Maybe too much

You know that your son has watched Transformers one to many times when he can recite the opening speech word for word before the actual movie even starts...

The Gift

For Cole's birthday he got lots of wonderful gifts. He amazingly plays with all of them but his all time favorite is his bumblebee tranformer. The thing is probably a foot tall and talks and his eyes light up blue among other cool things. Well, on the way home from his party at the zoo (the day he got the toy) it had been a long day and neither kids had gotten a nap. About 25 minutes from home, Aly announced she had had enough by screaming at the top of her lungs and crying nonstop. Cole tried several different ways to make her stop crying and none of them work. Then about 5 minutes from home she suddenly stopped crying. I assumed she had just finally given up from exhaustion, but when I opened her door to get her out I found the happiest baby with the biggest smile - holding her big brothers brand new bumblebee. When I asked why he had given it to her his response was, "I didn't want her to cry anymore".

Happy 3rd Birthday Coulson

Monday, my little boy turned 3. I can't believe 3 years have already flown by. It seems like it has gone so fast and yet I have a hard time remembering a time in my life when Coulson was not a part of it. He is the best thing that ever could have happened to me - he made me a mom. As a woman you could never image loving anyone more than your husband until they put that little bundle into your arms and you truly feel love like you have never know. These last 3 years have been the best and most challenging. But what an adventure it has been. Never before I have met someone who makes me literally want to scream and rip my hair out, and the next has done the sweetest thing you can think of. My sweetest challenge.Coulson LOVES life. He is constantly trying to make everyone laugh. He is sweet, thoughtful and loves to be around people. His little imagination is amazing. Watching him grow up has been such a joy. He is also very active and very curious. He just loves to figure things out, take things apart, and pushing everything to the limit. Everyone is an instant friend in his book and he calls everyone little buddy.

He likes Transformers, playing outside, wrestling with Dad, playing with Aly, swimming, chicken nuggets, laughing, making everything a game (including our attempts to discipline him), playing with friends, dinosaurs, He-Man, snuggling with Mom, running, singing and the list truly goes on. He lives life out loud.

His dislikes include sitting still, being sent to his room, when Aly cries (or anybody for that matter, he tries to make them feel better), and potty training.

Bret and I love this little boy so much. We are so thankful that the Lord sent him to our home and because of that we have become better people.

Party and the Zoo

This weekend Joanie and Ray came down to celebrate Ray and Cole's birthdays. They stopped by Friday night to see Spencer and Mary some of Bret's cousins that were staying the night with us before they ran the Ogden Marathon the next morning. It was so fun to sit and visit with everyone. The next morning Bret woke up way early and was out the door at 6am for 18 holes of golf with the boys. I woke with the kids and went out to talk with Mary before she headed out to run the last leg of the marathon with Spence. It was so fun to talk with her and get to know her better. The kids just loved having her there. Then I quickly got the kids ready and grabbed a quick shower before we went to pick up Grams (Joanie). When then headed to Walmart to pick up some last minute items and had quite the adventure there. It involved Cole (go figure) and a bottle of spray on sunscreen that some how managed to explode all over the items we were buying (including a lot of clothes). After cleaning that up we headed to McDonald in SLC where we met up with the boys and Brook and her two boys. We ate some lunch and then sang Happy Birthday, ate yummy cake, and opened presents.

We then headed for the zoo.
After the zoo Bret and I met up with Joanie, Ray, Joyce and Scott at Olive Garden for a small dinner to celebrate Ray's birthday.
It was a very busy but very fun day! It was a great way to celebrate two birthdays. Thanks to everyone that came and helped make the day special for Cole.

Mother's Day

I know this is late but life happens sometimes. My Mother's Day was wonderful. All I asked for was a morning to sleep in and breakfast in bed. So Saturday we celebrated because we have 9am church on Sunday so that doesn't make for any sleeping in. My sweet husband and son woke me at 8am on Saturday (I had already slept in 2-3 hours past when I usually get up with my early rising kids) with an amazingly delicious breakfast - a breakfast burrito and biscuits and gravy. My two absolute favorites. Cole was so excited to watch me eat breakfast. It was just so cute. What a wonderful gift. The rest of the day we did as we wanted and just enjoyed a relaxing day. In the afternoon Bret took me with some friends to see Ironman 2. I enjoyed the time with him and it has been a long time since we went to a movie. It was a great day for me. Sunday started off rough with unhappy kids and poor Bret waking up very sick. I remember at one point Bret apologizing for the way the day was going and the thought that occurred to me was "What a better way to celebrate being a mother than doing exactly what made me a mom - taking care of my amazing little family."
I love being a mom. I am also very thankful for this amazing women in my life
I would not be the mom I am today without her amazing influence and example. My Mom taught me so much - sacrifice, endless love for her children, selflessness - we as her children always came first in her life as we still do now. I love being a mom and I know that her example of loving being a mom helps me through all my difficult days. If I were to ask he to come up tomorrow because I needed her, she would drop everything and be here. I can't even express in words what that means to me. She is also the most amazing grandmother EVER. My kids just love her so much and she plays and does so much with them. She just dotes on them. The name of Nana is a daily word in our household. Every night my son blesses her to be safe in his prayers because he too recognizes a very special woman. Thank you Mom for everything you have done and continue to do. We love you more than words can say.

And I can't forget the other amazing Mother in my life -
My sweet second mother. I have learned so much from her. As many know my husband was not an easy child and my son Coulson is basically his Dad's clone. Joanie has helped to teach me how to find more patience when I feel like I am all out, and to endure the many "adventures" I have with Cole. She has helped me to see that he is my joyful challenge. It has been nice to have the support over the phone and know that she survived through Bret so I will survive with Cole. She has also taught so many knew things like making chocolates and the joy of cooking. Every time I go visit she has a new cooking tip to teach me. I am still not as good as she is at cooking(she is amazing) but I have grown to love it more thanks to her. She too loves her grand kids. She loves to see them happy and laughing and they love her back.

I have truly been blessed with two wonderful examples of how mothers should be.

Just in Case...

Is there anyone out there that would love to make this
for me just in case I don't win it here from the amazing Ms. Melanie?

Sugar Sugar - Yum

This morning for breakfast my son decided that he needed sugar on his cereal. I thought he was playing pretend because I knew the sugar was put away is a "Cole Safe" place. So I continued to nurse Aly on the couch and listen to him talk and eat. Then he stated that he needed "just a little bit more". I started to get suspicous especially when I saw his little arm shake like he was actually putting something on his cereal. So I got up to check it out. My sweet son had put "sugar" on his cereal except it wasn't sugar - it was garlic powder. My new bottle of garlic powder sat on the table next to him now half empty. Yum!

I am Optimusprime

Last night Coulson disappeared - and this took his place.

Coulson is in love with transformers (the movie). He asks to watch it 3 times a day (he usually gets it once if he completes his chores.) Last night as I was trying get him ready for bed he was jumping off the back of the couch and shooting everything with his "guns" aka fingers and just having a blast. Not abnormal. But when I asked Coulson to please settle down for bed his response was "No Mommy, I am Optimusprime!" (said in a low gravely voice) I responded that that was pretty cool and then again asked Coulson to settle down for bed. He responded again that he was not Coulson but Optimusprime (again in a low gravely voice). At that point I got smart and ask Optimus to settle down for bed. It worked.

Then this morning Bret wanted him to go the bathroom and told he that if he didn't Megatron was gonna come and get him. Coulson asked who Megatron was and Bret's response was "I am Megatron".

Instead of having the effect Bret was looking for (Cole going to the bathroom so Megatron wouldn't get him) Cole started beaming and smiling and happily proclaimed "You are Megatron? I am Opitmusprime!!!". I just love his little imagination. I'm thinking that in a week for his birthday we will be having a transformers party!

Fun with Friends and Volcanos

On Saturday two of my favorite old roommates,Krystal and Valerie, met up with me in Salt Lake City, Utah for breakfast. We had so much fun talking over our meals of choice (all of us of the breakfast buffet yum). We talked from 9:30am till 12:30 when Val had to leave to catch a plane back to California. She was down just for a couple day to attend Women's Conference at BYU. We talked about just about everything and it felt just like when we used to live with each other. I just loved it and love the influence both of these women have had in my lives. Thanks girls for such a great time and for being such great friends!!!

starting left:Valerie, Krystal, Erin

When I came home to see if my house was still standing after Bret watching the kids I found this
a home made volcano that Bret had built together with Cole. They even showed me how it erupted. Can I say awesome? And Cole just loved it. Wow, so nice to come back home and find nothing but an amazing daddy and happy kids! Maybe I should take time off more often...

Roaring with Adventure

Friday, April 30th was Coulson's very first preschool field trip! We went to the Dinosaur Park for the first time. When we first arrived and met up with is class he was so excited to see his teachers Ms. Shelly and Ms. Amy. Then we went inside and every turn and at every dinosaur I heard "Look, look Mom a dinosaur." Or, " LOOK! A T-Rex, that's so cool!". He just LOVED it. We saw all the dinosaurs, made triceratops paper bag puppets, and played on all the dinosaur play toys. His absolute favorite was the one called "Death Match" were you seen a Allosaurus fighting a Brontosaurus to the death and you can hear them growling at each other. We went to the one more than 7 times to see it. When I finally told him we needed to go see other things he begged me to take a picture of it. It was a pretty fun experience and Cole just loved it. After the class parted we went inside to see the dinosaur robots that they have upstairs. Cole wasn't to sure about getting too close but I literally had to drag him away from it to go see other things.

you pass under this as you walk out to the outside park of the Dinosaur Park.
Cole insisted I take a picture for him
This is the T-Rex robot inside
The lake outside where the dinosaurs were able to catch fish
This one is the "Death Match" that Cole LOVED!!
Another robot from inside
Cole being made into Barbecue
Walking with his class