Cartoons = life

My boys love to watch Zou every night before bed.  If you don't know the show, it's a cartoon about zebras.  They act like humans, walk upright, etc.  It's actually a pretty cute show, and I've decided that the Grandpa on the show reminds me of my PopPop, a lot.  Zou lives in a house with his parents, Grandma and Grandpa, and his Nana.  I guess Nana's husband is no longer with them.  So it's a full house over there on Zou.  I wanted to put a video of it here so you can see what I mean, but an English version isn't available on Youtube.  So just follow this link.  If it takes you to the proper video Grandpa is helping Zou pack to run away from home.  

I have had several moments watching this show where I thought, this is how life would have been if I lived with my PopPop. Grandpa zebra is always telling interesting stories about his life, usually a bit exaggerated.  Just like my PopPop.  He was known to tell us bizarre tales on how he became bald, like he got hit with big wave at the beach and came up with no hair.  Or drove too fast with the top down on a car.  And most stories of his had a bit of extra fantasy thrown in there to make them bigger and better to we small kiddos.  He knew how to entertain us.  Grandpa zebra loves his wife, but is known to flirt with other, younger lady, zebras.  This made me chuckle the first time I saw it.  PopPop loved my Grandma more than anything, but he did love to flirt with very young ladies.  Which we all found rather hilarious.  Grandpa zebra is always playing pretend with Zou, regardless of what he wants to do.  They have been mountain climbers, space men, rainbow hunters, explorers, musicians, campers in the wilds, etc.  And he makes sure they are well prepared with lots of gear.  These are things that I am sure would happen if we had lived in his house.  Grandpa zebra is always making things for Zou too, or fixing things. Either in a creative manner, or properly.  He is always fixing bikes, or making kites, art work, telescopes, or anything his grandson needs.  PopPop would have been all over that.  I can see him fixing our broken bikes or toys in some creative way.  He built us "drive up" windows in a tree in the yard and would play with us there often.  He was never one to tell us to go away because we were bothering him, he indulged our silly questions and our desire to talk or play weird things.  I am sure we can all remember some of his goofy sayings and being caught in his "bear trap".   I'm telling you, pot bellied Grandpa zebra IS my PopPop!!

I wish I had a picture handy of my PopPop to scan in here right now.  He was a fun man and a even more fun Grandpa.  I still miss him all the time, but at least on a nightly basis I get a little personal reminder of how great he was.  

Exploring at the cabin

For Memorial Day this year we joined my parents at their cabin for one night and a day.  We enjoyed cones stuffed with chocolate, mallows, and caramels heated over the fire on Sunday evening before the boys headed to bed. Landon got to sleep on a camp cot, he thought that was great.  "It's like what army guys sleep on!" Will got to sleep on the mattress that Will used to use. They both thought they were hot stuff.  Monday morning I awoke to Will coming into our room to snuggle.  He laid on my pillow and snuggled with mommy and daddy for a long time.  While snuggling with him we kept hearing Landon yelling, "Mom! Come here!  I need to show you something!"  We kept telling him we weren't coming.  We were too busy enjoy cuddles, and because usually he is showing me nothing of importance.  When I got up I found him sitting on the potty, "I needed you, there's no toilet paper and I pooped."  haha.  If he had led with that in his hollering perhaps I would have showed up sooner! After breakfast the boys, my Mom, and I all headed out on an exploration adventure.  Here's some of the things we found that Landon wanted pictures of.

Poking mom with a stick

Finding skulls!

hi ho! hi ho! it's off to work he goes

Exploring with Mommy

He found ants to poke

Take a picture of this!

I love this one

LOVE!

I really was there!

The boys got a bath before we left so I could scrub all the filth off.  They were a mess!  They played hard, and you could tell by the layer of dirt on them.  If we lived anywhere with more property I would never see my kids again!  They LOVE being outdoors, and I don't mind that one bit!

Here fishy fishy

We took the boys fishing today.  It turned out a little rough.  Will was a fan and wanted to fish.  Landon didn't want to give up his new rod, but also didn't want to listen too much to the direction given to him.  It was 90 degrees today, so we tried to find a partially shaded spot to hang out in.

Will wanted to catch up to the big guys

All my boys being sweet and holding hands.  Heart melting....

 Landon insisted on wearing this ensemble.  He had his snow boots on before we left, but I made him change shoes.

CHEESE!!!!

Landon reeling in his catch and showing it off!

Like father, like son.

Our view

Will finally got a turn.  He was so excited!

My daily view.  It's official, can't see my feet anymore.  27 weeks down!

Thoughts of a child

Children teach us so much. I know during my years in the primary I was amazed by what the kids knew and would say. The other day john was tilling the garden. Landon, of course, was standing as close as possible while he did. After awhile he came running up to me and said, "the ground was shaking while daddy tilled the garden! It shook just like when Jesus died!" 

I was surprised by his association of the earth shaking and the crucifixion of Christ. I asked if it was dark then too, he replied, "yeah! And there was thunder!" Guess he does pay attention after all! 

I was touched and impressed. How often do we as adults equate things in life to the gospel of Christ? I have never felt the earth shake and thought of my Savior, but my son did. We think of earthquakes and devastation, not of the gift that was given to us that day on Calvary. 

Listen to your children, sometimes the things they share with you are more insightful and spiritual than you can imagine. 

Birthday time!

It's time to celebrate Will turning 2! I can't believe he's 2!  Where did the time go?  He's my sweet little man. He shares everything with anyone, loves to give hugs and kisses, still loves a good snuggle, is very helpful, listens very well, and is just the cutest and sweetest little guy I could ask for.  I'm so grateful for the happy little spirit he brings to our family.  I can be losing my mind with his brother and he'll make me smile in no time.  Will's birthday is actually on Monday, but we of course celebrated today.  We had some family and friends over to enjoy the day.  We planned a cook out.  The day was nice, so we were able to party outdoors.  He had no idea what it meant that it was his birthday, but he was happy to eat fruit and cake and play with toys.  What else really matters to a two year old?  

Guests!

He looks so determined with his new big ball

Someone loved their cake!

This was his face while we sang.  He refused to look up or smile.

Happy Birthday!!

The cake, complete with a Will finger print in the lower right corner.  This boy loves trains.

 I spent last night decorating his train cake.  It gave me a few problems, but overall I was happy it turned out. I can, of course, see the imperfections.  They are glaring to me, but to a two year old it was an amazing cake just for him, and that make all the time spent decorating worth it.

 Mmmmm....cake

 Hey look!  I was there too! I think this was supposed to be shot of our dog seeking refuge from my parent's dog under my chair, but it also serves as proof that I showed up too.  

His second piece of cake.

 Present Time!!!

 Notice Landon being "helpful"?

I really can't believe he's turning two on Monday.  His birth was an interesting one, but he blessed me with an easy recovery.  And I thank him for that.  He was born the day before Mother's Day that year and every nurse told me, "what a wonderful Mother's day gift!"  At the time, I was a bit grouchy since I wanted to go home and spent all of that day bored with no visitors, but he really was a wonderful gift.  I love my Bubba Will and am so thankful for him in our lives.

 He's always been my sweet little guy.  How cute is he?

Saying goodbye

Another one of the good ones has moved away!  I hate saying goodbye to friends, but it keeps happening.  They keep moving away.  This week I said farewell to a new friend, Katie.  We became closer due to a calling at church.  She was the young women's president and I was her first counselor.  We hung out almost weekly to chat and save our sanity.  Her kids enjoyed playing with mine and we both were stay at home mom's with a need for air and adult conversation.  It was great to get to work with her and learn from her.  I think we texted daily, about anything and everything.  Yes, we can still do that, but that darn time difference will be a pain.  I know since I deal with it with other friends living in Utah.  Her husband got a new job back close to their families.  The youth miss her like crazy and so do the leaders!  She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.  When she called to tell me she was leaving I cried....for much longer than is normal.  Darn hormones!  Just a warning....if you ever move into my ward I will not trust you...you'll just leave me. haha.  But seriously, I am excited for them to be back with family and have new experiences.  

Katie is the tall, lovely lady next to me.  We are missing a few of  our girls in this picture.  It was her last
YW activity and we surprised her with a farewell party.

Oh my

Tonight I was getting the boys into the tub while John brushed his teeth before work. One bathroom really brings you together. I took off Will's diaper and he immediately yells, "Daddy! Peep!" And points at his peep. He then yells at Daddy a few more times for his attention while pelvic thrusting. Oh boys...boys boys boys. Just learning to talk and he's made sure to learn peep. They never fail to be silly. 

Changes

My little boy is becoming a big boy!  We've been putting off putting the boys into the same room for a long time.  We knew we had to before it was too close to baby time, but the thought of the fight ahead was too much.  He is used to his own room, and to a crib.  And Landon is used to his own room, and being able to get up and make noise when he wants without disturbing anyone.  A kink in moving Will over was that the toddler bed had been unassembled.  Back when that bed was new Daddy leaned on it a little too hard and broke the side support.  We patched it and have been using it that way for several years.  But, it had gotten so bad that the bed was sagging and a chunk of wood fell out.  So Daddy to the rescue (and pappap)!  He built two new side rails for it so it is stronger.  He got it fixed up and it was time to give it a shot.

The first try was a terrible time.  We had to go in repeatedly. The two of them are so sneaky that we didn't even hear them.  The first time all the lights were on and Will was wielding two Thor hammers.  Then they just giggled and went nuts.  So we split them up and they went right to sleep.  I partly blame this on it being nap time.  We waited about a week to try it again.  We were scared.  We decided to try for bedtime this time around.  Will refused to sleep in the toddler bed, I found him climbing into bed with Landon.  So I got him set up in there with all his animals.  The two of them snuggled up next to each other was adorable.  It took several trips in to tell them to stop talking, and telling Will to stop pulling his brother's hair, but they did fall asleep.  And it only took 30 minutes.  It was a miracle!  I couldn't believe how well it went.  AND they stayed asleep all night!  We did move Will to the toddler bed before we went to bed for fear he would fall out of the big bed, he was about to fall out head first.  Not only did they sleep all night with no problems, they slept until 7:30.  Woohoo!  We tried for nap time the next day, but that wasn't happening.  Landon is at the age where he doesn't always fall asleep and Will needs too, but not when your big brother isn't. So we split them up.  That night we kept them split because it was John's birthday and we had friends over.  Getting them to go to bed when people are there is hard enough without adding in sharing a room for the second time.  So last night I put them together again.  This time I didn't have Daddy back up, so I was a little worried. But they went right to bed!  Will sat up and cried for a second until I offered him an extra blankie.  They were up early this morning due to Landon making tons of noise getting out of bed to go potty, but they slept through the night again.  And last night Will insisted on the toddler bed, AKA the big boy bed.  I'm afraid that this is all a dream!  Today they even NAPPED in the same room!  What???  I tried to split them since they were being noisy, but that only caused a meltdown from Will who really wanted back in his big boy bed.  So back he went.  It took a while for them to give in, but they did go down.  And tonight they crashed out easily too.  It's a dream world around here.  

I'm always a little weirded out when I go up and Will's room is empty, and that it's so quiet.  I know they are that quiet in separate rooms while sleeping, but it's strange when together for some reason.  I'm so excited that this has gone well.  I think Will is getting excited about getting a baby into the house and giving up his crib is part of it.  We have been talking to them about this switch for a while and Landon has been crying some nights because he wants to share a room.  I think we just happened to pick the right time to make the transition.  I love my big boys!  Watching how much Will loves running and getting into his big boy bed is great. The best part is how they love to give each other hugs and kisses before bed.  They have to give hugs and kisses or they won't sleep.  They still jabber and get in trouble, but I think it will get easier as the novelty of it all wears off.  I can't believe this....someone pinch me!