Catching Up With Cousins

Newland came to town and all the cousins were eager to see him.

Eli adores Newland. He started showing off for Newland as soon as he got to my parents' house.

Watch out Abe and Klarissa. Looks like you have a binky thief in the making.

This is Eli doing his attention seeking laughing. Putting on a show for his guest.

Love them together.

Newland tried to politely decline Eli's kisses with no luck.

Then Eli slid down the stairs on his belly really fast 5 million times because each time he did it, Newland burst into laughter.

Here's a good portrayal of how hurried Eli was to show off for his cousin.

Then Newland and Carson sized each other up.

And then I took Carson's binky away and he threw a fit. Which Newland was pretty concerned about.

I think by the end of the afternoon they liked each other. But they could still use some work.

We love when Newland comes to town!

News from November

The boys both love cars. You already knew this. But they especially love our real, actual, life-size cars. They sneak into the driver's seat every chance they get. And they look cute doing it.

Here's Jeff putting Christmas lights up on our house. My instagram friends were appalled when I announced this year will be the first year my house has Christmas lights on it.

My mom and I met up at Target one day and my mom had Eli pose by all of the red ball decoration things they have right outside the store. Now -- months later -- both boys still insist on posing with those balls before they will go in Target with me.

Eli has always been an independent little guy, but lately he has branched out and started dressing himself. It is so freeing to have a child who can put his own clothes on! Nevermind that he sometimes picks out outfits that don't totally match...I appreciate his self-reliance.

Here we have the goof.

Pantsless.

At the beginning of the month we were able to go to Tyler's baptism. I was able to snap a few quick pictures of some of the cousins before the baptism started.

Here are some updates on the kiddos:

• Eli is now totally and completely 100% potty trained. Yahoo.
• Eli dresses himself. And refuses to let us help him.
• He is starting to show interest in the alphabet and knows his colors now.
• He loves nursery. He's not so sure about this "Primary" scene we keep talking about.
• He takes naps about every other day or every three days.
• He still loves cars and only cars. 
• We've started doing a lot of playdates with friends in the neighborhood. Every morning after Eli eats breakfast he says, "Who are we going to play with today, Mom?" We thrive off playdates.
• We introduced him to an alphabet computer game. He totally loves it. Eli and Carson sit and do it sometimes when I'm making dinner and they are so cute playing it together.
• Here are some Eli translations:
• Oh shoots --> Oh shoot
• Grills -------> Girls
• Sher ---------> Her
• Seminary Truck --> Cement Truck
• Toodles -----> Tools
• Stoodles ---->  Stool
• Curious George -> St. George

Carson updates:

• He has started talking a lot. He said his first prayer this week and it was adorable.
• He chipped his two front teeth all up this week. Pictures to come later.
• He is recovering from his three-month sleep strike. We don't have to lurk in his doorway as much anymore. Though sometimes we do still have to.
• He is climbing all over things all the time. He gets up on the counter every chance he gets.
• He loves dogs.
• He finally likes books! Big victory. But he's very picky about which books he will sit still for.
• He loves baths. The boys have a bath just about every morning.
• He LOVES his plasma car bike thing. He's pretty good at it, too!
• He eats about 2 bananas a day. And would eat 3 if we let him.
• Anytime he is hungry, he drags a chair over to the pantry, pulls out the peanut butter, brings the peanut butter to me or Jeff, then goes to get a spoon and hands us a spoon. Then he will stare at us with the peanut butter and spoon until we give him a spoonful of peanut butter.
• He demands to drink out of a "big boy" cup, but he spills the water everywhere when we give him one.
• He still doesn't really like TV that much.
• He has started being rebellious at the grocery store. He wants to walk like Eli does.
• He follows Eli around all day copying everything Eli does.
• He loves pillows and cuddling and being held. 
• He's still having a hard time with nursery, but he's doing better.
• He is still on the binky. And getting more and more addicted every day.

Inman and Her Man

I feel like I need to add Kenz's name to our blog header with how much I've been blogging about there lately. But how could I not blog about the most beautiful wedding of the whole year?

Allow me to set the scene for you. Imagine the most perfect November day your skin has ever felt. Paired with golden leaves and a clear blue sky to feast your eyes upon. All that on top of the gorgeous Salt Lake Temple, and welcome. You have now entered Kenz's wedding day. Dum dum dum duuuuuuum. Dum dum dum duuuuuuuuum. 

Oh look. You made it just in time to see the couple of the hour emerge from the doors of the temple. Dressed in white and looking stunning.

Excuse me and Leslie as we snap some quick selfies while waiting to greet the new couple.

Jeff. Don't think you can escape the rapid fire clicking of my camera.

Someone should warn Kenz that you're at risk of having your toes stepped on once you get a husband...

Aaaaaaaaaaaand we're up! You would have thought I'd watched enough episodes of America's Next Top Model to figure out my hand would look "amputated" (as my sister described it) in all of these pictures. But I've clearly lost my inner supermodel and keen eye for body awareness. Can you work some photoshop magic on me, Tyra?

Ah. It emerged. There is hope for me yet.

Gone again. But our "smizes" make up for it.

Sheesh Kenz. I didn't mean to go all Tyra on your wedding, but I just can't imagine your wedding day without a few Tyra references. Moving on! I have pretty friends.

After the ceremony, we luncheoned with the newlyweds.

And then we made our way to the reception. Where Izzy and Eli attempted to show up Joe and Kenz.

Joe is so sweet with our boys. He and Kenz babysat them one night, and Joe made Eli a paper airplane. It's safe to say he won Eli's heart that night.

Kenz and Joe DIY-ed basically all of the decorations, and it all turned out so beautifully! I was impressed to see Kenz's vision come to life. And Leslie and I conspired to "renew our vows" so that we could have a redo on our receptions now that Pinterest exists.

 Cutting the cake.

 The XO was my favorite.

 Congrats you two!

The Happiest Bath There Ever Was

Is it just my kids or is it impossible for a mom to put a little makeup on? They are in my stuff all the time when I'm trying to get ready. They are yanking on my legs. Demanding that I hold them. Or if by the off chance they are happy and playing on their own while I try to get ready, I will emerge from the bathroom only to find that they have managed to destroy every single room of the house all within the 15 minutes it takes me to apply a little mascara.

So we started morning bath time. I get to apply my makeup in peace while the boys are bound to the inner confines of a jacuzzi. It's a great plan. And sometimes. Just sometimes. I am able to get all the way ready without anyone screaming at me.

On one very special occasion, the boys stayed content in the bath for at least an hour and a half. They were so darling together. When I noticed the morning sun shining in through the window offered the perfect lighting for a bubbly bath time photo shoot, I discretely got my phone out and snapped away.

With winter approaching, there's sure to be a few more bath time photo ops. Baths are number one on my list of winter survival tactics.