Why living with a 4 (almost 5) year-old is so amusing...

Me (singing): I've been around the world and I...I...I can't find my baby...

Kaeson (sounding exasperated and pointing at Traegen): He's right there.

Snow what?

60% chance of snow tomorrow. They can't be serious. Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate snow. Mostly because I hate being cold, and I do mean HATE. (Sorry Angela!) However, I have a confession. I really really hope "they" are right. And I hope it comes early and they cancel school (places that get no snow like to cancel school for an inch or two...awesome and lame at the same time!) And I hope that the boys get to play in it all day and and make a miniature snowman and grassy little snow angels. And then when it is all gone, or they are just too cold to go on, they come in and we have hot chocolate and take hot baths and cuddle on the couch in a blanket and watch Christmas movies. Because even though I am the scrooge of snow, I know that it makes some dang good memories.

So, when Brad gets home from work I am sending him and the boys to the store to look for gloves that can be worn in snow, and possibly some semi-appropriate pants, and maybe some long-johns. We might as well live it up. And luckily we'll have lots of use for hand-me-downs in the coming years, so even if this is the only snow my boys get to see for now, we'll so be prepared for whatever is in store for us in the future.

Kaeson really really wants to make a snow angel! He's been talking about it for months. We have told him hundreds of times that chances are it will not snow and he will not get to. It'll have to wait for a year that we go visit family for Christmas. But now...!!! And no, we have not told him there is a chance of snow tomorrow. More magical if there is, no disappointment if there isn't. It's win-win!

And yes I do know that even if we get snow there will hardly be any. I lived in Salem, OR until I was almost 14. I have had plenty of experience enjoying "snow days" where there are only a couple inches of snow on the ground. So, for one of the first times in my life, and quite possibly the last, I say,

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

We Love Our Piano!

(we have actually decorated some since this pic, so it isn't quite so ghetto-fabulous anymore!)

We went to Montana over the summer to visit family and we came home with a piano. Thanks Mom and Dad P!!! We love it. Brad plays it a lot. I can't believe how good he is considering he only took lessons for a little while when he was pretty young. Of course, in at least one area on his mission, he was the priesthood pianist for awhile! lol The kids like to dink around on it, though Kaeson plays a mean 'shave and a haircut.'

One time this summer Brad was playing the Star Wars theme, or maybe Darth Vader's theme. I don't know, it was from Star Wars though, and Kael, who had just turned 2, looked at me and said "Star Wars!" Our kids definitely get their musical ear from their dad. Brad can hear some music and know exactly what part of a movie it was in. And I'm not talking a song, with words and everything and it being the main part of that scene, I'm talking the SCORE, like the background music. It is amazing, and both of the boys can do it too. I mean Kael has been humming recognizable tunes since he was 11 months old.

I don't know who all has seen Disney's Up, but the part where they show the old guy going down the stairs and then going about his daily business, the first time my kids watched it they were humming along with the music, getting louder and softer in all the appropriate parts. I can't even tell you what song it is, Beethoven I think, or Bach maybe...Brad would be so disappointed. Point is, the kids KNOW it, and they didn't get that talent from me. I love it.

OK, so really the whole purpose of this post was to put up a super cute video of Kaeson and Brad at the piano. Kaeson was singing "I Am A Child of God" while Brad played it. It was so cute, but I guess you are gonna have to take my word for it. Dang thing won't load!

It starts...

This morning Kaeson was outside waiting for Brad to come out. Somehow he had got it into his head that they were going somewhere right then, which wasn't the case. Kaeson yelled inside, "Daddy! Are we taking the car or the van?" Brad was in the other room, so I yelled back out to him that they weren't taking either, because they weren't going anywhere yet. In response I hear, "I was asking DADDY!"

Cut to 2ish hours later...

I was having some chocolate milk. The boys wanted some too, but since they've been snacking on Halloween candy all morning I told them no. Kael asked kept on asking, and I kept saying no. Finally he said, "I talk to Daddy." Then marched himself into the living room and proceeded to ask Brad for chocolate milk. Too bad Brad's too smart to fall for something like that.

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are ok. Brad is on his way home now. Well, trying anyway. He said traffic is not moving at all, so he is still on post, but he's at least in his car working on getting home. I am so grateful that he is ok. At the same time I am completely devastated with what happened today. My thoughts and prayers are with all the family members and soldiers who were injured and who lost their lives today. It is all so horrible, I am still kind of in shock. It's a lot to take in, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that Brad is coming home.

I don't even know how to put down everything I am feeling right now, but I thought I should let people know that we are all ok.

The Circus! The Circus!

The Circus was in town yesterday. Like, literally yesterday. When I took Kaeson to school yesterday morning it wasn't there, when I picked him up it was. Then, this morning, GONE! With no sign that it was ever there. Those people are thorough. It's almost creepy. Anyway, I didn't think we'd go, cause it was at 4:30 and 7:30. And Brad is supposed to work till 5, and since he's in the Bishopric now, he had mutual at 7. Plus 7:30 is bed time. But Brad called at 3:30 to say he was coming home, and I said, "Hey, let's go to the circus!"

I've only been to a circus once, and I was young, so all I remember is that I rode an elephant and they had tigers. Anyway, it was COOL. I cannot believe the crazy things people can do. The trapeze, the contortionists, the crazy girls hanging from this swinging pole thing and each other. Wild! I think I enjoyed it more than the kids. We didn't get a lot of pictures cause we forget a lot while juggling children. I have lots of elephant pictures though, cause I promised a friend! :)

ready for the show

We were sitting RIGHT by where all the animals came in and out. COOL!

During intermission Kael and I rode an elephant. Have I said COOL yet?

Kaeson agreed to do the pony ride even if he was too chicken for the elephant!
I walked with Kael because those ponies were booking. I was surprised they could walk that fast! Seriously!

Tricky elephants. It was like watching over-sized dogs, amazing.

AWESOME!

What have we been doing for the last 2 months?

September was a very rainy month.

The boys loved every minute of it!

Traegen started figuring out how to eat solid food.


Auntie Kaitlyn came to visit early/mid October. (lots more pics from this trip forth-coming.)

Trae was happy to have someone to entertain him in the car.

And entertain she did!

But we had to say good-bye all too soon.

The boys wanted pretty toes...

and they got them!

We have been having perfect weather.

Trae is in love with sitting in the grass.

and is starting to give Kael looks!

We trick or treated...twice.

Ward Trunk or Treat (AKA my birthday party!)

About to do door-to-door Trick or Treating.
Kael was not having his face drawn on again!

And last, but not least...I got a hair cut!

before

after (clearly) :)

The End.

(This is by no means a comprehensive list.)