Family Pictures

While in Maryland over Christmas my got a photographer to come and take some family pictures. Considering we had 7 children ages 6 and under and then 9 adults I think they turned out really well. Here are some favorites.
All of us

7 Grandkids 6 and under (with one on the way)

My brothers, grandma, and me


The original Strawsers

Me and my boys


Our Family

Oma, Opa, and Dickens

Problem Solver

Tyler has become quite the problem solver lately. Earlier today I found him with some pennies. I asked me to show me where he got them. He went into our room, opened up the drawers to my dresser and proceeded to climb up and get the change from the top. He went on to explain that he needed the pennies so he could play mall and throw them into the fountain. I was impressed, but quickly explained that we don't play with pennies, nor do we throw them in the house.

After naps today I noticed Tyler was being pretty quiet. After I called to him he told me he was in his room. When I got up there I found him with a pacifier - that I put on the highest shelf in their closet. He had dragged a big tub that I had out to put extra clothes in all the way upstairs, turned it over, and then climbed on it so he could reach the shelf. Needless to say he had a tantrum after I took it away. Wouldn't you if you went through all that work to have something just for it to be taken away?

Funny Faces

I was at a girl's night last night talking about how hard it it to discipline Carter. They all knew immediately what I was talking about because Carter has the saddest sad face. One of our friends even does an impression of it. Its not that he just gets the lip going (boy does he know how to do the lip) but he also tries to make you laugh at him when he is in trouble. He will give you the sweetest little smile or start giggling or start having such a huge tantrum over the tiniest thing that it just makes you laugh. Of course we stifle our smiles and laughter and discipline him, but he is quite the clown of the house.

More Snow

Well the warm weather left us and it once again feels like winter. We got about 2 inches last night so we spent the morning outside in the snow. Tyler just wanted to come back inside for hot cocoa and all Carter really wanted to do was eat the snow. They had a good time and they both enjoyed making snow angels. When we came in we got to have from hot cocoa that Carter didn't like. He wanted to eat the snow off his mittens instead. Oh toddlers - gotta love 'em.

Favorite Things

Last night I was making dinner. Without any direction from me at all the boys went downstairs and took a game out of the closet. They then played the game together so nicely, making sure they took turns, and Tyler clapping for Carter when he got his pieces. They did ask me once to join them to play, but made no protest when I told them I couldn't right now. They then put the game away, once again without me having to ask. It's moments like these that I look and see how grown up they really are. Life is good.

Zoo Fun

So yesterday was another gorgeous day so we got to do one of our favorite things. We headed to the zoo. Like always the boys had a great time. I had them both walk to through the whole thing and they did great. I think this is even more impressive considering our zoo is on a mountain. They did get a little cranky towards the end, but held my hands the entire way.

Unfortunately a lot of our favorite things they didn't have at the zoo right now because its winter time. The elephants and zebras weren't out and either were the otters or alligators. Also the train and carousel were both closed. However we went and saw the hippos twice (both times they were sleeping) fed the giraffes, and saw the gorillas play, and got scared when the Crane made a noise we weren't expecting. The boys fell asleep on the way home, but work up once I tried to transfer them, so the rest of the day was a little whiny with all the lack of sleep, but all in all a great day!

I tried watching some of the Inauguration with Tyler. They both recognize President Obama, but don't really get who he is obviously. I tried talking to Tyler about the significance of how he is our first black President. When he came on the screen Tyler asked where his black dress was. I am very glad he doesn't see skin color yet and left it at "he has a black suit on". I am going to hate to see this innocence go, however I am very proud that our boys will never know a time when a black man couldn't become President.

Springtime in January

Its been in the 60's this weekend and today and its the middle of January! Totally unheard of considering the rest of the nation is in a deep freeze. We are enjoying it while it lasts. Yesterday we all headed to the park. Carter continues to scare me with the things he tries to climb by himself. Tyler is becoming a pro at everything needing no help at all. He even likes to swing on the big kid swings by himself now.

Today the boys woke up with their colds going full stream. You can tell they don't feel well either as after five minutes of playing outside they asked to come in. Tyler has also been a lot more cuddly than normal - a good sign that he is sick, but one of the symptoms I don't mind at all. They are now both upstairs taking great naps. I am hoping they will feel better tomorrow so we can go do one of our favorite things while these sunny days are here.

Updates

Just some updates over the past few weeks (of what I can remember anyway)

* We have started a new nap time routine for the boys. Lately instead of taking naps together they would just play and not get a nap at all. This resulted in a frustrated mommy and cranky children. So now Tyler has "quiet time" in our bedroom and Carter naps in their bedroom. In our room Tyler gets books and his laptop. So far he has fallen asleep all but one day. Carter is having the harder time adjusting as he also wants to be in mommy and daddy's room. I usually have to go in there a couple times and he also now wants books in bed with him. Each day the amount of time it takes for him to fall asleep is getting shorter so needless to say its been a happier home this week! And an even bigger bonus- bedtime has been much easier as well since we made this change!

*Tyler is becoming the best big brother anyone can ask for. Not only are the fights between them very minimum, but they way they play together is just priceless. Always sharing, helping each other out, and just wanting to be together. Tonight said it all. The boys were watching Toy Story and a "scary" part came on. Carter is being extra sensitive and started crying. It was Tyler who calmed him down telling Carter that it was o.k. and it would be happy at the end.

*The weather has been nuts lately with snow one day and then 50's the next. I blame this on the colds going around our house.

*Not only did our computer break this week, but someone also threw a rock thru Justin's car window while it was sitting in our driveway (seriously?!?). Because of this however Justin took last Monday off. It turned into a very nice family day, which was much needed as Justin is in the thick of his busy season at work getting home at 7 every night - and then he has that second job too. Its been a fun week.

*The things that come out of the boys laugh make me smile, laugh, and give double takes all day long. Right now I can't remember a single one. But trust me when I say they say very funny things!

*Here are just a couple of pictures. The first one is of Carter trying on daddy's shoes. The second is of my three boys reading together.

Computers for All

For Christmas Grandpa and Grandma got each of the boys gift cards to Target. We went to Target and they each picked out their very own laptop (with mom and dad coaching as which ones to get). Tyler really likes his and has picked it up very quickly. Carter is getting the hang of his more and more everyday. Here is some video of Tyler and his laptop. As you can tell its very exciting when he gets the answers right!

Finally!!!!!

For the past week and a half I was without a computer. Our old one's motherboard broke, which we found out today, and went and got a new one (computer). I must say it was really hard for me to be apart from the computer and from blogging, but I am back. Unfortunately all the things I thought I would blog about - all the funny sayings, the hard days, the good days, etc.,have escaped my brain. But this blog will be back on track and the daily musing of me and the boys will begin again!

Budding Photographer

For the past few weeks now Tyler wants to take pictures with my camera. He actually does quite well and loves taking pictures. We are going to let him use our old digital camera for his own use when we go to places like the zoo. Here are some of his "best shots".

Self-portrait

Daddy sleeping

Mommy - a little off center


Carter playing

Monsters and other Updates

Well Carter did great potty training the first two days of being in bog boys pants. On Saturday we had a lot of errands to run, and Carter did not do so well. When we ran errands on Friday he did great, but on Saturday we tried when we got to the store only to have him go in his pants about 10 minutes later. Because I was already exhausted from the boys adjusting back to Colorado time and waking at 4 we just went back to pull ups. He doesn't seem to mind to much and I think its probably best that we get readjusted to our routine before we went ahead anyway. Hopefully within the next month or two we both will be ready to go for it again.

Tyler had found monsters - or at least he thinks he has. The last two nights when its time to go to bed he tells us he is afraid of the monsters. When we ask where the monsters are he says outside. He then asks us to lock the doors - we always comply. We have been talking a lot how monsters aren't real, but its ok to be scared. We also talk about how mom and dad and God protects him. Tyler then reminds me that doctors also protect him - as do angels. When he woke up this morning I asked him what he dreamt about. It went something like this:

"The monsters were eating all the hippos hay. They ate it all up. Then the hippos got more hay to eat. The monsters looked like hippos. They looked like elephants"

For some reason it sounds more like a trip to the zoo than Monsters. Love the imagination.

Favorite Things

Some of the favorite things that happened on our vacation at Oma and Opa's.

*While playing with all the cousins there were times when kids weren't sharing or hitting each other - normal two and three year old behavior. Anytime Tyler would get hit, instead of hitting back , he would come and tell me very nicely "so and so hit me mommy".

*On Monday night I was getting ready to put the boys to bed. Tyler was talking about going up into the air and about Heaven. I asked him who lived in Heaven and he told me Jesus. I then explained to him that Jesus also lives in our hearts if we ask him to. He told me he wanted to see Jesus so he could have Him live in his heart. I told him he could talk to Jesus anytime, that He is always listening. On his own Tyler goes into the bathroom and I hear "Jesus I want you to come live in my heart". He then comes back out and with the happiest look on his face tells me what he did. Priceless.

*We have the boys call my Grandma Great-Grandma. Being confused that we were at Oma and Opa's house they quickly started calling her Great-Oma on their own.

*Carter was helping Opa feed Dickens and dropped the plate of food right before he was suppose to put it down. While cleaning it up, Opa kept saying "Oh dear" and "Oh boy". Now if someone drops something or does something wrong Carter says "Oh boy".

*On the same note, Carter was doing puzzles with Oma. She told him that he does puzzles so well and its amazing. At dinner that night we asked how his food was. He answers "amazing!"

*Tyler being the big brother that he is wants to help Carter potty train. Trying to convince him to come and try this morning Tyler goes into a little speech. "Carter you should try to come potty so that you can keep Thomas dry. If you get Thomas wet mommy, daddy, and I will have to throw those underwear away. You should come try." He said this is the sweetest tone. Not bossy at all, but he was really trying to help his brother out and be a good teacher.

Home Again

On Tuesday I was busy trying to get laundry done, things packed, and getting ready to leave the next day. Opa decided to take the boys over to Chick-fil-a to play. The boys had a great time. They got to drink juice (almost unheard of) and play for an hour (usually 20 minutes). Needless to say Opa wore them out and they were tired. Carter actually fell asleep on me right before nap time. During nap time Opa took over kid duty once again so that Oma, Great-Grandma, and I could go out and see a movie. It was a very nice break.


When we got back, Tyler had a few meltdowns over one of his new toys, but then changed around so that we could go to Red Robin for dinner. We all had a great time at Oma and Opa's but I think we are all ready to get back to our routine and to see Daddy again!

Wednesday morning was full of more meltdowns and overall not listening from both boys. However once lunch time came around they were back to their usual selves. We all went to Chick-fil-a again for the boys to run around and a quick lunch before heading out. We said good bye to Great Grandma and headed to the airport right at nap time.

This time the airport experience was much more stressful. Since I was traveling alone with both boys and both of their car seats, my mom got an escort pass to help me to the gate. However between them labeling one of our suitcases with the wrong name, the power going off making us wait in security that much longer, all while the boys were having meltdowns in the middle of the airport, I was at my breaking point. When we got to the gate I had to talk to the agent as our seats were not together. The agent then informed me that they wouldn't let me pre-board either. After almost half the plane was boarded she finally got our seats together and told me I could go ahead and board. Unfortunately I still had to let Tyler go potty and change Carter. Once we were on the plane the flight went very well. The boy slept for half of the flight and then watched Cars on the way home. Justin got a pass to meet us at the gate and the boys were so happy to see him! Once we got home we let the boys play a little bit and then we all crashed - only Justin made it up til midnight to ring in the new year.

Today we have been lounging and the boys, besides waking up t 4:30, seem to be adjusting back at home pretty smoothly. Carter is also in underwear today! Since I am off for four straight days we thought we would just see how he does. He has had 3 successes and one half accident. He was also dry after nap time, but went in his pull up right before we made it to the potty. He loves his Thomas underwear and seems to be getting the hang of it already. We will see how tomorrow goes!