January 19, 2012

Emmett's been going on a milk strike or something.  Doesn't want Mom, and refuses a bottle.  In an act of desperation –this kid needed to eat something!!– we started solids.  Em caught on so fast and has done amazing with them!!  Erik and I couldn't believe that we had a baby who was a) interested in food, b) continually wanted more, and even c) got mad when we weren't shoveling it in fast enough.  He has no preference for flavors, and will eat green beans just as well as applesauce.  Except for peas.  He had to warm up to peas.  Of course, with starting solids, it makes for fantastic picture taking opportunities of this Chubbalubs fat face. 

First solids ever with Mommy and Sam.

Later, with Daddy, and not so happy about the highchair at first.

January 29, 2012

Ten days later, he's a pro.

A vanilla ice cream cone is definitely the boys' favorite treat.  Usually I get kiddie sizes.  So it was a special treat at the zoo the other week when they got full sized cones.  And they both devoured them.  When they were finished, the only thing left was four messy hands and two very sticky faces.

On Sunday, January 16, my grandpa turned 97.  And he’s still got a lot left in him!  Samuel and I were able to attend a brunch in his honor at the Grand America Hotel.  The band moved themselves over to our tables to play Happy Birthday, and much of the restaurant joined in on the singing.  It was a fun morning for a very special man.

This was the kids’ station.  After finding pancakes and fiiiiiinally hunting down some syrup, this was Sam’s favorite place to go back to.  He loved those fruit skewers.  I stopped counting at his twelfth.  A table between where we sat and the kids’ station starting keeping their eyes open and watching for Sam.  They laughed and waved every time he walked by with a few more in his hands.

November 13, 2010

So Saturday was Samuel’s real birthday.  The night before, I told Sam I would make pancakes . . . NOT the kind you put in the microwave.  I said I could make all sorts of shapes, like Mickey Mouse.  Samuel said, “How about a DINOSAUR pancake?!”  So I put my creative pancake making skills to the test.  Armed with an S, and number 4, a smiley face, and a dinosaur, I would call it a success. 

After breakfast we packed up the car and headed to Colorado for a quick visit.  My mom put together a great little party for Samuel and his cousin Tyson whose birthday was just a few days later.  There were balloons, birthday hats for everyone (including the dogs, per Sam’s request) and presents.  It was yummy, it was loud, it was lots and lots of fun.  Seriously, we know how to do birthdays. 

Our first official debut for the boys’ costumes was at our ward Halloween party.  I do believe we are the only LDS ward in the United States that doesn’t do a Trunk-or-Treat.  I was privvy to the meeting where it was discussed and conclusion made that “we” don’t want to teach the children to go to cars for candy.  Hmph.  Oh well.  It was still a great night with a Chili Cookoff (I might have been THE first place winner!  What?!), costume parade, and “trick-or-treating” to decorated tables.  We love our ward a ton and it’s been great to put some roots in!  We had a super fun night kicking off the Halloween festivities.

Getting ready.  This might be my favorite picture of Sweet Little Owen.  It’s so him!  And Sam, of course, wanted no help putting all the pieces of his costumer together and on.

The adventures of posing pictures.  Ugh.

And . . .

We . . .

Are . . .

Done . . .

Sam and his buddy Gabe marching in the costume parade.

Who knows what he’s crying about this time!  Maybe it’s that his Mom is such a nerd.  Ar har.

Owen was mesmerized fascinated and enthralled with this display.  He stood there all night just staring pointing and talking to it.

Me and my award winning chili that beat out like 30 other pots, 1st place prize in hand.  A king size Twix.  Just look at that pic!  It’s so sad you all can’t be as cool as me.

These two little guys are bonkers for their daddy . . . with or without a bowl of salsa on his belly.

. . . THERE!

Samuel had to eat his applesauce with two spoons.  He HAD to.  And I was quite impressed with how well he managed.

Samuel also managed to spill an entire bottle of bubbles on his head.

Much more successful than boring old rice and icky squash.

Starting O-bubs on solids doesn’t excite me.  I’m just not super motivated to try.  During our dinner, he acts super interested, so I finally decided we’d let him try rice.  I’m pretty sure he was sorely disappointed.

On his six month birthday, we stepped it up with some squash.  Still disappointed.  But it makes for some classic pictures.

Bite one.

Bite two.

Bite three.

Bite four.

And we’re done.