Big Boy Nathan

I can't believe how big Nathan has gotten in the last couple of months. He will be 18 months in a couple of weeks! He is such a fun and funny little guy. He can communicate very well, which is nice because then I can figure out what he wants - therefore less crying and whining. He is definitely a boy and loves to make big messes and growl and climb and get messy…. It is so fun seeing the differences between the girls and him.

He and Elle have a lot of fun playing together. She is really good with him and is his second mom.

I had to take his picture when he was wearing this ensemble because his shirts says "born cool"

He still like to have me hold him and will come up and whine and pull on my leg until I pick him up.

I am sure someday when I show these to his girlfriend(s) he is not going to be too happy.

This is Nathan with his pal puppy that he takes with him almost everywhere. He gets such a big smile on his face when he sees it.

He love to climb and sit where everyone else is

He loves chasing his sisters around and playing with them

He like to put the girls' shoes, socks, clothes, and dress up on

He still is a good little snuggler so that is nice

He gets himself into all sorts of strange situations

I sure love this little guy. He always keeps me smilin' or pulling out my hair.

Sisters

Amber and Elle have a love/hate relationship, as I recall that was how my sister and I used to be as kids as well. I remember my mom getting frustrated with us and would have to have us go play alone so we could get a break from each other. I know feel my mother's pain. It is wonderful the days that they are playing well with each other and look like this:

But then there are days when they are just so mean and fight with each other that they make me crazy! Those are the days that I pretty much have to separate them for my own sanity. Amber's face pretty much tells you that this is a hate day:

I just hope that their relationship turns out how Bonnie and mine has. We are great friends and talk at least a couple of times a week (if not daily). We totally get each other and think alike so it is so nice to have her to talk to be we just 'get' each other.

Here are a couple of other pictures of my cute little people and the different things that they have been up to.

All sitting with Grandma Virginia

Couldn't leave Grandpa out.

Dress up with there cousin Natalie that got to sleep over. It was the girls first sleep over at our house. They had lots of fun and were sad that she had to go home.

Elle on the picnic blanket after we had lunch out on the grass.

Amber relaxing on the blanket

Playing in the kid house

They have spent hours and hours playing on this thing - loving that!

Dress up when we were in Heber a couple of weeks ago for Bonnie's baby shower.

Preschool Graduation

Amber graduated (if you would really call it that) from preschool on May 18. As you can tell by the jackets it was a very cold day for St. George. Everyone was squeezed inside a tiny gazebo at the Vernon Worthen Park so as not to be out in the wind and on and off again ran. She was excited to sing all the songs for me but wasn't too excited to have to say goodbye to all her little friends and her teacher Ms. Kami. She has a lot of experiences at preschool most of them good. She was always excited to go to preschool and cried when she was sick and couldn't go. I can't believe that she will be going to kindergarten in a couple of months!? It makes me a little sad that that part is over and now she will be heading to an elementary school.

This is all the kids from her school only half of them are from her class. Amber is on the right side in the pink jacket.

When I grow up…

This morning on our way home from picking up Amber from preschool, we had a great talk about what Amber and Elle wanted to be when they grow up.

• Amber wants to be a ice cream maker.
• Elle wants to be a garbage woman.

I already knew about Amber's future career plans from when she was the spotlight at her preschool on her birthday.  Elle's, on the other hand, surprised me because she has never said what she wanted to be before. Elle and Amber have always been interested in watching the garbage man every week since they were little. They would hear him coming and run to the window to watch until he was far out of sight. They will also point out garbage trucks whenever they see them around town. (Nathan will cry whenever he hears it and it is close by. I have to hold him or he just freaks out.)

It was funny because after Elle said she wanted to be a garbage man I tried to tell her that it wasn't something she really wanted to do. Amber immediately came back with, "But Mom—you always said we could be whatever we want when we grow up." So then I had to pull my foot out of my mouth and say that they indeed could be whatever they wanted to be. Even a garbage man.

I can't lie though—I really hope that they both change their minds and want to do other thing when they grow up. (Though I really don't want them to grow up, either.)

Happy 3rd Birthday Elle

I just can't believe that my sweet little girl is already three. I know that I said the same thing about Amber turning five but still it just doesn't seem right. J and I keep saying that it is so weird that she is turning three already but at the same time it is hard to believe that she is only three. She seems bigger and acts older. A lot of people are surprised that Elle is so good and can sit and listen and pay attention so well for being so young (says the proud yet bragging mama!).

She is a sweet older sister to Nathan. She is always taking care of him: bringing him his burp cloth when he gets sad or bringing him his drink when she is getting a drink for herself. She is a very caring sister. She does well being the little sister too. Amber is always being the boss and most days Elle plays along really well. She is willing to play the part of the prince so Amber can be the princess. When Amber wants to play with something Elle has she will normally give it up. Elle has always been a little snuggler and thank goodness she still is. I love it when she crawls up in my lap and just wants to sit with me or when there is a movie on and I am doing other things she will come and find me just to see me and help out if she can. We sure do love this little three year old. Happy Birthday little monkey.

Happenings

Elle has been out of a diaper (mostly) for about a month now! It has been great not having to change two little people. She hasn't had many accidents (knock on wood) and just goes when she needs too (I still ask every once in a while just to check). We are still having some trouble with going #2. I don't know what to do. I have tried bribery, common sense, training a doll, and whatever else I can think of. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would really like to have her completely potty trained.

I am so excited that spring is here! We have been spending a lot of time outside playing, going on picnics, playing at parks, going canoeing, going on walks, and feeding the ducks. All the kids want to be outside. Nathan has started finding his shoes and holding them up and whining until you put them on and take him outside. It is really going to be hard on them when it gets hot. Here are a couple of pictures of some of the things we have been up to, as well as a video from the visit to a friends farm. You can check out J's take on things here.

Love Nathan's face in this one. He wasn't feeling well and wasn't happy to be here.

Sick Nathan's only time in the canoe was when it was on the grass being cleaned out.

All 3 of them are on iPods (2 on touch's and 1 on an iPhone)

Look at these cute kids. I sure do love them.

This little piggy, nerds, and steps

So today Amber was doing 'this little piggy' to Nathan's little toes and she has a little different version than I do. It goes something like this:

Starting with big toe:
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had pizza,
This little piggy went to primary,
and this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home.

It cracked me up. She doesn't like roast beef so she changed it to pizza and I guess she didn't want any little piggies to have none so they got to go to primary instead.


Here is a fun video of Elle eating nerds


Nathan is starting to try and walk here and there. Here is a silly picture of him in Mr. Potato Head glasses and a video of him taking a few steps.