After Two Years

After two years in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, Dustin is back. I mentioned this in a previous post, but thought I'd throw in a good old fashioned airport picture. Also, after driving two plus hours for the occasion, this is one of the two pictures Christian took.

Cali's Party

Last Tuesday the 22nd we all loaded up and went to help {I'm really not much help} with Cali's school party. They had a fun movie party planned. The food was out of this world! No kidding, it was really done right. These first graders know how to party and eat. The kids each exchanged a gift. Cali was obviously thrilled with the present she received.

Caleb was pretty thrilled too.

Carter is pretty sure that he needs to go to school all day at elementary too. He made some new friend {and some enemies} with the kids in Cali's class. All in all, it was pretty fun day. I really could've used a nap by the time it was all said and done!

Carter's Party

Early last week I attended Carter's school party. The kids were wild and crazy and ready to party. They made ginger bread houses out of crackers and tons of candy, played with red and green play doh, had a stuff-the-stocking race, read fun Christmas books, and sang fun songs. Carter had a wonderful time. He would have had an even better time if I hadn't have been there. Seriously. This kids loves to exercise his independence in many ways. One of which, is telling me...."Mom, leave me alone...I don't need your help."

Welcome Back

Last Wednesday the 23rd Christian's youngest brother, Dustin, returned from serving a mission in Minnesota. Christian took Cali and Carter to Salt Lake to see him arrive on the airplane. They had a great time, and exercised great patience while waiting around for him to make his entrance.

This weekend we were able to spend more time with him and hear about some of his Minnesota adventures. He's grown in so many ways, I am positive he is taller! Here is a family picture we took with him the day of his farewell in 2007, and a picture we took after his welcome home 2009.

Then: 2007

Now: 2009

Bus Drunk

Last weekend Christian packed his duffle bag and headed on a wild Wyoming Bus adventure. Before the bus even pulled out of the Sorenson's driveway, the local newspaper stopped by for a photo op. Lucky for Christian, both pictures made the front page. Yes, that's him nearly stuck in a bus window. He said hanging out of a bus was much easier when he was younger...and smaller.

Here are the brave fans. Brave, because they were on that bus for nearly 24 hours.

It was all worth it in the end, Wyoming won in double OT. As if they hadn't had enough sports for one day, they ran across the street to watch the Lobos play in the pit. They were in heaven!

And just in case you were wondering...The phrase, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Really only applies to Las Vegas, NV NOT Las Vegas, NM. You see, apparently Christian purchased and wore these lovely underpants during a late night swim with other men. Enough said. Or as the crotch of his underpants read, "Nuff Said."

I am also quite certain that there was no alcohol involved. The only explanation...He was bus drunk!

Not Mentioned in the Book of Luke

I've searched the Bible, and so far, I've not found any mention of Sheen from Jimmy Neutron or the McDonalds Avatar horse. However, try telling that to Carter. He plays with and rearranges this little nativity at least 20 times a day. He adds different animals and figures depending on his mood. I find random figures in unusual places all day long. We're just lucky that the Wonder Pets swooped in and saved Mary.

Six Weeks Old and Smiley

{Trying to Get} In the Christmas Spirit

I've been a little low on Christmas spirit this year. Why? I really don't know. I feel like I went away to have a baby and by the time I recovered it was Christmas time...I totally missed fall. Oh well, there's always next year! Here are a few things we've been doing to increase the Christmas spirit around our house.

Hanging up the stockings always helps, especially this one. It always cracks me up, and there is usually plenty of explaining to do around here.

Another festive thing to do...Get out the stars Brittany brought us from Sweden last year. We have a bunch of them, and have placed them in cheery places around the house. In Sweden they actually put lights in them, but they are pretty either way. Also, as you may note from the above photograph, watching A Christmas Story. I put it on for Carter while he was having a rest...he loved the gun and fighting parts.

Decorating the Christmas tree. Better late than never...right? We had good intentions of getting it up weeks ago, but something always comes up. This was the first year that both kids were really old {and tall} enough to enjoy hanging up the ornaments. I nearly died laughing {see above} Christian thought it necessary to serenade the family with his rendition of Silver Bells aka Blue Balls.

We are missing several ornaments, they were the casualty of Carter's first mobile Christmas, but all in all it turned out pretty well. Now, all we need are some presents to go under...Still working on that one...

Please Help

Someone please pry this baby out of our arms. I'm afraid that no cleaning, cooking, and/or laundry will ever get done again. I cannot get enough of this kid...none of us can! I managed to set him down just long enough to type this post!

Carter is Smarter

Carter has loved every single second of preschool this year. He comes home with fantastical tales of their activities, songs, and adventures. I could not be any more pleased with Emily and the Little Learners Leap preschool {she's enrolling now if you have a preschool aged child!} Anyway, I was also pleased when Carter decided to write "Cali Carter Caleb" on Cali's white board one afternoon. I had to take a picture. The glare makes it hard to see Cali's name at the top, but I assure you, it was there! It also helps when everyone in your family has 80% of the same letters in each name!

Caleb's Thoughts About Church

No, Mom please...don't make me go...please...I'm begging you!

Seriously, this is really going to put a cramp in my non-stop eating schedule...What? I have to stay in this carrier for three hours....I can't take it.

Oh well, if I have to go...I guess I'll just sleep through it

Santa and Friends

On Saturday morning we attended our ward's annual Christmas party. This year our amazing ward-party-planner threw a wonderful Christmas breakfast party. Complete with a visit from a Wyoming style Santa. Check out the yellow work gloves, and authentic real beard and hair. Cali told Santa that she wanted a doll house {never heard that one before}. To which Wyoming Santa replied, I PROMISE I will get you a doll house. Well, that's how Cali tells the story...

There was also plenty of time to spend with friends. Christian and I enjoyed visiting with friends while the kids sang Christmas songs. I love this picture of Cali and her friend Maddie. They are almost exactly the same age, Maddie was born in June and Cali was born in July. They have identical personalities and are a whirlwind force when they get together.

This is Carter's partner in crime, Kristinah. They are in the same preschool class, and according to Miss Emily, have many wonderful adventures together. I'm pretty sure if these two were left alone for more than a few seconds something would be set on fire or broken. She is just as squirrelly as he is, but they sat still long enough for me to take this picture. After I took the picture Kristinah split her donut with him, and it was about the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

Ralphie and Randy

One Month Ago Today

It was on this day, one month ago, that Caleb flew down the birth canal and officially joined our family. It seems like only yesterday, and it seems like forever, and all of those other cliche phrases that are actually true! Here's what I've discovered over the past month:

1. Sleep is for the weak...Actually I'm really jealous of those of you sleeping more than 3.25 hours at a time.

2. Caleb's hair is so fantastic, I've spent more time styling it than I have my own....sad, but true.

3. Some baby carriers are made to fit in shopping carts, others are not...mine is not. Therefore, I can fit the carrier and two other items in the basket at once. This is going to make for a LOT of trips to the store.

4. A six year old girl and a four year old boy are pretty helpful...Until it comes to poop, then I'm on my own.

5. Four year old boys are fascinated with "where Caleb's milk comes from". And may or may not have a fascination with breasts in the years to come...Oh great.

6. If a baby is really really hungry and you put your cheek up to his face, he will root around and give you "kisses". OK OK, it's a really cheap way to get kisses, but I can't stop doing it.

7. I also cannot stop smelling his breath, and I tell him to "NEVER grow up" at least twice and hour.

8. Just because you can put your jeans on doesn't mean you should. There are more important things like, perhaps, breathing and being able to sit down.

9. This poor child has the extreme potential to be severely spoiled or severely mauled...Which ever happens first.

10. Three kids are better than two. We are slowly adjusting to our new crazy version of normal!

Carter and Parker

Try saying Carter and Parker three times fast...It's not easy. On Tuesday my mother in law and sister in law came for a visit. Well, actually they came to give Kathy Lee Gifford a run for her money in the sweat shop department. We sewed until we couldn't see straight. What did we make, you ask? I'll provide details about that project later, let's just say there was fabric involved and MANY breaks to check on the kids.

Carter really likes Parker, except when he tries to play with his Transformers...and any of his other toys for that matter. Good thing we have a few months before Caleb starts getting into Carter's things. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty. However, for the most part they got a long great.

War and Fuzz

In life, it's easy to misunderstand something that someone says to you. It's pretty common to mis-hear or mis-interpret a phrase or maybe a whole conversation.

Here are two of my new favorite misunderstandings, Cali and Carter style.

Cali:
The other day there was a commercial on TV for one of the many news magazine shows. Their leading story was about price wars. They were doing a whole in-depth story on how business and stores lure consumers into buying things by price matching or by raising prices only to lower them into a false sale. All Cali heard was, "Price War". Where upon she immediately shrieked and looked at me as if she'd seen a ghost. Then she said, "Mom, there's a war...in Price?!"

I explained to her what price war meant. That it didn't mean that there was a war going on in the city of Price Utah where her grandparents live. How interesting...that upon hearing the word "war" she expected it to mean war in the very literal sense. I guess that's what happens when you are born into a world where there has always been war. Even more interesting, that someone so young can pick up on something so old.


Carter:
Caleb tends to get a little fussy at nights. I forgot about that aspect of having a newborn...Carter doesn't like it AT ALL, and tells me to, "Make Caleb happy!" I try, but at times he just likes to fuss. I tried to explain to Carter that sometimes, even when they are fed, and dry, and seemingly happy...babies like to fuss. He seemed pretty content with that answer.

The next time Caleb started to fuss Carter immediately said...."OH NO mom, he's getting fuzzy again!" or "No! He's fuzzing again!" I tried to pronounce the difference between the word fuss and the word fuzz...But he can't hear it, or chooses not to. So now, from time to time, we have a fuzzy baby. I kind of like the word, I think it will stick!

Family Pictures

On Friday afternoon we had some family pictures taken. Warning: if you want your Christmas card to be a surprise, please feel free to by pass the next several posts.

My good friend Amanda was kind enough to take our pictures in scenic downtown Rock Springs, and on her anniversary nonetheless. She did such a great job, we love they way they turned out.

The next five {at least} posts are dedicated to just a FEW of our favorites.

Enough Attitude?

Random Favorites

Our Family