BBCBCarter

Hair Cut

2011-06-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a long while since I had a haircut. My hairdo lady moved in December and I really dislike trying to find someone new. So it has taken me NINE months to find a new hairdo person. Thank heaven for Carlee. I love Carlee. She is my hero. If you've seen me lately you know that my hair was a little longer than my shoulders and a unmemorable brown. No longer! Here is my with my new 'do. Unfortunately it is late at night and it has been a particularly unhappy friday. . . Kiera, this one's in honor of you. Anyway, here it is, drum roll please.

In A Nutshell

2011-06-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

We have been super busy the past few months with end of school, work, Young Men, and life in general. I know it's a bad excuse but there you have it. Here are a few highlights from the past little while.

I designed my business cards and logo, here is the basic look:

We finally had one good day of weather in April? Or was it May? So Beckett, Calloway, and I had a chilly picnic in the park.

For Mother's Day we got all the cousins together for a grandkids picture for Mary and some cute ones of my boys for my mom:

Next was the annual trip to "The Goon" better known to all as Lagoon. Look how excited we are to be here!

For field day Cougar showed off his cool dance moves. Beckett and his friend Sawyer danced along with the fun music for about an hour.

Then came the major milestone. . . Preschool Graduation! Ms. RuthAnn and Ms. Cecilia were great this year so we made them each a fun mini album to remember the year. We love you Ms. RuthAnn and Ms. Cecilia!

For Calloway's Birthday we had the neighbor kids over for a water party and yummy food. Watermelon, chips, Cheetos, and cookies were the snacks with mini drumstick ice cream cones being the big finale! My friend Susan even brought balloons and a pump so the kids could have swords. She is the best! Calloway didn't get it but had fun anyway!

We also had a large family party for Calloway's big day. Both Grandparents came along with cousins, aunts, uncles, and everyone else. Thanks to the grandparents for the gifts and everyone else for sharing this day with us! For those that couldn't make it we missed you but can't wait to see you soon(er)!

Photos

2011-02-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

I know it has been FOREVER since I last posted but we have some exciting news! (no I'm not pregnant.) Our family is excited to announce the arrival of the internet into our home! It is going to make my life a lot easier and hopefully make me more productive. . . Yeah right. Anyway, I hope to be posting more frequently with our new upgrade at my fingertips. On to business. Here are a few photos of our family that are a little more current.

I would love to say that my family is 'picture perfect' all the time but let's face it, we're not! For the most part we are never perfect and most of the pictures I have taken OR had someone else take of us are very . . . realistic! So here are some real photos of my not-so-perfect but wonderfully exciting and crazy family. The first set is in sequential order. . .

For those of you that know us well, okay at all, know that this is very much the way we are. When we do get those picture perfect photos they are amazing SO here are just a couple of us.

Brian and I

Cougar

Beckett

Calloway

Crafty

2010-11-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Last night was awesome! I attended my ward's 'Weekday Relief Society Meeting' with the wonderful women of the Cherry Hill 5th ward. We had a great time. We sanded, painted, 'mod podged' and giggled through crafts, family memories, and silly stories. I love having a place where I can just hang out and chat with witty, unique women of all ages...
I am learning that I have indeed been given a 'crafty' instinct. I never knew I had it until recently. But I am happy to say that I love creating new things and making stuff up. Sometimes I don't even care if it's perfect. (This is a big thing for me!) Anyway, I will be presenting some family and friends with homemade gifts in the near future due to my new found love of crafting.

Refrigerator Magnets

"Brag Book" for Little Sis Keira

"Sickies"

2010-11-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

So here we are on another Monday. Sorry there have been no updates but we have all had the "sickies" also known as the stomach flu. Yuck! Cougar started us off last Wednesday and he was sick until Thursday afternoon, Beckett was sick on Friday and Brian and I got sick Friday evening and we were sick until yesterday. It was horrible. On Saturday Gramma and Russie took the kids so Brian and I could try to get better. . . We got Russie sick in return. SORRY! And just in time for her to visit Court and the kids. REALLY SORRY!! But the good news is we are feeling much better.

I am so excited it is Thanksgiving time. I love it. The food, the memories, and the food. Did I mention the food?! For anyone who cares I found this great website for those who need new ideas for their crockpots. It is www.365daysofcrockpot.com Ohhh Yeah! So try a new recipe and I hope it's good. This wife and mother decided to use her crockpot everyday for a year. . . And we get all her recipes. She even rates them for you so you know what to try and what to skip. I've been inspired. . . But not enough to have dinner ready to go for tonight. (Sick stomach remember?) Good luck with the crockpot and happy eating.

A Thankful Heart

2010-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

I would like to officially welcome autumn into my home. For those that don't know this about me, autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the sounds (crunch, crunch of the falling leaves), smells (pumpkin pie and hot cocoa) and the sights (pretty leaves and bulky sweaters). Who doesn't love the atmosphere and grateful feelings that accompany fall?
This year I am trying to feel grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life AND more importantly remember my gratitude for everything on more than just Thanksgiving day. Sometimes I get so involved in all the "stuff" of this holiday and others that I forget their true purpose. So here's to being grateful for the here and now, Here and Now! Here are a few of the people and things I'm grateful for today, November 1st.

Baby Toes

Healthy Kids

Beckett- Quiet For the Moment

Brothers

Crazy Boys

2010-09-14T16:33:00.002-07:00

Hello Friends and Family,
Yes I know I am the world's worst blogger. I never update and half the time my internet isn't working. . . So here is what our world currently consists of:

Cougar Starts Preschool- Everyday I walk my kids over the river and through the woods (down the street, though the park) to school where Ms. Ruth is his teacher and he gets to sing, play, color, and cut. It's just like home but with new faces and no mess for Mommy! We love preschool. Coug is also playing soccer in a youth league. It is the funniest thing I have ever seen! It reminds me of the movie 'UP' with the talking dog. He talks and talks and talks but randomly bursts out "Squirrel!" Just imagine 8 little boys chasing a ball, running after each other and rolling around in the grass just because they can. One game all the kids on one team stopped to watch a worm in the grass. . . The other team would have scored but they stopped to watch it too. Good times.

Beckett is still into everything and wants to be big like his brother. Before we make the trek to school he puts on his 'pack pack', shoes and of course grabs his mandatory fruit snacks. Yes it is a long way for little legs. We head to school and then he's down for a nap until Coug is home.

Calloway is growing like a weed and I'm happy to say he loves to sleep! I know everyone with young kids that don't sleep is cursing my name but just think that he is the only one sleeping through the night at my house! So there. He is a very giggly, sweet, smiley little man and I love him to pieces! And I finally got a baby that loves to snuggle! Yipee for Mommy!!

Brian is working, working, and hanging with the young men as 'El Presidente'. Call him that to his face, he really loves it! (Can you feel the sarcasm in my voice?) Tuesdays he plays basketball at church, Wednesdays is Young Men, and most Saturdays he is involved in football and Cougar's soccer team. Either at the stadium (if you don't know which one, you obviously don't know us) or seated in front of the television.

I am currently making 75 pinwheels and cutting out 50 2 inch and 2 and a half inch circles for Aunt Cody's wedding party centerpieces. . . It's awesome!! I also volunteer in Coug's class once a week and have a blast as a soccer mom. I know it sounds weird but I do love it! I am also building custom scrapbooks for clients from Orem to New York. Yes my friends New York City! It is truly a blast. I get paid to play and be creative.

Our lives are exciting and wonderful. Never a dull moment!
Loves,
B

Nicholas Calloway

2010-07-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Introducing Nicholas Calloway. I know that his name seems pretty normal but things get interesting when you hear our story. Nicholas is a Carter family name . . . but it is also a family profession (think St. Nicholas). Calloway is in honor of Brian's favorite sport and I really like it, so there. We are calling him Calloway just to make life hard when he gets to be school age, but like Cougar isn't going to have a hard time too. We love our little Calloway. He's my little skinny mini weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs 9 oz at his last checkup. Hopefully he will soon be a pudgy little guy. . . He obviously didn't get the memo that babies are supposed to be fat! He is the sweetest baby ever! (besides my 2 others of course.) We are so happy he is the newest member of our family.

Mostly Human

2010-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

As many of you know Brian, Cougar, Beckett and I welcomed Nicholas Calloway into our family on June 8th! We are so happy he is finally here. Along with the arrival of our new baby came less sleep, needy big brothers, and parents with less patience. Needless to say we have been 'off the grid' if you will and we know absolutely nothing about the outside world. But we are adjusting and feel mostly human. Sorry I haven't been posting. . . Here are a few photos of what we've been up to the past few weeks.

The boys got bored one day and threw all their clothes all over their room. . . Mom was not happy!

Softball games with Daddy. . . His team had a great time and Beckett is officially my sports fan.

Another 'bored moment'. Cougar and Beckett like to hide behind my bed and spray anything that sprays. This time it was shaving cream.

The boys loving on our new baby.

Today

2010-05-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very interesting day. And when I say interesting I mean crazy! And when I say crazy I mean I contemplated selling my children for a while. Let's be honest. . . Some days are just hard. By 9:30 I had cleaned poop off of my entire kitchen floor, shaving cream off my bedspread, pillows and carpet, and ground in goldfish crackers from the carpets in both boys rooms.
I was in the middle of baking bread when I discovered the boys planning their next attack on my sanity. It involved lots of toilet paper and even more tooth paste. Luckily I found out about the conspiracy early enough to stop the ambush! Today was one of those days when I worried about getting in the shower for fear of what I would find when I got out and naptime gave no relief. I felt like I was constantly on guard for the next possible act of destruction.

So I have come to a couple of conclusions:
1) My boys are very smart
2) They are also very inventive and imaginative
3) They are a little bored

That means I need to find more things to occupy their minds so that they don't destroy my sanity and my house. So if anyone has ANY ideas for me on how to keep my boys busy, I'm all ears.

Crazy Boys. . . Or is it Crazy Mom?

2010-05-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

These are my crazy boys. In the average week I change 35 poopie diapers, 30 wet diapers, sweep my kitchen floor 28 times, and run the dishwasher 7 times. I would do the math for the number of laundry loads I do but I think I would be depressed. I read countless bedtime stories, eat way too much macaroni and cheese, and spend hours catching boys that jump off my couches and balls thrown at my head. But when my kids are this cute all the yucky stuff is made up for in the snuggles, kisses, and giggles.
Don't get me wrong. . . I love all this stuff but sometimes I think I'm going to scream if I hear "Mom" shouted one more time. Then I lock myself in the bathroom for 5 minutes and breath or read a chapter in a book. Then I'm usually okay. . . or I have to call Lori and talk for a few minutes. Lori, You're my lifesaver! Thanks for the backup.

Mom, My Head is Freakin' Me Out!

2010-05-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Cougar is my crazy soon to be four year old and he says the funniest things. . .
Every night about 7:00 he starts to get tired. When he gets tired the whining beings. Lucky for me he tells me he's tired and tonight went a little like this:
"Mommy, I'm tired."
"I know sweetheart. We'll be home as soon as Daddy makes copies at his office."
"But my head hurts and it's really freakin' me out!"
"What?! What does that mean?"
"It means I need to go to bed MOM! Right now, in my own bed. But first we need to say prayers and get my sippy and jammies."
"Okay baby, let's go home and get you in bed."
"Thanks Mom, you're a sweetie pie."
"Thanks Cougar."

NCIS and Washington, D.C.

2010-04-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

So my baby sister left this morning for Washington, D.C. to intern with NCIS. I'm so excited for her. She will be amazing!! I have to admit that when she called to let me know she had gotten the internship I thought she was going to intern at the t.v. show NCIS. . . Yes I'm an idiot! I was really excited because I thought she could get me some autographs. I told you I was an idiot. . . Anyway, after she explained and we laughed for about 5 minutes I got excited for all the right reasons. So now she's on a plane headed to a very big city, all by herself, and I am going to miss her like crazy. So good luck on all your adventures Tally! I am so proud of you and I promise to keep you updated on all our adventures here in Utah.

In Honor of the Farley Family

2010-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

My sister Kiara is away for 4 months with her hubby and kids selling security systems in Billings, Montana. . . She is the best negotiator and made me promise to blog at least once a week. So here is this week's blog.

Here is Beckett saying it better than I can. We are so sad that you've gone!! We love you. Please don't go!
See you later.

B

Update

2010-03-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends and Family! I know it has been a really long time since our last update. Oh, go ahead and look. . . it was last June. I know! So here is our update.

Brian is:
Playing basketball, coaching the Young Men's basketball team, and watching BYU basketball. Go Cougs!
Working like a madman at Provo Land Title Company.
Playing with our cute boys any chance he gets.

Brielle is:
Playing with our cute boys every day.
Baking treats for friends, family, and the occasional party.
Sleeping, eating, and behaving strangely because of this pregnancy. Yes, we are expecting our third little boy in June! Yahoo!!
Scrapbooking, making cards, and occasionally reading. Anyone have any good suggestions?

Cougar is:
Getting ready to start preschool this fall.
Playing with his active younger brother.
Watching Hercules, Robin Hood, and Curious George on an almost daily basis.
Helping Mommy with the chores specifically the laundry (he likes to throw it down the stairs) and kitchen duty (making a mess so Mommy has something to do).
He is totally into Wii sword fighting and bowling. He can beat both Mommy and Daddy!

Beckett is:
Growing like a weed. He weighs only 6 pounds less than Cougar and recently has learned that he can tackle and tease his older brother.
Loves anything outside including parks, running away from Mommy, and eating dirt.
Likes to eat raisins, carrots, and unfortunately a little Play Doh. Yucky!

We are all doing great and hope you are too! Until next time . . .
Brie

Hurricane Cougar

2009-06-30T16:59:00.001-07:00

For those of you that read us frequently you may recall the wonderful picture of Cougar painting himself with green and blue finger paints. Yes it was a beauty. I would have posted it again but I couldn't find it. . . Today was that day all over again. Only crazier! Cougar painted himself from his shirt sleeves down and even his face and head. Beckett refused to nap until 2 o'clock this afternoon. Cougar watered all of my flowers, the concrete, and the sliding glass door. We painted, demolished the basement, and had multiple tantrums (the kids, not me).
It got me thinking that I would be a lot more efficient if I didn't have kids but I would definitely not have as much fun or anything to write about on my blog. So here's to crazy, hurricane driven children that make my life anything but boring.

Wa-Whoo!

2009-06-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Today started out a little rough. . . Lots of screaming, messes, crying, and madness. But I am happy to say things just got better and better. By 2:30 everyone was asleep, including ME! Wa-whoo. That has not happened for a long time. So now it's 5 and everyone is mighty happy. Thank heaven for Friday naps. Have a great weekend everyone.

Just Like Daddy

2009-06-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Sorry to everyone for the long period of non-blogging. . .

Last Sunday we were trying to get ready for church. Sunday mornings happen to be the most hectic time of the week for me. Between the church clothes that need to be ironed, the bags of activities for the kids, don't forget the diapers and wipes or sippy cups; things can get pretty crazy. But lucky for us things were unusually quiet and calm. Cougar sat studying Brian for a while and then informed everyone that he wanted to wear a tie too. So Cougar and Mommy went to pick one out for Daddy and then Cougar.
Daddy wore a red striped tie so Cougar decided an orange striped tie would be the best option.I guess Cougar decided that the oranges matched in the tie and his plaid shirt. Okay! Whatever makes him happy. Cougar was so proud to go to church dressed just like Daddy. He received lots of compliments and a few giggles. But Mommy and Daddy were very proud of him. He looked so handsome!

Busy Boys

2009-05-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

This week the boys and I went to St. George for a little break. We had a great time swimming, playing, and visiting friends from our old ward. We saw K.P., Nicole, and baby Houston and had a little adventure as Nicole watched me wrestle my 2 boys. She is so excited to have a mobile child! We watched movies and enjoyed the sunshine and nice weather. It was great! The reason we needed to get away is that I have very busy boys and they like to cause mischief. . . This is what they did that caused me to need a break from reality.

Beckett has become incredibly mobile and I am constantly chasing him all over the house. In and of itself this is not a bad thing but add to it a 2 year old that can find things to get into faster than I can run around and prevent crazy ideas and we have a major problem. This is a picture of Coug with lipstick all over his fingers. He found my favorite tube after digging through my purse and then decided to stick his fingers in it up to his second knuckle. Great. Of course he picks the lipstick that has been discontinued so I can't replace it. But his face was priceless!
This is Beckett after he discovered that he can walk all by himself if he pushes a miniature chair around the kitchen. Very cute.

Dirt and Bikes

2009-04-22T14:50:00.001-07:00

I will never understand little boys and dirt. It must be genetically programmed into them to love that gritty, grimy, rocky substance. I don't get it.

Yesterday Cougar asked to play in the backyard. The weather has finally started to be nice and we are all excited to be outdoors. So out my oldest munchkin went to explore and discover. And discover he did. He discovered:
1) Mommy likes dirt, but only when it is outside.
2) Dirt is fun to play in but not clean up.
3) Dirt sticks to sunscreen.
4) Mommy doesn't like to sweep the kitchen floor constantly.
5) Dirt does not taste good.
6) Sunburns and dirt are not necessarily a good combo.
7) Mommy doesn't appreciate dirt like little boys.
8) Cougar likes bath time, but not with dirt in the tub too.
9) Mommy likes dirt a)in the garden and b)with flowers in it.
10) Mommy and Cougar think dirt is neat but not stuck to us, on the kitchen floor, or in the bath tub.

While Cougar had a great time during the day in the dirt, both boys loved our family adventure when Daddy got home from work. This is another thing I will never get- high tech bikes. I would love a nice banana seat bike, but no Brian got me the mother of all bikes with 6 gears and other crap I have to learn how to use. What happened to just pedaling however fast you want to go? I'm not doing the tour de france, just taking my kids around the neighborhood. What-e-ver! (Not that I'm complaining, I love the bike, I just like simple things too!)

We finally invested in some nice bicycles and a trailer for the boys. Last night was the maiden voyage for Mommy's bike. It has been years since I have ridden a bike (I crashed as a teenager, had iodine poured into my road rash by my Grandma, and vowed never to get on one again.) Somehow Brian convinced me to get a bike because 'it will lead to great family adventure', yeah right! So we all hopped on/in. On for Brian and I, in for the kids. And took a little ride all around our neighborhood. We ended up at Wendy's for some dinner. It was an event to celebrate.
Mommy didn't crash, fall, or hate every minute of it. Brian on the other hand, hesitated a moment too long and fell over because he couldn't unclip fast enough. (I giggled inside but asked if he was okay.) But we sure had a good time. Cougar slept the whole time, Beckett got upset because Cougar was laying on him the whole time, and I was cursing Brian for the first few minutes (then I was fine). Beckett loved everything about moving but he did not like being stationary. I could actually hear him saying 'No Stopping, Dad!' It was great! Happy Family Home Evening from the Carters.

Monday Morning

2009-04-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

So here we are on another Monday morning. Don't worry. . . Things are never mundane at our house. It is a beautiful day, the weather is nice, and it might actually feel like spring today. Cougar has noticed the difference in climate and immediately asks to play outside. What the hay! So out he goes in his jammies to slide, make dirt piles, and drag a drainage pipe all over the yard. What fun little boys can have with nothing to play with.
After a while I hear him, "Mom, Mom, come watch me!" So out I go (like any good mother) to take some pictures of Cougar's pre-breakfast playing. Yeah!! He loves to slide, run, jump, and he refuses to look at the camera. What a character!
While Coug is out in the yard, Beckett is having a bath. Look how sweet he is. He started crawling laps in the tub. Daddy thinks he may be our football player but after this mornings display he just might be a swimmer.

Bath Time

2009-04-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Cougar and Beckett experienced their first real bath together. It was quite an event. They splashed, picked on each other, and had a great time. As you can see I think we will continue to bathe together so Mommy can have some fun at bath time too. They are hilarious to watch!

The Circus is in Town

2009-04-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

The circus came to town last night. My children decided that last night was an appropriate time to do all the things they know are not allowed. I was on the phone when Beckett started screaming- for no apparent reason. At the same time Cougar was throwing Play Doh all over the kitchen (which I had just mopped). Beckett finger painted in his squash and sweet potatoes, I quickly maneuvered him out of his clothes and into the bathtub. While I was putting B in the bath Cougar was nicely painting at the bar with his finger paints. . . I should have known that he was too quiet. I got B out of the bath to find Coug covered in finger paints from head to toe. I was thrilled. (yeah right!) After B was dressed it was Coug's turn to take a bath. While I put Coug in the bath Beckett discovered that he could pull all of the moss out of my artificial tree in the family room. I quickly distracted him with something else. . . I don't even remember what.
Needless to say I was still on the phone, laughing my head off to my friend Haley, as she contemplated calling reinforcements for me. At least I can laugh about it!
When Brian got home he found all three of us lying on the family room floor in fits of giggles. The only way I could think of to keep them in one place and contained was to tickle them until there was nothing left to tickle.Life at our house is definitely NEVER boring.

We also bought a bike trailer for the kids and helmets. Cougar loves his! Take a look.

Pink Pajamas

2009-04-07T23:17:00.000-07:00

I took the boys over to my parent's house while I had all the Young Women at my house a couple weeks ago. By the time we were finished it was after Beckett's bedtime. I sent Brian to retrieve the boys while I was in a meeting. When Brian walked in the door he had a very upset look on his face. I thought for sure he had totaled the car or something equally as serious. . . He looked at me and said, 'Both boys are asleep in the car and Beckett is wearing PINK PAJAMAS!' I just about died laughing. For those of you who are familiar with my husband you will understand the full impact of these words. I don't think he would have been any less disgusted if I had served worms for dinner. The horror in his voice was evident.
It was quite funny. Every time I think about it I laugh out loud. To me this is not a big deal but to Brian. . . This is very important. It ranks up there with boys wearing lipstick, dressing in drag, or women growing beards. It is just not done. I don't think I will ever forget this. And just to be certain I took is picture the next morning. . . I would not be a good mother if I didn't document all of our moments. . . The good, the bad, and the unspeakable: Pink Pajamas.

While I am telling stories. Cougar has some very exciting news. His new favorite movie is Fraggle Rock. Don't remember it? It is a very old Jim Hensen Muppet show. I watch it quite often now and I must say it is just as catchy as when I watched it as a child.
Coug is also learning new phrases. The most popular being, 'But why Mom?' 'I can't do it, it's too late.' and 'It's my favorite!' We are definitely broadening our horizons. For the most part I just look at him and laugh. Most of the time I don't know what else to do. For instance, when he takes all of the blown Easter eggs and crunches them up into little pieces all over the kitchen floor. Or when he gets the lid to the Johnson's Baby Wash stuck in his mouth and panics because he can't get it out. Or when he 'helps' Mommy by taking all the eating utensils out of the drawer and places them neatly on the floor or hides them in his bedroom. He is such a big helper!

A Day in the Life of

2009-03-27T18:48:00.001-07:00

8:00 Get giggly Beckett out of bed, change messy pants and tickle/ snuggle time with Mommy
8:30 Cougar tromps down the hall to find us
8:45 Breakfast- Cougar has a bowl of cereal or pancakes while watching the movie of the week (currently Disney's Meet the Robinsons), Beckett likes bananas and ginger snaps and making a mess spitting his bananas at Mommy
9:00 Kids get dressed and we roll around on family room floor squealing
9:15 Cougar decides he wants to watch High School Musical 3 and have Mommy and Beckett sing backup- hence the picture with no pants, the guitar, and hat (he acts out all the songs and sings every word)
9:30 Beckett starts to rub his eyes and get crabby
10:00 Beckett goes down for nap, Cougar watches movie while Mommy sneaks down the hall to take a shower
10:08 Cougar realizes Mommy is gone and comes to yell through the shower door that he wants a shower too, Mommy says no
10:30 Time for hair, makeup and wardrobe (if I'm lucky, usually a ponytail and chapstick
11:00 Play time with Cougar, usually read books, play with cars (my car sounds are getting a little better- I'm a girl, they still stink)
12:00 Lunch time, Beckett wakes up, chaos begins
12:30 Mommy gobbles down leftover food from Cougar's plate, runs down the hall in time to see Cougar jump on Beckett, and the first timeout lesson of the day begins
1:00 Basement ball time begins- Cougar and Beckett play with all 900 balls we own and laugh hysterically at one another, Mommy gets the camera in time to see Cougar throw BIG ball at Beckett's face and crying commences
1:15 Mommy turns on the Backyardigans and everyone has a rest from the noise and chaos. Cougar loves to pretend with the characters, Pablo being his favorite
2:00 Beckett goes down for 2nd nap, Cougar makes as much noise as possible to wake brother up, Mommy gets mad and sends Cougar to his room
2:03 Cougar escapes from his room and plays like a maniac in basement (usually in Mommy's office while she tries to scrapbook)
2:45 Mommy's reminder to Cougar that it is almost nap time
3:00 Whining starts and ends quickly
3:04 Cougar and Mommy lay down in Coug's bed and it takes 3 seconds for him to relax and fall asleep.
3:45 Mommy wakes up mad that she lost her free time
4:00 Beckett wakes up and it's time to play
5:00 Cougar wakes up crabby and takes a few minutes to humanize
5:25 Daddy gets home! Yeah Daddy, we missed you.
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Play in basement and wrestle with Daddy
8:00 Beckett gets bottle and to bed
9:00 Cougar gets to jump into bed and hopefully fall asleep quickly (probably not!)
9:45-10:45 Mommy and Daddy fall into bed exhausted and sleep until babies wake up about 3:00a (usually with nightmares for the big boy and snack time for little boy)

No matter what happens they are still the 2 cutest boys I have ever seen! I love these crazy little men.

Lion King and the Beast

2009-02-13T07:38:00.001-08:00

Cougar has become a movie buff since we've been homebound for the winter. Lately the favorites have been Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King. So one day I decided to let Coug be the Beast. We made him this beautiful mane and I taught him to roar and we watched Beauty and the Beast over and over.
Thank heavens that little phase is done. We are now into Mamma Mia and the Bee Movie. Both of which make me laugh. Mamma Mia is great because it requires no costumes. . . Cougar and I are working on creating bees to play with while we watch Bee Movie.

** By the way. . . My Sweetheart bought me a Cricut for Valentine's Day! Yahoo! Have I told you lately that I have the Best Husband!! Brian, if you read this- I love, love, love you. More every day.

Just like Daddy

2009-02-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

Last night Daddy had a city league basketball game. Cougar wanted to look like Daddy so Brian put his jersey on Cougar and let him bounce the ball for a few minutes. We ventured out of the house to go to the game because Cougar, Beckett and I were all going to scream. We definitely need a change of scenery. So we all piled into the car and headed off to Orem Jr. High.
Cougar was so much fun! He loved every minute of the game. He cheered, screamed, shouted, jumped up and down, ran up and down the bleachers, and my fav- yelled 'go, go , go over and over. It was awesome. I was very proud of my big boy who wanted to be just like his Daddy.

One More

2009-02-09T19:50:00.001-08:00

Cougar has become my little negotiator. It doesn't matter what 'it' is he will try to get more, longer, bigger. . . whatever. Tonight it was chocolates, yesterday it was 'one more show' before bed. He will bargain for just about anything. I think I gave him about 8 Hershey's miniatures. I can't say no to that sweet smile and laughing eyes. . . Especially when he asks so nicely.
This picture is of my sweet boys the first time Cougar held Beckett. At that time the negotiation was how long he could hold Beckett. 'A few more minutes, Mamma'. Yes Cougar, you can hold him for a little bit longer. . . Boy am I in trouble.

Cougar-isms

2009-02-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

Cougar says the funniest things! Here are some of his latest words and phrases:'Mamma Nina' which is the movie 'Mamma Mia' He loves this movie! We watch it at least twice a day. I figure it can't be that bad because he plays his guitar along with it and sings too. 'Cry about it' He says this anytime he wants to you cry. If you ask for a hug he tells you to 'cry about it' because Grandma and Paga always pretend to cry if he won't hug them. 'Oh my gosh!' also heard on 'Mamma Mia' he doesn't know what it means but it seems to work for almost any situation. 'Lush you!' This is my favorite. It means I love you and I get to hear this one everyday! I have such sweet little boys. I know that if Beckett could talk he would say I 'lush' you too! This picture is Cougar jammin' along with 'Mamma Nina' this morning during breakfast.

Perfect Morning

2009-02-06T09:55:00.001-08:00

This morning the boys and I had a perfect morning. Beckett woke me up at 7 to eat. I got to love on him for 15 minutes before Cougar joined the party. Daddy kissed everyone as he headed off to work. Beckett, Coug and I made the beds, cleaned out B's dresser so we could fill it with clothes that actually fit him, and then we headed to the kitchen. Coug and B watched Mamma Mia while I made pancakes. There was no whining, crying, tantrums, or fights over breakfast. We just had a good time. Then it was off to the bath followed by lotion, diapers, clothes, and nap time for Beckett. Cougar finished Mamma Mia while I took my shower, uninterrupted mind you, and then I even got to do my hair and put on a little makeup. Life is good. We are happy. And Mommy loves these boys and this life!

Because I Love Them

2009-02-05T23:21:00.000-08:00

It is a little after midnight and i have been reading NieNie's blog again. I can't help it. That woman truly inspires me. I want to be a better person because of her example because I love my family. She has such a wonderful attitude and she is such a great wife and mother. One of the things I have read recently that hit me really hard was this. She said, 'Starting today I am going to be better. I am going to listen, love, communicate, cherish, enjoy, teach, preach, and prepare my children, Time for everything else later.' I love this! I love the perspective and wisdom behind who she is as a person. I want to be more like her. I want to do everything she listed and I want to do it for my family. For my sweet husband. For my beautiful boys. Because I love them. Because I can. Because I want to be my best and I want my boys to be their best as well.

No-Man

2009-02-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

Cougar is my little 'No-Man' today. I think that when he turned two he lost all ability to utter the word 'Yes'. I think it is genetically programed into little boys and girls to be little boundary pushers a.k.a. little weenies. Today I am at a loss as to how I need to deal with him. I am becoming the 'No-Mamma'. Cougar has decided that today is the day to lay on his brother, throw food all over the kitchen, scream at me, play jump over Beckett, and throw things at the ceiling. Such things include measuring spoons, guitars (yes, full-sized), rubber duckies, and dirty diapers. All before 10 o'clock this morning. Any advise?! Is is naptime yet? These pics show you the little gleam in his eyes. . . I can see him planning his next move right now.

Happy to Be Me

2009-02-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be me! I love that my husband is still in love with me even after six and a half years. Even seeing me in sweats with my hair in a ponytail and baby snot on my sleeves. I love that we still giggle together in bed at night and that he makes me feel beautiful. I love that my kids are funny, energetic, and at times out of control. I love that Cougie gives hugs and kisses every night and Mister Magoo is learning to eat sweet potatoes and spits them at me every time he eats. I am so happy to be me. To have this family forever even with the messes, chaos, and crazy days. I am also happy to have NieNie back. If you want to be uplifted visit her at nieniedialogues.blogspot.com. She is wonderful!

Surround Sound

2008-10-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

So today was the Primary Program in our ward. I took Cougar to church knowing that he would love to see all the other kids singing. Little did I know that he would want to sing and that he would actually recognize some of the songs. . . I apologize to all the people who sat near us because they got the program in surround sound. Cougar sang and sang and sang. When he didn't know the words he just made some up. He chose good words like God, Temple, and Love you as some of the most commonly used. I don't think he liked any other aspect of the program because between songs he colored, played with his cars, and fought with his friend, Tyli. The good news is that the Mommies were prepared with color crayons, animal cookies, and enough fruit snacks to feed a small country.
Note to me: Cougar has a new favorite candy- anything Tyli's Mommy brings; today it was sixlets.
Overall we had a good time. Cougar did have a few issues. He hit his head on the pew in front of us and needed to take a break. Then he had a meltdown and asked me for a timeout in the hall. He actually asked me if he could go the the 'timeout corner'. He is definitely a cutie!

After church we went to visit Papa and Yaya. Cougar talked to his Aunt Taly via internet and Taly got to see Beckett for the first time in a couple months. It was quite emotional. Cougar performed his best 'Jesus wants me for a sunbeam' and 'I am a child of God'. Aunt Taly was definitely impressed. All in all it was a very eventful few hours.

Everybody Smiled But Cougar

2008-10-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

My sister agreed to be the photographer for our FABULOUS family photos. Sadly Cougar decided he did NOT want to be photographed and he did NOT want to look at Aunt Kiki. Uh oh! We knew this was not going to be pretty when he fell asleep in the car on the way to the park because he refused to take a nap all day. Kiara was mighty worried about how the pictures would turn out, but Brian and I knew they would be awesome and they are. Here's a little preview.
You will notice the duck pictures. Cougar was very happy to see the ducks. In fact he didn't want to leave the ducks or take pictures if he couldn't be near the ducks. But as parents we prevailed and we only had to make a few bribes! Aren't my boys the cutest you've ever seen!!

Beckett's Blessing

2008-10-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Brian and I have decided to bless Beckett on November 23. We are NOT blessing him at church because he can't be out in public until MARCH! Oh my word! I am feeling just a little cabin fever but we are doing well. We would love to see everyone but we must ask that sick people refrain from attending. Thanks for helping to keep us healthy. We love you!!
Now for the family update . . . Cougar is becoming quite the little man. He loves Monsters, Inc. and anything he can dip in sauce. He is also addicted to Diet Coke which I completely blame on his FATHER. I am not responsible for that. He loves BYU football (surprise, surprise), dancing, and running around like a mad man.
Beckett is substantial and is currently weighing in at 12 lbs. 14 oz. and a lengthy 24 inches long. He is beautiful if I do say so myself. He is a very vocal child but in a good way. He likes to coo and flirt with all the girls and he can carry on a conversation all by himself. But you better pay attention when he is speaking to you! Beckett is also a great sleeper! He sleeps through the night and I love it. For all you out there who are jealous just remember that Cougar didn't sleep through the night until he was 22 months so give me a break, I earned a good sleeper.
Brian is currently playing on a softball team for Provoland Title and an city league football team. He invented a new softball move that involves falling all over yourself as you make it to third base. I lovingly refer to it as the 'bend and snap'. He is serving as YM second counselor and loves all 5 of the young men. Every weekend is filled with college football and I love having the company.
I am the YW laurel advisor and incharge of personal progress. I chase my boys around all day and try to make a dent in the 87 weekly loads of laundry. Life is busy and exciting! Things are constantly in motion and that's the way we like it. Hope to hear from you soon!
We love you all and will have family pictures to post soon.

Beckett's Story

2008-09-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have not heard about Beckett's birth here is the story. He was born on July 23, 2008 at 10:11 pm. weighing in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and 20 inches long. I went into labor about two hours before that but didn't realize I was in labor. We got to the hospital and the nurse informed me I was already dilated to a 10. I had Beckett 16 minutes after I walked in the door. I have to brag and say that I delivered naturally (not by choice) but it still counts!
Beckett was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit a few minutes after he was born because the nurses were worried about his breathing and the stress of such a quick delivery. We discovered that he had three infections: Strep B, a bacterial infection in his blood, and menengitis. Things were really hard for the first few days but he recovered at an incredible rate. Beckett was in the NICU for 22 days and then we got to bring him home. Things have definitely calmed down but we are not allowed at church or shopping until March. I think I need to buy stock in hand sanitizer!

Speak to Me

2008-09-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Cougar is becoming quite the little talker. Not only can he say the short words every two year old says like 'please' and 'mama' but he also says 'dip', 'sauce', and 'sam-bum' (phantom- like phantom of the opera). He is also starting to speak in complete sentences. Yesterday he said, "Mama, I can't reach it!" I must say it is very nice having a child that can actually tell me what he wants.

ZOOLANDER

2008-09-11T08:28:00.001-07:00

Cougar has been working on his Zoolander poses. We think he has blue steel nailed.

Brothers

2008-09-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Cougar and Beckett are finally learning how to get along. It is nice to have Beckett home and Cougar is very good with his little brother.

Our First Blog

2008-08-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first try at this, but I will definately add more info when time allows. We are excited about the new addition to our family, Beckett. He is a fighter and we are excited about bringing him home from the hospital sometime next week.