Let the good times roll

pictures will just have to come later. I have to get all this fun stuff down before I forget.
Last Wednesday we discovered Ezra has two teeth in his mouth! Cody randomly stuck his hand in and found his two bottom chompers had popped through! He has been so mellow we didn't even know. What a champ. Then the same day like 45 cans of formula came from our insurance for pretty cheap. So now Ezra is pretty much exclusively taking a bottle! We also got some cutie bootie cloth diapers from cousin Jill slash China (bless her heart), which we are trying out and liking so far. So it has been a life changing week for Ezra.
Friday Cody surprised our little family with a road trip up to Oklahoma. It was so exciting. I love surprises, Road trips, First times (it was my first time to Oklahoma), and waterfalls! we went to Turner Falls It was so neat up there! I loved being in nature. The water was spectacular. The colors were amazing and the waterfall was beautiful. The boys discovered a neato cave where we ate lunch. It even had a window, two entrances and a air vent up top. It was a great discovery. We played around all day.
Saturday was the Young Womens broadcast and we tried to have a picnic but we almost got blown away but it turned out really fun and the conference was Awesome! Thanks to Lynda and Paige too for all their help. While we were YW broadcasting Cody had "gone to pick up his friend Brian at the airport" which was actually MY MOM!!! I was soo surprised! and Happy! and grateful! and excited!

lost in translation

So in case I haven't told you yet my friend Mona from Beijing is coming for a few days to visit. I taught English in Beijing the summer of 05 and met her there. and she has now been sent here with her new job, well to Houston, but that's a lot closer than China. I was going through old pictures of that summer and had to share this movie we found that cracks me up. There were tons of pirated movies and a lot of times they just liked to put English on them to look legit. In case you can't tell this dvd has the characters from every fish movie made in the past 7 or 9 years. Finding Nemo, Shark Tales, Little Mermaid and a couple others I have no idea.
Enjoy! You have to read the back

Weekend

Lynda invited us over for a Digiorno's pizza party. She got a cool party in a box from them and we had fun on Saturday night.... while it was SNOWING!Ezra is a fan. and so is Cody

and Rowdy was there too but he was probably watching a movie with the cousins. We got to see Degan and Kodi Lynn too. and Bobby and Tiffany on Sunday at Tad and Amelia's house. It was fun being all together even if it was for a minute.
Dallin H. Oaks came to our stake this Sunday! It was fun to hear him talk to us. The first 20 minutes was doctrine and the last half was stories. He was kind of laid back. It was neat.
And now the weather is 70 degrees and sunny.
There is always something to talk about in Texas

A good day to be brothers

When I get after Rowdy, a majority of the time it is because he is hurting or about to hurt Ezra. Ezra is a really good sport and a pretty tough cookie. Maybe thats why he was born with all of that padding? Today was so fun with the two of them. Rowdy was pretending to be a horse and would let me set Ezra on top of him. They both had such a good time.A lot of times when I am holding Ezra, Rowdy will come ask me "Can I take care of this baby?"

Yesterday I was a little bummed just because I feel like I have been getting on Rowdy's case a lot. So I vowed to be more patient today. Then at the playground there were some older girls and Rowdy playing at the jungle gum. I was on a park bench nearby and could hear they were getting ready to play house. Rowdy says, "I want to be the Mommy!" The girls were looking at him with eyebrows raised telling him he was a boy, but he just kept insisting. Anyway, hopefully it was because he likes me and not because Mommies have all the power :) I took it as a complement. and we had a super fun day.good thing Ezra is patient with Rowdy... and me
love you brothers

flyin'

We have everything we need here in the back yard.
Maybe just a tree and a garden to make it little more lovely

7 months

stats

1 case of strep throat
2 shots and 10 days of antibiotics=feeling better

We went through 2 kites this week
500 loads of laundry
Cody saved 3 lives (giving blood)
24 boxes of cereal and 1 "perfect coupon storm" hee hee

Our front tree has 700 popcorn blossoms

3 hours of the crazy Kirby vacuum presentation
15 times we were insulted by the Kirby vacuum salesman ha ha
Lynda took 4 rolls in her Ezra photo shoot

and he may be adding 1 more after she gave him his first Krispy Kreme
also placing her in 1st place in the favorite aunt category

Now and..

Then (Rowdy)

little tidbits

I am just wanting to write down some little tidbits of stuff so we don't forget them. They maybe unremarkable to most of you so I hope you don't get bored.

-The other day in Wal-Mart or something Rowdy grabbed Cody and I around the neck and said,"You are my best family ever after."

-Ezra is getting so good at sitting up for quite awhile. and he cracks my up in the bathtub. he gets so excited to be sitting up and will kick his legs into hyper splash mode and scream laugh. Especially when we squeak this little bath book we have. It is so funny.

-Ezra also fishes for attention from Rowdy now. He will stare at Rowdy until He looks at him and them will scream laugh at him. Its like they try to get each other to laugh now.

-Ezra also is the sweetest chubbiest contagious laugher, its no wonder all the young women in the ward fight over him. I am flattered for him.

-Ezra's new favorite toy is the string from a hoodie. He loves it! He will sit there for the longest time sucking on it or shaking it around or twisting it in between his fingers. Maybe Rowdy's make believe cat sessions are rubbing off on him.

BEFORE you read some of these Rowdy Experiences I would just like to add a disclaimer that he is 2 years old... as in terrible twos, as in... we both have different agendas.

-Rowdy likes to pretend that he is a cat or a dog and it made me smile the other day when I asked him what his Dog name was and he said, "Loud Anderson" Rowdy has been acting like a cat a lot lately, but I am kind of egging him on. He will sit on my lap and cuddle for much longer if he is a cat.

-Rowdy has given up his afternoon naps :( but he will stay quietly in his room for a while, but still.. around 5 or 6 he gets delirious and either cuddly or snappy.

-Rowdy also has this funny habit of telling you exactly what is on his mind and then backtracking like...did I really just say that out loud? for example.
R-"I am tired I want to go to sleep in my own special bed"
Mom or Dad-"OK Rowdy lets go lay down"
R-"no! I don't want to go lay down. lets watch a little movie"
M/D-"lets go lay down"
R-"no I want to go to Lynda's house"and on and on trying to change the subject

-Rowdy also has gotten into this quirky little habit of trying to use reverse psychology on everyone. It cracks me up. "I don't WANT a cookie!" and he usually says it with an angry little tone. This is before he even asks in a normal form. so funny.

-Rowdy has also started telling me at random moments how he feels which is kind of cool. unfortunately it is usually "I feel angry" or " I feel scared" or "I feel sad"... I know I know someone needs to come rescue the poor sap.(grandparents? any takers :) He will also say,"I am sorry I made you mad" that one melts my heart. That's usually after he gets in trouble for being mean to Ezra. Don't worry though we always make up nice.

-Cody has also taken up couponing and is also converting some of his male friends to join his coupon club :) I love this boy. and I love lookin' in my fridge right now at all the fun deals he couldn't pass up because they were so cheap after all of his scheming.

-Cody took us fishing on Friday, along with our friend Brian Bellenger, and it was such an awesome day. We caught like 15 rainbow trout (we let them go) but it was sunny and nice and just a fun family day I think we were all needing. Then later that night sweet Paige watched our boys and we went to a movie.. Avatar. Just the two of us and I had such a nice time. Cody makes a nice date.

They really are the "best family ever-after"

Potty training the boys

Rowdy is doing sooooo good at keeping his unders dry!
We are so proud of him! He is really proud of himself too. Way to go buddyand do you love the harachis my mom and dad got for Rowdy?

Jokingly here and there Cody will ask Rowdy if Ezra should do things. Like today he asked Rowdy if Ezra could use the toilet before he did. and Rowdy said, "No Daddy! Ezra doesn't have any teeth."

medio ano

Ezra is 6 months old and cracking us up. All of the sudden he has all of these crazy funny faces. He smiles like this a lot.He likes to sit up. but will swing himself flat without a moments notice, hence the support.

He loves to roll over. He will see a toy or something he wants to get a hold of and roll over a couple of times to get it .
He is also all about the textures, but he does a funny rhythmic scratching to get the full effect. And when he gets excited he hits things. He is like the dog with the wagging tail,
but he wags his arms.
He is eating some solid foods. We have frequently been lazy and just giving him these rice crackers to keep him busy while we eat and I think it is turning him off to the mushy baby food texture. He does a squishy sour face when we give him baby food. But he does love sweet potatoes. and he knows when anyone is eating.
He still won't take a bottle.
He is 20 lbs!
I feel like any time he talks now he is trying to get a point across, he just can't articulate it!
He loves watching Rowdy and cracking up at him.
He is a pretty happy kid. except... when hes not.

awww. Love that pouty lip!
Happy half birthday buddy

Happy 6 months Ezra! This has nothing to do with it

The Little Toaster That Could

6 inches baby!

and no hills for sledding :(

Day in the life

At the car wash yeahRowdy is obsessed with the turny vending machines

I took the kids and spent the night at Bobby and Tiffany's
Rowdy, Degan, Grayson

laddy

Luigi

ewww! It surprised him too!

Grandma and Grandpa Walker

My Grandma and Grandpa Walker Came to visit us ! They had gone to California to get out of the snow and got rain instead. They liked the idea of the train trip that my parents had taken so they did the same trip! It was super nice to have them! Rowdy earned some money scratching grandpa's back and Grandma told him lots of cool stories. It took me back. Grandma and Grandpa Walker are my Mom's parents.We got off to kind of a rough start though. Th first full day they were here I decided to take Ezra into the Dr.'s He had RSV. poor little guy. It was really nice having Grandma and Grandpa around to help. and Lynda!



We mostly just hung out and laughed about Rowdy but Lynda also watched Ezra and we got to go to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, where they make the dolla dolla bills y'all. It was really cool. no cameras allowed. My Grandpa is a coin collector.and he left Rowdy a bunch of Quarters too. Now Rowdy calls him the money Grandpa, and constantly asking for money. He loves it he walks around and falls asleep with pennies in his hands. He thinks it is so fun and he hasn't even spent any yet!
We also went to Cabella's and to Babe's and Chef Point Cafe. Rowdy asked me the other day, "Do you remember when Grandma and grandpa came and they brought me donuts and grandma told me stories? Do you remember that day?" Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! We love you more!

almost

This is a picture of Cody before he went to Kansas, almost for a month to work.We thought it would be nice to get a little ahead. He would have just been getting back! and I think I would've already died or gone crazy alone. As soon as we found out they weren't going to pay him to familiarize there for two weeks. He came home and he has worked more than he ever has here in TX! Total testimony builder.

Happy New Ye!ar

On the way back home from San Antonio we stopped at Bobby and Tiff's house

Papa and Yaya visit

The day after Christmas Yaya and Papa came for their Christmas visit. They took the train from California. It was so nice to see them. and as always we crammed a ton of fun into the short time they were here. The first day they spent here they worked all day on a huge and amazing Christmas dinner. Mmmm. Everything was sooooo good. Rowdy helped Yaya make Orange rolls.

I wanted to hog my parents all to myself, but they made so much food we had no choice to invite over more family :)
After dinner my mom helped the kids make gingerbread houses. Rowdy just kept putting candy inside of the house, umm and inside of his mouth

There was still a little left over snow so Rowdy had a hayday chasing Papa with snowballs.Then it snowed some more. Papa took Rowdy on a little sleigh ride

Ezra loving the attention

Papa grew up in Utah so he knew all the moves. Moves to make the best snowmen, moves to make cool snowforts

We went to Central Market while they were here too looking for good cheese.

We did a "little" fishing. no literally

Papa gave us the tree and Papa taketh away the tree.
That was amazing.

and before the tree disappeared we realized we had forgot to open some presents. It was a true happy mistake. Rowdy had been getting the Christmas presents Christmas morning and then we had gone to breakfast and somehow not opened my parents gifts to the kids. So they go to be there for that. Thanks Mom and DadNew Years Eve Eve we went down to San Antonio with my parents. We shared a hotel room with them which had one of those big armoires? for the ironing boards and junk, and that's where Rowdy slept, just for fun. We heard him in the middle of the night knocking his head on the wood. It was sad funny.
New Years Eve,We went to a cool little Safari drive through park. Favorite moments=The goat video, where he tears open Rowdy's sack, The ostrich reaching its head in my Dad's car and pecking his hand. and then Rowdy who was shaken up because of the whole goat incident, getting screamed at for at least 30 seconds by a crazy lemur. Once again funny sad.

After the safari park we went to the Alamo and the River walk. Such a cool place.

The River walk was hoppin' because of new years eve. My Mom and Dad took Rowdy and Ezra back to the hotel in the evening while Cody and I had a date. It was so nice.

So then I love to do the 12 grapes at midnight thing so we tried to buy some of that and martinelli's on the way back to the hotel, but I guess there are a lot of latins in San Antonio because all of the grapes were gone. So we ended up with cheese puffs and Manzana Sol! anyway it didn't matter because we all fell asleep 3 min before midnight! Happy 2010
We had such a good time. Thanks for all of the fun memories Mom and Dad. You are amazing