Vance-isms

I'm not sure if I've already posted this picture or not, but I wanted to make sure I have it for when I make my blog book so if this is the second time...whoopsie! This is Vance's 1st grade picture. Usually I would NEVER buy these. Call me conceited but I prefer the pictures I take of my kids over crappy school pictures. However I just had to buy this. I think he looks so dang handsome and so grown up. It has been weird to get used to him being gone all day, but he is thriving. He just received his first report card and got straight A's and all E's for citizenship. I love my sweet Vancers and am so proud of him!

Vance has really found a love for the piano lately. When we had all of the Waldrons over for a holiday party, he played a few songs.  Ivy, Chad's cousin's daughter, thought it was pretty awesome. Ivy and Vance were Mary and Joseph in the Nativity. Ivy told her mom, "I'm so excited. My husband is the piano man!"

Vance: Mom I think I only need one little brother.
Me: Well what do you think we should do with Sutton when he comes?
Vance: (nonchalantly) I dunno....I guess just take him to one of those adopting places.
Me: But I already love him. I don't want to give him to another family.
Vance: Well what about Keller then?

I have been asking Vance how he wants to celebrate his upcoming birthday. I know things will be crazy with the new baby and don't want his special day to be forgotten.  His first idea? A math party! He said, "You could like make math sentences and stuff for us to figure out." He is such a little nerd. I am fairly positive no one wants to come to a math party. Luckily he has had other ideas that sound a lot more entertaining.

Vance always refers to Sutton as a "she" or "her." It doesn't matter how many times I correct him. My mom asked him why he wants a sister instead of a brother. He replied, "Boys are messy. I want a sister so things won't be so messy."

Somehow we got talking about going to college with Vance one day. We were talking about how there are colleges all over the world.  A few minutes into the conversation you could see a light bulb went off. Then he excitedly asked, "Are there colleges in Texas?" Since my sister and her family moved to Texas, Vance has become obsessed with it.  We told him there were lots of good colleges in Texas. We would tell him the name of a college and he would ask how far is that from Aunt Jennie. He is now fully committed to attending TCU because it is only one hour away from Aunt Jennie :) Go Horned Frogs?!

Keller-Antics

Keller is at one of my favorite ages right now.  Don't get me wrong...it can also be an exhausting age that drains me of all patience.  BUT - he is hilarious.  The things that come out of his mouth are so funny.  He is such a goof and doesn't take anything too serious. He has me laughing all the time and these are just the few examples that I thought to write down.

Keller will randomly say, "Uh...this is awkward." His timing is usually perfect which makes it that much funnier.

Every time Keller goes to the bathroom, whether he is by himself or just going with someone else, he talks about penises and "paginas." He will say something along these lines, "Boys just have penises right Mom? But girls don't have penises.  They just have paginas!"

We let Keller ride his bike inside sometimes.  Well one day I was getting ready and he brought his bike upstairs (not allowed). I told him I was going to put my hair stuff away and then I would help him with his bike. Not 10 seconds later I hear "boom, boom, CRASH!" followed by crying.  Keller didn't wait for me and instead attempted to ride his bike down the stairs.  The result was a little hole in his head.  Luckily he didn't need stitches and he hasn't tried any similar stunts again (at least not yet).

When we are in the car, I usually talk on the phone through the car's bluetooth capabilities.  Every time a call ends it says "Call ended."  Keller thinks it says "Call Anden." He gets so mad and yells for me to "Just. Call. Anden!" I am not sure who he thinks Anden is but he really wants me to call him :)

Keller is interested in "spelling" words lately.  He will get his paper and crayons and ask, "How do you smell ____?" Then he scribbles on his paper.  It doesn't matter how many times I say "spell" he continues to say "smell" instead. (He also insists Woody from Toy Story's name is Buddy and that it's Humpty Humpty not Humpty Dumpty!)

One day Chad and the boys went to the store and got me some flowers and chocolate milk (pregnancy craving). On the way home Chad was telling them to say something nice to me when they gave me my surprise. He told Keller to tell me "I love you very much Mommy!" Keller then got all distraught and said, "Don't you love very much Keller?"

We have been talking a lot about Sutton's arrival.  We keep telling Keller he is going to be a big brother and how exciting it is going to be. He then nonchalantly states, "I'm not going to be a big brother. I'm just a little brother."

Keller likes to feel my belly randomly throughout the day.  He will place his sweet little hands on my belly for about 2.5 seconds and then fall to the floor exclaiming, "Whoa Sutton kicked me down!"

Keller LOVES pajamas lately.  He wakes up, changes into a new pair of pajamas and is hell bent on wearing them for the day.  He thinks because he changed his clothes that he is ready for the day.  Somedays I let him and we go out with him looking pretty awesome. The days I make him get dressed are a little more dramatic. I hope this phase ends soon!

Keller will only eat with a spoon.  It doesn't matter what's on the menu.  Spoons.  Period.

Keller will randomly ask to cuddle on the couch. I love it! I never tell him no and it makes me so happy to press pause on life and just enjoy the little things for a few minutes. He is quite the lover :)

Test 4

Chad recently took his fourth (and hopefully last) CPA exam.  He has been studying so hard the last few months for it.  Chad tends to get testing anxiety pretty bad so the night before the test we set up "Daddy's Relax Zone."

We had lots of relaxing options to help calm his nerves so he could get a good night's rest and go into the test confident in his knowledge.

 The boys were so cute.  Keller happily gave Daddy a foot massage (sorta).

 Vance gave Daddy a nice, long back rub.

Chad also took a bath and watched a movie.  I gave him a neck massage and tickled his back.  He was able to get a good night's rest and only felt a little anxious during the first part of the exam.    Now we just have to wait for the score to be released (around February 4). 

Fingers crossed!

Snowboarding - Round 2

Chad and Vance went up to Brianhead with my parents.  We wanted to make sure Vance got a chance to go twice this season so something would really sinking.  I can't believe how much better he got!

 At the very beginning Chad held his hands for a little bit, but that didn't last long...

  Chad sent me a couple videos and I was so impressed. He can really snowboard! Chad said all day Vance felt like a rockstar because everyone kept giving him high fives and telling him good job.  He was all smiles when he told me about his trip.

 My boys are so lucky to have such an awesome (and patient) Daddy!

Maternity Pictures

I have never had maternity pictures taken. Since there is a good chance this is my last pregnancy I decided to take some this time.  I wanted a more natural, lifestyle session.  Nothing crazy...just me and my pregnant belly. I am so happy with the results and think these capture the moment just perfectly!

 Photos taken by Samantha Godfrey and edited by me :)

Brothers

I felt like I hadn't been getting my camera out as much for everyday moments so I gave myself a photo project.  I wanted to capture Vance and Keller's relationship before we have another baby.  It took a few months but this is their relationship summed up in pictures.  The pictures aren't technically perfect. They are really just snapshots, but these images all melt my heart and freeze the moment just perfectly :)

I love my boys and am so excited to be having another one in just a few weeks!

New Year's weekend

New Year's weekend was pretty mellow this year. We were planning on spending the weekend at the sand dunes but the weather forecast looked FREEZING. Plus I'm hugely pregnant and Chad and I decided it might be best if we stayed home this year.

We spent New Year's Eve at a friend's house.  It was a family affair and we celebrated New York New Year's at 9.  She had lots of fun activities planned including an "As seen on TV" white elephant.  After the party we came home, put the boys to bed, cuddled on the couch, and watched the Vegas fireworks show on TV. 

 Over the weekend we planned a few fun things to do to keep the boys from going stir crazy.  We went to Big Hero 6. It was a cute movie. Vance cried during the last 5 minutes of the movie. It was sweet to see him so upset about one of the character's dying.  He is my sensitive boy :)

 We also went bowling. Both the boys LOVE to bowl. 

 Keller insists on doing it by himself (shocker!). He chucks the ball with all his might. It lands about two inches in front of him and rolls at about 1 mph.  Chad does his best to give it an extra push but he isn't always able to. We do a lot of waiting to see how many pins he will knock down.

 I didn't bowl since I am so far along. Bowling uses a lot more of your core than you think. I had fun just spending time with the fam though!

 Vance was so happy the whole time he could hardly sit still.  He was SOOOO excited after the first game because he came in 3rd (he beat Grandma and Keller). He immediately asked if we could play another game...so we did!

 Chad really killed it during the second game. 174!!!!!!

 One night we roasted hot dogs over the fire using our new fire pit.  It took a minute for the logs to really start burning but once they did it worked great. I see many evenings spent by the fire pit in our future!

 Of course no holiday is complete without a little shopping. I picked up these adorable coordinating shirts for the boys. I can't wait for them to wear them together!!! I used to think shopping for boys was boring...my opinion has definitely changed. I love it now!

The rest of the weekend we just relaxed at home. We took naps, played games, watched a few movies, took a bath, etc. It was just what we needed!