hijinks and shenanigans

A pensive, upside-down Kate sporting one of her classier outfits.

Kate has discovered the exersaucer, and methinks she likes it. It's hard to get a good picture of her in it because she is so intent on the music and the flashing lights.

I made this blanket for Kate about 3 years before she was born. I'm glad she finally gets to use it.

Colin loves his new hand-me-down pajamas from his cousin Donovan. He gets so excited to wear the trucks to bed.

He also loves Dragon.

Ah, there's a better picture of Kate enjoying the exersaucer. She has to be propped up with a blanket because she's still a little small for the seat.

That's one startled Fat Face.

I love bath pictures. And I love Kate's combover. She is such a baldy.

Colin loves accessories. He is constantly putting on his bead necklaces and slippers and vest and hat. On this occasion he decided he needed to wear his hat over his hood.

So classy.

Nate took this picture of Colin napping. Nate thought it was hilarious that Colin's foot was in the hole in the wall.

I couldn't get Kate to smile, but it's still a cute picture of the two of them.

And here are some pictures for my Iowa family members. Last night we celebrated Heather's birthday, and since we haven't seen pictures of her children for a while I thought I'd post some. Kaylee and Papa played their favorite game—Pick Up Sticks.

The living room crowd.

The birthday girl and baby Kate hanging out.

Rachie-Roo.

Zac Efron, I mean Scottie, getting some love from his special favorite.

Colin ran around like a madman. Surprise surprise. He's also wearing some of Bryant's pants because he wet through his diaper and his pants onto my pants. (That was the second time he peed on me yesterday. I'll explain more about the first time later.)

Sara wouldn't dance for me. It made me sad.

Kate has discovered that she has hands and that those hands can grab things and bring them to her mouth. She talked to slash nibbled on her musical giraffe this morning.

Here's what we've been up to this week: Nate and I went out on a grown-up date all by ourselves. It was awesome. We looked at lighting fixtures and ate dinner at a sit-down restaurant and were back before bedtime.

Nate found out that he has been accepted to the MBA program at UVU this week. He's pretty sure that's where he will go. I'm so happy that he's reached a decision and that he'll be getting more education that will (hopefully) help him provide for our family.

Colin has slept in his big bed at night and for naps all week. I know I posted about him sleeping there a while ago, but then we didn't put him back in the bed until last Saturday. He had one rough night, and then he's been a perfect angel ever since. Every time I lay him down I ask him what the rules are, and he replies, "Stay in bed!" I think we'll give him another week or two before we move Kate in there. Kate can sleep through just about anything, but Colin is a bit of a light sleeper.

Colin continues to amaze me with just how much he learns every day. He's been singing the ABC song, and he's really good at it! He recognizes letters and numbers and shapes and colors.

However, I don't think we're quite ready for potty training. Not that we've tried. But yesterday after church we were all in Colin's room changing the kids' clothes. Colin had a very wet diaper, so when I was taking it off of him it just fell to the floor. Colin was standing up, and he promptly starting peeing. On me. I yelped and dove out of the way. Colin naturally thought this was hilarious, so he turned to look at me. And he started peeing again. On me. Grr. I yelped again. It took a while for us to get him to stop and lie down and get his diaper on. All Colin could talk about after that was how fun it was to pee on the floor. Nate said that was my fault because I made a big deal out of it. I guess I just haven't developed the mom-patience yet that allows me to be calm and collected when I'm getting peed on. Oh, and as soon as I got cleaned up and changed, Miss Kate decided to spit up all over me. Awesome. Nate said, "Well, you're a mom. Get used to it." But I know plenty of moms who aren't covered in bleh all day every day. The problem is that I'm my children's mom. My adorable, messy, aggravating children.

(And did I mention that the kids and I are going with my mom to Disneyland this weekend? For free? Because we are.)

handsome men's club

Yeah, it made me laugh.

it's late

It's late. My children think sleep isn't important tonight. I've been cleaning out my room in between comforting/reprimanding/feeding the kids. I found a sheet of paper with some comparisons from a book I read about 5 years ago. Here they are for your reading enjoyment:

less productive than a truckload of Chihuahuas

more useless than a weasel in a cardboard shirt

like a dead nun in a snowbank

deader than a fish stick at a cat festival

swearing like wounded pirates

went down harder than a 90-year-old drunken woman with a broken hip

I can now throw away that sheet of paper. Thank you and good night.

i can see!

We went to the park on Friday, but I forgot to take the camera with me. I had it in my bag, but then I took it out because Colin was singing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" in the sweetest little voice you ever heard. It didn't sound quite as sweet once I got him on camera, but oh well. It seems like he's always singing these days. When he goes down for a nap he sings to his animal friends before he falls asleep.

Nate and I got bored pretty quick at the park, so then we took the kids to Sears so I could get some new glasses. So now I have new glasses! Huzzah! I went to pick them up today while the kids were napping. The lady asked me how they fit, and it took me a minute to figure out if they were straight or not because I've been wearing broken, skiwampus glasses for so long. It's been at least 10 years since I bought glasses, so they were nasty and ugly and not the right prescription. I'd post a picture of me wearing my new fancy glasses, but I'm not looking very attractive right now, so that will have to wait.

I think the streaks are from little boy fingerprints. He sure looks silly with his Mr. Potato Head Mickey Mouse glasses on.

I think Kate was chewing on the tiger on the front of the book when I took this.

She really likes playing with her toys and watching Colin. Colin likes to share with her—sometimes. He usually will take away whatever I give to her to play with, but then he gives it right back to her with a "Share with Kate."

Yeah, she can put her whole fist in her mouth. She really likes having something in her mouth when she's awake. Or asleep. Always.

I love watching her talk to her and bat at her toys. She makes such cute sounds.

She promptly threw up all over her clothes after this little photo shoot.

I couldn't help but take some pictures because she was so happy!

Look at those eyes! Spec-tac-ular!

And this is what happens when I leave the room to put Kate back in her bed. Colin strikes again!

I guess you could say that Colin strikes again here, with a pose that is.

Here's Colin doing one of his puzzles this morning. He got distracted by the bears. It's fun for me to watch him ask himself where the numbers go. Also, would you believe me if I told you that Kate picked out her own outfit today?

I love how Kate is so entertained watching Colin. She will sit and watch him play for minutes (yes, minutes I tell you!) at a time. And Colin is such a ham that he loves performing for her. His likes to make sure she's watching by getting in her face and jabbering away.

Colin loves his hat so much that he thought he would...

...share it with his sister, who also loved it. Can't you tell?

That's going to have to be it for tonight. This post has taken me all day to finish. Now I need to tend to my daughter. Adios.

awww

There's nothing quite as sweet as rocking a freshly-washed baby to sleep.

question

I just used my hair flat iron to iron my blouse. Does that make me strange, crazy, or brilliant?

two things...okay three

1. Nate was accepted to the Professional MBA program at the University of Utah. We're still waiting to hear from UVU, but we're pretty sure he'll get in there too. Nate is pondering where he wants to go. I support UVU because it's closer and it's cheaper and it's not the Great Red Satan. Great job, Nate! I always knew you were smart.

2. Colin fell asleep in his highchair today. I left the kitchen to put Kate down for her nap, and I wondered why I couldn't hear him chanting "Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama," anymore.

3. Kate is cute. Always.

How could you not love this face?

Look at me; I'm upside-down!

milestones

I'm playing around with the new blogger post editor. I'm not sure yet if I'll keep it or not—depends on how this post ends up looking. Nope, won't be keeping it. You can't add videos with it yet. Boo. Here's what has been going on with us this last week.

Kate is getting bigger and bigger. Her clothes are finally starting to fit nicely, which means she'll be too big for them in no time. She's still long and mostly skinny, but it looks like her legs are starting to chub up a big.

She's pretty good at sitting up in her Bumbo (and by sitting up I mean leaning from side to side), but she's not sure she likes it yet.

She does, however, like her swing. Colin likes to push her in it when I let him. I usually string some toys across the bars and push her while I play the piano. I do wish the swing pushed itself, but we'll take what we can get.

Colin loves to talk to Kate. He'll find where she is and get right in her face to say, "Hi Tate! Hi Tate!"

Colin is still a little scared of the vacuum, but he always wants it out. He was helping Nate by holding the hose in the back. (This was after he was done holding Nate's hand for 3/4 of the time they were vacuuming.)

He always has a big smile for the Bad Horse song.

And he always has a big cheeser for the camera.

Look! I can make really big pictures! I made this one bigger to show just how big of a mess Colin made with his oatmeal this morning. That's what I get for leaving him alone with his food. Good one, Mom.

He was trying to give Kate a kiss. She didn't mind too much.

Awww. So cute and almost smiling.

I made this picture bigger just because I can. And because it's the last picture. And because Kate's bow is cute. And because Kate's face is cute. And because my thumb is cute.

DeAnna posted a video of her son, Donovan, saying hello in Chinese. Colin heard me telling Nate about it, and then he had to repeat it the rest of the night...

This is us playing in Colin's room this morning. Colin was actually saying the letter names until I pulled the camera out. Why is it kids won't perform when the camera is out?

We hit a milestone as a family this week: all four of us went to church. Together. On-time. (Almost.) For the entire three-hour block. Yay us!

Also, since Colin has been chewing on his crib again, Nate and I have decided to move him over to the big bed in his room. I put him in there for his nap today, and I think it was successful. (I'll have to go check when I'm done typing. This is a nap time blog post.) I think Colin is ready to sleep in the big bed, but I'm not sure I'm ready to let him. As soon as he sleeps on the bed before I know it he'll be opening doors and running around whatever time of the day or night he wants. Sigh.

He might not have slept on the bed, but at least he slept. I'll take that as a win.