Boot Camp

Ryan has just been initiated into what John calls, "two a days".  Two practices a day, two hours of football in the morning and two hours of football at night, five days a week.  Intense.  Especially for a ten year old.  This is his first year playing tackle football.  He played flag the last two yeas.  Yesterday was his first day of practice.  They were told for the next two weeks they will be "conditioning".  They also told them to "please not quit.  It will eventually be fun."  They just needed to get through conditioning.  1.5 days down, 8.5 to go.  Hope he makes it through with a good attitude intact.  In the morning he is at the high school doing a camp.  Which he loves.  In the evening he has practice with his team, the Grizzlies.  This is where Ryan thinks they are trying to kill him.  Running.  Sit-ups.  Push-ups.  Jumping jacks.  Drills.  Repeat.  It's good for him.  Right?

Chloe's Second Birthday!

It is hard to believe that my baby is two years old.  She is becoming so independant, which is a blessing and a curse.  Honestly, mostly a curse at this point.  She is very obstinate.  I have no idea where she gets that from. 

Here is what we did for her birthday.

Anxiously waited all day long to open presents until Daddy got home.

Talked to Grandpa and Grandma Young on the phone.

Had some good times at Chuckee Cheese . . .

. . . and some not so good times.

My attempt at a flower cake.

Chloe trying to "spit" out her candles.  Hilarious, but not effective.

Enjoying the goodness that is frosting.

And at long last, able to open her presents.  The big one is a refrigerator to go with the kitchen she got for Christmas.  Evan loves it way more than she does.

Happy birthday my brown eyed beauty.

Happy St. Paddys Day!

Evan's Birthday

I can't believe that four years have come and gone so quickly.  Evan is such a big boy now.  He is becoming so independent.  He loves to do everything his big brother is doing and follows Ryan wherever he goes.  He loves to "fight", what he calls wrestling around.  He is 150% all boy.  He is as rough and tough as they come.

He was so excited for his birthday.  I think the day after Christmas he started asking me, almost daily, when it was going to be his birthday.  Boy, now what is he going to look forward to?

Evan got pancakes for his birthday breakfast.  He only ate the letter "A".  He isn't a big eater.

Evan wanted a motorcycle cake so bad.  This is what I came up with.  He loved it.  He kept going to look at it, but when the time came he didn't want to eat any of it.  He just wanted ice cream.

Chloe liked the ice cream too.

R.I.P. . . .

. . . my sweet CoCoa-Latte Machine

If you know me well you know I love hot chocolate.  My mom knew this and blessed me with one of my most favorite gifts I have ever received.  My cocoa-latte machine.  It perfectly blends the hot chocolate making it smooth and creamy.  It also heats it til its steamy hot.  Just the way I like it. 

I like mine so much that I bought one for my brother and his wife for Christmas.  Although it isn't really the same.  I couldn't find the same one that I have so I had to settle for an imitation.  The Cocoa-motion.

To my horror, this morning I could not get my cocoa-latte to work.  I pushed the button and all I got was clicking noises.  It will not turn on.  I spent a good twenty minutes trying to fix it, but I think it has died and gone to heaven.  Where all good appliances go, right?  Sad, sad day.  I guess all good things must come to an end.

Chloe's new trick

So Chloe apparently doesn't like to feel restricted by jammies or a diaper while she sleeps.  She has been stripping either before she falls asleep at night or when she wakes up in the morning.  I have to check to make sure she is dressed before I go to bed.  What a crazy kid.

The Spirit of CHRISTmas

So, I have been thinking that I would do some posts on some of "My Favorite Things," Christmas style.  I love Christmas!  I love the lights. I love the garlands and berries.  I love the candles.  I love having my home decorated and cozy feeling.  These really are some of my favorite things. 

Tonight, after a conversation with our eldest, I was reminded that maybe I'm not emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas as much as I should be.  Tonight we had an emotional and traumatic discussion about the existence of Jolly Old St. Nick, which I thought we had already settled.  This last summer Ryan came home from a friends super grumpy.  When I asked him what was wrong he started crying and yelling that I was a liar and had lied to him his whole life.  I asked what I had lied to him about.  His response, "there is no Santa and you told me there was.  There is no Santa or an Easter Bunny."  Yikes.  He got me.  I had lied about that.  So I told him he had to believe to recieve.  Thats what my mom always told me.  Apparently he thought that meant there was a Santa and I thought he now KNEW.  So when I said something tonight about playing along for Evan and Chloe, the drama ensued.  I just thought he had been playing along for the little kids.  He was upset and said, "I just need a final answer, yes or no."  So I told him no and he was upset.  He actually tried to get out the shredder to shred his letter to Santa.  I feel bad he had such a sense of betrayal.

It turned into a discussion of the true meaning of Christmas and the gift that our Heavenly Father sent us, His Son.  I am so greatful for this gift we have been given.  It was a Christmas during my freshman year at BYU, while reading the nativity as a family, that I truly gained my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the gospel.  This has made Christmas even more special to me.  It is when I became a true believer.  I hope Ryan learns that even though there is no Santa that the true meaning of Christmas is the real reason to BELIEVE.