Christmas Day

We enjoyed a very relaxing Christmas day! It was different/sad to not have any family around us for the first time ever (for me anyway), but it was so nice to just be home and take it easy. The boys unfortunately both woke up with colds, but they were both pretty enthusiastic when they saw their spoils under the tree. Cameron was a sweetie and always just happy to play with whatever toy William shoved in his hand with a "here, you play with dat Cannon." William was in heaven for a full 4-5 hours. New trains, trucks, airplanes and a scooter...! The kid hardly knew what to do with himself. He also adored playing some ping pong with Daddy on Nathaniel's brand new Christmas table. I'm not sure who loves the table more, Nathaniel or William (though W's version of 'playing' is usually just switching sides, paddles and throwing the balls around)!
Merry Christmas to all of our dear friends and family. We love you so much!

Santa's handy work.

Checking out some fun new movies!

Daddy's new football from the boys. Can you tell William helped me wrap and write on it?

William was so excited about the new trucks he wouldn't even take his hand off it to open a new present!

It's getting harder and harder to get a picture of our little monkey, Cameron. He's ALWAYS on the move.

William on his new scooter/skateboard. He calls it both.

Poppy and Grammy spoiled the boys with a roller coaster! They've played pretty nicely on it taking turns though we have already had two collisions with William riding on the coaster and Cameron on the track.....

Christmas Carol

In early December I was delighted to find A Muppet Christmas Carol at Costco! It became my goal to make sure that my kids love the movie as much as I do.

Mission accomplished.

As soon as I turn it on, BOTH of them are tuned out to the world for as many as 15 minutes. Today, even Curious George couldn't pull my William away. I LOVE how he knows the end word to each line of the opening song. The lighting is terrible (this was probably around 630 am), but I was trying to be as discreet as possible while filming so as to not distract my little performer. It's long (had to film the whole thing for his future amusement). Just turn up the volume and enjoy his silly scroogy singing voice for a little bit. :)

Take Two (Hundred)

I FINALLY found matching pj's for the boys that I liked AND the store had both of their sizes. I thought these were Christmas-y enough, but also not so Christmas-y that I couldn't put them in them for as long as cold weather requires. Adorable. So. Today I set out to get some pictures of them.... Quite the adventure in and of itself! Dang, they're cute boys though. I did manage to get a couple that will satisfy a last-minute card, but as usual, the outtakes are almost more worth seeing.

For your viewing pleasure:

'Mom, what the HECK are you trying to do to us?'

William was actually less cooperative than Cameron was! I finally resorted to tickling his tummy with my FOOT so that I'd be able to get a picture of him smiling.

Our dear little Cameron is often found like this: Tongue out of mouth and smiling (and destroying the house... but that's a bit less cute).

Cameron with one of the most coveted toys in the house: Mom or Dad's toothbrush (the other is the handle to my venus razor). Say "eew, germs!"... but ya know, with little ones, they're shared one way or another anyway.

To keep the boys in one place I scattered some Reese's Pieces on the papasan. Here they are scavenging after a fresh batch was dropped.

William was especially loving to Cameron today. First he (almost force-) fed Cameron treats ("here Cannon!") and later after Cameron's nap, he said: "OH! Cannon! I missed YOU!". Warms a mother's heart.

NYC

Well.... I wouldn't exactly say I love NYC, but driving aside, it's a fun place to visit! Especially with pro tour guide Charity. Nathaniel took this week off work to enjoy time with the family, avoid the week-of-Christmas masses, and to celebrate our FIVE-year anniversary! Charity had yesterday off work, so we braved a trip up to visit her with the boys. It ended up being a great day!

Nathaniel is so cute. He kept singing Serendipity songs while we were checking out the Rockefeller tree and skating rink.

Cameron was styling riding ALL over NYC on Daddy's back.

William had one of the best days of his life. He got to ride a "train" (aka metro) AND a BOAT. He was beside himself with glee. It was so funny, on the metro he kept saying "alll aboarrrd!"

"Freedom isn't free"- Nathaniel

Can't even tell you how cold it was. Charity was trying to get Cameron to smile for a picture.

Aunty Cher is always so much fun! When we got in the car to go home William kept asking "Where aunt chur-dy, Mom?" I'm so happy that my boys have been able to get to know her. Hopefully she'll stay East (but not in NYC) when she's done w/residency.

William took napped for over 2 hours! Made for an easy lunch at a Joe's Shanghai where Cameron enchanted all of the waiters.

Snow!

Oh man. I love the snow. Love watching it maybe more than playing in it these days, but still. William was very excited and anxious to go play. I bundled up the boys in what little snow clothes we have (poor Cameron was really poorly outfitted) and we headed out..... and lasted maybe 10 minutes. Cameron lasted only 5. First destination for him out the door was a big slush puddle that immediately soaked his shoes, socks and pants. Then he tripped IN the puddle and got his mittens and forehead/hat wet. Impressive. I like to think that it was still worth it. William lasted until his hands got too cold. Time to invest in better snow clothes for the kids maybe. ;)

Neither of the kids would look at me for a single shot. As usual, this is the best picture of the both of them: neither looking at me and one running away.

Getting ready for the snow. In Germany I bought William some strumpfhosa (phonetically spelled. haha!).. basically warm tights for boys that they use instead of socks. Germans are pros at bundling up kids! I put the boys in them and they started dancing around. So Silly! I was asking William to show me his bum because there is the cutest lion on there!

William has become very concerned lately whenever Cameron cries in his crib and tells me to "go help cannon, momma!" If I'm not quick enough then William goes into Cameron's room, climbs into his crib and does his best to cheer him up. Ahh. That's love.... except for when he tries to bite him.

vote!

My cute little friend is in a modeling competition. PLEASE go vote for her! :)

http://www.exploremodeling.com/Contest/Faceof_ELF_2010/17944/Rebecca_Mohler.aspx

Flashback Friday

Some days I think if I hadn't witnessed the birth of my own children and raised them, I wouldn't believe they were mine. Here's witness of just how little they look like me:

Cameron (only visible feature of mine is his nose)

Nathaniel

William (though he did get my height)

Me

Say "Cheese"

Yesterday I took out the boys to try to get some shots of the two of them together. It would take a miracle, I knew, but I had to try anyway. No such miracles granted, and in a total of 45 shots I got 2 that are worth posting for their loveliness and 2 that just need to be posted for posterity's sake.

My boys get their big eyes and rosy lips from daddy's side. I'm jealous!

Such a silly boy. Every time he sees me with the camera he gets this fabulous camera-worthy smile and charges at me. I think to get this one I reached out one hand to hold him back so I could actually focus and capture that sweetness!

"Smile with Daddy" resulted with both boys (one unknowingly in a messy diaper and the other exhausted) sobbing.

"William, give Cameron a hug" resulted in a running start body slam.

bye bye wallpaper

My sister Charity was in town this weekend. I am always most motivated when she is either in or coming to town! On Friday I took down William's retro Aztec-inspired wallpaper border and today we took down the one wall of paper in Cameron's room (even though it's not much of a Sabbath activity, it's just when we had the time to do it. :). The wallpaper had a shimmery monkey-grass/memorial to the American wetlands type feel to it. It. Needed. To. Go. Cameron was a most anxious helper in improving the state of living in his room.

"HORRAY. The monkey-grass is going to be gone!"

Project Manager: "Mom, you missed a spot."

"Whaddaya looking at?"

In a fleeting moment of remorse, Cameron tries to reapply the monkey-grass marsh to his walls.

Cameron really is the destroyer of our house. Toy cars, recycling, dirty laundry, and shoes of all sizes are scattered all over the house by our little hurricane. Yesterday afternoon the kids bathroom was hardest hit area along his path of destruction.

Belly

22 1/2 weeks

This is Halloween

I LOVE Halloween. It is the kick-off for the Holiday season and it makes me so happy. What's not to love about dressing up and going door to door for free candy?? My mom successfully made a huge deal about every holiday and it made for such a happy childhood. My boys are still little, but we're trying our best to get them excited and involved in holiday festivities. This year neither boy wanted anything to do with carving pumpkins, but both were delighted with the resulting jack-o-lanterns. I love having kids and watching them grow up! We had our friend Matt over yesterday for pizza with us and then he ever so graciously manned our front porch with candy duty so that Nathaniel and I could take the boys over to our old neighborhood and around our cul-de-sac. After the door-to-door goodness, the boys both crashed and the adults played Cities and Knights. I won. By a lot. Just have to put that in there. It was a great Halloween!

Cameron was Superman and William was Thomas the train. We lucked out this year. I got Cameron's costume at a ward kid-swap and a neighbor gave us William's costume! Nathaniel and I threw in our own costume contribution to the boys by spraying their hair blue. :)

Going door to door. Every time someone would answer and open their door William would walk right in! Silly kid. I think he thought that we kept going to visit friends. What a social boy.

We started our night visiting dear friends, Mark, Jenni, and their little one Luke (the cutest Frankenstein you've ever seen). Mark was dressed as a tourist. William ever so smoothly traded his Thomas hat for Mark's hat and light up lei. My little tourist Thomas.

Checking out that first precious candy bar.

Nap time

William has been having a battle with afternoon naps. I know he's tired, but the blessed child 5 days out of 7 will just not nap....unless we get in the car. This is a picture of a trip to Costco. The kid fell asleep literally 1 minute before we pulled into our parking space and couldn't be roused for all the world. He slept peacefully all through the store amusing shoppers and clerks all around us. We've finally moved his bedtime back so now he's past his waking up at 5am gig, THANKFULLY. Now, if only we could get this nap time mess worked out... though shopping with a sleeping William definitively has its charms!

a little sillyness

These were William's favorite pajamas about a year ago. I was careful to hide them anytime I got out the boxes of outgrown/too big clothes so that he wouldn't see them. Cameron has finally grown into them. William just about had heart failure when he saw Cameron in them and insisted on getting to wear them the next morning. They barely made it below his knees, but he lovingly wore them all day. Silly boy.

It's amazingly difficult to get a picture of both boys. They're both so quick!

Cameron walking along. I love his little strut, and just wanted to capture it.


Cameron was eating piggy-style and I tried to catch it, but he caught me first. Later in the video, William comes to sit by me and is watching Cameron through the screen which is why he keeps saying "that's 'Cannon'".


A few of Cameron's words. They're difficult to hear, but he's sure adorable. His first word (besides 'momma') was 'amen'. This was likely the result of saying 'amen' 100 times after every prayer trying to get William to say it. William is just sassy like that. He'll say the whole prayer (with daddy's promptings) but then just smile when it's time for 'amen'.

It's a Boy!

20 Weeks

*will post the much sought after belly shot later*

We find out what gender the baby is on Monday. Cast your ballots now.

NC

We've just returned from another fun and adventure filled trip to the outer banks of NC. Nathaniel has family down there and it's always great to get to go see them. We all enjoyed Aunt Susan's delicious cooking and the staple boat ride out to the light house (William especially). William was in heaven wrestling with all of his boy cousins! Hopefully next time he'll be old enough to continue in the fun without biting though *sigh*. The drive down and home were a bit rough on the kids, actually Cameron mostly. William was a really great traveler this time! Who is this kid? Oh yeah, he's the kid who has recently dropped his nap and now wakes up at 5am! Well, I guess I'll take what I can get. A quiet car ride from a 2 year old was an unexpected and welcome surprise. Maybe next year Cameron will be a bit calmer too. It was so fun to see so much family (and meet so many of our blog stalkers, Hi!). Everyone instantly recognizes Nathaniel and which family line he is from. Yes, he is the spitting image of his father.
Anyway! Enough chit-chat, here are the fun pictures. There are TONS. I can never resist posting pictures of beautiful people and places.

Dang, he's cute!

Playing in an old boat. A rare smile AND look at the camera combo.

High tide (or as some on the Island say "hoy toyd"). You should be seeing a road in between Nathaniel and those wooden posts.

On the boat out to Cape Lookout.

Sweet baby. We woke him up early from his nap to make the boat.

Stopping to look at the wild horses.

The triplets. Guess I just need to make Nathaniel a matching hat too.

Nathaniel insisted on doing a super-model shoot of me (please, hold the hysterical laughter). I suck at posing, clearly. This was the most felicity-approved picture of the bunch.

William, with his self-imposed 5am wake up calls, just wanted to lay down and play in the sand. Poor kid, we kept dragging him all over to see all there was to see.

Cute picture of my William and a good shot of the hat that I made for each boy. William adores all things pirate so my hope (and accomplishment!) was that he'd actually wear a hat it if just had a pirate flag on it!

William winding down. He was asleep as soon as we sat down on the boat, less than 10 minutes after this shot.

I was so busy trying to get a shot I liked here that I didn't realize that William was watching me the whole time he was walking along to the boat. He's my dear mommas boy.

The Cape Lookout lighthouse is celebrating its 150th anniversary. At night they've been lighting it up. Nathaniel's Uncle Joel took us out to get pictures of it. Thanks to Joel's camera tips we were able to capture this. So cool!

Nathaniel, the boys and Grandma Jacque.

Me, the boys, Jacque and Ike (not to forget little gigi who both my boys terrorized the whole time.).