Our Florida Trip (video!!)

Turn the volume up! :)

The usual and not so usual

Back in October, we had our second annual Oktoberfest and had a bunch of friends over. It was fun! We had a "Hold the mug full o' root beer our with your arm straight as long as you can" contest:

A pinata for the kiddies:

Yummy food:

And a 2-year old guzzling the good stuff. (Reminder, this is root beer!) :)

Cute little Tigger and a stealthy ninja for Halloween:

Some more "for posterity" things:

For a while, Kyle would say, "Mammer" for Cameron, now it's changed to Mammen. So cute. Other words are, "mmm-mmm" (yogurt), "bahbage chuck" (garbage truck), "tee-dee" (TV, which he loves, unfortunately), and "Mama/Papa" for Grandma and Grandpa. He sure loves them. :)

Anyway, Cameron's doing good in school. He's the only one reading chapter books--he's a big fan of the Magic Tree House series. We've worked some on doing "hard" math problems, like 372 + 26 and stuff like that. He's a smart kid! He's also in his second year of Let's Play Music, which is one of the coolest programs ever! I'm so glad we got him into it. They work on things like aural listening, musical form, intervals, chord progression, and solfeg. For most people, they don't learn that 'til college! Awesome stuff. He's improved so much in his singing pitch, too.

Kyle turned 2 in September, and is still a sweet, easygoing kid most of the time. He is definitely particular about some things though. He sure knows what he wants. Usually that's cheese, yogurt, TV, candy, or going outside. He loves nursery, the dinosaur museum, and basketball.

My piano lesson schedule is working out pretty good, and isn't too overwhelming. I've got some really awesome kids and I'm so proud of them! I'm also in YW so that keeps me busy.

Aaron's job is good. He has a lot of responsibility on the projects he's working on, but I know he'll do good. He always does his best. He's also an Elder's Quorum teacher and does that once a month.

In November, Aaron and I were able to go to Florida. We had an AWESOME time! My mom (and Kar) watched the boys and we're super grateful. We went to Universal Studios Orlando, with the main objective of going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (part of the park there). It's so AWESOME!!! Are you getting the vibe that it was awesome?? Butterbeer (a HP drink, nonalchoholic or course) is delicious, the rides are fun, and it was magical! We wanted to buy wands, but couldn't justify spending $30 on a piece of carved wood we'd never do anything with. They were cool, though. Anyway, it was the highlight of our trip. We also did the rest of the things to do at Universal, and then we did ALL 4 PARKS of Disneyworld in ONE DAY. Yes, that's crazy. But we did it! And that's all we had time or money for, too. The parks are Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. All were worth the time, but our favorite was Magic Kingdom--mostly because it was so similar to Disneyland and we love Disneyland. :) So we hit all the major things at all the parks (didn't see everything), but it was still totally worth it and we got to do everything we really wanted.

Clearwater Beach, on the Gulf Coast.....amazing! The weather was perfect.

I had some more pictures, but they won't upload on here for some reason. Oh well, I think you get the idea that we had an AWESOME trip!

Funny boy

Kyle, trying to get my attention: Mommy! Mommy! Mommeeeeeee!!!!

Me: What, buddy?

Kyle (looking off into space): Uhhhhhh........bus!

He just wanted to be a part of the conversation, I guess. :)

For posterity/update

Just so I can remember a few things:

• When Cameron was learning to talk, he said "dee-doh" for thank you. Kyle says "Nee-noo."


• Kyle just started saying Mommy and Daddy rather than Mama and Dada--I love it.


• He's picking up more words, attempting to say more, and jabbers a lot. Cute.


• His favorite things are sucking on his blankie in his crib, dancing, playing outside, cheese, marshmallows, yogurt, hot dogs, canned carrots, and canned beans.


• Cameron learned how to ride a two-wheeler the end of July. He's been riding around with the other boys in the neighborhood nonstop ever since!


• Aaron got a different job with the state; he started it back in June. He likes it, has a great boss, and he's a lot happier!


• I'm taking on more piano students because the other teacher in our neighborhood moved. I'll have 11 total, but it should be doable. Kyle will be taking naps during that time.


• Today Cameron started first grade. Where has the time gone?? He has a great teacher so it should be a good year.


• Aaron and Cameron went camping with another father/son in the ward last weekend. They caught some fish (Aaron's first time gutting fish--it really grossed him out) and Cameron ate a whole one--I have no idea where he got his love of fish....definitely not from me!


• We did a few little mini-vacations over the summer: Idaho, Capitol Reef, and Zermatt Resort. Some other fun things we did were: the boys took swimming lessons, went to the copper mines, zoo, Thanksgiving Point (a bunch!), Seven Peaks (also a bunch, we had passes), went to various splash pads/free swimming places, and did some hiking.

One of Kyle's favorite songs (William Tell Overture):

Cameron ice skating at the Olympic Oval:

Kyle's first time ice skating:

Our quarterly update

Well, it seems I'm not so good at being a regular blogger, but we just don't have a lot happening. So here's the latest:



Thanksgiving and fall were nice. We had a good trip up to Idaho the beginning of November. Aaron, Cameron, and my mom (okay, mostly Aaron and my mom) raked a whole bunch of leaves for G&G Tuttle.

Cute boy excited to be outside:

Watching Dr. Who (he was just excited to wear headphones):

Boys ready for Christmas:

We went to Jump On It on Christmas Eve day, but this was the only picture that turned out good.

Christmas morning:

Cameron got an aircraft carrier and cargo plane from Santa, Kyle got a broom and one of those pushy things that sound like a music box. (What are they called??)

This was at Trafalga. Cameron was excited to go on the Hopper.

Ready to go to school! They grow up so fast, don't they?

Kyle loves to play the piano.

Last Monday (Jan. 31) Cameron lost his first tooth. The tooth fairy brought him a gold dollar (and boy was she glad she happened to have one!).

Apparently Aaron and I weren't in very many pictures lately, so maybe next time??

Oktoberfest and Halloween

During October, we decided it would be fun to have Oktoberfest at our house (minus the beer, of course). So we had a family-friendly all-you-can-drink root beer party, had lots of food, and played some rockin' polka music. I think that everyone that came had a good time, even though it was a little crowded. We had around 40 people come! I didn't get any pictures besides these two:

Halloween was fun and we had plenty of food and candy at the parties we went to. I had a couple good-lookin' pirates and a squishy little pumpkin to take pictures of. But I have to say, it was a little weird putting eyeliner and mascara on Aaron. It turned out pretty good, though!

Differences

Wow, our boys are so different from one another. Here's my example from tonight:

• I tell Cameron it's time to get ready for bed. We go upstairs, and he says he'll go to the bathroom first. 45 minutes later he is still sitting on the toilet wasting time (and probably too much toilet paper!), like he doesn't have a care in the world. 15 minutes after that, he's finally brushed his teeth and gotten his pj's on.
• Kyle, on the other hand, is all business. In the same amount of time, I change his diaper, brush his teeth, make a bottle (haven't taken it away yet), and then he plays for a while. Then I tell him it's time to go to sleep. He walks straight over to the gate in the living room, we go upstairs, he helps me close the door, turn off the light, and is ready to drink his bottle. When he's done, I lay him in the crib. And then for my favorite part:

HE PUTS HIMSELF TO SLEEP.

He's done that since he was about 6 months, but I'm still grateful every night. :)

Okay, I have a few more minutes to spare this time, so here's what's up:

Kyle is cute. Like, really, really cute! He is such a sweet boy. He took his first steps the day before his birthday, but really got going around Conference weekend. He thinks he's pretty awesome and is all over the place now. His favorite games are: "Try and push the power button on the computer before Mommy and Daddy can stop me," "Open up the cupboards and drawers and throw everything out at lightning speed," "How many magazines and books can I destroy?" and "Throw my blankie out of the crib and whine about how I can't get it back." As I write this, he is ripping up a phone book, but at least he's entertained. (Who still uses phone books, anyway?) Kyle's #1 favorite thing in his whole life (so far) is cheese. He thinks it's the best stuff ever. He's also good at eating everything--last night was chicken enchiladas and he loved it. He also loves spaghetti and lasagna. Anyway, he jabbers a lot ("nanana" means food or drink, we think) and if we're lucky he'll do the sign for "more." He's getting pretty good at sippie cups, so I think we're about ready to take the beloved bottles away. He's not too bad with change though, so hopefully it won't be a major shock. He loves when Cameron does silly things to make him laugh.



My good-lookin' boys:

Cameron, for the most part, is enjoying kindergarten. He likes riding the bus with his friends and likes doing "centers" where they go to different tables and do projects. He's doing really well with reading and writing, and can read a lot of books on his own. We can't spell words in front of him anymore to disguise what we're talking about, so Aaron's resorted to Portuguese and I have to try and interpret the best I can. :) He's still a huge fan of dinos and dragons, trains, pirates, swords, and all those typical boy things. And even though I've never been a fan of having swords and guns, somehow everything turns into them anyway (like Legos, toy screwdrivers, etc.). Cameron is in a music class that he goes to each week with other kids his age (I go with him every other week) and is having fun there. He's learned a lot, and I can tell he's getting better at pitch and rhythm.

We got the ginormous window in our living room tinted a few days ago. It's not super dark like a car or anything, but maybe it'll help our house from getting to be 87 degrees in the middle of October.


Aaron's new job is good, most days. He's doing way different stuff than he used to, so he's struggled with that. But he's gotten to do a few fun things like hiking and 4-wheeling, so it can't be that bad!

I got called to be the 1st counselor in the YW in our ward. At the moment, that's along with being a VT coordinator and ward organist, so it's not like I'm overwhelmed or anything. :) Anyway, so far so good, even though I was really nervous. The girls are great and I think it'll be good for me (and hopefully for them!).

Yes, we're still alive!!

Lowdown of the last 3 months:

• We had a good summer.
  
• Company party at the baseball game.

• Boys excited for a bike ride.
  

• Cute baby.

• Copper mines.
  

• I turned 30. Wow, I'm old.



• We had some fun family reunions.



• Aaron accepted a job offer with the state, so he had vacation time to use up.



• We took a trip (minus Kyle) to Washington, D.C. using said vacation time.



• Cameron started kindergarten.
  

• Kyle turned ONE!

• Aaron had his birthday, too.

Phew! That's the short version, huh?

Summer stuff

A few things I wanted to write down before I forgot them:

• I was holding Kyle and walking into the house from the garage, Cameron behind me, but the door shut before Cameron could come in. He came in and said (kind of confused but joking), "Why would you do that to your own....loving you child?"
• It used to be that every morning when I'd go in to get Kyle up, the first thing he wanted to do was play with the dinosaurs on his mobile. Now he's usually pulled himself up to the side and is standing there waiting for me. (Huge smile, of course.)
• Kyle is OBSESSED with water. He practically dives into the bathtub and then whines when it's time to get out! He loves faucets, baths, swimming (not the first couple times, though), and today I even caught him eyeing a puddle in the gutter.
• Kyle loves when trucks go past. We sit outside and wait for them to go past (he even recognizes the word and will look around for the truck and watch til it's out of sight).
• When Kyle eats, he hums. Like with every bite of food, he starts going "Mmmm, mumum mmm." It's really cute!
• Cameron thinks the best food in the world is a churro.
• Cameron loves to play with his friends Jacob and Braxton (and was at Braxton's house for like 5 hours yesterday!).
• This week Cameron has been going to "day camp" that a girl in the neighborhood is doing. He's had SO much fun--they've had a swimming day, game day, and cooking day so far. Tomorrow is craft day, and Friday is sports day. How fun!

Everything

Okay, so here's the highlights from the last couple of months. For the most part it goes from most recent stuff to the oldest.

Cute little boy having fun at the zoo (Memorial Day):

The other cute boys having fun:

Cameron's birthday party (with a few of his neighborhood friends):

This game was called "Throw Water Balloons at the Dinosaur Since It's Way Too Cold to Throw Them at People"

Hitting the dragon pinata with a sword:

Ignore all the junk and boxes, please.....

Cameron's birthday present from daddy and mommy:

More presents!

Kyle being brainwashed. We're startin' him young on American Idol.

Look at those cute teeth!

He really likes his carrots and oatmeal.

Some trifle I made:

The cuties with the "greats" from my side o' the family (at Los Hermanos, for my brother's graduation dinner):

He's thinking, "Really? Another picture?"

Hanging out at Thanksgiving Point:

Cameron's performance at my students' piano recital (May 21):