Tinkerbug

Lulu has yet another nickname, "stinker-bugger-boo!" She always seems to find some way to be a stinkin' troublemaker. Like this little trick . . .

how in the world?!
Well, she is a very determined climber.

Next example, stairs & stools.

This little stool has become her new best friend.

I eventually give up in frustration and hide this little stool so I can get five minutes peace.

Her favorite trouble spot is the dog food which I hide behind the closed door of the laundry room, but if that door ever happens to open one little girl is there in seconds. And this is the typical face that greets me, "Nothing mom, nothing naughty going on here. Just me acting natural, nothing forced or weird about this smile. Now turn around, I'm doing nothing." I love this stinker-bugger-boo!

Birthday Boy!

Dear Eddy Otis:

You are 4 years old. You got a brand new big boy bed that has a ladder, but you prefer to climb up the rocking chair and jump into bed. You are in love with Lego Star Wars and divide your time between playing the wii, playing computer games (you love your brain games on UEN.org) and phone games. Mom is so worried your brain will turn to mush so we keep you busy with preschool projects and tumbling. You are learning how to do cartwheels which can be very tricky, but you are so strong and so fast. You are a great big brother and are being so patient with your little sister who sometimes likes to hit. You love to play with your cousins and our next neighbors, but Dad is your best friend. You will eat anything and everything especially your fruits and vegetables. For your birthday dinner you requested Ramen Noodles, but I promise mommy makes you real food too. You love to talk and say surprising things like, "That terrified me," or "good job mom." Your latest obsession is rhyming. You are always so happy, so excited, so smart, so brave, so energized, so silly and so four-years-old. You are excited to have this new number and are already counting down the days until your next birthday. So happy birthday wonderful boy, we love you very much!
Love,
Mom, Dad, and Lindsay Lu-bug

Lights!

What I want to be a tradition is going to see the lights on temple square. Brandt and I's first date was seeing the lights on temple square and we've only made it back once with edders, so this year I made the family go again. I always seem to forget how COLD it can be. But it was beautiful and I'm glad we went. Brandt thought this picture summed up our night perfectly: Eddy cold and miserable, Lindsay can't even function between all her hats and gloves, and me with a huge, cheesy smile because I'm in heaven! Ah, it's a wonderful life.

Merry Christmas

We had a Christmas Eve party with the Chambers. We had our traditional Christmas Breakfast Casserole and then the kids acted out the nativity. There is my adorable Mary. Eddy is Joseph with the donkey and sang his favorite primary song, "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem."

My nephews had to appear ma-tour and wise, thus the facial hair.

The night was not so merry for Eddy who puked five minutes after our first guest arrived and ended the evening with a few more rounds of not so pleasant projecting. Then bright and early Christmas morning we awoke to the glorious sound of another round of retching from our sweet binzee-pie. After a quick change she mustered up a smile for the camera and then it was on to presents!

Lindsay got a Fisher Price ferris wheel that plays pretty music, treats, and a brand new purse with a tube of lipstick about as big as a roll of toilet paper. She lovingly pulls each item out and loves to share each treasure.

Eddy was overjoyed with every treat imaginable, plenty of new little people toys from Fisher Price, a new video game, and a present so big it couldn't even fit on Santa's sleigh, a brand-new big-boy bed! This picture pretty much sums up our Christmas, wishing for treats we shouldn't eat because of upset tummies, a snot bubble, and in the background a couch cushion cover is missing because it is running through the wash trying to get the stench of last night's sickness washed out. But no matter, Eddy was in heaven playing his new Lego Indiana Jones which he told Aunt Emily, "This is just what I was dreaming of." Later in the truck Eddy couldn't stop smiling and said, "I must have been the best boy this year because I got the biggest present!" I am so happy that despite the puke or things not going as perfectly planned, my kids were still overjoyed. I thought Christmas as a kid was the best, but giving Christmas to your kids can not be beat. And here is my princess in her new purple coat that Aunt Hayley made, (that's right, made!) and modeling her new penguin pj's. The End

Happy Thanksgiving

Binzee is thankful for her favorite blankie, a bink, and a constant stream of food.
Eddy is thankful that it finally snowed so he could build a snowman, and then kick it down. (He should also be thankful for the mom that took the time to bundle him up, build that snowman, and then watch him destroy it.)

Mom is thankful for all her books, and now a finished basement to put them in. (I promise some basement pictures will be coming soon. Please refer to my last post for the reason for the delay.)

Dad is thankful for some time off to enjoy the cutest family in the world! Not quite his exact words, but I'm pretty sure that's what he meant.

Mommy's Helpers

Exhibit A: While mommy cleans the kitchen trouble-maker will find another mess to make.

But she is such a cute button. How can I resist a little helper to put up Christmas decorations?

Eddy's job for the month of December is to keep Lindsay away from the Christmas tree.

And he is my official cookie sprinkler. We had one or two cookies with sprinkle-overload, but he gladly ate them.

And the only real way I can get anything done is for Daddy to come home. Lindsay is contained in the bathtub, Brandt is doing homework, and Eddy is playing a game on Dad's phone.

Now I can do something productive, or just go read blogs and check out pinterest. I think I'll take the second option.

Happy Halloween

Dad brought home a yummy halloween treat from work.

Poor Buzz almost didn't make it out alive.

My cute little Ducky mo-mo and a race car!

Ready as we'll ever be.

Checking out their trunk-or-treat loot Sunday after church.