My little candy cane!

Slightly different weather than what we experienced

a week ago

I couldn't help but think of the talk "Come What May and Love it" by Elder Wirthlin, as I am snowed into a strangers home in California. Well, I shouldn't say totally snowed in. Wayne made it home the other night with the help of chains and an hours worth of shoveling snow to get him into the garage.

It is gorgeous up here. There is about 2 feet of snow and it is still coming down steadily. Gavin thinks that it is Christmas day... I am having a hard time convincing him otherwise. He also thinks that the deer head hanging in the livng room is Rudolph's dad! We are so lucky to have so many kind people helping us during Wayne's rotations. Thank you to the Autens!!

We watch Christmas cartoons, play with He-man action figures and read Christmas stories all day. If Wayne were with us, it would feel like a Winter Wonderland castle.

(PS. there is now double the amount of snow in the pictures... and it is still falling).

I didn't think I would be able to have a white Christmas this year!! Suprise.

So, Gavin had a fun birthday... it extended out for 3 days! A party before we left (15th), his actual birthday (16th), and a party with the Neibaurs (17th). Thanks to everyone who made it special for him... Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends!

Fun and Freezing

He-Man, "By the power of Grey Skull"
He-Man with his friends Hannah and Ella


Little Ike

So much love

So excited about jumping!

I don't know if you can see, but Gav and Ike are in matching outfits

This is battle cat

Carving the Jack-O-Lantern in Hillsdale, Mi

Two buddies!

My two boys were He-Man and Battle Cat (his faithful friend) for Halloween. Gavin had a blast! He loved carving his jack-o-lantern, swishing his sword around, collecting and eating candy, and everything else about Halloween.

Wayne was in Hillsdale, Michigan for a couple of weeks this month, which he enjoyed very much. The kids and I joined him for week. It was a lot of fun; we carved pumpkins, went to storytime at the local library, watched Finding Nemo, went to the pumpkin patch, visited good friends, and took long walks. And the boys were great (well, Gavin was) on the 11 hour car ride up and back.

Hope everyone enjoyed Halloween as much as us!

Dreams and Pretending

So, I don't know if waking up all through the night is affecting my dream cycle, but I have had some wierd dreams lately. Last night I dreamed that Isaac already had 8 teeth (that was a nightmare!).
The night before I dreamed that Wayne was Michael Phelps; He even had his picture on the Wheaties box.
Gavin has given up naps (not totally but on most days). It is sort of nice because he goes to bed with out a struggle at 8 830. Isaac has reversed his sleeping cycle... waking up 4 times at night!
Yesterday Gavin and Ike were playing dogs... Gavin was "Sparky" and Isaac was "Fido." Well, we went to VCOM to fax some stuff. The receptionist kindly asked Gavin, "Oh, what is your name?"
"Sparky."
I quicky had to explain that he was pretending to be a dog.
All day long Gavin is either a dog, He-man, a missionary, Prince Charming (or Ariel... sometimes Ursula). He is always someone new!! I didn't know kids pretended so much!
Happy Birthday, Savannah!

By the way, Wayne has few interviews lined up... we are really excited about them. Call me and I will tell you where.

The cutest kids in the universe!

So, here are our latest picture updates...

Little Ike is about 15lbs; he is growing SO fast. I can hardly believe it. He loves Gavin. He watches everything he does. Sometimes he just laughs and laughs at him.

Gavin is hilarious. He has something funny to say everyday:

The other night I was trying to put him to bed because Wayne and I wanted to watch a movie in he basement. His remark when he found out we were watching a movie: "Mom! Its not fair. Go to bed or you'll be grumpy!"

By the way, the clothes all over the floor was a Gavin project!

I love Wayne's rotation. He gets home early everyday and doesn't even need to study! We have gotten a lot done around the house!

Moms

I have been thinking a lot lately about my moms. Maybe its because I am just now getting a glimpse of all that Moms do. My moms (mine and Wayne's) are amazing. I think we must have the only moms who... let their Grandkids have pet rats, cook for us, & do our laundry when we go home. Here are a few of the many things we are thankful for-
Thanks for giving birth to us (and our siblings... what fun would it be if it was only me)

Thanks for all the treats and snacks as little kids

Thanks for the support in all we've done

Thanks for loving our kids; Gavin asks for Grandma nearly everyday

Thanks for all the phones calls (just to check in on us)

Thanks, Mom D., for giving me the best husband in the world (who's given me the cutest kids ever!)

Thanks for teaching me how to work and clean a house

Thanks for breakfast every morning before seminary

Thanks for hot cocoa on cold wintery days

Thanks for support through dance and swimming

Thanks for the comfort

Thanks for preparing us for what life is all about

Thanks for He-Man toys

Thanks for teaching us how to be parents and how to be patient

Thanks for typing Wayne's papers
and making him take a typing class in high school!

Thanks for homework and homeschool help

Thanks for loving us

We love you
Wayne and Crystal

He-Man

I took Isaac to get his shots on Monday... so sad. He weighs 15 lb now (about 50% percentile, I believe). Gavin was a little worried about the shots.

Isaac also rolled for the first time this week!

I keep thinking that Isaac is so big for his age because I remember when Gavin wore the outfits that Isaac is in now , and he seemed so big. When I look back, though, he was the same age. I guess your first just grows up so fast. I still think that Ike is my little newborn.

So, Gavin, his latest fad is"He-Man" He loves He-Man, Teela, Skelator and Orco. Uncle Dan let him borrow his He-Man DVD too. It sure beats listening to him "dancing" like Cinderella. He is even planning on being He-Manfor Halloween. Isaac is going to be "Battle Cat."

Kids are great

So, Gavin loves to be just like the adults. I am learning very quickly that I only say things that are okay for Gavin to say...

Some examples:

Wayne was sitting on the couch doing paper work when he asked me to "toss him a pen."

A little while later Gavin picked up some papers, went over and sat by Wayne and said "Hey Mom, toss me a pen."

On the way to church the other day, I tried to pass Gavin a water bottle; I accidentally spilled a little water on him. "Mom! You're driving me crazy!"

My favorite: I don't think that this is him copying me; more like what he wishes I was like!

"Mom, you be the kid and I'll be the Mom," he told me the other morning. "Honey, do you want ice cream or a popsicle?"

Kids are great!!