Phone Dump

This is what happens when I get behind on blogging: a whole post where my phone throws up on the blog. The poor quality photos are because of my phone. If the pictures are really bad, those are from Sam's phone.

Papa and Gramma Neil sent Alex money for his birthday. We took him to the store and let him pick out his own toy. He had enough money for two toys. He was so happy. When we got to the check-out, he stared at the candy but didn't ask for anything. That was insane because he asks for candy every time. But I guess he figured he already had his prize and he wouldn't be able to get any candy. I bent down and whispered to him that he could get a piece of candy if he wanted. His face lit up. He was so happy. We let him hand the cashier his money. He seemed so grown up.

We made awesome edible fingerpaint with our friends. The kids were such a mess but not because of the fingerpaint. It was because Alex grabbed the food coloring off the counter and spilled it all over himself and Edison.

Alex: Mommy, can Alyssa be my mommy?
Emily: Why?
Alex: I like her.
Emily: *tears*

This park seems to have a strong oil theme. I love that they built a teeter-totter oil rig.

The boys found this awesome bench at the park that someone added nice graffiti saying, "Wecome to Boomtown." I am sure they meant to write "Welcome" but "Wecome" seems so much more fitting. Because it is true, we come, everyone come. I am a lunatic.

Mike and Sam went to the park to play tennis so Alyssa and I tagged along with the kids.

Edison has a serious crush on these girls. Holding hands while being pushed in the stroller. That's commitment.

Edison was the least cuddly baby. I am not sure why he changed, but I love it. He climbs up on my lap all the time just to snuggle now. In other news, I found a gray hair.

Alex: Can I have a dessert?
Emily: What kind of dessert?
Alex: Actually, can I have an apple?

 

Our food woes continue. Alex takes hours to finish his dinner each night. Or he will stuff it all in his mouth so he can't chew and then he will gag. One night, it took him an hour and 20 minutes to finish one slice of pizza. After he stuffs all his food in his mouth, he can hold it in there for hours. One day, he woke up from his nap and I asked him what he was eating. His lunch. He had never chewed it. I am glad he didn't choke in his sleep, but I worry about his teeth rotting.

An unfortunate habit Alex has developed is picking his nose. We have been working on it, so he knows he shouldn't do it. That leads to him using awesome excuses like, "But I didn't eat it this time!" Or this fabulous conversation:
Emily: Whatcha doin?
Alex: My finger got put in my nose. Don't worry. I wiped my finger on the brown couch.
Emily: Oh good.

I saw this woman walking into WalMart. I considered telling her that her fly was down but I think that was the least of her problems.

Alex: I need more of your yogurt!
Emily: Aren't you full? You've been eating all morning!
Alex: But I still need more energy!

Brothers. That about sums up this picture.

Every toy must be emptied from its basket daily. It makes finding toys difficult. One day I found a balloon Alex couldn't find. He asked me where it was and I said it was by the books. He responded, "Ooh. You're such a good finder."

Emily: Do you guys want to go get the mail?
Alex: Yeeeeaaaaahhh! And Daddy will be so proud of us!

We picked up lunch and met Sam at work one day. He had crumbs spread all over his office by the end of it.

Around 18 months old, Edison transitioned to one nap a day and nursing just once a day (in the morning). The nap transition was rough and the nursing transition was harder. The first night I didn't nurse him, he grabbed my hand and led me into my bedroom so I would feed him. It was so sad to put him in bed instead.

Sam flew to Utah to pick up the truck a few months ago. He stayed with his parents and went running the morning before driving home.

I don't even remember taking this picture but I love it so much. Alex's little dimples and Edison's crooked smile. It's just perfect.

I am trying really hard to not pass on my dislike of bugs to my kids. Sam taught Alex to pick up grasshoppers though. One day, he brought one inside to me. But, oops! He had smashed it on his way in. So nasty.

Alex: Roly polies are not bugs.
Emily: What are they?
Alex: They're roly polies!
Emily: Oh.
Alex: Not bugs.

I spent two hours making dinner for a lady in my ward who had a baby. They called me at 6pm the night before and I had to drop off dinner by 11am. I didn't want to go to the store so I made what I had (baked ziti, salad, and cookies). I didn't even make enough for us so I had to make a separate dinner for our family that night.

Edison is obsessed with this blanket. He grabs it out of his bed all the time to carry it around. He started pulling on one string and has pulled it out really long. I tried working it back into the blanket but he is always picking at it.

Williston is getting cold. We had a full day of winds around 44 MPH. I have never seen so many tumbleweeds. I had to climb under the truck and pull out about ten of them before driving away the next day. They were so prickly!

Shopping with these boys is an adventure. Edison must have gotten hungry and decided the tomatoes looked tasty. We think Edison may be allergic to ranch dressing. His face turns red around his mouth every time he eats it.

Edison is so comfy in his new coat. If he has his hood on, he will fall asleep in his carseat so quickly. Even if it isn't close to nap time.

Sam had to go to Utah for a work meeting. He stayed with his parents and then drove three hours to his meeting, just to find out that the meeting was postponed until the next week. So then he drove three hours back to the airport and flew home. It would have been a worthless trip had he not seen his parents, so although it was just for a few hours, I am glad they were there! Sam has also gone on a trip to Sugar Land where they put him in a super nice hotel and fed him awesome food. And he went to meetings and other work stuff like that. I was jealous of his vacation but he insists it wasn't a vacation. The work meetings were having ice cream breaks though. Come on!