family traditions

I just love my family.

I love that we are easily entertained. And sometimes nerdy. And have random family traditions. For example: making life-size board games with my siblings on General Conference weekend while my parents are at a party with my Dad's siblings.

Strange, I know, but we have so much fun! (Here are some other ones we've made: here and here.) And it is something we always look forward to, and get excited for. And it is so random and funny that it is totally memorable and it brings us together. Isn't that the great thing about family traditions?

Well this year we decided to make a giant Ticket to Ride: Utah game. It was pretty much awesome. And we even played it. We had sweet destinations like Panguitch to Tooele. We used plastic cups of different colors for the trains, and masking tape and construction paper for the board. Good times.

yoga

This weekend we had a houseful of family visiting from out of state...aww I love family! We were downstairs playing the Wii when I realized James had been upstairs by himself for awhile. I went upstairs to check on him and here is what I found:

my yoga mat spread out across the air mattress in our room, and
my little buddy in a cute little "tree" pose

"I do wigga, Mommy!"

What a cute kid. He is my favorite.

And he sure loved having lots of aunts and uncles around!

Mommy, I write mine name!!

Is it just me, or did my child draw a whole bunch of "J's"??

Hair

Today I decided to cut James' hair before his bath. He was seriously beginning to look like a wild child.

Mistake attempting a haircut without Daddy's help? Oh yes. He was not a happy child. But once you run those clippers through the very middle of a kid's head of crazy hair, there is no stopping. I ended up cutting his hair sitting on the floor; I had a sad, sobbing boy laying his head in my lap, tears streaming down his snot- and hair-covered face, screaming:
  
"Put it back, Mommy! Put it back!!"

We quickly finished the job, he looked in the mirror and was rather pleased with his handsome haircut. And I think he has forgiven me.

Home.

Last weekend we had a short but wonderful trip home to visit Jonathan's family up in Oregon. We simply had to, we missed them so much! I can't help but brag that I am a lucky girl to have such wonderful in-laws. They are amazing people and I am so blessed to be a part of their family. I am so glad that James has two wonderful sets of grandparents that he loves SO much. He could not WAIT to get to Nana's house. As we drove he kept on saying, "Go a Nana's house! Go a Nana's house!" Well we finally got there and had a wonderful time.

We met their "new" puppy Max. James was interested in the doggie but a bit scared of him. Too bad, because he is pretty cute!

We played outside!

James got to go for a ride in a pick-up with Grandy. I think this picture is so dear, especially when comparing it to the NEXT picture, which is of Jonathan and his Dad in a pick-up truck when HE was about James' age! I love it. It is so sweet it almost makes me tear up.

We helped plant the garden! Can I just say - I love the country! I want a garden like this. Maybe I'd better learn to garden first, though.....

I LOVE this picture. Makes me want an old pick-up.

James played with his Jeaney. They are great buddies.

Jonathan in the garden.

Me and my best friend. And our little buddy. After church. I loved these yellow leaves. Or are they blossoms? Shows how much I know. Anyway, they were pretty. :)

I think that Boster boys are the best kind of boys.

And Anna is awesome. She is the cutest and makes the awesomest faces.

 James had the most fun playing with Grandy. He kept saying, "Grandy, play with me!" How can you resist that?

Nana was there too, I must not have taken any pictures of her! Sad. Well we love Nana and Grandy and can't wait to see them again soon. Isn't family the best?

counting

We just got our Easter baskets and plastic eggs out of storage. James was so excited he was jumping up and down. He proceeded to dump out all the eggs, and put them one by one in a basket and count them:

three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve
thirteen
sixteen
seventeen
eighteen
nineteen

.......pause.......

twenty-teen

scared

James is scared of a few things lately - well mostly birds and bugs. But only birds when they fly in our house. I can't say that I blame him.

We heard a bird on our chimney the other day. Recent events have made us a bit wary of those birds. James says:

"I sared!!" (which is his adorable way of saying "scared")

"Are you scared of the bird?"

"Just a litter." (aka "little" - this has got to be one of my favorite words he says, it is so cute it melts my heart)

I go into James' room after his "nap" and he is standing by the door, frantic.

"Mommy, Mommy, a BUG!!"

"Did it scare you?"

"No, it talk a me."

"What did it say?"

"Hi!!"

And I found these pictures from the other day. Had to put 'em up.

picture happy

flashlight fun

learning the art of shadow puppetry

reading - a favorite activity in our house

my boys

me and James

sweet boy

had to have his trains in the pictures

loves trains

hey it's me

blue fishbowl jell-o

So I have this glass bowl/vase that is shaped like a little fish bowl. So I thought, hey - I'll make blue jell-o and put Swedish Fish inside, and make a little edible fishbowl!

James loved it, he helped drop the fish in and had tons of fun. I have to say that the Swedish Fish actually don't taste that great once they've been in jell-o for awhile - they get a little slimy and sticky. Kind of fishy, really. Still a fun little activity, nevertheless.