Like Father, Like Son

I went to check on Ayden's teethbrushing status and this is what I found...A SQUATTER!

He got it from his Dad. Armand climbs a cherry tree and squats on a single branch, he climbs a waterfall and what does he do at the top? Squats.

I always thought that Ayden was part monkey, but now I know that he is just part Daddy.

"Do you have to go?"

Anderson, GGmom Betenson, and Ashten I LOVE the thumbsucking. I went through a phase early on where I actually would pull the thumb out everytime he put it in, hoping to stop the bad habit before it became serious and long-term, but then I was like it can't get lost, fall between the cracks of the crib, fall under a dirty table and land in something unidentifiable, and so on, SO let's keep the thumbsucking. Plus how cute does he look with it..I'll hate it when he's seven but for now I think it saves me daily.
Today we walked up to my Grandma B's house and brought food over to make lunch (chicken burritos) It was a mess and the kids were crazy but we had a great time visiting and looking at pictures. They LOVE their Ggmom so much. It's always funny that when I think it's time to leave because kids are being wild/naughty and AJ is screaming his head off from exhaustion it never fails that Grandma still doesn't want us to go.

Big Toy Day 1

Ayden and Ashten were SO happy they played outside for 4 hours straight!!

WOO HOO for them and me!!

On Sunday?!?!? Part 2

Ashten chatting to his "Old Ggmom" Wes there are only 718 screws to hand do, we are sure glad you were here.
Anderson and Aunt Kristin
Sleepy boy with his Grammy
How many people does it take to assemble a Big Toy?
9 hours later the main fort is mostly done (this picture is at about 7 hours)

On .... Sunday?!?!?!

Armand mowing the area

Ayden doing his own made up weed whacking with a metal pole.
Ashten and Ayden having some pizza. Kristin, Ayden, Ashten, and Wes taking a little break...while Armand works hard

We have been saving for a long time so that the boys could have their own "big toy" outside. Thanks to all the family and friends who gave the kids money for birthdays and holidays so that we could finally purchase the toy. On Saturday the toy was delivered. The boys had waited ALL day playing outside even when it rained and finally they got so cold and tired of the rain that they came in and took a bath. Of course thats right when the big truck pulled in. So since today was Stake conference we stayed home and slept in then started to work...I can just hear you saying..."ON SUNDAY?!?!?" We had prayed for sun and we got it so we took advantage of it because who knows tomorrow it could snow!

Paint Madness

Ashten Ayden
I got these frames for a dollar at Michael's and I did some decoupage on one which made the kids really want to paint some. So I went to buy a few more for them to paint. We had a fun activity today they were good and didn't make a mess...can you believe it? I can't wait to see who they give them to. hehe

Ayden's "craftiness"

FRONT: INSIDE:
BACK AND FRONT:
Ayden came in to my scrapbook room after his "mandatory rest period" haha. I was making a card that you can see on my craft blog http://thenicolasfamily.blogspot.com so he wanted to make something also, I gave him all of my scraps and the tools and he came up with his own version of my card. I DO love crafting with the kids it teaches me to relax stop being so OCD over every little thing. There were times when I had to try really hard to resist the urge to rip something off and "help" him do it "properly" but in the end he did everything by himself. We had lots of fun having alone time together while Ashten and Anderson slept peacefully, til 6pm...

woo hoo!