Happy Birthday Grandma Irene!

On Sunday we went to Cascade to celebrate my grandma's birthday (my dad's mom). We went to one of the only restaurants in town, I think it was called the Bent Rim... It was fun...Just Levi and I went along with my parents--Mark was still at Camp Dodge, and Isaiah, well, he is Isaiah and doesn't sit still very well...and we planned to meet at 1pm (right at his nap time) so I figured he'd have more fun staying home with Morgan (the neighbor girl who babysits).

Levi keeping his great uncle Tom entertained :)

Levi helping his great aunt Sheri decide what to order

After lunch we went back to my grandma's house to visit some more and let the cousins play. Levi and Liahna are so cute together, Levi kept trying to touch her and she wasn't so sure about that!

my weekend with the boys.

This past weekend was another weekend Mark had to spend at Camp Dodge. We sure had a great time going with him a couple weekends ago, but one exciting weekend like that is enough for me for awhile, so we stayed home and had our own little weekend at home!

Friday Laura came over to re-trim our living room (because we are horrible painters and did a really bad job a long time ago!) Thank you Laura!!! It looks PERFECT! Friday night, Isaiah, Levi and I went on a mission to find some baskets to decorate these really awkward shelves that we have in between our living room and kitchen. We looked all over Wal-Mart and then Target. We also picked up a few other things...:)

The first one...water colors and brushes...so of course we had to paint when we got home...

Isaiah and the paint, brushes, and water...in his new pose that he does when I tell him to say cheese.

Singing while he paints...he had fun using one brush for a second, then another, then another, then back to the first...he'd say, "I don't want that one." and grab another...

I was surprised that he held the brush like a pencil...who taught him that?

The finished painting.

We also bought ICE CREAM CONES!! YUMMMMY! I knew it would be a fun special treat for Isaiah and me. Isaiah was so excited about the paint and the ice cream he couldn't decide what he wanted to do first... finally he said, "let's paint and then have ice cream." about 5 minutes into painting he said, "let's eat ice cream then paint." ha ha so we took a break to eat our ice cream and came back to painting.
yummy!

The other thing I bought special was a pair of shoes for Isaiah...I almost always go down the toddler shoe aisle when I go to wal-mart or target...and I always find LOTS and lots of adorable little girl shoes...and then a couple choices for boys--like white with navy tennis shoes or brown boots.... but this time I found these adorable little shoes for Isaiah--and they were on clearance for $3.00!

Saturday came and we hung around the house trying to clean up...and play...and organize our house...
Isaiah and I got outside to shovel for a couple hours while Levi took a nap... Isaiah's shovel was under the deck, so I had him go get it--he didn't really want to, but there was no way I would fit! Here he is trying to get it out.

Later grandpa and grandma came over for supper. While grandpa made super and watch the little ones, my mom and I ran to Hobby Lobby still looking for baskets. Thanks dad!

Isaiah and grandma snuggling while they watch Diego...shortly after this picture, Isaiah looked up at my mom and said, "I don't want to sit with you anymore." and he moved to the chair...he isn't afraid to speak what's on his mind!! poor grandma.

Also this weekend, Isaiah found a few of my old toys that are from when I was little...my parents have been bringing over boxes of my old stuff...they think it's time that I stored all my old junk instead of them...so I've been trying to go through it...most of it is ending up in the garbage...a little sad...but it's time...

my old pop beads...and my ET spaceship thing. Isaiah thinks they are both pretty cool!

We had more fun on Sunday...but that will have to be for another post!

fingers and toes

Levi is growing and changing so much! The first couple weeks of January he really found his hands...I'd catch him examining his hands, taking in every part of them. He'd rotate them around and look at every inch of them. Now he uses them all of the time! He likes to hold things, move them, and pick them up.

The end of January he found his feet and toes!! He now loves to have his socks off and grab his feet any chance he gets! He likes to hold them and use them as toys. He hasn't quite gotten them to his mouth yet--but I have a feeling that will be next!

What a happy chubby baby!

levi loves blocks!

In the past month, or maybe even couple weeks, Levi has gone from sitting up with a little help, to sitting up by himself really wobbly, to sitting up and playing! I can now leave the room with Levi sitting up with confidence that he will be okay for a couple minutes! Wow!!

One of Levi's newest favorites is sitting up and playing blocks. He loves to grab them, look at them, and put them in his mouth! It has been so adorable to watch as my two boys play blocks together! They are like little buddies...what's that saying, I know I'll always have a friend because I have my brother...it makes me think of that. It's especially great that Levi likes the blocks because it still is one of Isaiah's favorites too. I'd say the blocks are scattered across Isaiah's bedroom floor at least 2 or 3 times a day...and sometimes they make it to the living room too. Good thing they are quick and easy to pick up!

My boys playing blocks.

Levi deciding which one to pick up next.

Looking so intently at the block.

Happy baby playing with blocks.

All three of my boys playing blocks. (No, Isaiah doesn't have a black eye--it's purple marker--he likes to trace his hand and get marker all over it, and then he rubbed his eye. And pay no attention to the huge mess of Isaiah's room, but take a look at where the books are--Isaiah and Jayda thought that was pretty fun that day! And last, pay no attention to the book Isaiah is building his tower on--we don't like Barney here, it was a quarter at a garage sale, it's the only Barney thing we own. :) )

wagon ride

Last week we got to go the the play gym again!! I didn't think we'd get to go for awhile, but Laura and I had a little different schedule this week so we were both off on Thursday morning! We decided to meet at the Rec Center to let the little ones play... They had a great time (of course!) . And this time the babies got to come too!! They both stayed awake the entire time we were there and fell asleep in the car as soon as we got in it! They were tired--they both usually take a pretty good morning nap, and had to miss out on it, but it was worth it! There wasn't a whole lot that they could do (without getting trampled on by a wild and crazy toddler) but we managed to find something fun for them! Take a look!
Both Isaiah and Jayda had a fun time pulling the babies around in a double wagon. At one point we had a toddler and a baby in each compartment...but they didn't pose long enough for me to get a picture. The big kids sure thought they were cool pulling around the wagon, and the babies were pretty happy just watching everything that was going on!

Can you believe how well the babies can sit up in there?!

Finger painting fun!

In my never ending search to keep my wild man occupied, I decided to give finger painting a try! I thought he might think it was really fun to get his hands all painted up and have a chance to go crazy with the paint...

I have to say I was a little surprised when he did not like having the paint on his fingers! After I squirted the paint on his paper, I encouraged him to touch it...and right away he wanted it wiped off. After talking about it for awhile, he has finally decided that it's okay to paint if I promise we would wipe the paint off after he is done with each color! I think in time he'll get used to it and enjoy it even more.

I decided we'd have a purpose to our paintings...so we painted Valentine's Day cards for family and friends...so if you don't want a sneak peak to your card...you may not one to look at the pictures this time! :)

Here he is checking out the paints. I wasn't sure how messy he would get so I made him strip down! After the first time, I realized it wasn't quite as messy as I thought it could be, so he hasn't had to do that again!

The finished projects!

Jayda got in on some painting too...but after the cards were made, so she just made an orginal creation! I have to say, she was nothing like Isaiah...she loved it from the start and enjoyed getting messy. She was focusing really hard on it (I think she's going to be very artistic like her mommy!) and made a beautiful picture!

In case you want a sneak peak at Levi's Valentine's Day card I'll post a picture of it here. I had his 5 month pictures taken a few weeks ago and they gave me a few free cards to go along with it.

funny stories from Isaiah

Sometimes I wonder just how Isaiah comes up with things… He is always saying and doing things that make me laugh. I’ll tell you just a few of the cute stories I remember from the last few weeks…

StoryOne:
A few weeks ago he had a little cold…
We were running around playing chase and all of a sudden he stops running and starts whining…
I say, "Isaiah, what’s the matter?"
"my nose is spilling," he says.
"oh no! do you need a kleenex?"
"yeah." In a really whiney voice.
He wipes his nose and life is good again. And off we go to chase each other.

StoryTwo:
So once in awhile we are naughty and go to McDonald’s and get a quick meal. A few weeks ago Isaiah and I went on an outing together to get Daddy’s birthday gifts…and not even thinking about lunch we left at 11:00 to make sure we’d be done by nap time (man, you have to plan with kids…can’t interfere with nap time, lunch time, snack time, etc…) so on the way to the store I ask Isaiah, "do you want a hamburger for lunch?" Of course Isaiah shouts, "YEA!!" So as we approach McDonald’s he says, "there it is, we’re going to the Hamburger’s House." I say, "yep, we are going to the Hamburger’s House."

Since then Isaiah refers to lots of things as "whatever it is’ house" like Chuck E Cheese’s House.

StoryThree:
One of Isaiah’s new favorite foods is Chicken Nuggets. He also is starting to have opinions about things—like what we should have for lunch. I ask him just about every day what he wants for lunch and he’ll usually answer peanutbutter sandwiches, chicken nuggets, hot dogs or some other toddler favorite! He’s a very typical toddler when it comes to food (I think!).

Here’s a story that Laura shared with me about Isaiah at her house…

Laura: What should we have for lunch?
Isaiah: Chicken Nuggets
Laura: How many do you want?
Jayda: two
Isaiah: ALL OF THEM!!!!

StoryFour:
Another funny one from Laura…
Isaiah was at Laura’s house and he was looking out the window… and he saw a bunch of squirrels … and he shouts, "Look at those monkeys playing out there!"

I could go on and on with all of the funny things he does... I'll post more again another day!