Family Pictures from Noorlander Photography

Seth was not very happy at this point he did great for the extended pictures but must have used his smile all up.  

Something New

We bought a new car!! A Subaru Outback.  Yes, I have joined the wagon driving, granola loving clan that is associated with this brand.  I love it. I have the bigger space for passengers and of course Ares.  I also get good gas mileage for my daily driving.  The decision came with much anxiety mostly from me, since I start hyperventelating at the thought of spending large amounts of money.  The Hyundai was just well loved and making too many funny noises to trust with my daily commute to and during work.  Getting new things is so much fun. 

Potty training

Picture a three day weekend trapped in a small room just you your son and a frog potty. This was the scene I created trying to follow a mix of a one day and three day method for potty training. The first day there was a lot of playing and not caring a bit about the toilet, asking for a diaper and questioning my sanity. The second day was another rough morning but we had a better afternoon and more motivation to push through. Sunday proved to be better but also a set back when he pooped all over grandmas floor before I could finish blinking. At this point I knew Justin was questioning my decision to try this but we had made enough progress I was convinced to stick with it. It has been almost a month now and while the first two weeks came with their fair share of accidents I am happy to say we are fully potty trained. He still has some two year old potty dance moments but typically he tells you he has to go and wants to do it completely independently. We must have done a lot of clapping early on because he also applauds himself when he goes. It has been really nice not changing diapers and it is just one more thing to make me realize how big Seth is. He is definitely not my baby anymore.

Second Birthday Weekend

We celebrated Seth's Second birthday on January 15th by extending it for three days of celebration. We had lunch and cake with cousins and family at Mcdonalds. Yes Mcdonalds. I know not a lot of thought but super easy and all the kids were entertained. Grandma Diane made the Buzz cake and did an awesome job. He was so cute and kept asking to blow the candle out over and over again. That night we spent it with family celebrating Great Grandma Thompsons 93rd birthday. I have a lot of memories with grandma and it can be really hard to see her sometimes but it was great that the whole family was there. Seth was also willing to give her kisses which made my day. Seths actual birthday was more laid back and spent with the grandpas for dinner and cake. Monday being a holiday we took advantage of the time to play in the snow a little and go swimming at the nearby rec center. Seth of course loves the water and did not want to leave. He loved going around the lazy river portion and floating all by himself. I think swim lessons will definately be needed this summer. It is hard to believe that two years have come and gone and our little baby has turned into an adorable monster who you regularly alternate between wanting to scream at and smothering him with hugs. I proably exagerated his lack of communication skills last post he is actually doing some really good things just not as advanced as all the other moms blogs I get to look at. In a way I think it has really helped me sympathize more with the moms I work with. He is using between 50-100 unclear words to express his wants and needs. Pretty much the kid is the epitome of doing every age appropriate articulation error you can make. (water= badin, fish=dish, stop=bop come= num etc.)He can do two word phrases but has not made it a regular thing. He is super smart and loves to help dad with any building that needs to be done and mom in the kitchen. He has fiqured out where each of the four grandparents homes and his two great grandmas keep their candy and is not afraid to ask. He is really in to hot wheels cars, trains, buzz and the movie Rio right now. I am hesitant to say but he has also shown an interest in potty training and is going everytime we put him on the toilet. I am hoping to really push it this weekend and see how he does. Hopefully it doesn't backfire and push us backwards. Seth is definately our little monster but we are so gratefuly that he is here and are looking forward to what the next two years will bring.

Myringotomy Tubes

So after a year of chronic ear infections we decided to have tubes placed. I am going to blame the ear infections on his delayed speech not the fact that his mother an SLP is a huge hypocrite and doesn't give him the same language time that she tells her clients. The ENT said he had definate scaring on both ears, poor kid I think he had more than we even knew about. Here are a few pictures we snapped. He had a pretty hard time coming off the anesthesia. He wouldn't relax so it took a few hours for him to calm down and let mom go. All is well now and he is back to his destructive self. Life goes on especially when you have a toddler.

He was not very happy when they were taking vitals before. He already knew this was going to be bad.

We tried to calm him down after with his favorite movie, "Toy Story" but even that would not help.

Picture a Christmas and Amazing Nativity Games.

One of my favorite things about being in the Primary is singing time. The fastest way to help me feel the spirit is to put on an uplifting song.  This month especially has touched me as the kids are practicing the song "Picture a Christmas" to sing in sacrament. I tear up every time it is sung in singing time. It's simple message seems to reach out and helps me to feel the true meaning of Christmas amongst all the buying stress. I was online the other night trying to find some nativity clip art for our primary class and came across this blog titled preparednotscared.blogspot.com  It had some great games and pictures for not only Christmas but FHE and of course emergency prepardness ideas.  I printed out some of the games to put in my own files. They would be great for familys with children to help us remind them of our savior this time of year.  They would also be great for sharing times for those of you in the presidencys.  I have to say that I am sad to see the year coming to an end and will be saying goodbye to our sunbeams. They have such tender testimonies and honestly crack us up each week.  Here is just a sample of some of the things they have said. 


1.  My little sister doesn't drink from my moms boobies anymore because she turned two. 


2.  (after needing to be taken out in the hallway) I hate you so much. I hate you more than the mountains and the mountains are big.   When people hate you they do bad things to you like hit you and kick you. 
I hate you so much I wish you would go in the ocean and a shark would eat you.  (This child is very dramatic and very smart.I had the hardest time not cracking up during this.  After his rant he asked to hold my hand, ah children.) 

3. I'm starving to death, and death means you die. 


4. Oh my freaking heck he stole my crayon.  (obviously someones parent substituties swears.)

5.  (during the childs prayer) Please bless that we don't get eaten by zombies.


6. If you really want to kill them you have to shoot them in the head (again more zombie talk) 


Seth has reached a pretty whiny stage, he cries at the drop of a hat.  I keep telling myself that one day we will be able to reason with him as we do our sunbeams.  I am excited to hear all the funny things that he has to say. 


I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yet another picture update.

In September we went camping with my brother Cory's family to Smith and Morehouse Reservoir. We had a great time relaxing, fishing, eating, and sitting by the fire. It was so nice to get away for a few days.

We played at the park with Grandpa and cousin Zeke. Eating peaches whole is the best treat.

Enjoyed the rain puddles in the gutter. 

Went to Raging Waters and loved loved loved the water.

Had some silly moments, spilled comet cleanser all over and said goodbye to Ainsley and Aubrey

Went to Lake Powell. Seth loved being in the sand and the water at all times Dad had to work so it is a good thing there is a lot of family to help mom.

Boating trips with Brandon and Eden and Taisa and Andrew

Went to the Rodeo and excitedly watched the whole time.