoyed the hay ride. He's almost 2 months old now!

Calvin picking his pumpkin. Look at all the huge sunflowers! I decided that sunflowers are actually super creepy.

Calvin's first pony ride! He held on so tight!

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I Love October

Time seems to move fastest when you have a newborn (and yet the nights seem SO long...). I cannot believe that Linus is almost 2 months old! And yet the only pictures I have posted are from when he was born. In my defense, I have been quite busy. Besides being available for feedings which take up a full third of my life, we moved! So that meant we spent two full weeks packing and a week so far unpacking. We are settling in well and absolutely love our new place. Pictures are coming soon.

The great thing about the move is that I get to be so creative! There is so much house to decorate and interior design is one of my favorite things. Pinterest has become my new best friend, filling me with ideas of different amazing things I can do to decorate on a budget. I have started so many projects in my head and now I really need to get to work!

I do have to say that I am so grateful for all the help we received for the move. Our ward showed up Saturday morning and we were able to load the truck in about 30 minutes! Tyler's family drove up to Utah and helped all weekend, too. Steven was the MVP installing our washer/dryer and and a new range above the stove in our old place (only getting electrocuted twice!). Tyler's mom helped me all week, watching children, making valances, and getting such nice things to put in this beautiful home. I feel spoiled with all the wonderful things that we have; I am so grateful. I love it all. The place is so nice, and I can't wait to post pictures.


In the meantime, Here are some recents:

Week old Linus. Don't you love how newborns must cuddle because they can't move by themselves?? :)

Calvin playing with friends at the park. He ended up getting in the fountain shortly after this...

Calvin loving Linus before church one Sunday. I love Linus' expression.

Linus looks just like Calvin in this picture.

Linus on blessing day. Again I love the expression. He pretty much looks at everyone skeptically all day long.

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