Halloween flowers

I took Grant & Brett to Costco last Saturday.  After making a b-line to the bathrooms for Grant a few minutes after we arrived, he saw the flower section and said, "Let's get some flowers!"  Okay!  So on our way out we picked out some Halloween flowers.  I really like his pick.  I think they look super cool for Halloween.  They are just heavy.  But luckily I had this sturdier vase I could put them in.

And I picked out some orange tulips.  I think our trip was a success!

This boy is sick today

Brett woke up screaming last night.  I went in and he was all stuffy and had a runny nose.  It took him a while to calm down, but then he fell asleep on me while we sat in his chair.  If I didn't need sleep myself I would have sat there all night.  Don't you just love holding a sleeping baby?

PJ's and rocket ships

I always love comparisons of kids at the same age.  Here's Grant and Brett wearing their cute striped pajamas.  I think Grant is actually a little older here than Brett, but really close size-wise.  It's so funny to me that Grant was running around like wild at Brett's age, and Brett is content to cruise around holding the furniture still.  I love how different they are from each other.

Grant (left) and Brett (right)

No day is complete without building something out of the couch cushions.  This is Grant's rocket ship.  He has a GREAT imagination.  :)

Happy Friday!  We have a costume party tonight and a ward chili party tomorrow night.  I'm so excited to dress up tonight.  Pictures of that to come.

These little guys

Sometimes I just can't get over how much I love my two little boys.  They are both so unique and special to me.  Yesterday they both got flu shots.  Grant went knowing what was going to happen.  He was so brave.  Just knowing he was going to get a sticker afterwards was enough to get him to hold still and get it done.  He tried to not cry, but then he reached out for me and wouldn't let go.  His little chin quivered and he had the saddest face I've ever seen.  Like he'd been totally betrayed.  It made my eyes water.  In fact the nurse was on the edge of tears too.  Seriously.  And she does this all day long.  I said to her, "This is worse than when they scream, isn't it?"  And she said, "Ya, this is absolutely heart-braking."  After Grant calmed down he asked for his sticker.  Oh how glad I was for those stickers.  Brett screamed for maybe 10 seconds and then was fine after his shot.  Both boys got stickers and Grant got an ice cream cone at Sonic.

Then Grant and I rode our bikes out front while Brett napped.  (See Grant's sticker on his shirt?)  I had so much fun just riding around in circles following Grant.  I just love being on a bike.  I felt like a kid for those 20 minutes.

Later on Grant played with my boots his fireman boots.  Can't get over how cute his little legs are in those things.

It was just another day full of moments where my heart was so full that I get to be a mom to these two kiddos.  I love that I get to spend every day with them.  Tonight when Keith asked Grant what he did today, Grant quickly said, "Played with Mom!"  I'm so glad that's his answer.

Time with Grandma

We had Keith's mom over yesterday to watch Grant get off the bus and have lunch with us.  Grant was so excited!  He came home wearing his cool spider hat that they made at school.  Isn't it too cute?  He's been coming home with lots of different hats from school lately.  I'll have to take pics and post them so you can see the variety.  We had lunch together and then Grant and Grandma watched a movie together and played while I caught up on things.  It was so fun for them and it was so nice for me to have a little break.  Thank you Grandma Jackson!

A white desk

We've been looking on craigslist for a white desk for my computer.  We found this one on Saturday and picked it up.  The price was right.  It has some flaws, but nothing major.  And if I decide to replace it someday I won't feel bad.  I love how bright and clean it looks.  

Funny story about picking it up.  The craigslist add said that the guy selling it had an injury so he wouldn't be able to help move it from his second story apartment.  It really didn't look that heavy, but when we got there and Keith and I started to move it, it soon became apparent that there was NO WAY I would be able to help get that thing down those stairs!  The guy we bought it from took pity on me.  He had a hurt shoulder that he'd been having therapy on for a while, but he took over on my side and he and Keith got it down the stairs.  I hope he didn't ruin his shoulder!  So Keith and I still had to get it to our van.  We made it.  Barely.  We called our home teacher to help unload it when we got home.

Things from last week

Baby Brett loving tub time.

Grant showing something to my grandparents on the iPad.
He kept calling them, "My NEW grandparents!"

We always look forward to talking with my grandparents and asking them lots of questions when we're together.  Here's the adults chatting after dinner last Sunday.  My grandparents were in town for my nephew's baptism.

Keith pitched in another baseball game.  He really let the other team have it!

Brett played in the grass and looked cute.

Grant with his cousins at the game.  (My parents are just behind Grant.)

Trying to get the kids to all hold still at  once.  Ha! 

Beautiful sis-in-law with baby Brody.  Brody was rock'n his super cute hooded PJ's.  They're a crowd favorite.

Keith's still pitching.  He was really sore the next day!

Grant kicked around the soccer ball with cousins and then with another kid while we watched the ball game.  He was dribbling the ball really good all over the grass.  We're excited for him to do soccer this next season.  I think this year he'll really get it.

Cute matching brothers.  Love Brett's face, "Oh!"

Now they both have a ball!  Love how Grant is looking at Brett.

Chatting with Grandma Jackson.

Hamming it up!

New car seat for Brett.  He loves facing forward.  It's so fun to look back there and see him looking around.

Cutest thing ever.  Keith & Grant sang songs to me one night.

Brett's Birthday at Schnepf Farms

We made our annual trip to Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party this year on Brett's Birthday.  We checked out the big pumpkins, enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, and then had fun doing all the activities there: pig races, BMX bike show, giant jumpy thing, rides, mini golf, kettle corn, and a hay ride.  We all had a great time, like we do every year.

Super excited to fly! 

Our boys were selected to cheer for the pig races.  The "farmer" was kind enough to have everyone sing Happy Birthday to Brett.

Grant's pig won the race.  His prize?  This adorable pig nose!

Watching Grant get his pig nose.  Looks like Brett may have wanted one too.

Wearing his new nose with pride.  Seriously, this is probably the only age he'd actually really wear it around the rest of the time.  Ha!  So cute!

Oceanside

Last Wednesday we headed over to Oceanside, CA.  Our purpose was simple, relax and enjoy time at the beach.  We knew we must be on the right path when we ran across this sign with our name on it:

We got to stay with Keith's Uncle and his family.  Their cute house is just a 15 minute drive from the beach.  They were so great to let us stay with them.  Brett even got his own room, which made for a great night sleep for all.  Grant LOVED playing with their dog, Shasta.  He keeps talking about her.

Day one at the beach started out with pouring rain and temperatures as low as 57 degrees!  We were so bummed.  It really looked like that storm was going to be around all day.  So we suggested to Grant that we say a prayer to ask Heavenly Father to help the storm clear up and make it warmer outside.  So Grant prayed for us.  We had waited in the car for about a half hour when the rain stopped. We decided to just get out and at least walk on the beach.  Then the sun came out and it got warm and we enjoyed a few hours of great time on the beach.  Isn't prayer great!?

That night we walked to the end of the pier and enjoyed dinner at Ruby's diner.  The night before we walked on the pier and saw a guy catch a big lobster and other's who caught fish and star fish.  Grant was so eager to find out what they caught.

There were lots of surfers waiting to catch a good wave near the pier:

We thought it was pretty funny that their menu had this burger contest.  Keith ordered the Romney burger.  It was really yummy:

The next day we head to the beach in the morning and spent a few more hours playing and having lunch.  Grant added to his shell collection from the day before.  Brett had a blast playing around in the sand.  I found that it's kind of tricky going to the beach with a baby who sucks his thumb.  He made many disappointed faces when his sandy thumb went in!  It was funny.  Keith caught a few good waves on the boogie board both days.  I played it a little more low key and stayed mostly on the sand.

After cleaning up at Keith's uncle's house we started our drive home and arrived late that night.  We had sand on everything!  I've nick-named it "magnet sand."  We had so much fun and look forward to going again soon!

Happy Birthday Dear Brett

Not to take attention away from Brett, but isn't it so cool how this picture turned out?  I so did not plan it.

He loves being a BABY

He has curly hair

He eats with a fork

He's learning how to drink from a sippy cup

He doesn't hide his feelings...not at all

He gets into EVERYTHING.  Of course.  But really, did Grant get into everything so much?  Oh how soon we forget!

He likes to drink the water from the faucet in the tub

He loves bath time and must leave the tub holding a tub toy or he'll be mad

He deals with his older brother getting in his face ALL THE TIME

He cherishes his time alone while Grant is at school

He loves to play with his brother...and his brother's toys

He goes into a room, closes the door, and then screams as if someone else just locked him in

He has always made his own sleep and eat schedule and holds to it firmly

He just took himself down to one nap a day (Wait!  Grant did 2 naps for a lot longer than this!)

He loves standing up to chairs and pushing them across the room or down the hall

He is in no rush to walk though

He will sprawl out on the floor, face down, when he wants me to come pick him up.  And he'll take little peeks to make sure I'm coming.

He loves his Mommy and Daddy

He will make dog barking sounds when he hears a dog or you say, "Doggy!"

He has always refused to wear a bib

He dances to music and loves to have dance parties with Mommy

He can get down from the couch by himself now

He likes to push the buttons on my printer, especially the off button

He gives the hand to anything he doesn't want and shoves it aways

He drops food off the side of his highchair just to watch it fall

He also drops food when he's done with it

He likes to look out the window in his room

He has always slept like a dream at night

He takes advantage of any opportunity to pull all of Mommy's shoes off their shelves

He loves playing with the streams of light that come in through our windows

He loves getting blown by the hair dryer

He was born on his Great Grandma's Birthday

He eats a banana and Cheerios every morning for breakfast

He love cars and balls just like a true boy

He has such a sweet smile

He is just so sweet and fun and adorable!

We are so so so blessed to have you, Brett!  Happy Birthday!  We LOVE you!

The night Keith played baseball

Keith was invited to pitch for a friend's baseball team on Monday night.  So we made it our family activity.  Our parents all came too.  It was so fun for Grant to see his dad play.  Keith was like a little kid waiting for that game.  He was so excited to play!  I wish he could be on a regular team and play more often, but then we'd never have him here at home where we need him most.  :)  

His team approved of his mad skills:

Brett was really tired.  He NEVER falls asleep outside of his crib.  Well, almost never.  Every now and then he'll fall asleep in the car.  But if there's something going on, he wants in on it and he's not about to let sleep get in the way.  He spent time playing with the grandparents and a lot of time doing this:

Grant just loved the whole thing.  Time with dad:

And pretending to play baseball with Grandma Jackson:

Fun times!