LoVe is in the air!

This year we went to Grandma "Her-bin-son's" as the boys affectionately call her, for Valentines Day. We had a great weekend with nothing in particular to do. The food was fantastic...I love my moms home cookin'! I just love going home in general. I love seeing the mountains that I grew up under, smelling the "bad air" (LOL!), feeling the cold. It's always nice to come home after a trip and get everyone tucked into their own beds, but I do miss home and it's nice to go there sometimes. We took tons of cute pictures and I've been practicing my editing...thanks to Steph' and all her support and help. These are a few of my favorites in no particular order...
Aunt Holly helping the boys with their Valentines. They love her!
Grandma had tons and tons of projects and fun things for the kids to do. Seriously...I'll never be the mom she was or the grandma she is. She loves this. She's totally in her element helping the kids make messes and talking to them. So fun. They are still talking about it.
Derrick. Need I say more. This is totally him! (A funny side note: He says the most hilarious things. The other day Julie was here tending and she told him it was time for bed. He stands up, stretches his arms in the air, yawns and says, "What a day. Good night Julie." I also heard he and Alex the other day playing on the stairs. Derrick sees something that sparked his interest and shouts, "Oh my gosh!!!" (They are NOT allowed to say this at or house and they know it, so Alex calmly tells him, "Don't say Oh THE gosh" Derrick says, "Oh, ok. Oh my heck!!!" I had to chuckle.)
What would I do without Tara and her ability to make me feel pretty. I owe her one. A full set and a pedicure too. I was totally pampered. Thanks "T"!
This is a darling picture of Zeke, but trust me he wasn't sitting there all calm and quiet like this picture indicates. About two seconds later we were all covered in bubbles and yelling for the both of them to get out.
Grandma planned a fun family night with stories and games and lots of laughter. Thanks mom for putting so much time and effort into all you do. It doesn't go unnoticed or appreciated.


Holly and Grandma took the boys to the park to run around. It was nice to have a second to regroup and I'm sure they were freezing, but they loved it. (Side-note: Just because you take kids to the park to blow the stink off doesn't necessarily ensure they will come home and want to take a nap. Sorry Mom, they never do. :P)
Classic Alex. Always watching from a distance. Very observant. Happy.
Zeke is one of the boys and he loves it! Look out world!
Dustin rocking the dog...I mean Derrick. Funny.

He LoVeS Me!

We are still at it...painting...RE-painting...and making our house a home. When we first moved in I found some "mis-tint" paint on clearance that I made do in our room until I had time to really focus and do it right. We I finally got a bee in my bonnet to "re-do" the room and started painting over the brown with blue. I started early thinking I could have the whole thing done by the time Dustin got home and he would be so proud and happy they he didn't have to help. Well I got it done and he came home, but neither of us were happy---the blue was HORRIBLE!!! So back the paint store and a hundred color swatches later we settled on a soft green. By this time I had to go to work for the weekend and new it was going to have to stay a mess and UGLY until I could get to it the next week. Well...Dustin to the rescue. I came home from work to find the whole room (not just the one wall I had messed up) completely re-painted and put back together and he was almost done with the bathroom as well. Hurray! Such a load of my mind. Anyone who knows me knows I can't sleep in a mess and where there is a lot to get done. Drive me crazy! The little room with the toilet and shower were still white so I go in there and he had painted "I Love Amy" on the wall! Cute!

zEkE...

Zeke is growing up! I must say I'm not unhappy to see the baby grow out of this kid. He's a lot happier being able to do a few more things for himself and he's got personality galore! These are some of the things he's been up to...

*He has decided he hates the high chair, he likes to sit at the table with the boys and feed himself. He get VERY mad if I try to help him. Fun for him...messy for me. My day includes a LOT more sweeping than it used to, but he seems to be eating better now that he's taken feeding himself into his own hands.

* Naps are few and very far between. I don't know what it is about my kids, but it seems like when they hit 18 months they think they don't need a nap anymore. I assure you they do and bedtime comes earlier on the days they don't.

*The other day I was calling him from his room to come and get a diaper change. He runs in the room, sticks his fingers in his ears and his tongue out at me, makes a funny sound, and runs away. (Pictured above) Where did this come from?!? I later found out Derrick was coaching him on the "Funny Face". Naughty!

*I can't seem to keep this kid cleaned up. Along with feeding himself comes the obvious messy face, but this boy takes the cake (and smears it all over everything!) It doesn't matter how many baths he takes a day he still seems to be messy. He jumps in puddles and walks through mud at the playground. Gets in the butter in the fridge, anything messy and you know Zeke is behind it. I've given up hope of having a clean kitchen and now I'm just striving for somewhat sanitary.

He's a little ball of fire and we love him to pieces!

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa Herbison came down for a visit this weekend and we had a great time! Grandpa brought his helicopter and helped Dallin to get his working again. Dallin was so excited to be just like grandpa. The boys went shooting, the girls went shopping. We had lots of good fun, laughing....and a little laundry. (I'm all caught up now Mom, don't worry, and I found the gum Derrick lost in the pile...on my pants...at work...the next day!) We took a little walk down to the duck pond, almost lost Alex on his bike down the hill, but he survived. I don't think my mom has yet though. It about gave her a heart attack! After they left I had to go in for an emergency root canal...AGAIN!!! Still have infection in my jaw, hopefully this will do the trick, it's finally feeling a little better. It was great to have them down.

A monkey in the family...

We are still going to the playground each day to watch the kids at lunch. The minuet we get there Alex jumps right out of the car and heads straight to the monkey bars to practice. He's been determined to hang on and make it all the way around. He's finally done it and it's so fun to watch him. He has the biggest smile on his face every time he makes it. I can't believe how strong this kid is...strong muscles...strong will!

P.S. He's also been helping Derrick to try out his muscles on the monkey bars too! The other day I was headed toward the car and I hear Derrick yelling that he's stuck on the second bar in and can't get down and doesn't dare to let go. Alex jumps to the rescue, climbs on top and just un-latches his little hands off the bars...Derrick dropped like a brick. It was like watching a movie in slow motion where there was nothing I could do but watch. Luckily he laughed and wasn't hurt. I think I swallowed my heart that day! Boys!!!

gRoWiNg Up...

We went and took a few pictures of the boys at the temple and the duck pond. I've always wanted a cute picture of them in front of the temple and this is what I got. Love it!
Going to the duck pond has become one of our regular outings. When we need a break we load up and only have to go across the street to "feed" the ducks or as Derrick puts it, "Throw bread at them" It's fun to see it through their eyes.

P.S. Thanks Steph' for teaching me how to make picture look so good. I love them! Can't wait to learn more!

"Air-Hot" Balloon!!!!

About once a week we wake up and see a hot-air balloon, or as the boys call it "Air-Hot" balloons! There is just something calming about seeing one of these floating in the sky on a crisp clear morning. Watching their faces and reactions is so fun. I heard this quote the other day and I thought of this as I watched them so enamored with the balloon. "Childhood should not be a race, but a journey"

Christmas 2009

We had a great Christmas this year. The boys loved everything they got and still believe...whew! We stayed home this year and just hung out, played with our toys, relaxed and had some of our favorite people over for dinner that night, The Sorenson Family! I attempted (seriously attempted and never will again) to make pies, pumpkin and coconut cream. After my fourth attempt at the crust I gave up on perfection and went for just edible. They were o.k. I guess, but I stick with brownies and leave the pies to the professionals (my Mom and Aunt Robyn) :P. We had a blast playing games and laughing our heads off with a little High School Musical 3 blaring in the background. It was no "Professional Job" (thanks though to Kaitlyn and McAli for appreciating the details), but it was a great Christmas!

Santa Claus is coming to town!!!

Alex was the most concerened this year about making sure that Santa knew exactly what he wanted. He finally settled on a bow and arrow (something he had failed to mention to Mom or Dad, luckily there was one left in southern utah on Christmas Eve and we helped Santa to find it!) :D Dallin looks so grown up, almost too big to sit on Santa's lap. Derrick told him he would stay put long enough for a picture if Santa would hand over the candy he was sure was in his bag. Funny...and Zeke stayed long enough to snap a shot and then busted into tears. Zeke didn't quite make it all the way home. I looked back and there he was with visions of sugar plums dancing away propping his little head up like this. So cute!

Christmastime!!!

This is my new favorite Christmas song. I love the video that goes with it. This is what it's all about wrapped up into one cute song! Enjoy and Merry Christmas from the Alldredge Family!