Ashes, Ashes...

This is what we have done almost everyday the past month. Brynn loves the tramp and whenever she sees one she says, "Ashes, ashes."

I was trying to record Brynn talking about her blankie. Usually when I say that it is bedtime she says, "Blankie. Oh, nice," while putting her hand to her face. This reaction was more funny, though I still want to get the other reaction on camera.

I stopped giving Caleb naps, though I don't think he's completely ready. Twice he has fallen asleep on the couch while watching something. Transitions are difficult.

Life Around Here

Here's another watermelon from our garden. Huge, I know, but again it wasn't ready. Plus there were a ton of seeds, blah! I loved how Caleb posed for the picture though, his little personality is really starting to show!

I thought this was cute, Brynn wanted to ride and Caleb gave it to her:

This would be a good time to add that Brynn loves Caleb. When he was at preschool she came over to me and said, "Brah, Brah?" I could tell she was asking where he was. I told her he was at preschool. She looked around as though I had just told her a location in the house but she didn't know where and was looking for him. She misses him when he is away!
Here my phone is playing One Direction. Brynn loves this song. In fact, when I took her to Target this week she was singing, "Na, na, na, na" all throughout the store. I love it!

I posted this on FB but I will post it here too, for record sake, because I think it is funny. I finally got my first pair of skinny jeans. I really wanted some red ones for a while and I found the perfect pair for only $16 at Walmart. Good thing I've been doing Jillian Michaels workouts so I can look halfway decent in them!

Smart children

Brynn is so happy. I love this video I took of her just when I'm playing with her. She loves to laugh and Caleb loves to copy her when she is laughing, he thinks it is funny to imitate her.

She also is talking a lot these days. She picks up on everything we say and I will hear her say phrases I didn't know she learned yet all the time. We have lots of flies around our house now so "Shoo fly," is a popular one. I got her to say it on video:

Caleb a boy who wants to know how things work and why things are the way they are. This week we had the carpet cleaners over and he asked me what kind of vacuum they used. I told him I didn't know and he begged me to ask them. So right before they left we asked them and they explained how their cleaning equipment worked to Caleb.
This morning I was telling Derrick about an article I saw posted on Facebook about an off duty police officer who died in a motorcycle accident who had two young kids about our kids ages. Caleb asked what I was talking about. I told him a man died when he was riding a motorcycle. Caleb asked about dozen more questions. Here is about how the conversation went:
Caleb: How did he die?
Me: A construction truck pulled out on the freeway and the man on the motorcycle crashed into it.
Caleb: Where did it happen?
Me: On the road.
Caleb: Was he going too fast?
Me: Yes, they were going very fast.
Caleb: Construction vehicles need to go slow.
Me: Yes they do.
Caleb: Who was the guy?
Me: He was a police officer.
Caleb: Was he on a police motorcycle?
Me: No, he was going home after work.
Caleb: And he was killed?
Me: Yes, he went home to Heavenly Father. Did you know you lived with Heavenly Father before you were born? He went back to Heavenly Father but he will be resurrected someday. Who died so we can live again?
Caleb: Jesus.
Me: Yes, do you remember how Jesus died?
Caleb: On the cross.
Me: Yes, on the cross. And then he came alive again and we will come alive again too after we die.
Caleb: Did Jesus get his tools to fix the man?
Me: Jesus is going to use his priesthood to fix the man. The man will live again and be happy.

I loved this teaching/review opportunity. Caleb remembered the lessons we taught him at family home evening and he got to put it in perspective. I am so happy that his faith is growing so early in life.  I know his knowledge of the scriptures will help him throughout his whole life.
Here is a picture Caleb took of himself:

Johnny Appleseed

 At preschool this week Caleb learned about Johnny Appleseed. He came home with a "pot" for a hat. He said they planted appleseeds and watched a short video about Appleseed. Brynn liked the hat:

Though it was a little big:

Crazies

Caleb has been loving preschool. When I drop him off he forgets I exist the second he gets out of the car. He has been practicing tracing shapes and this week he started working on the letter A. I wouldn't have thought to teach a 3 year old how to write letters but he is doing pretty well. I totally under estimated the ability of a 3 year old.
Last week was my turn to pick up the 4 boys. For lunch they started doing going nuts. I had to get a video. I love Brynn at the end...hitting her head:

Brynn has funny quirks. Like when she is hungry she goes to the trash to find food. It's easy to know when she needs to be fed :) The sad thing is when I'm making her breakfast and she just can't wait...she gets a little impatient. Example: Last week she saw cookies on the counter and cried out for them saying, "I cookie, cookie, cookie, me." No Brynn, breakfast first not trash, not cookies. Haha.

Preschool!!!

Here is a pic from Caleb's first day of pre-school. It was when he got home and at first he refused to take a picture. Then I said if he let me take a picture I'd give him a brownie. That worked.

All I really know about how is first day went is that he colored some pictures and made a crown. Caleb didn't tell me too much and I didn't pick him up at the end of the day since my neighbors and I are switching off. He also came home with some bubbles he was excited about.
Here is a skirt, shirt and headband I made for Brynn. She smiled perfectly! It will be interesting being at home with just this cute little one while Caleb goes to preschool.

Pretty and Prayers

Brynn says this a lot so I had to get it on camera. If you ask her, "Brynn are you pretty?" She will respond, "I pwee pwee." It is too adorable.

On Saturday night Derrick and I went to the Piano Guys concert--which was awesome even though it was an outside concert and raining for 3/4 of it. We got some baby sitters (twin sisters) and when we got home they told us when they lay him down to bed he started bawling. He was folding his arms and saying something to them. When they finally understood he wanted to pray. So cute he is adamant about his prayers.

Watermelon and Card

Here's the watermelon we grew in our garden. It was huge but it wasn't ready when we cut it open. Oh well, we still got a cute picture:






































When Caleb heard Grandma was sick (lip hurting long after surgery) he said, "What should we do for her?" I suggested a card he color and he loved the idea. Here's what we made:

Also, Caleb said his first prayer all by himself last week. Right as we were sitting down to dinner Derrick called and said he was coming home from work. I told that to Caleb right before he started praying. Here's what he said:
"Dear Heavenly Father. We are thankful for this food. We are thankful Daddy is coming home." Then he mumbled something I couldn't hear, "In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
It was perfect. He is such a sweet boy!

Tent, Blankie, Walking

Friday night Derrick went camping with the scouts. Caleb was bummed he couldn't go, so Saturday night we let him sleep in the tent in our spare bedroom. He wanted the window open so he could look at the stars. So cute! We left it open until we went to bed (since the sun shines directly into that room).

Brynn sleeps just like this. She did it while awake on Sunday morning and I snapped a picture. Right thumb in mouth, grabbing her blankie with both hands. It is adorable.

 

Brynn is now walking but before she was, she did this for a few days. Creative girl.

Beeeeeeads

Brynn has an obsession with her bead necklace. Every time I go to get her out of her crib she is standing up, smiling at me and saying, "beeeeeads" before I even get to her. She will cry in protest if you try to leave the room without them.The crazy thing is that she knew how to put them on without us even showing her.
Another thing she starting doing was bringing me her headbands to put on her. I even painted her toenails for the first time this week. She is such a girl...I love that!

The Grand Piano Story

We got up Saturday morning and decided to go to the case lot sale at Macey's. For those of you outside of Utah a case lot sale is where they sell a whole box of canned food for a discounted price, and Macey's is like the cheapest grocery store around.
So we were headed down Lehi Main Street and we start seeing signs "Piano Sale." Derrick suggested we go. I kept telling him no because we've looked at pianos before, we never buy anything and I hate getting pressured to buy. Also, I hadn't showered that day yet and was in work out type clothes. But since Derrick was driving he pulled in to an elementary school, where the signs led us. We saw men in in nice clothes walking in, then I really didn't want to go. Derrick persisted and I went.
The men in suits were the salesmen, so I felt better. I tried out a few of the pianos but what could I say, I didn't think we were going to get one so I didn't say anything.
We ended up finding out that the sale going on was done by a non-profit organization called Pianos For Students Society. They give pianos to schools to use for a year. At the end of the year, they sell the pianos. The schools get the benefit of having nice pianos, the company gets the benefit of having the school help promote the sale.
We found out that because of the program, 40% of the price was tax deductible so the other 60% is the only part taxed. That really started to intrigue us. We were also told that the grand pianos were only used in auditoriums and were only used about once or twice a month.
We were there for about an hour when the guy running the whole thing gave us an awesome price of $9,500 out the door: after taxes, delivery, set up and tuning. I looked to Derrick and said I'd get it but it's up to him. We would be using our savings for my dream, not his of flying lessons or an F150. He said he wanted to get it.
We walked over to pay for the piano and the lady taking payments eyes bulged when she saw the price. She was sincerely shocked at the price they offered us. We really felt like we got a good deal.
Our piano is a Hamilton which is made by Baldwin. 5' 8" grand piano. It sounds and feels amazing. I am amused to know that it is worth more than both of our cars.
 

Since we brought it home Derrick is always asking me to play. He loves it just as much as I do and that made me feel so much better about getting it. It will be a well loved piano!










Here is a recording I made with my camera. It doesn't give the sound justice at all but I had requests so here it is. The song is the 1st verse of an arrangement I did of Homeward Bound. I'm really bummed though because the original songwriter isn't giving out permission to distribute sheet music of other arrangements. This is one of my prettier pieces and I feel sad every time I think I'll never be able to let other people have it. Sorry, little tangent there.

Cecret Lake Hike

We hiked up to Cecret (yes with a C) Lake last night with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Kent. It was a mile long and Caleb walked up the whole way on his own! Derrick carried him down.


When we got to the lake Brynn wanted to go in the water the whole time. Caleb had fun throwing rocks in the water. It was a great Friday night activity.

Chalk

On Sunday after church we got out the chalk. The second Brynn saw it she got so excited. Why? Because she loves to eat it. Don't worry, we limit the amount of chalk she eats, just 2 sticks per day. Just kidding, just kidding! We stop her as soon as we see her, or right after I take a picture.
Also I got the first picture of her standing. She is starting to do it more and more.

"Baby Steps to the Door"

First off, can you name that movie quote? Second, Brynn is taking her first steps! I am so happy about this! The funny thing is that when she sees us clapping, saying "yay" and just being so excited for her, she starts laughing so hard that she will lose her balance and can't walk anymore.

Big Brother Caleb

I was cleaning up a little accident in the bathroom (Caleb does this funny thing where is in front of the potty and completely misses it--no idea why or how, I never see it). Anyways, I left Brynn in her high chair with some snacks. When I came back her snacks were all eaten up and Caleb took initiative and started feeding her. I grabbed the camera because it was so cute:

Also, Brynn is taking her first steps finally! She gets really excited when we cheer her on...I'll have to get it on video somehow.

San Diego Trip

What a fun 8 day trip to San Diego Caleb, Brynn and I had. We got there July 3rd, in time for James' commissioning. He is headed to medical school through the military and will be with the navy. That was a special event to be at, very touching. There was so much support there: family, friends, ward members and even a high school teacher (Mrs. Bagg-Rizzo). My Grandpa Jim even present James with the sword he had from 53 years back when he was in the navy.

 The next day was the 4th of July and we did the traditional Coronado parade, BBQ and fireworks.

The next day we all went out to Yogurt Mill, our favorite El Cajon frozen yogurt spot :)

We also celebrated James' 24th birthday that night!

On Friday we headed up to Huntington Beach and got a cousin picture (Andrew isn't in it because he wasn't there yet and James had to leave for the airport).

Then on Saturday was Jodie and Brent's wedding! In the morning we took the kids to the park to get out their energy before the wedding.

The reception was really fun. We ate, danced and had fun being with family. Here is Brynn getting her groove on (she's got my genes for sure!)

Me and my best cousin growing up. Fun times we had together! She was so pretty:

Sunday we went to church and the ward we went to was a family ward mixed with a single's ward. I had never seen that before. We sat in the back (a lot of singles were back there). There was a single girl who told me Brynn was so cute and she played peek-a-boo with her. I could see her yearning to have a baby of her own. I was totally that girl when I was single. It was good to see that because life with kids can be so frustrating and hard! I do terrible on little sleep, can't concentrate at church because I'm just trying to keep the kids quiet, Derrick and I cannot go on dates whenever we want to, I can't get to the gym very often and a hundred other things. It is good to open my eyes and realize I would much rather be a mom that makes sacrifices rather than not have my babies. They do make me happy and are so lovable.
After church we had our traditional bean bag tournament. Pop-pop and I were a team and we got second place! (I made the skirt I'm wearing in this picture)

Sunday night we headed back to SD. We took the kids to the beach on Monday and Caleb couldn't have had more fun. He loved making sandcastles and filling up the watering can and emptying it in a pile. He did this over and over again. It was pretty cute. Brynn loved the water, and squishing her fingers through the wet sand.

The last day there we went to Santee Lakes and played in the splash pad, fed the ducks and played at the park.

The kids had fun and Caleb asked if he could stay at Gram's house. Brynn loved the beads lying around for the kitty. You will see in many of the pictures above she is wearing them, she put them on all on her own...she is totally a girl and I love it!

Water!

We found a cool splash pad with a small river (only a few inches deep). Brynn loved walking in it and Caleb loved running around and squirting his water toy. It was so perfect, not to mention free! Grandma went with us!

Potty and Misc

First off, potty training. Caleb picked it up quickly and effortlessly. Ever since he realized he could do it, he took all the initiative. He goes to the bathroom all on his own without telling me he needs to. He goes in public bathrooms and he doesn't go when he sleeps. He will even get up at night or in the morning, use the potty, then go back in his room and close the door. Angel, I know.
In our nursery room at church they have a bathroom with a tiny toliet. When I picked up Caleb from nursery today the leaders told me he went in the bathroom 3 times on his own, they peeked to make sure he was ok, and sure enough, he was doing his business.
His one slip up was when we were watching an america's funniest home videos on youtube about cats. He was sitting on my lap and he laughed so hard he peed his pants. Haha!
Non potty related, yesterday Derrick and I were measuring the side of our yard. Derrick runs in the house to grab paper and pen to write measurements down. Caleb picked up the measuring tape, pulled it out to his arms length and said, "55. Is that good?" I told him it was good.
Yesterday we deep cleaned our kitchen while the kids napped. We were still finishing up when they woke up. They had fun with it:

The Farm

We went to the farm at Thanksgiving Point (I bought a year pass to all the venues so I'm sure we'll be going a lot. In fact since them we've gone to the dinosaur museum, gardens and farm again!).
It was a really neat place the kids both loved it. Caleb smiled the whole time he was riding the horse.

It was nice that Brynn has been practicing her animal noises because she used them a lot while we were there. The funny story is that Brynn loved all the animals except the bunnies in their cages. When Derrick tried to bring her close to them she shook, whimpered, and turned away, deathly afraid. It was the strangest thing.

Father's Day

This video is from the day after Father's Day because I forgot to record it but this is exactly what Caleb did when he woke Derrick up Sunday morning. We practiced a lot!
Caleb traced his hands all by himself and I cut it out. He loved practicing.

What Caleb Wants

I have told this Caleb story to a few people but had to get it down in writing. We got a book at the library called "All About Graders." While driving in the car we passed two tractors. Caleb: I want to see a grader next Me: I don't know if we will. You don't see those often. Caleb: I want a toy grader. Me: I don't know if they make toy graders. Caleb: Santa has one.

Kiddos

Brynn is learning new words like crazy. Derrick and I left this last week to be leaders at youth conference and I was missing hearing Brynn's voice since she was just starting to use it so much. Her favorite words are animal noises, she knows: ba, neigh, oink, moo, cheep, quack. She also says: keys, oops, bro bro (brother),yellow. And she pretty much can repeat most sounds we say. Here are a few:


 Caleb is learning to use the potty. He has accidents but he usually knows when he needs to go or he will want to go just so he can get a treat. Anyways, when we first started teaching him to go on the potty we had a Lego fire station set as a reward for when he went on the potty 10 times. One night when he was going to bed he had gone 9 times. The next morning he woke up and was yelling, "Mommy and Daddy, Mommy and Daddy." I went in and he said, "I need to go potty." I put him down and I think he went everything from the whole night. He knew he wanted that prize and held it in until he could go on the potty.
Caleb and I built a little house with the Legos, then he kept on stacking the Legos up high. When he was done he told me it was the temple. He even pointed to the fire hydrant and said that was Angel Moroni. So sweet!

A story from this week is this: On Sunday Derrick was feeding Caleb his dinner. Caleb didn't like it so he spit it out, on Derrick suit pants. We dropped it off on Monday at the dry cleaners. Today when we went to pick it up Caleb said to me, "Daddy's suit is all clean so he can wear it to church?" I told him it was. He said, "I won't spit my food on it again." That melted my heart. We never scolded him but I did tell him we had to get it cleaned because he spit his food on it. He totally understood what was going on and I think he really did feel sorry.
Another story from last week: Derrick was starting to do patch-work on our grass. Caleb saw that Derrick was pulling out dead grass and all on his own he found a bucket and started putting the dead grass in it. We think that was the first time Caleb actually helped when he tried to help us.

Kiss Predictor

Monday morning I was holding Brynn right before Derrick was heading off to work. Derrick came over to kiss me goodbye. As he was leaning in Brynn smacked her lips. It was so funny that she knew we were going to kiss! I had to write this story down because it was so cute!

St. George Trip

We did a Paul and Lynne Isaacson family reunion last week--everyone made it! We rented a house in St. George. The house included a heated pool, hot tub, 73" tv, ping pong table, a kitchen, family room upstairs and down, and 5 bedrooms.Here's the video I posted on YouTube for the family:

Here are a few pictures and videos I didn't include:

We also enjoyed playing games, walking on main street (which included a toy store that both kids loved and an antique store where Derrick bought a 1926 abridged version of Ivanhoe), Zion's National Park, eating out and hanging out.
At Zions, we got there after 6pm, hopped on the bus and did one 50 yard hike and went back. I definitely want to go back again, I had never been there before and had no idea it was so beautiful. Kind of reminded me of the grandure of Yosemite. Caleb's favorite part was the bus and he would say hi to everyone as he got on.
Brynn's new word is "ashes" (from Ring Around the Rosies) and she said that all week long.
Lynne and I went to the temple while Paul took Caleb to a place with man-made waterfalls and a few inch deep river for kids to wade in, a carousel ride and McDonalds for ice cream.
Caleb learned two funny phrases. 1. Caleb asked Scott which shoes were his. Scott pointed out, "those bad boys," Caleb repeated the phrase. 2. The family calls Kent fatty. Caleb picked up saying, "Go fatty, go" only to Kent when he was jumping off the diving board.
Caleb would also say, "On your mark, get set, go" before anyone jumped off the diving board.
Caleb really enjoyed himself, he was sad to leave and is asking to go back.