it runs in their blood

When I asked Conrad what he wanted for dinner tonight I was expecting him to ask for a peanut butter and jelly or a cheese sandwich. Instead he told me he wanted a nacho and a burrito from Taco Bell. I told him that I could make him a burrito at home, but he really wanted Taco Bell. We've started paying him a nickel per chore he does so I told him I would take him if he payed for it himself, but that it would take longer for him to buy the super hero he wanted. He ran to his room and grabbed his money. There was no talking him out of it. 

Ransom was gone on a mountain bike ride so I decided we might as well make a fun night out of it. We all got Taco Bell (Conrad payed for his) and we rented a movie at the Red Box. I thought it would be fun to watch Puss in Boots with the kids, but I guess there is also a knock off out there by a different company which is what I rented. It was so so so so so bad. Conrad loved it, but I had to put ear phones on and listen to something else because I could not take it for one more second. I love spending time with these kids and I'm so glad that they love Taco Bell just as much as me! -Katie

Phoebe's favorite snacks

A few months ago Phoebe saw the container with potato pearls and kept pointing at it saying, "nanny". I tried to get her to eat other things that I thought would taste better but she was determined to eat them. I finally gave in and she still asks for them all the time. One day I got so sick of potato pearls all over my floor that I decided to make them mashed potatoes, but she, of course, would not eat them.

For being so tiny she definitely has an appetite when she wants. She loves to eat potato pearls, cheese, yogurt, anything with sugar or chocolate and can sense it a mile away, cereal, beans, cheese, milk (anything liquid is called "wa wa"), orange juice, water, chips, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, cheese, granola bars, cheese, rice and sometimes grilled cheese sandwiches. She will eat veggies but she usually will not touch fruit. One day she will love something and the next day she is spitting it out like you fed her the most disgusting food. She likes to hold whatever she is eating and bite off of it. If we cut it up for her she usually will not eat it. Other times she eats better when we she sits on our lap and we feed her bites of our food. That usually ends up with her trying to feed us too. I can't figure her out but we sure love her anyways! -Katie

dresses for Phoebe

Last week Phoebe got some beautiful summer dresses in the mail from my Aunt Becky. When I opened the box Phoebe immediately wanted to put a dress on. You could tell she thought she was pretty cool. Then she was ready to try another one on and then the other one. Every time I have tried to take her picture in them she immediately gets grouchy. Sometimes I think she has something against being cooperative so this is the best I could do. Thank you so much Becky. We love them! -Katie

where are they?

This new game of theirs can keep them entertained and happy for longer than most anything. They love it the most when I ask, "Where are they?" and they come running at me and I have to scream in shock. These two do not lack in personality! -Katie

picnic

I was watching Conrad play with a couple friends outside, trying to take advantage of the warm weather. Avery asked if she could grab a blanket for a picnic and before I knew it they were raiding the fridge looking for food. They grabbed lots of fruit and rolls for meat sandwiches (that's what Conrad calls them). It's so fun to see kids come up with ideas together and watch how it all plays out. -Katie

bubbles in the bath

Phoebe has always loved taking baths. This week she pooped in the bath a couple of times and now hates to take a bath and when she is in the bath she "sees" poop everywhere. We've been trying to distract her but nothing has worked. Yesterday I finally thought to pull out the bubbles and that kept her entertained enough that she forgot all about the poop. It's still working like a charm so hopefully her fear of poop in the bath is all gone. I guess we freaked out too much when we saw the poop. Next time we will have to try and be calmer, but that is going to be hard for me! -Katie

best little buddies

Conrad and Phoebe definitely do their fair share of fighting and screaming at each other, but usually they are so sweet together. They love each other so much and are always giving each other hugs & kisses. I could watch them play together all day. -Katie

Conrad reading to Phoebe

taking goofy pictures or listening to music together

taking baths together

dancing together

ghostbusters

Last night we got the kids in bed and had plans to make chocolate malts and watch Ghostbusters. Before we had a chance to start the movie Conrad came out of his room and announced, "The monsters are jumping on my ears and keeping me awake." Ransom and I could not stop laughing. What else was there to do but have him watch the movie with us.

He woke up today wanting to watch the ghost movie. I think we will be watching a lot of Ghostbusters for the next little while. Tonight he came out of his room again saying that the monsters are jumping on his ears again. The excuse didn't work a second time, instead I gave him a toy gun to help keep the monsters away. I love this kid! -Katie

popping bubbles

Conrad and Phoebe are CRAZY about bubbles. We ran out of bubbles for awhile this winter and I don't know what took so long for me to buy more. It is the perfect activity when we are stuck inside all day. I always get lightheaded from blowing before they are even close to getting sick of playing. -Katie

the eve of christmas eve

We started a tradition this year that on the eve before Christmas eve we would all sleep around the Christmas tree. For now that means we sleep around a 12in. tinsel tree but one day it will be a real pine tree. We rented Kung Fu Panda 2 for the kids. Conrad was really tired so we thought he'd fall asleep pretty quick, but just a few minutes into the movie he was up and moving around showing us his kung fu skills. It took a while to get him calm down after the movie, but it was so fun and worth the late night. I think I will always look forward to this night as the kids continue to grow. -Katie

Phoebe with her fork. She is rarely without one of her forks or spoons.

Hook

The other day I was taking Conrad to preschool when suddenly Conrad started getting mad at me and telling me our car could do it. We had watched Cars 2 the night before. It is funny to see what he is starting to pick up on in movies, but scares me at the same time.

I love playing along with his crazy ideas so I had him name the car. It took him a while, but after lots of debating he decided on Hook. While he was at preschool, Phoebe and I went to the store and bought window markers so he could draw eyes on our car. Now everywhere I drive I have to drive with my knees as much as possible or tell Conrad that Hook is tired or lost and needs help. Some days I wish Hook really could drive us around! -Katie

conference

This conference I was determined to get Conrad to watch some of conference with us. I printed out activity sheets online and we tried explaining to him what conference was all about and showed him pictures of the prophet and apostles. He colored the activity sheets for a few minutes, but coloring just doesn't keep his attention for long. He wanted to go off and play so we tried to explain again that they were teaching us about Jesus. Conrad looked at us confused and said, "but I can't see Him."

Even though we didn't hear much of conference because of the two kids we enjoyed yummy cake batter pancakes with extra sprinkles, Ransom managed to beat me in conference bingo yet again and snuck in a few accidental naps.

For the last session we listened to conference as we drove through Provo canyon looking at the fall leaves. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Ransom and Conrad went on a little hike and found a bunch of polka dotted leaves that were really cool while I stayed with Phoebe so she could keep napping in the car. It was a nice relaxing couple of days. -Katie

homeschooled for the day

A few hours after we got home from the hospital, Conrad grabbed his backpack and said that he was ready to go to school. We tried to tell him that he had missed it, but he was determined so we loaded up in the car to go to his teacher's house. She gave him all the worksheets that he had missed so that we could practice at home.

This morning we sat down to work with him on them. He did really good coloring the fruits and veggies. Phoebe could tell that he was having so much fun coloring that she wanted to join in on the fun. When he was done he hurried and hung them on the fridge. His teacher also gave him a bag of m&m's so that he could learn patterns. Ransom and I took turns trying to think of different ways to try and explain it to him so that he would understand. He never did quite catch on but we decided to stop before we all lost our patience. I am so grateful that Conrad is in preschool with teachers that love him and are full of patience as they teach. I love that he can't wait to go to preschool. I think if it were me teaching him all the time that it would be just the opposite because clearly I am not good at explaining things! -Katie

my goofy chef

Conrad LOVES to help me cook. Last night he was fighting getting ready for bed because he insisted that he needed to "cook" dinner. I told him that as soon as he woke up in the morning to wake me up and we could make muffins.

The first thing I heard this morning was Conrad saying, "Momma wake up. We make muffins!" He helped me make muffins until Phoebe woke up and then playing with her was way more fun so he left me to finish making them by myself. Making things with him takes way more time and usually a lot messier, but I love cooking with this little guy. He squeals with delight every time he gets to do anything. He is such a goofy helper. -Katie

Rapunzel

A few weeks ago we took Conrad to the park and he found a Rapunzel doll that someone had left. We couldn't get him to leave it alone but we made him leave it there when we left. Later that day we took him back to the park because he couldn't stop talking about the doll. The next morning he woke up bright and early. He didn't want to eat, he just wanted to go to the park and play with Rapunzel. I had to go visiting teaching that morning so I couldn't take him to the park just yet. I promised him if he was good for me we would go right after and play with Rapunzel. My companion is a TALKER so it ended up taking 3 hours. Conrad was so good the whole time so we hurried to the park but Rapunzel was no where to be found. He cried the whole way home. I did the only thing a mother could do. As soon as Rans got home with the car we loaded up and took Conrad to Target to buy him his very own Rapunzel. I don't usually buy him toys, especially not when he cries but I felt like he definitely deserved it this time!

Everywhere Conrad went, Rapunzel was sure to be there too. When he would brush her hair he would try to sing the song from Tangled. I loved seeing him so attached to her and wondered how long it would last because his attachment to things never lasts for long. Sure enough a few weeks later and he still likes her but only plays with her once in a while. I wonder what his next phase will be! -Katie

Somehow Kelsie has talked me into running a half marathon with her. I hate running. We have recruited Ransom and Ryan (his brother) to run it with us. If my dad wasn't so busy working 2 jobs we would have recruited him too. We had a training schedule but we haven't exactly followed it because we have had sore muscles and conflicting schedules. I can tell I am getting in better shape but I wish I had a few more months instead of a few more weeks before the race. For a little while we thought we would never be able to do it until we learned how to breathe properly, in your nose and out your mouth. It has been a lifesaver! My mom thinks we are crazy and thinks we aimed to high starting with a half marathon so we are determined to show her she is wrong! -Katie

Rans to the rescue

Ransom had taken the kids to play at the park while I finished up a few things at home. Suddenly, Conrad comes running in the house saying something about Daddy having a bird that he got in a tree. Sure enough a few minutes later Rans comes walking in the house with an injured bird. He had climbed up a tree to grab it and carried it home so that he could bandage it up. His leg had a green netting wrapped around it. He got away a few times while Ransom was trying to cut the netting off. It freaked me out as it flew around our apartment. Rans got the netting off, put some neosporin on, even put a band aid on and let the bird free. I know he is going to be an amazing nurse! -Katie

peek a boo

Phoebe loves when we play peek a boo with her. Last night when we were putting Conrad to bed she started to play peek a boo with Conrad. It was the cutest thing to see them play together. I can't believe how fast she is growing and learning. It's so fun to watch, I just wish it didn't happen so fast. -Katie

my little "helper"

Phoebe has discovered how much fun it is to help me with chores. She is good at taking clothes from the washer and dryer and throwing them on the floor. Occasionally she will hand me a shirt with a huge smile on her face or she crawls away to play with it. She has a very good skill at finding any drawer that is slightly open and throwing it on the floor. One day she will actually be able to help, but for now I am enjoying her learn and discover everything she can get her hands on. I love my little "helper". -Katie

Phoebe the Jumping Bean

Phoebe loves her bouncy chair. She can keep herself happy for minutes on end. Sometimes more minutes than others. I love watching her little feet. She always has her little toes curled while jumping on her tippy toes. Sometimes she jumps so hard that she wears herself out and takes a little nap in her chair. I think she is going to have a lot of energy just like her brother and her daddy. -Katie