Christmas is Here

I learned something new about Eric this year. He grumbled and complained about putting Christmas lights up. Finally, he admitted his fear . . . of roofs! I never knew. . . He overcame his fear and did it though. He's very brave. :) And Kacin was there every minute watching and yelling to him. Kacin wouldn't let daddy out of sight. Eric (and Kacin) did a very nice job of putting our lights up. I was impressed with the star Eric made below our window.

Then we decorated our Christmas tree!

And each other!!

Christmas is finally here!

A Night with Holly

Holly is the sweetest person who made us a coupon book of free babysitting, dinner, help with the boys,etc. and gave it to me at the adoption shower. What a perfect, thoughtful gift! Very much appreciated by me and Eric. So in Holly's words here is how it went the first night we used it (copied from Holly's blog, but I had to add it here because I laughed so hard!). Holly did an amazing job though! I just hope she doesn't mind if I still use the other coupons . . .

"so, a friend of mine, Laura, just adopted some adorable little boys.Kacin- 4 and Kyler- 5i was invited to her adoption shower... and being the cheapo that i am (lets be honest, i am like the WORST friend to have if you are looking for GIFTS... because i never remember birthdays and i never take the time or money to do anything thoughtful or buy you cool things)... i made her a coupon book.the coupons included free babysitting.
why offer such a thing, you ask?well, lets just say that Laura has been married for five years... and went from no kids- to two very energetic boys.the girl needs some time to herself, ya know?well, last night was the first time she used the coupons.and... i will be honest.i was nervous. haven't babysat in like... forever. i used to when i was 12... and then pretty much never did after that. do i hate kids? no. do i have experience with them? well... somewhat. i mean, i did teach primary for awhile... and i do teach music lessons to some youngsters.but something intimidated me about it.and i always feel like hanging out with kids is some foreshadowing of what kind of mom i will be. so if it goes well, i feel really good about myself. and if it doesn't... i end up thinking that people like me should NOT reproduce.and the thing is... its kinda too late!well, the night started out fine.the kids finished up their dinners... and then we began playing cars and trains.that's when the first funny comment was made.
Kyler: [handing me a girl Lego] you are married to KaisonMe: okay...Kacin: [putting both Lego girl and boy into the truck] lets go out to eat!Me: [trying to think what place a KID would like to go to] okay... how about McDonald's?Kyler: [in a stern and condescending informative voice] McDonald's is very bad for you.Me: [embarrassed] well then... i guess we will just go get... cucumbers?
i had already failed.here i was... thinking EVERY kid loves McDonald's... when really, turns out Laura had already taught the boys that there is such a thing as UNHEALTHY food.and as far as i was concerned... i had just led these boys to believe that i thought McDonald's was a healthy choice.i had already lost their respect, dang it.but OH it gets SO much better.here is the NEXT funny and VERY embarrassing moment:
K&K: [staring at my stomach] why are you fat?me: [not offended in the least] because i have a baby growing in my belly.K&K: how does it come out?me: [shocked, caught off guard... and trying to remember everything that i possibly have already heard about telling kids about bodies. at this point, all i could think was- 'Holly... stay calm. don't act awkward. if they think YOU think its awkward than they will think its awkward. don't give them TOO much info, just- answer the question matter-of-factly. its better they learn from you than from TV] um.... well... it comes out, down where you go to the bathroom.K&K: in your pants?me: [beginning to think that i am handling it all wrong] no, you have to take your pants off to have a baby.K&K: how come?me: [feeling more and more insecure about this topic] because, you know how like, when you go to the bathroom you have to pull your pants down?K&K: no.me: [thinking oh crap!] oh yeah, that's right, you are boys... well, i mean, like when you go poop- you have to pull your pants down.K&K: yeah. all the way down.me: [thinking i finally reached an end and wanting to change to subject] yep. you have to pull your pants down, and the baby comes out, and then its all messy and so they have to clean it off.K&K: its covered with food?me: [feeling relief at the fact that this question is easier to answer] no, just... stuff from being inside my belly.K&K: so how does the baby eat?me: [wishing at this point that i could go back in time and redo the entire conversation] it has a special tube- like a straw, called an umbilical cord- that helps the baby eat whatever I eat. and when i eat food, the baby uses the straw to eat some of my food. like... i had soup for dinner, so the baby had some too!K&K: [looking much more confused than they started out]
that's right folks.I RUINED THESE KIDS LIVES!
i am so unfit to be a mother its not even funny."

Thanksgiving

Because we have already done so much traveling to Arizona this year, we decided we needed to just stay here in beautiful American Fork for Thanksgiving. I was kind of sad to miss all of the family, but it turned out to be a fun day with lots of yummy food anyways. We made our first Turkey! Well, I wish I could take the credit, but it was actually Eric who was the amazing Turkey chef.It did fall apart when we tried to place it on the platter, but we did our best to put it back together for the pictures. . . The boys set the fabulous table and helped with all of the taste-testing. Kacin even had to try the butter that was sitting on the table. :)

The boys pulled their first wish-bone. We didn't have too many tears when Kacin got the bigger piece. Kyler definately wasn't happy about it . . . Kacin told us he wished for a lego house. Wishes come true! We made one tonight.

Kyler's 5th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Kyler! It's crazy to think we now have a 5 year old. It sounds so old . . . We celebrated Kyler's birthday last night at Paradise Bakery with M.Jay and Kadin. Then we went back to our house for a ghost cake and ice cream! Kyler decided what kind of cake he wanted and I thought it was fitting considering every other sentence that has come out of his mouth since the beginning of October has been "Boo!" He was so proud when he learned to spell and read the word, so he was set on having it on his cake. Here are the before and after pictures . . .

Are all kids so greedy?? Last week Kyler decided not to have a party. So one day as we were driving in the car, he tells me that we can just call everyone and tell them just to drop the presents off at our house! Don't worry, he had plenty of presents anyway without us calling all of his friends.

Old Toys, New Toys

Suddenly being first-time parents of 2 todddlers definately had us lacking in the toy catagory. The boys came with plenty of cars and we had some big legos and books, but that was about it. So about a month ago the favorite toy was this--a mini-vaccuum from when Eric and I first got married and lived in our little apartment. The boys would spend hours cleaning the toy room and then vaccuuming throughout the whole house! I was loving it. :)

However, thanks to some wonderful, amazing neighbors and friends who gave our family an adoption shower, the boys now have other things to play with--games, playdoh, a basketball and soccer ball, and various other toys. I finally feel like a normal house with things to do! It's a bit more messy now though . . . maybe they'll break out the vaccuum again soon.