Brotherly Love

Where do I start? The fact that the boys just adore each other, that Neacel can make Broden laugh and anytime Neacel is in trouble he wants Broden. Or maybe its the fact that Neacel LOVES to help us with Broden, anything even throwing the gross silly putty poopy diaper away. (I knew you would love the description) These two are already friends, even though Brody is not even 3 months. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two. Neacel is always wanting Brody to play trains or blocks or anything with him and we have to explain that Brody can't...sometimes this brings on a tantrum. Neacel has some major brotherly love for Brody! Brody loves his big brother, Neacel makes him smiling by doing the simplest things. The picture is priceless to me, Neacel would not take a nap that day. Fought us with everything he had, well he won. We said fine no nap but you can go to bed early! He came out to the couch saw that Brody was sleeping on the couch and curled up to watch a show. About 5 minutes later he was complete passed out...At times I wish that Brody was a little older maybe by a couple months, but almost exactly 2 years apart is perfect for these two.
Both of the boys are growing like weeds! Neacel is wearing 3t clothing and Brody is in 3-6....I have big boys!! Brody is talking and laughing more, but is soooo in love with his binki. I hate that piece of plastic more then anything else in this world! If it falls out while he is sleeping he wakes up, I was up 16 times in a 5 hour period one night, and only once was because he was hungry! Do you think we should get rid of the binki now or wait till he is a little older? We would let him just CIO (cry it out) but I don't know if its just cruel at his age. No one is getting sleep because of the binki and CIO would be tough for a night or two but then hopefully we would be done.
Whats your opinion on binki's and CIO?

Side notes: We found a couple to take over our lease, we are moving March 1st at the latest. Weight loss is going great 11lbs in a month gone!!! And I'm training for a 5k. I have learned to love running and working out and I can't get enough. I'm doing the C25k program and Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. Nick is doing great with school. He and I still are teaching Sunday school and this week we have to give talks. Ugh! This is my week to teach and the Sunday school 1st counselor is going to sit in plus I have the talk in Sacrament...its an overload week! Nick is lucky to only have the talk...

We love and miss everyone! As soon as we move we will be in a bigger place...come visit us!

Super Quick

First of all, I'm sorry I haven't done the boys post yet things have been interesting I guess you could say. Remember all the snow we got, total we heard that we got about 10-11in that day! One night Nick went and cleaned off and dug out the car for me since I needed to run out the next morning. Husband in the freezing cold at 11pm cleaning a car for his wife....super sweet! The next morning I got up and opened the window to see our car door open. I was so mad at Nick, seriously who the heck leaves a car door open. So I went and woke him telling him to hurry out there. He comes back from outside letting me know our car was broken into! I guess 2 degree weather and 10in of snow is perfect timing to break into a car with car seats! We filed a police report and talked to the management here. As much as it stinks that they took the gps, it's kind of a blessing too. It's exactly what we needed to get out of this place! We are in the process of finding someone to take over our lease and moving as soon as we can. A guy is coming to look tonight, if he takes it we move to who knows where in 2 weeks!!! If he doesn't there is a girl coming to look at it Wednesday and would move in in a month.....So we are crossing our fingers that we find a perfect place for an amazing price!

Let it Snow, Let is Snow!!!

So we have hearing that there was a winter storm on the way, not the first one for us this winter but they have been saying there would be a lot of snow in a little time frame. It was supposed to show up yesterday, and well, it was lame! Literally, some flurries and the ground was covered but nothing compared to what we were hearing....Then we woke up to this outside




























The good news...we didn't have plans anyway and Nick already didn't have class. The bad news, its still coming down and we have plans tomorrow. The winter storm watch is till 7pm tonight if I remember correctly. Neacel is excited to go outside and play in it...he wants to make a snow angel. I think he might sink into the snow!!!! It's hard to tell how much snow there is in the pictures but we are guessing we have about 6-8inches.....
Pictures and videos of the boys are going to be up within the next day or two!!!! Be watching for them

Christmas, New Years, Growing Boys and a New Addition!

Christmas was wonderful this year. We made the choice to go to my parents on Thursday and stay till Christmas day because of weather. We all got spoiled and had a wonderful time. Neacel was so excited for Christmas. While he was opening his stocking he was so excited he was shaking! He got some pretty amazing toys Nick got me the cutest shoes from Target that I've been wanting along with some other amazing things. But this year was Nick's year, my parents got him an Xbox 360 and Halo Reach, the box was duct taped shut with the whole roll and he had to work for it. The look on his face was priceless. I wish I had a picture, it was the blank this-has-got-to-be-a-joke face, Im sure you can imagine it!

New Years was spent in Elyria with my family also. We watched SWAT and Anchorman, and ate too much. All the family came over and we had a great time! It was wonderful being with my family, I have really enjoyed seeing them a ton. We miss our friends and family out in Utah though so I think everyone should come visit us! (hint hint) Of course I made resolutions for the year and I've been working hard towards them. My main one is loosing weight and being healthier, so far so good! Also, I made the resolution to become stronger in the church and really start reading and participating more. Nick and I were given a calling to teach the 16 & 17 year old Sunday School Class! That will help with my resolution! We taught last week and enjoyed it. We have about 4-8 kids, last week 2 talked the whole time and the other 2 sat there looking at the floor. I'm terrified to teach this week, I've never taught anyone over the age of 8 so this could be interesting.

Broden has his 2 month checkup and is doing great! He is 13lbs 14oz (90%) 22 3/4 in tall (50%) and 40cm(50-75%) head circumference. He is looking like a little chub! After being at my moms this weekend and looking at my baby pictures we know who Broden looks like more...ME! YAY :-) He liked Dr. Marshall a little more this time, but every time she goes to check his legs and hips he pushes to where she can't move them....he pushed himself up against the wall. As soon as she quit he was fine so she tried again quickly and he tightened up instantly! We talked about how he doesn't sleep and how I'm lucky to get 4 hrs a night...then last night he slept for 6 hrs! I feel wonderful and hope this is a beginning to wonderful things!(update: it was a mean cruel way of teasing me, he still gets up about every 2-3 hrs)
Here is a movie that Nick took of Broden, he said he was really talking and smiling alot, and then Nick turned the camera on and he got quiet. Luckily, he still talked and smiled a little!




Neacel is still growing and talking so much. The other night him and Nick were running to the store, so I asked if I could come, Neacel looked at me and said "No Mom, You stay here ok?" Yes sir! He can sing his ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, and does the "actions" for Popcorn Popping. Every night he wants us to read him a book using a flashlight and then sing songs. He recently got a cold and it hit him out of no where one night. Nick went in to check on him because he was screaming and crying, and of course that isn't normal. He told Nick he had a "snot nose." We don't use the word snot so we didn't know where he learned this, then we remembered that my dad, Pops, calls him snot nose sometimes. So I was on the phone with my mom the next day telling her and she told dad about it, he said he never calls him that. So I asked Neacel.
Me: "Neacel where did you hear the word snot?"
Neacel: " Nana's house"
Me: "Who says that?" (we hadn't said anything to him about who said it, this was a spur of the moment question for him)
Neacel: "Pops! A snot nose....ewww"
Lesson learned, this 2 year old doesn't lie, and don't try to get away with anything, he might just tattle on you! Neacel is growing up so fast, he is already talking about going to school and how he needs the house keys! Yikes, next thing it will be kindergarten, high school, car keys, a mission, college...Oh goodness! The picture is of Neacel eating a fudge pop, he loved it can you tell?

Our big news! We have a new addition to the family. He or she is pretty small right now but will grow over time. We don't plan on finding out if its a he or she, its not a big deal to us. Neacel is soooo excited and Broden couldn't care less. So I would like to introduce our little baby :-)

Nemo! Our little goldfish :-) I've been wanting some kind of pet and since we can't have dogs or cats without paying an arm and leg Nick got me the bowl set for Christmas. Neacel named the fish and reminds us a million times a day that we have a fish.

Christmas in Ohio - 2010

This year we spent Christmas with Mandy's family in Ohio, it was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures and videos:

Neacel and I are watching the little ballerinas perform at the mall. He was very impressed.

Neacel liked to wear the Santa hat, and say "Ho, ho, ho!"

Mommy and Santa Neacel.

Our stockings, and Steve's ugly red one.

Neacel opening his stocking.

What a goofy face. He had a mouth full of candy.

Mandy with her stockings she got in her stocking.

Opening presents.

Nana got him a giant Thomas the Train railroad station.

Broden watching all the action.

Some sort of evergreen covered with Christmas decor. Weirdos.

A Christmas Wish from Neacel

Merry Christmas family and friends, from Nick, Mandy, Neacel and Broden.

Raisin Bran

So when Neacel started eating certain foods and showing an interest in only candy we had to do something, and quick. So we call certain things candy such as trail mix, dried fruit and a few others. Well, he thinks raisins are candy and is so excited to get them. I can't help to think how disappointed he is going to be when he gets older and realizes that some of the things he calls candy are actually good for you and are nothing like candy. Well, the past two mornings he has wanted Raisin Bran for breakfast. This morning, he pointed to the box and told me he wanted that one, so I start pouring it and I hear him giggle "candy". I couldn't help to laugh. He thinks he is getting his way with getting raisin bran for breakfast! And we have some sugary cereal's right now...including Reese's that Nick wanted and Neacel always turns it down! I'm sure this will back fire later on but for now I'm enjoying it.

Our first date...and other random things

Nick and I finally went out, it's been way to long. I can't remember the last time we went out without a kid! My parents drove down to watch the boys so we could go to dinner and a movie. So we drove down to the mall area and went to Target to get some Christmas things, then went to Applebee's for dinner. We were able to enjoy a warm meal without crying, highchairs, spills, bottles, diapers, and tantrums! It was so nice. We didn't have to rush through a meal because we didn't know how long the kids would last. We were able to sit, relax and just talk...of course most of it revolved around the kids. We had planned to see Harry Potter but towards the end of our meal, it hit me. That overly tired feeling, my eyes got heavy and I couldn't stop yawning. The dimmed lights and very little sleep the night before were a perfect concoction for me to pass out for a couple of hours. So we ended up skipping the movie, I didn't want to pay $11 for me to go fall asleep in the theater, which I can promise would happen since I was kind of dozing in the restaurant. So we went and walked around the mall, Nick didn't let me stop in any kid stores since it was our night! So we got to look at what we wanted to. Then we went to Walmart (which is way to common) to finish some Christmas shopping. I think the boys are completely done! Neacel might get one more thing if we see something we want to get him but we aren't rushing out to buy more.

We are enjoying a lazy day today. There is a snow storm that is hitting us, but the worst part of it is about 3hrs away. The stores were crazy yesterday! Everyone in a rush to make sure they have enough for a few days. Good thing we have food storage and went big time grocery shopping last week. Yesterday the snow storm watch started and the warning started earlier today...it doesn't end till Wednesday night! We are to expect between 1-2 feet of snow depending on how the lake effect snow is. Nick is excited for this, hoping it gets really bad. I'm not sure how I feel about being stuck inside for a few days without an option to leave. I guess we will wait and see how bad it actually it.

Neacel and Broden are doing great. Neacel is in the process of learning his ABC's and Broden is smiling alot more. Broden will be 6 weeks tomorrow and I can't believe how fast time has gone! Broden smiles a lot when Neacel talks to him, and Neacel is such a great big brother. Always willing to help us when it comes to Broden, other times are optional apparently. All in all, things are great with us and the boys. Nick is out of school for a month so we are enjoying some family time without books and studying. He finish the semester this past week and did great on his finals. Im just glad to have him around more, and so is Neacel.

Since Nick didn't post about something fun him and Neacel did I will....
A few weeks ago Nick took Neacel to a basketball game at the school. It was a daddy son night, I got to relax at home with Broden. Nick had talked about this with Neacel a couple of times and every time it was brought up Neacel was thrilled about the idea. Neacel did great during the game but couldn't sit still, so they came home after halftime, but was so excited to tell me about it all. We are planning on going to a game as a family soon.

Twins?

I've been dying to put these pictures next to each other to see how alike the boys look. Broden is on the left, Neacel on the right. I wish I had a baby picture of Nick because I think Broden looks even more like him then Neacel does. The boys are right around the same age here, around a month I believe. Broden has darker thicker hair, Neacel a chubbier face. I know both boys have blue eyes...but seeing them next to each other I see similarities but I don't think Broden is almost a twin of Neacel anymore. My mom and I think Broden has more of my side of the family look then Neacel, yet he still looks alot like Nick. There are a few faces that Brody will make that are like my brother as a baby. I'm so excited to see how alike or different the boys look like each other. What do you think? Almost twins or no?

Picture Update

So I have plenty to write about, but I have two things stopping me from blogging. One is a 2 year old that wants all the attention in the world and loves getting into everything. The second reason is a one month old that hates his bouncer and swing, but LOVES being held all day, and there is no exaggeration in saying that! We spend at least 18+ hrs holding him, other then that he is sleeping in the bassinet. So for now here are some pictures of the boys to hold you over until I can sit down and write everything I need to! Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!