Watchout for the whiplash

This little car has been cracking us up.
I am sure the safety rating is probably not for 3 year olds, but you've gotta learn sometime right? ;)
-and on a side note it has been breezy here and Rowdy wanted to go fly a kite with me in this very same field. It was a hilarious experience. The wind is so crazy. It just whips around every which way. We were all dive-bombed. Even me! who was holding the string at the time! Rowdy and I were cracking up but Ezra just stood there wide eyed and amazed (well..sometimes running, but still with wide eyes and a hint of fear)
-and on another note. Ezra is starting to repeat lots of words and so we were helping him to say a prayer. After our amens I told him, "good job!" and gave him a high five. Now after any amen he instantly holds his hand up for a high five :) its cute

3.5

Rowdy is getting so big! He is blowing me away everyday. He is so independent now. Most of the time I find myself getting frustrated with him, if I slow down I realize he is thinking ahead or trying to help. I have to remind myself to keep letting him go a little more. Its so surreal to watch my baby boy becoming this little man.

Here he is pretending that he just got called into work, like Dad.

He loves to dress himself now and can be pretty opinionated about it. He usually changes clothes a couple of times a day. I am trying to nip that one in the bud, but I love that he will get dressed by himself.
The other day Ezra scooped ash out of the fireplace and got it on our carpet and couch. I was busy with Elliot and without being asked he went and got the hand held vacuum and cleaned it all up! Another morning I just commented that it was garbage day and he went without being asked and got all of the small trashcans and dumped them into the big white one! What a sweet boy and a huge help. Rowdy is totally into pretending. He likes to be a "superhero" or tell us which Scooby Doo or "UP" characters we are. He also pretends to cook. Here he is with a delicious soup. He likes to sing and dance and make people laugh.

He will help me with pretty much anything. It just frustrating when our time frames are different, but I have few complaints. Here he is reading to Ezra. On this occasion I asked him to read a book to Ezra while I was doing something and he said. " but I don't know the words, oh never mind. I will just look at the pictures and make them up" Lately he has been cracking me up with the , "please please please!"
Especially at night time. We started for a few days trying to get Ezra to sleep in his room. but Ezra figured how to get out of the bed and come find us. Now Rowdy begs "I want someone to sleep with" so I direct him to his stuffed animals and he says," but I want someone to sleep with that moves". He cracks me up.

What a great kidThank you Rowdy, for being so great. We love your guts

Bustin'..up & out

(as in bustin' out of the newborn clothes)
Elliot is 3 months old!

She is so smiley now. You just have to make eye contact and she will usually shoot you one of these wide mouth grins. Her neck is getting stronger but sometimes with her little bobble head it takes a minute to get the eye contact :) but it is worth it. She coos and goos if she knows you are listening. as in she will respond to a goo or a coo. Is this so confusing? just come over and play! Oh and she laughed for the first time today!! I stuck her in the bath with the boys and Rowdy "gooed" and laughed at her and she giggled 3 distinct and different times. It was soooo great. She is such a good baby. We love you little E

Cody painted her nails :)

Happy Valentines Day

Dad was gone at work. Cody and I usually celebrate on the 13th but that being a Sunday it kind of messed us up and we ended up going out on the 15th.
Anyway the kids and I had a lot of fun. We got some super cute Valentines apparel from Grandma Jenny. Elliot's only lasted 5 minutes though. Luckily the bib was out of harms way.

Rowdy had a blast cutting out hearts.
Food coloring is my new best friend. Its so fast and easy and the kids get such a kick out of the results. I just squirted a few red drops in their breakfast cereal and Rowdy thought it was the best thing that happened all day. And that is huge considering there was candy involvedWe finally got out of the house and delivered a few valentines and Karin and the Browns invited us over for a Valentines evening . It was really nice, especially since Cody was gone. and Heavenly Father gave us an amazing Valentine's Sunset.
Here are my crazy little Valentines
Thanks for all the love


Before the haircut

After the haircut

I just couldn't wait for a professional. I did it while he was sitting in his highchair. He probably has a hair in his mouth.

The Secret Life of Ezra

We went to Round Rock to visit this past weekend. Tiffany and I and the kids were loving the warm weather and had a picnic lunch. It was so warm there were some bees flying around here and there. I glance over at Ezra who is sitting next to me. He is as calm as ever and he is holding a bee by its wings just checking it out. Then he gives it a little shake shake and lets go and the bee flies away!
Isn't that funny? crazy?!. My first thought is he is in shock. He is not crying from the bee sting. but nope nothing wrong. He's a little charmer.

He is also 18 months old!
Yay nursery!
He is such a happy little man.

-He loves to copy Rowdy
-He has started saying more 2 syllable words. My favorites are monkey and noodles
-He loooves reading books. He follows me around most of the day asking for a "book book"His sweet brother Rowdy will fill in for me sometimes. They crack each other up and I love it.
-Ezra is starting to be a little feisty. Of course it could be that he is breaking through the rest of his teeth. He now has the 2 shark teeth and a bottom side.
-He is a little stubborn when he has his mind made up. He has started hitting. Not a lot just here and there.
-He has a great laugh
- He has just started talking a lot more these past couple weeks. not really any fancy words, but accurately describing his needs. "Drink please" "book please" (please=pleesh) "bed" and he will say "goo" to Elliot. :)
-He seems to really love animals..at least the stuffed ones. He likes to talk about them in books too
-He loves to push the bottom bar of the shopping cart when we are in the store. But its the bar thats way down there like 4 inches from the floor. So he bends over and pushes. Its so funny. Shoppers always comment.
- He adores water and baths. He will stay in the bath splashing, smiling and laughing even after the last drop is gone

What a great kid.

We love you Ezra

California Love

Last week we were stuck in the house because of the snow but mostly because of the ice on the roads. We had a little bit of cabin fever by the end of the week. and I ended up snapping a picture of Rowdy with my cellphone, with his "Somebody in California loves me" shirt on. He had found the backpack from Degan's house with all his clothes still in it, which was on his back and was standing at the edge of the garage in front of all the snow telling me he was ready to go to California ! ;)

(As we were putting on the California shirt earlier we were talking about all of the people who love him in California so I am sure the comment was prompted more by that, than the fact it was freezing cold outside. It just made me smile) ( and the fact that it will be 70 by this weekend also makes me smile.)

Camera 1

Camera 2

Camera 3

Its 17 degrees y'all

So it was feeling a little chilly this morning after I got out of bed and I went to go turn up the thermostat because I usually turn the heater off at night. (and it was so warm this weekend!) I knew last night was going to be a doozy so I left the temp at 58, only to find... The power was out!!!

Luckily it was a short rolling blackout and it was a good emergency preparedness wake-up reminder. (I need the propane stove closer)

Anyway we are having us some fun in 15 minute increments because that wind can really take it out of ya. Ezra's face is all scrunched up because he learned the hard way why we wear gloves. or maybe he really wanted a tissue?

what is this stuff?

wrong kind of snowman snow. So here is our powder version

and our snowballs

We need some waterproof gloves in Ezra's size

Today's activity we put food coloring in water and made snow cones. Cant take credit we saw this on some lady's blog. Sorry I don't remember whos. But the boys liked it...

and licked it

Keep warm everyone! love ya

slowly ropin' 'em in

Locke, my little brother, aced his Internship interview for the job he really wants!....
In Dallas!!!!
We are so so proud of you Locke and Katie!!
Way to follow your guts and take the leap of faith.
We are so Excited to be seeing more of you guys.....

and girls :)