Oh there's no place like home...

...for the holidays...

I am so excited to get to the farm! Even if it's going to be -20 degrees C next week. Eeek!
I don't even know what that means anymore. But whatever. It will be cozy and warm in the house and that's where I plan on being.

I figured I'd post a Christmas post right now as I don't know if I'll get around to it later. B and I have been crafty some more, and here's a picture of what B calls 'our Christmas craft'. Every time we come in the house he says, 'Mom, look at our Christmas craft.' He was such a good little helper ripping off all the tops of the bulbs.





Also, a few days after that I got a hankering again and made this fun topiary with some random stuff I had lying around. {Better Homes and Gardens} These pine cones used to hang on our tree, but they were a pain to put on, so I found them a new home.



I also thought I'd include a couple pictures of these boys getting ready to face the arctic.





I have really had to plan as Beckett didn't even have any closed-toed church shoes, and Wil had one pair of long jeans. Beckett is such a California boy as it was raining a few days ago and when we walked out of the house he immediately stopped, pointing at the rain and said 'what's that??' when I told him it was just rain and to hurry up, he protested, "I don't like it."

We are in for it. Big time. Wish me luck!

Crafty days

I have been working on some fun crafty projects, but I can't post most of them, because a few of you can't see them quite yet ;) However, I did want to post this picture of the bedding I made for Wil's room this summer while on vacation. It was so fun to do something creative- especially cause I had no idea what I was doing...I made it up as I went.



And just a quick Beckett funny. While sitting in traffic (and expressing a teensy bit of road rage) Beckett asked, "mom, where's your smoke coming out?"

While putting him to bed the other night:
B: What is that noise?
Me: Oh, it's just the neighbors
B: I am worried about it.

{Halloween}

This year Wil just had to be a pumpkin.
With his cheeks it would have been wrong to do anything else. He played the part well.
As Beckett calls him 'Chunker Wil'.





Beckett was a bit tricky as we all remember last year's Halloween fiasco of putting his pirate outfit on 5 minutes before the trunk or treat and it didn't fit. (If you don't recall, this might help spark your memory.) So, I figured a nice non-invasive outfit like a train engineer. (What could be easier than a tee-shirt and some light overalls?) Well he was having none of it, and I had to bribe him all night to keep his hat on. While trunk-or-treating at the church party he spoke about 2 words the entire night, neither of which included the words trick, treat OR thank you. We kept walking around and I'd say, "Beckett, can you say trick or treat" and he'd stand there silent. Then I'd take a candy and say, "Beckett, what do you say?" and he'd stand there silent. Finally when people asked what he was dressed up as I told them he'd come as a mute train engineer. Yeesh. At least he looked cute.





{and yes, I know B has chocolate all over his face. I thought it added to the picture}

Project 365

2 months ago I started a project I'm sure many of you have heard of. The concept behind Project 365 is to take one picture a day and journal about it. After having Wil and seeing how fast (1) my pregnancy went (2) how fast he was already growing and (3) how big Beckett was--he wasn't a baby anymore which was emphasized because I had a baby to compare-- I decided that I needed to do something to preserve this time of my life; to preserve these babies.

Enter 365. It has been so much fun to think about what I want to remember and document it. I have already seen the result- I just looked through it tonight, and there were a few things even just 5 weeks ago that I'd forgotten about. Life goes by way too fast.


Since getting 365 underway I've decided to undertake another project-doing a book for each of my boys. I want to write monthly about the things they're doing/the way they're growing. I have yet to work out the details, but I know that I'll be glad I did it when I'm old and senile.

Here a few pictures from my weeks. This first one is Beckett at his last doctors appointment. Just chillin in the waiting room.


And Wil blowing me bubbles the other day. He's doing all sorts of new things.


Last, a picture from our trip to San Diego this past weekend. Beckett and the Hansen boys spent a good portion of the game wrestling each other between the stands. They'd wrestle for a minute and then one of them would call a 'time-out' and they'd 'take a breather'. It was hilarious to watch. Good thing the stadium was empty and they had lots of room to play.

Family Pictures

While home in Canada this summer my wonderful mother took these family pictures for us. She was such a good sport to run around the farm with us trying to get the boys to look (Beckett got a little distracted by a tractor driving by), get the right photo composition (we were in some interesting spots), and try to understand my instructions. I think she did a dang good job for what she had to work with. Thanks mama.

Reagan Hayes

I've been meaning to post about this for some time now, and finally got around to it. My fabulous friend Reagan just launched her new furniture line 'Reagan Hayes' and I had the amazing opportunity to photograph the furniture. It was a very unique experience, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it. Her line has really taken off. If you have time to visit her site, make sure to click on the press tab to see how much publicity she's gotten since starting. It's been really fun to see my photography all over the web (and in published articles as well). Also, just a plug that her stuff is really amazing. I'm posting a picture of two of my favorite pieces, the Wendy sofa and the Cynthia dining chair. Check out her site, and if you're looking for furniture, her stuff is truly amazing!

reaganhayes.com

A shoot with B

While we were in WY I finally got around to taking some pictures of my own child! B was such a trooper this day. I bribed him to get dressed with promises of seeing the trains and then I just so happened to have my camera with me. :) We were glad to have Nana with us for B to make all these faces at.
Sorry that there are so many, I couldn't decide which ones to post.

Busy Busy

Last week we had a really busy week. My friend, Katie, came back to LA to visit us since they've been away in Ireland for the past year. We've missed them so much! Beckett and Easton were reunited as well and they had a blast together. Here are some of the highlights of our week. We started off at the beach on Monday with several of my girlfriends. Beckett is always pretty skeptical when we get down there, but by the end he was too busy building a sandcastle to leave. Here he is with his friend Caleb doing just that.



Tuesday was B's first day back at school and he was happy to be at Miss 'Coles' house (Nicole). We were in a bit of a car accident that day (a taxi backed up into my car and then said it was my fault) but I don't like to think about it, so I'm not going to.
Then Thursday I taught school here, and the boys were so cute. There is actually one little guy missing from this picture, so there are 5 boys total, and they are all such sweet little men. I love teaching them. Here they are in the aprons I made them for school this year.



Friday was our first attempt at Disneyland where we became true LA-ites and purchased season tickets. It was HOT. But the little people did remarkably well and we're glad we went. Here are B and W at the end of our day. Highlights from the day for me were Small World and a frozen lemonade. Beckett LOVED the carousel and the Finding Nemo ride.



Saturday, well...I already went there in my last post, but we were glad that Nathan got to be at the game, and even happier when he came home to us on Sunday. The week was topped off with Labor Day holiday Monday and we did some serious relaxing as a family.

Woot woot.

It's official. Tonight I proved myself to be a true blue Cougar Football fan. This afternoon, with both boys asleep, I chose to watch the BYU-Oklahoma game, and I couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. Sure it was a great game, sure BYU (20) beat #3 Oklahoma, but going into it, even turning on the TV, when I could have done a myriad of other things in those few moments to myself says something. Toward the end of the game I even caught myself screaming (even though I fully realized the potential wake up threat it risked). You should have seen me standing in my living room--by myself--glued to ESPN; my mind trying to decide who to call to celebrate. I even thought about calling the Roberts brothers. :)
So, sweetie-you'll be glad to know that it happened. I'm converted. True blue through and through.

B BOY 2 1/2 YEARS : WIL 3 MONTHS

Big B. Little Eckett. 30 Months Old.

-He's learning so rapidly. His vocabulary is pretty extensive for a 2 1/2 year old. (Just now, "Can I blow raspberries on Wil?"...and his pronunciation of raspberries was pretty close).
- Still loves cars, especially his orange Lamborghini.
-He'll lay on his side (pretty much anywhere) and drive his cars around for lengthy amounts of time.
-Insists that he's a big boy. If I ever accidentally say anything about him being little he quickly corrects me.
-Every morning he asks me, 'where Daddy go?' and when I tell him work he responds, 'boo.'
-Currently trying to potty train.
-Loves Baby Wil. Or as he calls him 'Yittle Wil'.
-Loves to pillow fight with dad every night before bed.
-He's really sweaty.
-Loves candy or 'reats' as he calls them.
-Is petrified of 'ambaids' (aka. bandaids).
-He's still really shy and takes a while to warm up to people.
-Asks a million questions a day...'Mommy what's that?' and I tell him ___. Then it's, 'Mommy what that ___do? Repeated at least 5x per object.
-Loves to roar which sounds like 'war'.
-Is amazingly obedient for a 2 1/2 year old...he'll let me brush his teeth.
-He's just learning the art of stalling (before going to bed).
-He's very cautious...he still can't walk up or down stairs very fast.
-Loves being in his crib (playing with his cars)...not sure when the upgrade to a big boy bed will happen.
-He's hilarious. I wish I could remember all the funny things he says.
-Still loves books and would let me read him 20 books each night if I had time.
-Currently not that into TV or watching movies.
-When he's lazy and wants me to get something for him he'll tell me that he can't because it's too 'scary'.
-He loves playing pretend. It's so fun to see his imagination grow.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

WIL. I. AM. 3 MONTHS OLD

-Such a good baby.
-Has long eyelashes like his dad.
-If wrapped/rocked correctly he falls asleep in less than a minute.
-So smiley...but you have to work for the ones he gives.
-Such a grunter and has been since day 1. I've put him to bed and he's just grunted himself to sleep.
-Such a good eater-which is why...
-He's grown out of several 3-6 month outfits. I put him in a 9 month sleeper last night...and it fit!
-Loves the swing.
-Looks identical to Beckett did at 3 months. (I'm going to show you in a future post).
-Is in the 86th percentile for height and 94th for weight.
-He's pretty much bald (way less of a mullet than B had).
-Has on dimple on his right cheek. I only see it every once in a while.
-He's really loud like his mom. When he gets squawking...
-Loves bath time.
-Blows out of 80% of his diapers.
-He loves it when I kiss on him and let my hair tickle his face. He gets all flustered and giddy.
-Spits up ALL THE TIME. Just like Brother Beckett. Oh the joys.
-Does not love the bottle.
-Just found his tongue and plays with it in his mouth...thus we go through 20+ bibs a day.

I feel so blessed to have these two little boys in my life. Before meeting Wil I had convinced myself that he would not be a good baby...because I couldn't imagine being blessed with 2! They are amazing little men and I love them so much.

Where are we?

I feel like we've been on a roller coaster ride the past couple of months. In June we were in Cedar City for a week (see last post), in July we went to Utah for a baby blessing and my mom came back to LA with us for a weeklong visit right after. Then we were home in LA for a couple of weeks before heading off to Nathan's parents house for a week, and now I've been in Canada at my parent's place for almost 3 weeks. I figured if I was going to make the effort to come home this summer, fly with both boys by myself, and spend the cash to get us all here, I was going to make it worth my effort. So, our month-long vacation is almost at it's end and thus the delay in my blogging. (Yeah right...I post so often otherwise :) ) However, this trip has been so rejuvenating and blogging more frequently is on my list of things to improve on when I get home. I love how easy it is while on vacation to commit to augmenting my efforts in all aspects of life after the vacation is over. But this time I'm serious! :)

So I figured while I'm still here, I'd post a few pics from our second summer vacation...the Utah trip for the 4th of July (and to attend baby McKay's blessing). 

We watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks from the BYU campus and it was amazing. What's better than a pic-nic and free fireworks on the 4th?

And my cute little brother was just home from his mission in Kenya...it was SO great to see him!

We utilized the pool at the hotel and it was fun to see how different Addy and Beckett are. He cowered at the side of the pool, while she flung herself at Tyler. B clung to Nathan's neck while Addy seemed ready to swim laps. What a funny little pair.

An example of the clinging 

And sweet little McKay on his special blessing day. Both Brenan and Beth's entire families attended. So fun to see the Klain family!

Here are the three grandchildren all born within two months of one another. McKenzie, McKay and Wil (should we have gone with McGregor?) 

And just a quick shout-out to the world's greatest Sho-sho (swahili for Grandma). She is such an amazing woman. 

Since we haven't all been together for over 2 years, we got family pictures and Katie and Dan at peekaboophotography did a fantastic job. I can't believe how big our family is!