ONE YEAR OLD!

Here's the birthday boy! How does time go so quickly? Not that he's HUGE or anything *grin* but he's just so big- and he knows it!
Unfortunately, this is the only picture we have from his actual birthday day. Sorry bud! I made a really cool cake for ya though!

We celebrated his birthday the day after with the whole fam at my brother Perry's. I love making fun birthday cakes- I saw this idea on familyfun.com. It was pretty easy to make... unfortunately, the cookie crumbs on top kinda threw him off and he wasn't too interested! Of all three of my kids, I thought for sure Eli would be the one to go crazy on the cake, wow was I wrong- he barely even picked at it... in hindsight though, he woke up that night with a fever of 103- so maybe that was part of it... but back to the party...

Dallin had no problem with making a mess of himself while eating the cake though.

If he didn't feel good, he really wasn't showing it... he was hamming it up for everyone.

A little later, I was standing in the kitchen holding Eli and he kept lunging for his cake... so we undressed him and went for a second round on the cake- this time he got a little more in to it, but really he just made a mess of the cake and had more fun feeding me than anything...

Doesn't he look satisfied with the mess he made of me?

Eli and my nephew Jacob share the same birthday- 10 years apart- and since I was making Eli's cake, I went ahead and made Jacobs too- he loves exotic cars- this is my attempt at a Ferrari F430.And here's a shot of Eli's cake- really, he was more interested in the cars on top than the actual cake itself.

Buddies

Eli thinks he's SO big... His friend Emerson is six months younger than him.... aaaaand pretty much the same size. BUT, Eli can crawl and stand... so for the time being, he's got something on Emerson.
It's so funny to watch these two together- they are so intrigued by each other- and love to watch as the other cries... only to start when the other stops... well, that's not so funny actually, I guess.

Pictures can be deceiving

One would think by the following picture that Eli could sleep almost anywhere...but you would be mistaken. I have NO idea what came over him causing him stay asleep when I took him out of the car and placed him in the cart... and then proceeded to do my shopping and put him BACK in his carseat- STILL ASLEEP! I don't think he would even have done that as a newborn. I guess he was the innocent victim of my couponing.

Bryson's first talk in Primary

Apparently Bryson had been asking for months in Primary when he would get a turn to give a talk... he'd done a scripture and said a prayer, but never a talk, which I kinda thought was funny because of all the younger kids in our primary, he'd have no problem with public speaking. So my sister Kristi happened to be in town that Sunday and she took it upon herself to take some pictures.... come to think of it- she pretty much wrote his talk to. Thanks Kris-

Can't you just feel his excitement?

He had pretty much the whole thing memorized (all 30 seconds of it), but ended up needing my help a little too... It was one of those moments that I will always remember and cherish... One of those 'firsts'. Good job Bryson!

Baby it's cold outside

I found this on my memory card tonight.... it's from when I was taking down Christmas... too cute not to post-

(They're our Christmas stockings)

I suppose it's time for an update.

I have SOOO fallen off the blogging train. But I've kinda (not really) gotten my couponing under control.... regardless, it's time for an update!

I can hardly believe that Eli will be ONE YEAR OLD this Saturday! Sheesh! Where does the time go?? He is so much fun- moody at times, but a joy and we love him. Last week my sister Kim watched him for a bit (while I went to the Winco opening- WOW!) and when I picked him up, she asked if he's walking- well, no, not unless he's behind his little push cart... or anything he can push along the kitchen floor, ie: chairs, the garbage can, his activity table- it's quite funny to watch, cause he is sure he is big stuff pushing and walking. So I was a little interested by Kims question, but more surprised when she told me he was standing at the couch, let go and took three steps!! WHAT?!? I missed his first steps?? I tried getting him to walk to me right then and there, but no dice.

 And I've been trying to get him to walk to me since, but as soon as I let go, he drops down onto all fours. Every once in a while, when I doesn't know I'm watching, I swear out of the corner of my eye I catch him take a step or two, but then when I turn my head to look, he sees me and just gives a quirky little smile as he drops to all fours.

 Apparently while I was at work this evening, he was walking all over for daddy... but wouldn't showcase it when I got home of course.  So a few minutes after I got home, I put him down (standing up) on the kitchen floor, and he took four steps before looking over his shoulder at me with a big grin before falling on his bum. I got out the video camera, but naturally he wouldn't perform... Bryson was more than willing though.

Speaking of Bryson- there is never a dull moment while he is around. At his school 'Christmas' Program a few days ago (yes, it was his Christmas program in February- it was cancelled due to the 'snowpocolypse' in December) Bryson was by far the most dramatic kid singing- with the hand motions and everything- I must admit, it's probably my fault because whenever he starts singing a song, I get all silly and over-exaggerative and sing along with him... ya, I'll probably have to watch that a bit and not encourage it so much... The funniest part though was that he kept on giving Nathan and I thumbs up- and was SO excited that he was being video taped. I love that kid and just can't believe how big he's getting. Frequently his prayers include blessing all the people in the world to be nice and for mommy and daddy to repent and be nice. MmmmmmK.

Dallin also is getting so big- he is talking so well now- in full sentences even, but still doesn't enunciate real well, so his sentences are not always that understandable *grin* He is so sweet (most of the time) and really is so hard to say "no" to. His eyes and smile melt my heart- he is so innocent- but is starting to get a little over dramatic... gee, I wonder where he's learned that from! The other night during dinner, Dal didn't want to eat what we were having- which is pretty unusual for him- he kept putting bites in his mouth, and then pretending to cough and gag on it, thoroughly disgusted with the food. Since he didn't eat his dinner, he obviously couldn't have any of the chocolate cake we were having for dessert.... He really wanted cake, but didn't want his dinner, and every time we told him he had to eat his dinner first, he'd cross his arms across his chest (very dramatic like), put his chin on his chest with his bottom lip out and say 'yuck' it was so hard not to laugh- Nathan and I often have to avoid looking at each other over stuff like this or we'd bust up laughing. Dallins loves the movie Cars and at least several times a day says the following until I acknowledge it:
Dallin: McQueen crash
Me: did McQueen crash?
Dallin: Yup, and bonk 'is hhhhad [sp] (he totally over pronounces the 'h' when he says this)
Me: he bonked his head?
Dallin: Yup, an bwow a tire
Me: and he blew a tire?
Dallin: Ya.

I love it. So that's where we are right now. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.... or not- I have a hot date with my hubby *grin*

Read this post ALL THE WAY THROUGH

Just to re-emphasize the title of this post- Read this post ALL THE WAY THROUGH! Thanks.

So Bryson announced on Sunday to some of mommy and daddy's friends that we're pregnant... with TWINS! See, we've been talking a lot about twins recently, because there are twin sisters in his preschool class and Dora's mommy had twins... How exciting. Buuuuut thankfully we're not. Repeat, NOT pregnant, especially not with twins. Excuse me while I once more breathe a sigh of relief.

*aahhHHHH*

So again, just to clarify, we are not pregnant. No twins for us. (That just feels so good to keep remembering.)

So if for some reason Bryson spills the beans to you, you're not privileged, just mistaken. Sorry.