February Subtitles!

February came and went, but I couldn't let it go without checking out the pictures.  These made me smile.  Enjoy!

Peek - a - boo!

 Preston is a little too brave for his own good.  But it's worth it to surprise Daddy!

Celebrating the sale of our house with a horse ride and a trip to the park!

 Space Man!

Celebratory cinnamon roll!  Made from scratch!  

 Family Lego Time (I was informed that I was NOT allowed to help make that lego Motorcycle)

 Too cute for his boots!

Making cookies! 

 Noelle made Uni-kitty

 Forgot Sloppy Joes, we are now going to call these "Sloppy Prestons"

 Playing together through the window.  I think it's a pretty cool optical illusion.

 Oliver insisted on putting pajamas on Mickey.  This Mickey doll used to belong to my brother.  Now it's Oliver's snuggle buddy.

 Ummm!!!!!

 How to get in trouble:  step one!  look like you are innocently playing the piano.

 Step two:  sneakily get onto the keyboard

Step 3: go for the gold and stand up!  BUSTED!

Oliver is getting pretty tricky with his Lego creations.

So, that wasn't very detailed, but February kind of flew up!

A Style of her Own!

I told Brandon she gets her since of fashion from his side of the family.  He says she gets it from mine.  Perhaps she just came with it on her own.  Either way, her "Yoga" outfit made me laugh!  Enjoy!

Some fun Kidisms (in no particular order):

Noelle (looking at a cookbook): Can we make that one?
Me: "We are short 1 egg."
Noelle: "We can make an egg you know. All we need to do is (thinking)..."
Me: "Have a chicken?"
Noelle: "Yes. First we have to have a baby chicken. Then we have to hope it grows up to be a girl. Then we can make an egg"

Noelle: "When I grow up, I am going to be one of those nice people who put the band aids on for the doctor."
Me: "A nurse? "
Noelle: "yes! I'm also going to be a baker. But not at the same time. I don't have a lot of hands. (Pause) It will be a pattern. Nurse and then at the restaurant.... nurse and the restaurant. Like that"

Noelle: "Mom, if you wear pink, and a Leprechaun pinches you, what happens?"
Melanie: "You get Leprechaun poisoning"

Noelle: "what happens when a leprechaun pinches you and you get leprechaun poisoning? Do you die? "

Melanie's school was doing a "Superhero Reading" Challenge from February 9th to March 9th. For each book they read, they have to fill out a paper and each paper is an entry into a drawing for some cool prizes. 
Melanie: "I'm going to do 100 of these papers" 
Me: "That's a great goal"
Melanie: "No mom, I mean today!"
Me: "Umm... why don't you start smaller?"
Melanie: "100. I'm serious"

Noelle: "Two days until Valentines Day"
Me: "yes! And today is Uncle Christopher's Birthday!"
Melanie: "It is?"
Me: "Yep. He is 28 today!"
Melanie: "And you are 31"
Oliver: "You aren't 31!!! You are 3, like me!!!"

Happy Belated Valentines Day, From us!

These are the Valentines we sent out this year.  I'm in love!

Daddy's My Hero!

The truck had problems.  But that is nothing for Super Dad!  He has super skills and was able to take the old engine out of his truck and put his "new" one in!  It was a few days, after work, kind of deal, but he did it.  Not without totally impressing his red-headed little man.  Oliver was in 7th heaven seeing his dad IN the truck, and putting all his cool equipment to use.

Way to go, Brandon!

Oh Oliver! February

As I was trying to catch up on my blog, I was looking through the pictures of my computer, I found a few silly moments with Oliver.  Here are some:

Oliver is a Robot!  This is the beginning of his self-bot ideas.  Perhaps I will find a few pictures of the more evolved self-bots later, but this one still made me smile

On the Thursday before Valentines Day, we went to a friend's house for a party.  Oliver was wearing the Captain America shirt I made him for Halloween.  While there, he found some accessories! 

 Speaking of Valentine's Day, Oliver got this cute puppy from his Grandma.  He named it Petey and carries it all over.

And he got a book of stickers... which he put to use.  Doesn't he look cute?

Some fun Oliver-isms (in no particular order):

Oliver: "after breakfast we are going to ride a motorcycle? "
Me: "motorcycle? I don't think so"
Oliver: "well why not"
Me: "well, first off, we don't have one"
Oliver: "then let's go buy one"
Me: "honey, they cost a lot of money"
Oliver runs into his room and comes back with his piggy bank. "Okay, I got the monies mom. Let's go get my motorcycle"
(A special thanks to the neighbor who shared their motorcycle helmet with Oliver)

Oliver: "No broccoli. Eating broccoli is a bad decision!"

We woke up to fog. 
Oliver (at the bus stop): "Why can't I see the mountains?"
Me: "The clouds came down from the sky and want to kiss your cheek. Can you feel that? Put your cheek out and the clouds will kiss it."
Oliver puts his cheek out and smiles. Then looks at me: "Mom, clouds don't kiss cheeks!"

Noelle (talking to Oliver): "I'm brilliant! Brilliant means I'm smart. I. Am. Brilliant!" 
Oliver: "Brilliant? hmm... I'm brilliant too."

Oliver: "When you catch sharks, they eat you."

We Love to See the Temple, Manti Temple

We now live in the Manti Temple district.  What a beautiful temple.  The Manti Temple is the 3rd temple to be built in Utah, and one of 2 temples that still has a live presentation of the Endowment.  It is really old, but timeless.

We decided to take the family to see the temple on a Saturday ride.  The temple really isn't near anything or on the way to or from anything, so it really is the purpose for any trip.  It took us 90 minutes to get there, but when we did, the kids were ecstatic.

Here it is!

After we walked around the temple, we let the kids run over and roll down the hills.  They needed to burn some energy, and the field by the temple was a great place for that.

Later (a different day), Brandon and I came back with just the two of us and enjoyed visiting the inside of the temple.  It was more amazing inside the temple then it was outside.  I hold to be able to visit this beautiful place again.

Preston's 1st Birthday!!!

This month is such a special one, it's birthday time for you!  On Thursday, a special boy had a special birthday.  It's crazy to think it has been a whole year already, but the calendar doesn't lie.  So, of course, we had to celebrate.

Here is the birthday boy!

Some fun decorations!  We decided to theme the party around race cars, since one of Preston's favorite activities is to have a car in each hand, lay on the kitchen floor, and drive them around while making "vrooming" noises.   It is pretty cute.

Preston was pretty excited about his cake, but even more excited about everyone singing to him.  I think that was his favorite part!

Here is a little play by play action as he dove into his cake.  First, he took the car off.  Then he actually drove the car around the top of the cake, until he realized that the cake tastes good and was all his.  Then the car was forgotten!  Towards the end, I caught him trying to suck the frosting off the car as well.  It was hilarious!

Anyone want to kiss him?  Hugs?

Then it was time for presents...  He really enjoyed that part too.

Doesn't he look so small compared to his gifts?

After he unwrapped everything, Oliver spent ample time trying to convince me that Preston's gifts were really for Oliver, and that Preston's stuff was still at the store.  It's a really good thing that Preston only turned one and doesn't know any different.  I'm happy that they are sharing well.   I have a feeling next year will be a little different.

Preston is an amazing little guy.  He can't walk yet, but he sure can climb.  He pushes the bench all over the kitchen, allowing him to walk around with it.  He is also very mischievous.  He likes to sneak into the bathrooms and play in the toilet water, which, of course, is not allowed.   He also likes to get into the kitchen garbage.  (yuck! and yuck!).  Preston loves to play with his siblings, especially when they crawl around on the floor with him.  Noelle can make Preston laugh, no matter what his mood is!  They are kindred spirits!  Preston doesn't say any words yet, but he is a man with a million sound effects.  He is SO much fun, and we love him, dearly.  Happy Birthday, Preston!