6 against 1

This week that is the number of boys vs girls in the house since we are having Jason's three step brothers over for their spring break. All I have to say is that I am grateful to my frequent visits from my sister to keep me sane in 'boy land'. They have So. Much. Energy. I'd put up a picture of it all but I barely have time to write this. All I can say are both Max and Levi are LOVING all the attention and play time with their uncles.

Just grabbing a quick nap before church. He was not happy when I had to wake him!

So Proud

Costco trips are always an adventure, especially Friday nights when they have free samples. So many things to see! When we first walked in Levi freaked out because he saw SO many HUGE tv's. Then the pool, the playground set, the toy motorcycle, a tether ball pole.....you could tell he was excited. Heck, I was excited.

So we got our salsa, what we had origionally gone for, as well as some fruit and other items and stopped off for a traditional hot dog. My boys LOVE them.

I was feeding some food to Max and partly turned away from Levi for a second and when I turned back he was off the bench. Do you know what that little boy was doing? An older women from a nearby table had dropped a fork and he had picked it up and put it back on her table. A thank you and your welcome was exchanged. I WAS SO PROUD! What 2 1/2 year old does that? I know of very few adults that would even do it. I couldn't believe it. Levi, you never cease to amaze me.

Decisions, decisions....

I know I probably shouldn't have bought it, but I couldn't resist. For the past several months I have been saving $$ from my etsy store to buy Jason and I a real live, adult bedroom set since the only thing we have known is either collage furniture (which doesn't really count) or wasn't ours and I've felt it's time to (finally) grow up. But....
With the beautiful sunshine and summer drawing near, I couldn't help but think of what I loved to do as a kid on those sunny days. Jump. We loved our trampoline and had so many good times! But the old one has been passed on and is being enjoyed else where.
Since we moved into a place that actually has a huge yard, I've been looking around since last summer on craigs list for one that was in good condition and at a decent price.
Well I finally found it. I couldn't believe it. They didn't even have a picture but I decided to call anyways, which I NEVER do if there isn't at least a picture. But after calling I come to find out it was only a year or two old, had a net, and was spring-less! Perfect for little kids! And the price couldn't be beat, even better.
Even thought Jason didn't quite approve, he let me have my way and even picked it up, disassembled it, brought it home and reassembled it. While he was putting it up I don't know who was more excited, Levi or myself. Needless to say, when he was done, Jason, or "Captain Daddy" as Levi calls him, was our hero.
Though I still feel a little like the kid who spent their hard earned money on candy instead of saving it, I'm still happy I did it. Sorry new bed, you'll have to wait just a little longer!
Yeah!

How could you?

Another month older. How the HECK does this happen!?! I was just writing about Mr. Max turning 9 months, and now 10. Hmmm. I did do the last one a week or two late, but really?Max, it feels like you were just kicking me, ready to get out! I love you so much!

One of my absolute favorite things is when you are super happy. You give a huge grin, with those two little bottom teeth and gums on top, tilt your head to the sky, and smile. I live for that smile.

Though you are still doing a sort of seal crawl, you have gotten a lot faster. Also you are sitting up more on your own and even can get to your knees. You get a little frustrated when you can't get all the way to your feet though, so we have to step in and help sometimes.
Feeding you has been a little crazy. You usually get super distracted and don't want to eat and would much rather look around. When I try to pull you away from whatever has caught your eye to eat, you get mad and bite me. I've learned my lesson. So now I give you a toy to play with as you eat. I guess you want dinner and a show. Silly boy. Other than that I seriously have no idea why you are small (according to your doctor) because I think you eat as much as your brother. Where it goes, who knows?

Like Mr. Levi, you like to be part of the group. If you see anyone gathered and you're not there, you get there. You love to be involved and part of the action.
Now you not only LOVE to play with toys, you seem to want to go right for the ones Levi is playing with, but he's always wanting what you are playing with so I guess it's even.

Happy 10 months little Max-o!

A Very Unbirthday

I can't believe the changes that have happened to you in the past 6 months. You are no longer a toddler, but a little boy. At 2 1/2 years you have become a source of so much happiness for your parents. Numerous times a day you will say or do something and dad and I will look at each other and laugh. Who needs more entertainment when we have you in the house?
You are a man's man and love anything boy. Cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, tools, motorcycles, blocks, you name it. One of your new found favorites is a transformer toy your dad had when he was little. It was unearthed while we were visiting Montana and you couldn't leave without it. I think you love it because it can be a robot, rocket ship, a car and now can even be a frog.

If I could describe you in one word it would be: fun. You love to go, go, go and are very rarely still but always looking for some fun to be had, weather it is playing 'rocket ship' on the couch, chasing dad, jumping on the trampoline, or racing your cars around the house, if it's fun, you're there.
Several times a day you like to pretend to be a puppy for me. It is usually just for me, not for anyone else. I love it when you get all fours, start panting and wait for me to say "good puppy dog". It's our thing. I don't know why or how it happened but it's all ours!

Lately you have seen a lot of potential in your brother since he has been moving around a lot and 'talking'. You are quick to tell him to 'be happy' if he is crying, or get him a toy to cheer him up. And though you aren't always perfect about sharing, you have gotten SO much better. You guys have so much fun playing together!
I can't believe how polite you are. For months and months and months, we kept insisting you say please, thank you and sorry. Now you do it most of the time, even when it isn't needed. It's very endearing. Like today, when I told you to be a little more quiet because Max was sleeping, you said, "Oh, sorry mom." You apologize all the time and everyone comments on how polite you are.

And helpful? I know of no toddler as helpful as you.

Your "chores" are putting away your dishes after eating, cleaning up your toys, taking the laundry basket down stairs when needed, helping put away dishes when asked, turning on the lights for Gram and helping her when she needs it. Every time you finish 'your job' you seem to have a great sense of satisfaction. I tried teaching you a little bit about folding but that was a bit too complicated. Maybe you'll be ready when you're three.
Recently we have started reading the Book of Mormon to you from a picture book series, and you pay attention much better than I thought you would. You love to read just about anything but your favorites always have been anything to do with planes, cars, dinosaurs.....

You love your family and are very aware of them. Whenever one of your aunts, uncles, cousins, or grandparents come over you get so excited to see them and drop what you are doing to greet them. You have a special bond with each of them. It's amazing to see how much they love you and how much you love all of them!

Levi, thank you for coming to our family, we love you more than you will ever know!

Tag team back again

Jason just went to check on the boys not long after putting them to bed and hearing some strange sounds coming from their room. Lights were on, books were scattered, Levi was playing with a toy drill and Max with a screwdriver. They're plotting against us already.

Buckle up!

A number of years ago a chair lift was put up for my grandmother to be able to make it up and down the stairs. Since her accident a year and a half ago, it has been used only once or twice......by her. Levi on the other hand loves to use it. Normally we have it off but every now and again, in all his trips up and down the stairs, he remembers it is there. The other day I heard a shout from Levi "Turn it on, turn it on!". He had unfolded it (usually it is in a folded position), got seated and even buckled himself on. I couldn't help but laugh at him and let him take a couple trips up and down the stairs. Who needs an amusement park?

Halarious Levi

Funny stuff from the most halarious toddler I know.

"Mom, what's that?" pointing to a lemur in a book.
"That's a lemur." I reply
"Eat's hot dogs. That's CRAZY!" Levi responds.

Max was chewing on a toy rubber snake. Levi goes up to him and says "Don't eat my friend, Fluff."

Sitting on my bed with a new stuffed Lightning McQueen, "My car beautiful. Thank you for my one toy. Ok. Bye. Be right back."

Both Jason and I work from home, Jason is home in the mornings then goes to work and I work 2-3 hours a day from home whenever I can fit it in. Because of this we are on our computers a lot working away. Normally Levi is pretty good about letting us do stuff when we need to and he'll play and keep himself busy around us. One of his favorite things to play with is the most AMAZING Thomas the Train Sticker book I found NEW at Goodwill for $4 (normally they're like $18 or something outrageous like that). So he'll spend a lot of time coloring in it, taking off the stickers and putting them in it. It's very cute. Today he threw it because hey, he's two and sometimes they randomly throw stuff. He got in trouble and when he went to say sorry and ask for it back he says "It's my job, it's my job." What a hard worker he is!

Did you know that SRHA7YO spells TRAIN? It does, just ask Levi.

Word World is Levi's all time favorite show. He puts up with Sesame Street just so he can watch it. In it they have these cartoon animals that are drawn in a way so that the letters of what they are make up their bodies. Like if you look at sheep, the word SHEEP is the shape of him. So what they do is 'build words' and when they build a word it turns into what it is. I think its pretty cool actually.

Levi knows all his letters and if you point to them can say them all with only few mistakes. When we were in the bathtub the other day he began to put letters together randomly, say the letters, then say "Spells ____ (train, plane, boat....) I couldn't help but laugh. Oh, JXLTBKEC3F also spells BOAT. If you were wondering. And EVERY TIME he sees the letter X he has to say "X marks the spot!". Awesome!

When Levi gets upset and starts crying he ALWAYS cries "Mommy and Daddy and Max and Levi!" over and over. I don't know why.

Levi's nickname for Jason "Captain Daddy".

After falling or getting into some sort of precarious situation which this little daredevil so often puts himself in says "Little help here!"

We've been encouraging Levi to use the toilet lately, nothing big but we've been trying to talk about it and put him on it to get some sort of interest in the whole thing because right now he could really care less about the whole thing. So I have him sit down and I tell him he needs to go pee or poop, he gives a little grunt and says "it's not working, it's not working". Every time.

A couple times a day, Levi takes a trip to outer space or the moon. By this I mean he goes downstairs and sits on or under a mountain of pillow on the couch. He loves it. "Bye. My go outer space. See you later!"

In the bath we have these frogs you fill up with water and squirt. These ones have a hole at the bottom. Levi squeezed, getting a big shot of water on his leg and exclaimed "He pooped on me!"

After roaring loudly, impersonating a dragon, Levi says, "Sorry guys, I'm just kidding"

Our little big boy

It's official, Mr. Max has spent more time outside of my belly than inside. It's been nine months since we first met our little man.

What a prince. Everyone loves you and you love everyone. You'll go to anyone willingly and love to be around people. Everyone can't help but love that adorable smile you so freely give!

My little Max. You ARE little. I never realized how little until we went to the Dr. for your checkup and she told us we need to fatten you up, which you have been enjoying immensely.

I think you are enjoying your new found freedom. Most of the time you are pretty content to play on the floor and craw around. Though if mom comes by and doesn't play or hold you, you get quite upset.Your favorite toys are remote controls, anything electronic, cars, and pretty much anything Levi likes.

Though you have found a way to move you haven't quite 'crawled' with your hands and knees, but it is more a seal movement that looks quite halarious.

You love to chase Levi around and he loves to chase you. Just a couple more months then you can give him a real run for his money!

Now you can say 'dada' but I don't think you know what it means. You like to 'talk' a lot and make noises. I love listening to your chatter.

Food. You love it and can't get enough of it, though now you are becoming a little more picky. You like any fruit, most veggies, yogert, most meat.....ok you eat pretty much everything but you are very independent. You don't really do bottles and like a sippy cut BUT you insist on doing it yourself and if we try to help you get quite upset.

You are getting to be such a BIG BOY! We sure do love you.