The Remodel - Part 2

Today Dave and my dad got started working on the remodel for the upstairs. We have a loft upstairs that we have been using as Logan's sleeping area and we're going to turn it into Trevor and Colin's new room so Logan can have their old room. I want the new room for the 2 older boys so we can paint it the way they want and do a really good closet with organizers so they don't have to have too much furniture in their room. Trevor keeps telling me he wants "one of those up beds" in his new room (a bunk bed) and he wants to sleep on the top. It will be fun to watch the progress but my favorite part will be painting, getting the closet done, finding cute curtains and wall decorations....all of the fun stuff. We bought this house 4 years ago so it's been fun putting our personal touch into each room and changing things around to meet our needs. I love thinking of our boys growing up here and how we can do what we want to make it a home we love. Hopefully one of these days I'll get to blog about my new kitchen!

Little Readers

I was looking through Trevor's school folder today when I read a note from his teaching saying it was Reading Week. I told Trevor we'd have to read lots of books this week at home and he'd read lots at school. Trevor ran into the playroom and came back with some books. He said he wanted to look at them all by himself. Colin joined him on the couch and started looking at one of the books and then Logan came along. Trevor told me to go get Logan some baby books. I put Logan on the couch with his brothers and all three started looking through their books. It was too cute a scene to not run and get my camera. Maybe I can show them this picture one day when they are teenagers complaining about reading a book for English class. I can show them that they used to love books.

I was looking through some of Logan's baby pictures today when I found one of him with his Great-great grandma. I realized I had one of each boy with her. When I was growing up it was a normal thing to have lots of grandparents and great grandparents. I think today though, it's unusual that my children have 2 sets of grandparents, 3 great grandmas, 1 great grandpa, and 2 great-great grandmas (both just turned 99). A few weeks ago we went to my nephew's baptism. My parents were there, my dad's parents were there and my dad's grandma was there. All of my dad's

grandchildren were there as well. We got a picture of all of us because we wondered when we'd all be together again to get it done. I know I need to go and visit them more often and let my kids get to know them better. I love sitting with my grandma and hearing her stories. Whenever I talk to her she helps me to remember what is most important and she always tells me what a good mom I am. She always says exactly what I need to hear and she teaches me something about how to love my family because of the way she loves her family. I think my kids realize how special they are to have so many grandparents. One Thanksgiving Trevor looked around the room and said, "Mom, I have 5 grandmas here!" I'm so glad we have extended family that live so close. Dave's sister was in Vegas this past weekend and we got to see her and her kids for an hour or so. Sometimes Dave's parents or sister and her husband will come to town on business and we'll get to spend time with them. When I was newly pregnant with Logan Dave's family traveled here and then we all drove to Utah for a family reunion. We met people we were related to but didn't know. Dave's dad loves to do genealogy and it's so fun to see how far back our family goes, how we're related to so many different people. Just looking at these three pictures of my Great grandma holding my boys makes me see how important family is and how we need to take more time to sit and listen and learn from the ones who have lessons to teach us because of what they've already experienced.

Family photos

Once a year for the past several years we've gone to take family pictures. We go to the same place every time since I always have a coupon and I think they turn out cute. I like pictures that are simple and we always get a shot where we see the picture and say "That is totally their personality." So Saturday was our day to go again since Logan just turned one and we were in need of a new family photo. I loved how they turned out this time. The boys had fun even though they could not follow directions for anything. But when we saw their pictures it was more them with Logan trying to get away, Colin looking like he's posing for a GQ cover and Trevor playing the protective brother, trying to keep Logan from running away. After we took pictures we went and got lunch (the one time a year I get Hot Dog on a Stick) and then let the boys play in the play area at the mall. It turned out to be a fun day and I love the way the mantel in the family room looks now with our new pictures. It's also nice when the boys are making me crazy I can look up and see those sweet faces and remember why I love them so much.

The little things

I've been noticing lately some little things that make me very happy.....

• The last few nights Colin has eaten all of his dinner and said, "This is good, Mom."
• Trevor has come home from school with a stamp on his hand every day for the past three months (that means he had a good day!)
• Logan's sloppy kisses
• I mopped my kitchen floor last night and no one spilled juice or milk on it during breakfast
• When it's been time to clean up toys Trevor gets right to it and Colin no longer uses his usual excuse - "I can't cween up I siiiiick!"
• I slept in until 7:30 the other day....I did not even hear the kids wake up
• Listening to Logan talk in his baby babble
• Yesterday Trevor and Colin played so good together - I don't think there was a fight all day
• When I was at Target the other day the quilts I've been wanting for the boys' new room were 50 % OFF!!
• The last few days I've walked Trevor to school I've had to take my sweater off because it was so warm

Logan's 1st Birthday

We had a party today for Logan's 1st Birthday. I think the best part of any 1st birthday party is watching the birthday boy or girl eat their cake. I have done cupcakes for both Trevor and Colin so I continued with the tradition. Logan LOVED it! He dug right in and at one point he was licking his tray trying to get more cake. We wish the Eyre family could have been here for the fun. When we figure it out, we'll put a video on the blog so you can all watch the action.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

Colin started Sunbeams on Sunday. The last few weeks his nursery class has been coming in to Primary for singing time to get them used to being with the bigger kids. They were quite the energetic group! We had only 5 kids on Sunday in his class and 4 of them could not stay in their seats for anything. Finally one of their teachers went to the nursery, grabbed some goldfish crackers and got them to sit and eat. Colin was a handful but he is also a pretty good listener so by the end he was sitting pretty well. After church, when we got home Colin was walking in the door singing the Sunbeam song and then when I asked how he liked his new class he said, "I had a good Sunbeam class." I did feel a little badly for Trevor, though. His teachers let us know through e-mail on SATURDAY they had moved out of the ward early. So who knows when we'll get teacher for him....we got five new teachers just to start the year and now we need one more....oh the joys of being the Primary President! All in all it was a fun Sunday that kept me busy. We are learning a new song though and I love it! The kids were learning it so well and it sounded great. It's called "The Family is of God" (go here to listen to it). I can't wait until they have the whole thing learned. There are such great songs this year I think the program in September will be a big success just from the music.