This is my new niece, who isn't quite so new any more, but I haven't seen her much since her entrance, and this Christmas was my first chance to really spend some time and get some pictures of her! She is a darling little gal, and I just love her. Yep, I've still got my fingers crossed for a girl someday. Haven't I paid my dues for one??
This is her Grandma (Virginia's mom) giving her kisses after her blessing. Her dress was so beautiful, but you can't see it in this picture....
We managed to break free of the winter weather in Portland in the nick of time. Sunday afternoon there was a little break and we stuffed our things in the car and pulled out as quick as we could. Thankfully I had had a brief moment of lucidity the night before, and I had Zach put the chains on the car Saturday evening so that we were prepared for anything, rather than trying to put chains on in a rush. It paid off as we had the chains on from our house all the way to Salem. So we made it here before the next storm brought another 5 inches to our area, and down here at the farm there is absolutely no snow, and it looks like....well, Oregon. Up north is more reminiscent of our days in Idaho or Utah.
Tonight brought a few moments of fun as the whole family was together for dinner. Afterwards, we had an impromptu sharing of freaky family traits....Please enjoy these embarrassing pictures at our expense.
Somehwhere in our family tree, we must have a line of Ethiopians. My Dad and I can protrude our stomachs to a frightening degree. Jayme (my oldest brother), Keegan, and Kayden, all did their best to keep up with us, but it is obvious that we are the pros.
Scary, isn't it?
We've got 1ft of snow covered with a 1/4 inch of solid ice. And it's still snowing....
we've got cabin fever.
Things are finally starting to swing into the Christmas mode here at our house. Keegan can be heard singing Christmas songs throughout the house, usually along with his favorite Christmas cd, Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas! Although lately, he has started practicing a song from Primary they are learning for Christmas and it is SO cute to hear him sing it. Tonight we made a gingerbread house for the first time. I love Costco......pre-made gingerbread house kit for $10!! It was great, and everyone had a fun time. Aunt Jessie and friend of the family (and surrogate auntie) Megan came over to help, and Daddy even made it home from his VERY busy school day in time to put a few finishing touches on it!
Kayden has learned to "smile" for the camera.....how can you not love that face?!
Over Thanksgiving (which I know I have totally skipped blogging about, but it was great nonetheless) I made some pj bottoms for the boys on my Mom's AWESOME sewing machine. Don't be impressed, it's basically the easiest thing I have ever done, and anyone could do it, even if you have never sewn before. It was great! They love them and look super cute in them if I say so myself!
And last, but not least, although this isn't really Christmas-y it was a TON of fun. Last weekend our friends, the P* family invited us to go bowling with them. Zach couldn't make it, due to his research crunch-time at school (trying to make a Dec. 15th deadline for a grant proposal or conference or something), but I summed up my courage and took the boys by myself. It was awesome!! I did have to chase Kayden down the bowling lanes a few times (which were insanely slick, I've never been to a bowling alley that had such slick lanes before, I don't think my ball rolled, I think it just glided over the oil). Overall, we had a great time, Keegan bowled a 73 and I got a 119 - not bad for being seriously distracted, huh? I highly recommend everyone to take their kids bowling, it is a blast!
Oh, and I almost forgot - we have our tree! I love Christmas trees (somehow that happens when you grow up on a Christmas tree farm) and live for the day I get to put it up. I love the smell, the look, even the needles on my carpet (bonus, they make my vacuum smell good). Merry Christmas!
(Stage is set with a small bedroom upstairs, with a 4 1/2 year old boy lying in it. Mother and Father are downstairs in the living room, catching up on the vital goings-ons in the world - SportsCenter.)
Boy: (screaming) MOM I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!!! I REALLY NEED TO TALK TO YOU!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!! DAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDD!!!
Mom: oh boy. How long is this going to last? We put him to bed like 10 minutes ago and he has been screaming the whole time.
Dad: Don't worry, if he doesn't stop in another 10 minutes, I'll go beat him into submission. And then if he keeps going, I'll wait another 10 minutes and then do it again. isn't that what the experts recommend?
Mom: Good idea. (laughing)
(all is said while boy is still screaming above lines over and over)
Boy: (sneezes) Oh, bless me. (said in a calm, quiet voice, then resumes screaming) MOOOOOMM!! I REALLY NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mom & Dad: (begin laughing hard while trying to smother their laughter)
Our kid is an expert manipulator. Isn't yours?
what happened? Didn't I just have him? And now he is just shy of 18 months??!! These pictures are from a while ago, but as I was sitting here looking through pictures, I just couldn't believe how fast time has gone. It's sped up since having 2, and I'm not quite sure how that happened. Days fly by before I even realize it, and I find myself putting the boys to bed when I feel like we just got up. On the flip side, I also feel like they are getting up when I just got them to bed....but that's another story.
Oh kayden, how we love you. Everyday you make us laugh. You and Keegan love to tag team your Daddy, and tackle and pounce on him as soon as he makes it in the door. We can't lay on the floor without you jumping on us. You are big enough to climb on the couch, pull things off the table, climb on your brother's bed, our bed, and almost anything else you can get a leg up on. You love to pretend to be a dog, and crawl around on the floor saying "woof woof." But you say it more like "bfff, bfff." When you pretend to be a dog, we have to rub your cute little head and say "good doggie!" You find it quite hilarious. So do we.
You enjoy a good phone conversation, but more often enjoy the hanging up part, which you do when Grandma is still talking. You get excited when Keegan wants to color, because you think crayons are for eating. Mmm, delicious! You really like to crawl around with your head down on the carpet. I'm not sure why, but the carpet really smoothes your hair out nicely. Daddy and I think it is hilarious, especially when you run into the wall because you are looking at your feet with your head on the floor.
You still adore your big brother, but are learning to assert your desires. You both can be quite vocal when sharing is a problem! You love breakfast, and generally eat a huge one. We are talking scrambled eggs, waffles, fruit, cereal, and any leftovers of your brother's. Dinner is not your favorite, and usually you don't eat much. We aren't sure why, but you eat breakfast and lunch just fine, I guess you just don't have much room left in your belly by dinnertime. You LOVE bathtime, but hate to be taken out of the tub. Lately, you want to help put lotion on and like it when we squirt a little in your hand so you can rub it on your tummy.
I have found the magic trick to keep you on your back while I change your diaper. Smell your feet. You laugh and giggle whenever I smell your feet and proceed to tell you how much they stink. And yes, they do stink. I think you must get it from your Daddy.
You love Daddy tons, and like it when he puts you to bed. You go down quieter and with less fuss if he puts you to bed than if I do. He loves to have you snuggle with him when it's bed time.
Oh Kayden, we love you so much. Can you please stay little for longer?
At least, it was an unbirthday when we celebrated it this weekend! Yesterday was Jace's birthday, and he came down from his busy dental school schedule in Seattle to spend the weekend with his favorite younger brother & family..... I mean us, who else would I mean?! It worked out that my parents were visiting as well and so we had a mini-celebration for Jace's birthday. My Mom cooked up some fantastic fried chicken and we made a cake and sang him a rendition of Happy Birthday that Jace just LOVES (imagine six voices all singing happy birthday as horrible as possible and doing our best to clash, it's really beautiful).
It was fun to have a full house for the evening, and we even convinced Jace to attend sacrament meeting with us on Sunday to witness Keegan's first primary program! Keegan did a great job, delivering his line without any fear or trepidation. The sunbeams were asked to come up with what their favorite thing was that Heavenly Father created about them. Keegan said "My favorite thing that Heavenly Father created about me are my bones and muscles so that I can be a strong firefighter." I loved it, and it was so cute to see him practically leap up to the mic to say his line. He did a great job and we are really proud of him!
Lately we've had a movie night the past few Friday evenings. It's been so fun to snuggle up on the couch with the boys and watch a cute movie. I highly recommend "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything", a classic Veggie Tales movie. It's Keegan's favorite, and even we adults found it pretty humorous.
Boys. Always stuffing their faces.
was like 15 feet away from the most amazing and talented person I've ever seen in concert (please do not be fooled by the fact that this was my first "real" concert). She was incredible. Missy Higgins, Australian native, piano/guitar/singer/songwriter extraordinaire.
)
It was the ultimate girls night. Sponsored by the Beattie fam birthday fund (thanks!!!), and initiated by my favorite musical muse Kristen, we (Kristen, Amy, and I) subjected the Pearl District to our wild and craziness that comes from going out sans kiddos. 
Some highlights from the night:
From the Police Log:
At the LDS church on 209th, there was an incident that occurred somewhere about 7pm local time. Emergency services were called and the Sheriff K-9 unit and fire department responded.
After a close call, and some police negotiation with the perpetrator who was in a highly distressed state............
The perpetrator was apprehended.
Here's to a job well done. And next time, you had better ask yourself. Do you feel lucky? Well, punk, do ya?
Of all the things they could have broken, this one I cried over. I have now survived my first "boy" event. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for this. It sat on my counter for 4 days before I could find the strength to throw it away.
Someone call Child Services. Obviously, his mother is depriving him of food, and his desperate hunger turns him to the cereal cupboard....before meals...after meals...for an easy, any-time meal.
We're going on a pumpkin hunt, we had to take a train.
We're going on a pumpkin hunt, thank heavens it didn't rain!
We had to search so long and hard, it made us very tired.
We had to search so long and hard, we had help that should have been hired!
We found our pumpkins near and far, and loaded them on the boat.
We found our pumpkins near and far, thank goodness for our coats.
And now we see how big and tall we can be this year
Three cheers for our Aunt Jessie, we all say hear hear!!
