like a slap in the face

 Today {this week} I have been slacking as a mother.

No, I'm not being hard on myself, it's true.

I keep thinking that the "things" I need to get done before we leave for Utah are more important than fulfilling my boys' needs.

SO WRONG.

I keep wanting to slap myself every time my boys keep reminding me of this. Today, it was when I tuned Cohen's voice out hearing him repeating the same phrase OVER and OVER and OVER again. I kept saying "just a second". Later realizing he had been begging me to come play with him and build our tent and eat cereal in it while Brendon was sleeping, is when I snapped out of it and told myself 'shame shame on you'.

What wonderful reminders I have by my side every day to keep me on the straight path. To help me be the best mother I can be.

  One of my all time favorite quotes:

"Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which Heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now and forever."

- Elder Jefferey R. Holland

{Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints}

C O O L   D O W N

 Tunnels.

 Slides & Scooters.

 Swings.

 Watching for turtles.

HOORAY for jacket weather!

Playing at the Ballpark

 Brock had his first ward softball game of the season.

It was PERFECT weather to play and watch.

While we waited for the game to start the boys played on a really neat playground. There was a cool "spiderman" net.

 The boys {Cohen} pretty much yelled and cheered for Brock the WHOLE game, to point that I had to step in so it wasn't so distracting. Number 1 fans!

And Co was in heaven when Dad asked him to run out to the REAL BASEBALL field to hit and ball and run the bases. Backwards, but still he ran. I'm guessing he dreamed about that moment that night.

Preschool 

week 2

 I was the teacher for week 2. Co thought it was pretty cool to have school at his own house. It was pretty quiet with only 3 kids, the others were sick or had somewhere to be.

We talked about the Letter P, the shape Square, the color Orange and Pumpkins.

And we had Popsicles for our snack.

 Everyone got an orange square sticker and we finger painted with red and yellow to make orange.

  Daxton and Spencer, we missed you!

H a p p y  27th  B i r t h d a y

to my honey

 

Requested breakfast: pancakes smothered in 

peanut butter, banana, whip cream and syrup. 

The boys and I surprised him with Jimmy John's at school. 

We love our lunch dates on campus with Daddy.

Dinner request: Fettuccine with grilled shrimp and asparagus.

Dessert: Milk chocolate cake covered in milk chocolate frosting.

Twinner backpack time and multiple rides in the elevator.

The elevator is a MUST whenever we're on campus.

 We made a maze/obstacle course for him to run through when he got home. {high enough for the babes to not reach}

 Our card that the boys helped me make.

 Cohen's gift he helped me make and wrap.

He answered the questions all by himself.

 Brendon gave him a new pair of scrubs.

 And the big surprise....

 I bought us tickets to ST GEORGE, UTAH!

We're all going, the boys and I will stay a bit longer, since Brock has NO breaks from school, poor guy.

I have been keeping this secret from him since JULY and I think I may have an ulcer from it. Neither of us have ever made a big purchase like this without the other one knowing. Not our style. It nearly killed me.

We are all so excited, and both our families are thrilled!

**Shout out to both our families for keeping the secret for me for so long. Can't believe someone didn't spoil it. :)

Happy Birthday Brock!

I know birthdays aren't as exciting as they were when you were 7.

But it's a day to celebrate your life and they wonderful person you are. 

You definitely deserve to celebrate for more than one day.

So glad you were born on September 13th,

and so glad you are in my life.

Love you forever.

xoxo

Lissy

 

P R E S C H O O L

 Pre-Preschool that is.

A group of four other mom's in our ward and myself are rotating weeks and teaching out of our homes, using curriculum from Star Bright. So there are five very enthused and anxious 3 year olds that are ready to learn, and play of course.

 1st day of School breakfast request:

Waffle and Juice.

 These pictures can describe more accurately how excited Cohen was to go to school {just like Dad}.

His face and the tightness of his grip squeezing Brendon tells it all. The excitement made making his bed and brushing his teeth before we left at 8:45 am A LOT easier. Cohen has been sleeping until 8:00 or 8:30 lately, so waking him up and "hurrying" him has been a change, but he's doing great!

Hopefully the excitement will stick until May.

 Thanks to Camee for some pictures of his first day. My camera broke as we got to her house to drop Co off.

 LOVES to sharpen his pencils.

Naturally, the boys played trains/cars and the girls played house/dress-up.

 Some work from his first two days:

 And of course a pic with his little "school crush" Kaylee.

 Spencer Bowman, Co, Kaylee Montgomery, 

Brooke Winzenz & Daxton Lundell {not pictured}

Moms teaching:

Katie Bowman, Camee Montgomery, 

Julianne Winzenz, Holly Lundell & me.

Sundays are Magical.

 This picture describes our family very well as of lately - happy parents, sweet/mostly innocent toddler, VERY emotional/on edge infant. The tables have turned a bit between the children.
But with that said, SUNDAYS ARE MAGICAL. Always. They never disappoint. All four of us look forward to them. This past Sunday was extra good. Church was uplifting and inspiring. Brock and I both taught lessons {he teaches the 16 & 17 year olds in Sunday School and I teach the Mia Maids in Young Womens} and they went well. Dinner was delicious, thanks to Loni sharing her yummy recipe with me. And dessert....HIT THE SPOT.
Dessert is always good in my opinion, but if you don't already know this about me, my absolute favorite dessert is simply brownies and vanilla bean ice cream. These brownies had chocolate chunks, and they were hot when eaten. There is something about the hot and cold combination. I could go on....but I won't.
Back to what was EVEN BETTER than dessert:

 - MY THREE BOYS
- THE 80 DEGREE WEATHER
- KEEPING THE BOYS UP LATE TO ENJOY THE EVENING WITH US
- TRYING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SPOT AN AIRPLANE HEARD IN THE SKY
- THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

 - FUNNY FACE CONTESTS

 - EXTRA SNUGGLES {even slobbery/snotty ones}

 Could we please just have seven Sundays in a row one week?
Maybe in Heaven.

the new

THRONE

 FINALLY.

We buckled down and got a new seat.

This extra tall boy was so scrunched in his rear-facing seat, and his arms barely fit in and out of the straps.

It's a whole new world in the car now!

At first, he was not liking it too much.

I'm not sure if it was the actually seat he didn't like, or just the change in general, OR the eye infection and one year molars coming in. Maybe a combination? Probably not the best moment to try out the new seat but he was a sport. Flashed a few smiles for the camera.

 TWINNERS, or "matchers" as Cohen would say.

 The seat worked its magic on our way home from the pool.

Or maybe the boy was just EXHAUSTED.

 And with every new BIG purchase, comes the best part of it....

THE BOX.

Which became THE AIRPLANE!

 Brock doing a demo.

{which I thoroughly enjoyed}

 It ended up fitting Brock better, so we made some sweet straps for the best pilot ever...

  WATCH OUT SKY for PILOT COHEN!

 And they called it....
P U P P Y   L O V E

 This is Miss Kaylee.
She is ADORABLE.
One of Co's best friends and "girlfriend", or so he says.
They have so much fun together, and Kaylee is so cute and patient with Cohen and is teaching him many good things.
The other day when we were babysitting Kaylee and Jayce these two did puzzle after puzzle, just kept trading more and more.
We LOVE when Kaylee is around!!
Can't get enough of this cute girl.
{and of course her sweet brothers Ty & Jayce}

Knuckle Dimples

 His knuckle dimples are going away.

SAD!

That means he's really getting big.

Too big too fast.

Bittersweet.

This age is incredible - the rate he learns things amazes me.

Co is on a puzzle kick. He loves them, and does AT LEAST one a day. Most days he does ALL his puzzles all by himself.

I have seen him do them all alone, but if we're close by he'll put on an act like he needs help. I think he's realizing how much he can do on his own {which he loves to} but at the same time he still wants to be.....babied? Maybe pampered a little.

OK BY ME.

He will only be 3 once.

 Cohen:

I love you to the moon and stars and back.

You are one smart boy, and I am very proud of you.

Love - Mom 

THIS boy...

 He is handsome. He is STUBBORN. He is DETERMINED. 

If he wants it, he finds a way to get it.

Watch out world.

What cracks me up about my little Brend, is he is the most mellow and layed back boy with a SPIT FIRE you would never believe.

It usually comes out when you least expect it.

I guess you could say he keeps us all on our toes, waiting for his next move.

He is as sweet as they come, but knows what he wants when he wants it. I like this about him. {most of the time}

 This boy is also teething/fighting a cold possibly. This "falling asleep in the chair" incident NEVER happens unless he is worn out and not feeling the best.

 Not sure if CLUMSY is the correct word for him.

TOUGH? Yes.

COORDINATED? Maybe not so much yet.

Just as one side of his forehead healed of a nasty bruise, along came another one on the other side to match, I guess.

The boys were eating breakfast and I ran to the bathroom to pee. In that short of time, Co had moved Brendon's high out from under the table and Brendon helped himself out. Mostly my fault for not putting his tray on like I do every other time. And sweet Cohen, he felt so so bad, and was just in tears saying "Mom, he wanted to get out so bad I was just trying to help him." Great teaching opportunity, and I think we're pretty lucky this is the first time Cohen has even attempted this.

Our tough little Brend only cried for a minute.