On conference weekend, we spent a lot of time in the tv room.  We had to get a bit creative to keep the boys entertained and distracted enough so we could at least semi-concentrate on conference.  Out came the entire dress up bin.  They had tons of fun.  Next came some fun games on Dad's phone.  And lastly, once all restlessness had set in, came the destroying of the sectional to pile cushions on top of Dad.  Erik is such a good sport.  I love to watch them all play.  And as Emmett just chilled in the bouncer while all of that went on, I kept promising him that soon enough he would get to join in on the craziness, too.

Six weeks in.  This is our life.  And we are still adjusting.  To say the least.  I feel like I should have the hang of it by now.  I definitely don't.

Over the summer I got so used to doing posts about all the things we DID.  Well, we aren't really DOING anything these days.  These long, never-ending, tedious and tiring days.  Yeesh!  

But I still take pictures.  And have to blog them.  So here they are.

I set down the little chub monster for a minute, and was surprised to come back and find him asleep.  He's cute.

Samuel is a very kind and attentive older brother.  He loves doting on Em, and he is great at teaching O a thing of two.  Like how to turn anything into the drums.

Finally got some chubby smiles on camera.

Samuel has been fascinated by climbing trees for a long time.  He has expressed often how disappointing it is that we don't have any climbing trees in our backyard.  One afternoon, he came running inside bubbling over, "Mom, Mom!!!  I finally learned to climb one of our trees!!  Hurry, you got to come see.  But first, I need to get some protection for my eyes.  It's very dangerous work to climb trees."

Owen loves to "cuh-der."  This day, he was seemingly inspired by my spray painting mat on the driveway.

I love those smooshy cheeks.

Chubalubs still hurts a lot.  He has good days and very very bad days.  Erik is good at calming him down and comforting his bubbly little tummy.  But you can still tell he hurts.

Did I mention he's chubby?  Scrumdiddlyumptious.

Owen is usually a good napper, so that often means he gets an hour or so in the evening to play by himself while Sam goes to bed first.  This is often O's best time of the day.  The family room window is still the numero uno top choice place to play, and Owen particularly enjoys it when he doesn't have to fight for it.  It makes a great place to line up some dinosaurs, wouldn't you say?

Throw all the cushions onto the floor.  This time it was a Hobbit hole.  Play in the tunnel.  Put underwear on our heads.

You know.  Respectively.

This very well may be the longest I’ve ever been away from my bloggity blog.  13 days.  Wowza.  I have a bajillion things to catch up on and post, including the homecoming of Elder Whitby and Sam’s 4th birthday!  Yikes.  I’ve got to get moving.  But in the meantime, enjoy the cuteness of these two little boys, who couldn’t possibly eat their apples and watch Curious George any other place than smushed up right next to each other on the huge sectional.

I love Samuel’s age right now for his appreciation and understanding of what’s going on.  It’s so fun to make a big deal out of everything now that he’s definitely old enough to “get it.”  Halloween has been a lot of fun with Sam.  We’ve read lots of books, done so many different crafts, and talked about it tons.  One morning I bought spider webs while Samuel was at school.  He could barely wait for Owen’s nap time when I promised we could decorate.  And guess where Sam chose to decorate?  His room!  When Owen woke up, Sam and I were still going strong, now making spiders to add to the webs.  We all had so much fun talking about spooky Halloween things, deciding just where to put each web (I was hesitant to put them over the picture of Jesus, but Sam won), and naming all the fuzzy spiders.  Once our spooky masterpiece was complete, Samuel and I concocted a plan.  Sam called his Daddy, now on his way home from work.  “Dad!!!  You gotta come home quick, Mom is FREAKING OUT!  There are spiders all over my room.  A big mommy spider and lots of baby spiders.  Hurry home!”  He hung up, we high fived, and waited amidst fits of giggles.  Erik walked in the front door, and Sam was still totally playing it up.  Erik called from downstairs, “What do you want me to bring up to get them??”  He came walking up the stairs with a whole roll of paper towels.  Then Sam jumped out and shouted, “Surprise!”  And we all had a pretty good laugh.

Then this week for Family Home Evening, we carved pumpkins.  Once Sam saw what was inside, he had no desire to be involved.  He opted to color his pumpkin and poke holes in it.  But I think when he realized how into it Erik and I were getting, Sam jumped back on board.  He scooped all the gook out, chose and taped his pattern, poked and cut with minimal help, and TA DA!  Samuel’s first jack-o-lantern.

{Sidenote.  Fully aware I use the word “fun” at least 8 times every post.  I could use a thesaurus I guess.}

Owen likes loves to read.  His first choice would still be to back his little bum onto my lap with his “boh.”  But grabbing his blankets and getting comfy on the couch is the next best thing. 

When Owen and I read together, he will point to something, say what it is or make its sound, then point to me to let me know it’s my turn.  If I don’t do it, he will keep saying it then pointing to me (each time more forcefully and closer to my face) until I do.  When he reads by himself, I love to watch his serious little face, and listen to him point and talk about everything he is looking at.  It’s so sweet.

Scary: Finding Owen like this after he pushed the toilet paper from the front door to the back stairs while I took 37 seconds to pee with the door closed.

Cute: Listening to Sam set up his “bed” perfectly for his “sleepover,” tucking himself in, then asking me to say goodnight to him, and “Don’t forget to say goodnight to Tegan, Tyson, and Tucker!” (each with their own respective pillows). 

Just making a rainy day a bit more interesting.