Birthday Parade

Wes has been so into bikes and scooters lately that we decided to have a parade for his party. The kids tied a balloon to their bike and some streamers and rode around our circle. The best birthday party idea. Ever. I didn't have to have 30 kids with 30 cupcakes in our house, we just played outside, it was great. And it happened to be the warmest day of the month, awesome. Wes was so excited to be with friends and family playing outside.

Birthday Boy

Wes turned four this week! I can't believe it, he is getting so big and mature and I just love him!

He is really into eating green things lately (to grow muscles) and flexing his muscles. He is also really into riding bikes and his new scooter he got for his birthday.

more food stuff

We are still doing well with our new healthy food goals, and have been trying tons of new foods. We have been doing a food co-op and get all kinds of new foods in our basket each week, its so fun. John and the kids have been really into grapefruits lately so when we got some red pommelos in our basket they were super excited. Yesterday while John was working I put the girls down for a nap and Wes and I snuck the last pommelo. They really take a little while to peel so we had a fun little date. The best part is dusting each piece with sugar, so so yummy.

some other new foods we have tried:
brussels sprouts: I ate a few, John ate one, Wes ate one bite, and Mae couldn't choke it down. Many requests to never make again.
cauliflower: super good, will definitely do lots more.
tangelos: just like oranges, a big hit.
homemade granola: didn't even last a week, I will probably make a batch once a week, so yummy.
quinoa: the kids think its rice, although I think I need to perfect my recipes.
wheat berries: thumbs down, I guess I need to try again, no one ate it
carrot and yam puree: so yummy, we just used it in the place of mashed potatoes, so much more healthy.

greek yogurt: I really like using it for baking but not sure the kids are a big fan of it plain.

(just so you know, I have eaten cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and grapefruit before, I just haven't made them since Iv'e been married)

About Wes

Wes asked me to take a picture of him making a funny face.

He is really into having storytime at night. He wants me to tell him a new exciting story every night. It's hard to think of new stories every day, so I asked him to tell me one. He said

"Once upon a time I got some money and I flew away in a jam jar."

We were at the park the other day before it was bedtime, playing with Rose, Grace, and Neal, and it was about time to go. Rose asked Wes if he wanted to come over and read the Book of Mormon before bed. Wes said

"Um, no, it's too business for me."

We got Wes a workbook this past week and He has started writing the alphabet. He gets frustrated sometimes but it is fun to watch him learn new things.

Fancy Nancy

The kids were invited to Taya and Siennas Fancy Nancy Birthday Party! I think this was the first time the kids really ever dressed up and they loved it. I really want to start getting them some really good dress ups. I love this first picture, I could not get them to smile, so it looks like one of those old fashioned serious photos. Wes loved his moustache and really wanted to wear Mae's boa, which she was scared of. The kids had cupcakes and got to read Fancy Nancy and watched a crazy thunder and lightning storm out the window with trees falling and crazy winds blowing.

More of the Best

I have the best kids. I love them, and the last few weeks they have been so good. They play well together, sleep well everyday for their naps, go down really well every night for bed, sleep in in the mornings, eat the meals I make them, and kiss their growing baby sister all the time. Wes genuinely thanks me for almost every meal I make and Mae melts my heart with her sweet hugs and kisses.

There is a bird nest about six inches away from our window and a mommy bird has been sitting on her nest for the past month or so, I have been wondering if there was really any eggs in it. Today they hatched and the kids have been so interested in watching her and looking for the babies. Finally this afternoon the mother bird left to get food and the kids could see the baby birds poking their heads out with their mouths open. Wes was really concerned and interested in the baby birds, the mother bird finally came back to feed her babies and Wes got really excited and said "Mom, it makes my heart happy when the mommy bird is here". I love Wes.

This is one of my new favorite pictures of Wes, John took of him last week, it makes me smile.

Spring Jams

I have been waiting all winter to get out the kids' spring pajamas, they are my favorite.

Mae answers "I do" to every question you ask her, it is so darling.

Wes is constantly talking all the time, especially asking me questions. It is fun to listen to him try and use new or big words that he doesn't quite understand, here are a few things he has been saying lately that make me laugh

Mom I'm trying to starve.

Hey Mom, I have a great idea, lets choke on vitamins!

Something is happening to me...

I'm an adult now! (after washing himself in the bathtub)

The kids have been doing really well lately and I love to watch them play together. If Mae is asleep Wes is always asking if he can wake her up and if Wes is at a friends house Mae is always asking "a We, a We?" They love to be together.

My pregnancy has been going really well, I have just been trying to avoid any unnecessary weight and the foods that cause it, but not doing a very good job. I have been reading a lot on parenting and have been having quite a few days that make me think that I need some help, or maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones, either way I'm exhausted by the end of everyday. I am really starting to get excited to have a little tiny, soft and fuzzy, body around here again, being pregnant is pretty exciting.

A Good Day

Today was mostly a good day, minus the time when we were at the store and the kids were crazy. Wes and I did crafts all evening and he was loving it, it's fun when you can see your child learning. Then all three of us jumped, wrestled, tickled and ran around the house just having fun before bed. Wes ran and got his blanket and asked "Mom, can I snuggle in your heart?" Oh my goodness, I'm not sure I have heard a sweeter more sincere thing come out of his mouth, I melted, and we hugged and bear kissed. Then after I put him to bed he came and asked me if he could turn his light on and read a few books, Im glad the books we got him for his birthday are getting well used.


also notice his favorite robot pajamas have gotten too small and we have had to cut open the toes, he wants to wear them every night

Egg Hunt

Our ward had a little Easter party with an egg hunt and treats for the kids, Wes did really well for his first time, we are having to ration out his candy from all the eggs he found.

really quick

A few things I want to remember:

Wes has been experimenting with words lately, he will use big words in sentences where they don't belong, and say whole statements that don't make sense. I have been wanting to blog about it but I can never remember what he says because it is usually nonsense. Last night while we were eating dinner this is what he said;

"Chicago, shorty, chocolate, troy, Jello!!"

Mae loves baths, they are probably her favorite thing. Whenever she gets dressed, has a diaper change, puts pajamas on or even takes shoes or socks off she thinks is bath time. She is always asking "Ba? ba?"

This morning Wes and Mae played together for about an hour, running from room to room hiding in closets and giggling. I heard them from the other room playing Ring Around the Rosie together over and over. Wes was told me they were playing Rosie Pockets, and they were having so much fun together, it makes me happy.

Paint and Cookies

We found some inexpensive wooden trucks and let Wes paint them however he wanted. All Wes needs is a paintbrush or some playdoh and he is happy. Or some dirt, sand, worms, and water. Anyway, he really had fun painting and Mae was playing Peek-a-Boo while she watched. Here is another shot of Wes helping me make Valentines cookies, he also loves to help in the kitchen. It makes me happy when my kids do art projects.

Also if you look closely you can see that Wes is wearing my Grandma's Holiday apron, which he put on under his armpits and looked like a grass skirt on him, I can remember my Grandma wearing this apron while she baked in her kitchen. Wes was really good about getting me an apron every time I started to bake something, it was cute.

Wes Plays

I love this little clip of Wes playing Alec's guitar.

My boy

Wes is so grown up, and so sweet. When I put Wes to bed for a nap and bed each day we snuggle and giggle and talk. He always tells me that I'm his best friend (although he usually corrects himself and says that his dad is his best friend right after). I was talking to him a few days ago after singing I Love to See the Temple, and he said he wanted to go to the temple. I told him that when he grows up that he can find a nice girl and marry her in the temple. He got excited and said I want to find a girl with toys and go to the temple with her. I was telling John about what he said at dinner and so we asked him about going to the temple to get married and asked him what kind of girl he was going to find (hoping he would say nice). He said um... a pretty girl! And then we are going to get toys and play and go to the temple!

We started potty training Wes last week and he has been doing so well! We usually don't get away without one accident a day but for the most part he is doing great (and he is so cute in his little underwear, i love it).

I found this cute picture from when Wes was one, so cute.

Love it

Last night while I was putting Wes to bed John came in and sat down on the bed. Wes was so excited that we were both in there he put a hand on each of us and said "you guys are beautiful!"

John was talking to Wes the other day about how big he is getting and he said "Wes, someday you are going to be a man" and Wes said "I'm not going to be a man I'm going to be a train conductor!"

Wes tells Me and John daily that we are his best friends, it's the best. He has also learned to empty the dishwasher . . . just the beginning of chores . . I can't wait till he can clean the whole house, mow the lawn and make us dinner.

Highlights

Best things this week:

Dinner with Josh, Rose and Grace

The pumpkin patch and Thanksgiving Farm with Friends and Family

Washing the van for family night

Mae eating three times as much food as Wes

Mae yelling out this morning, "Mommy!"

Wes saying daily in a sad voice, "Mom, I'm sick for candy"

Wes saying twenty times a day, "I got for bout it." (I forgot about it)

And tonight while I was making Wes' bedtime snack of raspberries he said, "Mom your a best friend"

I love my kids, I have the best life.

Teeth Time

Update:

Mabel has six teeth.

We took Wes into the dentist a few weeks ago and found out that he has an extra tooth. he has two incisors next to his left front tooth, which kind of makes it look like he has three front teeth. Mel was missing an incisor, maybe he got hers.

Wes' mind

Last week we were at a drive through where the guy helping us had pretty shaggy hair, hat and beard all the same color. While we were waiting Wes was looking at the guy and said "Dad! (long pause) Oh! Dad, he's a sheep!"

While we were in Idaho Wes asked Steven "what is on your face?" Steven said "a beard", Wes said "a weird?"

The other day while we were driving Wes said "Hey Mom! There's a contact in my eye!" (while he was holding his eye open and poking it)

Another time in the car: "Mom, where is Travis?" (Huh? I've never hear of or talked about a Travis) "I don't know, is he from nursery?" "No, he's from Wesy's house" (I still don't know)

Pudding Paint

A hot sticky day: perfect for chocolate pudding paint

A day at home

We have been running so many errands and doing a lot of sight seeing lately that we have needed a day to just stay home and have fun. This morning the kids had fun just crawling around on the floor and making each other laugh. Sometimes when I hear Wes and Mae having fun together in the other room I come to check on them and Wes is always sitting on Mae (and usually jumping up and down) and they are both laughing like crazy. I don't know why they think it is so funny. And one of Wes' favorite activities to do this summer has been to jump on our couch or our bed. I guess kids aren't supposed to jump on furniture but I'm not sure why, I always loved doing it and Wes sure loves it so for now we are a jump on your bed family.

Videos

1. Wes bowling, and doing a celebration dance with a completely straight face
2. Mae at Ihop at midnight laughing like crazy
3. Mae hanging out in bed having fun

I love these kids.