"Balloons of Fury!"

Here is our latest video from Cross Productions -- "Balloons of Fury"

Enjoy!

Spring Fever

Here we are in February, almost into March. I am starting to really crave the Springtime and a couple of recent days have made me want the warm even more! A couple of days this week we have had sunshine and beautiful weather, but the other days have been rain, and sometimes a mix of snow. I wish Mother Nature would make up Her mind! I can't wait to get out of the house and let the kids run all day, blowing bubbles, sliding down the slide, and running up and down our little hill while I'm out cutting back roses and other greenery getting ready for the new buds to come. Spring is a beautiful thing in most places, but nothing like here in Washington. Especially Wenatchee. I love to see the orchard trees get their leaves and the perennials out in our yard start to peep through the brown, cold dirt. I can't wait to see the green around the river and the trees across our street blooming and showing signs of life. I suppose I can wait, since it is still February, but that doesn't mean that I want to.

We are enjoying life so much! Mason and Andrew are getting along so much better lately and they rarely fight. Mason is such a sweet boy that he will answer to "Please" and "Thank you" just about every time. Even if he takes something from his brother, all Andrew has to do is ask nicely and Mason will (usually) hand it right back over without any fuss at all. What a blessing for me! I am constantly reminded how grateful I am that they are so close in age.

John has been working like a dog. He is still in school and working full time, so he is gone 14 hours a day and is very tired when he gets home. Poor thing still has to do homework when he's done eating dinner, and then it's off to bed to start it all over again. Early this month the P.U.D. opened a full-time, permanent position in the Fleet Services Department (where he currently works under a temporary student position) and he applied right away. He put in his resume and was promptly called for an interview. They set it up for the 20th of February, but they canceled it just a couple of days later, informing him that they needed to "re-evaluate the budget." It was a bit of a downer for us. We have been hoping and praying that something would work out for us in this regard. We've been told over and over that if he just gets his foot in the door there, they'll make a space for him. They did give him an extension on his student position, which is a positive thing, so we know they like him. It's just a matter of them giving him better pay and benefits. Now his main Foreman at the shop has put in his notice and that will open up a second very important position, not to mention that they are short-handed as it is. We are just waiting. And waiting and waiting...Andrew is getting so big and so smart. He's talking so well and knows so much. It's amazing how I don't have to tell him about something more than once before he can recognize it the next time. He really knocks my socks off sometimes! Mason doesn't talk much, but he will. He says things like "juice" and "dada" and "car" and "cracker" but he's working on most of his vocabulary. He understands simple instructions and he DEFINITELY knows what lunch is. :) He's such an angel. I just love having him in our family (it sounds like he was adopted from the way I wrote that!). JJ has really taken to him, too, which is hard for JJ when the kids are at such a small age and when he's gone all the time. We are just very lucky to be so happy in our family.JJ spoils me. He gave me the greatest gift EVER! He let me buy a piano! So, this is the first piano I have ever owned for myself. I found a used one on Craigslist and it had come out of a church. The brethren from the Elder's Quorum Presidency came and moved it for me. It's amazing how fast they can organize a moving team! I love the piano, and I LOVE that I can play and someday teach the boys how to play. And the boys, needless to say, love to bang on it and see how much noise they can make. :) This is such a blessing to me, too, because I was called as the Primary Pianist a couple of weeks ago. How fun! I love the Primary and I love those little kids with all of their attitudes! I love feeling needed and I love that I can contribute something to the ward, especially in a place that they needed someone so badly. The boys are BOTH going to nursery, too, so it gives me a little time to myself. :) It's GREAT!

Mason Is One!

I know it's been a few months since I posted. I'll catch up on all of that stuff later. But...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MASON!!!!

Well... here it is! Mason's First Birthday!

To be honest, I'm a big sap and cried. I know, I know. But all of those emotions of knowing that he's our last baby chokes me up a bit! I feel like the last year went by so quickly that I didn't even see it go. I'm glad that I wrote down a few of the firsts for him. It's so different with two. I was able to follow EVERYTHING with Andrew, and even scrapbook a bit of it, but Mason's scrapbook sits in the cupboard untouched. I am going to have to crack down on myself and get it put together before I forget all the wonderful things that have happened in the last 365 days!

He's walking. He's been walking since 11 months. December 14th was the official day. He took 7 steps from me to Daddy and then back. Of course, there were a few face-plants during it all, but he is quite a champ and never gave up! We are just so proud of him! He is so interested in the world around him -- he loves being outside, cars, trucks, balls, mirrors, lights, remotes, and of couse, beating up on Big Brother Andrew! :) He's such a ball of energy! I'm so excited to take on this next year and see just how different he is from Andrew. It's always an adventure and it's always 100% worth it!

Anyway, so here are a bunch of pictures from the party last weekend and I'll fill you all in on what has happened since the last post!

Present time!

"what's this about?"

first to touch the cake

shoveling it in

after a bite of ice cream

Mason's fake smile

A Red Letter Day

Hey All!

I'm a day late in posting because I just didn't have time to add this to the blog last night. :)

Yesterday Andrew and Mason were super children! I started the day by getting out the 9 and 12 month clothes for Mason, as he's growing like a weed, and putting all the 3-6 and 6-9 month clothes away. As I was folding clothes and putting them into a large bin, Mason grabbed on the side and stood up! Can you believe it?! My boy is standing!!!! :) I'm SO thrilled! Naturally, I had to call a bunch of people and brag! Can you blame me? I said to my mom "He's standing, and he can't even crawl yet!"

That night at bath time, I put Mason in and got him all cleaned up and asked Andrew if he wanted to go potty before his bath. We are just introducing him to it and he's not too terribly thrilled. He didn't want to, until I told him there would be candy involved, and then, of course, he jumped at the chance. I got him up there and said "try to go potty" and just like that, he did!! WHAT?! This is a HUGE step! :) We're sooooo proud of him. Needless to say, he got 2 pieces of candy -- one for sitting on the potty and one for actually GOING! :) I'm SO proud of him. We called grandparents to let them know while he was still sitting on his throne. :)

After bath, not to be upstaged by his brother, Mason decided it was time to crawl! He crawled across the floor and picked up Andrew's sippy cup! I guess he was thirsty! :) Not a minute later he crawled back across the floor to pick up a pencil that Andrew had dropped! He's mobile! Watch out!!!!

So anyway, it was a big day for us! I wanted to get a video last night but JJ had the camera at work and Mason wasn't going to be able to stay up until Daddy got home, so I had to postpone the video making until today. SO...enjoy it! We're so proud of our kiddos!! :)

Terrible Twos (Enter Stage Left.)

Terrible Two, Day Two.

Well, it's here. Andrew made it to his second birthday and emerging from left field came the terrible twos. I never thought it could be this way...like someone flipped a switch! You've got to be kidding me!!! He's quite the handful all of a sudden, and I'm starting to wonder if we'll even survive this. I'm REALLY looking forward to the next 363 days or more.

Andrew celebrated his birthday at the cabin (again) and got way too many presents. He was sure cute opening them up and getting all excited. "Presents" he kept saying, and "happy birthday." I don't think he really has any clue what it's all about, but oh well. It was fun, anyhow. After we got home from the cabin, he got a present in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa, and then this morning he got more from Paxton (the little boy I babysit). He's going to think that he gets a present EVERY day! Lucky bugger!

Anyway here are some pictures from this weekend. Love to you all.

birthday cake

yum!

a new ball!

a guitar?!

I like this birthday stuff!

watch me play my guitar!

Mason is such a sweet baby!

bath time with cousin Cate

Mason got plenty of attention, too!

What a ham!!

Weighing In...

Hi! Mason's 6 month appointment was a couple of weeks ago (and I'm getting further and further behind!) so I thought I'd list his growth. He weighed in at 17 lbs 6 oz (50th %) and was 26 3/4" long (just above the 50th %). He's growing and learning SO much. He is trying to get up on his knees, but he's just not quite there yet. Sometimes I help him. :) He's getting cuter and cuter by the day, though. :)

Andrew is still getting into mischief, which I suppose is pretty common for kids his age. He'll be 2 on the 31st. He learned how to open the gates on the fence yesterday. It seems so silly that we've only had the fence up for a month and he's already figured it out. A little frustrating, actually. I guess we have to resort to padlocks on the gates when he's outside. Poor thing. He's just way too smart for us. It's totally mind-boggling that he can recognize any number from 1-10 and nearly all of his colors. We're really very proud of him.

JJ still loves his job, but is gearing up for school. We have about a month until Fall Quarter starts. Because he was doing his cooperative work experience during Summer Quarter, he has a 5-page paper and some evaluations due on Thursday. They shouldn't be hard to complete, it's just a matter of getting motivated to do it! :) He sure loves working for the P.U.D., though. They have been really good to him. We're still just praying that they will hire him on full time after his Student position ends.

So, things are just fine and dandy. I'm just busy babysitting and taking care of our kids and house. I will start watching a 2-month old baby girl probably next week. That will be LOTS of fun. I haven't taken care of a little girl in a LONG time!! It will be challenging, but it will be fun.

Mason Jumps Up

Here is a video of Mason's first real jump. We can't believe he's already 6 months old!



Here are Mason and AJ jumping... and who should join in the fun?? Watch and see!!