Catching Leprechauns

Mikey gets pretty excited about St. Patrick's Day because last year they made a big, fun deal about it at school. Lance was the enabler this year because the night before he and Mikey set up many traps all over the house like the one below to catch leprechauns.

If you look closely you can see the coin (probably an old Chuck E. Cheese token or something) underneath because everyone knows leprechauns love gold coins. Unfortunately, all the leprechauns were too fast and were able to get the coins and set off the traps without getting trapped. Bummer. One even left G.I. Joe-sized, milky footprints to and from one of the sprung traps. Go figure.

But leave it to Mikey--he was not to be deterred by a little thing such as St. Patrick's Day being over. The next day Mikey brought us to his room to show us this:

It's small and a little hard to tell, but it's a little trap with a coin you can just see underneath and it's right smack in the middle of his room. Mikey continues to talk day after day about how he still wants to catch a leprechaun and so he keeps his trap there. But day after day, the trap is growing....


He explains the layout when asked about it and how it will be even harder for the leprechaun to get out because of his many barriers....


Here is the current state. It just keeps growing. Can you see WAY down there the tiny little trap we started with? I'm not sure how long this will go on. Perhaps when he runs out of things in his room? That or when he finally catches his leprechaun.

If you work really hard...

I was out with Mikey running an errand. It was just Mikey and me so we actually had a chance to talk.

We were talking about school. Mostly because he is obsessed with starting Kindergarten and talks about it constantly. We started talking about moving on to first grade and second and so on and so forth. I was feeling so proud of Mikey because he was completely jumping on everything I said and pointing out that if you don't learn enough you won't be prepared to move on. This conversation was a good 10 minutes, and like I said, I was feeling so good about the conversation and all he picked up on. He was sounding so mature and smart. And so when I said that if he worked hard he could be whatever he wanted and the harder he worked the more choices he had, I had high hopes for his response...

Mikey: I'm going to work so hard and you know what I'm going to be?!
Me (with great anticipation): What?!
Mikey: Superman!
Me: Of course.

I really don't know why I expected anything different.

Lately...

Here are few things I never got the chance to put up...

Joey's latest trick: pulling himself up on everything. Standing is so much better than sitting. Even if you can't go anywhere yet.

Ready to sled

It wasn't Luke's first hair cut or anything, but he just looked so cute. I had to take a picture.

Mikey was throwing a fit and grumpy as all get out. So we sent him to his room for a little time out and cooling off period. A few minutes later we found him like this. He did not move from this position for hours. (Explains the grumpiness!)

Yep, I turned 32. Feels great :)

Is Bampa teaching Luke how to play or is Luke teaching Bampa...? That is the question.

Valentine's Day cookie decorating!

A frown is better than a thousand words

So I (Lance) was out of town this weekend, and at one point while I was talking to Kristy on the phone, she related the following story that had happened since I'd been gone (apparently, she didn't think it was funny enough, or has just gotten lazy, and I have to put it on here myself - so forgive the hearsay). Kristy is in the kitchen or something, and Mikey is sitting at the table or in the adjacent family room. Mikey, as he tends to do, chooses to express his displeasure with something by putting on a powty (sp?) face and just sitting there, waiting for someone to notice and ask about the source of his disgruntlement. Kristy took the bait, as she tends to do (I probably would have said something like, "Mikey, if you have something to say, I think you can find a better way to go about it than what you're doing," but Kristy's a softy).

Kristy: Mikey, what's the matter? WAIT, did you wet your pants (what a conclusion jumper)?
Mikey: (wait for it) No, I just miss Daddy!

That's what I'm talking about! By the way, the Utah State Bar is accepting nominations for father of the year. I can provide the address if anyone needs it.

Where'd we go wrong?

Lance just left on an airplane for a short trip. Mikey was VERY sad, both because dad is gone and because he wants to fly on an airplane. Apparently he likes getting the little snacks and drinks, and watching the movie (so different from home, right?) So I said we could "play airplane" a little later. Then this conversation took place:

Mikey: Mama you can be the servant.
Mama: (slight chuckle) Is that really so different from real life?
Mikey: Well, it's just that grown ups are servants and you're a grown up.

I think we missed a lesson somewhere...

Overheard

From the backseat, while Luke was watching Nemo, we suddenly heard:
"Oh dang it. Poor Nemo."

We don't know what part it was, but it might be our favorite thing to ever come out of his mouth. If only we could have had it recorded because, of course, it's a million times cuter when you can hear his cute little voice. I pretty much wish I were constantly recording that kid. He never stops.

8 Months for Joey

Joey was 8 months old on February 3rd. 8 months!! It feels like just yesterday when he was my tiny newborn. Well he definitely isn't tiny any more! He's roughly 22 lbs and all over the place. The last week of January was a big week for Joe as he started to crawl AND got his first tooth all within a few days. (He is also our earliest "teether" by over a month. Luke was 9 months and Mikey was close to one year!)

Our little Joe is the cuddliest little thing and we can't get enough. He absolutely thrives on being held. Now that he can crawl, he is constantly nudging our legs and trying to climb up. Your reward for indulging him? The cutest grin you've ever seen and nuzzling his little head into your shoulder. And this is, by no means, reserved only for mom and dad. Any smiling stranger will do. He's quite the charmer.

He is definitely the most popular kid in the house. It's kind of amazing he gets any sleep at all. The very first thing Mikey and Luke want to do in the morning is say hi to Joey--even if he's asleep. They both pick him up (despite the threats from M&D every time it occurs) and they constantly fight over who gets to play with him. Yes, we don't understand either why they can't both play with him at the same time. They just can't. They want his undivided attention when playing.

So here are millions of pictures. Just in case one or two isn't enough for you.

Just building up that upper body strength in preparation for crawling.

Hi!

I know, right? Look at that smile :)

It was a trip to the grocery store with just me and Joe and he got SO close to making it to the car before falling asleep. SO close. I was checking out. This was my only solution. Lots of "awww" and "how cute" from all passing by, though.

Already developing a taste for calamari :)

Overheard

One important fact for my story: it snowed a lot yesterday.

This morning I was lying in bed trying to get a few more winks before facing my day. Lance was up and getting dressed for work. I suddenly heard Mikey come running into the room.

Mikey: (In the most excited voice you can imagine) Dad! Dad! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?!!!!!!!
Lance: Uh.... I don't know, Mikey. What are you thinking?
Mikey: We should go sledding!!!!


If only. Darn job.

Christmas!

And finally Christmas. This was Christmas Eve and we were trying to get some good pictures of all three in their Christmas PJs. That's easier said than done even on regular night, but Christmas Eve...well, take a look.

These first ones are probably the best ones

But these were the previous attempts:

Maybe my favorite. Check out Luke.

Ahhh. Mama and her boys.

Then Santa came. And stayed until 3 am. Yep. That table there to the left and another toy bench to the right that isn't visible were the main culprits. Plus he saved all his wrapping.... Poor Santa.

We mostly just took videos on Christmas morning. I'll try to post those later, but I might not.

Merry Christmas!

Family Christmas Eve Breakfast Party

That's what we do. Family Christmas Eve Breakfast and it's awesome. So here are the highlights.

Luke and Anna. Best friends and best trouble makers. Can't you just see the mischief in those angelic faces? Trouble I tell ya. Trouble. But man are they cute!

The newest member of the family, Eliza Heather. Oh so cute! I love babies. So much! :)

Speaking of babies, I have a pretty darn cute one.

Luke kept switching up Joey's hat. He was very particular at any given moment.

Okay, can someone tell me when Luke got so grown up?! He looks so old in these pictures! What the heck? (That's what he always says, by the way. "What the heck?" So funny.)

So old.

And so cute!

The Nativity Scene:

Beautiful Kate made a wonderful Mary while Joey was quite content as the baby Jesus for like a half an hour!

Mikey, a King

Olivia, Ben and Luke as various animals

Abigail, Caroline and Amanda as some beautiful angels

And this was why the kids all cooperated in the nativity--to get to this :)

Joe at 6 months and 7 months

First I need to catch up on Joey. On December 3rd, Joey was 6 months. On his 6 month mark he started sitting up all by himself. He still tipped over lots, but he could actually stay upright for a bit. He went to the doctor that day and was healthy as a horse weighing in at 19.36 lbs and 28.5 inches long--82nd and 97th percentiles, respectively.

He continues to be the center of the household (okay, along with Mikey and Luke. It's a three-way tie.) Mikey and Luke never stop trying to make Joe laugh. And Joe DOES laugh. It's so darn cute.

Joey started in on solids this month. He was always anxious to get the food in his mouth, but of course immediately spit it out and all over everything the second it hit his lips.

Joey, at this age, is by far my best sleeper! And I've never really done any training with him. He just sleeps. He goes down awake and will often just talk himself to sleep. He particularly loves the heater. After getting out of the bath, he was crying and cold. I laid him down in front the heater and he immediately stopped crying. Then fell sleep. He stayed like this for at least an hour and had quite an awesome carpet imprint on his face.

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby? So cute.

Now after a few weeks of eating, he seems to be getting a bit more of the food actually down his throat. Of course, the mess is still just as bad.

Oh yeah. And he's just so cute!!!! Look at that face!

I can't get enough of it.

Now Joe will be 7 months tomorrow. He sits up like a champ and rarely tips over. If he does tip over, he just flips over onto his tummy and doesn't miss a beat. He has started to try to push up on his knees and between rolling and pushing, he sure can travel in a room. And everything, everything, EVERYthing goes straight to his mouth. Oh we love that kid.