Prepare For Picture Overkill

But I don't care if it's overkill because I love this little family, and I love these pictures that we had done.  And since this blog is about us for us, I think pictures of us are a great idea.  You'll just have to scroll past the glurge if you don't like it.  Seriously, Allison, you are a great photographer.  Thanks for capturing such sweet/fun times in our home.

Snow Day!

Facts about the weather here:

Albuquerque is in the northern upper region of the  Chihuahuan Desert.  Its elevation is between 4900 and 6700 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest in the United States.  The climate is hot and dry though tempered by the high elevation. There are an average of 3,420 hours of sunshine per year.  Winters are brief but definite.  Spring is windy, warm, and dry.  Summer temperatures are between 90 and 100 degrees and are very tolerable because of the low humidity.  Fall has mild days and cool nights.  

In short, the weather is pretty awesome with each season being mild and enjoyable.  We happened to get a little bit of snow this past week and with it came a three day vacation from school!

The boys had such a great time sledding at our friends' house.  Cyrus decided to skip the sled and just scoot down the dirt bank.  It was cute.  When I finally got Cy to go down with me, we got the bottom of the hill and he said, "gin."  (again).  So we went again and again and again and again and again.

Fun With Cy

Cyrus is always up for a good time whether that means putting on 20 shirts and 12 pair of underwear at one time

 or letting Dad give him a drawing of underwear on his back.  Let's hope we aren't responsible for thousands of dollars worth of therapy in his adult life.

It's Turkey Day!

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  The day before the boys and I went to a little walking area near the Rio Grande and picked up some pretty leaves and big sticks for table decorations.  They weren't really into finding the decor, but they really loved climbing the trees and kicking the dirt.  Cyrus especially thought he was free and ran around everywhere just enjoying himself.

 On the morning of, my good friend Melissa and I ran a little 5K called the Hobbler Gobbler.  It was fun, and I was sure that a 5K was no biggie, but it turns out that an uphill course is hard!  I ran it, but it made my legs super sore.  As always, the best part of the race is seeing my guys at the end. It always make me feel like I want to cry.  I think because everything all at once is great - - - it makes me feel so grateful for my able body that I can ran and be strong.  It makes me feel happy to see that I have a sweet husband and healthy children.  And that they love me and cheer for me.  It was a nice way to start the day.  As for dinner, I had prepared most of it the night before, and I finished up the day of.  I killed the yeast for the rolls the first time around and had to make a second batch. It was nice to be able to do that and not stress about being ready at a certain time.  It was ready when it was ready and we ate when we wanted.  The second batch of rolls turned out just fine, except I made them super huge.  Everyone pretty much had a submarine sandwich roll.  Still, bread is so yummy, who cares???

The dollar store supplied our fancy glasses and table decor.  I think we all felt very ritzy with our stemware.

At Family Home Evening on Monday, we all told what we were thankful for:

Cyrus: Fun brothers, puppies, diapers, Elmo,and a carseat
Wyatt: Onix (pokemon) & Geo dude (also pokemon)
Calvin:  Our God
Mom:  Warm House, Electricity, Food, Handsome Hubby, and Healthy Kids
Dad:  The Banditos, and His Wifey (He wrote me a sweet little Thankful note, but that stays personal, so quit bugging me about it)

Thursday night I went black-fridaying and scored a couple of good things.  You'll have to wait until Christmas like everyone else to see what it is.  Friday and Saturday were really lame though because Noah had to work.  We missed him a lot and got pretty bored without him.

Here is one pre-race pic.  Can you spot me?  Just look for the sassy, cute, black skirt and leggings-wearing doll with the short hair.  Then look to the right and you will be able to see me in the pink shirt, black pants and stringy ponytail.  If you could see me from the front, you would say, "Wow!  You look so different without your make-up!"  To switch I would say, "Even an old barn looks better with a fresh coat of paint."  boo. yah.  Joke of the day.

And Another Birthday!! And It's Late Too!!

 Wyatt turned 5 on Halloween!  He's quite the five year old, and he entertains us everyday.  Here you can see him at his birthday party.  He wanted an Onix (pokemon character) birthday cake.  Onix is a creature made out of 17 boulders.  Yeah, it was a weird cake, but I felt good that I could deliver on his important day.  While looking strange, it actually tasted pretty good.

 So, anyway, our Wyatt.  He's five, and it feels like he has been for a long time.  He is his own person, and he knows how he feels about most everything.  He is happy and funny and easy to be around.  He usually just wants to snuggle under the "feel better blanket."  Yes, that's an actual item that exists at our house.  Any it works!  (on adults too).  He loves to dress up like different characters, unless it involves a mask because, as he says, "it freaks him out."  So, no spidey masks around here.  From 9-4, Wyatt owns this place, until Calvin gets home from school.  He plays with Cyrus and chases him while they both laugh. He is a joy to have in our family.  What would we do without Wyatt?

It must be mentioned that Wyatt uses his middle finger (which he calls either "tall man" or his "shooter blaster") for many things.  He uses it to point out an object, as a gun to shoot imaginary villains, or to scratch his cheek.  Just today, while we were sitting in the front row at church, he used it to point to a light on the ceiling.  He pointed out this light for a good 20 seconds, while those in pews behind us were left to wonder just what sort of things we are teaching our children.  Well, the secret is out:  we teach them to flip the bird at church.  But seriously, it was a little awkward, but not so awkward that Noah and I couldn't help but laugh.  I even caught a pic of Wyatt using his "shooter blaster" for you.  He was upset that we were getting on the plane to come back to New Mexico from Tennessee.  He was pointing to any airplane. Or flipping off the pilot.  I'm not exactly sure.  

Cyrus looks a little shocked that his brother would give him the finger, no?

Wyatt,

You are the best!  I am trying to savor every minute we have together this year before you have to start school next year.  You have always been so easy and so sweet.  Will you always be that way, please?  Thanks to you.  I love watching you get excited about things you love.  I love to see how easily you get along with your friends and that you try your hardest to be a good friend.  I think that is a great quality to have.  

xoxo,

Mom

To Remember about Wy Guy:

• He goes to sleep so easily.  Sometimes as he is going to bed, he will say, "Can you guys keep it down out there?  I'm trying to sleep.
• He always tries to skip me in Uno.  Always.  Even if it's just the two of us.
• He can read pretty well.
• One night at dinner, he addressed us as "citizens."  And when it made us laugh, he also called us, "fellows."  He's always up for a good laugh.
• Wyatt is a natural leader, and he is not afraid to just be himself.
• He still hates dinner.  Even if I served him chocolate cake and called it "dinner" he would hate it based solely on principle.
• He loves a good ham and cheese sandwich, which is something you know I like.
• Wyatt has a high pain tolerance.  Things that I would think would really hurt, he just shakes off.  
• He and Calvin love to turn flips on our bed.  Yeah, we need a trampoline.
• He can do really great impressions of people/cartoon characters/etc.  You should see his Wario or hear his Pidove (pokemon character).

Happy Be-lated Be-Birthday Be-Awesome Be-Dude

 Well, you could say that I'm a little late with this birthday wish.  That is an understatement.  But, it still must be posted!  October 6th came and went with the perfect amount of celebration for our newly minted 2 year old.  The boys and I were visiting the peeps in Tennessee, and so we had a nice little party for all three of them at Memaw and Pepaw's house. (I still don't know how to spell those words).  Cyrus also scored some birthday morning doughnuts, two candles, and the birthday song on his actually day.  Doughnuts are always yummy.  Always.

Cyrus,
You are an awesome little guy.  We've only been friends for two years!  I can hardly believe that there are people that I have known longer than you because you have been in my heart forever.  You are the sweetest and cutest bandito, as voted by your peers.  I have to agree.  I'm pretty sure that you have no idea that you are two.  I think that you think you are at least 10, maybe 12.  You hang around with your brothers like you have always been here. It's adorable.

Much, much love,
Your Mom

A few facts about our resident two year old:

• He is already trying out our patience with his terrible twos, complete with tantrums and tears.  Lucky for him, I've seen this before, and I have an idea or two what to do.
• Just the other day, he saw a picture of MacCulley Culkin with his hands on his cheeks (from Home Alone), and he came to get me and show me the picture.  When I looked at it and then looked at him, he had his hands on both sides of his cheeks.  Too cute.
• He loves puppies, and probably more that his big brother Wyatt.
• He likes to pretend that he knows how to read.  He sits beside the stack of library books and opens them one at a time, turning the pages on his lap, and softly mumbling made up stories. 
• Elmo, Pablo (from Backyardigans), and the Wonder Pets have been popular cartoons.
• When he sees anything that he thinks has a mean/serious face (jack-o-lanterns, spider-man, me, bums on the street, old people, etc.) he grits his teeth, shakes his head back and forth, and makes a growling noise.
• He starts almost everything he says with, "Mom, mom, mom." (Said quickly and did I mention before EVERYTHING?)
• He likes to eat croutons, just like his father. :)
• He is saying more and more each day, including: taco, pablo, elmo, uh-oh, uh-huh, hi, love, bye, puppy, da-da, ma-ma, ball, ballon (said none), light.
• He got a tricycle for his birthday.  We have a slight decline in our driveway, and he goes down so fast, lifting his feet up so he goes very fast, and scares his mom to death while he giggles.

7 Years Old

The Birthday Boy is getting ready to say, "Pikachu!" (for all you non-Pokemon types, that is the name of his favorite character and also the guy who is on his cake.

Calvin got a Pokemon index for his birthday, and he loves it.  And so do we.  I love to listen to Pokemon stats everyday all day.  

For his birthday Calvin wanted to do this bungee/trampoline/bouncy thingy at the mall.  He loved it, but he loved it very cautiously.  He was a teeny bit afraid, but still managed to crank out a few flips.  Wyatt and I were too scared to try.

And last, but not least, we sang to him, and we ate cake.

Dear Calvin,

I have started to dread writing you this letter every year because it means that there is one more year come and gone and one less year you are mine.  Six was a great year for you.  Looking back it seems like you have matured so much.  Your sense of humor is getting so cute, and I love to listen to you laugh when you think something is funny.  It is contagious.  

Thank you for such a wonderful year.  Thank you for learning to ride your bike so that I have a buddy to ride along with me.  It is fun to look for giant rabbits and lizards on our outings.  You are a good boy, Calvin.  I can see that in your heart.  You always try to do the right thing, and that makes me proud.  I love that are so bright and competent in your schooling.  I hope that you will always keep that same drive.  I like to help out in your classroom and watch you as you go about your school work.  I'm so impressed that you know the water cycle (among many other things).  I don't think I knew that at your age.  You are amazing!

You are such an important part of our family.  You are a good big brother to Wyatt and Cyrus.  I know that you get frustrated having to deal with Wyatt's antics, but I am glad when you are patient with him.  You two are becoming such good friends.  He admires you and tries to be like you because you are such a great big brother.  Thank you for being so sweet to Cyrus.  He loves you and tries to be just like you too.  He will grow up looking to see how you act.  Thank you for getting him out of his bed in the morning and getting him little snacks.  That is adorable.  Sometimes I purposely don't get him out of bed because I like to watch you carry him into our room. 

As I mentioned, you are very into Pokemon.  I have some learning to do.  Mario and Thomas characters have been easy for me to learn, but these new guys are swimming in my head.  There are so many of them, and you seem to know them all and everything about them.  

"There were bells on a hill, but I never heard them ringing.  No, I never heard them at all 'til there was you."  It's true. I knew life was sweet and good and wonderful, but I had not idea how much until you came along.  You changed my life forever and ever, and I wouldn't go back for anything in this world.  I hope for everything good to come into your life as you grow up, and I hope that you become a Dad just like your Dad.  I hope that you find as much happiness in your role as a parent as Daddy and I do.  I hope that you grow up and are successful and happy and good.  But just don't do it yet.  Don't grow up, or if you must go easy on me and don't do it quickly.  Sometimes I think how rich my life is with my little family, and I feel so grateful.  It's all I have ever wanted.  

I love you.

xoxoxo Mom

Things to Know about our New 7 Year Old:

- He likes to wear comfy shorts (anything non-jean) as soon as he gets home from school and on weekends

-He is a very good writer and likes to rewrite books that he has read complete with his own illustrations

-Oatmeal is still his favorite food, and he eats it at least twice a day,  and probably more if I would let him.

-He is so strong that he can bring in the big garbage cans from the street every Thursday without breaking a sweat.

-If he thinks that what he is asking you is too much, he will say, "Don't worry about it." (cute)

-Like a true boy, he is most comfortable sleeping in his underwear.

-He doesn't need any help getting ready. He can shower, dress, brush his teeth, and pack his lunch all on his own.

-He loves to cook and even invented his own recipe "Milk Muffins." They need a little tweaking, but I'm sure after he does, they will no longer be a liquid muffin, but more of a bready one.

-He is a great prayer.  He says the sweetest, most genuine prayers.

-He loves to dance, especially to "Dynamite" "Party Anthem" and "Tonight, Tonight"

-He's awesome.