Monday in Alice

Sam had a work trip and his boss suggested that we go with him. We were already planning to go, but it was nice to have permission. The first two days were in a city called Alice. It is a tiny town.

The drive was only a few hours and we stopped halfway to get lunch. We stopped at Subway and Alex took forever to eat. Edison spilled my water cup all over the table, Alex, and the floor. That is better than last time when Edison pulled my entire sandwich on the ground.

We checked into the hotel and it was already past naptime. We tried putting down the boys for their naps but it was a new place and Alex was scared. So he ended up watching TV while Edison took a nap in the crib which we put in the bathroom. I took a nap on the bed. I was hoping to trick Alex into falling asleep but he didn't go for it. During this time, Sam was working out at the hotel's gym.

After naptime, we headed downstairs to check out the pool. Alex decided to pry open the elevator doors. He actually opened them while the elevator wasn't there! Then the elevator wouldn't work and it started buzzing. I am glad we weren't on the elevator yet.

The pool was freezing cold. I didn't even get in. I did get in the hot tub though. Alex got in the pool while we were still putting on sunblock. He was walking down the steps and kept walking. He fell off the last step and was underwater for a few seconds before Sam could get to him. After that, Alex kept saying, "Remember I go underwater? That scary!" In the picture on the right, Alex said, "I working on my tan!"

For dinner, I asked the lady at the front desk of the hotel for restaurant recommendations. She recommended Dairy Queen, Whataburger, and McDonald's. We ended up going to a Mexican restaurant called Taqueria Jalisco No. 6. Our waitress spoke zero English. We pointed to things on the menu. The food was delicious though. It was seriously amazing. It was so authentic and even though I was stuffed, I still ate the delicious, fresh flour tortillas at the end.

We told Alex that after dinner we could go to a park. On our way to the park, he fell asleep so we turned around and went back to the hotel. He woke up as we were putting him in bed and was saying, "Daddy! Daddy! Sam! Saaaaam! I waiting for you, Daddy! You hear me?! Hello!"

Alex slept in the bathroom and Edison slept by the door, behind the closet. It worked well, but I am glad we have more than one bedroom at home!

I stayed in bed reading that night and Sam went out to dinner with coworkers who had just gotten into town. The worst part about Alice: there was hardly any reception on our cellphones. It was so annoying.

A Busy Saturday

A few weeks ago, our Saturday was packed full of fun! We started at the church service project. We were cleaning up the church grounds and mulching around the trees and bushes. I was so surprised how many people showed up! It was quick work and we headed home to wrap a present.

Alex and I left to Tyndal's birthday party. Alex was so excited and talked about this incessantly. He loves birthday parties. It was freezing cold. I cannot believe how cold it was. It was the last day of that though.

That night, I gave the boys haircuts, they got quick baths, we put them in their pajamas, and then we went to get frozen yogurt. That's the practical order to do things. Saturdays as a family are the best.

Garage Sale by Numbers

Hours we each spent preparing for the sale: 13.

Hours we spent working the sale: 6.5

Hourly pay for each of us: $8.

Times we looked at each other and realized something else had been stolen: 12.

Times we were stubborn with lowering prices and ended up getting our way: 20.
Things we should have lowered the price on but didn't and now we still have: 48.

 Total earnings: $311.70.

While we were organizing things inside the house, Edison kept getting into everything. He found these pacifiers and carried them all over the place.



We counted our earnings and then went to the store. We turned in our coins and got a gift card to the grocery store so there wouldn't be a fee. It worked out perfectly.



I had told myself that if we didn't earn at least $300 then I wouldn't have another garage sale. But I think it was totally worth it, and since we seem to relocate and change our needs a lot, we will probably have a lot more garage sales.

My Growing Boy

Alex is getting so big. He is saying the most insane things. I feel like I have to write down something he says every single day so I can remember to tell Sam. Alex is my entertainment. There are so many things to say and record, I can't keep up with everything. I want to remember everything he is doing right now.

-One day at lunch, he said, "I'm making pizza dough" and then chucked his sandwich in the air.

-If he is cold in the car, he won't just say that he is cold. He will say that his pants are cold or his shirt is cold.

-He really likes telling us what we can or cannot do, in his mind. No singing, no peekaboo, no picking up Edison, etc.

-He says he needs something.

-He calls the sun a "Big daddy moon."

-When counting, he says, "13" over and over.

-He tilts his head back while wearing sunglasses. Multipurpose: He looks really cool and his glasses stay on.

-I will occasionally find bugs in the toilet. Daddy taught him how to do it. So now Alex will pick up bugs and throw them in the toilet. Size is no obstacle.

-He loves playing Hide and Seek but if I take too long to find him, he will finally just say, "Is he under the couch? Yes!"

-He is very afraid of the Cookie Monster. We told him that if he doesn't have any cookies in bed then the cookie monster won't bother him. One night, I could hear Sam over the baby monitor growling, "Hey all you cookies get outta here!" Every night before bed, Alex has to lie down on his floor, peek under his bed, and say, "You get out of here you Cookie Monster, you mister!"

-If we call him Buddy, he says, "I not Buddy! I Alex!"

-I was driving his trains around and he said, "Stop driving like a crazy person!"

-He always wants to see his or Edison's poops after diaper changes.

-One day I asked him, "Who's poopy?" I knew he was poopy. His response was, "Umm, not Edison."

-I said, "Should we get you dressed, Alex?" He responded, "I want to get naked!"

-He says, "This kid driving me." I think he means "This kid is driving me crazy." Maybe I say that too much?

-Sam said, "Are you poopy?" He responded, "Yes my are!" instead of "Yes, I am!"

-He always says he needs a tickle wipe. It means he wants a wipe and then he uses it to tickle his face. So strange.

-Alex was asking Edison, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Nugget?"

-At lunch he was playing with his strawberries and said, "Oh no! Don't eat me, Alex!"

-We were making pumpkin pie and he wanted me to stay in the kitchen to finish making it. I told him that we were going to go play while it was baking but he wouldn't accept that. He said, "Get out my way! I'm playing. Stay in kitchen! Make recipe!!"

Alex likes us to hold him down while we brush his teeth. He actually asks for us to do this! If he won't open his mouth, we have to plug his nose though.

Seeing Alex read scriptures makes me so happy. He really likes reading Sam's Chinese dictionary, too.

He has grown up so fast, he already has to shave.

He loves being outside. It makes our days go so much better if he gets to play outside for a few hours.

He has to bring in the garbage can now. All by himself. He is so grown up!

Sometimes our neighbor's grand kids bring over their dog and Alex watches it through the fence.

We aren't pushing potty training yet, but we let him go when he tells us he needs to.

Seeing Alex and Edison happily playing together brings me so much joy!

Why?

Alex is very clearly in the "Why?" stage. It has been my goal to never say, "Because I said so" to him. I have found a way around that by saying, "Because I'm the boss and you need to be obedient." I know that asking questions is a way of learning and I don't want to stifle his thirst for knowledge. I didn't realize how aggravating the incessant whys can become.

Today we decided to count how many times he said "Why?" It wasn't as many as I was expecting, but I also think I may have missed some. I have become somewhat numb to the whys. I just automatically answer and then I realize I have missed a few whys. The total count for today was 175. At breakfast alone, he asked "Why?" twenty-eight times. He had one run of 53 whys.

Our only relief is to ask him "Why?" in return. He gets so flustered. He says, "Betuz, betuz... I don't know!" It is hilarious.

Parties for Barbara

(I cannot believe how bad these pictures turned out. I guess that's what I get for using my phone.)

Barbara and I served together in the Young Women Presidency. It was so fun to celebrate her impending marriage and then party once she was married!

The theme for the bridal shower was Knotted in Love. I made 40 soft pretzels. They were delicious.

Barbara had to answer questions and if she got them wrong, she had to put a marshmallow in her mouth. To avoid putting them in, she started throwing them at Melanie.

Her bachelorette party was crazy. I went home just before midnight and then learned the next morning that the rest of them had stayed until 3am. Yikes.

Sam and I had a babysitter lined up and it was supposed to be a date night but we ended up canceling the babysitter because the boys were too sick. I was exhausted by the time I got to the reception. We had been up early because we had a garage sale and I was sick, too. But it was still fun, the food was delicious, and the dancing was hilarious. It was a good night, I just wish my date had been with me.

These ladies were supposed to bring things for decorating the car but they forgot so their husbands went and bought things at the gas station. Then they all chugged Dr. Pepper so they could have empty cans to tie onto the car.

Ben was watching Barbara and her dad dance. It made me cry because it was so cute.

It was so windy. We tied a kite to the top of the car and it actually flew while they drove off! I was impressed.

Now they have moved to Canada. They are definitely missed but I am so happy they met each other and are happy together!

Boys Night at the Jazz Game

Sam took Alex on a date to the Utah Jazz game when they were in town against the Rockets. Edison and I were home sick. 

The next day I asked Alex, "What did you do at the game?" He said, "Eat some food. Pretzel and pizza. I eat some pretzel and pizza, Mommy. Soda. I drink some soda. That was yummy. I run away when basketball game all done."

Easter 2012

The day before Easter, we colored Easter eggs. We undressed the boys so they wouldn't dye their clothing. As soon as we colored a few, I would take them away and peel them because I was making deviled eggs to take to dinner at our friends' house. They have an awesome new swing set and the boys loved playing on it.

Easter morning, the boys found their baskets that the Easter bunny had hidden.

At the SLB Easter egg hunt, they gave all of the kids bags of goodies. Alex never opened his, so we just put all of that stuff in his basket. It was nice! Then I got him a Thomas toy because he loves trains. But I didn't tell Sam I had gotten it. Then Sam got Alex a Cars character car and didn't tell me. Basically, we spoiled Alex.

When we got home from church, I had to make lunch in only a few minutes. Sam had a taxi coming to take him to the airport. We ate quickly, put down the boys for naps, and then Sam left to Midland for a few days. I forgot to take a picture of the boys in their Sunday outfits, but they were very cute.

Opening Day

Before we entered the stadium for the game, we played at the splash pad at Discovery Green. The water was freezing but the boys acted like they didn't even notice.

Alex kept chasing us around and trying to get us wet. It was very cute.

This game was a little rough to get through. The boys kept kicking the people in front of us. Alex actually dumped a ton of popcorn on the head of the guy in front of us. They were cracking up about it so I guess they weren't too mad. Our solution for getting through the game was to just keep feeding the boys.

After the game were fireworks. We had planned to leave but we were walking down when they started so we just found a seat and watched from there.