Merry Christmas!

Why I Love Parker...and Happy Birthday!

This month we celebrated Parker's 3rd birthday. I can't believe he's 3!! Parker couldn't quite believe it either....it took him half the day to realize that he was a year older. All of the celebrating made me think about why I love my little guy, so here are a few things that came to mind:

Parker is SO stubborn. This is sometimes frustrating, but sometimes just really funny. This year he has really learned how to be obedient even when he doesn't want to do what we've asked him to do. We'll say "Parker, who is in charge of this family?" and he'll cry and say "You!", then go do what he was asked to do. Scott and I just crack up :)

Some things he's said this month:

P: Mom, that guy is fat and strong. I want to be fat and strong so I can destroy things. Maybe like a pig. They are really fat and strong.

P: Mom, you're a nut.

M: What? What do you mean?

P: A nut. You're a little crazy mommy!

P: Mom, can you put my blankie in my shirt? I need to be Hiccup's father. This is my fur cape. (Hiccup is from "How to Train Your Dragon")

Parker is just SO dedicated to make believe and he loves to play with Landon and his friends (even though he likes to bug them, too!). He is so fun to have around - we would laugh a lot less without Parker in the house!

Here he is opening up his presents:

He invited his babysitters to his party :)

So excited about his little cake he decorated:

I think he ate about half of it before giving up!

After cake, presents and play, we headed to the pool. All he wanted was a "swimming party". He barely made it through without falling asleep, but he had so much fun playing with his friends at the pool. We love you Parker! Happy Birthday!

Our Thanksgiving

We had a blast this Thanksgiving visiting our family in Arizona. First of all, AZ weather is awesome this time of year! We packed our four day trip full of fun and our kids still didn't think it was enough time with their cousins. Here are some of the highlights:

At Thanksgiving dinner at Mama Kit and Papa Len's house. Following the Prince family olive tradition:

Aunt Whitney had a ton of fun things for the kids to do. We made gingerbread houses:

Scott's was pretty awesome:

All the older kids with their creations (we did this while the little boys were napping...brilliant on our part!).

Matthew and Parker were best buddies....except when they decided to annoy the heck out of each other. I guess that's how it goes for two year olds!

We had so much fun playing with the kids outside:

We had to have a little basketball tournament, too. Me and Scott vs. Becca and Jeff!

And here I am getting totally rejected by Jeff....

The superheroes:

Landon decided to draw me a picture and give it to me while I was asleep. Scott thought it would be funny to take a picture. Ha. Ha.

Then Aunt Whitney taught us how to make slime. So fun!!! This kept the kids busy forever (we made some when we got home and they still love it!). Here's a recipe I found online if you want to try it out: http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/2010/04/homemade-slime.html

They loved blowing bubbles in it. I think Katie got the biggest one:

Finally got a picture of Whitney and Papa. I swear, these guys are hard to photograph! Mama Kit escaped the camera this time....

Thanks to our AZ family for hosting us and feeding us delicious food while we were there! We had so much fun and can't wait to come out again soon!

Playing in the Leaves

This was our last real leaf clean-up before it got really cold. The boys LOVED that huge pile! They would bury themselves in it and then wait for us to look for them, then pop up and say "What? I was just laying in the leaves!". Yay for Daddy for cleaning these all up!

At the Farm

Before Thanksgiving we got to go on a little field trip with our preschool group. We do Mother Goose time with some friends and it's been a lot of fun. Landon loves getting together with these kids! Jami found this great little farm for us to visit since they had been learning about animals and farms all month long. First we fed the goats and donkey:

Here are the kids throwing corn cobs into the pigs - it was seriously muddy in there!

A few brave children (mine not included) milked the goat:

Petting a hen:

This was Landon and Parker's favorite part - holding the cute orange kitten in the barn. I guess they take after their mother!

Feeding the cows:

Afterwards we got a group shot of the kids with this sweet lady - she was so kind to let us invade for the afternoon!

Why I Love Landon

There have been so many things lately that remind me how much I love Landon. Here are just a few:

M: Landon, did you eat your broccoli?

L: Yep. I ate it all.

M: Good job bud, did you like it?

L: Yeah, I liked it. But it was also kind of disgusting. At least it's good for my body.

P: Landon, we got a new car.

L: What?? Did you drive it here to preschool?

P: Yep.

L: Mom, did you really drive it here?

M: Yep - look, do you see our old car?

L: No....

M: Do you see a new van?

L: YES!!! Is it that one over there? Ah yes. It's a Honda. How lucky are we!? We have TWO Honda's. .......That's totally awesome. Do the doors open 'matically?

(We bought a used Honda Odyssey this week...and I agree that it's totally awesome!)

L: Mom, can I have a treat at the store?

M: Hmm....what do you think?

L: Oh yeah. I already had a cookie for lunch. I think that would probably be too much sugar

L: It goes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday aaaaand SATURDAAAAAAY. That's the day I get to play video games right Mom?

L: Mom, why do you eat your vitamin whole instead of eating a gummy bear?

M: Well, gummy bear vitamins are to help kids eat them because some kids don't want to eat their vitamins. I don't need help to eat mine.

L:......actually I think it's because the baby needs your vitamin. I don't think our baby would want to eat a chewed up gummy bear.

L: Mom, Alana said she's going to invite me to her beach birthday party. I guess I should find out if it's on a Sunday. Maybe if it's on a Friday I could go?

L: Mom, are you making stroganoff for dinner?

(next day)

L: Mom, can we have stroganoff for dinner?

(next day)

L: Mom, I'll help you make stroganoff for dinner. I bet it would be pretty easy. And I'm really good at helping.

P: MOOOM! I need my milk!

L: Parker, her body is making a baby, she can't just do everything. I can get your milk cup out of the fridge k?

As you can see, Landon is extremely obedient, thoughtful and helpful - and he's not even 5 yet!! He is truly a joy to have in our house and I just wanted to remember all the sweet little things he does these days. Since he found out I was pregnant, he started clearing his own dishes (without me even asking!). I noticed him doing it one morning and asked him about it. He said "Just putting my dishes in the sink. I like to help. You're just making a baby...". So sweet! I so appreciate how thoughtful he is and how willing he is to do what's right even when it's not what he wants. He's a great example to Parker (whom I love for many - but completely different - reasons) and I know he'll be such a great big brother to our next baby, too. We love you Landon!