Bragging

What mom can't help but brag about their amazing kids? Well I am no exception. I think my kids are the cutest, smartest, most wonderful things ever (most of the time) and just want to take a blog to write about them.

I took these series of photos in a matter of seconds. Apparently Jesse has done the photo booth somewhere before because he got the idea perfectly, whereas I did not....I think I was trying to get just a nice picture of us smiling together but Jesse had different ideas. hehehe they make me laugh. Especially the last one :)

My Charlie is getting so big. She is such a Mama's girl. I am warning you now- if you see her and she cries while looking at you- it is just a phase. One that I may not live through if I can't get some peace. Not really...but someday's I do love her smiles just for me.

Jesse told me he was "lettering" or in other words writing. He is quite imaginative when he wants to be. He is pointing to the letter "x." That's my boy :)

And he likes to pretend like he somebody else. Can anyone guess this pictures? It's Buzz Lightyear of course! The plumber was here this morning and he asked his name and Jesse said his name was "Tony." Where he got that I am not sure....but I just laughed and the guy said "Is that your alias?" Jesse is such a character and is constantly cracking me up!

He loves this board that he can erase over and over again. The other day he drew the letter "D" and showed it to me and proudly said "D, for dada!" We have been working on our letters casually here and there and I am please to see that he catches on so easily.

February Happenings

This month has not been too busy for us- we have just been going about our regular routines. Andy works, goes to school and I squeeze in work somewhere in between a few days. It works for us and our children never have to go to daycare so I am happy :).

My Charlotte is getting so big! Here she is in her ducky bathrobe:

And her cute twinkly eyes :)

And this was her first time in her saucer- it is a big hit because there are buttons that make noise and colors light up

I came into Jesse's room the other day and saw this. :) I am hoping that Jesse likes to read as he gets older.

For Valentine's Day, we decided to let Jesse make some heart cookies. Here he is with Dad helping him cut them out:

Andy bought me tulips- they remind me that spring is just around the corner!

We had a special Valentine's dinner as a family. (You can tell these two are related with their cheesy wide-mouth grins...)

Here is my little man with the finish product of cookies. He even frosted a few himself!

We are looking forward to seeing my little sister in a week- she comes home from her mission from Texas! It seems like forever since I have seen her :). Another big event is we are moving into a new place! It is in the same area but less rent and a little bigger. It is a townhome too so it feels a little more "homey." This will happen in less than a week so I have lots of packing to do!

A weekend away

So occasionally I get the chance to head down to Salem and spend a "weekend" with my mom. It is always a much-needed break and I enjoy just sitting around talking with her. This last trip we had a nice day with the kids and spent some time outdoors.

Here is a picture of Jesse with some glasses that I used to wear when I was his age. Priceless....

We went to Mission Mill- an old mill that made yarn? Things out of wool? Maybe I really should look through the museum there more often. Anyway, they have ducks on a river that Jesse LOVES to feed.

My bald little Charlotte.

A group shot! Pretty cute I think. Again I must mention these are all taken by my mother's far more superior camera. I don't even want to put my pictures up because they would pale in comparison to hers. :)

Jesse being his mischievous self. Can you tell? Love it.

Again, like his father, pulling a face for the camera.

Me and my baby!

So cute!

She has turned into my little thumb sucker! I just think it is CUTE!

A few updates- Jesse wrote his first letter yesterday. It was "M" for momma. :) I feel loved. He has hit a coloring high in his life- he finds pictures online to print off and he colors them so fast I feel like that is all I do- press the print button for them to print! Also, we are moving at the end of February into something a little bigger, with some green spaces, and into a more private area. We absolutely LOVE this area and the ward we are in so we will probably be here for a while! My baby sister comes home on March 3rd from her 18 month mission in McAllen, Texas. We are really looking forward to seeing her again. Other than that, we are doing well! Andy is getting good grades in school and I am subbing, tutoring an awesome set of kids, and otherwise loving life! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.

Baby Shoes

I recently made a pair of baby shoes that I LOVE! I got the pattern from my friend Alissa Ellingson- so THANK YOU! :) They are relatively easy to make and you can make them with pretty much any fabric that you would like. I added a few embellishments as I made them which was a fun personal touch. I see more in my future. Here are the pictures:

What FUN! Here is the link to the pattern (http://www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com/), and the directions are very clear! This link takes you to a blog and if you look on the right side of the top of the stardustshoes blog a link titled "cloth shoe pattern" will lead you to what you need! Have fun!

Jesse's birthday

This post is full of an assortment of pictures including Christmas, Charlotte's blessing, a Nutcracker outing, and Jesse's birthday. These particular ones were all taken by my mother.

We had family over for Charlotte's blessing, even Andy's parents. It was a nice day!

Jesse with both Grandpa's

Charlotte happy with the attention :)

Charlotte was blessed in the same outfit I was blessed in. It was very special and had a nice story behind it. Here we are before church.

Anne encouraged us all to go the Nutcracker this year so we all dressed up and went together. It was a fun way to celebrate Christmas as a family (notice no men. ha.)

Charlotte in her Christmas eve outfit :)

Reading the traditional "'Twas the Night before Christmas" book on Christmas eve.

Uncle Paul with Charlie

Charlie getting a bath in the only thing suitable- a big bowl. Hehe. Grandma did the bathing

Jesse turned three on January 5th! Here is his train cake we made for him.

Me and my little man!

look real closely at his fingers- he is telling papa how old he is.

blowing out the candles!

And diggin in

His favorite gift: a fishing pole :)

Happy new year!

A little here and there

Andy's parents came to visit us the weekend of December 19th for Charlotte to be blessed at church. They first thing they did was grab both grand children and give them lots of attention! I think they were missed :). They flew in from Utah and we only see them once or twice a year.

This was also their first time seeing Charlotte. She was a big hit as she is with most people

While they were there we had an early Christmas with them. Jesse was excited regardless of how he looks.

Grandma with her grandbabies

And opening presents

For Jesse's Christmas present we got him this Home Depot tool bench with a bunch of cool tools. He really likes the goggles as you can see in the prior picture.

Charlotte is getting so big!!

I LOVED this outfit she got for Christmas from her Auntie Anne and Uncle Matt.

Brother and sister hanging out...

He loves to have her on his lap. He really is a good helper!

She is always a happy baby!

Do you think she looks like me? I love my Charlotte! She is the perfect addition to our family! Congrats to all those who have had babies lately, it is wonderful to be a mom!