My boys like to play!

I figured I'd let you in on my boys typical play...

And here is how my day goes...

Connor: "I am the mighty Beaver... here to avenge the weak and right the wrongs!!!!"

Vale: "Mommy... the mighty Beaver just kicked me in the face..."

Yeah... Mighty Beaver FAIL... 

The other evening, Jimmy and I took the boys out 'ridin'.

Vale would cry every time we went near our garage door cause he didn't want to go in! ha

Connor loves this little scooter!  I picked it up for a couple of bucks at a second hand store.

I laugh every time I see his hair... oh my word he's out of control... 

 They were just going up and down the alley... they loved it!  I just wish we could rope off the cars then we'd do this every day! :)

 Vale really liked the bike!  Not so much the helmet...

So we're dirty, have lost a shoe and are looking for rocks... yeah that's pretty much how every outing ends... 

Another Video only a Grandparent would want to watch...

This is a 7 minute video of Connor NOT singing... ha!  All of his little friends are singing but not him...

When asked why he didn't sing he said, 'they sang and I was shy'... well... 

Notice the scowl sometimes... that's when everyone laughs.  He gets that look when he thinks that people are laughing AT him... so sensitive...

Teacher Melissa was so sweet to him... has she not been there I'm sure there would have been tears.

We are working on the shy thing... trying to make him use his words to ask for things from people.  

Hopefully he will grow out of it.

Recommended Books for Kids

These are some of our boys favorite books!

We really like these ones and read them to the boys often so I thought I'd share!

Connor almost has this one memorized!

It's a poem with colorful, fun pictures with a good allegory using the Moon and Sun of how we try to take glory away from God by taking credit for the things He's done for us.

The Lamb book is one of the books we use when reading a chapter a night to the boys... we rotate books so they don't get bored :)

This one has more words and reads more like a story with colorful pictures and even questions at the end of each chapter to make sure the kids understood.

This a great depiction of the gospel starting with creation and showing how sin came into the world and how Christ has paid the price for that sin.

This is the other book we rotate in, reading to them at night before bed.  I LOVED this book when I was a kid and I looked for our copy from my childhood but it was nowhere to be found so I just bought one on amazon.

This one has a lot more words and the chapters are longer but Connor is captivated by the story and runs around our house chanting 'Apollyon, Apollyon, Apollyon!!!!'

This is the great allegory of Pilgrim's Progress in the child's condensed version.  It's really an awesome depiction of the Christian journey.  It's a little dark in some places and some things definitely need to be explained cause they can be scary for a 3 year old but he LOVES this book!!  I'm sure Vale will too when he's older.

Vale is 18 months old! Where has the time gone!???

 Vale turned 18 months on Saturday!

Crazy how time flies!!!

He is a total ham... 

Any always eating... 

He likes to search under his high chair for leftovers... 

Yup found some!

He's deadly with a plastic sword...

'I'll even get ya with my eyes closed!!! Let me at'em let me at'em!'

Vale also LOVES music!!!  He dances and plays anything that will make noise.

He's also quite a singer!

(insert crooner voice) 'L is for the way you look at me...'

Sometimes it gets him a little bit more attention and affection than desired... :)

He's a sweet sweet boy!

And we all love him very much!

He runs like a champ

Does stairs like a pro (although he did fall down them head over feet today... but...)

Although he words aren't super clear he does communicate very well

He loves to sing the song 'trust and obey'

He likes anything 'cheese' flavored

He really likes to have clothing on... he will bring me random shirts from the dirty clothes wanting me to put them on him... 

He likes to put on peoples shoes. :)  He finds a match then wants them on your feet... like now.

Has no fear of water or the pool.  Puts his face right into the bath or pool and comes up smiling.

He loves to climb on everything... pray for him physical safety!!!

He can say/point out your and his own nose, eyes, mouth, ears and hair.

He's pretty good about pooping on the potty... in the last 2 months he's only gone once in his diaper.

He sleeps very well still taking a bottle before bed and using his 'beba' (paci) for sleep time only.

He naps still during the day for about 2 hours in the AM.

His favorite movie is Tangled... hahaha he really likes the horse and gets excited when he comes on screen.

He wants to be a big boy like his brother... anything Connor does, Vale wants to do too.

He's definitely starting to understand consequences.  We only have to threaten discipline now and he understands.

He does pretty good in time out! (probably b/c he's watched Connor A LOT in timeout :))  He sits quietly with his hands on his knees until we tell him he can get down.  Then, since he doesn't verbalize sorry yet, he always goes and gives you a hug and a kiss to say sorry.

He is a lover!!  He loves hugs and snuggles!!  Sweet sweet spirit and very sensitive.  It's adorable!

We love him very much and are soooooo blessed by Vale!!!

We go to his 18 month check up Monday so I'll post his physical stats in an update :)

My little peanut is growing!!! :)

Long over due 'story' update... I've been collecting these for months...

Connor

Connor was riding around on his Wahoo with a sword in hand yelling that he was the protector (pronounced in his words pre-tech-ter) of the family.  He was frustrated because he couldn't hold TWO swords in his hands and still steer the Wahoo so he started to cry.  I told him that if he wanted to be the might protector of the family he can't cry like that and he responded "But I wanna be the sweet protector who still needs his mommy!!!' :) I'll remind him of that when he's 14... :)

Connor has been doing MATH lately!!!  He has a very conceptual mind and does VERY well with story problems.  I got a video but it's too long to post so I have to figure that out...  Kati asked him what he wanted to study in college (after he told her that when he gets big he's gonna go to his own school... college).  She told him he could study Animals or science or the bible... he said 'no I want to study that!' and pointed to him abacus.  :)

Connor likes to make up songs... the other day in the kitchen he was belting out this anthem... "Just gonna stand here and watch me burp... that's alright cause it makes me feel better..."  Very nice son... very nice...

He was helping me cook and was stirring the noodles for mac and cheese and hit his knuckle on the side of the pan.  I said, 'oh no buddy did you burn your hand??'  To which he replied through tears, 'No mommy, I burned my knuckle bomb!!'  :)  Oh sweet sweet boy.

So our friends that come over weekly for Bible study have a child each.  One a girl named Charity and the others a boy named Joseph.  Well Connor doesn't call them Charity and Joseph... it's Chardidy and Jophis... you'll said no Charity and he'll say back to you Chardidy.  Same with Joseph... sigh...

On Easter morning, (Jimmy had to work... BOOOO) I was trying to get the boys dressed and out the door and Connor started throwing a FIT about wearing a coat and tie.  He was yelling, 'I don't want to look cute! I don't wanna look cute!'  So we dealt with the attitude and then before I tried again to dress him, I asked him 'Connor why don't you want to be cute?'  His answer was not expected!  He said 'Cause when I'm cute all the girls want to play with me and I can't play with my guy friends!!!' Oh my!  What a conundrum!!  :)  A couple weeks later I told that story to the ladies in nursery and they said 'well that makes sense... cause when we sit down for story time the girls all sit around him and pat his head and tell him how cute he is.' :)  Don't worry kid... you'll like it when your 16... :)

Connor's little theological nugget this week was said to me very seriously with big eyes... "God and Jesus are different you know!"  :)  That's right buddy!!  Good job!

Connor was fussing about not wanting to get dressed to go to EWG (the kid likes to be naked... well in his skivvies) and he said why do we have to go (by the way he always LOVES it when we get there...).  I told him that mommy wants to go and learn about Jesus.  He asked me why and I said because I love Jesus and I hope that someday you will too but you can't REALLY love Jesus until the Holy Spirit draws you.  I told him that mommy prays for him everyday that God would draw him to Himself.  He got SUPER excited and threw his hands up and said 'If God draws me it will be a HUGE picture and then I will be REALLY big!!!!!!'  :)  Oh my sweet boy... yes... hopefully :)

We were in Walmart and Connor all of a sudden gets up on his knees and points at someone over my shoulder and says really loudly and seriously 'If you are trying to hurt my mommy, I'm gonna punch you in the face!!!' to which Vale joined in yelling 'yeah yeah yeah' and punching the air with both fists!!!  This is NOT typical of Connor at all!  So I turned to see a man walking away... didn't say anything... the ladies in the vicinity were laughing cause it was honestly hilarious... but I'm not sure what he was doing.  I asked Connor why he said that and he said something about he was asking me my name.  I didn't hear anything so I'm not sure if Connor thought I was trying to ignore him or what... but it was funny!

Connor favorite thing to say right now is that he can do something now because 'I'm three years old!!!' but you have to hear the way he does it... it's hilarious... he's soooo trying to convince you and remind you at the same time.  I love it.

Vale

  (he doesn't have as many stories cause he can't talk yet... but soon my friends... very soon...)

Vale LOVED this book titled when you see a cuddly kitten and would have us read it to him over and over and over.  He would make the sounds of the animals, it was so cute.  Well the last page says, If you see an angry alligator say... HELP!!!  Well there was another book we were reading at someone else house and I was going over the animals with Connor asking him what they say.  And I asked him what sound does an alligator make?  And from across the room Vale said, 'HELP!'  :)

Vale LOVES to sing... I mean loves it!!!  Lately he's been singing Happy, Happy, Happy! over and over again... I'm not sure what song it's from but he loves it and it makes him... Happy! :)

Vale is climbing the stairs, up and down, in our house all by himself now!!  YEAH buddy!!!  No more gates!!!  WHEWWW WHOOO!!!

By far the cutest thing that Vale does is when he's nodding he says 'Yup' and his whole body rocks back and forth as he nods his head.  It's awesome.

Vale is obsessed with reading right now.  He loves books and will find one and bring it over to you and say, 'Up! Up!' meaning he wants you to put him up on your lap and he wants you to read to him.

We were at the store and the clearance bin had all these plastic animals in them for $1 so I told the boys they could each pick some.  Connor of course picks and Lion and a Lamb... sigh... but Vale gets a pig, a hippo and a cow... the three fattest animals they had... I think he thinks there's a famine coming... :) He makes me smile.

Vale is a hugger!!!  He loves to give people hugs!  If you are laying flat on the floor he will come over to you and give you a hug and say 'Up! Up!' :)  The other day we had a whole bunch of people over and he went around to each one and gave their legs a hug.  It was sooooo cute!!  And today he wanted to pet some ladies dog so she squatted down to hold the dog so he could touch it and Vale petted the dog then gave the lady a big hug.  It was so cute!!

Vale likes to bring you his shoes when he wants to leave.  It's really funny and he tries to put them on and screams in frustration when he is unsuccessful...

For the past month or so, a little over I believe, Vale has been pooping on the potty!!!  YEAH!!!  It's cause it takes him a while and he lets us know he's trying... ummm... yeah... so we have time to put him on the toilet.  He likes it better than pooping in his diaper I think cause there is no resistance from the diaper.  He's doing a great job!!!  I don't think he'll be peeing the toilet till he's 5 though so I'm not even gonna attempt that... :)

My 31st Birthday!!

We started the day with a yummy breakfast of danish purchased for me by my hubby!  He's so sweet to think about me!

Then we went to Magic Mountain with some people from my church!  They had guest passes and so got us in for free!!  Whewww whooo!  Best kinda ticket!

This is Jimmy and our host on the Batman for the second time in a row... :)

He's such a hunk! :)

Ha look at that hair!!

Connor's like is this right? Just like this??

His little buddy Chase and Connor conducting the train ride!

Vale's like, I think there are some safety violation on this train... I mean there's no roof...

This place was awesome!  Connor and Vale love to play with any kind of ball so this was HEAVEN for them!

My little machine gunner...

Connor was a little more of a spaz...

Vale spent most of his time collecting balls to put into the tubes on the floor.

I'm tellin you, this place was cool!

Connor showing Jimmy how to pilot a plane.

Jimmy and I about to go on the coolest roller coaster I've ever been on!!  It was AWESOME!!!

Got birthday flowers from mama and daddy! :)

Jimmy and I then dropped off the kids with Trev and Kati and headed to dinner at Outback.  I LOVE their filet with lobster mushroom sauce... soooo good!

Then Jimmy and I went to a Dodgers game!!  :) We went and bought some gear so we'd fit in with the locals... :)

It was really fun!!

Of course my hubby has to make THIS face when we take a picture... sigh... love him.

Then we spent the night at Trevor and Kati's house while they watched the boys at our house.  It was WONDERFUL!!! 
Jimmy got me a coldstone cake... cause he's awesome! :)

It was a great birthday and I'm convinced that they are getting better as I get older!!! :)  I am so blessed by God to have such wonderful family and friends who love us!!!

This and that...

 Ok so i'm noticing more and more that Connor really likes to be... well... wearing this... 

Ever since he can take his own clothes off... yeah...

Anyway... so this is one of his current favorite activities!  Water colors! :)

I'm so glad my boys love their Uncle Trevor and Aunt Kati!

We went to dinner with the Kaplan family and Connor and Vale had a blast playing with Abby (although you can't tell from this picture...)!!

We decided to put the baby bjorn to work... :)  Connor thought it was fun and it made jimmy work harder... :)

Our Bible study has grown significantly since the early days of just baby Connor!  We've gained another wife and 4 more kids!  They all get a little sleepy towards the end of the night... :)

Connor's chattin up Charity in the corner... :)

So... even seeing these pictures stresses me out.

So this is when we learned that Vale can get out of his crib... 

During 'nap' time... they took a whole container of goldfish and dumped it on the floor and were dancing on them when I walked it... oh. my.

They completely destroyed the kitchen... The pictures do not do the massacre justice.

We've had lots of 'kid' friends over lately!!  We've had the pleasure of playing with Emma, Link and Joseph in the last week!

Connor helped feed baby Emma her dinner again.  She was petrified of Vale though!  It was actually really funny!!  She loved Connor but Vale would come within a foot of her and she would melt down and reach for me.  HAHAHA  Maybe she'd be better if we tamed the massive main of hair... :)

Connor loves his buddy Link!!  They had a great time playing together!

 The boys sharing snack on a chair with baby joey. :)

We went to the pool and the boys LOVED it!!  Vale has no fear or caution for that matter... ugh!  He sticks his face under the water on purpose and tries to just walk in... it doesn't even bother him when he goes under and can't swim.  Ya can't scare the kid into respect for the water so I don't know what we're gonna do besides keep a VERY close eye on him.

 Connor loves the water and navigates very well with his little floaties on. :) He'll be swimming before we know it!

HA my little strong man with his tats... 

Connor wanted to do a kissie face... he does it better than I do!

Enjoying some quiet time while stuck in LA traffic... both boys PASSED out!!  YESSSS!!!!  Can we say, taking the long way!!! :)

This kid is a total ham... he dances around, runs in circles and jumps around to get a reaction from the girls... :)

After playing all morning, Connor and his friends were all enraptured by the TV... :)