Talans 3rd birthday

Talan turned three a couple of days ago. We love him so much, for obvious reasons and for many not so obvious reasons. For anyone that really knows Talan they can concur what a good time this kid is. He is always doing something fun. He has such an imagination and can make just about anything fun. I wish I could visit the inside of his head because I just know there is a non-stop party going on inside there.

Top ten things we love about Talan

1. He loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses
2. He is pretty good about sharing, especially for a 3 year old
3. He makes the best sound effects. Sword fighting, (ching-ching) is my absolute favorite.
4. His ability to make friends. Even at his young age people tend to be drawn to him, even adults. There have been several occasions when complete strangers have just given him stuff for free. We have lived here in our new house for a total of one month and he has already made several cute friends. Last week at church his nursery teacher asked me if him and a little girl in his class play a lot outside of church. I told her they have once or twice...but not a lot...then she informed me that they are inseparable. Talan still talks about his best little buddies from Utah on a daily basis too and still asks to go to their house and play. He really is quite social and loves to be around people.
5. His love of sweets. This is something we share. He isn't a big fan of vegetables and fruits. I think it's a texture thing. Another thing we share, I have issues with certain foods because of their textures. However, he LOVES to eat baby food and will lick the jar clean. No lie. His favorite is carrots.
6. His concern for others. Whenever me and Cort are goofing around I'll I have to do is scream for Talan and he comes running to my rescue.
7. His imagination is top notch. The things he comes up with. He plays so good by himself. I find him constantly off by himself having the time of his life, playing some sort of game.
8. Whenever we walk in the room, it doesn't matter how long we have been gone he greets you with so much love you can't help but feel special.
9. He is hil-ar-ious! He makes me smile and laugh on a daily basis. Right now he is obsessed with Star Wars and walks around singing the theme song for Darth Vader all day long. I'll bet you can't guess what he's going to be for Halloween??!
10. He is VERY independent. He doesn't want help with much. He is a kid who knows what he wants and how he is going to get it. I hope this trait serves him well later in life, I'm sure it will.

The day before Talan's birthday this year, since we are only 5 hours away from Disneyland now, we took him and the rest of the fam there for the day to celebrate. When we got there they gave him a button and he enjoyed all of the extra attention he got there as a result. On his actual birthday we spent the day together and did a little family party that night. It was a lot of fun. We sure our grateful that he is ours. Happy Birthday Talan! What a joy you are.

monkey see monkey do

Lately as Easton has been getting older I have really begun to see how close him and Talan are. They truly have a very strong bond. Whenever Easton wakes up Talan always greets him with a smile while screaming "IT'S A PEASTY!" and jumping up and down. And Easton is in absolute awe of Talan too, he loves to be near him and follow him around. Talan has always been very protective of Easton. If someone he doesn't know real well tries to pick him up or talk to him Talan is right by his side, sometimes refusing to let anyone he doesn't know near him. In fact, when Easton was just a newborn there where several occasion when Talan threw an absolute fit when anyone he didn't know would go near his baby brother. As a mom, there is nothing better than seeing your kids be one another closest friends.

Our little Scripture Star

Chase started his second year of preschool today. When I went to drop him off he told me that he didn't need me to walk him in, he could do it himself. I told him ok, so we pulled up, got out of the car said good-bye and he turned to me and said "you can walk me to the door, but then I don't need you." And he didn't. As soon as we got to the door he walked right in and I heard him proceed to tell his teacher that he had already read 5 books since we meet with her last week for our meet the teacher day, which means he gets his first sticker on his reading chart, only four more to go til he gets to pick a prize from the treasure box, and that's how I left him. Doesn't he look great?? I am one proud mom.

He was so excited to go to school today. He kept asking me all morning long if it was time yet for him to go. I kept asking him "WHO TOLD YOU, YOU COULD GROW UP!??! My little baby boy Chase is officially gone and now in his place I have a big boy on my hands. Which makes me excited and sad all at the same time. One of my favorite things that he does lately is just randomly come up to me and give me a big fat kiss and say I love you. Who wouldn't love that??
All four of my boys. Tay was already at school.

His school is called Scripture Stars. His teacher uses the scriptures and the stories from the scriptures to teach the kids the basics. Genuis. I was looking at his calendar and next week he is learning the story of Adam and Eve along with all things that start with the letter A that our found in the Garden of Eden. Alligator, Adam, Apple. I just know he is going to have a great year.

It's hard work being 9 months old

This is how I found Easton at 10:00 this morning in my room. I knew he was in there playing, but then I noticed it got really quiet and so I went in there to check on him and this is what I found....

Our little Easty Peasty fast asleep. It's all he needs...his blanket and his binkie and he is in heaven. I guess Chase is the one who actually brought them to him. Why can't we all be so easy to please? This poor kid has been teething big time. He got his first two bottom teeth at 6 months and his first one on the top came in no prob, but that darn second one his making his life MiSeRable! Which makes my life...a little more crazy too. I think though after one long week of trying to get that tooth through it finally made it's debut this morning! I couldn't be more excited.
When he isn't getting teeth, Easton is still the same happy-go-lucky little guy who just goes with the flow. He is our little chatter box, I really think he likes the sound of his own voice. He is now army crawling all over the place and has started to pull himself up to stand. He loves to stand and if you pull him down he gets upset at you big time! He is an awesome sleeper which is very much appreciated by his mom and dad and he loves meeting new people. Whenever someone new greets him he will just stare and stare and then he will usually just grin away like he's known you forever. Got to love this kid! We all sure do.

Taylor's first day of 2nd grade

Taylor was so excited for school to start today. All week long she has been saying "I wish today was Wednesday. I can't wait to go to school!" She jumped right out of bed this morning when I went in to wake her up and then once she was up she was dressed in under two minutes. Cort made her, her favorite breakfast, breakfast burritos and then we all walked her to school, which is only about a block away. She was a little disappointed when she asked if she could ride the bus and I explained to her that we live to close to the school to ride the bus. As soon as we go there and she saw her class all lined up she took off running towards them, and never looked back. I can't wait til she gets home so I can here all about her first day.

Getting ready to walk Taylor to school

All lined up and ready to go in with her class