Joy School Halloween Program

Will and Ethan started Joy School this semester, and we are all loving it. Last week they got to put on a Halloween program for the parents.

Our Jokester

I know that I seriously need to update the blot, but in the meantime, I'm posting this video of Jonathan's new talent. He thinks he's pretty funny. My favorite is that he always looks to make sure you're still watching, and then he laughs even harder.

Goodbye, Will

The Cure for Picky Eaters

I've never really been one to get organic foods or be the all-natural "granola" mom. But for awhile, I've been looking for ways to help us be healthier. I think we do a pretty good job on a normal basis--we rarely (as in once every few months) eat out, and I don't buy a lot of snacky foods (my kids hardly know what soda is). Not that I'm bragging. I just know we all REALLY like that kind of stuff, and it would be way too easy to go overboard (do I need to mention my Doritos addiction again?). So I don't even buy junk food. We've always had a hard time with vegetables though, which I'm sure almost any parent with toddlers can say. Ethan is the pickiest--the boy refused to eat berry cobbler because he didn't know what it was--and I'm pretty sure he doesn't eat any vegetables unless they're hidden. I received a book a couple years ago for Christmas from my mother-in-law that was called "Deceptively Delicious." It was something I had requested, but it sat on the shelf because I didn't think I had time, even though it sounded like a good idea. Wow, was I wrong. The idea is to make vegetable purees and then mix them in the foods in your regular meals. That way the kids don't even think about turning up their noses because it's something they already like. I had also purchased a Baby Bullet a little while ago to make some baby food for Jonathan, and I pulled out the book to see if I could go ahead and make the purees along with the baby food. So easy! I actually decided to more incorporate the ideas she gives, instead of using the recipes in the book (although I'm sure I'll be using some of the recipes--the brownies with spinach are supposed to be great--Oprah said so!). I ended up making a meatball dish and hid sweet potatoes in the meatballs, carrots in the sauce, and cauliflower in the mashed potatoes. And the boys cleaned their plates! Will would have eaten most of it anyway, but not Ethan, so I was pretty excited. The next day I made macaroni and cheese that had cauliflower and navy beans. Ethan actually said, "This is great!" The boy has never said anything like that about any food. The funniest part was when Anthony and Will split a sweet potato, and Ethan turned his head away and refused a bite, without knowing that he'd had some at dinner with no complaints. Anyway, I just wanted to share because I'm loving the results. Even I love that I'm eating some of the vegetables that I know are good for me, but aren't super exciting. I don't have to cover them with cheese sauce to make them more appetizing, and nobody notices any difference because the purees mix right in. And no, even though it sounds like it, I'm not getting a commission for selling the book.

Not sure what's happened, but somewhere along the way I've become Molly Mormon. Grinding wheat and making bread, cooking with our food storage (totally loving "The Essential Food Storage Cookbook" too), and I'm even trying to be more crafty (as in making crafts, although I am being quite cunning too). Whatever it is, it's kind of fun!

Eating Champ

We finally got the chance to try Jonathan out on baby cereal (I know, he's 6 months already--we're way behind). He really seemed to like it and got the hang of it quickly. Of course his brothers had to help too.

Before the big event

All finished!

The Last Few Months

 Ethan pretending to be Iron Man. When they say "Pooh", that was Will's baby word for "shoot" that everybody's picked up. And I don't know why Ethan is always just in a diaper. 

Really, we clothe our children.

Will and Ethan (but mostly Will) singing "Popcorn Popping"--February

Will and Jonathan--February

 Worn out from playing Angry Birds

 Anthony receiving "Below The Zone". The house was a mess, and we were not expecting the Commander to show up at our front door, so even though we were very grateful and excited, we were 

a little shocked.

The boys were playing in my garage sale stickers, and I found this one on Will's back. I thought it was appropriate.

Ethan looking for Easter eggs. He got so excited each time he found an egg that was "hiding".

 Ethan asked Anthony to put the glasses on him and then went around the corner and completed the outfit. Anthony heard him giggling and found this.

 And Will had to be part of the fun too.

Jonathan and I after his baby blessing

Ethan enjoying a chocolate bunny. He LOVES candy!

 Grinding our wheat, or as Will put it, "Making weed."

Will's drawing of a dragon. We thought it was pretty good!

Jesus Wants For Me A Sunbeam

I figured out a few days ago that while Will usually refuses to sing songs, he is actually learning the words. He knows every word to "The Wise Man and The Foolish Man," "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" and "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam." I know he messed up a bit here, but it was a bit of stage fright. And he always says "for me" instead of "me for". I think both ways are true. :)

Will also told me yesterday that when Jesus was born, there was a helicopter in the sky. What the what? Where does he get this stuff? I think it's from watching Madagascar, when they think they see a star and it's actually a helicopter, but still.

Ethan's decided he will do anything for candy. I woke up Saturday morning because all the lights were on downstairs, but I could see Ethan trying to wake up Will. I went to get him and found him with half a chocolate orange in his hand! I was too tired to do anything, so I just took it out of his hand and put him back in bed. It wasn't until I went down to turn off the lights that I saw that it was 3:30 a.m.! Apparently he woke up and just needed chocolate. I know I certainly did at that point.

And we actually have a thumb sucker! Our families know that Anthony and I were both notorious thumb suckers for way too long, but Will and Ethan have never picked it up. It surprised me to catch Jonathan doing it every once in awhile.

This video isn't super exciting. Just a bit of Jonathan babbling and smiling. Mostly I enjoyed it because of Jonathan's gesture in the first few seconds, since I'm wicked. "It's kind of like a souvenir."

Our branch of the NRA

The boys like making guns out of pretty much everything. Ethan made an outstanding pistol from our Trio blocks, and Will just had to make his own too. Anthony taught him that even if he has a shotgun, he should have a pistol in his pocket for backup.

Jonathan earlier this evening. This is as up-to-date as you can get,
so no more requests for awhile! :)

I don't mean to be so bad at updating, but he always wants to be held from 8 p.m. until at least 2 a.m. and it's hard to work on the blog when he's squirming around. Plus he's so cute, I'd rather pay attention to him anyway. I'll try to be better at sharing him.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam!

Last Sunday was Will's first week in Sunbeams at church. The Primary had pushed it back a week because their teacher was on still on vacation, so Will got an extra week in Nursery. On Sunday, I made sure Ethan was distracted before we slipped out of Nursery because I knew he'd have the hardest time. I can't even take Will out to the car without Ethan having a breakdown, as if he's never going to see Will again. Will wasn't excited about leaving (he threw himself down on the floor and said, "I want to go in THERE!"), but I convinced him to try Sunbeams out (by dragging him down the hall). Once he was there, he was fine. They said during singing time, he loved singing "Do As I'm Doing"--he did it high, low, fast and slow. My kids are growing up too fast!

 So grown up!

Showing off their new ties

December Pics

Visiting Santa at the Ward Christmas party. No tears!

 Helping Daddy sand down our table

Ready for the Hawaiian Christmas party for Anthony's squadron. 

It took some work to make sure we all had Hawaiian shirts!

A little disgruntled the first time in the bathtub

One month old! But why must he always flare his nostrils?

 We made our Buche de Noel for New Year's Eve. So good!