Cali's First Gymnastics Meet

 

Saturday November 10, 2012 was Cali's first gymnastics meet. She was very nervous for days leading up to the meet, but calmed down as she started her warm-up. We both learned a lot from our first meet. She learned how to manager her nerves, improve her confidence, and what she needs to do to get better. I learned that an iPhone camera doesn't really capture the moments very well, and I need to help her get her hair under control. Apparently points are deducted from your score if your hair flips around and you touch it.

 

I couldn't help but notice that some of the other level three gymnasts were the same height as Cali's legs...

 

 

Birthday Boys Gone Wild

 

These two little men were born one week shy of four years apart. In fact, Caleb's original due date was Carter's birthday, but he ended up coming a week earlier. This year we were in Castle Dale on Caleb's birthday so we decided instead of having two parties we would have one big party for both boys.

It started on Friday afternoon {November 9th} my parents came from Castle Dale. They braved the crazy snowy weather and arrived just in time to see Cali's Veteran's Day assembly where the school choir sang some patriotic songs. After school we had dinner, and then the boys dived right into the presents! Who doesn't like reaching into a huge sack of presents?

 

After a few presents to get the night started off right, we headed over to Legacy Gym for a Nerf gun war. We rented this new little gym in town and it was worth it, for sure! They provided the guns, Nerf gun course, guns, ammo, black lights, lasers, and glow-in-the-dark face paint. We provided a bunch of wild kids, and things got crazy!



 

I spent most of the night chasing kids, getting shot to death by boys (big and little), getting thrown onto the mats, managing the cutting of the cake, and making sure most kids were returned to their parents with all their limbs. Did I say things got crazy? Total understatement!

 

Caleb got so sweaty and thirsty from running around I found him in the back room sipping on several Capri Sun's. I made him get back out to the war, his soldiers needed him!

 

The chaos was just on the verge of anarchy, but everyone loved it!

 

Alexis' Baby Shower

 

My brother Brandt's wife, Alexis is having a baby in January. We can't wait for Baby Kate to join our family. On Caleb's birthday we made a quick trip to Castle Dale to hang out with family for the afternoon and attend her baby shower. As sisters we often wondered who Brandt would marry and if she would be able to handle the four Peacock sisters. I am so happy that Alexis is in our family, she fits in perfectly and is a true sister. Not to mention she can handle Brandt, which is a pretty awesome task!

Little Brock has a funny habit of sucking in his lip like an old man. It made us laugh and laugh all afternoon. He's going to have to keep up his antics if he wants to continue to have all the attention on him once Kate gets here!

  

My best girl holding my best baby-sitter's baby boy... Bethany, how did we/she/he get this old!

 

Caleb's Birthday

 

It is hard for me to believe that it was three years ago that this little boy came into our lives. He has changed my life in ways that I could have never imagined and was not always ready for. He is sweet and mean and kind and agressive all rolled into one little body. He keeps me sufficiently humble, and just when I feel like a parenting pro, he develops new skills and abilities that keep me on my toes.

I've often wondered how it must feel to have a spirit much bigger than a body. I know that this boy has been who he is since the begining of time, and I have the great privledge and challenge to direct him through this life.

We started off his day early in the morning with some Cowboy Donuts, his very favorite treat. We then jumped in the car and drove to Castle Dale for the day. Every time someone told him "Happy Birthday" he would smile from ear to ear and bat his eyes while sweetly moving his head side-to-side. It was pretty funny, so we sang to him at least 20 times!

 

Trying to get your fingers to cooperate while you show someone how old you are, can be challenging. He's working on his fine motor skills.



 

If donuts are the best, then donuts on fire are over the top. He blew out his candles several times!



 

Thumbs up for birthdays!

 

Cups

Christian and I have recently become obesessed with watching episodes of Duck Dynasty. If you haven't seen this gem of a reality show yet, you should. Seriously. Watch. This. Show. 

In one episode the crazy Uncle Si throws a giant fit because he can't find his tea cup. In every episode this guy is constantly drinking iced tea. He even goes swimming with his tea cup. Christian and I laughed and giggled about how stupid it looks to carry a cup everywhere you go.  

No sooner had I made fun of Uncle Si than I realized how I must look carrying my green drink cup around with me. Carrying it into work isn't too bad, it's the carrying it out with the green sludge in the bottom that is the worst. So, I make it a point to stop by the bathroom on my way home and rinse it out.

When I realized I was washing my cup out in a public restroom sink, I immediately felt a closeness to Uncle Si that I was not ready for. I understood how he felt when he lost his tea cup and I vowed never to make fun of him again.

Halloween 2012

We had a pretty great Halloween. Christian was home during the festivities for the first time in several years, so we were all excited. This was also the first Halloween in which Caleb really got into the Halloween spirit...if that's what you call it.

It's a Western Wyoming Community College tradition to have the Children's Center students Trick-or-Treat through the main halls of the college. They stop by offices and the staff from all different departments come out to give the kids candy. This fun Halloween parade was right on the heels of Caleb's morning mental breakdowns about going to school in the first place. On this particular mornings he only shed a few little tears. However, I was afraid that if he saw me during the parade, he would think it was time to go home and we'd have the tears all over again. So, like a good mother/stalker, I hid in a plant and took his picture from a distance. Have you ever watched your kids without them knowing it? You should. It was precious. He was polite and stayed right by his teacher in line the entire time. He also recieved more candy than one child should ever consume, and it was only 11am!

After sneaking on Caleb it was time for me to go to Carter's Halloween party. I try to sign up for at least one party in my kid's classroom each year. This year I got Halloween with Carter. I helped the kids make a fun Halloween craft and also watched them go totally squirelly for about an hour. Thankfully the teacher provided meat and veggie trays for their snack, because they were crazy enough without the added sugar!

After school we headed to the ward trunk-or-treat, and I finally got a picture of all my little gobblins together. Zombie Dancer aka Cali, Mario aka Carter, and Super Why aka Caleb (since when do kids want to dress up as a PBS tv show character? Anyway....). The kids got another boat load of candy, and Christian wore Carter's mustache for him when it got too itchy. Those were the main highlights of the night!

If that wasn't enough the kids hit up our neighborhood in the nice 60 degree weather. It was barely cold and Caleb could not get enough of trespassing onto someone's property and getting rewarded with candy for doing so. He also made it a point to blow out every single Jack-o-Lantern along the way as well.

I'm Halloweened and candied out for anothe year...at least!

The Many Faces Of Cali Carving a Pumpkin

 

Celery for Breakfast

Before 8:00 a.m., while singing the song from Wonder Pets; We get our vegetables any way we can!

Halloween Eve

On Halloween Eve we carved up some pumpkins. Caleb insisted on wearing his swimming suit, and Carter refused to touch the "guts", so it was a really normal occasion. Our pumpkins turned out happy, not scary. We DO NOT do scary at our house at all.

 

Sunday: A Day of Rest?

Keeping Caleb entertained/quiet/not-hysterical at church has driven me to a whole new level of creativity. There is something about his daddy being in view, but not within reach that drives him wild. Pure wild.

Most Sunday's he starts out on my lap, then makes a few mad dashes to the stand before I finally give up and let him go. He sits on Christian's lap quietly and reverently with the occasional nose pick for about five minutes. After five minutes he tries to play the organ, turn off the microphone, and jump over the choir seats. Christian tries not to look like he is going to blow his top, and attempts to keep a neutral I'm-the-bishop-and-I'm-not-going-to-kill-my-kid-while-I-intently-listen-to-the-speaker face (that's really what I need a picture of).

At about the moment neither of us can take it anymore (and usually during a break in the speaker/song) I walk to the front of the chapel and wrestle Caleb into my arms...yes, in front of the whole ward. He then kicks like a crazy maniac until we get out into the hall, then we entertain ourselves with a phone/camera until it's time to go to "church class".

In the above pictures Caleb said to me,"I need a picture with mommy hair." Like I said, a whole new level...

Official...Kind Of

I was feeling really official when I got to work on Monday and noticed that my office door was now sporting my name. Well, a mis-spelled version of my name...

First Snow(man)

It's not very often that snow is wet enough to make a snowman in Rock Springs. For the most part, the snow is either frozen solid or blown away before there's enough to shovel. Our first snow this year was wet enough and warm enough for Caleb to make his first snowman. He loved rolling the snowballs around the yard, and was shocked and amazed that the grass was still under the snow.

We made his face from some rocks, his arms from some sticks, his hat was donated by Woody from Toy Story and finished off with a scarf from our box of winter clothes.

Every morning for several days we watched as he slowly melted into the grass. It was kind of hard for Caleb to part with his new friend, they had become quite attached to one another.

Jamberry Nails

 



For someone who does not enjoy nail polish or painting her nails, these little beauties are pretty awesome. My aunt is a rep for Jamberry Nails and I hosted a party for her, Cali was in nail-doing heaven. We had a fun time and I ordered a lot of nail shields. You can check out my Aunt Bethany's website at:

bethanyp.jamberrynails.net

I'm thinking peacock feathers for my next creation....