11 months

My life is never dull with these two boys! They are so much fun and so much work! I love spending my days with them and am really lucky to be staying home with them while Justin is in school.

My boys are so funny! They love to play together which makes my life that much easier! I had to put both videos on here because they were both so funny! They played like this for at least 10 minutes. The alwasy follow each other and laugh together. It is the cutest!

Here are just a few more things that they are doing now!

... Climb everything
...Bonk heads with everyone

...Push cars on their hands and knees

...Love to wrestle

...Jump from the bean bag. Well Braxton jumps cause he is fearless, Taylor kinda slides off.

...Love electronics that they aren't supposed to play with

...LOVE LOVE LOVE real food

...Learning how to wave

...scared of men

...Don't like grass

...Love milk

...Very BAD teethers

... T.V. Bugs

...Don't hold still

...Get into everything
...Love to play together

...Know "Dadda" and "Mamma". They always say Dadda but if I leave them they cry after me "Mamma" so sad :-)

...Hit everything with their bat and recorders.

As I was telling Justin about their day yesterday and after he watched these videos he said "We have two of the coolest kids!" I think so too! :-) They bring so much joy into our home and can't wait for them to be around family so you can see how much fun they are in real life. 9 more days! YAHOO!

Basketball cards, babies, and food

The other day we were looking for a box that had some shooting gear in it. As Justin was searching he found this box of treasures! It was his basketball, baseball and football cards from his youth. He was so excited! We went through all FIVE albums and he was in heaven! I told him we should go pawn them for money! He didn't go for it!So happy! Wow!
All his cards
The TV isn't big enough for the boys! They have to be up close! :-) They love Baby Einstein and Backyardigans. We have even started watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

I am always looking for great new recipes. I got this one from Ashley and it was AWESOME! We loved it! I hope she doesn't mind that I took the picture and recipe from her blog :-) It was so cute. Try it! It is soooooo yummie!

Mickey Mouse Pancakes

This morning I decided to be creative with breakfast. I was making pancakes so why not make Mickey Mouse pancakes. The boys weren't impressed but it was still fun for me. :-) They are doing so good eating big boy food. They LOVE it all! I tried some of your suggestions and they love hot dogs, pork and beans, spaghetti-o's, cheese, go-gurt, fruits and veggies. They just like it all! Good boys! Taylor
Braxton
Taylor
Braxton
It is so nice outside right now and it's only 10:30. I think I am gonna head on out there with the boys! It is Saturday so I have lost my husband to golf. I told him if he let me do the Photography class (that wasn't cheap) I wouldn't complain about when he golfs. Hmmm. Are you sure I said that babe? Finals start on Monday so he is going to be busy until we leave for SLC in TWO weeks! Any one feel free to call me the next two weeks cause I am going to be lonely. ha ha It's not that bad.

Into EVERYTHING!

Yesterday:Today:
Braxton has learned to open cupboards, drawers and anything he isn't supposed to! He pulls out all the post, pans, cookie sheets, and pizza baking sheets. They love the noise of banging anything on the metal. Taylor of course follows his little brothers lead and gets right into everything he has pulled out. We can already tell that Braxton is going to be our adventurer and Taylor will love to follow his lead! Taylor is more cautious but loves to play in it just the same.

So Proud

I started this quilt like 4 months ago and it is now finished! Yippie for me! I think I am most proud of this one because it was so intimidating to me! It is a lot larger then the boys quilts so I was so scared to stipple it. After calling many places to have it done for me and hearing the prices, OUCH, I took on the challenge! I am so glad I did! I am SO happy with the way it turned out! I can't wait to use it this 4tho f July! Here are lots of views of my 4th of July quilt! I just thought they were all so cute that I had to use them :-)

So fun!

Happiest Place on Earth

This past week the boys have enjoyed watching "Micky Mouse Clubhouse". They love Mickey and all the songs. Yesterday after we were done watching I was channel surfing and came upon the travel channel and what were they talking about? None other then Disneyland! I got suckered into it and the boys sat and watched and loved it! Doesn't that mean I need to take them to Disneyland? I tell Justin almost every week that I want to go and he continues to tell me he isn't going back until the boys are 7. That is 6 MORE YEARS! He has said that I can take them though! :-) I have been a few times and I love it more and more! Anyone want to go? :-)

I try a few times a week to get good pictures of my boys but it just isn't happening anymore. They will smile if Justin is making them laugh or there to make silly noises at them. These were the two cutest I could get so far this week. Taylor's little tongue is always sticking out! Just like his daddy and Uncle Justin. I loved that Braxton was standing up against the basketball but once he was there, he wouldn't smile. Does my photography class teach me how to get my boys to smile?? :-)

Give away at Thimble Blossoms

Well many of you know the amazing Camille and I just have to say I really want to win this one!She is very generous to be giving away one of her amazing quilts! Go sign up and mention you came from my blog so I can get another entry and then post it on your blog and maybe you will win! If you do I will be jealous but I will get over it! I have the pattern so I should do it myself but that takes more fabric, money, and time, all of which are running low. :-)

Making cookies with Daddy

When ever we want cookies Justin is the man to go to! He makes the best cookies! The boys loved helping him make them on Sunday.

The boys REFUSE to look at me while I take pictures. I have to have Justin help me if I want any good ones. Silly boys.
Braxton
Taylor
They found out that banging the utensils together makes LOUD noises!

As for Day #3 with real foods, the boys did just as great as they did the last two days! I really can't explain how much they love the food. After bites of sliced carrots today they would "mmmm" in approval. They are funny boys!

Breakfast we tried oatmeal. Taylor hated it and Braxton loved it! I put in slices of bananas to try to get Taylor to eat it but it didn't work! I ended up giving them both a bottle. I have decided it is the way to go in the mornings for now.

Lunch they ate refried bean and rice from Taco Bell, left over Mac and Cheese, and milk.

It was kinda a late lunch so they slept from 2-5:15! Three hours again! YAHOO!!!

For dinner they had carrots, Mac and Cheese, Go-gurt for a treat and milk.

If anyone has any great ideas that their kids love I will try anything! I am sure they don't want Mac and Cheese again tomorrow :-)

Day 1 & Day 2 of REAL food

Mac and Cheese. YUM!
Taylor

Braxton

We have decided to start the boys on more solid food during the day then bottles. I realize they aren't a year old yet but they are so ready! They LOVE food! Yesterday worked out great. Here was our day of food for the boys (I am doing this more for my records so sorry if it is a boring post today).

7:00 am: First bottle

10:30 am: Cubed cheese, apple sauce, and water

11 am-2 pm: THREE hour nap!! That never happens

2:30 pm: Peaches, juice

5:00 pm: Gave in and gave them a bottle (only 3 oz) They were GRUMPY!

6:30 pm: Go-Gurt

7:45pm: Bottle and went to bed. The slept all night too!

Today wasn't much different, so far.

7:00 am: First bottle
9:30 am: Braxton had some peaches and cottage cheese while Justin and Taylor were at church (I was not feeling well this morning but feeling MUCH better now!)
12:00 pm: Macaroni and Cheese and Vit D milk. They LOVED it!

My boys are all about the real food. When ever we have anything they beg like little puppies at our feet. They are definitely ready for this transition. They are growing up too fast!
I have some more pictures from yesterday but it isn't letting me post them right now so there will have to be another post later today!

Early Birthday Present

WOW!
Thanks Papa and Grandma!
Thanks Papa and Grandma Merrill! The boys got their birthday present in the mail yesterday! They loved the boxes and thought the T.V.'s (portable DVD player for the car) were great. We got it early in hope that it will help the boys with the long drive to SLC in 3 weeks.

Hopefully it works :-) Thanks again!

Is anyone else as excited as I am??

Only three more weeks until we move to SLC! YIPPIE! Justin says the only problem with that is it means that there is only one more week until finals! You will do great babe!

Last night he sat down to make his list of things to take with us! With the lists I have for me and the boys, it is like 5 pages long :-) Ok, not that long but it keeps growing and could very well make it to 5 pages. This summer is going to be great! There is so much going on that I don't think anyone could be bored!

Here are a few things I am looking forward to...
...WICKED with Jalayne and Kim
...Photo Class with Em
...Just being close to family
...Chad and Jess' wedding
...Seeing Baby Quinn
...Being there when the Holverson baby is born ( I haven't been around for the birth of their kids since Taylee (almost 7 1/2 years)
...My boys FUN 1st birthday party!
...4th of July in IF (or Island Park)
...Arizona for Emily's wedding
...Camping (hopefully)
...Justin actually having a job and making a little money
...Family vacations
...Teaching my boys to love swimming/water and being outside
...Having my niece and all 5 of my nephews a short 30 minute drive away (and Em, Heath, Kim and Chris)
...FIRE HOUSE (hopefully it will be a better experience the next time I go)
...Talking to Elder Justin Merrill on Mother's Day
...Lunch with Amy, Leslie and all our kids! Maybe we will include the husbands :-)
...Family birthday parties
...My kids being able to get to know their grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts
...Great shopping
...Living with Grandpa and Clarine. Thanks again!

So pretty much I am looking forward to everything!

And here are just a few things I will miss about Spokane...
...Friends
...The weather. It is amazing here in the summer!
...My own apartment
...Grilling every night! Justin cooks all summer long! It's a nice break.
...My bed :-(
...Manito Park (and all the other parks we play at)

Hopefully the next three weeks go fast! ( I have a ton to do before we go!)
I am ready to come and PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!

Lyla Ann Jibson

Today I was so lucky to spend some time with Leslie and Ryan and the new addition to their family. Lyla was born today at 1:15 pm and is adorable. Their families weren't able to come for a few days so I went down to the hospital and took some pictures for them. Congrats guys! She is so beautiful and we wish you all the best! For those of you that know Leslie and are curious of weight and all that, here you go! She was born 1:15pm (after 5 short hours of labor) 7lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long. She has a ton of hair and looks just like her daddy. I hope this doesn't embarrass him but when he was holding her he said to Leslie, "Sorry Hun, she looks just like me!"

(with a HUGE grin on his face!) Happy little familyProud mommy Proud daddy

"Aunt" Ashley with cute little Lyla!

Pictures

I took a few pictures of Ava when she was over here. I didn't play too much, just was trying out positions. I still need practice which is why I am taking a class over the summer. I am so excited! It will be so fun and Em's taking the class too! (if she doesn't go into labor! Stay in baby boy.)

The boys love playing with Justin. He had them in the laundry basket, pushing them around. It was so funny and they loved it! They love the stacking cups! They get so excited as you are stacking them or them to knock over!

The boys climb under this toy and get stuck. Taylor can't get out when Braxton is under there too! It made him a little mad!