Turkeys

We enjoyed a really pleasant Thanksgiving with our little family and with Jacob's sister's family.  It seems I was busy a good chunk of the day and failed to take many pictures.  The ones we do have are courtesy of Jacob.  He was good to play photographer every time I said "Hey, will you get a few pictures of _______."

These two turkeys are my favorite.

 

I'm not sure why Ben looks so worried.  But I do know that these brothers are the cutest.

Some of you may remember that the shirt Ben is wearing was originally made for Isaac when he was that age.  Well, Isaac saw the shirt on Ben and immediately requested a Turkey shirt of his own.  I'm wondering if I'll ever be out of the business of making these shirts.  Good thing they come together in a snap, and they are pretty stinking cute.

 

 And in other Thanksgiving happenings, we looked through all the ads for shopping.  Isaac cut out some things he thought he needed from Toys R Us.

 

Ben helped too.

 

This was our fancy table with place cards and everything.  Notice Isaac is no longer in his turkey shirt.  We are having problems with appropriate potty behavior again.  He's having accidents daily and wetting on his clothes even when he does manage to make it to the toilet.  Man this is frustrating!  Any words of wisdom from you seasoned potty trainers out there?

Last but not least, here is a photo of me hard at work on peeling potatoes.

Like I said, pictures were scarce but rest assured that there was lots of fun and food and gratitude despite the lack of proof.

Early November Randomness

I've posted before about how much love we have for the organ.  Isaac and Ben have both loved it from infancy.  First it's the lights and then they figure out how to play it.  Ben just barely realized he can reach the keys from standing on the foot peddles.  He thinks it's awesome.  The organ often gets play time at dinner time.  It makes it a lot easier to get the prep work done when they are playing a tune.

 

He couldn't be happier about it.

Another of Isaac's recent favorite activities is pulling the cushions off the couch to make trains or whatever else he is need of.  This particular day it was his doctor's office.  He has recently started to play like he is a doctor and he gives shots and fixes things with bandaids.

 

And this is my latest creation.  Well, it's my latest completion of a creation.  I began this quilt when Isaac was a baby and I was invited to join a quilting group with some ladies from our ward.  I had the top sitting around for years but was trying to do something new or different as far as quilting it is concerned.  I finally decided I had to finish it before I could move on to Ben's birthday quilt and other gifts and Christmas stuff.  I did do somethings a little different in the quilting and it wasn't always successful.  It was good practice and if you don't look too closely it looks pretty good.  I'm pleased with the finished product.

It did turn out to be a little bit of an experience because my sewing machine broke mid-way through and then I almost broke it again trying to go through too many layers in those flowers on the pinwheels.  That will teach me to cut corners again.  I didn't cut out the backs of flowers while doing the applique.  I'm such a lazy quilter!  So now I'm not going to quilt those flowers because I don't want to risk my machine again.

 

A few Sundays ago all the boys were wearing their sweater vests and ties.  There had to be a picture of coarse!

This is certainly a classic.  Does it look a little like "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil."  Awesome.

And that's all for now.  I have been super busy with a Relief Society activity that just wrapped up and now it's on to Thanksgiving.  I need to get the camera out again though.  It's been a few weeks.  I just can't believe we are almost into December already.  This year went really quickly and I'm excited for all the end of year madness with the Holidays approaching.  Should be a good one!

11 Months

Ben is 2 weeks away from a year old and I just now got his 11 month pictures taken.  I guess that's just how it goes when I have to find a time when Jacob can help.  Trying to take solo pictures of Ben when Isaac is around is comical.  So, I need another parent to run interference.  Sorry Ben.  I do the best I can!

He is an adorable 11 month old.

 

 

Some things I love about Ben at this stage:
This smile.  He gives it out very willingly and to everyone.  He's a charmer.

 

 

I love that he is a little bit crazy in his mobility and his adventurousness.  I don't think he's afraid of anything.  He recently took a spill down some stairs (oops...parenting fail) and 2 minutes later, after the tears had subsided, he was back to climbing.

 

 

 

I love that he is a cuddly little guy.  He loves his snuggles.  Sometimes it verges on neediness, especially at that dinner hour, and he wants to be held a lot.

I love his little laugh.  He laughs at Isaac a lot and that's cute but he also really likes his Daddy and sometimes will give me some laughs too.  Mostly when coerced through tickling or kisses on the neck.

 

 

I really love how easy going he is.  He puts up with a lot both from his brother and from his parents.  But he mostly just takes it and goes with the flow.  He can be so patient.

 

I love that he mostly sleeps through the night.  He has begun waking with what I can only assume is leg aches.  He squirms trying to get comfortable and kicks his legs, all while crying/screaming.  Poor thing. It runs in Jacob's family.  He sleeps pretty good at his naps too.

Ben doesn't talk a whole lot.  His words are still mostly kept to amen, Mom, and Dad.  He does sometimes say duck.  And I'm pretty sure he's trying to say Isaac and hat.

I think my biggest struggle with Ben right now is his eating.  He doesn't want to be fed pretty much at all but he won't eat the finger foods I put on his tray half the time.  Super frustrating.  I try and shove in as many spoonfuls of pureed baby food while he's playing with the stuff on his tray and hope he's eating enough to keep him asleep all night.  We had a stretch of him waking at night and only being consoled by drinking some formula.  I think I'm still reacting to that and trying to force as much food on him as I can.  He's weird about textures and won't do any fruit chunks  unless it's apples or grapes.  No bananas, peaches or pears.  He's pretty good about his veggies but won't do chunks of carrots.  Most cereals, like cheerios, are a no go lately.  Any one have suggestions for this picky eater?  It's uncharted territory at this house because Isaac would eat just about anything we put in front of him from 10 months on.

And, as per usual, Isaac wanted in on the picture action too.  And why not, these brothers are so cute together.  I love watching them learn more about how to interact together.  They are fun.

  

 

 

And they make the same face when laughing at Dad.  Adorableness abounds in this household.

Of course, we can't keep them still for too long.  The action shot is awesome!

Halloween Happenings

We had a really fun Halloween this year.  Isaac was super into it and super excited about everything.  He ran crazy at all of our Halloween festivities.

We started out painting/carving pumpkins.  Isaac loved the painting part of his pumpkin.  He would have painted all night and covered that thing until it was all mixed up brown painted pumpkin.  I convinced him it would be best to let some color show.  I think I started the persuasive arguments when he wanted to bust out orange paint for his orange pumpkin.

 

He also got in on the cleaning out of the pumpkin Jacob and I carved.  He didn't like the touch of it on his hands but was fine using the spoon.

And while we were having pumpkin fun, this little pumpkin was having fun climbing on and off the booster seat on the floor.

 

Jacob built a tent in Isaac's room one night and decided to let him sleep in it.  Can you spot him in there?

 

There he is.  Too bad he woke up in the middle of the night freaked out.  Jacob was good to settle him on down and get him back to sleep.

We went to our ward trunk or treat activity.  I had to be there a little early to set up the Relief Society sponsored cupcake walk.  The boys didn't mind.  They found a ball.  And apparently Ben did not want to be parted from it.

See him eying it.  I tried so hard to get a good shot of these two in their hats.  Not happening.  And Isaac ditched his tool belt, tools, and hat early in the evening.  I'm pretty sure the vest didn't last either.

Here's an awesome picture of Isaac sporting the teeth he scored at the trunk or treat the night before.  I thought it was so funny seeing him in them and trying to get them in his mouth.  So funny.

And then we were getting ready for the actually trick or treating event.  It was pretty chilly but pretty nice weather over all.  And Isaac's costume still looked cute over his coat.  Though, again, I think he ultimately ditched the tools and belt.

 

Ben looked pretty cute in the way too big overalls and hat.  But he mostly wouldn't keep the hat on at all.  Can't blame him.

 

 

 

 

 

Isaac LOVED trick or treating.  I was surprised with how much stamina he had for it.  He was perfectly polite at all the doors and charmed all the neighbors.  Ben sat in the stroller for part of the journey and then I dropped him at our door to stay with Jacob while Isaac and I finished up.  And now we are all enjoying the candy Isaac got for the family.  :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween too!