Trains!

About a year ago, we were gifted this amazing train set.  One of the gals from Early Access noticed that Dex loved trains and she was getting rid of some of her kid's toys and was looking for someone special to give them to.  Dexter was the lucky recipient.  She wouldn't even let us pay a cent for them.  

Well, the shelving in the kids closet fell and these came a tumblin' down.  We've kept them way up high, out of site and out of mind.  So when they reappeared, this little boy was more than ecstatic.  They are called Geotrax and can be run by remote or just by pushing them and the tracks can be set up in many different ways.  There are 5 different train sets, and lots of stations that the trains can go by.  We have a fire house,  a boulder loader, and a log loader.  Ashton made this really long course.  The green part is actually a second level.  There is more track running underneath it.

Dexter the conductor

 Juliette loves the trains too!

He loves these!  We are definitely being watched over and very blessed!

*sorry about the blurry pictures.  My camera and I weren't getting along for a while.  We patched things up though and are better now.

It Finally Snowed!

We finally got in some winter weather.  It snowed about 7 inches.  Dex and I have been so excited about it and have had a lot of fun.  We sneak outside when Juliette is napping.  

 First, we built a snowman:

It just makes me smile

Then Dex learned the art of eating snow.  JUST THE WHITE STUFF!

Attempted a snow angel

and had a snowball fight with both the window and each other

It was funny, each time Dexter would throw a snowball at me he would first shout "I throw a snowball at you!" and then fall backwards after he threw it laughing the whole time. He also gets stuck anytime he falls down.  Pretty darn hysterical.  

After this adventure, we went inside for some hot chocolate.  Or rather, I went in for some hot chocolate and Dex went in for some cold chocolate milk.  This boy will not eat anything warmer than room temperature.  Everything must be cold.  Pizza straight from the fridge?  Yep.  He loves it.  Silly. I know, but it sure is what this little 2 1/2 year old has to have.

Outdoors in January

January has been anything but normal.  I think it can be said for most of the country though.  We had a few nice days, and one which we went to the park and played.  

Juliette wasn't that impressed to be in a stroller and bundled up.  It may have been overkill but she stayed warm.

Dexter enjoyed every minute of it.  He swung, drummed everything in site, and then all 3 of us went down the slide.  Dex is still just a little scared to go by himself.  He did however climb up to the top all by himself. 

I love this picture.  He is obsessed with snow boots and this hat and jacket.  I went through his bucket of clothes, putting stuff away and checking what he had for the next size up and found this soccer jacket that fit him now.  Oops.  He has been obsessed with it all and looks like this more often than not.  Love. It.

 On our way to the mailbox, Dex decided he need to push JJ.  It was actually pretty cute and harder than he realized.  He had a hard time keeping it straight and kept trying to correct it.  Poor Juliette.  She got the ride of her life.  

Though we've enjoyed the nice days, I miss the snow.  I was looking forward to sledding with Dexter.  Maybe next year...

Go Blue Jays!

We went to a Creighton basketball game earlier this month as well.  I believe it was Creighton vs. Drake.  

We even got to sit down in the student section.  It was kinda fun being down there.  It is a different feeling than sitting in the general audience.   There was plenty of standing, plenty of loud cheering 

and plenty of pep band playing.

 

 Dexter even got caught up in the excitement and joined in with spirit fingers during foul shots.

 We were a little out of place with 2 kids in tow, but it was fun none-the-less.

 Here is my little college basketball fan after the game.  I found the jersey at Target for $3 bucks and he is obsessed with this hat.  

they love each other

These two, love each other.  He is always wanting to play with her and she is always watching his every move so excitedly.  It is so very sweet to watch them interact with each other.  Here they are, both enjoying the Christmas card Uncle Brett and Aunt Mckenzie sent.  This is how they are.  Always involved in what the other one is doing.  It's usually with a few more smiles and giggles, and a little more hugging/playing, but that moment is near impossible to capture on film.  

The other day we were all walking down the stairs when Dex stopped and wouldn't go any farther until he was holding JJ's hand.  We walked down like that.  Him holding her hand.  And her beyond ecstatic. I'm glad they love each other so.  Here's to hoping it lasts a while longer.

5 months

This sweet bundle is 5 months old. 5 MONTHS!!!  We just love her to pieces.  She is a momma's girl!  Daddy stay clear!  She can roll from her tummy to her back, though she doesn't do it much and has been trying to get from her back to her tummy.  That darn shoulder gets stuck though.  She is a quiet baby and doesn't always have a lot to say unless daddy tries to hold her or Dexter is around.  She adores her brother!  She loves to watch him and gets excited with whatever he is doing.

 Her favorite thing is to sit on a lap and play with toys inside containers.  She especially loves to play with Dexter's big dump truck with toys inside of it.  She likes to watch the mirror and is a very good observer/listener.  She also likes to nom on the table and get whatever is in reach.

Jules, we love you darlin'!

ps. check out her sweet shirt.  I used to wear it too!

Dexter at 2 1/2 years old

I feel the need to record things about Dexter as of late.

Dexter, you are the best big brother.  You care for your sister so sweetly.  If she cries you give her her binky, you make sure she has a toy to play with and you find great joy in playing and interacting with her.  You call her "julie-let", you will only wear pants with pockets so you can walk with your hand in it, and you are obsessed with your snow boots.  Even though there is no snow, they are all you'll wear.

When you first wake up, your morning conversation goes like this: "hunny, I woke up".  You do a big stretch and say, "BIG STRETCH!  The sun is waking up!"

You are potty trained!!!  And you are into "that's mine, not oars (yours)".

 At nursery at church, the teachers say you mostly play with the babies and you don't let anyone else play with them.

You play "daddy" with all your stuffed animals.  If they cry, you comfort them, when they are hungry, you'll feed them, and you always make sure they are wrapped in blankets for when they are cold.

You love trains and building temples with your blocks.

You are quite the little athlete and love to play all games with balls.

You can turn anything into a step stool as well, and you know how to control the computer cursor with a touchpad or a mouse.  You also enjoy playing with the alphabet letters.  Both the magnetic ones from the fridge and the foam ones in the box with file folder games.

You also seem to insist on going pantless/underwearless at sometime during the day, reguardless of who is over.

Love you little man!

Ashton's Birthday

He turned the big 2-9. It has kinda been a big deal for him I think. I know he isn't looking forward to the next one...then he's officially old---just kidding. 

For Ashton's birthday, we went bowling (we had a Groupon again).  It was fun and Dexter did really well this time.  He did great taking turns and was really patient.  He is big enough and independent enough, to carry his own ball up to the line to be thrown.

 Even Dexter got bowling shoes!

Dexter got Juliette this ball for Christmas.  It lights up when you bounce/hit it.  I knew he threw the ball over to Jules before we left, but I didn't know it made it with us.  Dex thought she needed to be in on part of the fun, too.

 We got lunch and a guy that was bowling next to us won a stuffed snowman out of the machine and he gave it to Dexter.  So random and so sweet.  It really made Dexter's day, and that snowman has been his pal for the last little while.

Later that night, Ashton and I went to the Vin Room.  A fancy restaurant in Downtown Omaha.  He had a Groupon (surprised?) and had gotten an amazing deal.  It was nice to get dressed up and have a date.  It was the first time I've ever left Juliette and she did fine.  She is a "Momma" girl though, and fortunately it doesn't have to be her momma.  We worried, well I worried, because even if I leave her with Ashton, she just screams at him till she is either exhausted and crashes, or I come home.  Thanks again to the Sweetens for watching the kiddos.

Anyhow, back to the Vin Room.  It was a very modern restaurant and pretty dark.  I know it was too dark for Ashton. The food was good, but I don't think that it was anything show stopping that we need to go back for.

Happy Birthday Luv!  I like celebrating days just for you!

Juliette's Snowflake

I forgot to mention that I made Juliette's Christmas ornament.  (It may or may not have been placed on the tree Christmas Eve...) 

I think it turned out beautiful!

I etched all the snowflakes on and then did a big glitter one.  I wanted hers to have a little sparkle. 

I think it's pretty.  Just like my girl.

Christmas 2011

This was our first Christmas with just our little family.  It was actually pretty fun.  We missed seeing everybody, but it was nice to just be together.

Christmas Eve, we made personal pizzas from scratch.  Dexter even made his a snowman pizza.  We also had an eggnogish drink in fun Christmas mugs.

Afterward, the kids opened up some christmas jammies.  We then finished our nativity advent scene, and watched the nativity as well.  It was small, it was simple, but we were together and it was perfect.

Christmas day, Juliette woke up first, so Ashton, Jules, and I made our way down stairs so she could eat and we could wait for Dex to join us.  He eventually did, and kinda didn't know what to do, but was excited at the same time.  Santa brought Dexter Alpha Pig from Super Why and a super duper computer water color book along with other goodies in his stocking.  Juliette got a bear with a blanket and I made her more girlish stars to munch on.

We proceeded to open gifts and then had to tear Dexter away from all his new toys to go to sacrament meeting.  Then we were home for a few more hours to skype and left to have Christmas dinner with some friends who live in our complex,  the Sweeten's.

Christmas everywhere after church

 I had made both my boys bow ties.  Ashton humored me by wearing it.  He was wanting a bowtie to wear to class to present cases.  I was a little behind getting done since the semester was over, but I had a good laugh while making it and couldn't resist still giving it to him.  Besides, it looked nice with his new sweater.