Halloween 2011

We had a wonderful Halloween this year!  Sunday night we carved pumpkins (the boys were mainly interested in stabbing their pumpkins repeatedly...) and made caramel apples (which they wouldn't eat...) and it was a lot of fun.  Andrew and Grant both wanted to be ghosts, for which I was very grateful (cheap and inexpensive costumes--love it!) and John's coworker was kind enough to whip up the ghost costumes for us since I've been a little preoccupied with prepping for Mr. Baby.  On Halloween, we stopped by the church trunk-or-treat and then went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  Grant was SO into it, running from house to house (I lost track of how many times he tripped and fell) and Andrew was the one hanging back saying "I don't think anyone's home, Grant" or "My feet hurt!"  In all fairness to Andrew though, he was apparently coming down with a cold...so maybe that's why he wasn't quite as into it?    Anyway, they both had a lot of fun and are already talking about being ghosts again next year and how excited they are to go trick-or-treating again.  And since we finally have a camera again (yay!), here are some pics:

Andrew and Grant with their pumpkins--Andrew did most of the work on his, all I helped him with was the mouth.

And of course baby brother needs a pumpkin. :)

Drewbie's apple...all he did was eat the marshmallows off of it.

My scary little ghosts!

The ghosts with their ghostbuster. :)

Even baby brother was included!

One of their first houses.

Andrew's First Day of Kindergarten

Somehow Andrew is old enough for school...how did that happen so quickly??  Yesterday he started kindergarten at L.A. Nelson Elementary, and his teacher's name is Ms. Wilson.  We've spent the pat few weeks talking about school, trying to remind Andrew how to act and how to meet people and make friends (I don't think he understood why we were making such a big deal about school...he was probably thinking "It's just school!" sine he's done preschool before).  I let Andrew help with his school supply shopping, and about 80% of his supplies are Star Wars themed, and he picked out a nice button down shirt for his first day...what a cutie!


Being the easy crier that I am (in addition to being a hormonal pregnant whacko) I was very worried that I would bawl when I dropped him off.  John warned me that I needed to be strong for Grant though, so I managed to drop him off without losing it.  Grant, however, started to cry a little and get upset when we dropped Andrew off.  He spent the rest of the day saying "Let's go A-ew's school!" or "Let's go get A-ew!"  Then this morning, day #2, Grant cried and cried when Andrew said he was leaving Grant to go to school.  Poor little guy. 

So handsome!

I can't believe how old he looks!

Awww, brothers!  So cute.

Anyway, by the time school got out yesterday I was SO ready to see my Drewbie.  We talked about his first day...he made some "kind of" friends but he can't remember their names (except for Jesse, who he sits next to).  He had fun on the playground but got a wood chip stuck in his sandal and had to have the adults help him get it out because it hurt.  He ate all of his lunch (love how he made sure to tell me this) and tried to give his teacher an apple (which, might I add, he INSISTED on taking to her) but she wouldn't take it.  I'm guessing she thought it was his lunch and didn't want to take it from him.  Andrew said that they got to color and help decide the classroom rules.  When he went to art, he saw two kids from his t-ball team (too bad they're not in his class!), which was exciting for him.  And that's about all I could get out of him, despite the fact that he was there for seven hours. His teacher seems really nice, and he hardly even said goodbye when I dropped him off today, so I think this kindergarten thing will go well.  For him.  Grant and I are having a harder time, but we'll get used to it.

Grant finally gets a party!

So I've been feeling very guilty because Grant has never had a birthday party with friends, whereas Andrew has had one every year.  I don't mean to seem like I'm playing favorites, Grant's birthday has just been at a chaotic time the past coupe of years.  Anyway, it was a month late, but we finally had a party for him today.  He picked Cars invitations, a Mickey cake, and a star shaped pinata. :)  The original plan was to do the party at the pool, but because of the weather lately the pool was nasty and closed.  So, we moved the party to the house...thank goodness for an awesome sandbox, a hose, and water balloons.  Grant had a blast, thanks to those who came!

Go Grant!

Andrew gets really into it...

Grant's cake...you can tell one of the kids stuck their finger in it right next to Donald. :)  I am still battling with my Cricut Cake, but I will be victorious one day!

Look at that cheesy grin!  Goodness, I love this kid.

Very focused on opening that present....

Grant's awesome boat...he's enjoying this whole present thing!

Love his expression...he's really excited to see that he got a r/c Mater.

At least he was paying attention...

So today in church, the speaker mentioned Nauvoo.  Andrew got all excited and said "Naboo?!?!"  Apparently we focus too much on Star Wars and not enough on church history...


Not five minutes later, the speaker was talking to the children about cleaning their rooms (thereby helping to create a calm, clean home so that you can feel the spirit)...Andrew turned to me and said (quite loudly) "You need to teach us how to clean our room!" 


I'm so glad he was listening!

And for a bit of Grant cuteness...he'll go up to John, look confused and say "Why are you smiling daddy?"  He also has a tendency to call me daddy and John momma.  Love my boys!

Happy Birthday Grant!

Awwww, baby Grant!

Today our awesome Grant (a.k.a. Grantman, Grantastic, G-man, Baby Love) turned 3.  I've been having a hard time wrapping my mind around that...how is he already 3?  These past few years have been kind of a blur, which makes me a little sad and nostalgic (I really need to be better about my journal writing!).  I love Grant so much.  Seriously.  He is the silliest, goofiest, sweetest, cutest, and STUBBORNEST child.  Man, he is stubborn.  When I was 37 weeks pregnant, Grant was still breech and just wouldn't turn.  I very clearly remember thinking that this kid must be stubborn.  He is also such a little ham, he really loves to be goofy and make everyone laugh.  Oh, and listening to him talk in his cute little voice and his cute little sentences just kills me. Andrew and Grant are the best of friends and the worst of enemies.  I'm amazed at how cute they can be with each other, and then five minutes later they're hitting and screaming at each other.  Despite that, ;) Grant has been such a wonderful addition to our family.  Happy birthday Grant, we love you!

Grant at 3 years:
-skinny
-tall (I'll have his stats on Friday...)
-loves Geotrax trains
-loves Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy, Chip and Dale
-can't wait to play baseball like Andrew does 
-calls Andrew "A-eww" (but will also cutely say "Andwew" or "Dwebie" if you ask him to :)

Anyway, for Grant's birthday today we went out to brunch (I had to work tonight, so dinner was out...plus Grant loves eggs and bacon).  After eating, we went and opened presents and ate cupcakes on the lawn outside the courthouse, because it was such a lovely day.  Grant got a new Geotrax set, Tangled, and the second season of Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers (he was VERY much enjoying his presents this afternoon).  And he may or may not have a sandbox forthcoming, but we're still trying to figure that one out. :)  And now for some cute pics!  I was going to post videos, but I'm having issues with Blogger right now.

Love that little face!

 

He's excited!

Couldn't get the candles lit because it was too windy...but he was still cute and excited to be sang to. :)

Make these now...seriously!

I have to share this recipe, because we may or may not have eaten these twice this week...and they are so ridiculously yummy!  Yes, they're bad for you.  That's why we don't have them very often (except for this week...I was just really craving them).  I got this recipe back while I was at BYU.  My roommates and I (hi Emily!  Hi Diana!) went to a church activity and the hostess had made these.  I ate about a million of them and just HAD to get the recipe.  I've never made these for people without having them as for the recipe...yes, they're that good!  Ok, enough hype...

Hot Cheese Canapes

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped onion (white or yellow) *I use my food processor to chop the onions
1 cup mayonnaise (I use light, just FYI...makes me feel a little better ;)


1 baguette, sliced


Mix first four ingredients.  Spoon onto baguette slices (don't be stingy with the amount you put on each slice).  Place under broiler until bubbly and lightly browned (my broiler is broken, so I just cook mine for a few minutes at 425 degrees).

Birthday Festivities continued

Yesterday we had Andrew's Star Wars birthday party.  I was really worried that no one would be able to come because of the weather (just like last year's birthday party that we had to postpone because of weather) but yesterday the sun came out and the temperature was in the 50s, so the icy roads finally improved.  Anyway, Andrew wanted a Lego Clone Wars party, so we (and by we I mean John) put up a bunch of Clone Wars pictures and I did a Lego Clone Wars cake.  Andrew was adamant about having a chocolate AND vanilla cake, so the cake was a yellow cake sandwiched by two chocolate cake layers.  We played musical chairs (very entertaining to watch that 13 four and five year olds play, by the way), a balloon popping relay, and had a lame pull string Darth Vader piñata (what happened to a good old fashioned piñata that the kids get to beat?).  Andrew had a blast and LOVES his presents (for example, he insisted on wearing his Lego Count Dooku watch to bed).  Much thanks to all who came!


Quick side note... my husband is awesome.  Nothing would have been ready for this party if it weren't for him.  While I did the cake, he cleaned the house, did dishes, got the boys ready, decorated, etc.  He even cut out some fondant pieces for me!  Thanks hon!


And now for some pictures...

Happy birthday Andrew!

The cake.  As always, there are a lot of things I see wrong with it (I can't help myself!) but overall I'm happy with it (and Andrew loved it, which is what really matters).  I made Anakin and Obi-wan (I made Obi-wan out of fondant, hence why he doesn't look as good as Anakin  and has to be leaning up against the cake).

I obviously didn't make the ship, or the small lego guys...I ran out of time. :)  

The aforementioned Lego Count Dooku watch.

So excited!

Looking forward to weather good enough so that we can take this out to play.

"I just love you mommy..."

I need to be better about remembering to record the sweet and funny things that Andrew says.  So...

This morning Andrew came into my room and told me that he had a bad in dream.  In his bad dream I apparently said "I love Grant, but I don't love you!"  How sad is that!  I hope that's not his subconscious manifesting a feeling that he has.

In school today Andrew said they learned about lions, and when I asked Andrew where lions were from (I had noticed a bunch of info about Africa written on the white board, so I was expecting his answer) he said "They're from Euro."  I asked him again, but he still insisted that lions are from "Euro."  Apparently one of us is confused...

When I put him down for a nap today (yes, he still naps...he wakes up early, and I figure if he'll still nap, well...why not?) he said: "I'll just never never never stop loving you mommy." :)  

Happy birthday Andrew!

Five years ago today, Andrew joined our family.  I remember the day so well, and sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday.  I can't believe that it's been five years already!  And then other times I'm surprised that it has only been five years; Andrew is such an integral part of my life, I can't remember what it was like before I became his mom.  

For some reason, this particular birthday has made me kind of emotional for the past few weeks.  I think it's because when I look at Grant, I feel like I can't remember what Andrew was like at that age and it upsets me.  How can I not remember?  It was only 2 1/2 years ago!  And yet...I'm scared that I'm not going to remember all of this time with them.  And Andrew is growing up so fast and getting ready to go to school in the fall, and I know things will never be the same.  I mourn the loss of the younger Andrew I knew, but I so much love the person he is now.  The other day I found a sound clip of Andrew from when he was about 2, and hearing that voice made me cry.  Being a mother can be emotional (or if you're already an emotional person like me, it's REALLY emotional).  I'm incapable of expressing how much I love Andrew, and how grateful I am that he is a part of our lives.  It would be a serious understatement to say that he has taught me a great deal about myself, my purpose, and my Savior's love for me.  Happy birthday Andrew!!

I'm done with my sappy tangent.  On to the birthday celebrations!

Andrew was served his most favorite breakfast, Swedish pancakes (dyed blue) and then we were able to all go bowling together (I love that his birthday fell on a holiday this year!).  Andrew bowled a 76, which isn't too shabby!  He was really upset though whenever he missed a few pins, so I think we need to work on his sportsmanship. :)  

So excited (and incapable of looking at the camera).

Pouting after not getting "all the pins".

Grant is excited too!  Still not sure why neither kid can smile normally for a picture...

After bowling, Andrew was lucky to be able to go play at his friend Jack's house.  When he got home, he was able to sit and play Wii with daddy (always exciting) and then we had beef tacos for dinner.  This kid LOVES his tacos and ate six of them.  We then moved on to presents; Andrew got some books, puzzles, a Polar Express remote control train set, playdough, Legos, and a new bike! Now, I realize that sounds like a lot, but that includes presents from both sets of grandparents (and most of the presents I got were on clearance).  Anyway, Andrew is VERY excited about his new toys, though poor Grant had a hard time understanding the concept that these were Andrew's toys. 

Legos!  He loves 'em!  Thanks Grandpa Dave and Grandma Becky.

Yeah, he *might* kind of like Star Wars.  

And the bike, courtesy of grandpa Jeff/grandma Chris and Mommy and Daddy:

After presents we feasted on cake and ice cream.  I made chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling (which is a fancy way of saying I mixed smashed Oreos into the Swiss meringue buttercream that I filled the cake with).  The outside of this cake was frosted in plain Swiss meringue buttercream.  Because I want to have a birthday party for Andrew in a couple of weeks (at which point I will be making a Star Wars cake) I just made a simple cake.  And what's up with the cowboy theme you ask?  Well, I got a Cricut Cake machine for Christmas, and at this point in time I only have 3 cartridges.  The birthday cartridge has lots of fun stuff (dinosaurs, robots, princesses, cowboys, etc.) and I picked the cowboy because I thought it had the most fun elements.  Since it was my first time using the machine, I didn't get much done, just a few embellishments.  I had trouble cutting happy birthday, so I had to pipe it on using leftover buttercream (which was the same blue as the frosted cake, so it really just blended in...oh well!).  Anyway, Andrew loved the cake and I had fun using my new toy.  I can't wait to make his Star Wars cake!

I love this boy!

It took several tries to blow out the candles...and then Grant cried because he didn't get a turn.  Ahhh, kids. :)